3/15/2002 Logfile from Akarian Dawn Raughir SQUEEKY CLEAN? The Baths -- Cherub's Cherry Bathhouse The air of this place is permeated with aromatic scents. Subtle pines are blended with a whiff of lime zest. Warm humid air makes gentle contact with the skin. Chiming water circulates through a steped multi-level pond that seperates two large circular baths. The water in in one is not quite transparent due to the accumulation of tiny air bubbles. This is the hot bath. The other is cold and clear. Much smaller transitional baths orbit the two main ones, their waters ranging the spectrum from hot to cold. A rack of clean white towels hugs one of the walls. A long silken cord is attached to a small golden bell on the same wall. A note on the wall read: "Ring for Attendant". Near this same cord are a group of long tables on which one may lie and receive an intensive massage from a most skilled member of this bathhouse. The light of day is diffused by glazed ceiling windows that deliver the warm rays of the sun. Small mirrors carefully arranged around the frame of the windows directs the light in a more satisfactory manner. This however is not enough to illuminate the entire chamber. Stout fires are lit in golden braziers that are stood on the backs of stone Statues. The statues vary from brazier to brazier and are of such things as bent-back men, stone trees, coiling serpents, and stacked turtles. Two exits lead out of this room, one is the main entrance to the baths and the other is a door-less unbarricaded archway that leads to the changeroom. Several loud barritone laughs echo through the public baths as men relax in the baths and the attendants massage the bodies of paying patrons. This is perhaps the most busy time of the day here at the baths, for now men are leaving their posts in government offices, merchant shops and other places of business and have stopped here first to relax. In the far corner, partially veiled by a thick fog from the hot bath is a man, crouched on the balls of his feet and speaking with two men in the bath who are less vocal than most people here. He wears a black robe and his feet are bare, abiding by the protocol of the bath house. Bound in a white towel, the thin frame of a man enters into the public bath. The cloth of the towel hugs him so tight, and his features seem so gaunt that one might mistake him for a mummy or other living dead from ages past. Yet he walks with a spring in his step, and heads striaght for the hot bath. The stairs that dip down into the water are not from the group of three, and the older man passes behind Cezayir to get to them. With a smile, twisted, and devilish, he nods a friendly hello in passing before reaching the marble stairs. He steps slowly into the steaming water several inches at a time, easing his way in. Cezayir turns while remaining crouched as Anhadet wanders past him and then returns his gaze to the two men sitting in the bath. "Ah, here is one who could tell me if you're telling the truth, gentlemen. Shall I ask him?" A slightly nervous look passes across the face of the heavier set man, though the balding man of medium build remains stony faced. Cezayir places his right hand on the floor and addresses Anhadet in a low tone. "I wondered if you might be able to clear up a misunderstanding for us, Mister Baruun." Anhadet has dips himself up to the waist in the hot water before he is addressed. Taking off his towel he sinks slowly into the water, careful not to get his face wet, so it appears. At first he doesn't reply at all, as if he didn't hear the Cezayir. Just when the silence becomes uncomfortable he speaks, "It seems there have been a good many misunderstandings surrounding you lately, doesn't it?" Eyes are focused on the water, and he wades and paddles about unconcernedly. Cezayir arches an eyebrow and pauses for a moment. A pensive look is on his face as Anhadet answers him in this cryptic fashion. His right hand leaves the floor and strokes his chin for a moment. "Not that I am aware of, no," he replies slowly. "Though if there is something you wish to understand I would be happy to address it." At this mild interruption the heavier of the two men Cezayir has been talking to becomes slightly agitated and his body tenses up. As if reading his mind, Cezayir says shortly, "Don't think about it, lard ass. Do you really think there is anywhere to go? Give me some credit." The fat man glares at the justice, and recieves an elbow in the gut under the waterline from his companion. Anhadet makes his way to the two men. Stopping just infront of them, forcing anyone attempting to flee to go around him. His thin aged presence seems to hav shifted in the water. He casts a thick heavy shadow on the pool's floor. The shifting, bubbling shadow twists into demonic shapes kicked up by the water's movement. With arms still out stretched in the water he stirs the steam that rises up from it. "You know what misunderstanding I speak of Cezayir. My men have told me some of what happened in my tavern the other day, they mentioned your name. I wonder what misundertanding I can help clear up here that would also prevnt similiar misundertandings from happening in My Yard." His eyes lift from the water, right to your's there is dept and fire in them beyond his simple expierences. Cezayir nods his head and purses his lips. He breathes in deeply of the misty air and then exhales slowly. "Indeed, I do regret teh violence that