View source for Warming up in the Tarrace

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== Log Info ==
*Title: Warming up in the Tarrace
*Emitter: Cryosanthia
*Characters: Cryosanthia, Sjach, Sabina, Irshya
*Place: A03: The TarRaCe
*Time: Tuesday, December 01, 2020, 9:42 AM
*Summary: Cryosanthia brings Lily and Sjach to the Tarrace to warm them up, and introduce them to Alexandria. They meet with Sabina and make introductions, get to chatting and having a few drinks. Cryo shows off the Mask of Ten Thousand Tomes, and talks of how it was created. Lily meanwhile sneaks into the kitchen and the desserts, only to be retrieved by Irshya. There is a discussion of anatomy, sith'makar and softskin, as well as the benefits and pitfalls of hiding social cues. Everyone decides to head to the baths, where swimming is enjoyed, with Irshya holding onto Sjach's tail and being dragged around the pool while Lily tries to get extra servings of honey in her tea. Eventually the proprietors leave, leaving the sith to talk about things and Cryo explains her entanglement with the Fae Queen of Endless Winter and how it cost her her family.</div>

-=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=-<* The TarRaCe *>--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=-

Inside, this two-story structure has been almost completely opened up. Generous windows on both stories allow daytime sunlight and cooling night breezes to flow in as needed, while the brick walls have been whitewashed - contrasting with the dark-stained beams and supports, and the rich polish on the wooden floor. A broad strip of stone runs from the entrance to a framed doorway set into the opposite wall, with a sign above the lintel declaring that the baths are to be found that way.

The ground floor is sprinkled with tables and chairs of assorted sizes, offering welcome to guests both large and small. One whole corner of the building - into which guests are not permitted entry - has been given over to the kitchen, which serves as the domain of the famed monster chef Ligum Serforus. Mundane meals are available, but the chef delights in offering up obscure dishes made from the freshest of monster ingredients.

Opposite the kitchen a small bar runs in front of an array of shelves, displaying a broad selection of beverages (most of them alcoholic). The bar-top has been fashioned from what looks to have been old pieces of armor, fused and welded together before being polished to provide a near-smooth finish. Set above it, three human-sized statues have been built into an alcove in the wall: Tarien, Rada and Ceinara jointly keep benevolent watch over the room and its occupants.

To the right of the entrance, a small stage offers a platform for a handful of performers at a time. To the left of the door, a spiral staircase of wrought iron winds its way up to a balcony dining area, that is chiefly reserved for special events and parties. 
             
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<pre>-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=  Appearing, in Order  -=-=-=-=-=-=-=
Cryosanthia  6'9"     291 Lb     Sith-Makar        Female    A dashingly tall, elegant white-scaled lizard woman.
Sjach        7'0"     268 Lb     Sith-Makar        Male      Lithe emerald and charcoal sith male.
Sabina       5'4"     130 Lb     Human             Female    Tsuran woman of dark hair and green eyes
Irshya       3'0"     35 Lb      Goblin            Female    A small, blue-skinned Goblin in sea-green robes.
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It's a nice wintery day, for those who like winter. A clear blue sky, fairweather clouds. No wind. Sunlight, dazzling on snow and ice. Wonderful, white and pure.

It could be a shock to someone from Am'shere. The cold, water freezing. Snow, both coming down and sitting there, transforming the world as if a giant polymorph spell was laid down on it. Making everything strange, and new.

And cold.

Cryosanthia has decided to introduce a newcomer sith'makar to Alexandria. While she absolutely adores wintery things, her youngling is sensitive to the cold, and so is the adult she's guiding. Thus, her first stop is the Tarrace, after rushing Sjach through the gates and the streets.

"Come in here, you can warm up and meet my friend. You'll like her, she wants you to be happy."

Sjach had been told about the snow- a druid whom he visited the grove with mentioned it, as did some of the others he has met while he was here. But the Sith-Makar was still not quite prepared for it. He's wrapped in a wollen cloak he managed to get at the market in Wilderness Pointe, the inside of which he has festooned with downy feathers from some wildfowl he'd hunted. His feet are wrapped up in rabbit skins. But it's not enough. Sith-Makar do not shiver, after all- that is a mammal thing. And so the cold bites right through him.

So much so that his awe and trepidation at the massive city are curtailed by the brisk walk though, bundled up as he is, towards somewhere with promise of warmth. Even the sights and smells of the big city barely get through his layers of insulation. It is not until he gets inside that he finally speaks, "Sshaaa... these ssoftskinss, how do they live here?" he hisses through teeth clenched against the chill in his bones.

Sabina stands up from her normal seat near the kitchen door as famliar faces enter the Tarrace. her smile, which was already on her face, grows larger at the sight of Cryo and a bundled up Lilly and new Sith. She glides around tables both full of people and empty and meets them near the door. Near enough to catch Sjach's comment, which makes her giggle. "Us soft skins wear warm things and generate more heat. That's all." She laughs and embraces Cryo. "Peace apon your nests. Come in and closer to the kitchen. Much warmer there."

Little Fang, also known as Lily and Cryo's Kobold foundling, is a bundle of cold weather clothing. A puffy pink parka, with hood, white mittens and white boots, plus two scarves, one around her neck, the other her tail, hides her completely. She rides on Cryo's shoulders under a hood of a cloak the sith'makar is wearing, making them appearing very lumpy and mis-shapen.

In no way do they resemble three kobolds in a trenchcoat. That is an entirely different being. Beings.

"Much clothing," Cryo says, waving Sjach further into the room so she can close the door behind him. Her winter gear, largely to protect her passenger, switch to indoor clothes, "Places like this. Hot fires. Hot food. Hot baths."

Sabina's answer makes the whitescale grin widely, she leans and hisses to Sjach, "Yess, they generate heat. They're like soft hotrocks. It's amazing." She sets Lily down, who tears around like a pink pillow on white boots.

