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Post by Rivaini on Oct 1, 2015 7:39:55 GMT
At the behest of a chanter's board, Devereaux found himself back in the heartlands of Orlais once again. The gilded script of the announcement had drawn him in, and it was a welcome change from guarding carriages on the imperial highway- usually in the rain. Why did Ferelden rain so much?
He remembered his father's recounting of Wyvern hunts alongside the likes of Mantillion, but in his childhood imagination he hadn't predicted the sheer amount of people that engaged in such things. Not just nobles, but the common class- elves, even. The tempting promise of sovereigns had drawn out all walks of life in Halamshiral. Including himself. Delusions of grandeur aside, it wasn't the idea of a glorious homecoming that brought him to the hunt. Somewhere a barkeep in Harper's Ford owned the last 3 silver to his name. Possibly his name, too. The sudden and piercing sound of a horn interrupted his thoughts- and the various noble hunting parties began to gather, unmuzzling great hounds and pulling gilded scabbards from their luggage. Best hope the high-quarter's chanter's board was oft checked. The idea of tracking a Wyvern alone was unnerving, at best. |
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ryokouri
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Post by ryokouri on Oct 2, 2015 4:22:27 GMT
Clara Monica stood among Marquis Mantillion's party. She detested hunting wyvrens, it was such a waste! They were so cute and scaly! She did, however, owe her cousin a favor for not telling her father where she had been the past week, scaring off wolves from farmland by the border, and he wanted to hunt wyvrens with Marquis Mantillion. Of course, the Marquis was less interested in her cousin and more interested in marrying off his embarrassment of a son to someone of proper stock. So in order to attain an invite for her cousin, it was a requirement for Clara to attend as well.
She excused herself when the horn blew. She had attended many hunts, since they were so popular in Orlais, but rarely found much interest in them. She certainly didn't want to watch the Marquis and his party honk about how skilled they were for an entire day. Scanning the crowd of people, such a large turn out this year, her eyes fell on a man who looked a tad unnerved.
Clara promptly walked over to him. "Are you going to be okay? They're just wyvrens."
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Post by Rivaini on Oct 3, 2015 8:06:14 GMT
Devereaux turned toward the comment- the woman in question far more regal than he'd expected. Hadn't the noble lot already set off?
His grin came easily. "Just a while since I've done this," he hadn't. "and I'm at somewhat of a loss without a hunting party,"
A large amount of Halamshiral's middle-quarter and elves had, wisely, come in pairs or groups already. That said, they were the ones doing the heavy lifting- actually hunting the wyverns.
"And as handsome as I hear battle scars to be, I'm not at such a loss for coin that I fancy taking one on alone." Truth be it he was, but 'actually I'm broke' rarely made for an appropriate conversation starter.
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ryokouri
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Post by ryokouri on Oct 3, 2015 16:00:58 GMT
Clara Monica laughed. "Oh, but think of all those who line up to admire such scars! The ladies of Orlais love a riveting tale of battle, though of course would not venture out into it themselves."
She looked at the rest of the crowd, lots had already formed groups. She had learned from previous hunts that most people either attended alone or arranged a group prior to arriving. It was very rare she found someone who was on their own unintentionally. Lots of the native Orlesians were wearing masks, though she personally had not. They did know they were going to get blood on themselves? Of course she herself had not foregone makeup as some essence of her wealth was expected. Though she did make some attempt to dress appropriately for the weather and the hunt. Lots of pocket space, which was something she had to custom order given how much of women's fashion in Orlais had no room for anything not excluding internal organs.
"If you wish, we could partner up. The party I attended with has already left anyway." She turned her attention back to him, placing a hand on her hip.
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Post by Hawke on Oct 5, 2015 5:38:04 GMT
Lia had come across the Chantry board quite by accident, passing her way through Halamshiral; it was official enough that it had drawn her attention, and the thought of it sparked her imagination. She had, of course, seen hunts and been invited to a few before, but never wyverns and the idea is thrilling. The idea of rubbing shoulders with the nobles of Orlais and currying some favour sits well with her too. And better yet, an excuse to pull out her hunting clothes, one of the few more stead fast outfits she had deemed road worthy.
It had all seemed thoroughly perfect; that was until she arrived and found the hunting party already departed.
