The Strong and the Mighty

The Bathhouse

The TarRaCe was meant to be the starting point, and end point, for journeys. Not just adventures, but regular travel, for trade and commerce, for visiting family and friends.

The baths have undergone an update. The stonework has been spruced up, the pools made more luxurious, and extra amenities added.

The whole space exudes an aura of comfort and relaxation. It feels bigger, though the actual dimensions remain unchanged. And currently it is peaceful. Serene. A small form floats in the main pool, lazily circling the pool atop a small, inflated shark. Her little snores can be heard occasionally.

The baths are a place to relax, get clean, and enjoy the water. Bryn is already rather clean (as a frequent visitor when she's in the city), and has just pulled off her boots, leather skirt and top and set them on the bench. With just her cloth unders on (c'mon, no one wears JUST leather. The chafing! The sweat! Even horses get blankets under their saddles!), she steps to the pool's edge... and jumps in, curling herself into a ball for best impact.

To enjoy the water, of course.

Thurid makes her way in from outside- she's not journeyed far, but she has been for her customary morning jog. And it was quite a long one, despite the cold weather outside, to judge from the snow and ice that clings to her hair. Despite the weather, she's dressed lightly- as she usually is, not especially bothered by extreme's of temperature- and she sheds her simple toga and makes her way into the water. She laughs at the Splash and then heads along, not daring to jump in herself left all the water jumps out, she is content to climb into the pool and settle into sitting against the edge, sprawling out with a pleased sigh.

The pathing around the bath is now warm to the touch, and is still easy to grip even when wet. Which is good, since a goodly amount of water is splashed OUT of the pool by the large woman doing her best cannonball self INTO the pool.

Irshya awakens to find herself high and dry, resting atop a slowly deflating plastic shark on the edge of the pool.

She blinks and stares balefully at Bryn. There's a show of many shark teeth.

Bryn grins tuskily (and soddenly) at Thurid, then the now-awake Irshya. "Ey. How ye doin? Water's nice, eh?" She crouch-wades over to the edge to take up a seat (flop). "This place's great."

Thurid grins over at the staring Irshya, and she reaches over to ruffle the gobber's head- perhaps at risk of being bitten, but she has meaty callused hands that are not afraid of a little gnawing. She nods her head over a Bryn, "Aye, that it is. A certain pool shark accused me of trying to steal her business with the sauna on the river bank, so I thought it best to bring a little business her way as a peace offering." she says as she settles back against the pool's edge.

Bite, the Goblin does, chewing on the calloused fingers. But there's no real strength behind the bites, just enough force to be felt but not draw blood. Irshya huffs and slowly stands. "I was napping.", she says matter-of-factly, to Bryn. "And the water is nicer when it remains in the pool." Another huff, and the diminutive woman leans against Thurid.

"Well, you can see how a sauna might impinge upon my business."

"Sorry?" Bryn doesn't sound all that apologetic, but not malicious, either. She uses her fleshy arm to help sweep some of the water on the tiles back into the pool. "The sauna's nice, but this place's better. Sides, don' think the sauna thing's stickin 'round long."

Thurid laughs at the Goblin, and then says, "Mmm, yes, but you don't have a cold river to jump into when you get to warm here." she tells her with a grin. She sits up a bit then, reaching up to start undoing the braid she keeps one part of her hair tied up in most of the time. "And just until the weather changes." she tells Bryn, in between separating and combing loose the braided hair with her fingers, head canted to the side to make the work easier.

The Goblin seems mollified, slightly, and she hmmmphs. "Still..." She takes a few steps forward and plops into the pool with a little splash. Surfacing, Irshya begins to lazily float around the pool. "I don't see the allure to shocking one's body with a harsh transition from warm to cold."

"Gets the blood pumpin, I bet," Bryn offers up, maybe a bit unsure of it, herself. "Me, I jus like washin wit water 'n not sand. Maybe takes a li'l more ta scrub, but way less gritty."