Sjach had- reluctantly- had to leave his own charge in the care of the swiftclaw tenders back in Mictlan. She is too small to brave the cold, just yet, and less amenable to being bundled up in warm clothes than the little Kobold. He doesn't need to be asked twice about moving towards the kitchen, "Peace on your nesst." he offers hastily to their host, and pads on over towards the warmth, nostils flaring and bony spines twitching at the barrage of scents and sounds and sights he is only now becoming aware of now that the distraction of the cold is beginning to fade away.

"Yess... thiss one hass noticed that." he admits, on the topic of the softskins generating a lot of warmth. "They alsso have many sstrange rules." he adds- sounding just a touch surly. Of course, his lack of proper horns hints at his relative youth, so it should come as no surprise. He gets as close as he can to the heat from the kitchen without being told off for climbing over counters.

Three Lucht are within the kitchen and working steadily on prepping for the lunch croud while also serving the breakfast croud. Their heads turn to reguard the Sith soaking up the heat. One of them offers a tenative wave.

Bina laughs more and starts chasing Lily about the room. Never seeming to quite catch the small one. "i'm going to get you! Going to get you!" She says playfully. "This soft hotrock welcomes you to the Tarrace. Please have a seat and I'll see about getting you a warm drink if you wish."

Cryosanthia strides confidently through the Tarrace. It's not her pub, but it is familiar, and pubs and inns are a favourite place of hers. She glides between the tables with long steps, hips and tail weaving around the chairs as she also approaches the heat of the kitchen. There's something regal in her bearing. From the way her head turns, she's watching Lily. To the chefs, "Peace on your Nests."

Lily runs in a much more random line away from Sabina, under tables, around them, her location always known by the 'plock-plock' of her winter boots. She's all over the Tarrace, plock plock plock plock plock plock, fleeing with tiny squeals and hisses.

Cryosanthia finds herself a seat, "Tea is usually traditional."

Sjach looks less regal, from his naturally hunched posture to his well worn and frankly cobbled together outfit, he looks very much like the wild thing brought in from the cold. He stares unblinking at the lucht chefs as they wave to him, and one of his clawed hands emerges from inside of his cloak just enough to wave his fingers at them. He does, slowly, begin to relax as he soaks up the warmth, however. The cloak stays on, for now, but he does relax his grip on it so that it can fall about his shoulders rather than being clutched tight to his chest.

Finally he turns towards Cryosanthia as she sits, and he takes a couple of paces closer. He pulls out the chair himself, and settles into it awkwardly, his tail squirming about as he tries to get comfortable sitting on it. "Thesse bathss, they are like the sufur springss, yess?" he finally asks Cryosanthia. Seems he's been doing his research, since she mentioned them to him back in Mictlan.

Bina finally catches up to Lily and scoops her up and hugs on her. "I /got/cha!" she says as she saunters over to the table where the Sith sit and pulls out a chair as well. She sits down and settles Lilly in her lap, fully expecting the little one to run off again with her boundless energy. "Sulfur? No. But warm. Almost hot." She explains to Sjach, stealing the qestion for her own to asnwer. "Tea is good. Coffee works as well. Cider as well."

"They are. Heated by fire or magic, rather than the ground. The exact method this one has not explored. The water does have scents." Cryo says, wiggling on the short bench she's chosen as a seat, getting herself settled and her tail hanging just right. She watches the male sith, "This one has given up on chairs and the backs, unless it is an overstuffed one in Mikios' library. Stools or benches work better."

"Beansssss!" Squeals Lily, scooped up and hugged. She squishes against Sabina and is carried. She doesn't immediately bolt, the lap is warm.

Cryo gestures at her friend, "This one should make introductions, this is Sabina, Priestess of Tarien, Proprietor of this establishment, the Tar - Ra - Ce." Each syllable is pronunced carefully, the whitescale looks at Sjach, "These are part of the softskin names for their Gods, Tarien, Rada and Ceinara, as the three are worshipped here. She is an adventurer and a good friend too."

She gestures to Sjach next, leaning towards Sabina, "This is Silence, Warrior of the Sith-Makar, though... that has some explanations this one will not get into. Recently arrived from Am'shere."

Sjach continues to fidget a bit, and his spines lay flat as his fidgeting is noticed by Cryo. He gives up on the chair, and moves over to sit next to the whitescale, and finds it much more comfortable as he, too, manages to position his tail better. He offers a dip of his head towards Sabina at the introduction, and a clawed hand comes up to scratch the scales on his jaw at the mention of the gods. "Thiss one hass been learning. Thesse are... The Laughing Maw, The Sserpent and..." a pause for thought, "The Sstory Teller." he says, coming up with apparently what his tribe knows those gods as.

As he is introduced, he dips his head a bit, "Thiss one... wass welcomed back, recently." he says, but leaves it at that for now. It's clearly a touchy subject.

Bina nods a greeting and continues to smile. The upper portion of her face covered by a mithral half-mask that's shaped like a coyote. "The Laughing Maw. I rather like that title. I will have to use it next time I pray to him. Perhaps he'll find that ammusing that a Human uses a Sith given name." She chuckles as she places Lily's hands between her own and tries to warm them up. "The baths are heated with magic. Costly at first but better for the world as we don't cut down trees for fuel nor coal. Safer too. City wouldn't give me a permit for heated baths until I set everthing down on paper and they approved."

"Yes, those are the people's names for them." Cryo's hip touches Sjach's, it's not a large bench. She indicates the stage, "and there is the platform for telling stories. This one has been up, a time or two. Lily also, to pull the strings on the instruments."

"Yesss!" Lily hisses, her small cold hands trapped by the warmth between Sabina's. She's not moving now, there is much swishing of winter clothes.

"This one has seen plans, for fires beneath with chimney pipes that run around and through the walls." Cryo says, "Though magic would work better, and reducing the fuel this city needs is a good thing."

The whitescale remains grinning, as if she has some secret she's not revealed yet.

Sjach nods his head slowly and glances up towards the stage when it's indicated, as the warmth continues to soak into him, he finally sheds his cloak. "It iss good..." he agrees, on the topic of cutting down on cutting down threes. "Thiss place iss..." he glances about the room, "Thiss city iss very large." he finally says then, though it's hard to say exactly how he feels about that from his tone alone. Those familiar with Sith probably know he's not entirely approving of it.

