Ballroom Conversations

Wicked Eyes and Wicked Hearts Conversations

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Companions

Blackwall

The PC approaches Blackwall in the Hall of Heroes.

Ser Brion: Don’t I know you from somewhere? Ah! Lord Rudalt de Lancre… I’ve seen you in his company before, no?

Blackwall: I… don’t think we’ve met my lord. I’m just a Grey Warden.

Ser Brion: A Grey Warden? Odd, your face is so familiar. Around the eyes, especially. Perhaps without that beard… More wine! It will come to me.

Ser Brion: Ser Brion, chevalier, honor guard of the grand duke.

Ser Brion leaves.

Blackwall: I’m ready for anything, just give the word. Blackwall (if spoken to before): Are we ready to make our move?

1 - Dialogue options:

Investigate: Your thoughts on politics? [2]
Investigate: Silverite Wings of Valor? [3]
Investigate: Have you seen anything? [4]
Investigate: Any suggestions? [5]
Flirt: Save me a dance. [6]
General: I’ll let you know. [7]

2 - Investigate: Your thoughts on politics? PC: What do you think about all the scheming and politics? Blackwall: I think I’d rather be anywhere else. Let’s save the empress and get back to where things make sense. Say what you want about Celene’s ascension. She stole the throne? She seduced her way to it? Who cares? In the years since, she’s proven she is the perfect mix of strength, cunning, and grace that Orlais needs. Gaspard? You may as well crown a bull if he wins. [Back to 1]

3 - Investigate: Silverite Wings of Valor? PC: So… Silverite Wings of Valor? What did you get that for? Blackwall: For… valor. PC: Care to Elaborate? Blackwall: It was a long time ago. Back then we didn’t stop to boast about past victories when there was an assassin on the loose. [Back to 1]

4 - Investigate: Have you seen anything? PC: What’s the word, see anything yet? Blackwall: I just witnessed the start of a blood feud between three noble families. But anything useful? No. Blackwall: There aren’t enough guards. That seems odd. Either the empress disguised them for appearances, or something has gone wrong. Blackwall: Nine different ladies and gentlemen have asked Cullen to dance. I think he’s received two offers of marriage. He might need a bodyguard. Blackwall: Nothing. Wherever out enemy is, he’s keeping out of sight. [Back to 1]

5 - Investigate: Any suggestions? PC: While I have a moment: is there anyone here I should question? Blackwall: I’m not well acquainted with Orlesian nobility. They rarely welcome Grey Wardens coming in with the Right of Conscription. [Back to 1]

6 - Flirt: Save me a dance. PC: Make sure you save at least one dance for me. Blackwall: All of them. [Back to 1]

7 - General: I’ll let you know. PC: Wait for my signal.

If the PC walks away from the conversation: PC: I have to go. Keep your eyes open.

Cassandra

The PC approaches Cassandra in the Vestibule.

Cassandra: This ball is a waste of time, like all Orlesian foolishness. Let’s find the Venatori collaborator and get out of here. Cassandra (if spoken to before): Are we ready to move out?

1 - Dialogue options:

Investigate: Have you seen anything yet? [1]
Investigate: What do you think of this? [2]
Flirt: Care to dance? [3]
General: Keep your eyes open. [4]

1 - Investigate: Have you seen anything yet? PC: Have you noticed anything noteworthy? Cassandra: Nothing yet, I will let you know. [Back to 1]

2 - Investigate: What do you think of this? PC: You don’t seem to care much for the ball. Cassandra: Orlesians pretend their petty squabbles are a “game.” Yes, let us treat murder, corruption, and deceit as delightful amusements. How wonderful. We are here to save Empress Celene, and it galls me. Why does she merit our protection? The empire would be better off without her. Gaspard is the leader Orlais needs in this crisis.

