Erudisia swims as quietly as she can to the steps to the pool and seeks to hide against the wall the door is set into, so that she is out of sight should someone come in. (Hoping it is her friends, fearing it is not).
Meredith opens the door, and I’ll restate the description above, posted when Erudisia entered earlier:
A floor of polished white marble surrounds a large central pool of steaming turquoise water in this large, open-air bath. Stone pillars stand along the outside wall, sculpted with relief carvings of Sune and separated by frosted windows. Pale moonlight angles down from above into this ceilingless space.
There are no other entrances to the Pool Room. Steam rises from the water in the room’s center which gives off a fresh mineral scent. The depth seems to be about 10 feet, although refraction makes it difficult to tell. The water seems to be a perfect turquoise shade, at least, the fine mosaic tiling is turquoise and gives that impression to the liquid. The spring’s point of issuance and drainage channels are not apparent. Perhaps hidden from view at the bottom. The feeling in the room is serene and magical.
Erudisia has made it to her hiding spot, but Meredith quickly spots a trail of dripping water leading from the pool toward the Moonshae lady.
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
DM for Candlekeep Mysteries //Dev Horndin Curious Critters// Chierhy Nbenbe in Culuril's Strixhaven Adventure
Meredith did not notice that Bell had managed to conceal herself fully behind Meredith, walking as if she was her shadow......she moved to the edge of the pool pretending not to see the wet footprints and said softly, " Erudisia?"
Erudisia’s pale face briefly peaks from around a column then flashes back, until she hears Meredith’s voice.
“Meredith?” She whispers.
Meredith hears Erudisia’s whisper to one side, "Meredith?” From the other side she hears an unfamiliar woman’s voice whisper “John Boy?” If she turns towards Erudisia’s voice, the two lock eyes in recognition. If she turns toward the second voice, no one is there. The faintest giggle comes from the pool. Or is it only the light lapping of the turquoise water…
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
DM for Candlekeep Mysteries //Dev Horndin Curious Critters// Chierhy Nbenbe in Culuril's Strixhaven Adventure
Erudisia flushes scarlet in the silvery light. “No! Not at all!” She tugs at one part of her bathing suit and it blooms into a sleek and full dress, covering to her feet and wrists, trailing slightly along the ground.
“Cyrena is the naiad of this sacred pool. She is, if she would take it as the compliment it is meant, I suspect, somewhat mischievous. We were just making our introductions when we saw you approach the door. She is truly fascinating. I have never met one as beautiful, mysterious and graceful as she before. Sune has favoured her, even before a temple was set here; signs of the goddess’ favour clear, I assume, in Cyrena’s mien.”
—
((holding onto a stealth roll is ominous. I don’t know why, but based on nothing but the fact she is a naiad, Olympian style, I’m assuming Cyrena is a descendant or daughter of Sune or something.))
Meredith twirled away with a mischievous grin, " Well....I'm hardly one to talk.", the phrase started lightly but tasted bitter in her mouth as it ended.
" Cyrena of the Healing Waters, I Meredith Kubra Lystfuller-Celik greet you. I trust you enjoyed your......frolic...with Erudisia."
It is not unlike Sune’s image in the magic mirror on the book’s cover that brought you here, when Cyrena emerges from the pool. For the water is perfectly clear in the moonlight, and through it you see the steps, the inlaid turquoise mosaic at the pool’s bottom. But not her. Not until her head breaks the water at the pool’s center and rises straight up, followed by her neck, shoulders, and the rest of her, seeming to materialize out of the pool. As before, she is wearing a toga with a thin moss belt at the waist, which clings to her contours. She is dripping like a towel wrung out, or like light rainfall in a fairy wood, now fully emerged, and she stands there at the pool’s center, only the base of her feet now underwater.
“Welcome, Meredith Kubra Lystfuller-Celik, to the healing waters,” she says quietly. “You are not interrupting. Indeed I hope you will join us, for the healing waters obey no clock and are yours to enjoy while staying as a guest at the temple.” Her eyes dart cautiously to Erudisia and lock with hers for a moment. She drifts closer to the edge of the pool and her voice is a trickling whisper. “You will have noticed that not everyone who comes through those doors would have earned the same welcome… or enjoyed these waters.” Leveling her eyes at Erudisia, the naiad picks up a fallen leaf from the marble floor at the pool’s edge and gently sets it afloat. Her eyes flick back to Erudisia’s and she says three words in a Sylvan dialect (that only Erudisia understands).