"The Sulfur springs are hot... like dragons breath, heated by the blood of the firsst sserpents that still flowss beneath the earth." he says, glancing up and his nostrils flaring, clearly thinking back to his homeland.

Bina nods to Cryo and then to Sjach in turn. "I know that druids dislike wastfulness when cities are built. That they're sad to see the land so used. At the same time it's better then if all the people living here in the city were spread out all over. The waster would likely be more. I tried hard not to do unneeded things when building the Tarrace. I reused the building as it stood. And I won't be changing things on a whim... other then paint. 

Which reminds me, Cryosanthia. Please feel free to paint something on a wall. We want to encourage artists to use this place as a canvas." she says ass she continues to warm Lily up.

"Oh!" Cryosanthia sits straight up, turns and stares at the wall, "I'll... I'll think of something! And it won't be all white and blue."

Even though she really appreciates those colours.

"This one misses the sulfur springs, and Am'shere. I've not seen them in a long time. The baths here are a great substitute, you must at least look at them."

Lily meanwhile, has warm hands, and has managed to kick her boots off. She's working her way out of the parka too. She keeps looking at the kitchen. She can smell food, and luchts.

"Alexandria is over a thousand years old. It started as a small town. A convenient spot on the Tornmawr, and then grew. Their buildings are not as solid as the people's but they are big. This is true."

The blue Gobbo wanders out of the bathhouse, dressed in freshly cleaned and pressed, sea-green robes. Her hair is completely covered by a towel wound around. She yawns and stretches at length, making 'oh gosh best stretch ever' noises as she does so. Irshya starts moving towards the kitchen, little wet footprints following behind her, until she notices Sabina, and the others gathered around her. She crouches then, and begins to stealthily approach, sneaking under tables to mask her movement.

Sjach nods his head slowly as Cryo talks about the few large buildings they have back in Am'shere, "Yess... in Am'shere, it iss hard to build big placess. The jungle and the swampss and the wild thingss alwayss fight to take back the land." he says then- fondly. "In thiss place the land hass been, tamed." he adds a moment later, and sounds rather unhappy about that. "The wild plantss are beaten back and cropss are grown in their place, the beassts are bred for meat and milk, they never know they are prey..." he adds then.

He lets out a long breath, as he realizes he is beginning to rant, and finally says, "It iss different, here." trying to take a more diplomatic tact. "Thiss one hass found it... difficult, to adapt." he adds then. The tip of his tail and the bony spines twitch at the goblin's approach.

Bina nods to Sjach almost sadly as she unwraps Lily's tail from the scarf. "I am sorry that you've having a difficult time. And I understand that some folks do have a hard time and wish things were different here. Yet this city has good things about it too. I hope one day you find a few for yourself, here." She does not seem to note the skulking gobbo.

Lily has managed to wriggle out of her clothes and then off Sabina's lap. She lands under the table, a good vantage point to see other people hiding under tables. Which she might if she were looking, but she's not. With a burst of speed she darts over to the wall, presses up against it, then slides along until she can slip into the kitchen. Silence, more silence.

"Tamed, then corrupted, and the uncorrupted wilds are dangerous also. The trees and foliage here is not as eager as Am'shere's and easier to beat back, but still hides many things. The hunters we me earlier will be able to warn you about them." Cryo says. She's not a 'woodsy' or even a 'jungly' sith'makar anymore. She sets her haversack on the ground and reaches into it with a wide grin, "Guess what this one has!"

The short, blue shadow skirts from table to table, keeping an eye on the potential snitch on her actions under the table. She slowly approaches Sjach, moving to crouch beside him, eyeing his tail, and the interesting bony spines. She peers up at him, blinking slowly.

As the blue skulker draws nearer, Sjach's spines continue to twitch, and his tail tip flicks back and forth more urgently. He nods his head, slowly, at Bina, "Thiss one admitss... it iss, at least, warm." to Bina on the topic of finding something good about the city. He glances aside to peer at Cryo curiously as she reaches into the pouch.

But suddenly the blue skulker upon him and he spots her out of the corner of his eye, right there, he jumps from his seat, ending up perched on the bench, heels together, squatting down on his haunches as he looks back at her, tail flicking back and forth and probably bumping into Cryo on the small bench in his haste.

Bina is chuckling but then blinking as Sjach moves so suddenly and oddly. She peers about looking for a rat. Then under the table and so finds not a rat but a goblin. "Shya, my dear. Please don't startle our guests? This Sith is new to the city and is of a more natural mindset. Goblins skulking under tables likely puts him on edge."She says stating the obvious with a smirk." She then sits up straight and looks back to Cryo. "What do you have?" she asks pleasently.

Cryo is moved, then on her feet with sudden swiftness, crouched and ready with hands extended. Her instincts to respond with her kind remain strong. "Wait. Where's Lily?"

Then comes the clatter from the kitchen, and a loud lucht shout of surprise, followed by ... apparent cheering and celebration? Something is going on.

At which point Cryo relaxes, lowering her hands and smiling awkwardly at Sabina with lots of teeth, "Ah, well. This one has another mask now, it's very neat."

She takes out something which is formed for her face, accomodating her long snout, eye ridges and even has some notches that fit her horns. No eye holes. She puts it on. "Ta-da."

Irshya gives a little start as the emerald and coal-scaled Sith nimbly and quickly ends up upon the bench. She grins then, peering up at him. "Peace on your nest.", she says, cheerfully. She eyes Sabina a moment, and manages to look chastised. "Irshya just wanted to see his tail. His spines appear to move." At Cryo's question, and the crash in the kitchen, the Gobbo blinks. She waddles off towards the noise and cheering, and peeks inside the door.

"What's all this?!", she's heard to say, of someone in the kitchen.

Sjach seems to relax a bit as the others know this unusual Goblin, and he slowly lowers himself back down off his seat. "And yourss as well." he offers her, a touch testily after his sudden surprise. And indeed the spines do move, and are standing on end after the shock, though they slowly begin to relax to lay flat against his skin as he settles himself back onto the bench. His own attention darts to the noises from the kitchen, peering that way curiously.

