A Timely Connection

Writers: Aaron, Corrin
Date Posted: 24th October 2024

Characters: Corofel, Damarin
Description: Damarin of Skyvale arrives at Emerald Falls with charm, a lavish gift, and a plan to advance his family’s influence.
Location: Emerald Falls Hold
Date: month 10, day 28 of Turn 11
Notes: Mentioned: Sybana, Dayngad (NPC), Dalgarian (NPC)

Corofel

Holder Daryngad had been amiably complacent at the idea of sending his youngest daughter to Harper Hall for further schooling. He mildly voiced that he’d thought wardship at Opal Cove should be good enough preparation for any young lady, but he raised no further protest after Sybana said she’d really like to go. Her brothers said they’d arrange it for her, and that was the end of the shadowplay. Daryngad never suspected his children of having ulterior motives. He thought them as straightforward and content as he was himself. Skyvale had already risen meteorically from the obscurity of the Interval. What more could one want?

Dalgarian’s duties as heir kept him at the hold, so it fell to Damarin to champion their ambitions at Emerald Falls--and he was keen to do just that. A series of letters helped pave the way. In these letters, he introduced himself as a fellow civic minded holder (which he was), and expressed an interest in seeing the Fall’s famed hydro plant (which he was honestly dying to see). It led to a warm exchange with the young lord, and when the moment was right, Damarin also mentioned he had a sister who wanted to move north to study with a master of voice at Harper Hall. It led to an invitation for both of them.

They arrived in Emerald Falls with a bevy of dragons and luggage and gifts. Damarin left his sister with the headwoman in the courtyard and took with him only a small lacquer box as he was ushered into his prearranged meeting with the lord.

“Lord Corofel,” Damarin smiled as he stepped into the reception room. “It’s good to finally put a face to the name.”

Damarin, for his part, was a tall man with the dark curls and green eyes typical of his blood. There was a dramatic intensity to his writing that showed in his expression even now as he offered his hand. He had about a decade on Corofel and was dressed in enough understated finery to rival any great lord. Everything suggested that the rumored wealth of Skyhold was completely true.

Corofel was glad he had asked for and followed Gordenic's advice and dressed to match. He would have hated to look frumpy in front of a holder who was clearly dressing to impress.

"Damarin!" He took and shook the man's hand. "Welcome to Emerald Falls."

"It's a beautiful hold," Damarin said with charming sincerity. "I had high expectations, but they've been exceeded."

Pleasantries exchanged, they settled to sit, and Damarin finally proffered the lacquer box he had been carrying. "I've come bearing gifts. The bulk of which I left with your headwoman to disperse, but this is particularly for you, as thanks for your many favors." With a smooth flourish, he opened the box to reveal an exquisite pocket watch on a bed of black velvet. The body of the watch was wreathed with the golden wheat sheafs of the Falls, a large emerald at it's center. "Crafted by one of Skyvale's finest smiths. A good timepiece is an aide to any holder."

Corofel had been trained to school his expression. Of course, as a young man, he was not always successful in implementing that training. This might have been one of his worst failures. His eyes were saucers. It would be an understatement to say he had not expected a gift anything like this. This was the kind of thing he was going to be intentionally passing down to his heirs. He certainly had nothing of equal value ready to give Damarin in return-- even the favors that had brought him there to begin with.

And that was surely his intention. Corofel could not refuse the gift, he could not sell or repurpose the gift. Damarin was demonstrating with expertise just how much Corofel needed him, _and_ unless he disrespected the gift, others would surely see the same thing.

"It's flawless," he said. "And thoughtful. Thank you."

Damarin smiled, savoring Corofel’s undisguised admiration. How sweet it was to see a plan go off well. “But of course! You’re doing us no small favor. Skyvale is growing rapidly now and we're in desperate need of a new power system. The opportunity to study your hydro plants will be instrumental in helping us lead our holding to a bright new future-- and on a more personal note, it’s a great comfort to us that you’ve offered to host Sybana during the course of her studies. She’s the baby of the family and a charming girl, too charming for her own good. We hope you’ll look out for her.”

"Certainly!" And of course, he would be expected to spend some time getting to know her. Most parents who spoke to him of their daughters hoped for that, but most parents who spoke to him had not just given him an emerald bejeweled pocket watch. "We will see to it she has everything she requires."

"Excellent!" Damarin clapped his hands together, beaming with pleasure. With that key element assured, he shifted gears back to business with an anticipatory smile. "Now, if you don't mind, I'd love to see those schematics you've mentioned..."

Last updated on the November 4th 2024

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A Timely Connection