(Had an incredibly busy past few days, feel free to bot Leon. He'll follow along with Lazlo). 

 

(I'm not going to be harsh because you missed by 1.)

The monk looks doubtful of the intentions of the group. His eyes flick over to Kina, and in particular at a sash she wears around her waist.
"Sir, I'm of the order of the Shimmering Palm. Lately I've been finding my focus wavering. I've come for a treatment." she says, bowing her head. "These are friends of mine, several of our number here have suffered a recent tragedy. The clarity the water brings may offer some guidance." she adds.
The monk strokes his chin, then nods, opening the gate further.
"Very well. You are welcome here." he says, allowing the group inside.

 

Carmine looks like she wants to let loose with some kind of comment, but holds it in as the group proceeds into the courtyard of the retreat. The surroundings are immaculately well kept, a garden designed to quiet the mind and the soul. There are incense holders all around, and a large open-air pool dominates the center of the lot. The walls taper into a kind of half-roof, leaving the pool exposed, and on every cylindrical support beam there is a wooden carving of a hand, molded to hold a stick of incense. The pool is surrounded by cobblestones and a small fountain, possibly to wash one's feet before entering, trickles away, clearly driven by some form of spellcraft. 
Carmine pays for the group with a donation and bows deeply to the priest, whom barely seems to notice.
"Come, your treatment awaits." The priest says to Kina, whom nods her head and begins undressing as she's lead to a different chamber than the others. The priest calls others out to attend whatever ritual is about to take place. A thin screen is extended all around Kina in a circle, and silhouettes can be seen surrounding Kina, who lays her lower body on the floor. She puts her hands in a prayer position, and the group of them begin softly chanting before one of them can be seen holding a paddle of sorts and whacks Kina across the back as she continues to chant. 
"Kina got into some strange stuff." Carmine shakes her head as several other priests arrive to offer the others a bathing robe, for those who want one, and gesture to changing screens should the others want privacy while they change.
Carmine and her brothers refuse, and the group is left to the pool, where the satyr trio all begin undressing without a hint of embarrassment, Carmine looking over her shoulder at Lazlo to see what he'll do in particular. Leon changes behind a screen. 
Kallista can clearly see that the priest avoided eye contact with her in particular... it seems that at least for some of the religious groups of Guiston, old prejudices still hold sway.

Barna turns and looks at the bird, then shuffles back and forth a few times to confirm its eyes are indeed following her.
"Um, no, I haven't noticed that before." she says worriedly. 
It's then that the pewter bird opens its beak and a somewhat garbled, croaking voice emerges.
"Stay there and don't run, please." it squacks out. "I would speak with you two." 

Sister Daar makes a face and raises a brow.
"Indeed? Well, it may take you some time to win your way into the Hawk's Nest. My advice to you, however, is to not mention our orders. I can't speak for Brother Geldor as for exactly why, but those from the order of Draco are most unwelcome in the Nest." she states.
"And be very, very mindful of your words. The ones behind the gates in the Nest are some of the wealthiest and most powerful citizens in Guiston. Do not underestimate the clout they have at their command." she adds, flicking her tongue out a few more times before she draws closer to the retreat.
"Hmmm, seems like your friends were keen for a swim." she remarks.

Hyre tenses. Many things might happen - most of them bad, some of them good. "What should we do?" He asks Barna.

Kallista also avoids the priest's eyes, and immediately goes behind the changing screen, using the bathrobe.  

With the philosophy of 'When in Guiston'- and lacking the good sense to feel any sort of embarassment- Lazlo abandons himself to the experience. He sheds his clothes without a second thought and edges into the water, joining the other Satyrs. 

"A swim?  What do you mean?  And I will be careful.  So how do I get started winning my way into the Nest?"  Aelar is more than merely curious.  Here was a path to the power he needed to keep himself and his friends safe and maybe free his cousins and the rest of their town.

Barna freezes, unsure, but as she hears heavy footsteps that are in certainly no rush, she doesn't look too worried.
"Well... he's likely seen me here before." she says. "And he didn't say or do anything to me in the past. Likely he's just going to lecture us." she mumbles, putting down the books she had prepared to sift through.
The footsteps get closer, until the door to the cellar that would connect to the house proper opens, and a large, lumbering frame comes into view. The owner of the house looks over the pair from the doorway, dressed in old fineries from a bygone era, befitting a knight. A slump in his shoulder shows something else, as well; he's missing an arm.
"You two are old enough to know well what you're doing." he grunts out, leaning on a cane.
"And I'm hardly going to punish you for sneaking into my home to read some dusty old books, of all things. Full set of armour on display, priceless artifacts on the walls, and you two want to read. Gods preserve me, what vicious criminal masterminds." he says, limping closer, sarcasm just dripping from every syllable.