“Let it burn.”
The water crisps into the leaf. It smokes and disintegrates. Cyrena watches Erudisia’s reaction to this. She then says something else, in the same dialect.
“Let it heal.”
Cyrena cups her palm and scoops up water from the pool, floats through the air to Erudisia, her nose almost touching Erudisia’s, and begins to dribble the cupped liquid over Erudisia's head.
Eyebrows rise and eyes widen as the leaf burns in water. It is good, she supposes, to know how utterly she had been within Cyrena’s power. Once again as the naiad arises from the pool she is struck by the resemblance of the naiad to the divinity whose icon emblazoned the book that formed their portal. Though she is of the elven faith, she is not insensate to the awe of the divine, of any pantheon.
As the water pours over her head, she feels lighter, and her feet seem barely in contact with the floor. Her spirit is swimming, her mind feels full of bubbles.
“Are you the daughter of Sune, or a servant, or lover? Did you know her, and know this pool, when titans did still walk the earth and gods filled their domains with their love and presence?”
Though the phrasing might sound strange to transliterate to common, that is the way of high Sylvan, where romantic love and trouth and chivalry are given form in grammar and accent.
Though Meredith did not speak Sylvan....it had been whispered in her ear many times....and her breath caught in her throat and her hand drifted back to clutch at Bells arm as she took a deep breath and tried to find her centre.
“Titans…,” the naiad replies, and her eyes look deep into memory. A girlish laugh. She shakes her head. “My little spring would not have been enough to quench their thirst … but I have only been here since the fey people’s arrival…”
“Yes, I was born by Sune’s will, and by her grace endure with each passing season and year and eon…”
Cyrena seems pleased with Erudisia’s reaction and pulls back, smiling, the tip of her tongue showing between her pearly teeth. She regards the others and then the door through which you came, her expression sobering step by step to frankness.
“I showed you just now” gesturing toward the pool, “what will happen should any of the Three — or their fiends — touch these waters…”
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
DM for Candlekeep Mysteries //Dev Horndin Curious Critters// Chierhy Nbenbe in Culuril's Strixhaven Adventure
“Generous and potent Cyrena, if you will indulge me one time further, who are the three you speak of, who is their demonic master. You need not say their names if it will draw their eyes, I fear I know who is to blame.”
Erudisia share a significant look with the others. “What would you have us do, how might Sune have us act, what secrets might aid us against such enemies of all?”
The naiad, her face still very close to Erudisia’s, holds her eyes for a long moment.
“You offer much… I am flattered… but my needs are few. And my place is here and my purpose is fulfilled. I will only ask that if you learn what became of my friend, Sylvarie, tell me. Yet I am patient and this knowledge will come to me someday. Or not…”
“The three rule themselves in fractious disharmony, creating strong cross currents in a mere puddle… but one whose position answers their evil desires. For this place stands in the path of errant travelers and is known to many whose self-interest is a trembling storm that keeps their wiser reserve shut indoors…”
“Morgana, Azirssa, and Greensong… are far from what they seem, clear, crisp water infused with deadly poison… and their minions, the silent ones… and their lieutenant, Saeth… all are still waters where hidden rip currents hide just beneath the surface…”
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
DM for Candlekeep Mysteries //Dev Horndin Curious Critters// Chierhy Nbenbe in Culuril's Strixhaven Adventure
Meredith raised an eyebrow to Bell, " Secrets?"
Then reached for the door.....
Erudisia swims as quietly as she can to the steps to the pool and seeks to hide against the wall the door is set into, so that she is out of sight should someone come in. (Hoping it is her friends, fearing it is not).
Meredith opens the door, and I’ll restate the description above, posted when Erudisia entered earlier:
A floor of polished white marble surrounds a large central pool of steaming turquoise water in this large, open-air bath. Stone pillars stand along the outside wall, sculpted with relief carvings of Sune and separated by frosted windows. Pale moonlight angles down from above into this ceilingless space.