**Dialogue options:**

- Special: You think so? [5]
- [Back to 1]

**5 - Special: You think so?**
PC: You support the civil war?
Cassandra: Of course not. Chaos is what Corypheus wants, and we must oppose him. Were it up to me, however, I would let Celene fall and Gaspard take the throne. He would see the true threat, not spend his time throwing balls and writing letters.
[Back to 1]

3 - Flirt: Care to dance? PC: I don’t suppose you’d like to dance, Lady Cassandra? Cassandra: Now? This is… hardly the time. We’re here to find a killer, not… dance. [Back to 1]

4 - General: Keep your eyes open. PC: Stay alert. We don’t know where the enemy is hiding. Cassandra: I’ll be watching for trouble. The sooner we leave this place, the better.

Cole

The PC finds Cole in the library.

Cole: The face talk even when they aren’t moving. Silk on satin on skin, always wanting, chaste but chased. Too many. Cole (if spoken to before): They won’t miss just a few…

1 - Dialogue options:

Investigate: Everything all right? [2]
Investigate: Have you seen anything? [3]
Investigate: What are you up to? [4]
General: Carry on. [5]

2 - Investigate: Everything all right? PC: Are you alright Cole? You seem distracted. More than usual. Cole: They have faces inside their faces, lying with a layer that tells the truth. I don’t know how to help them. [Back to 1]

3 - Investigate: Have you seen anything? PC: Have you observed anything happening yet? Cole: A woman tripped on purpose. The man who caught her left the room. They didn’t want my help. Cole: Cullen is afraid. They’re hurting him, following fear. He shouldn’t be here. Cole: Leliana has many faces. When she puts on a new one, she changes all the way down. [Back to 1]

4 - Investigate: What are you up to? PC: What are you doing, Cole? Cole: A fallen fan can cut like a kiss. Hot breath from the wrong boy on the naked nape of the neck. I helped until they made me stop. Now they’ve all forgotten. [Back to 1]

5 - General: Carry on. PC: Stay out of trouble Cole. Cole: Socks get wet when the tide rises.

If the PC walks away from the conversation: Cole: So many faces…

Dorian

The PC approaches Dorian in the guest garden.

Dorian: This is all so familiar. I half expect my mother to materialize from the crowd and criticize my manners. Dorian (if spoken to before): I’ll be ready for your signal. provided this spicy punch isn’t as strong as it seems.

1 - Dialogue options:

Investigate: Is this like a Tevinter party? [2]
Investigate: Anything to report? [3]
Investigate: Your mother could be here? [4]
Flirt: We should dance. [5]
General: Thank you for coming. [6]
General: Carry on. [7]

2 - Investigate: Is this like a Tevinter party? PC: Is this how the elite of Tevinter carry on? Dorian: You could almost mistake this for a soiree in the Imperium. The same double-dealing, elegant poison, canapes… it’s only lacking a few sacrificial slaves and some blood magic. But the night is still young. [Back to 1]

3 - Investigate: Anything to report? PC: Have you seen anything I should know about? Dorian: I’m trying to keep watch for magic. You know Tevinters. We can’t cross a room without casting a spell. If there are Tevinter agents here, we’ll find them. Dorian: So far, this seems like harmless political intrigue. A few murders arranged, some scandals contrived from nothing. (Sighs.) Like a homecoming, honestly. Dorian: Did you see what that marquise is wearing? That suit is a greater crime than anything we’re looking for. Dorian: Other than an overabundance of lavender perfume? No, nothing extraordinary. [Back to 1]

4 - Investigate: Your mother could be here? PC: What if your mother were actually here? Where would we all be then? Dorian: Short one mage, after he’s dragged out by his earlobe. PC: I’m having difficulty picturing that. Dorian: picture me a boy of five years, then. She certainly always has. [Back to 1]

5 - Flirt: We should dance. PC: Don’t wear yourself out mingling. I expect a dance before this is over. Dorian: Dancing with an evil magister, in full view of every noble in Orlais? How shocking. PC: They’ll live. Dorian: You say that now. If you can find me ten silk scarves, I’ve got a dance that will really shock them. End Scene.

6 - General: Thank you for coming. PC: I appreciate that you will willing to come here. Dorian: And expose myself to all this exquisite finery and exotic wine? Such hardship. PC: Not everyone’s likely to be friendly, that’s all I meant. Dorian: It’s true. You’d think I smelled of cabbages, the way they wrinkle their noses. It’s of no concern, but thank you. End Scene.