All that were left was a measley two guests, and they looked a couple at that. Still, they were shoulders to rub, and a far step up from the company she had kept of late - even the more expensive taverns held all manner of people who had attempted to accost her with their terrible conversation and dull lives. Not that nobles were exceptionally thrilling by any stretch of the imagination, but it would be a foot in the door. Besides after a hunt there was always a banquet and a ball, unless the Orlesian's had truly turned to savagery. She supposed she would find out.
Dressed in a loose fitting blouse that gave her ample movement, and elegantly made hart leather pants, she cut a striking figure marching over, gilded rapier on her hip and matching soft hart leather gloves.
"Ho there!' She calls, pulling up astride them and looking between the pair. Perhaps a forbidden love, set aside from the hunt? Perhaps here to organize some sort of secret liaison? She loved the thought of getting in the thick of it, and while her last brush with politics had left her scared (the tip of which could still be seen, a still healing but no longer weeping scar barely visible above the collar of her blouse) she was eager once more to dabble. Besides, nothing was so interesting as the politics which were forbidden.
"I hope I am not interrupting anything, hm? Seem's we've missed the rest of the hunt, by a hair I'm sure."
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ryokouri
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Post by ryokouri on Oct 5, 2015 8:23:46 GMT
Clara's head snapped up at the sudden call towards her direction. Striding towards the pair was a beautiful blonde woman dressed fashionable, yet with more sense than some of the nobility that could be seen parading around earlier. As if upon reflex she instantly straightened her posture, no longer attempting to comfort the man friend earlier. She knew that expression. That was the face of someone looking for a foot in. That was the face of someone willing and ready to play the game and when you play the game you look for weaknesses. Things such as compassion or concern can become a knife. Clara Monica's face brightened into a smile. You must always smile for an audience, of course.
"We can still catch up. Most break into individual parties and hunt separately. Of course, we will have to find some grounds a ways off from the others. Too many people in one place may scare off the Wyvren." She explained as she idly fixed a decorative belt on her gloves and shifted her weight so she was leaning further away from the woman. "I was just offering to partner up with this man here. I can extend the same offer your way, if that's what you wish."
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Post by Hawke on Oct 6, 2015 3:59:05 GMT
Lia gives her most gracious smile, "I would be most glad for the company, my lady," and offers a hand to the Orlesian lady, to take hers and kiss it. After all, it would be best to cement her manners at once. One could never be too careful in their address of a fellow noble, so it was better to stick to respectful until you at least knew their standing. Besides, her accent and attire already marked her a decided outsider - especially if all the Orlesian nobles went around sporting the same, almost clownish look this woman wore. Not that Lia much minded - the dress was of a curious make that much was certain, though how useful on a hunt it would be hard to say.
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Post by Rivaini on Oct 6, 2015 6:19:14 GMT
"Why, I'd say we're nearing on a full party." Devereaux gave a polite nod. Antivan. Curious.
In fact, he didn't know what to make of either of the women in front of him. Such was Orlais. He'd really been out of the thick of it for a while? Hadn't he? The south was making him sloppy. If his mother could see him now, she'd be clutching her pearls. 'You will send me to an early grave! I swear it!'.
He fiddled with the strap of his quiver. Well, if the Wyvern didn't ultimately kill them, it was shaping up to be a welcome change from mercenary work.
Mercenary work. These were trying times indeed.
"I don't believe we've made introductions-"
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ryokouri
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hAVE I ever like mentioned how much i love iron bull bc it is SO MUCH, honestly?
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Post by ryokouri on Oct 6, 2015 6:40:56 GMT
"I am Clara Monica Renard." She curtsied a bit, giving her hand to the antivan woman and promptly shaking it. She knew what was expected of her and was all too looking forward to mussing that up for other people. It was a bit that was always hilarious to her. She knew very few who found it as funny as she did so she attempted not to laugh. She turned so she was facing both of them, making their formation somewhat of a circle.
"My family sells only the best goods in the country, though if you were to ask my father he'd say all of Thedas. I was invited to attend with the Marquis, but I look forward to making friends at at events such as these. You can really find out who is skilled at what when you're on the hunt together. I take it this is your first wyvren hunt, my lady?" It was always good to assert who you were and where you stood. There would be no doubts that way and Clara always found it much easier than trying to discern people's status. If you make such an introduction, people tend to follow suit.
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Post by Hawke on Oct 6, 2015 7:29:38 GMT
Lia furrows her brows a little at the handshake. That was not exactly as she had been planning, but these Orlesian's seemed to be odder than she expected, so she lets it rest.