There are no other entrances to the Pool Room. Steam rises from the water in the room’s center which gives off a fresh mineral scent. The depth seems to be about 10 feet, although refraction makes it difficult to tell. The water seems to be a perfect turquoise shade, at least, the fine mosaic tiling is turquoise and gives that impression to the liquid. The spring’s point of issuance and drainage channels are not apparent. Perhaps hidden from view at the bottom. The feeling in the room is serene and magical.
Erudisia has made it to her hiding spot, but Meredith quickly spots a trail of dripping water leading from the pool toward the Moonshae lady.
DM for Candlekeep Mysteries // Dev Hornd in Curious Critters // Chierhy Nbenbe in Culuril's Strixhaven Adventure
Bell tries to be silent and stealthy following Meredith into the pool area.
Stealth: Dirty 20 ! (( miracles DO happen! ))
Meredith did not notice that Bell had managed to conceal herself fully behind Meredith, walking as if she was her shadow......she moved to the edge of the pool pretending not to see the wet footprints and said softly, " Erudisia?"
Erudisia’s pale face briefly peaks from around a column then flashes back, until she hears Meredith’s voice.
“Meredith?” She whispers.
Well let this roll hold for a little while.
DM for Candlekeep Mysteries // Dev Hornd in Curious Critters // Chierhy Nbenbe in Culuril's Strixhaven Adventure
Meredith hears Erudisia’s whisper to one side, "Meredith?” From the other side she hears an unfamiliar woman’s voice whisper “John Boy?” If she turns towards Erudisia’s voice, the two lock eyes in recognition. If she turns toward the second voice, no one is there. The faintest giggle comes from the pool. Or is it only the light lapping of the turquoise water…
DM for Candlekeep Mysteries // Dev Hornd in Curious Critters // Chierhy Nbenbe in Culuril's Strixhaven Adventure
Meredith raises an eyebrow to Erudisia at the other voice.
" Are we interrupting?", she teased.
Erudisia flushes scarlet in the silvery light. “No! Not at all!” She tugs at one part of her bathing suit and it blooms into a sleek and full dress, covering to her feet and wrists, trailing slightly along the ground.
“Cyrena is the naiad of this sacred pool. She is, if she would take it as the compliment it is meant, I suspect, somewhat mischievous. We were just making our introductions when we saw you approach the door. She is truly fascinating. I have never met one as beautiful, mysterious and graceful as she before. Sune has favoured her, even before a temple was set here; signs of the goddess’ favour clear, I assume, in Cyrena’s mien.”
—
((holding onto a stealth roll is ominous. I don’t know why, but based on nothing but the fact she is a naiad, Olympian style, I’m assuming Cyrena is a descendant or daughter of Sune or something.))
Meredith twirled away with a mischievous grin, " Well....I'm hardly one to talk.", the phrase started lightly but tasted bitter in her mouth as it ended.
" Cyrena of the Healing Waters, I Meredith Kubra Lystfuller-Celik greet you. I trust you enjoyed your......frolic...with Erudisia."
“Meredith!”
It is not unlike Sune’s image in the magic mirror on the book’s cover that brought you here, when Cyrena emerges from the pool. For the water is perfectly clear in the moonlight, and through it you see the steps, the inlaid turquoise mosaic at the pool’s bottom. But not her. Not until her head breaks the water at the pool’s center and rises straight up, followed by her neck, shoulders, and the rest of her, seeming to materialize out of the pool. As before, she is wearing a toga with a thin moss belt at the waist, which clings to her contours. She is dripping like a towel wrung out, or like light rainfall in a fairy wood, now fully emerged, and she stands there at the pool’s center, only the base of her feet now underwater.
