Child of Ember - Chapter 12

Celestia watches the others, a slight look of shock on her face. Looking around, Celestia grabs a couple of towels and steps outside the bathhouse.
A couple of minutes later, Celestia returns. She is wrapped in a towel and has a big bundle, also wrapped in a towel, in her arms. She finds the dryest looking place and sets the bundle on it. She gives it a little pat and then turns to the rest of the group. Sticking out of the corner of the towel is some brightly colored floral material. Celestia spots it and covers it up again.
Celestia stands at the edge of the bath, her long dark hair flowing down her dark skin. With her finely chiseled features, Celestia could almost be mistaken for a statue. With a wink at Eve, Celestia drops the towel and revels some dark colored undergarments that have a purple tint to them. She smiles and joins the others in the bath. When Celestia gets closer to the others, they can see that the purple tint to her garments is actually a floral pattern done with a dark purple thread.
Turning to Dea, Celestia says "I want to apologize if I have committed any offenses towards you before. I didn't know that your Order does not allow anyone to touch you unless permission is given. I don't know if I did or not, but I didn't want you to be mad at me if i did."
Before Dea can respond, Celestia takes a deep breath and ducks underwater. Her hair forms a blackish-purple cloud on the surface and then gets pulled under.

The water is very warm, simular to a steaming hot bath, though it doesn't scald you. The minerals in the water make your skin tingle slightly and you feel a sense of lightness and giddiness that is mildly intoxicating.
Eve looks at Lit, who has still yet to join the group. "Well come on, you were anxious to test the water, now is your chance!" she says with a chuckle as she leans back in the steaming water and rests her arms against the sides.
The sheer material of her undergarments seem to reveal more than they conceal, and you notice that though her body is composed of bits and pieces, each piece is perfect, from the line of her slender neck, to the well rounded curves a pair of breasts that rest half submerged in the water.
She glances at the others, "Perhaps we are a bit too much for him?"

Lit looks at the three ladies, Eve in particular, and finishes a chant he apparently started before he entered the room. As he does, the little sweat that beads his brow seems to vanish.
Lit has cast a cantrip spell to keep himself dry even if he should submerge himself. An added benefit of this particular spell is that it increases the heat he feels on his body, seemingly sucking the excess heat from the air around him, and giving it a noticeably chilly feel. Most people would find this type of spell uncomfortable, but Lit seems to take some odd pleasure in it.
"Of course I'll join you, presently." he grins wickedly, then walks over to the edge of the spring.
Lit takes the dagger from his belt and places it at the edge of the spring, most beneficially under some foliage to prevent it from getting wet, then dives into the water, trying to splash any of the three ladies he can.

"I doubt that he is here to test the water", Dea murmurs.
She is half-floating in the water, enjoying the tingling feeling on her skin, as she considers her situation.
She momentarily stops to stand up.
"I think I will have to apologize to you, Eve, and Celestia, for my harsh behavior.
I realize you are not known with the customs of my land. I do not take you breach of our local etiquette as a slight, though I admit I was shocked when it happened."
She reaches out to take the two women's hands.
"You'll both have my consent... I realize how awkward things might otherwise be. And I do not want to put up a barrier for our friendship." The splash from Lit jumping into the bath waves over her.
She takes a look at the young man as he comes up from the water.
"And our young friend can have my consent... as soon as he gets himself wet."