Carmine grins when Lazlo follows suit, and after properly observing washing procedure, as some of the caretakers are still in the line of sight of the group, eagerly sinks into the pool. It's been dressed up to appear like it's a natural spring, but it's definitely been constructed and also kept warm by spellcraft, runes lining the stones of the perimeter. The water becomes quite opaque after a couple of inches, so there's not too much to look at, for the more shy of the group. Carmine eagerly sits herself next to Lazlo.
"Well, come on, the rest of you. This will make you feel alive again!" she says.
(Lazlo, Kallista, constitution check.) Leon: 18

Sister Daar gestures to the retreat.
"This is a cast-off spiritual retreat for an order of animist monks who've made a home on the outskirts of Guiston. They employ medicated bathwaters and aromatics to 'cleanse their minds' but I'm fairly certain some of the herbs they employ are mild hallucinogens. They call them 'spirit walks', and they're somewhat open to the public if they show proper respect. I have a feeling though, that some people who use it aren't seeking spiritual enlightenment." she says. "As for where you should start buttering up the Nest... I'd say charm your way past a guard, and the rest should fall into place. Not that I would ever do such a thing." she says, rolling her eyes and smiling mischievously.

Leon enters the pool of water and begins to relax. He was skeptical at first, but the spring truly had some soothing qualities. He feels the worries of the day wash off him, and invites his companions to enter as well. 

Kallista reluctantly gets in with everyone else, glad the water at least offered some form of modesty. She avoids eye contact with the priests though.

Con Check: 16

Leon and Kallista feel nothing out of the ordinary from the scent of the incense or the additives in the pool, though they are feeling more relaxed. Maybe a little more open about what's on their minds.

Balgrim

Balgrim follows Ranik into the temple of the Hearth.

Con Check: 3

ooc: I'm going to write up what my character wants to do- if his con check fails I look forward to the antics! It's all a hallucinogenic fever dream!

Lazlo explores every inch of the pool- how deep it is in parts, how long he could hold his breath underwater, the splash to friend ratio, etc. His first instinct is to play- and he does so with the enthusiasm of a child set loose in wonderland.  When his curiosity about his surroundings is abated, he swims next to Carrie. Having never been around other satyrs he is intrigued by the siblings, and enchanted by Carrie. Although his mind is racing, his tongue feels thick in his mouth- he doesn't know what to say or do.  He studies the siblings- they are just like him. What might he learn from others of his kind? What has he been missing, all these years? His hopes of new discovery are absolutely drowned by his fascination with Carrie.  Her irreverent spirit and the way she seems to float through life- without care or concern speak to a part of his spirit long unanswered. He settles in next to her, relaxing on the manicured sides of the pool. Looking at her here, under the stars- the moonlight reflecting its light in her eyes and her smile- all he can say is:

"You're so cool."

ooc: LOL! I just saw my Con check- can't wait to see how this turns out! 

Aelar feels his own mischievous smile forming.  "Well, Sister, I do feel the need to explore my acting.  I think I'll try that in a couple of days.  Now," he turns to the retreat.  "will you be joining me inside?"

ooc: I'm pretty sure the answer is no but he'll ask anyway.

Nodding, Aelar turns back to the retreat and raps firmly but respectfully on the door.  When it opens, he gives the person his most winning smile and a slight bow.  "Good evening, fine sir.  Perhaps you can assist me.  I am looking for some of my friends who I believe have come to your retreat in search of your cleansing waters.  Perhaps a human or two, a satyr and a lovely tiefling lass.  We have all had a trying few days and, having heard of the wonderful nature of your waters here, I thought to catch up with my friends.  Alas, I was too slow though the kind Sister Daar," he gestures at the snake-woman, "was considerate enough to show me the way as I had spent time with her today, discussing how best I can assist her at her mission.  Are my friends, here and, if so, may I please join them?"

