DreamLyrics™ Play-by-Post Forums Hall of Fame - Latest Top 10 completed games HWD: The Heartwood HWD: Talesan's Village - Mikal

The Heartwood
Talesan’s Village
Amber Inn Baths
Rameday, the Eleventh Day of Scholar

Mikal

The baths Mikal wished to experience, upon first entering the town, were now his private domain.

That they were curious, perhaps, soon became an understatement.

The hearthside portal lead to a set of stairs. Carved from stone, the treads and risers were worn by generations of passage as they slowly spiraled down. It was a lay arc, not tight like castle tower stairs but more leisurely, gentle, as if the passage should match the nature of the destination. The walls were equally well crafted – a handrail cut into the wall, the roof a smooth and polished barrel. Indeed, the only anachronism were the small oil lamps placed in a regular pattern. They left a sooty blemish on the walls, resting on wooden sconces that were either an afterthought or placed many years after the passageway was constructed.

The stairs made a single loop, providing privacy by breaking line of sight. And the innmistress was correct, he could tell he was alone; each step echoed a bit, not loud enough to be heard but enough to be heard if specifically listened for.

Ahead, he could hear the faint sound of water; it was even, gentle, like water flowing around rocks in a lazy creek.

He reached an anteroom first; not that there were doors, but merely a slight widening of the hall at the stair’s lower landing. Benches were carved into the walls as well as simple recesses serving as shelves. In the shelves were set linens, some brushes, some soaps.

There were no lamps here. Instead, it was lit by soft light drifting in from the next room.

Soft yellow light... beams of sunlight.

They streaked in from three rectangular slots in the ceiling; he had seen similar before. They were the same shafts that provide light in that little chapel beneath the ruined Bordertown hill. They let the afternoon sun in through a high-domed ceiling. It felt like a chapel, the dome set on a rune-carved frieze ring, the triangle of Forest, the broken lines of Water and last the square of Mastery.

If it was a chapel, however, it was one dedicated to the mundane.

A ring of columns, in turn, supported the frieze, their capitals simple, their base unseen as they rose from a circular pool. The walls were set back, at the least, five or six feet from the columns, with the floor slowly stepping down into the water. The steps were wide enough to walk around the bath and tall enough to serve as a place to sit and relax. The water flowed in across a marble stone set into one wall, creating a small and almost silent waterfall; it vanished on the opposite side of the room through a dark slot.

But more importantly, the water was nicely hot. Indeed, a small hint of mist danced across its surface. The stone floor, too, was warm.

There were two other exits from the space, solving the unspoken mystery of how Romana and Kay managed to not be seen leaving. One was opposite the entrance he had just traveled, it had stairs leading up. The last was a door set next to the tavern side entrance; perhaps it lead to wherever the heat was coming from.

Mikal

He walks along, marveling at the construction and elegance. He'd expected neither in a bath for a small town's inn. Actually he'd not expected more than a wooden tub and a bucket to pour heated water over his head. And that would have been fine. This, this was far too fancy for the likes of a farm boy from a homestead now covered in dust.

He notes the runes on the dome overhead (OOC - Wolf, the link in the "References" section for "Runes of the Heartwood" does not seem to work. It doesn't take me anywhere. Can I get an explanation of the meaning?) casually, as well as the other exits from the room. Things to be explored and considered later. For now, the hot water beckons with an overwhelming call.

Returning to the anteroom he quickly disrobes. He doesn't bother to hang his trail clothes. They will need to be washed. He can change into his 'fancy' outfit for now. Not that it actually is very fancy. It is what he wears on festival days. Mostly it is clean.

He will also need to clean and mend his armour. His weapons are in good shape. He oils and sharpens them regularly, even on the trail.

Leaving his gear in the cubby, he takes a pair of daggers with him, along with the towels, brushes, and soap. He has become too wary to go completely unarmed anywhere.

Returning to the pool, he tests the water temperature with a toe, and slips into the heat, laying the items he brought along on the edge of the pool next to him. Daggers covered by the towel. He quickly begins to scrub the trail dust from his hair and body, vigorously using the brush and soap. Once he feels clean, and all the soap is washed off, he leans back against the wall of the pool, simply absorbing the heat and relaxing.

[[I discovered that yesterday too - about the link]]

[OOC: If you're using the original links posted, yes... anything linking directly to a graphic is not going to work. Here's the new one: The Runes of the Heartwood. Maybe we can convince the GM to modify the Reference section! ]

(OOC - Thanks. I can see what they look like now. Any background data on what they mean?)

[ You're kidding, right?

What you see is what you get. Even Super OCD Woman doesn't know. ]

(OOC - Should be something. He knows what the New Jvrillian runes are, which implies that knowledge of runes is reasonably common.)

[Knowledge of runes, yes. Knowledge of anything beyond the fact that Water means Water, Time means Time, Horse means Horse and that the three of them together represent Dayala? No.

If they have more subtle meanings like the Rhoni Cards do, that information exists only in the head of the GM.]

The Heartwood
Talesan’s Village
Amber Inn Baths
Rameday, the Eleventh Day of Scholar

Mikal

Relaxing... that was what this place was.