Thurid finally finishes untangling her hair from the braid and then gives the strands a few shakes to loosen them out properly before she settles back again, taking handfulls of water to wet her hair and face. "It's good for you!" she insists to Irshya then. "The hot and the steam makes you sweat out all the toxins, then the cold water washes them away and stimulates your constitution. I think!" she insists then, gesturing absently with a hand. "I don't really know the science. Mostly, it's just refreshing, which is why I like it."

"I prefer cold water, but I am getting to like warmer water. It is the sudden change between the two that makes it unpleasant." Irshya turns over onto her back and peers up at the two as she floats in a lazy circle.

"But, well, what do you think of the redo? I went with something a little brighter, and a little a uhm.. airier. Feels a bit more roomy in here, don't you think? While still having that feeling of coziness. It's mostly just colours and shapes."

With that question, Bryn turns her eye around the room and up. "Huh. Never really looked at the place like that... but guess it does feel bigger. Not so cramped." She looks back to Irshya and then shrugs. "Course, I'm used ta cramped 'n cozy, so didn' see nothin wrong 'afore, neither."

Thurid chuckles a bit, "Most places feel a little cramped to me." she says then, spreading out a bit more as though for emphasis, but then she shrugs her expansive shoulders. "But I like it. It's nice." she assures the sharky one. "And you know, for someone who says they prefer cold water, you spend an awful lot of time snoozing in magically warmed bathtubs." she grins at her.

She giggles at Bryn, and then Thurid. "Well, you ladies make it difficult, since you're so tall. But I made some changes with you in mind. Less clutter up above, so you can't get your hair caught in the rafters or spiderwebs, for example." A little splash as she turns over, and disappears deeper into the pool, her tail propelling her in several quick laps around the pool.

Surfacing, she shakes her head, water splashing everywhere. "I take daily swims in the Tornmawr, Thurid. I don't feel the cold as much as I feel the warmth."

Thurid nods her head then, "I swim in the river, too. It's easier than breaking through the ice on the lake outside of town, this time of year." she chuckles. "But I'm quite happy in a warm bath, too." she aggrees as she watches Irshya dash around in the water. "I suppose I have quite a tolerance either way, warm or cold. It's my giant blood." she says then. "So what spurred on this remodel?" she wonders. "Not that I'm complaining."

"I have swum under the ice on the lake, it's fun." She stretches at length, and lets out a noisy yawn. "I imagine your heritage comes with a resistance to the cold, but yeah, warm baths are very nice."

Irshya giggles. "It has been the same since it opened. With the winter, we have fewer customers, so I thought I would spend the time and money to change things up. A surprise for my customers who return when the fights return to the Colosseum in full."

"The hot, too. I don't know what sort of giants I hail from, but when we went to investigate a volcano during that incident with the plague camp, I found I'm quite comfortable around magma flows too." Thurid tells Irshya, a hint of pride in her voice. "Either way, though, I do know not /everyone/ is going to be comfortable leaping from a Sauna into a Snow Drift or icy river. But I still think it's worth encouraging people to push their limits." she says then. "Prowess isn't only about how much you can lift. But what you can endure, as well."

"I am sure that in a cold climate, a lava flow must be nice and warm, all things considered. But I'll stick to my cold Tornmawr and my warm baths." The pool-shark giggles lightly, "I'll push my limits on how much I can lift into my mouth." She grins a grin full of triangular shaped teeth.

"Two birds, one stone, as they say!"

Thurid laughs again, and reaches over towards Irshya to attempt to lift her out of the water, like she's curling a weight- and maybe dangle her there unless the shark evades her- "Ah, I know not everyone follows my faith. But still, I wouldn't be a very good Warrior of Angoron if I didn't encourage everyone to work on their athletic prowess, now, would I?" she muses. She settles back, and goes back to cleaning off, rubbing down arms and shoulders with a wash cloth.

The Goblin is easily caught. But not as easily let go, as she clings to Thurid's arm, and ends up settling in the Jotunblood's lap.

