<div align="center"><span class="bbc_size" style="font-size: 18pt;"><span class="bbc_font" style="font-family: papyrus;"><strong>A Brief Respite</strong></span></span><br/>(https://i.imgur.com/MqJfBY6.jpg)</div><br/><strong>Ambient Music</strong>(https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FenYwtyhUzc)<br/><br/><div class="floatleft">(https://i.imgur.com/8TE5iMj.jpeg)</div>Natasha fell unconscious from her ordeals yet again. She later awakened to the sensation of floating on a cloud, accompanied by sounds of splashing, distant chatter echoing all around, and the warm embrace of a body behind her. Thankfully it wasn't yet another man having his way with her, but a hug, stroke of the hair, and nothing more. A woman most likely, if the pillow-like bosom steadying her head were any indication. Her vision cleared to the sight of a stone ceiling held up by columns with coiling serpent motifs.<br/><br/>“Is she awake?” a passing woman asked.<br/><br/>“Shhh, let her come to on her own,” Faizah said softly, revealing herself to be Natasha’s anchor.<br/><br/>The bathhouse had mixed bathing, although it was likely not part of the brothel proper as nothing obviously lewd was going on. One or more of the men may have gotten stiff at the sight of a lovely lady or two (or three, or four) but instead of acting on their urges their priority was to bathe and socialize. The makeup of the peoples were diverse, in both human and nonhuman terms. Skin tones ranged from dark brown to light tan (Natasha’s the palest one here), and although hard to see from a distance a few of the women’s ears seemed to end in points. One woman had feline ears and a tail, and a trio of green-skinned people with serpentine heads kept to themselves in the corner, passing a smooth ball-like object between their hands.<br/><br/>“This is the Volzigren Bathhouse,” Faizah explained. “Even a place such as the Dancer’s Ward is large enough to house supplementary businesses so that its residents need not leave for their basic needs. Such is the case in every Ward in Ikath, or so I’ve heard.”<br/><br/>The warmth of the shallow bath and relative weightlessness of bobbing in the water helped avert it for a time, but the prior night’s trials caught up to Natasha almost as soon as she got her bearings on dry land.<br/><br/>“Your clothes are in the apodyterium, although I’d advise against leaving. We have two hours to stay here, I’d suggest you make use of Them.”<br/><br/><div class="spoiler_container"><div class="spoiler_header" onclick="hideSecond (this);" role="button">OOC</div><div class="spoiler_body">Natasha no longer has the Poisoned condition.<br/>Staying at the Baths also counts as a Short Rest, although you can delay rolling until after making use of the Facilities if you wish.</div></div><br/><em>Mapwise Natasha’s currently in the Communal Baths, the largest blue tile room southwest of the circular bath. The Apodyterium (dressing/undressing room) is the southwest corner room, and the stand-alone building in the east is a local eatery. The far west and eastern baths are Simple and Exclusive Private Baths respectively, while the circular bath straight and to the right of the Communal Baths is the Frigidarium, while the bath one room east of the Communal Baths is the Caldarium. The northwestern baths with the outdoor patio are the Gymnasium, where the more athletic types can swim laps and exercise. There’s an outdoor bath on the far south, but it has no special boons.<br/><br/>Natasha can avail herself of up to 3 facilities requiring die rolls and 1 that grants an automatic benefit, although for the former only one such roll per facility can be made. She can of course try to leave at any time, although it’s unknown who they’re being watched by or where exactly she is in the city..</em><br/><br/><strong>Apodyterium (Roll):</strong>Various personal belongings are stored here in alcoves with numbered doors. They appear unlocked, although a tall and imposing muscular man leaning against the wall clearly shows that they are guarded. A DC 10 Deception or Sleight of Hand can allow Natasha access to a locker that is not hers, gaining 1d4 silver coins and a spare set of clothes, although anything more specific or valuable requires staying at an appropriate facility to learn of the inhabitants’ lockers (no roll needed for this). Failure on the roll indicates lack of opportunity as opposed to being caught, and Natasha’s own locker contains her (now-clean) set of clothes from last night.