The character is a Female City Elf Rogue, Livarion.
Part the First:
Wherein Denerim's most cunning crime syndicate infiltrates a noble house
.I'm woken by my cousin, who has red hair and can therefore be expected to lose her temper at some point. She wants to know if I know what day it it. Well that's easy. It's Armistice Day. Since that's not one of the options I go for something rather neutral. Only that's wrong too. Apparently I'm getting married today. I wish somebody told me these things. Then she tells me he's here already, making it clear she's been checking out my husband behind my back. Already planning the adultery, I suppose. I'd better keep an eye on her.
Then she tells me I have to get up, and leaves. I look around, and I'm not totally impressed by the surroundings or by my clothes. It all looks a bit cheap. Still, there's a chest in the corner so that's a chance to practice my lockpicking skills and obtain some no-doubt-valuable loot. Maybe some armour, weapons, a magic item or two... or perhaps my wedding dress. I put it on, and it's a little better than the ordinary clothes that I was sleeping in. There's an older elf standing around doing nothing. If that's my betrothed, he just watched me changing. It turns out to be my father, who's presumably a dirty old man, who seems a bit miserable. There is apparently no getting out of the wedding he's arranged for me. "It's TRADITIONAL."
And then the whole situation, which was beginning to depress me, takes a turn for the strange. Apparently my mother trained me in combat, which should be kept a secret. Although she's dead (or maybe missing) she was a master thief, and I've inherited the job description. Clearly my father is the head of Denerim's best elven criminal gang, my mother was his best agent, I'm a trained ninja, and the poor surroundings are just a cover. He gives me my mother's boots, which have a powerful enchantment that makes people dislike me less. That might be useful, since my armour consists of a wedding dress and my weapons are a winning smile. Then he basically shoves me out the door. Clearly, this wedding mission is very important. I just wish I knew what I was supposed to do, apart from finding my cousin since it's apparently a double wedding.
Outside I wander around, talking to everyone I can find and accepting their tribute. A gang of drunks require a little persuasion, which I will have to tell my father about, but a couple who claim they knew my mother are much more forthcoming, providing ten (10!) silver pieces which they've spent years saving. An older man has brought a cart, which I assume is full of tribute until I talk to him; it turns out that some human has thrown him out of his home, and that he doesn't want charity. Never let it be said that I give people things they don't want, although it turns it his daughter is willing to beg for my generosity. She takes half the money I'm carrying, and after I talk to my father about this he's willing to show some generosity too; no doubt some of his pimps need new workers.
Eventually I do track down my cousin Soris. He's also been checking on my prospective groom (and his prospective bride), and he seems to think mine is pretty good looking. Since it's clearly all a ploy of my father, I play along and commiserate with him. Then we head back to the centre of the Alienage and speak to an elf who'd earlier indicated an interest in speaking to Soris. It's not about me, so it's a very boring conversation. We also wander down a side alley, and find two elven children who know nothing of their heritage and are playing a game about human heroes. I tell them the totally not made up story of an uncatchable elven master thief who's treasure is hidden all over Ferelden, and they start playing a game about her instead. Clearly there's a need for better education for children in this district.
Then my cousin and I go to meet our bride/groom. Mine may be quite good looking, it's hard to tell, but he also seems like a bit of a wimp. She has a dress that's better than mine, and I hate her instantly. At least she's ugly. We say a few things to each other, with me staying frigidly polite, and then they wander over towards the wedding group. Where as soon as I follow, some human in rather fancier clothing wanders over, gropes one of the bridesmaids, and starts talking about whores. A short exchange of words later, and my cousin bashes him with a jug of ale. You go, girl! Suddenly I'm much less bothered about adultery, because he's a wimp and someone like her would never want much to do with him. I know I don't. Anyway, his cronies threaten us with his daddy and carry him away.
Another human turns up just after this, and Soris suggests we give him a good seeing to. Since he's armed and armoured and we, despite my ninja training, probably don't want to get dirty before the wedding plot can play out, I decide on a diplomatic approach. It turns out he's a Grey Warden, knew my mother, and some old elf-geezer confirms he's a friend of the elves. Any friend of the elves is a friend of mine. Though he does seem a little vague about why he's here. No doubt after the wedding we'll find out more.
And now it's time for the wedding. I still don't know exactly what the plot is that requires I marry this wimp, but no doubt it will soon become clear. We line up on the platform, and a human priestess turns up to perform the blessing. As does lump-on-head noble, this time with guards, who's decided to have a prty and he wants some female entertainers. Suddenly, my father's cunning ploy becomes apparent. The wedding is a cover to infiltrate me (and perhaps some of these other women are expert thieves) onto this nobles estate. There's a bit of conversation, then I try to throw myself on his mercy, in exchange for the others being left behind.
And then he hits me, and knocks me unconscious. That's going to leave a bruise. For that, you die.
Edited by Bluenose, 26 November 2009 - 08:02 AM.