"Duchessa Lia Aurellia Cirillo Valente, and a pleasure to make both your acquaintances I am sure," She looks to both of them warmly, though uncertain. At this point, they should be at least exchanging a polite kiss on the cheek, however neither of them are leaning forward. She's unsure if they are simply shy or rude or uneducated, or a mix of all three. She decides she does not care.
"Truly, what a marvellous enterprise your father must run! And I must confess, my first time hunting wyverns but not the first on the hunting grounds," She places a hand upon her rapier with a flourish, and leans back just the slightest bit confident.
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Post by Rivaini on Oct 9, 2015 9:32:28 GMT
"Orfèvre, Devereaux. Previously of Val Foret." He gave a terse smile. Of course he wasn't entirely willing to divulge how long ago 'previously' was.
Renard....Renard...familiar. Even if he wasn't exactly the authority on luxury goods anymore. The Duchessa- Lia? Was still an unknown element, however. She was remarkably forthright in her actions. Perhaps it was an Antivan thing.
Neither women seemed they'd have difficulty hunting a wyvern- in fact, miss Lia appeared to take a decent amount of pride in her swordsmanship. It was a curiosity, then, that the two hadn't set off with the nobles.
"Ah! Excellent, I take it then you're no stranger to larger game?"
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ryokouri
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hAVE I ever like mentioned how much i love iron bull bc it is SO MUCH, honestly?
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Post by ryokouri on Oct 9, 2015 17:18:16 GMT
Clara Monica almost laughed at the notion that she was anything other than exceptional at hunting large game. Her father was entirely insistent that her and her siblings attend these events whether they wanted to go or not. So from early adolescence she found herself having to dodge poison spit in order to impress the nobility and keep a good name for her family. Now that they were older the hunts were no longer mandatory, but since she had well kept up fighting practices wyvrens shouldn't be too much trouble.
"I am rather experienced in hunting wyvrens, correct, though it has been some time since I have attended a hunt." The young woman fished in the hidden pockets of her puffy pants for her poison, she made sure to tighten the cap of the bottle. She the proceeded to remove her daggers from the inside of her boots and examine their sharpness. "We should get started and find a place secluded to lure one. The nobility around here are pretty territorial and those who aren't experienced will only serve to scare off the beasts. Fun fact, these hunts are almost entirely rigged so beginners have almost no hope of killing a wyvren without the aid of someone more experienced."
She's seen several elves and lower class humans practically fed to the wyvrens with the promise of gold if they defeat them. Usually the only ones who killed them were nobles and highly skilled mercenaries. Your average every man wouldn't make it out of here alive. She surely didn't need the coin and would probably give her portion to someone who had been less fortunate on the hunt.
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Post by Hawke on Oct 9, 2015 22:52:11 GMT
The reward had been a sizable chunk of Lia's ambition to join the hunt at all; leaving Antiva and evading assassination ploys did not come cheap. The gold she could put to use to new outfits for different occasions to better fit in with current style. It could be put on money or weapons, or ingredients for poisons. But she would never use it on hirelings; a mercenary was only as loyal to the highest bidder. Friends could be use indefinitely and without expense, so that was what she was in the market for at the minute.
And these two seemed useful, at least. Especially the one with the daggers, though Devereaux was certainly nice to look at. Between the pair of them she might learn a little of Orlesian courtly conduct, but together she was certain - they would find that wyvern. And kill it preferably before it started spitting its noxious poison everywhere.
"Boars and wyvern, how different could they be, no?" She smiles prettily at the two of them, before gesturing to the woods.
"If what you say of these territorial nobles is true, best to set off before they take all the most favourable positions."
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ryokouri
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hAVE I ever like mentioned how much i love iron bull bc it is SO MUCH, honestly?
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Post by ryokouri on Oct 10, 2015 3:25:02 GMT
"I happen..." Clara Monica fished in her pockets yet again. "To have a map of the hunt grounds."
When she dug the map out and knelt before a rock on the ground. She laid the map on the rock before digging in her pockets again for her eye coal. She circled several spots on the map and indicated where they were currently.
"The regulars chose the same spots every year." She began pointing to the circles. "We'll need to find a spot that's a good distance from these areas but we'll need to find bait before that. Unless either of you happen to be vastly more strong than you appear we'll need to attack from afar and from behind. This is not someone's pet wyvren, they're likely to spray their venom wildly, so please be careful not to even step in it... But I'm getting ahead of myself! First let's find some bait."
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