ooc: In case it's needed Persuasion 6

(Balgrim earns 25 class points towards cleric)
Balgrim is sequestered into the inner sanctum of the Hammerfall Hearth, a grand hall of stone and wrought iron works. It's quite apparent how much of the city owes to the dwarves for keeping the machinery that makes the conveniences of civilized life possible. A huge contraption pulses away in the main foyer, what looks to be a water tower housed inside the hall. It beats like an iron heart, pulling in water from under the Hearth itself, probably from the underground waterway deep below the city's foundation, and then pumped throughout the town.
The very idea that there are those who would want to take necessary supplies to maintain such important structures is mildly infuriating.
Balgrim is fitted for the traditional work clothes of a Hearth faithful, a smock with banded shoulder drapes and heavy gloves, with loose-fitting, heavy linen pants with a great many pockets, somewhat like what a handyman would wear if Home Depot was a church. It allows freedom of movement and protection from red-hot surfaces, though Balgrim has yet to grow quite the beard that the garment has a special reverse-hood to keep clean and unburnt.

"Aye, that's a fine look for ye lad. Now, just be sure ye keep that in order. I'll expect ye tomorrow 'round midday, we'll have ye sneak into the Nest durin' the next labour rotation. Tis garbage removal day. 'Ere's a map o' the Nest, too." Brother Ranik says, and finally hands him a log book. "An' this, fer gettin' the signature fer the receipt. Best o' luck ta ye."

Lazlo comes fully under the influence of the medicated pool.
(Carmine: 16) (Oi! It was 12 before.)

Carmine too, descends into her own delusions, as do her brothers, though they do little more than stare at their own hands and repeatedly make ripples in the water.
As Lazlo beholds Carmine, she smiles dreamily back at him and the two cuddle in the shallows of the water, doing little more than staring at one another. Carmine becomes more entrancing the longer Lazlo stares into her eyes, and from somewhere, he hears music. While he doesn't actually do anything, Lazlo pictures himself serenading Carmine with the best love song he has ever heard.
(Lazlo, roll an intelligence check: DC 12)

Sister Daar considers for a moment, looking down at her locket, then looking in the direction of the mission. She nods her head.
"I feel like I should stay with you, Aelar. I can't quite explain it, but after everything that's happened, in so short a time... if I'm being honest, part of me doesn't see the point in continuing to work so hard on the mission when the need for aid just doesn't seem to stop. Perhaps I should reflect on my faith and my own resolve. If you're near me, perhaps the spirit of Draco will present himself, young warlock of the dragon's horn." she says.
The priest who answers the gate looks less than thrilled to see MORE unaffiliated people coming to the pool, but when he sees Sister Daar, he bows his head, who replies in kind.
"I can vouch for their sincerity." she states, and offers a donation for herself and Aelar.
The priest allows them inside and Sister Daar is stunned for a moment as she hears Kina's continuing 'treatment', the slap of wood against flesh. Unfortunately, the priests have no robes for someone of Daar's build, but she seems hardly concerned with her modesty.

Hopelessness...despair.  Aelar knew well these feelings.  In his short, by elven standards, life he'd felt these more than he should and both not all that long ago.  But he also knew the power of hope.  Not the foolish hope of blindly trusting to whatever powers might be out there, but the hope of doing everything in his power to squeeze every last chance out of the given circumstances.  It was that hope which had lead him to agree to fight the centaur or, more accurately, not let someone else do it for him.

And words came to him, from where he knew not.  He'd been careful not to reach out to Raia and the other voice had not come again.  Perhaps knowledge or wisdom or whatever could flow along that connection, whatever it was, even when he wasn't actively seeking it.

Reaching out he took Sister Daar's hand and squeezed in reassuringly.  "I know how you feel, Sister.  And I want to share some words which have come to me, just now.  I don't know how or from where...there was no voice...but I know I've never heard these words before.  Neither perfection nor success lie in the result but in the effort and while you cannot help everyone, and the need for aid will never end, for each person you do aid, for that person you have had success.  For that person you have made a difference."  He paused then, considering.  "And I'm not just saying I know how you feel.  I really do.  When my parents died, I didn't see much point in continuing.  Soon or late, everyone dies and I was just so sad.  But, my cousin Valinnar and her husband Xallon, Hon's other silversmith, they took me in, put me to work.  If not for them, I might have never have gotten rid of those feelings.  You ARE making a difference.  Every day.  How I got through those first weeks was by focusing on the task in front of me...well, Valinnar told me to do that, but she was right.  By focusing only on the job I was working on, I made a difference for myself in that moment.  You can't help everyone, but you can help the person in front of you and while that won't mean much to the one's you can't help, it WILL mean a lot to the person in front of you."  Aelar paused then, looking sheepish.  "Um...wow...not sure where all that came from."