Bina's eyes drift off towards the kitchen but she internally bets she knows what's going on. Herr smile widens and then widens again at Cryo's new mask. "Oooo!"She says leaning forward towards the Sith and then she begins to grow confused. "How do you see out of it with no eye-holes?" She asks. "Is it some sort of magic?"

Cryo's crests and features are a lot less mobile, or she doesn't use some of them. It's possibly Speaker-training, to minimize cues. She turns towards Sabina's voic, mask on face. The mask itself has a texture which shifts, from papyrus, through parchment, to velum, and sometimes cloth. As it does, black script in many languages and hands slide across from all directions.

The whitescale laughs, "I don't! It is magic! Mikilos made it for me. We took a thousand damaged reference books and made them into a mask. It taps into the metaphysical philosophical library of all books ever, somehow. A little, even Mikilos doesn't understand how it works. But I can read everything now."

Her voice lowers into a whisper. It's not possible to see if she winked, but her voice sounds like she's winking. She chrrrrrs, "Aaand one of the books we used was the Crimson Pen. It's _very_ informative."

The Gobbo returns shortly thereafter, holding a naked Little Fang about the waist. The Kobold is busily eating something that was probably a banana, judging from its colouration, but the skin is no where to be seen. Her face is a mess of a variety of desserts: chocolate icing, whipped cream, something that looks like a portion of sponge cake, and raspberry drizzle.

Irshya holds Lily up for Cryo to take, and her eyes bug out at her mask. The Gobbo immediately looks away, choosing instead to peer at Sjach once more. Her nose wrinkles and she sniffs at the air, blinking at the emerald-scale Sith.

The Gobbo returns shortly thereafter, holding a naked Little Fang about the waist. The Kobold is busily eating something that was probably a banana, judging from its colouration, but the skin is no where to be seen. Her face is a mess of a variety of desserts: chocolate icing, whipped cream, something that looks like a portion of sponge cake, and raspberry drizzle.

Irshya holds Lily up for Cryo to take, and her eyes bug out at her mask. The Gobbo immediately looks away, choosing instead to peer at Sjach once more. Her nose wrinkles and she sniffs at the air, blinking at the emerald-scale Sith.

Sjach peers curiously at the mask for some time, though the reference is entirely lost on him, it seems, knowing not of any crimson pen or why it might be subject for private discussion. His attention is drawn back towards the unusual Goblin who stares at him, and he blinks back at her, slowly. The spines begin to rise again as they have a silent impromptu staring contest. "Yess?" he finally asks her.

Oddly, Cryo does turn towards Irshya as she approaches, and after a moment reaches out to take Lily when she's offered. The sith'makar isn't quite lined up right, but doesn't seem as blinded as she should be from the mask. She makes a sharp inhale of breath, "You smell like dessert. Lily what have you been into?"

Cryo gets banana encrusted tiny fingers in her mouth, then she is licking the smaller lizard clean. "Strawberry? Ah, cake, and... yes chocolate. Of you got into everything, didn't you?"

"Yesss." Now there is chocolate on the front of the sith's blouse. Lily grins wide and wild teeth at Irshya. "Sshyaah!"

The Gobbo looks back to Cryo then, and giggles. "She got into the desserts. The poor cook was... beyond words, but the others adore Little Fang, it seems. At least she didn't get any on her clothes." She giggles and grins toothily at Lily. "Hello Little Fang! How was dessert? Good? You might need a bath."

Irshya looks back to Sjach, and approaches a little closer. "You smell of fish. Irshya likes fish." She peers at his tail again, eyeing its movements. "Your spines can move."

Sjach stares back at the goblin, his Spines continue to bristle, until they are standing on end again, as she inches closer to him. The tip of his tail whips back and forth behind him. Whatever self control Cryo has over her subconscious reptillian body language, Sjach clearly lacks. "They do." he agrees with her assessment regarding his spines. "Thiss one hass been told ssoftskinss have something ssimilar." he says then, shuffling a bit in his seat. "They have hairss, all over, which alsso move sssometimes." he says then, matter of factly, clearly pleased with knowing this fact.

"They do! Oh! And they turn colours, usually red, when you embarass them." Cryo adds, still licking Lily clean. Her little kobold has carnation, or pink, coloured scales, so she's already halfway to red. The whitescale nods in Irshya's general direction, "Letting her take everything off is one way to keep her clothes clean."

"You are right though, a bath would be wonderful, and Silence should see them. Irshya is a priestess of Rada, and another of the owners." Cryo supplements the introduction Sabina provided. "The mini humans have huge manes and feet coverings."

Irshya grins toothily at Sjach, and nods. "Indeed, hairs stand up when we're cold or have chills. But we don't have conscious control of them. Can you move your spines purposefully?" She looks to Cryosanthia then.

"Yes, our skin can change colours a bit. You're welcome to use the baths, obviously. And those mini humans..." The Gobbo giggles at that. "Are called Lucht."

Sjach nods emphatically at Cryo's observation, "Thiss one hass seen that." he says, in regards to the changing colors. "And the femaless musst always cover their chessts, but the maless have no ssuch taboo." he says then, proud of yet another fact he has learned about the softskins. On the topic of Lucht and their furry feet, though, he ponders that a moment, and looks down at his own makeshift rabitskin spats he's been wearing to protect his feet from the cold and the snow. "Thiss seemss... convenient." he adds then.

The question about his spines causes his eye-crests to furrow, "Yess..." he says, and sends an undulation through the spines, starting at the tip of his nose and running all the way down to his spine. "But they alsso move when thiss one doess not think about them."

Bina blinks at a desert covered Lily and also at the interactions of Shya and Sjach and then she's chuckling. "Small humans.." And after she says it she laughs. "Not to be confused with human children who are also small humans." She continues to chuckle as she turns back to Cryo. "So you can't see in that but you can read it? And goodness me.. crimson pens in there too? Don't get too distracted."

"This one's crest is a bit more fixed. The horns don't move. This one can move her ears." Cryo demonstrates, fanning her ear frills forward and wide. There are some spines in there, which she then folds back to where they usually are alongside her head.