7 - General: Carry on. PC: Try not to get too drink while I’m gone. Dorian: You ask so much of me.

If the PC walks away from the conversation: Dorian: I’ll be here. Or possibly closer to the wine.

Iron Bull

The PC approaches Iron Bull in the guest wing.

Iron Bull: You got anything that needs killing? Iron Bull (have not been to servant’s quarters): Because the nobles keep messing with me, and they think I don’t know they’re doing it. This keeps up, I’m going to wear somebody’s skull as my fancy little mask. Iron Bull (already explored the servant’s quarters): Aside from the Vints in the basement. That alone made it worth coming here.

Iron Bull (if already spoken to): Any time we want to move on the assassination, just let me know. Iron Bull (if already spoken to and been to servant’s quarters): Got to kill a few Vints, try some new food… this party’s working out just fine.

1 - Dialogue options:

Investigate: Give me the Ben-Hassrath read. [2]
Investigate: Do you like the masks? [3]
Investigate: See anything interesting? [4]
Flirt: Care to dance? [5]
General: Goodbye. [6]

2 - Investigate: Give me the Ben-Hassrath read. PC: Look at this with the eyes of a Ben-Hassarath, and tell me what you see. Iron Bull: It’s a mess. Everyone’s trying so hard to hide that they’re walking around in plumage. Makes it tough to spot the dangerous lies, as opposed to the normal stuff. Oh, but that couple over there with the silver masks? The woman’s doing one of the nobles, and the guy’s doing two different servants.

3 - Investigate: Do you like the masks? PC: What do you think of the masks the nobles are wearing? Iron Bull: They’re no good as disguises, and they don’t cover the mouth or hide body language, so they’re not much help for lying. As fashion goes… I don’t know. I’ve seen dumber?

4 - Investigate: See anything interesting? PC: Anything catching your eye? Iron Bull: They’ve got these candies nuts with some kind of spice on them. It’s sweet until you swallow, and then, bam, hot! Iron Bull (if not romanced): Also, Orlais has some fine-looking redheads. I go for the servants, personally. Less makeup. Iron Bull: Uh, nothing on the assassins, though.

5 - Flirt: Care to dance? PC: Any interest in a dance? Iron Bull: Oh, shit, the nobles would love that! Can you imagine Josephine’s face, trying to explain that we were… Wait, were you serious? Because if so, then yeah, absolutely. I mean, once we stop the assassins and all that.

6 - General: Goodbye. PC: Talk to you later, Bull. Iron Bull: I’ll just stay here and eat.

Sera

Sera: Crotch rot. Beats his squire. He’s a she. Has a bastard. Extra toes. What a fun, close-marrying crowd. Sera (if spoken to before): Is this it? Just looking at each other and… what? I’m waiting the party to start.

**1 -Dialogue options:

Investigate: How are you fitting in? [2]
Investigate: Thoughts on the suspects? [3]
Investigate: Any tips from your “friends”? [4]
Flirt: Save me a dance? [5]
General: I’ll be back. [6]

2 - Investigate: How are you fitting in? PC: Making any new friends? Sera (high court approval): Not as many as you. You can really play their game. I could do without. So many feathers. Just think of all the bare-arsed birds flopping about. – Sera slightly disapproves

Sera (neutral court approval): (Laughs.) Not likely. I’m watching them watch you. They’re all glances and titters, not sure if they’re allowed to like you yet. Pathetic. +Sera slightly approves

Sera (low court approval): As well as you are. A shame, we agree on so much. I hate them, and they hate themselves. I mean, they have to, right? Why else would they wear so much… everything? Got to cover up how rubbish they are. +Sera slightly approves [Back to 1]

3 - Investigate: Thoughts on the suspects? PC: Any thoughts on who we’re investigating? Sera: The empress is pretty. It’d be fun to drink and kill stuff with Gaspard. Briala is frigging funny. Elves-elves-elves, but it’s really a pissing match with an old lover. Don’t know the rest, but that explains a lot. (Shrugs.) They’re all lying, but Celene’s nice to look at. Good thing we’re here to save her neck. [Back to 1]