“Welcome, Meredith Kubra Lystfuller-Celik, to the healing waters,” she says quietly. “You are not interrupting. Indeed I hope you will join us, for the healing waters obey no clock and are yours to enjoy while staying as a guest at the temple.” Her eyes dart cautiously to Erudisia and lock with hers for a moment. She drifts closer to the edge of the pool and her voice is a trickling whisper. “You will have noticed that not everyone who comes through those doors would have earned the same welcome… or enjoyed these waters.” Leveling her eyes at Erudisia, the naiad picks up a fallen leaf from the marble floor at the pool’s edge and gently sets it afloat. Her eyes flick back to Erudisia’s and she says three words in a Sylvan dialect (that only Erudisia understands).
“Let it burn.”
The water crisps into the leaf. It smokes and disintegrates. Cyrena watches Erudisia’s reaction to this. She then says something else, in the same dialect.
“Let it heal.”
Cyrena cups her palm and scoops up water from the pool, floats through the air to Erudisia, her nose almost touching Erudisia’s, and begins to dribble the cupped liquid over Erudisia's head.
DM for Candlekeep Mysteries // Dev Hornd in Curious Critters // Chierhy Nbenbe in Culuril's Strixhaven Adventure
Meredith shoots Erudisia a completely innocent expression, and bows to Cyrena.
Eyebrows rise and eyes widen as the leaf burns in water. It is good, she supposes, to know how utterly she had been within Cyrena’s power. Once again as the naiad arises from the pool she is struck by the resemblance of the naiad to the divinity whose icon emblazoned the book that formed their portal. Though she is of the elven faith, she is not insensate to the awe of the divine, of any pantheon.
As the water pours over her head, she feels lighter, and her feet seem barely in contact with the floor. Her spirit is swimming, her mind feels full of bubbles.
“Are you the daughter of Sune, or a servant, or lover? Did you know her, and know this pool, when titans did still walk the earth and gods filled their domains with their love and presence?”
Though the phrasing might sound strange to transliterate to common, that is the way of high Sylvan, where romantic love and trouth and chivalry are given form in grammar and accent.
Though Meredith did not speak Sylvan....it had been whispered in her ear many times....and her breath caught in her throat and her hand drifted back to clutch at Bells arm as she took a deep breath and tried to find her centre.
“Titans…,” the naiad replies, and her eyes look deep into memory. A girlish laugh. She shakes her head. “My little spring would not have been enough to quench their thirst … but I have only been here since the fey people’s arrival…”
“Yes, I was born by Sune’s will, and by her grace endure with each passing season and year and eon…”
Cyrena seems pleased with Erudisia’s reaction and pulls back, smiling, the tip of her tongue showing between her pearly teeth. She regards the others and then the door through which you came, her expression sobering step by step to frankness.
“I showed you just now” gesturing toward the pool, “what will happen should any of the Three — or their fiends — touch these waters…”
DM for Candlekeep Mysteries // Dev Hornd in Curious Critters // Chierhy Nbenbe in Culuril's Strixhaven Adventure
“Fiends…” breathes Erudisia, “Of course…”
“Generous and potent Cyrena, if you will indulge me one time further, who are the three you speak of, who is their demonic master. You need not say their names if it will draw their eyes, I fear I know who is to blame.”
Erudisia share a significant look with the others. “What would you have us do, how might Sune have us act, what secrets might aid us against such enemies of all?”
The naiad, her face still very close to Erudisia’s, holds her eyes for a long moment.
“You offer much… I am flattered… but my needs are few. And my place is here and my purpose is fulfilled. I will only ask that if you learn what became of my friend, Sylvarie, tell me. Yet I am patient and this knowledge will come to me someday. Or not…”
“The three rule themselves in fractious disharmony, creating strong cross currents in a mere puddle… but one whose position answers their evil desires. For this place stands in the path of errant travelers and is known to many whose self-interest is a trembling storm that keeps their wiser reserve shut indoors…”
“Morgana, Azirssa, and Greensong… are far from what they seem, clear, crisp water infused with deadly poison… and their minions, the silent ones… and their lieutenant, Saeth… all are still waters where hidden rip currents hide just beneath the surface…”
DM for Candlekeep Mysteries // Dev Hornd in Curious Critters // Chierhy Nbenbe in Culuril's Strixhaven Adventure
Meredith nods, " That matches much of what Ilmar said...", she said quietly.
" You don't know what happened to Sylvarie by any chance?"