Then she grins widely in Sabina's direction and trills in a songlike way, "I'll try not tooo..." More seriously, "Yes. My face now is literally in a book, and I can read it. This one is even more officially a book wyrm. And this one meant the luchts, not youngling humans."

She sniffs at Lily once more, seemingly satisfied with her scent-cued cleaning, and leans back. "The strange thing is, this one still has a sense of everything around, especially people."

"Irshya thinks it is disconcerting to not see people's faces. Especially behind a moving paper mask. So many signals blocked." The Gobbo eyes the start of the spine undulation, attempting to get onto the bench and see it move down Sjach's back, but instead only see it end at the tail. She grins. "You are easier to read.", the Gobbo says to Sjach. "While Cryo and Binabina are more difficult."

Sjach watches Cryo's ear frills fan, and then he touches his own head- he lacks anything that could be called horns, aside from a pair of bony lumps on either side of his head, "Thiss oness hornss are sstill... coming in." he says then. Again that youthful surliness about it. But then the goblin speaks of him being easy to read, he sits up a bit straighter. "Thiss one hass spent a long time in the wild. Animalss... are honesst, they have no need for liess or subterfuge." he says then. "Perhapss... thiss one hass learned from them." he adds after a moment.

"The Mistake did not like this one being too distracting, with too many movements, noises or smells. This one had some training as Speaker to hide herself, and the experience with Her enhanced it." Cryo explains somewhat matter-of-factly. The text flowing across her mask has switched to the uncommonly used magic scripts. She nods somewhat towards Irshya, "This one is not planning to wear it all the time, though Mikilos says he believes he has a solution should I want to. It is for moments this one wants to be better informed and has some time. So, situational, but useful adventuring if we get stuck."

Lily meanwhile pulls at Cryo's bouse, "Baasshss."

"Yes, we should see the baths. Do not despair Silence, your horns will come in time. A great set of them, this one is sure."

"Those signals are useful to reading another being but can be faked well enough to confuse or misdirect others. Sometimes it's good to get practice reading a being's body language rather then facial expressions. Likely will serve you well interacting with them. Take Cryosanthia for example. Her tail is one of the most expressive parts of her, though she tries to give us soft skins facial expression too." She then chuckles and gives an understanding look to Sjach. "To be open and honest with all is a wonderful thing. I try to be as well. But some humans and other beings have intents to do mischief or even evil deeds. So I practice hiding and reading body language."

Irshya grins toothily at Sjach and shrugs lightly. "Irshya is not saying it is a bad thing, but it can be at times. Being honest can have a downside. For example, one's smells can be detected by animals. If they smell you while you're hunting them, they run away, yes?" She gestures to Sabina then. "What she says." The Gobbo eyes the emerald-scale's tail once more. "Irshya does like your tail. It is longer than hers. Seems more curvy too. Oh, you are going to grow horns?" She blinks and looks to Lily and Cryo.

"All the towels have been laundered just today, they are all fresh smelling and soft. There are also some new oils that we got in. Several fruit scents, orange being one of them."

Sjach peers towards Irshya, "Thiss one stays downwind of the prey..." he says then, as though it were the most obvious thing in the world. "Or else trackss it through swampss and bogss..." he adds after a moment. He glances back up towards Sabina, "Ssshaaa, that iss why thiss one preferss animalss." he says then, a bit sullenly, as she talks about the dishonesty and such. "The raptor caress not for good, nor evil. It doess not hide itss nature." he says then. A pause, and he does admit, "Though... ssome prey wearss the marks of poisonous cousins to confuse predators." and dips his head, conceeding that Sabina may, indeed, have a point.

As the topic turns back to the baths again, he admits, "Thiss one tried to bathe in the river thiss morning, but it wass... too cold." he says grimly.

"Most sith'makar grow horns, which become larger and more plentiful with age. These two will not get larger but this one can feel the nubs of my second century set. Lily... should also, this one hopes." Cryosanthia says, and Lily nods as she does. She hopes to grow up huge, with big horns, terrorize everyone. The little kobold has seen what magic can do, even if she doesn't fully understand it.

The whitescale slips her mask off, putting it back in the back. There is a momentary blink while she clears her thoughts and refocuses her eyes, "My tail is how I feel free, so I move it a lot. This is true."

She halts for a moment, then carefully asks, "Do you know where the Orange Oils came from? And yes, the Tornmawr will be too cold for most to swim now. The frozen surface does allow one to go out and fish though."

Bina raises her brows almost enough to be able to see them from behind her mask. "Oh my! That would have abeen a very cold swim indeed. Something Cryosanthia might enjoy?" She asks of the previously masked Sith. "Orange oils? You mena oil made from the orange fruit?" She hmms.. "The same place a certian diplomat got her oranges from I imagine." She says as she stands up. "Come.. Let us show.. Silence the baths."

The Gobbo blinks at Cryosanthia, and shrugs. "I know that some oranges come from Am'shere, but there are places to the south which also have oranges." She rubs at her chin. "Is it important? I mean, we could probably ask those we purchase it from." She looks to Sabina and shrugs, "Possibly. Who is this diplomat?"

Irshya giggles at Sjach then, and shakes her head. "Yes, parts of the rivers are starting to freeze now, and the ground is quite cold. You need to have some good insulation to not feel cold." The Gobbo reaches for one of the Sith's hands then, tugging on it gently but insistently. "Come. Our baths are nice and warm. You can relax, and enjoy them."

Sjach glances from Cryo, and then back to Irshya, "Sssome sneak through the portal, and they take from the jungle." he says simply, as to why one might be concerned with where the fruit came from. Or at least, where his concernes lie. However, as it seems as though they are headed towards the baths, he does eventually rise to his feet- his slightly hunched posture probably making it slightly easier for the goblin to hang onto his claws and drag him along than if he truly stood up straight. "Yess... thiss one did not know riverss could get so cold they could freeze." he grumbles, mostly to himself, but allows himself to be lead.

"This one is hoping it was from known traders and not her delegation." Cryosanthia says, standing also. Her tail curls, threads into the straps of her haversack and it is lifted while she holds Lily with one arm and puts her winter clothing away in it with the other. The kobold climbs, holding onto the sith'makar's horns, freeing both her hands. "We are ready."