was displayed in your tavern, Anhadet," he seems slightly galled by the other man's refusal to use his traditional title reserved for judges, but lets it slide. "I assure you, it would not have been necessary if your bartender had simply answered my questions without assaulting my men. Perhaps, if you stop by my office later, we can work out an arrangement that will prevent this from happening again." He says that with a slightly narrowed brow and a low tone, not quite a growl. Instantly though, his face and demeanor change and he looks to the two stooges in the pool before him. "However," he says in a more upbeat tone. "This may affect you more than I in any case. These two men claim that you are holding permits from the consortium for them to traffic in spices." He turns to the men and says in a demeaning tone, "I'm sorry, what were your names again?" Anhadet continues to stir the hot water, the vapors rising up in twisting fingers before vanishing in the open space of the bathhouse. Noding to the first half of the statements, Anhadet replys, "I shall stop by your office, and we shall sort this out. Such actions, are intollerable." He is unclear of whos actions he speaks of. Then his attention is turned to the men, "Tell me more Judicator, you have my intrest. I would hear the story." The two men look to Anhadet and a look of desperation is on the fat one's face. The thinner one is still stony faced. he speaks. "I am Radah Drunchard, and this is Dreftrin Lerner. We have been treated most..." At this he is cut off by the fat man who shouts blurts out, "We too have been treated intollerably by this draconian tyran..." "Enough!" says Cezayir in a harsh tone. "I don't recall asking for anything more than your names. Another outburst and I'll have you shackled by the guard and your mouths gagged." he stoops and looks to Anhadet. Then he begins. "The guard were inspecting a new caravan at the city gates today for permits, and it came to their attention that one wagon, driven by these two, had slipped past their guard." He pauses and adds, "Do not worry, those responsible for the mishap will be punished." He continues, "When the wagon was found, there were only employees. But I found that these two were the proprietors. I followed them here, where they claimed that the consortium was holding their permits in lieu of confirmation of their final payment." "Well." Anhadet starts, "I can not say that I know these men." The look of desperation hieghtens in their eyes as he continues, "Yet there are thousands of men that hold Consortium papers, and privlidges." He backs off towards a small stone bench that lines the edge of the pool for sitting. Taking up a place there he pauses a moment before speaking more, "I shall look into the matter. We have begun to crack down those men smuggling goods into and out of the city without permits. If these men turn out not to be members of the Consortium, then I say Judicator, do your worst to them. Should I find out that they are members, and that they have been treated poorly, then my good Sir, you shall have another matter on your hands entirely." Cezayir looks to Anhadet with a grim look on his face and then looks back to those in the bath. "Gentlemen, enjoy your bath, for it may be your last for a very long time. My associates will escort you to an inn for the night." He pauses and looks back to the member of the consortium and draws in his lips under his teeth. "I find your lack of faith in the courts disturbing, sir. ere now we have always worked together and trusted each other implicitly. Do not tell me that this small matter with a vomitous bar tender has broken that strong trust." Anhadet leans back against the edge, "My faith in the courts has not changed at all. I know how they work, years of understanding broken up by a fist fight in my establishment, with my own employees none-the-less." His voice turns darker, to a primal growl almost, the edge of it slicing thru the steamy air, "Never have such barbaric tactics been used on my men before. I say if there is a faltering in faith, it is on your part, not mine." The two men find themselves visibly shaken by the tone of this old man's voice, something darker hinted at behind it. "Get out of my sight!" he shouts to the two stooges. Leaning back he lowers his voice, the edge slipping from it, "I will do all in my power to bring this little trouble to an end Judicator." Cezayir remains cold eyed throughout Anhadet's mild tirade and stares into the old man's eyes for a moment before blinking and then looking to the two accused smugglers. "Time for you to go, gentlemen," he says simply and looks over at the door of the bath, nodding his head. Then he looks back to the member of the merchant consortium and says simply, "I hope everyone is able to move beyond this incident. But I assure you, I am careful with my use of force, for if it is thrown about it loses its significance. I am sure you will find that my treatment of your employee was fair after all. Please, stop by my office tomorrow at the dinner hour and we will discuss it further." Anhadet smiles, whatever wrath was in him, he has let go of, "Of course. I shall bring with me the permits of these two...should I find any." He sinks back, letting the hot water soak into him. Reach out behind, he takes hold of one of the many golden cords, and pulls. The ringing of the bell will soon bring an attendent to his side. "Good day to you."