4 - Investigate: Any tips from your “friends”? PC: Any hidden treasures from “friends” of your little network? Sera (no stashes found): I’m not saying yes, but… wait, yes I am. There’s some good stuff hidden around. Keep an eye out. Sera (some stashes found): You know the answer. It’s yes, and there’s more. Keep it up. Sera (all stashes found): You’ve cleared them out. That’ll be good for some smirks, yeah? +Sera slightly approves. [Back to 1]

5 - Flirt: Save me a dance? PC: Think I can get you to dance with me later? Sera: Pfft, me on their precious tiles? That’s a good one. Besides, I don’t… that’s not me, yeah? Couldn’t be me. [Back to 1]

6 - General: I’ll be back. PC: Be back soon. Sera: Not going anywhere.

Solas

The PC approaches Solas in the guest wing.

Solas: I do adore the heady blend of power, intrigue, danger, and sex that permeates these events. Solas (if spoken to before): I hope you’re enjoying yourself.

1 - Dialogue options:

Investigate: This is comfortable for you? [2]
Investigate: Do you see anything? [3]
Investigate: Are you being treated well? [4]
Flirt: Care to dance? [5]
General: Goodbye. [6]

2 - Investigate: This is comfortable for you?
PC: you seem more comfortable with a grand Orlesian ball than I’d have expected.
Solas: I have seen countless such displays in my journeys in the Fade. The powerful have always been the same. Only the costumes change.
[Back to 1]

3 - Investigate: Do you see anything?
PC: Have you seen anything useful?
Solas: No, sadly. I do not have the look of one of the elven servants, or I might well be invisible. I wonder how masked men live their lives without ever seeing the servants have an entire society of their own? If you want to find something useful, I would pay attention to what the servants do.
[Back to 1]

4 - Investigate: Are you being treated well?
PC: Have you encountered any trouble with the nobles?
Solas: The Orlesians do not quite know what to make of me. I have kept to myself, for fear of giving them some purchase to cling to. The food and drink are excellent, however, and the servants have been happy to refill my glass.
[Back to 1]

5 - Flirt: Care to dance?
PC: Do you have any interest in dancing?
Solas: A great deal… although dancing with an elven apostate would win you few favors with the court. Perhaps once our business here is done?
[Back to 1]

6 - General: Goodbye.
PC: I’ll be back.
Solas: Hunt well.

If the PC walks away from the conversation: Solas: Such lovely pageantry.

Varric

The PC approaches Varric in the gardens.

Varric: having fun, boss? I always enjoy canapes while surrounded by people who want to kill me. Varric (if spoken to before): What’s on your mind?

1 - Dialogue options:

Investigate: Anything I should hear? [2]
Investigate: How’s the party? [3]
Investigate: You have a fan club. [4]
General: We’ll talk later. [5]

2 - Investigate: Anything I should hear?
PC: What’s happening? Anything I should know about?
Varric: To be honest, I haven’t seen much. But you wouldn’t expect anything to happen out in the open. Everyone is on edge, and it’s not just that they’re worried about the war.
[Back to 1]

3 - Investigate: How’s the party?
PC: Having fun, Varric?
Varric: My brother used to throw galas like this in Kirkwall. I always tried to avoid them. I’m not much of a dancer these days.
[Back to 1]

4 - Investigate: You have a fan club.
PC: I didn’t realize you were famous. You have plenty of admirers.
Varric: I didn’t know my books sold so well in Orlais. I’m going to have a chat with my publisher.
[Back to 1]

5 - General: We’ll talk later.
PC: We can chat later. Just wait for the signal.
Varric: Just give the word. We’re ready to move.

Vivienne

The PC approaches Vivienne in the ballroom

Vivienne: And here we are. Vivienne (high court approval): You’ve done well so far. Keep it up. Remember, my dear, this is war. Vivienne (neutral court approval): You haven’t embarrassed yourself as much as I feared. Well done, my dear. Vivienne (low court approval): If you can, refrain from speaking to anyone for the rest of the evening, darling. You don’t want to hurt yourself.

