Public Baths - Windhaven
These are the communal baths of Windhaven. This is a large room, perhaps twelve meters wide by some thirty meters long, with ornate scrollwork painted on the walls, which extend high above your head. There is a tiled walking area three meters wide around the outside of the room, and the floor is slightly angled towards an enormous pit of pure white sand. The sand is very fine, and appears to be kept clean by several young gryphons who work long slotted scoops through it, cleaning out any stray feathers or other debris, and occasionally bringing fresh sand in from a room off to one side. A large slot near the ceiling on the far wall appears to draw air inwards, keeping the room clean and dust free.
From time to time a gryphon will come in and lay down in the sand, shaking its wings and burrowing slightly, then rising up and shaking out. Repeating this several times helps shed fur, feathers, and dirt, without compromising their ability to fly.
Kryst pads into he baths, peeking in curiously, having only been ehre once, when she was originally given a tour.
Ceylana is half buried in the sands. She stands up and shakes out, white sand falling from her taking with it bits of loose fur and feathers. She crounches down to scrub vigorously again in the sands before standing up again. Her pouches are off to the side, safe and away from the sand.
Kryst ohs softly as she spots someone present already in the baths "Hello.." she chirps, announcing her presence 'I..hope I haven't interrupted you..."
Ceylana looks up, still crouched in the sands. She goes back to what she was doing and says loud enough to be heard from the short distance, "Not a problem, child. Is there anything I can help you with?" She is direct and to the point, yet not rude about it.
Kryst blinks a little bit as she's called child, then shakes her head''it's probably not an insult "I was just, well...checking out the baths..the only time I've been here was when I was given the tour by Telgan...."
Ceylana shakes out one more time and then pads forward a little, to get a better look at this young lady she speaks too. "I may presume you are a New One then?" She shakes a little more to get rid of the little bit of sand that persists on remaining on her person.
Kryst sits abck on her haunches, bowing her head repectfully to you "Yes, I am...my name is Kryst..." she says softly "I've been here about two months, I think...."
Ceylana bows her head in return. "I am Ceylana Zenari. A pleasure to meet you, Kryst." She looks at you and then at the sand and then back. "Have you been shown how to clean yourself in the sands? I know some New Ones prefer to dip themselves in water, but that makes flight very hard afterwards."
Kryst shakes her head "No..we didn't have time at the moment..and I haven't been back here..I've made due with water in the meantime.." she says, a bit embarassed that she didn't ask anyone for help
Ceylana nods her head, "I thought so. Do not be ashamed, it is perfectly alright." She looks up at the sky out of the window slot above and says, I still have some time, I can show you how if you wish." She steps back to allow you room to walk into the sand before her, even though there is plenty of space all around.
Kryst hmms, then gives you a shy little smile "Well..I'd apprecaite it..thank you.." she murmurs softly, padding over intot he area of sand that you jsut stepped out of
Ceylana takes a monotone voice as many instructors would to a student and begins her lecture, demonstrating as needed. "First, find a good clean patch of sand. Where you are is fine for now." She spreads her wings out and continues, "Now spread your wings out a little and crouch into the sand like this..." She crouches in and starts squirming back and forth on her belly, half burying her belly. "Now you try."
Kryst looks at you, watching your movements carefully, very much looking the part of the attentive student. She nods to you as you tell her to try, her wings spread apart, then going into a crouch, starting to awkwardly squirm on the sand.
Ceylana says, "Good. Now be sure to scrub the undersides of your wings good. By digging into the sand, you see that your wings are lowered and can reach easily. Just tilt to each side to scrub." She leans to her left and demonstrates, then leans to the right and does it again. Sand drifts down as she sits upright again.
Kryst smiles a little bit, mimicing your motions again, leaning left and down, dragging her wing across the sand, then doing the same to her right wing "This isn't too bad at all.."
