Nymph interlude (Afina)

[Anastasia]

"Bye..." Bwimb II says sadly, as the four of you return.

Once the portal's closed and you're in Aurora, "Baths, we'll talk there," Canderella says immediately, "Afina, magically clean us as we walk there. Combined that should get the smell mostly off in a few hours."

[Ebiris]

A bit of prestidigitation as Afina flutters around everyone does its best at cleansing everyone as they head inside and towards the baths. "You can come too, 27. I'll vouch for you if anyone protests," she says. He's a badger after all, it's not like he's going to get anything out of seeing bathing women.

[Anastasia]

Soon the four of you are in hot, steamy waters. Bubbles sighs in relief, "Honey, that was really disgusting."

27 curls up in the water, not seeming to care or need to breathe. He starts to take a nap at Canderella's feet, as she ignores his presence and uses a bit of magic to have soap cleanse herself without lifting a finger.

"I'm glad you didn't say yes, I'd have had to take steps." Canderella sighs, "I was worried someone might do something rash there."

[Ebiris]

"The plane might not be the nicest, but Bwimb II really was nice. I feel bad for her," Afina says, iridescent wet hair plastered around her head as she floats with just her neck and the tips of her wings above the water. "Canderella suggested we handle Bwimb ourselves," she says for Bubbles' benefit. "That's not a fight you can just jump into on the spur of the moment, but if we want to prepare... Bwimb II gave us a really big clue, didn't she?" she says, before raising her voice. "Elena?"

[Anastasia]

Elena pops in, dressed in a bathrobe. "Hi," she says, then grimaces, "More soap, now!" she grabs a clothespin out of nothing and puts it on her nose. "What do you need?"

[Ebiris]

"We're working on it," Afina says resignedly, scrubbing herself a bit more. "Do you ever remember Medi talking about the time he defeated Bwimb?"

[Anastasia]

"Oh yeah," Elena perks up, "He did. He managed a spell to fix Bwimb into a solid shape and summoned dozens of solars to batter him while he countered Bwimb's supernatural powers."

"Of course," Bubbles says lightly, "Summon dozens of solars. Why didn't we think of that, Afina?"

Canderella hums, "He could do that? I once heard of a spell that could summon one briefly, but even that's beyond what we can manage."

Elena nods right away, "Of course. Medi made Medicant, are you surprised he could do that? All of you are strong by standards, but Sir Medi was something else. His first act was stopping the end of his world, remember?"

"Did he say why forcing Bwimb into a solid shape helped?" Canderella presses, "That sounds like the key to it."

Elena nods, "He did. Bwimb can't be hurt by any weapon. Smashing or piercing him doesn't harm his jelly buddy, and cutting him doesn't harm him, but instead makes a temporary double of Bwimb that only makes things worse."

[Ebiris]

"Really we can substitute ourselves for the solars in terms of melee, but that spell... do you know what the spell was specifically, or is it recorded in the library anywhere?" Afina asks, floating still in the water. "And other than weapons is he vulnerable to magic in general, and any elemental damage in particular?"

[Anastasia]

"I don't think it was," Elena admits, "I don't know, he only told me the story once. That was Sir Medi...I see some of him in all of you sometimes, but he had the ability to do things that should be impossible."

[Ebiris]

Not as much information as she'd like, but still helpful. "Well, if nothing else I am a sorceress, and fully capable of devising my own spells. I'll pursue my efforts in that direction, but taking a direct hand against Bwimb isn't safe in the short term. Still, I will visit Bwimb II again sooner rather than later. She needs to see a friendly face now and then."

[Anastasia]

Elena nods and vanishes.

"She is a darling, isn't she?" Bubbles agrees, "For a giant pile of slime. If only gelatinous cubes were the same, dungeons would never be empty."

That gets Canderella to laugh, startled but laughing. "All of that and you think of those bothersome acid cubes?"

[Ebiris]

"I've heard of them but never seen one," Afina pipes up. "They do sound quite dangerous. Fly into one of those unawares and you're done."

[Anastasia]

"Oh dearie," Bubbles smiles as she cleanses herself, "You don't know the half of it. They're the worst things to find in any place like that. They're as personable as a brick wall."

[Ebiris]

Honestly it just sounds like any other bit of dangerous but unintelligent bit of dungeon fauna, but Bubbles seems to feel strongly about it. "It sounds like you're talking from experience. And even with that you still came to Ooze for me," she gives the nymph a radiant smile despite everyone's poor odour.

[Anastasia]

Bubbles smiles back, the two of you sharing a moment.

Canderella pats down and pets 27, who says (despite being underwater, he's perfectly understandable), "I agree."

Okay, what's your next move?