She winds towards the bath entrance, "She's a priestess of Taara, here to interfere and seeking Animus shards. Bad news. Let's swim."

==The Baths==

<pre>-=--=--=--=--=--=--=--<* A03: The TarRaCe - Bathhouse *>--=--=--=--=--=--=--=-

A light, warm mist welcomes those entering the grand bathing chamber. Rising from pools warmed by unseen sources of heat, the moisture makes the air somewhat muggy but still comfortable to breathe. The room it fills has been divided into three portions - the dividing walls, like the bathing pools themselves, clad in pale marble that contrasts with the dark granite that bears the weight of it all.

Attendants politely direct people to changing areas and appropriate services, and ensure that no one winds up where they should not. The central pool is open to both sexes, with a strict requirement for bathing attire to be worn. Those located to either side are mirrors of each other, each restricted to one sex and discreetly guarded to preserve patrons' privacy.

Beyond the central pool a pair of massage tables offer another form of politely-supervised relaxation, with cabinets holding an impressive array of aromatic oils for the use of trained members of staff. More prosaically, signs announce the availability of a service to clean clothes while patrons wash themselves, so that they can return to the outer world fresh from head to toe.
                
-=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=-</pre>

"Irshya has heard that Am'shere is jungle. Warm, humid, very green. That is our Summer, here. Warm, sometimes very humid, and green. But it's getting to Winter now. The big river will not freeze, but little streams will freeze over. The water still flows underneath." She carefully leads Sjach along. "So. You seem to know, but here we have to keep ourselves covered. Some people will get upset if you don't. Not your fault. But we have clean garments you can wear in the water. And you can leave your stuff in a cubby hole..." The Gobbo leads Sjach to the men's side, so that he may change. "If you want to be nude, you can stay in the men's bath, but then... you won't have our company!"

Bina follows in after the others and comes in with a tray of steaming cups of tea and a small honey pot for sweatening the drink. She looks to see how the others are faring and how Sjach is taking this new setting within the city. "Drinks are ready. And no eating all the honey, Lilly. I know you." She shakes a finger at the kobold playfully.

Sjach heads over to the men's side, as directed, "Sshhhaa, even in the water?" he wonders plaintively as he's told he has to wear clothes, but he does as asked, emerging again from the changing area a bit later with a loincloth on. He pads on over towards the central bath, and touches it with his tail, first, to guage the temperature, before promptly sinking into the water, all the way to his nostrils, just his eyes poking out above the surface. Like an alligator. The spines lay flat, as he enjoys the warmth of the water.

Lily slides down Cryosanthia and immediately runs for the bath. She stops at the edge, hearing Sabina's instruction, but mostly to peer at Irshya in a most evil way. Her tail coils eagerly. She is smaller than the gobbo, yet hisses, then runs back to try and pull her into the pool.

"No running Lily," Cryo says automatically, concentrating on her sleeves. Her clothes vanish, though not entirely. She still wears a corset, boots and gloves, as well as the AnyGarment sleeves. She glances in Sjach's direction, likely sharing a similar sentiment. She's going swimming! It should be pure. Instead she concentrates and then she's wearing a loincloth, and removes the other things and slips them into her bag. "As the house rules, Silence."

Cryosanthia steps forward to the water almost fully revealed. Her scales are white, smooth and shiny, like new snow, but throughout she is covered with the finest of pale blue lines, the colour of ice inside glaciers. A stripe down either side of her spine, and a large arrangement on her chest. The glacial scales act as highlights, and the patterns are anchient. Not seen on modern sith'makar. Entwined within them, appear to be sigils and symbols for spells.

Foot on the edge, she dives far into the pool, then lets herself sink to the bottom.

"Sadly, yes, Silence.", the Gobbo says. "Irshya was born in the sea. Never knew clothing til she came to the big city." Irshya giggles then, and disappears into the lady's side, to change. Squeaking is heard as the Kobold attempts to pull the not-quite-changed Gobbo into the pool. She huffs and is pulling her suit up over her upper body, while attempting to hold the wee carnation-coloured lizard at bay.

She grunts and lifts Little Fang, and walks her to the edge of the pool, where the squirmy Kobold is dropped into the water. The Gobbo jumps in after, and sinks to the bottom, the little blue figure remaining near the edge for some time, before she zips over to Sjach. Where she tugs at and fusses with his tail, while remaining under water.

Bina does not go get changed. Rather she walks about the outer edge of the pool and offers everyone a cup of tea, giving honey in the drink if it is so desired. "Us soft skins tend to be prudes about showing our bare selves to others. Not so much myself. But even I don't want to go wandering about the town without clothes on. Think of it as a turtle without their shell. Softshell turles but still."

Sjach remains submerged to his eyeballs in the water for the time being, soaking up yet more warmth- until someone is grabbing his tail. He moves forwards, his long body undulating to drive him through the water- and drag the goblin along with him, if she insists upon holding onto his tail. The translucent membranes that make up his inner eyelids remain closed as he navigates the water. He finally rises above the surface again, when he arrives near Sabina, and reaches out to take the cup that's offered.

"Sshhaa, it iss because you lack scaless. To protect your vulnerable areass." he says, "Thiss one understandss, but does not undersstand why ssoftskinss insisst we do alsso." he says then, and takes a sip of his drink. "Though... with the cold, outsside clothess are... acceptable." he adds, then.

Cryo meanwhile remains lying at the bottom of the pool. Her left hand flips and waves in the water several times, and as she does there's a sparkling on her chest, which cascades out along her arm until her fingers glow. Four times she makes the gesture, touching her lips then pointing at everyone swimming. A message cantrip.

It's possible to hear her when she speaks, although she's a little burbly, "I spent most of my time in Am'shere covered in mud one way or another. Unless it was armour, clothing was a bad way to trap things against my scales."

Lily paddles after Irshya, until the gobbo gets caught up on Sjach's tail, at which point she changes course to the food and drink, heading for the honey.