<br/><br/><strong>Communal Baths (Roll):</strong>It’s not hard to find out who here are fellow slaves, judging by the demeanor and interactions of obsequiousness to the non-slaves. Even so, people are rather informal and eager to hear about news of the day. A DC 10 Insight or Persuasion check can allow Natasha to pick up on some more useful information.<br/><br/><strong>Gymnasium (Roll):</strong>Mostly occupied by young men (late teens through mid-twenties), Natasha gets a few wolf-whistles upon entering. Thankfully they seem too busy for any carnal pursuits, as an older trainer of sorts snaps them back to attention with a swift shout. A DC 10 Athletics or Acrobatics check allows Natasha to gain advantage on the next roll requiring physical effort (most attack rolls, Strength and Dexterity skills, saves, and ability checks). Alternatively Natasha can be a good little slave and help set out and carry exercise equipment (stretching leather straps, iron lifting weights, literal pigskin balls, etc), gaining a silver coin as payment.<br/><br/><strong>Caldarium (Roll):</strong>An old-world sauna of sorts, the attendants here have a bath sunk into the floor as well as a hot dry area for sweating. Patrons pour jars of olive oil over their bodies and scrape it off for hygiene. Natasha is asked to help with the scraping process by a group of women with gold jewel piercings and looped earrings with tiny jewels on dangling chains hanging from them. A DC 10 Medicine check leaves them quite refreshed, and one of them gives Natasha a silver coin and the leftovers of the olive oil on the floor gathered into a pot to “style her hair.” During the scraping Natasha will learn that they are priestesses of Ishtar tasked with preparing festivities.<br/><br/><strong>Frigidarium (Auto):</strong>This circular pool is full of cold water. If the Caldarium is entered first, then the chill has a refreshing effect on the bather. In such a case Natasha automatically gains advantage on Constitution saving throws until the next long rest.<br/><br/><strong>Simple Private Baths (Auto):</strong>Natasha is left alone with her thoughts and automatically gains 1 point of Inspiration.<br/><br/><strong>Exclusive Private Baths (Nil):</strong>Imposing bipedal snake-people with spears guard the doors to these baths. A threatening hiss convinces Natasha to keep on moving.<br/><br/><strong>Eatery (Auto):</strong>For the price of 1 silver coin Natasha can help herself to a serviceable meal: a simple helping of bread, olive oil, and a slice of lemon. It’s prepared quite well and superior to the gruel at the brothel, automatically granting Natasha advantage on Hit Die spent during the next short or long rest (roll each die twice, take better result).<br/><br/><hr/><br/><div align="center"><span class="bbc_size" style="font-size: 18pt;"><span class="bbc_font" style="font-family: papyrus;"><strong>A Chance Encounter</strong></span></span></div><br/><div class="floatleft">(https://i.imgur.com/MpYQGWU.jpeg)</div>From burly laborers bragging about wagons’ weights of harvest to civil servants with knotty ink-stained fingers that never completely discolor from the wash, the public baths seemed to be Ikath’s grand unifier of all but the richest social classes. Even Natasha had a few free women approach her, complimenting her “exotic allure” and if she could put them in touch with her master.<br/><br/>“Our son is unmarried, but he could use a concubine to quell his urges for the moment,” one of them said.<br/><br/>“I assure you you will be treated well!” exclaimed the other one. “We have a three-room apartment and an herb garden in back!”<br/><br/>Before Natasha had the opportunity to respond fully to such an offer, the two women swerved to the left and bowed deeply at an approaching woman.<br/><br/>Raven-black hair, brown eyes, and that telltale hand-hip posture followed by a “heya” immediately identified the girl as Ellen, one of Natasha’s classmates! She was naked much like everyone else<em>(or if Natasha is leaving she is clad in a bikini-style attire with gold trim),</em>although her sole item of dress was a pair of hooped earrings bearing dangling jewels on tiny chains.<br/><br/>“Ah, a servant of Ishtar graces our presence!” the couple exclaimed.<br/><br/>“And may your wombs be blessed with healthy babes, your fields ever growing,” Ellen responded. “May I have a moment with her?”<br/><br/>A quick nod and two “thank you” later, Ellen was in (relative) privacy with Natasha.<br/><br/>“Natasha, you’re okay!” she exclaimed, followed up with a hug. “I was so worried!”<br/>