And that was true but the one thing he did know was that he didn't want Sister Daar to give up her work, not for this reason.

Hyre bows his head. Respectfully and apologetically, but not in a begging manner. "I'm sorry, sir. We didn't plan to steal anything. I just really wanted to study some things. Not a single page would have left that door." The formalities of apologising were met, as he was taught. "Now that you know we're here, I guess we won't be able to sneak in again. Perhaps we can find a better solution that fits us all? I think we started on the wrong foot. Let's try again. I'm Hyre, pleased to meet you, sir." he says while reaching his hand forward to shake hands. Upon realising the mistake, he quickly retreats his hand and presents the other, to match the hand the man still has.
Although he does try to sound apologising, he can't hide the part in his voice that discloses that most of what he said is a prewritten response, only changed a bit to match the situation. After all, he doesn't really feel guilty for going in there.

Intelligence 11

 ooc: had zero doubts that I would fail that.

The man lurches forward, grunting as his cane makes a heavy thud with every step.
"Yes, I know, Barna and Hyre, I heard you speak each other's names." he grunts.
"You may return, if all you're going to do is read my books. Better if someone reads them." he mutters.
"Well, let's take a look at you." he says, regarding the two in better light once he taps his cane a couple of times. The lanterns lighting the room glow brighter.
"Hmm, hmmm." he mumbles, apparently having thoughts about them but not voicing them.
"I am sir Geoffrey of the Longsword Garrison... back when 'sir' actually meant anything... at your service." he states.
"The only reason I was watching was because I saw young Barna brought someone with her this time. I was concerned that maybe she'd lost her way and was considering taking from me, but if all you want to do is learn, I see no harm in that... and yes, I WOULD have donated these books to the Guiston Library if the damned place was actually open to the public and not tucked away out of reach of the people who need it the most." he states, then glances to the egg Hyre holds.
"Mmm, if you're looking for a bestiary catalogue, I can narrow the search for you." he says, limping past Barna to find one particular book. He pulls it out and blows the dust off of it, before handing it to Hyre. "Where did a couple of street urchins like you find such a thing?"
(Hyre might recognize that Leon would probably be interested in meeting Geoffrey.)

Sister Daar blushes profusely when Aelar speaks, to the point she turns away from him. She's practically naked, but it's his words that cause her to flush. Nagas and other 'beast people' tend to be much less cowed by nudity than humans, living more in touch with their animal instincts.
"I... appreciate it, Aelar." she manages to say, before she promptly slithers into the pool, splashing some water on her face.
"That sounded quite... beyond your years, if I may say so. Maybe Draco is already speaking through you." she states.
Daar's constitution save: 3
Daar comes under the influence.
Kina comes out from behind the screen before long, her skin reddened across her back, her stomach, and neck. She's covered in sweat, too. She washes off her hooves before entering the pool and raising the water level by a few inches before she lets out a long groan of relief as the medication in the water works on her bruises, and it seems that what Carmine commented on is at least partially correct as Kina enjoys some gentle support for once. 
"Kallista, did you find the herbalist's shop? How did it go with Arty?" she asks.
Kina's constitution save: 6
Kina comes under the influence.

Lazlo, meanwhile, will just barely able to remember the lyrics to the song he heard. He'll be able to recall some of it, just not all of it. In his delusion, he quietly whispers the lyrics to Carmine, but spoken rather than sung. He's too far gone to realize what he's doing. Carmine, in response, and in her own delusion, pulls Lazlo close and whispers back, both of them lost in a dream together. At least THEY'RE having a good time.

Kallista seems very concerned by how Lazlo and Carmine are acting... and well, most everyone else really, but she pipes up, "He's... interesting. I need to be there at first light tomorrow. He gave me a book to read about plants and the like."

"Happy to help, Sister," Aelar says.  Then he looks at the water and his friends rollicking with the new satyrs.

"Hi, Leon, Lazlo, Kallista.  That's great about the book and the job...it is a job, isn't it?  Um who are your new friends and, um," he pauses, trying to find the right words.  "Is everyone OK?"

ooc: Perception 3 Does Aelar notice anything off?

ooc2: Given that roll, he don't :) so...

Aelar nods in response but the water looks so inviting.  Calmly he removes his clothes, hangs them neatly, and joins his friends in the water.

CON Save: 21