The Crowning of Cullen Rutherford

[etcircenses]

Who| Everyone who's anyone.
What| The Crowning of Cullen Rutherford.
Where| The new Rutherford Castle.
When| Friday, late afternoon into the evening.
Notes| This event is mandatory for all Tributes to attend. Even if you do not tag in, your character will attend this party. Peacekeepers will be on high alert, so no funny business.
WARNINGS| Please warn appropriately in headers.

The crowning ceremony takes place in an approximation of Skyhold, a large fortress with a castle with a sweeping main hall, gardens, and two levels of courtyard. Flags and banners hang everywhere, some with heraldry of the Inquisition, some with the heraldry of the Templar Order, a nod to Cullen's old days as a Templar. And of course, just as prominent everywhere you look is the seal of the Capitol. Just in case anyone forgot where they were.

The medieval fashion (or as close of approximation to medieval as the Capitol as gotten) that had come in with the 13th arena is back in full swing. There's plenty of fake armor to be seen, and foam swords resting on Capitolite hips. Sweeping ballgowns can be spotted as well, and a few more savvy people seem to have come dressed in a strange red and gold uniform. The avoxes do their best to blend in to the environment with drab brown peasant outfits.

In the main hall, tables filled with medieval food have been set up on both sides of the walls, filled with approximations of medieval food--As far as the Capitolites are concerned, that means normal food, but with a tendency for venison and large turkey legs. There are even dainty little cakes for dessert. Along the walls, above the food tables, hang multiple pictures. Featuring in this galley are every native of Thedas that had come to Panem at one point or another, all of them dressed in dour blacks of funeral wear, save the four remaining Thedasians. But of course, there are plenty of pictures of the Victor, starting with Cullen has a chubby blond child, going into him as an awkward young Templar (there's even a picture of him talking to a woman that the title identifies as Warden Amell), going through unfortunate hair cuts, and of course, various pictures of him in Panem, capturing a variety of touching and painful moments.

It all culminates when you get to the end of the hall, where there rests a massive throne just for Cullen. And behind it, the largest picture of them all, a massive portrait of Cullen. Adella stands next to him, holding an infant in her arms. Maxwell and Tabris are, for some reason, also featured in this family portrait, and you have to wonder if the artist in question didn't perhaps ship the ever popular Maxullen, because Maxwell's hand was looking awfully chummy on Cullen's shoulder.

The bottom courtyard has been set up with stalls, where you can buy foam swords and shields, little mabari plushes, and even a lion helmet. There's also little wedding toppers, shaped just like Cullen and Adella, and framed pictures of most of the art that hangs in the main hall. The nearby stables have been stocked with a variety of mounts, from the standard horses to more exotic harts, a strange dragon-like creature, and...no one is really sure what this is, but it...looks interesting?

In the upper courtyard, there's the Herald's Rest, a real, rustic tavern, with a woman playing a guitar and singing various songs. All the songs seem to revolve around how great the Capitol is, which kind of offsets the mood, but it's the thought that counts, right? It doesn't help that the bar has been outfitted to serve all kinds of modern drinks, but who wants plain ale, anyway? Outside of the tavern is a practice ring, where people can put to use their fake swords and shields, either trying to maul each other, or a target. Several peacekeepers offset the aesthetic feel in uncompromising white, carefully watching all participants to make sure that everyone is playing nicely.

If everything is just a little too busy for you, the garden is left in quiet peace. A woman dressed in red and white robes will occasionally begin speaking, extolling the virtues of the Capitol, and President Snow in a lengthy monologue.

There are a few actors wandering around, appearing as various people who have made an impact on Cullen's life. There's the mysterious Warden Amell, a man in full armor, and a woman dressed similarly. These two will wander around, swords in hand, ready to smack anyone with foam swords and accuse them of being blood mages. One actress is dressed like a certain Marian Hawke who had at one time been a tribute. She darts around the fortress, stopping people and regaling them with highly exaggerated tales of things that Cullen has supposedly done. There's even a few creatures running around that people may recognize from the last arena, such as the tastefully almost-nude desire demon that will occasionally try to sidle up to people--usually to be driven off by one of the people in armor.

There's one more addition to the party--dogs! A very specific kind of dog. Several dogs simply wander around Skyhold, trying to steal people's food and begging for attention. Next to the throne are four particularly handsome ones, each one with a collar baring the name of one of the four Thedasians left.

If wandering around Skyhold and competing with swords leaves you dry-mouthed, you're in luck! Dotted around the area are fountains that all pour a strange, bright blue punch. Listen closely, because the fountain seems to be humming a strange tune. If you have a careful eye, you might even find the one that has red punch pouring out if it, humming an oddly sinister tune.

Well, what harm could there be in going ahead and trying it out anyway?

Comments

[theflyingone]

Altaïr assumed the manner of someone simply displeased by the presence of Thirteen. By now, he'd picked up on the usual Capitolite's displeasure at "inconveniences" like this, as if war could never really touch them. Inside, he was eager for information.

"We were told Thirteen was wiped out in the war, and that any current rebel movements were swiftly put down. I saw the inside of a cell myself before I could even guess how Peacekeepers found me. The Capitol never fails to remind us that they will keep us all safe. Where is this coming from? Within the city? Outside? You don't seem surprised Thirteen still exists, just more concerned about stopping the broadcast. Have you known?"

Where can I find the enemy of my enemy? He peppered this man's armor with questions like arrows. That seemed to work on just about everyone, except perhaps Al Mualim back home. The old man had Snow's indefatigable poise, as well as his beard.

[lex_paciferat]

"There's always some political unrest from time to time," Quintus explains, keeping his frustration in check. "We are aware that insurgents are out there, we have been tracking them, and I can tell you with certainty that this didn't originate inside the Capitol. I can also assure you that we're going to do our best to snuff this dissent out."

[theflyingone]

So these rebels weren't new. They might actually be from the original Thirteen, versus just using their name. And the Capitol had been tracking them, but not enough to hunt them all down. This was promising.

"You have lied to us this entire time. An entire city did not know. How long have these 'insurgents' been operating? The entire seventy years? You mean to tell us your kingdom stronghold, your city, is an island surrounded by hostile rebels, and no one knows?" He leaned back, doing his best not to sound satisfied, "Well, now they do. I wish they would commandeer your viewing screens more often."

[lex_paciferat]

"I'm not talking about an organized front; I'm talking about occasional violence in the Districts. Incidents that weren't notable and easily put down."

Leaning in, he lowers his voice to an irritated murmur. "I'd recommend you try to avoid addressing a Peacekeeper like that. I'm used to getting flak from the populace, but given how things are going right now, some of my colleagues won't take kindly to it."

[theflyingone]

He glared at the Peacekeeper. He had never been good with authority, even with people on his own side. The traitor cuff's metal was cold against the rising heat of his skin. The smart thing to do would be to ask if he should be afraid of these so-called consequences—or better yet, not ask that at all. But he scowled instead.

"This sort of message was highly organized and well-thought-out. The Capitol is always touting their security, and then this happens. Do not insult the intelligence of the people you claim to protect, or I will not be the only one with harsh words."