The group had a chance to speak with the Aspect of the Castle, Candella. Her appearance is fluid and depicts the denizens of the castle as well as her state of disrepair. As an avatar she can't be permanently destroyed, but she can be hurt and has taken to retreating to here where she can marshal what little power she has by adhering to the exact wording of some long ago spell the Ispan Halgafar had put in place. It gives the group most likely the last bit of information they might need regarding the history of the castle, Corfard, and what occurred. And if you know your history, you can learn from it.
Let's hope they learn something!
Follows:
THREE HUNDRED TWENTY THREE
(I/C)
The group all waved at Brendon to engage with the goblin Matron, most of the party crowding closer to peer in. The Scout motioned someone to check the door further down the hall before clearing his throat and addressing the Goblin, “Hello Candella.”
“Greeting,” she replied. (Combative Charisma checks: Brendon Red 10 (Under by 3) vs Candella Black 3 (Under by 8) – both likeable, She is pleasant to talk with. Like a favored aunt)
“Please forgive my misgivings,” Brendon said, hand over his chest, “but I will admit, we’re all taken aback to you knowing my name.”
“I can see how that would be concerning, my dear.” She clucked her tongue. “I will admit that shadowing yourself in doorways after greeting and being bid to enter is considered rude, Don’t you think?”
“Perhaps,” He glanced down at the floor frowning. “But maybe you care to either enlighten us with how you come of such knowledge and maybe tell us things that will ease our fears.”
She smiled, revealing decent teeth considering the rest of her looked somewhat battered. “So distrustful.” Laughing softly, she pointed to the ceiling along the north wall. Faintly the group could see some baffles along the edge of the ceiling and wall. “This bath was originally designed for the Princess Argenta and her maidens. The baffles allowed her voice and wished to be heard by the servants that might be in the Tea Room of here in the Royal Baths.”
“Ah,” Brendon nodded, hastily searching his memory.
“I had heard your companions identifying you during the combat with Catharandamus as well as the others…Wyn, Kovid, Abraxas, Lyra, and Lannis.” Candella shifted her weight, the matron seemed to be easing the weight off her more wounded foot. “Sometimes the easy answers are the most obvious ones, young one. Now please, enter.”
Lyra pitched her voice to a harsh whisper. “I don’t know... if she’s telling the truth, which I feel like she might be, a matron is a matron. Doesn’t matter if she’s a goblin or not - she deserves some level of respect.” (Discern truth: <Wis check -4 penalty, White 13 – inconclusive – make your own determination).
Wyn bowed his head, standing next to Brendon. “Madame, ye invite fer Monsieur du Lac here was quite kind. Excuse our hesitation, but we have been dealin’ en fighting’ wit a bunch of aggressive types ova de past... 7? 8 days? I dun know anymore... so when someone offers to bathe one of us, ye cen only expect we be a bit wary.”
“As to be expected. But this room is simply a bath.” She cocked her head. “And IF someone where to be in here actually using the room to take a bath, I would then be able to LOCK the door,” she pointed to the main door out of here on the western wall, “as the baths are being used. And others who might want to come in…would not be able to.” Her eyes glittered with a mixture of intensity and humor.
“Oh,” Brendon said, then smiled. “OH!” Taking a step forward, and then a second, he passed over the threshold and the goblin Matron smiled broadly. She went over to the western door and slid a heavy metal locking bar out of a slot in the stone and across the front of the doorway. Feeling a bit better, Brendon assed, “I would be lying if I said the thought of cleaning up wouldn’t feel good right about now. I think I needed some sort of assurances before I entered. I’m not in the mood to be stabbed again.”
“Few people are interested in being stabbed a first time, young one,” She turned back the Scout and motioned for him to take off his pack. “Please, divest yourself of your accoutrements. Nothing ill will befall you here.”
From the hall, Kovid frowned, lowering his lantern to preserve oil, the candles in the bath more than sufficient for now. “I wouldn’t get too close, Brendon. Goblins aren’t to be trusted... especially ones that look like battered witches. What do you all want to do with it?”
There are those that would say that dwarves suffer under the same misanthropic chastisement, Goodson Kovid. Trust is a coin, Master Dwarf, it can be spent, saved, or wasted. I would think that you could hold onto your coin of trust for now.”
Wyn pitched his voice low and sheathed his sword, leaning to the dwarf to say, “De hallway door be unlocked. Just in cases.” Getting a nod, he raised his voice and paused before entering, “As much as I’d like to join Monsieu, Du Lac, and de rest of de group as well, under de standard elven rules of hospitality, we shouldn’t enter until de Matron of de baths invites us in.” He looked up, “Dat only be de right ting to do.”
Candella shook her head slightly, “Such strange rules you’ve come up with, but given the attention you must have had here in the Ispan’s Castle, I can understand the reticence.” She opened her hands as a welcoming, “Please, come in all those who wish to.”