Vivienne (if spoken to before): Don’t worry so much, my dear. I’ll be ready when the time comes to strike.

1 - Dialogue options:

Investigate: What’s with the masks? [2]
Investigate: Have you seen anything? [3]
Investigate: You’re having fun, aren’t you? [4]
Investigate: Any advice about the court? [5]
General: Who do you support? [6]
General: Just be ready for trouble. [7]

2 - Investigate: What’s with the masks? PC: I’ve always wondered, what’s the Orlesian fascination with masks? Vivienne: We all wear masks, my dear. Not just the people in Orlais. Vivienne (male PC): Who you are as a son, a lover, a friend is not the same man who speaks for Andraste and leads the Inquisition.
Vivienne (female PC): Who you are as a daughter, a lover, a friend are very different people from the Inquisitor and Herald of Andraste. Vivienne: Orlesians codify this truth, make it visible. By giving each of these selves its own separate face, they believe they can be their truest selves, unmasked. [Back to 1]

3 - Investigate: Have you seen anything? PC: Anything happening I should know about? Vivienne: Keep an eye out for Celene’s pet apostate. I’ve no doubt she’s involved in this. Vivienne (if Cole is in party): Cole is behaving even more oddly than usual. Someone should keep an eye on him. Vivienne: Strange that I haven’t seen much of Grand Duchess Florianne. One could always find her clinging desperately to the empress’s skirts before. [Back to 1]

4 - Investigate: You’re having fun, aren’t you? PC: It seems like you enjoy this, Vivienne. Vivienne: This is the Game, Inquisitor. Of course I enjoy it. If I didn’t, I’d be dead by now.

5 - Investigate: Any advice about the court? PC: Any words of wisdom for navigating this ballroom? Vivienne: Speak to the Council of Heralds. Six of them are here tonight. The seventh member of the council is… indisposed. His absence will complicate the negotiations. the council are the highest ranking players of the Game. They see everything. They might know something we can use. [Back to 1]

6 - General: Who do you support? PC: Tell me, Vivienne: where do you want the crown to fall? Vivienne: What I want is irrelevant, darling. Orlais requires stability, and that is best served by Empress Celene. [Back to 1]

7 - General: Just be ready for trouble. PC: Be ready to act when I give the signal. Vivienne: Always, my dear.

Advisors

Cullen

The PC approaches Cullen in the ballroom.

Cullen: Inquisitor! Did you need something? The sooner we track down this infiltrator, the better.

1 - Dialogue options:

Investigate: Any advice? [2]
Investigate: Who would you support? [3]
Investigate: What’s out next move? [4]
Investigate: You have admirers. [5]
Investigate (romanced): You have admirers. [6]
Investigate: Anything to report? [7]
Flirt: Save me dance? [8]
General: Carry on. [9]

2 - Investigate: Any advice?
PC: Do you have any advice?
Cullen: Orlesian social events don’t fall within my area of expertise. There are few here we can trust. Be careful.
[Back to 1]

3 - Investigate: Who would you support?
PC: Who do you think the Inquisition should support?
Cullen: Gaspard’s claim to the throne is fair. Orlais needs someone capable of responding to the crisis at hand. A military-minded leader seems the best option.
[Back to 1]

4 - Investigate: What’s out next move?
PC: What’s out best course of action?
Cullen: Assuming claims against Gaspard are false, I believe he’d be the strongest ally. But if it means Celene’s death… can we make such a choice in good conscious?

Dialogue options:

Special: What about Briala? [10]

[Back to 1]

10 - Special: What about Briala?
PC: Briala’s an option.
Cullen: One that only complicates matters further.
[Back to 1]

5 - Investigate: You have admirers.
PC: You’ve attracted a following. Who are all these people?
Cullen: I don’t know, but they won’t leave me alone.
PC: I take it you’re not enjoying yourself.
Cullen: At this point, the headache I’m developing is preferable to the company.
[Back to 1]

6 - Investigate: You have admirers.
PC: You’ve attracted a following. Who are all these people?
Cullen: I don’t know, but they won’t leave me alone.
PC: Not enjoying the attention, then?
Cullen: Hardly. Anyways, yours—(clears throat)—yours is the only attention worth having.
[Back to 1]

7 - Investigate: Anything to report?
PC: Have you noticed anything out of the ordinary?
Cullen: Not yet. It would be easier if people would stop talking to me. Other people. Not you.
Cullen: Nothing that stands out. I doubt there’s a person here without ulterior motives.
Cullen: I’ll let you know at once if I do.

