Candlekeep Mysteries

“Mmmbuh-bye,” Greensong’s girlish voice comes as you take your leave. “Breakfast will be ready soon!”

As you move down the hallway toward the lounge, one of the white-tunic wearing beauticians passes you in the other direction, turning into the kitchen.

In the lounge, you find most of the guests already seated. “No coffee?,” the Baldur’s Gate sergeant inquires gruffly. “No,” replies Morganna, smiling. “It will only slow your healing, and reduce the efficacy of our offerings. Do try our invigorating ginger and goblin-mint tea,” she suggests, gesturing to the other white-tunic wearing beautician who is now situated at the bar to prepare the concoction. Today, Morganna wears a gauzy white knee-length dress, leather riding boots, and a leather hat with a brim embroidered in gold. She moves with the same elegant confidence as yesterday.

Also in the room is a new face, though equally stunning as Morganna. A tall, brown-complexioned woman in a cream-colored blouse straining at the seams under a square-cut dirndl top with strong-looking shoulders and muscled thighs revealed by a leather skirt. Little One does a double-take, then simply stares…

“Ah, our new guests. Welcome,” the latter says, in a full-throated alto voice. “I am Azirssa, proprietor of the Temple of the Restul Lily…” 

“Co-proprietor,” Morganna cuts her off cheerfully. 

“Riiiigghhhtt…,” Azirssa says, smiling back at Morganna. “Remember everyone, that the morning workout begins 30 minutes after breakfast is served, in the Garden. Ah! My timing is excellent as ever, haha…” Indeed, at that moment, the first white-tunic wearing staff person – as ever, wordlessly – comes into the lounge bearing a huge salad bowl which he sets on the bar, where tableware is neatly set out.

“Do help yourselves,” Morganna says to the room. Azirssa had been just about to say the same thing and smiles dimples to Morganna in a way which either says, ‘I love you,’ or ‘I will kill you before the sun sets.’ No, or course it must be the former…

Meredith stares at Azirssa for a full thirty seconds, " ..........Mommy......."

Then shakes her head........thats a Hag.....H...A..G....no....look at Bell and Erudisia...  only at Bell and Erudisia.....

Goblin-mint, thinks Erudisia, is no tea ingredient I have ever heard of. 

Erudisia makes the motions of choosing a few items of food, and drinks only clearest water that she pours herself. She chops each offering into small pieces, spends some time pushing it across her plate, one piece lingering on her fork but never quite reaching her lips, until it is time for the workout. When Morganna is near, and in earshot, Erudisia says to Little One,

”We must finish quickly if we are to make Azirssa’s workout, Little One. I do not wish to snub the owner of this fine spa.”

Meredith nods along as Erudidis talks....

Little One surreptitiously cocks a huge brow at Erudisia’s remark, but quickly catches on. “Yes. No want keep owner wait.” He shovels half the bowl of salad into his maw then dabs with a napkin. 

Morganna’s response to Erudisia’s remark is less sanguine. Her fair face twists into a hidden snarl as she looks away from the guests to hide her expression, adjusting a flower arrangement that needs no adjustment. Or did it? She removes a withered bloom that seemed perfect before and crumples it inch by inch into her fist as she faces back around, smiling warmly.

“Only perfect flowers for our guests.”

A few minutes later, Azirssa speaks again. “Not everyone here is in need of strength training,” she says, sliding a finger along Little One’s bicep. “But,” she turns to encompass you three in her glance, “if you ever want to be physically beautiful,” she adopts a graceful fighting dancer stance, her muscles bulging, her dirndl dirndl-ing, “a bit of exercise won’t kill you. Will it?”

She speaks over anyone who begins to respond. “Follow me to the garden. The first step in your journey away from being a pathetic weakling. YOU. Can conquer the world…” She smiles ingratiatingly and walks, graceful and strong as a panther, out to the garden. 

The halfling women follow, bickering quietly about the importance of “us” time. The sergeant sets his jaw, picks up a crutch and using it, limps toward the garden.

Erudisia follows too. 

Meredith does train but looking at the hags biceps she's not sure she'll survive......still she wasn't going to let Erudisia head in 'alone'.