A trail of bubbles comes up from below, accompanying a sigh and Cryo's words, "Well the Mistake cut out my shame, but when in Alexandria, do as the Alexandrians."

The Gobbo remains submerged, and can be heard giggling as Sjach simply pulls her along under the water with his tail. While he takes interest in what the cup holds, Irshya darts about around him, dashing in to gently prod at his side, before darting away, returning on a different angle to poke once more. Every so often, she looks to see where Lily is, staying just out of reach of the carnation-scale, but close enough to assist should the Kobold need a hand.

Bina gives Lily a cup of tea that holds an extra dollop of honey in it. She's grinning as she hands it over and holds the tray with the honey ot of reach of the small kobold. "Ahh! i know your ways, Lilly fang. But I did give you one with more honey in it, ok?" She hands over the cup to the small one with care and then prepares to defend herself from Lily hands.

Lily bellyflops out of the pool, bringing some warm water with her and spreading a small puddle at the side. She leans against Sabina's shin, soaking it as she takes the tea-cup in both hands. Her ways might be known, but she still has surprises.

"Thansss." She hisses in tradespeak, her tail curling back and forth behind her in a manner rather like her mother's, until she curls it around to hug the leg.

Cryo meanwhile, relaxes, breathing slowed to deal with water, letting herself sink into a calm state. She watches Sjach and Irshya silhouetted and swimming around above her. "This one shares because you are friends, but these are intimate details this one does not want to get about. Oh this water is so lovely."

Sjach continues drinking his tea, "Thiss one's tribal land was a mangrove sswamp." he tells Cryo at her response, then. "Sswimming wass common." he adds after a moment. He finishes the tea in short order, and sets the cup back down, not responding particularly to the poking, until he dips under the water himself and reaches out to grab the goblin's hand as it comes in for another poke. "Thiss one thinkss you and Little Fang may be sissters." he tells the goblin.

Long distance to Sabina: Cryosanthia wonders, if you are posting the Sabina & Irshya log, or want her to edit it up and post it?

His eyes, protected by the membranes, turn towards Cryo beneath the water, regarding her for a time. He doesn't speak in answer to her speaking of her origins, but the sympathy is writ on his reptillian features if one knows how to read them.

Irshya seems to enjoy the game while Sjach is sipping at the tea, but lets out a squeak that's audible from underwater when her hand is grabbed. She immediately curls up, attempting to pull her hand free while her feet push at his arm. The tail, hide most of the time under voluminous cloth, is free to thrash about, and it occasionally makes contact with Sjach's side. The Gobbo's laugh is heard amid the squeaks.

Bina laughs as she gets wet hugs and tail hugs. She doesn't seem to mind the wetness. And once Lily has emptied some of her drink Bina adds another drizzle of honey. "There you go, Lily."Perhaps Bina is a bad influence after all. She speaks then to the folk in the pool. "I have had the same though, Silence, about Shya and Lily." 

Underwater, Cryo is confused, perhaps she's gotten stuck in a literal mindset. "They are not though, Irshya is very shark like and ... well their teeth do match. This one has seen her influence, she copies her a lot. Alexandria has been amazing for her."

"This one wonders if we should bring the hatchlings to see, so they also learn early. A field trip, no, a city trip? The names do not work, but that idea."

Lily meanwhile, rocks back and forth and leans against Sabina's calf.

"In mannerss, if not in form." Sjach says over to Cryosanthia then, and then rather suddenly releases the goblin while she is mid-pull, probably sending her tumbling away. On the topic of bringing younglings to the city, Sjach remains quiet for a while, "Perhapss." he says, though he doesn't sound quite so certain. "It iss good for them to learn the old waysss, though, thiss one thinkss. To learn to hunt and ssurvive." he adds. He clearly still isn't particularly approving of the city lifestyle, even if he is clearly enjoying the baths.

The Goblin does indeed suddenly tumble away when she's released, but she doesn't go too far. She makes a few rounds of the bath, before coming to rest upon the bottom. She remains mostly stationary, bobbing ever so slightly. After a few long moments, Irshya darts up to the surface, leaping from the water to land daintily upon her feet. She shakes her head vigorously, scattering droplets everywhere.

She goes to the lady's changing area, and returns with a brush, pulling it through her hair. She laughs as the Kobold runs over to hug at her. "Enjoying the bath? So much nicer than outside, yes?" Lily replies with an enthusiastic, "Shhhhyaaaa."

Little Fang settles in to being minded by Sabina, and despite the criticism of her manners demonstrates a few as she carefuly sips her tea and gets refills. She moves on to showing the Tarienite things she's made, taken them out of Cryo's haversack. They are little metal contraptions that seem to be either vehicles or death traps, and she has some origami people to put in them, who get little rides that end in death.

Oh well. They do fold back into shape.

"Irshya, this one could sleep here. This one loves swimming." Cryo murmurs from the bottom of the pool. She hasn't come up for air since she dove down. Instead she's stretched out, with her head propped by her horns. "Tradition is good Silence, this one would not leave the old ways, but there are new things the people could experience. A record number of hatchlings have survived in Mictlan, easier to guard, less hostile environment. This one thinks they should see Am'shere, when they are strong enough to learn from it and not be eaten by it. Until then, let them learn."

"Irshya has great stories of the sea, ones of our scale-cousins, which while not wonderful are yet educational." The whitescale kicks her feet slightly, sliding on her back.

When Irshya returns with a brush and is enthusiastically met by Lily, the little kobold then drags her over to show off the toys she's been showing Sabina.

Sjach settles back into the water himself, slinking below the surface so that he can rest along the bottom as well, now he doesn't have a goblinoid nuisance poking at him. He lays flat on his belly under the water, enjoying the warmth, and his scaled lids drift closed as well. "Thisss one hass always loved the water." he says, eventually. "Hiss ancesstors were the blackscale, and the green." he admits- of course, most Sith prefer to be able to trace their ancestry to one of the metalics, but there's no hiding where his lays, with his scale colors.

He falls quiet when Cryo speaks about the record number of survivals in Mictlan, and remains so for a long while, motionless against the bottom of the water. Eventually, he does speak up, though, "It iss good."