Celestia gets out and dives in, swiming underwater, splashing people. All of it in good fun but taking care not to hurt any of the others.
She does this for about 5 or 10 minutes. Then her attitude changes. She goes to a level part of the bath and starts humming a song and dancing, a kind of a water ballet.
She stood in the middle of the bath. Her dark hair clung loosely to her body looking like a shirt or short cape. For a brief moment the only sound was the gentle lapping of the water.
With a sudden but calculated leap, Celestia landed near the side of the bath. She grabbed an unused towel and returned to the center of the bath. Holding the towel over her head with both hands, Celestia started swaying her hips back and forth. The image was reminiscent of a reed in a gentling flowing stream. She traced a circle in the center if the bath with her motions, her purple-black hair leaving a slight trail behind her. Whipping the towel out in front of her, Celestia set the open towel on the water.
Celestia gracefully curtsied to the towel and then began to move again. Her lips mouthed words that were both barely audible and ancient. Her face was totally alluring. It had the look that might make some men stammer and others delve into amorous thoughts. Celestia circled the towel. Her motions sent little waves spreading out towards the edges of the pool. The motions of her arms were wild and free. There was an unspoken joy and happiness in their movement. Her hair swirled mesmerizingly around her, as if it was a dancer in the duet.
As the towel slowly sank, Celestia's joyful motions took on a profound edge of sadness. Her arms appeared to be sluggish and some of her motion seemed leaden. Her hair took on a gripping, strangling look. It stuck to her body in inky drapes that bespoke despair. Her face looked like that of a broken soul far from home and all alone.
When the towel sank completely beneath the surface, Celestia flawlessly mimicked its descent. She plunged under the water until her hair looked like a kelp patch floating on the ocean. Slowly, that too disappeared beneath the surface of the water.
After a couple of heartbeats, Celestia exploded back to the surface of the water. Her hair fell about her body like a cascade of rich, sparkling silk. Water sprayed around her like trumpeteers announcing the arrival of royalty. The towel flew through the air and landed perfectly in Celestia's outstretched hand. With some mystical movements of her hands, the towel was once again resting on the surface of the water. Celestia rushed towards the towel and then away. The water and her hair pulsated with her motions. Just as the towel was about to sink under the surface, Celestia would propel it into the air and then back to the surface. She did this several times and then suddenly stopped.
The water glistened on her body. Celestia's chest rose alluringly as she caught her breath. Wading over to the others, she sat down.
"I hope I didn't disturb your bath. It has been a while since I have felt this safe and relaxed. It has been a while since I have been able to dance like that too." Celestia smiled at the others and it seemed like maybe some weight had been lifted from her shoulders.

Eve smiles, lays back and relaxes in the tub.
"That was a beautiful dance, Celestia."

"That was... beautiful" Dea stammers. "I could almost feel your dance... what a great gift you have."
A look of sadness wafts over her face.
"Cherish it, girl. Enjoy it to the fullest. Don't let ambition be your downfall."

The slim ranger awakens at the sound of splashing and looks around again for anyone that might be around and then pulls a book out of his sack. He settles back and reads his book, "Falconry Made Easy".

The lady that met him at the door greets you again," The master will see you now, "she says gesturing you to follow her. and leads you up a set of stairs that lead to a walkway along a old wal to a single of the twin towers. A single arching bridge connects the tower to the main keep. Beneath a pool of still water reflects the blue of the sky. The chamber she leads you to is a simple circular room the size of the tower itself.
Within sits a man of ivory complection and dark hair. With hands steepled before him he regards you as you enter the room. He gestures to a chair across from him at the table. Scattered across the room are numerous tomes, as well as odds and ends. The walls (There is but one continuos wall that simply curves around, yet you find it more comforing to think of it as being broken into plural areas) are covered with more of the same. Weapons mounted on plaques, entires skeletons of beasts mounted with silver wire, and a single stone griffin, mounted above the door way. The griffin, despite the age of the stone it is carved from seems as though it was a new addition, not matching the other stone work of the chamber.
As Griffen sits down, the Lord of the manor smiles, "So tell me, what brings you to my abode so early in the morning? You seem to have traveled far, much farther than you realize, and Ms. Monjiere said you seemed a bit disturbed."
He sits and waits for an answer. It is obvious that he too is tired, but wishes to discern Griffen's nature. Unlike most nobles he seems like a rather down to earth person, the kind that one could grow to like.

He bows before taking a seat and looks about lying his heavy book aside that he carried from the other room. He leans back and sighs, "First let me say that I am truly sorry to have bothered you this late but I saw a young man on the road that ran in this direction and I feared I had spooked him but I needed answers so I followed him. I hail from Westgate in Fearun of course. I was trailing a dark cloaked assassin, or psychopath you might say, that I was given good authority and money to hunt and stop." He smiles and sighs as the next part of his story begins, "I was in my carriage in hot pursuit of the murderer when a mist engulfed us and my driver was suddenly gone. So I gathered my gear and commendered a horse to find my way to capture my quarry. I cannot seem to find where I am however and I can tell that some magic must be afoot."

"You will find that you are far from the world you knew. The mists, the fog you spoke of has transported you here withing the land of Richmulot. It is fortunate that you found your way here, for the night holds all manner of dangers. Tell me more of the creature you hunt."