It felt timeless.

It felt like it was the oldest place Mikal had ever seen in his travels; older than the keeps, perhaps even older than the Temple at Bordertown.

The mist floated above the waters, drifting like a wandering kitten. The temperature was steady; a well-kept temperature – it definitely was heated from below, as if a fire was being kept in some lower, hidden chamber.

There were two oddities about this place. The first was obvious. What was it doing connected to a small tavern in a small village at one end of the world?

The second was odder.

What was it doing so far underground?

It was like a sword found in a tinker’s scrap metal barrel, offered for sale as just a slab of metal. It was full of questions, but in itself it held no answers. All the tinker would know is that it had been in the barrel all his life.

The answers would be elsewhere. The question then became where? They were at the Sea of Opals, the Dirkwood Forest was something that could be seen just by stepping out the door. The Empire had come here, made their landing, and claimed this land.

But in the very beginning?

That was something everyone seemed to have forgotten. This place might be on a pilgrimage for a Dayalan and her unicorn. But it seems that everyone had forgotten that this was not Redhead’s Village.

It was Talesan’s.

This was also a Jvrillian place.

Mikal

He sits with his head back and soaks, letting the heat draw the fatigue out of muscles he didn't even know he had. As he sits he considers the oddity of this place. It was certainly old. Very old. Way before the Empire came.

But beyond the oddity of having such an ornate place in a smallish fishing village, he isn't sure that there's anything to be concerned over.

(OOC - Wolf - how does he know this is a Jvrillian place?)

The Heartwood
Talesan’s Village
Amber Inn Baths
Rameday, the Eleventh Day of Scholar

Mikal

Places were sometimes defined by their nature. And while both anachronistic and elegant, one of the definitions of a bath was a place where someone could relax, in peace and forget about the world for at least a little while.

The Amber Inn seemed like a nice place and reasonably safe. It’s not like it was midnight or some dark hour where nefarious things might happen and probably with Ari watching the door Mikal could guarantee not being disturbed.

Obviously both Romana and Kay had come to the same realization. One could stay and become all wrinkly, return to the tavern to Kadri and the other patrons - including some fellow Jvrillians - or see where that third door lead to.

If there was something hidden within the crafting of Talesan’s Village, this was definitely a clue.

But the mystery it belonged to, that awaited elsewhere.

It was up to Mikal to take the next step.

Mikal

After a time, he isn't sure how long as he's fairly certain he dozed off at one point, he feel relaxed enough, and his skin is indeed wrinkling, so he gets up out of the pool and dries himself off. Toweling off his hair, he walks back to the changing room and gets dressed, clothes, armour, and weapons naturally as he feel naked when not armed.

Settling his gear more comfortably he re-enters the pool room and crosses the floor to the door. He is intrigued by the heated pool and this door seems out of place.

The Heartwood
Talesan’s Village
Amber Inn Baths
Rameday, the Eleventh Day of Scholar

Mikal

The door was not locked; that in itself was not surprising. In truth there were very few doors at all that deserved or required locking; perhaps the accounting rooms of a Keep or the workshop of a jeweler in a very, very large town.

But what was surprising was the blast of heat, of hot air, that greeted Mikal when he opened the door. It was not a rush or windstorm, but a definite change of temperature.

Of course, the first thing that met him were stairs going down. They widened past the upper landing as if to serve someone carrying a heavy bundle. The steps originally were wide and well placed to match a person’s step. This comfort of descent was a mite trickier now, the stone nosings worn by at least two Ages of use. These stairs did not curve; they ran straight with a single switchback. They were also not lit, save for a warm orangey glow from below.

By the time he got to the bottom, Mikal was most certainly dry. And he had reached the heating room.

It was at least half again as big as the bath above and he could see where the columns above were. They were matched by a set of much stouter columns here. They too supported a dome of stone, although this one was not as ornate and its curve was covered in soot.

The center of the room was an almost knee-height dais. And upon that dais, crafted of stone and metal, were set nine braziers. They were large enough to cover the carved disc with just enough space for a person to walk between. They were lit, although now they held mostly coals glowing a pretty cherry color.

The dome above was intersected by a narrow shaft as if one had taken a slice from it like one might slice a cake. It was a black abyss above and it took a few moments for Mikal to divine its use. As the hot air and soot from the brazier rose, it went into this slice and to some chimney. The braziers, too, were not blazing but banked, to provide a gentle rather than an intense heat. The stone above, between here and pool, must serve as a thermal mass to contain the heat of the fire, much like a hearth does in winter, staying warm after the fire itself had gone out.

To one side, there was a recess, and it was stuffed full of wood. There were smaller branches to use as tinder, middle sized ones too, but the majority were ax-split lengths like one might stack cords against the coming of the storm season. There was a second shaft here, larger, heading up towards the surface. It was clear and straight as far as Mikal could see, but he was deep enough below ground that its top, if it had one, was lost in darkness.

There was also a second shaft, smaller, not big enough for a person but certainly large enough to dispose of the ash.

