by Shavira

To Reviews

I set out for the Swan brimming with excitement. It's pricier than I can usually afford, but Illumination had provided me with enough gold to get nearly anything I wanted there. I had heard that one of the tapas, a small, flaky pastry filled with Mulé, (a soft, white, southern Masallan cheese), was simply to die for. Having such nibbling delicacies set onto my tongue by a handsome male attendant while I soaked in steaming luxury sounded nothing less than addicting.

When I arrived, however, my first impression did not leave me overly amazed. The woman at the front desk, where cosmetics and oils can be purchased, as well as baths scheduled, was a bit curt with me. Not rude, but simply short, and this contrasted heavily with my expectations of a warm, inviting welcome. It being my first time, I was directed into the adjacent room where a much more pleasant young girl showed me watercolor paintings of the different baths, and then paged me through a book with pictures and descriptions of the various bath attendants. All this while I ate little cream-filled cookies and sipped apple juice.

She told me that the woman at the front desk was having a very bad day, and that the Swan had a policy of 'easing away' folks who did not appear of highest standing. She assured me that this was not the case with myself, but that most people who came to the Swan were regulars, and most of them nobles.

I selected the Effervescent Bath and Talon as my attendant, and then ordered a tapas sampler plate and a bottle of Rose of My Heart. I was told that I would be charged a hundred and twenty silver (this for an afternoon's enjoyment? Whew! No wonder it's only for nobles), so I paid my electrum and my two platinums and went upstairs. Sometimes, I was told, I would have to wait until my bath selection was available, and she showed me the room, outfitted with plush chairs and fruit bowls, where I would do so. But as mine was ready, I was led away.

The Effervescent Bath is a private room, one of their 'theme' baths. The floor was white tile, with large mirrors upon three walls and huge picture windows upon the fourth, looking out over the river. Talon was not quite as good-looking as he was in his drawing, but he had a very warm smile and incredibly open demeanor. He inquired as to whether I was comfortable with being nude in front of him, and when I said yes, he undressed me (his hands were very warm) and helped me into the water.

Ah, the water! It tickled all over my body as tiny little bubbles sparkled up and ran along my flesh. When I asked him how it was done, he simply said 'magic' and winked at me.

Talon was not only a wonderful conversationalist, but he was always ready to bring me sponges, soaps, bathing oils, and towels. He set stones into the bath to keep the temperature to my liking, sponged me in hard-to-reach places, and then fed me (since my hands were wet) the whole plateful of tapas, which arrived about half-way through my bath (well, I did give him a few of the bits that weren't my favorites.) I wasn't as delighted as I thought I would be with the cheese-filled pastries, but the pickles wrapped in Jeddan spiced lamb were beyond description.

Afterwards he carefully toweled me off and helped me to get dressed, and finally sent me off with a Lolita's chocolate for dessert.

All in all, I thought the experience was exquisite -- I left warm, relaxed, and walked away with my belly full of wondrous little things. The price, however, (and I did not even get a massage), was rather elitist (but then so is the Swan).

In the end I told them who I was, and they were more than eager to give me a little more attention and hospitality. I was offered a fine glass of wine, and they showed me the other private baths (that weren't occupied), told me about Provincial Waters (waters they have shipped over from special springs across the seas, and which are said to have certain benefits and even tastes), and explained to me how they drain every bath and replace it with fresh water (they showed me an ingenius and impossible to understand machine that brought the water up from the river into a holding tank on their roof, so that they could afford to do this.)

The folks here are nice, and warm up greatly once they know you. Interestingly, the owner has been absent without notice for more than two years, and under the laws of Aranor he will be considered to have abandoned the business if he doesn't show himself by this spring. Likely the Swan will then go up for auction, though I was assured that nothing would change as far as the public was concerned.

Lastly, I scribed down a copy of their 'bath menu'. If you have the gold and happen to be in the area, give the Swan a try. You won't be disappointed.

Outdoor Baths

All Services are available for outdoor bathers, as weather permits.

Indoor Baths

Private Baths come in a variety of flavours, each costing 70 Silver per bather.