"Ah, are you going to be helping people protect their nests, by building traps for them?", the Gobbo wonders of Lily.

Irshya looks to the two submerged Sith, and then to Sabina. Lily is hugged, and kissed daintily upon the cheeks, before the Gobbo heads back to the lady's side. Returning a little while later, fully dressed, with her hair covered in a towel.

"Yesss," Lily hisses, high pitched and happy, while giving Irshya an oddly serious look. An intensity and strong will burn behind her small eyes. "And Sssasssaa."

"This one also," Cryosanthia tells Sjach, "and this one's ancestors had many colours, but the strongest blood in this one is the White, which is the weakest. The irony is great."

"You are not swimming anymore Irshya?" Cryo wonders. She imagines for the goblin it's almost like giving up breathing.

Sjach remains quiet for a time, but he eventually speaks, "Thiss one'ss mate was a goldscale, pure and noble." he says eventually, as he drifts about near the bottom of the water. "Half a century my ssenior. Sshe wass the reasson I joined the Warrior-casste, instead of the hunterss. Sshe taught me to ride." he admits then, reminiscing fondly, and opening up a bit about the troubled past he had discussed briefly, before. He remains, mostionless, at the bottom of the water, his scaled eyes lidded.
        
"Irshya would not want to interrupt.", she says softly. "Also, she should check on the running of the Tarrace. As one of the cofounders, it wouldn't do for me to get lazy." The Gobbo grins. "Enjoy the baths.", she says with a wave. She glances to Lily. "If you're good, Irshya will have a treat for you, after." Giggling lightly, the Gobbo wanders out to the bar side of the building.

"This one expresses sympathy," Cryosanthia says, listening and staring up through the water. She remains lying on the bottom, feeling the weight on her and in her lungs as the water flows in and out. "This one is sure she fought well. She sounds like she was beautiful. Golds are."

The whitescale is quite for a while, finally adding, "This one's was blue. Is blue. This one is not sure the tense of words to use. He lives. We are not together any more. The Mistake made us and destroyed us."

And while she doesn't intend it, because of her Message cantrip, her words are heard by Sabina, Irshya, and Lily even if they leave the room.

Sjach stirs a bit against the bottom, finally, and his eyes open again to peer over at Cryo, "Yess, she did, and she wass." he says then. But then he falls quiet, peering over as he listens to Cryo speak in turn, "You have spoke of thiss before." he recalls then, their first meeting back at Mictlan. "It iss a source of great pain for you." he says then, but then falls quiet again.

"It is," Cryosanthia says, and falls silent. It seems like she won't anything further. Her breathing remains slow and deep, her upwards stare constant. No real sign of distress, little sign of anything although there are cold currents in the water.

"This land was corrupted by a magic plague, of oozes, caused by a powerful Fae Monarch. Salina, Queen of Endless Winter. This one tried to be Speaker, to negotiate with her, agreed to help her."

There is another long break in her story where she simply breathes in the water. "This one was away for eighty summers. This one became her Beloved Pet. This one called her Mistress. She brought in one I was friendly with, he became my mate. She had a young human child, this one took him as a foundling, raised him to adulthood in that Tower. This one helped him escape."

There is another long pause, "The punishment for that, was she ruined my mind, made it so this one would kill him on sight. This one nearly did. This one's mate succeeded, and she destroyed his mind also."

"He lives, but we can't be together, we are both not healed and make each other worse. She left so much doubt and hidden traps in our thoughts."

The whitescale turns and stares at the emerald one, into his eyes, "Yet I would still call her Mistress, still feel for her and hate her at the same time. This one is not even sure what I lived with. She was a dream. So 'Bina said, if the word 'Mistress' escapes my mouth, 'Bina will smack me, and this one should say 'Mistake' instead."

"So she is my Mistake."

Sjach listens in silence at the story, though his spines bristle at parts of it, out of sympathy or perhaps second hand anger at the account, it is hard to discern, his eyes give little away. Even after she finishes speaking, he remains quiet for a time, before he eventually speaks up again, "Ssome scars run deeper than otherss." he says finally. He drifts closer, and reaches out a claw to touch on Cryo's shoulder, a subtle gesture, but one of support none the less, before it retracts again.

"We have long livess and long memoriess. Wounds of the heart run deep, and heal sslowly." he adds, "Like our ancesstors, but... it iss as you told me." he adds then, and pauses for another moment, "We alsso have the time to make amendss for our mistakess." he he finally utters, and falls quiet again.

The touch does seem to help, a little relaxation flow through the female sith. "They do. Salina has been neutralized, the version of her this one knows, no longer exists, her damage has been undone. This one has found Lily and has purpose, but all who stood against her have such losses, of memory, purpose, and family."

There's a small 'plock' and an orange-sized metal cage sinks down. Something thrown by Lily, who can hear the conversation, and while she doesn't understand tradespeak all that well, she recognizes the tones and the need for her clutch-mother to think of something else.

"So it is done, what can be done, and only time passing remains."

Sjach blinks, slowly, as he listens to the last of the story, and gives a small nod of his head. "Thiss one iss glad to have found Little Flame." he says then. He hesitates for a while, and then eventually speaks, "If... Lily would like to ride. Thiss one can show her. Sshe will need to learn to bear a rider, in time, and they have... ssimilar temperments." he says then, and he glances towards the cage, picking it up in a clawed hand and examining it absently as he speaks.

It's a little metal cage made out of flat pieces that have holes evenly spaced along them. At the corners, angle brackes allow other pieces to attach orthagonally. It's all held together by tiny screws. It seems to be some sort of goblin or gnomish construction toy.

"She is my treasure," Cryo confirms in a way that sounds both maternal and draconic. "She would love to ride, when your Swiftclaw is ready. This one teaches her patience too."

The whitescale looks over at the small cage, "And to not throw her toys in the pool. Lily if we lose the pieces in the water they shall never be found."

She rises with a tailswish and a stroke that gets her moving. She glides well underwater, almost flying, to hold out her hand for the toy then head upwards. "Come, we should dry, eat. This one can show you more sights without the rush for warmth."

A suggestion that works for both large, and little-scale.

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