8 - Flirt: Save me dance?
PC: I don’t suppose you’d save a dance for me?
Cullen: No, thank you.
PC: Oh.
Cullen: No! I didn’t mean to—Maker’s breath! I’ve answered that question so many times I’m rejecting it automatically. I’m not one for dancing. The templars never attended balls.

10 - General: Carry on.
PC: We’ll talk later.
Cullen: I await your signal.

Josephine

The PC approaches Josephine in the ballroom.

Yvette: Josephine! Oh Josephine, is this [them]?

Josephine: (Sighs.) Inquisitor, please allow me to present to you my younger sister, Yvette Gabriella Montilyet.

Dialogue options:

General: A pleasure. [1]
General: Another Lady Montilyet? [2]
General: Hello. [3]

1 - General: A pleasure.
PC: Delighted to meet you, Lady Montilyet. [4]

2 - General: Another Lady Montilyet?
PC: There can never be too many Lady Montilyets in Thedas, can there? [4]

3 - General: Hello.
PC: Greetings, my lady. [4]

4 - Scene continues.

Yvette: (Giggles.) Inquisitor, I’ve heard so much about you! But not as much as I want. Josephine writes, but she never tells me anything.

Choice dependent dialogue:

Romanced Josephine [5]
Sided Mages [6]
Sided templars [7]

5 - Romanced Josephine
Yvette: Is it true you and Josephine are going to elope and move to the Anderfels and join the Grey Wardens and fight darkspawn?

Josephine: Yvette!

Yvette: I want to know!

Dialogue options:

General: I’m afraid you’re mistaken. [8]
General: Absolutely [9]
General: Excuse me? [10]

8 - General: I’m afraid you’re mistaken.
PC: Rumors exaggerate many things, Lady Yvette.
Yvette: It sounded so romantic. [17]

9 - General: Absolutely.
PC: I already packed out bags, didn’t I, darling?
Yvette: I knew it!
Josephine: Inquisitor, please give her no more ammunition, I beg you. [17]

10 - General: Excuse me?
PC: What are you talking about? Of course not!
Yvette: It sounded so romantic. [17]

6 - Sided Mages
Yvette: Is it true rebel mages in Redcliffe were performing blood rites and orgies before you stopped them?

Josephine: Where did you hear such nonsense?

Yvette: Everyone in Antiva says so! Is it true?

Dialogue options:

General: I’m afraid not. [11]
General: Sure, why not. [12]
General: Not at all. [13]

11 - General: I’m afraid not.
PC: Those stories are little more than wistful thing, my lady.
Yvette: Oh. How dull Redcliffe must have been, then. [17]

12 - General: Sure, why not.
PC: Of course. Every word. Especially the parts where everyone was nude.
Yvette: I knew it!
Josephine: (Groans.)

13 - General: Not at all.
PC: Of course not. How do people come up with these ideas?
Yvette: Oh. How dull Redcliffe must have been, then. [17]

7 - Sided templars
Yvette: Is it true you found the red templars sacrificing heretics and drinking blood from mages’ veins?

Josephine: Yvette!

Yvette: Everyone in Antiva is saying so! Is it true?

General: It’s all exaggerated. [14]
General: Every bit of it. [15]
General: That’s preposterous. [16]

14 - General: It’s all exaggerated.
PC: There was dark magic there, yes, but none of it so… visceral.
Yvette: Oh. Did you check everywhere?
Josephine: That’s quite enough Yvette. Really. [17]

15 - General: Every bit of it.
PC: Oh, it was awful. Mage bones everywhere. Practically a carpet of skulls over a river of blood.
Yvette: Eeek! How awful!
Josephine: (Sighs wearily.) [17]

16 - General: That’s preposterous.
PC: That’s not what happened at Therinfal Redoubt.
Yvette: Oh. Did you check everywhere?
Josephine: That’s quite enough Yvette. Really. [17]

17 - Scene continues.