He places his head in his hands for a moment of silence then looks back up shaking his head.
"A man for all I knew wearing a deep black cloak. He had a tendency of going after children of marks first to watch his victim squirm in anguish I would guess.
I was brought in on the case at my personal bidding, more of begging. I followed this one around watching him kill three families before on the last killing he left a parchment saying he was going to Waterdeep and if I wanted to stop the killings like I had so tried for six months I would have to follow. So I packed up the carriage and followed."
He pops his neck and looks up at the ceiling, "I think it's a male because the killer is heavy set. I also believe he has some deep mental problem because despite his actions as an assassin he uses ritualistic actions in his kills and leaves riddles and clues. The bastard wanted to be caught and as much I tried I could not ablige him. I also feared he might be some kind of otherworldly creature of undead origin because of a piece of rotting skin I found at one of the murder sites. I tried the graveyard but I could not find anything. I looked everywhere thinking it was a clue but it dawned on me that he may well be some kind of undead creature especially because of the speed he finished the killings and his rituals. A vampire perhaps. I have no idea."
He sighs deeply and looks to the door where he came from, "Now if you could tell me how to leave this Richmulot then I will be back to catching and personally executing this beast."

"I am afraid that leaving is as easy as walking out that door, though returning to your homeland is nearly all but impossible. However the quary you seek is most likely here within this very city."

His eyebrow raises and he stands seemingly loosing all the weariness in his bones as he hears that his enemy may be here. He opens his mouth to speak stops then finally does, "Have you heard any rumors? Perhaps there is a time differential or something between the time I got here and the time that my quarry arrived."

"No rumors as such yet, though the day is early," he says standing and stretching.
"Often the mists bring in a pair of travelrs, occasionaly a group. It almost always consists of two. The hunter and the Prey, my only question is which are you. If you speak true, and I believe you do, then the quarry you seek is likely here within the city I am sworn to protect."
"If you do not, then I can only assume that you are a hunted man and have something to hide."

He lowers his eyes and then looks at the wall with a slight sigh, "I am the hunter as I have well been all my life." He thumbs the small unicorn head pendant around his neck and says, "I thank you for allowing me in and may Mielliki show divine blessing for your kindness." He smiles slightly, "If it would make you feel better I will hand over my weapons while in your household."

He shakes his head slightly. "You are welcome to the hospitality of my keep. In the days to come I will myself be busy with tracking a murderer, though i would appreciate you keeping me appraised of your quest."

He sighs slightly and sits back down in the chair before looking up at his benefactor, "unfortunately the nature of this killer allows him to remain unnoticed until he commits another crime. I have to wait for him to act before I can even try to find him. So I might be of some help in finding your killer if yah would allow me."

Dolph nods. "Perhaps we can discuss it later. You seem tired. Ms. Monjiere will show you to a room, or if you prefer, the mineral baths. I have heard that they are quite refreshing."

He stands and shakes the man's hand, "I'll be visiting the bath's. I've been at least three days on the road and I miss the comforts of the city." He smiles and nods to the man as he follows Monjiere but turns a few strides towards the door, "My name is Griffen Hawks and thanks again." At that he walks out the door towards the bath's.

The slim human slips into the mineral baths and watches the women and the man he followed at play with a smile. His face goes blank at the sight of Eve but seeing her so easily wading with the others he shrugs and unlaces his leather armor and drops his weapons in a corner. He remains silent and strips off his tunic revealing his streamlined body marred with vicous and horrible scars. It seems that this brown headed youth underwent horrible torture of some kind at some time in his life. He moves behind a screen and doffs some bathing clothes of some kind lying about to cover his lower body before wading into the water and settling in closing his eyes deep in thought.

Celestia smiles at Dea's comment, "Thank you for the compliment. Ambition is not the only thing that can lead to a downfall. Sometimes the gifts that we cherish the most, can be the most destruction around those unwilling to appreciate or understand them." Turning to the person entering the bath, "Hello, Sir. I am Celestia."

The slim human raises an eyebrow at her speaking and nods, "I am Griffen Hawks, I lost my way and the owner of this mansion offered to allow me stay here until I can get my bearing," he nods to Lit as he speaks, "I saw him in the woods and followed him here after getting lost in a mist on the road north of Westgate."

Dea regards the newcomer silently. She subconsciously checks her bathing dress. Then she turns back to Celestia.
"Maybe now is a time to tell your story?"