Wyn and then Lyra entered, both of them looking around. Abraxas looked around, staying by the entrance, eyes flickering about. He whispered, "Go ahead amigos. Estoy mirando para aqui. Dije me como es. Si peligroso, say es peligroso. I'll join cuando sabemos it is safe."
(Saves vs spells: <Brendon Red 9, <Lannis Pink 10, <Lyra White 5, <Wyn Orange 5)
Lannis felt his way around the doorway and asked, “Hey lady, how long have you been here? Did the Ispan put you here?”
“Magister Lannis, I have been here for some time. A woman does not like to acknowledge the passage of time as it often reflects on her ending age.” She smiled at Kovid’s direction, the dwarf still standing outside the doorway, “Even if one takes on the appearance of a crone or a witch.”
The Magic User sighed, “If he did I'm sorry, that's a long time to be stuck here.”
“I feel the passage of time every day, Magister Lannis. The aches last longer and the sleep is more elusive. But I take pride in my doing and my station so I do not worry about the time spent.” She walked over to the bath and turned to Brendon, her milky white eye reflecting the rippling water. “The bath, warm or hot, Pirateson?”
Brendon had taken off his pack and was working off his armor, stacking the pieces to the side. “Um..warm..No, hot?”
“As you wish,” she smiled again and picked up the red gem from the tray and lowered it to the water. After a few moments the water began to steam and she lifted the gem from the water, replacing it on the tray.
As he was unlacing his shirt, he cleared his throat and asked, “I hope this isn’t too much to ask, but…your wounds?”
She smiled, her lone eye twinkling, “I suspected this question was coming. Go on, everyone asks at some point.”
“Are the wounds you’re sporting a result of the inhabitants, or a byproduct of the pool?”
Candella sighed. “I have had them for so long they are merely a part of me. Are they a result of the inhabitants? The answer to that is both yes and no. Some are older, from before the usurpers came and squatted. But they are not from Halgafar or any of his staff or retinue. Others, well, they are the result of some poor decisions on my part and lack of judgment. Safe to say, the recent ones are reminders to me to be vigilant and to learn from my…mistakes.
The elf cleared his throat, “Ye must admit, it be a bit... odd... fer us to find ye here.”
“As it is odd for me to find you here as well, don’t you think?” she asked with some mirth.
“Dat is true.”
“It smells nice in here,” Lannis commented, “Is that you? You smell pretty. I bet you're pretty."
“Magister Lannis, it has been some time since someone looked upon me as pretty, but your words are kind and your heart is innocent.” She motioned Brendon to come closer, a bar of soap in her hand. “Please, young one, come and be cleaned.”
“Don’t mind if I do,” Brendon seemed more at ease, dropping his pants just before stepping down into the tub. He took the soap from Candella and stepped lower, feeling the soothing heat soak through his skin and muscles. “Poseidon. That feels real nice.” He bent lower and scooped up some of the water, letting it sluice down his face. Looking around he asked, “Being that the pool is situated near the barracks...”
“Bedroom, Brendon,” Kovid corrected from the hall. “The Princess’ bedroom. The Barracks were downstairs.”
Candella turned to the dwarf and beamed. “Quite right, Goodson Kovid.”
Brendon collected his thoughts and then finished asking, “Bedroom. So, does the pool rejuvenate those who enter?”
“Bath, young one. And it rejuvenates those who partake in it by cleaning the dirt from their body and perhaps warming them if they are cold. May I?” She asked, handing a washcloth to the Scout. He took it with a nod and she pointed to a hook just inside the steps. “There is a dipper there if you’d like to use it to run the water over your shoulders and head. Or if you’d like, you are welcome to duck under the surface. The bath is just about 3’ deep and the floor of it is pebbled so you should not slip.”
“Thank you, Candella,” Brendon said with a smile. “I gotta admit, it has been a long long time since I even had the chance of getting clean.”
“Then I am glad to be of service to you in the matter.” She looked over the rest of the party. “If anyone else wishes to partake, please, disrobe and enter the tub. The water will be cycled clean in a short time and the heat can be reapplied if you wish.”
Abraxas turned to Kovid and leaned down, “Is this for real? Do we trust this? Are we going in? Do I really smell as bad as I think I do?”
Time now is Day 8, 8:55 PM
(OOC)
There we go. What would the group like to do? Again – SHE IS LIKEABLE – like a favored aunt. No one is charmed or anything like that. But the interest to be rude or demeaning just isn't there.She has given no indication of malice and to those outside the room as well as those inside the room, her appearance, demeanor, and actions are exactly the same – no illusions or glamours going on. So please, take it away – Kovid – given the goblin nature of it, you may if you wish continue your prejudice of the matter.
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