Then she shakes herself, sending drops of water everywhere.

"Angoron, hmm? The God of Strength. Often at odds with his warrior brother, Kor. Strongest of gods, right?" She pats her stomach. "I am at peak shark, so Angoron can be happy."

Thurid chuckles a bit, an shrugs, "Mostly because Angoron likes to compete, but Kor only likes to win." she says then. "So if Angoron wins, Kor is upset. If Kor wins, Kor is upset that Angoron is not." she says then with a grin. "Of course, Tarien finds either outcome hilarious, and I suspect plays a hand in many of their competitions." she says then. "And while I don't doubt that Kor is certainly the strongest warrior of the gods, that doesn't make him the mightiest. There is more to might than strength of arms, after all. Broad shoulders to support your friends, and a large heart to open up to the suffering of others, for example." she says then. "Neither offer an advantage in battle, so they are beyond Kor's understanding. But in life? There are no greater strengths."

Bryn's been quiet for a bit, soaking. Maybe she dozed off for a bit in the soothing heat. With a blink she sits up and looks at the other two. "Strength is the best!" So she caught some of that, maybe? The giantess gets a grin. "Maybe hafta do a li'l competin sometime. For Kor's sake."

"Don't forget big bellies to fill at the feast!", Irshya offers up. Her stomach gurgles noisily then, and her cheeks colour a light lavender.

"Hmmm, a competition? You know, we could hold an arm wrestling competition, for prizes. Would be a neat way to draw in some customers, and you two could showcase your might!"

Thurid laughs then, "Funny enough, having a drinking contest with a certain Korite was how I met a special someone in my life." Thurid says then with a broad grin. "Of course I'm game for a contest. Arm wrestling, regular wrestling, a race, tug of war- you name it." she says to Bryn then. "Did you have anything in mind?" she wonders.

"Wrasslin, arm wrasslin, drinkin, liftin, pullin..." Bryn rolls her shoulders. "Anythin't gets the blood goin is good fer me." After a beat, her brows rear up like posturing caterpillars, pulling her lips up in a grin under. "Ha! Met 'em like that, eh?! That's 'mazin! Who won?"

Irshya giggles at Thurid, "Aww, that's adorable."

"So uhm, I think arm wrestling is a good start. Then! Maybe a drinking contest? After that, scarf down some dinner and retire to the baths to relax!"

"Oooh, we could take bets, that'd be a good way to make up a prize pot."

Thurid grins and bumps her chest with a fist, "I did, of course. 'couse, she's only a wee goblin, so I had a size advantage." she admits then. "But it was all in good fun, anyway." she says. And then nods her head in agreement with both of them on the list of suitible activities. "Arm wrestling, drinking contest, bath. Now that sounds like a very fine day indeed."

"Course ye did!" Bryn laughs before adding in a reminder, "'N don' ferget the food in there somewheres!" Then a nod at Irshya. "Gonna be bettin anyways. Should get yer piece 'n all."

"I will have my chefs make something delicious for lunch and dinner.", the Goblin says with a tone of pride in her voice.

Irshya giggles, "Well, my piece would be all the people showing up to watch. Food and drink sales are my bread and butter, as they say. The betting will help raise the prize pot. Seems only fair to get the 'piece' for that..."

She glances between the two women. "So... Kor versus Angoron, the rematch?"

Thurid laughs again, and she gives Irshya a slap on the back at her suggestion for the title of the event, "More like the never ending match." she muses, "I should see what the temple records say about the origin of the rivalry, but I suspect it was probably somehow Tarien's fault." she says and offers a wink. She settles back, "So, contests of strength of arms, force of will, and endurance of liver." she says and laughs. "When shall we begin? If we're supposed to have a bath after, we're starting in reverse here. Perhaps next week? There might be other challengers who'd like to be involved."

Irhsya squeaks at the slap to her back, and she giggles. "Of course it was Tarien! Who else? He probably wondered at Kor's strength in idle conversation and we've not heard the end of it since!"