18 - Dialogue options:

Investigate (after dance with Florianne): Should we support Briala? [19]
Investigate: Who would you support here? [20]
Investigate: Tell me about yourself. [21]
Investigate: How’s the evening? [22]
Investigate: Any tales about Josephine? [23]
General: Goodbye. [24]

19 - Investigate: Should we support Briala?
PC: What do you think of helping Briala take control?
Josephine: (Burst of laughter.) Oh. Oh, you were… serious. I cannot recommend it. Whatever Briala offers, she—of anyone here—has the least reason to stay loyal to us.
[Back to 18]

20 - Investigate: Who would you support here?
PC: Which power should the Inquisition throw its weight behind?
Josephine: Celene has held the throne successfully for years. I see no profit in ousting her. Gaspard has run military campaigns but never a kingdom. His transition would be… let us say “chaotic.”
[Back to 18]

21 - Investigate: Tell me about yourself.
PC: Tell me about yourself, Lady Yvette. This is the first time I’ve encountered any of Josephine’s family.
Yvette: She would forget to mention the artists. I’ve been studying painting under Antiva’s royal tutors. You should be proud, Josie. I’m going to be exhibiting my work next season in the city’s big salon.
Josephine: Have you actually say down and finished a painting yet?
Yvette: I must wait for my inspiration!
Josephine: And I must wait for your tutor’s bills.
[Back to 18]

22 - Investigate: How’s the evening?
PC: Enjoying the ball?
Josephine: I see many—
Yvette: The dancing is so dull, Your Worship, but the empress’s gallery is magnificent!
Josephine: Yvette…
Yvette: Sorry Josie.

Dialogue options:

Special: Please continue, Josephine. [25]

[Back to 18]

25 - Special: Please continue, Josephine.
PC: Go on, Josephine.
Josephine: Half Val Royeaux must be empty, so many of the empire’s finest are in attendance. They’ve noticed the empress paying you special attention, but they don’t quite know how to take advantage of it yet. This uncertainty won’t last long, I’m afraid.
[Back to 18]

23 - Investigate: Any tales about Josephine?
PC: This may be my only chance to hear about when Josephine was a girl.
Yvette: Oh, yes! Has she told you about when she was ten and—
Josephine: Yvette. Stop.
Yvette: Fine. What about when we were climbing the cliffs by the—
Josephine: No.
Yvette: She once told the Duke of—
Josephine: Absolutely not.
Yvette: Hrmph. She still plays with her doll collection when no one’s looking!
Josephine: Yvette! That’s… absurd. Absolutely preposterous!
Yvette: (Snickers.)

24 - General: Goodbye.
PC: I’ll see you later.
Yvette: Another time!

—

Ambient dialogue between Josephine and Yvette:

Josephine: Tell me, Yvette, how are Mama and Papa? Are they in good health? Do they want for anything?
Yvette: Papa’s perfectly happy in the studio. Mother is the same as always.
Josephine: Meaning she’s after you to do more work.
Yvette: You always take her side!
Josephine: I don’t “take her side.” I happen to think, as she does, you might attend to more of the estate’s duties. Also, stop slouching.

Yvette: Are you happy to see me at all, Josie?
Josephine: It may not have wise to attend this particular engagement, Yvette.
Yvette: I didn’t want to come. Mother made me. At least Halamshiral has such pretty gardens. They’re so darling, I took out my parchment!
Josephine: Not another book of poetry?
Yvette: (Giggles.)

Yvette: I’ve an idea, Josephine. You should invite all the family to Skyhold for the summer!
Josephine: You’d be bored the second you stepped past the gates! Skyhold is a fortified castle, not a holiday resort.
Yvette: You don’t miss us?
Josephine: Of course I do, Yvette. There’s just so much work undone.
Yvette: You always put these tasks ahead of us.
Josephine: Well… I’ll see if I can come home for your gallery showing. How does that sound?
Yvette: Ph, that would be so nice! Do you promise?
Josephine: Yes, I promise.
Yvette: Oh, wonderful!