Wherever it went, it was much deeper. Deep enough so that if a penny were tossed down it, one could hear it bounce off the sides a bit.

But not hear it reach the bottom.

Mikal

He takes in the room once he reaches the bottom of the stairs, acknowledging the ingenuity of it's construction. The lack of overpowering smoke leads him to believe the second vertical shaft is a vent of some kind.

He glances down the smaller shaft raising an eyebrow as it disappears into the darkness below.

After a few minutes of casual examination, he shrugs and heads back upstairs. He had a purpose for coming here, and it involved his training Talia. Might as well see to getting started on that.....

(OOC - Wolf - we can move along.)

[[does this mean you want to be heading out to the Horsefarm now? This is fine I'll be glad to run you out there ... just remember Dazi isn't going thre until tomorrow]]

He'll wait and go with Daxia. They talked about it. So for now he will head back up to the inn and relax.

The Heartwood
Talesan’s Village
The Amber Inn
Rameday, the Eleventh Day of Scholar

Mikal

Rested and relaxed and with a bit of subterranean exploration done — the most harmless of dungeons — Mikal made his way back up the curving stairs. Stepping out beyond the hearth he reentered the Commons, only to find that all of his companions had gone.

The Innmistress nodded at his return.

"The little lass, she just went across to the livery. Thine companions — the two redheads, they went to walk tha Docks; the Lady to the Cathedral; the other two lassies, night an' day, must have gone to tha stone garden since they did nae come back here. Who knows where Dydd took Dean, but he's a Squire so all is well, but that other laddie of thine still ain't come back from being shown the rooms.

Now that it was beyond midday most of the other patrons had taken their leave too. At one table, however, a finely dressed man, a bit heavy in the middle, still tarried with what looked to be a teamster and two guards.

Mikal

"Would you show me the rooms as well? I'd like to drop off my gear."

The Heartwood
Talesan’s Village
The Amber Inn
Rameday, the Eleventh Day of Scholar

Mikal

As Mikal asked his question, his answer returned to the commons room. From the back door, Cesare entered accompanied by the innkeeper’s older daughter. Her Mother did not look too happy at Twl’s arrival, and she gave both Rhoni and her child a stern look.

“There you two are.

“And just in time, me young lady.”

Ari nodded to Mikal and pointed to the back door.

“Since you are right good at it, show this laddie now where tha’ rooms be. Their patron gave us coin, so all is accounted for, right and proper. Now don’ be spending the same amount of time as before; dinner is going to be needin’ fixing and thine Father dragged from the brewery to be doin’ his share too.

“I’d send Dydd, but she’s out with her fiancée.”

Just like she did Cesare, the barmaid pointed to the door she had just come from.

“Come, good sir, the rooms be right this way.”

She paused, looking back over her shoulder to the Rhoni.

“Mebbe later I can show you that overlook, ja?”

Twls took Mikal through the back door; it lead to a short corridor, one without windows, which then met another crosswise. Nothing much had changed since she had been here last, so again she pointed to the left.

“The large room, with two beds and a table, that’s down there. It’s prolly fancy enough for thine Lady, ja?”

She then opened one of the nearby doors.

“We got one, two, three rooms like this. Had four, but thine companion took one already.”

These rooms were small and cozy with a diamond-paned window at the end, room for a single bed, a barrel to serve as a table and a half barrel turned over for a chair.

The larger room, if looked at, was similar save that it had a small fireplace, enough space for a large bed and a smaller one, with a short length of a wall to keep them separate. It had three half barrel chairs set around its barrel table.

Cesare

He looks amused if anything at the mother's look. He knows that look. Most mother's want their daughters far from Rhoni folk. Daughters are often easily lead astray, then one morning the Rhoni are gone.

"Maybe.."

He smiles at Twls but then crosses to Darian which might just divert some of the suspicion from him. He nods at Mikal as they pass.

Mikal

He nods and smiles at Cesare as he passes with the young girl, grinning at the protective mother's comments. Though, from his traveling with Cesare he agrees with her worries.

He looks at the room the girl shows him, moving to the larger room and dropping his gear on the smaller bed. "Please make sure my Lady Kadri's gear is brought here. She will take the larger bed."

He glances around one last time, then turns to Twls. "Your mother mentioned dinner. How long until it is served?"

The Heartwood
Talesan’s Village
The Amber Inn
Rameday, the Eleventh Day of Scholar

Mikal

"I'll see they are brought down from McTaggart's, that I kin be arrangin'."

The young woman stood properly, folding her hands at the small of her back. She then replied quite properly, a practiced patter.

"Dinner is brought out when She touches the sea out yonder. It's whatever Ma and Fa have decided is best, and we ain't had anyone complain yet.

"Sometimes a Kirillson will come down and sing for folks; it depends on how their work goes out at tha' compound."

She paused then, taking a half step back.

"Anythin' else ye be needin'?"

Mikal

He smiles at the girl as he drops his gear. "Thank you."

He glances out the window. "It's a bit of time yet until She sets. Perhaps you can tell me what things to see and do while I am here? Oh, and your name? I am called Mikal."