Ceylana smiles a little bit and nods, continuing her lecture. "Now stand up and shake out the excess sand that is still in your fur and feathers." She stands up and does so. Sand falls as it did before, but not much else falls with it as she just got finished doing this part just a moment ago.
Kryst ahs, getting up, shaking herself a little bit, trying not to get any sand on you, taking a half step back just in case as sand falls from her fur and feathers.
Ceylana takes a few steps back as well as she continues, "The next part is more tricky. Lay down again..." She does so, but this time her wings are tucked in as she leans over to her left side and rolls over onto her back. Then she wiggles and spreads her wings a bit. She looks at you upside down and finishes, "...roll over onto your back and repeat the process. Scrub the sand in good and then roll back onto your belly when done." She waits like this for you to do so first.
Kryst watches you carefully, looking a bit confused as you roll over, then nodding "okay..I think I can do that..'s he says, looking aqt you a bit oddly as you speak upside, down, then gignerly rolling over onto her back..luckily she can manage this part without any problems, but she's a bit more shaky about wirrling around and scrubbing herself lwhen upside down.
Ceylana smiles and drops the monotone voice for a moment in favor of her softer voice, "Feels silly, doesn't it? Don't worry, this is your first time, you'll get used to it." She then goes back to her teaching tone and tucks her wings back enough to roll over and stand back up, but spreads them out and holds them at a downwards angle, the tips touching the sand. "Now roll back over and stand up. Hold your wings like this and shake really good." She waits for you to stand up first before shaking herself out, sand flying to either side as she does so.
Kryst giggles a little bit at your first comment 'It does, a little bit.." she says, getting a little more used to the wirgglign like this. SHe does it a little longer, then follows your lead and rolls onto her feat, a bit dizzy, recovering for a moment , then holds her wings out like you show her and gives a good vigourous shake.
Ceylana nods when both are done shaking. "Good. Now repeat as needed." She walks over to the edge of the sand pit and steps up out of it and walks to a small ledge. She begins placing her pouches back around her neck before continueing to you, "This is a very good way to keep the excess debris off without resorting to getting wet. But, there will be times when water is the only means to get you clean. Caked mud is a good example of this. You can go wash it off in water, or wait for it to dry and cake in your feathers before scrubbing it off, but take my advice: Go use water." She turns to face you, all pouches back in their customary spot around her neck and looks you over again.
Kryst finishes shaking off the excess sand, until she's satisfied that she's gotten as much as she can off of her. Once that's done she pads over close to where you are, sitting down on her huanches before you 'Thank you Ceylana...this si very much appreciated.." she murmurs respectfully "It's a bit embarassing, not knowing this before..but now I'm all set.."
Ceylana nods, back to her usual tone of voice. She sits down and says, "It is quite alright. I am just glad to help. It is nice, actually, to get my mind away from the complex and take time out to remember the simple things in life, such as taking a sandbath." She tilts her head, "You are a New One, yet you have been here in Shrilk for two months. Have you thought of what you are going to do with you life yet, Krysta?"
Kryst umms softly "well, I ahve given it some thought..I mean..well.." she seems a bit shy "I was told have some gift with magic..that maybe I could be trained to be a magician of some sort, if I had the will to go through with it.."
Ceylana nods slowly and asks, "And have you spoken to the mages here yet about such a desire? And either way, do you have the desire to go through with it? Magic can be a long and grueling path, or just a long one. It is different for everyone. Some are meant for it and others, while talented, are not."
Kryst nods 'I understnd..and, I've spoken with Telgan..and he spoke on my behalf to the other mages...I'm willing to learn, and they're willing to teach me.." she says "I think I can handle the hardship..."
Ceylana says, "Then I wish you luck in your studies, Kryst. If you should need help, do not hesitate to ask any of the mages, even if we are busy. The worst that we can tell you is 'No'."
Kryst smiles and nods 'Thank you...I suspect I'll need all the help I can get.." she says with a wry chuckle "I'm certinally not one to turn down an offer of aid..."