Leliana

The PC approaches Leliana in the ballroom. She is ina conversation with a nearby noble.

Marquis Etienne: Mistress Nightingale! What a pleasure to see you again! You look radiant!

Leliana: Marquis! It’s been far too long! How is your family in Val Chevin?

Etienne: No complaints, my dear. No complaints. You must come to the chateau to see the girls! They will be overjoyed.

Leliana: I have missed them very much. Little Sylvie must be ten now, no?

Etienne: Eleven! And already up to my elbow. Oh, how they grow.

Leliana: Perhaps I shall can on you soon.

Etienne: Excellent! Now, I must dance with the dowager. It was lovely to see you, my dear.

The marquis leaves.

Leliana: (Sighs.)

The PC walks up to her.

Leliana: Inquisitor.

Leliana: Look at lady Cambienne’s slippers. Trimmed with pearls and emeralds? And those buckles! Toss her in the lake. and she’ll sink right to the bottom. What a disaster.

Lelianna (if spoken to before): Ugh, so many crimes of fashion,

1 - Dialogue options:

Special: Shoes? That’s your concern? [2]
Special (if spoken to before): You mentioned someone’s shoes? [2]
Investigate: You seem different here. [3]
Investigate: Anything to report? [4]
Investigate: Who should we support? [5]
Investigate (after dance with Florianne): Do you support Briala?
General: I have some information
General: We’ll speak later.

2 - Special: Shoes? That’s your concern?/You mentioned someone’s shoes? PC: There is a Tevinter assassin on the loose, and you’re concerned about buckles? On shoes? PC (if spoken to before): You spoke of Lady Cambienne’s shoes, earlier. Shouldn’t you be focused on other things? Leliana: Everyone needs a hobby. Besides, you can learn a great deal about a person from their clothing. Gold and jewels on a dancing slipper. A slipper easily lost. and finds itself in the dust and dirt. She in unconcerned with the possibility of losing the shoe or soiling it. A vulgar display of wealth. But Lady Cambienne’s family has recently lost most of its holdings. They have their title, but little else. So! How did Cambienne acquire such a grand shoe, hmm? What has she done? Who has she bedded? These are all useful questions, no? [Back to 1]

3 - Investigate: You seem different here. PC: You’re different here, than in Skyhold. More… approachable, perhaps? Leliana: This is Halamshiral, Inquisitor. This is the Imperial Court. This is the beating heart of the Great Game. Of course everyone is wearing a mask. I learned this very young. I was still a girl when I attended my first ball. All this? The smiles, the small talk? It is a dance. And like any dance, it can be learned. [Back to 1]

4 - Investigate: Anything to report? PC: Have you seen anything? Leliana: Oh, yes. Halamshiral is lousy with scandals and scheming. But no sign of our Tevinter infiltrator, I’m afraid. [Back to 1]

5 - Investigate: Who should we support? PC: Who do you think the Inquisition should support? Leliana: What we need most of all is a stable Orlais. Either Celene or Gaspard can give us that. [Back to 1]

6 - Investigate (after dance with Florianne): Do you support Briala? PC: Do you really think Briala should be given influence? Leliana: Celene has been in power long enough to expect support. If we can secure her throne, she will be grateful. But such gratitude will pale beside the of one we raise up from nothing. Who is lower than the elf? If we place Briala in power, with Gaspard as her mask, her debt to us will be great, indeed. And Gaspard will have the throne he has wanted. With conditions, of course, I suspect he will find it gratifying. [Back to 1]

7 - General: I have some information PC: I found this out. I’m not sure of its value. Leliana (first secret turned in): A little more dirt like this, and we might have some leverage in the court. If you find more, let me know. Leliana: Excellent. Leliana: The things couriers get up to. Leliana: They’ll never live this down. Leliana: We can use this. Leliana: Good work. [Back to 1]

8 - General: We’ll speak later. PC: I should go. Be on your guard. Leliana: I always am.