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Ro-Den is a rundown place, with cracked streets where there are streets and flickering lamps. Travellers don't pass through this town - it's the end of its own road. The population is almost entirely generations after generations of the same descendants. The hopeless wanderers who end up in Ro-Den tend not to stay long before turning back.
The only one sight worth seeing in Ro-Den: The Welspire. A triangle-based tower that once was home to some of the world's most powerful sorcerers and illusionists, but has since been abandoned and fallen into disrepair. The story is a legend within the town but rarely spreads beyond it; The rare scholar or explorer hoping to explore the towers are chased away by the people of Ro-Den.
The Welspire is not quite as abandoned as it seems.

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It's noon in Ro-Den on a cloudy day, the light coming through the clouds bright and grey, revealing all the dirty and run-down-ness of the town while washing away any colour it might've had.

Baozhai sat in the small patio of the tea shop. It was a miracle this place was still open, but it was a family business and had been supported by the other folk in the village.
She stood out as a traveller, of course. The bright light hid her wings but didn't hide the grayness of her skin, the halberd she carried like nothing more than luggage, or the way she wasn't even using a chair. Just floating in front of a table.
The tea was bad and she wasn't happy there - annoyed to be here among the other miserable wanderers who'd ended up in the town. There was only one interesting thing within miles of here - the Welspire.
So she sat quietly, watching the few people who made their way around the one main street of Ro-Den.

Rebecca had traveled to Ro-Den as a result of rumors. She had always been one who enjoyed traveling and the challenges that came with it. Best part: this place had both! She had decided to settle at a tea shop, hoping that a populated place would have more information about her current goal: exploring the Welspire. She had been excited once informed about it, and wanting to hear more, she had traveled to the area itself. She had taken a seat also outside, disappointed by the lack of gossip going around. She was considering going elsewhere, or maybe even asking, for information. Her wings would flutter every so often as she read a newspaper.

Ro-Den was the perfect place to have a vacation. Sure it wasn't the most ideal place to visit, but it had its perks. Like the threatening triangular tower of doom overlooking the town like a dark, foreboding omen. It seemed like a perfect source of adventure and excitement. Death and danger was Krystal's idea for a vacation. Needless to say, she could be seen as completely insane sometimes.

Currently, the half-dragon strolled through the town, taking in the many sights it had to offer. It was definitely different from the Eastern Kingdom that she knew and love. Sometimes she gave a quick hello to the people she passed. Eventually, she paused, noticing the looming tower of Welspire in the distance a few miles off. Krystal definitely wanted to go in, but…. Alone? That definitely wasn’t a good idea. Why couldn’t her coworkers just have vacation at the same time she did?

With a slight scowl on her face, she headed towards the tea shop that was just around the corner. Tea was a nice way to relax, and there were always new types to try. Heading inside the small shop, she knocked on the side of the doorway to be recognized by the shopkeep there.

“Hey there! Do you have any green tea?”

A few moments after she arrived, she purchased a nice steaming cup of green tea, and headed out to the patio to enjoy it. A quick glance to the left, and she noticed someone else there, but ultimately ignored them. It was tea time. She plopped down in the seat a few feet away, leaning her naginata on the wall nearby her, and sipped at her drink, silently enjoying the view.

Ari walked the town, being one of the rare people you meet at Ro-Den who actually lives there. She enjoyed how quiet and peaceful the town was, her wings had been retracted into her back, as well as her talons, being a little too bulky to carry around, plus she always got weird looks from the rare people she saw.

She stopped at the local tea shop, ordering her usual, their white-tea. After talking a bit to the employee taking orders she waved goodbye and headed outside, noticing the three on the patio. Tourists, she assumed as she didn’t recognize them. She flew up onto the roof, her wings retracting from her back. She perched and happily drank her tea.

Ari was the only one of the four the shopkeeper smiled at, and the only one she made pleasant conversation with. The others had been addressed briskly and stiffly.

Rebecca wouldn't have had much luck with gossip. Very few people in town would so much as acknowledge the tower in her presence, and anyone approached about it would've quickly changed the topic.

Baozhai nodded politely at Krystal when the half-dragon joined her, but said nothing. Her attention focused more on Arianna. It was clear she was a local from the way the shopkeep treated her. In the same vein, it was clear the others sitting here were tourists. Keeping this in mind, she kept her silence, minding her business for the time-being.

Gimmy had wandered into town really. For the past few days, she had been diving around the outskirts, stealing what she could from the refuse as she tried to figure out where she was. She knew from experience the street rats like her were seldom welcomed into town. After all, it was another mouth to feed... but then TOURISTS. Those were always easier to scam.

The girl's clothes were patched and dirt stained, along with her fur. She smelled of course. Making her way to the edge, and keeping her distance between her and the shop keeper, she wandered close to the group of tourists.

"Penny for the poor?" she asked walking up to the tourists, her voice pitched for her age and species. Being 3'9", she was fairly short after all.

Turning what what seemed to be a clothed rodent, Rebecca could help but wonder what had happened to it. Experiment gone wrong? Some sort of curse? Maybe it was just born that way. But she's met a lot of talking animals before... Does that mean that they're all born that way? Running her hand through her hair, careful to avoid her horns, she grabs a necklace, currently being worn by her and takes it off, looking at if, examining if she had chosen the right one. She had as the gleam of the pure gold shined off of it. She had presumed that she had claimed it after raiding a dragon's den, but she wasn't too sure as her memory wasn't that great.
Turning to the squirrel, she offered the necklace. "Here," she said, "I promise it's not cursed or anything weird."

She too, studied the small rodent creature with a slight smile on her face. Krystal always had money to spare for the less fortunate. But of course, she always had to look out for pickpockets and whatnot. Those weren't always fun to deal with. With that in mind, she reached into her pocket, taking out as much money she thought could afford new clothes, and a bath and most importantly, food―

Oh, whoa.

Krystal stared at the necklace the girl beside her had just offered. That must have costed a fortune or something. Now a bit self-conscious, Krystal glanced down at the money that she was about to offer the rodent, scowled a bit, and put it back into her pocket. So much for that.

"You're honestly set for life with that, little one." She remarked, snickering.

Baozhai barely glanced at Gimbold, except to murmur a quick, "Nothing to spare at the moment," and take a long sip of tea. She did pause to take in the amulet, though without Krystal's awe.

Ari watched as the rat talked to the tourists she saw earlier. She recognized the rat as just a scammer, rolling her eyes. She took a sip of her tea before hopping off the roof. “Leave them alone.” She says, a bit annoyed.

The girl blinked for a moment when Rebecca pulled out the necklace. Krystal was right in that she'd be set for life. Or as long as one on the streets could live for.. but it'd make her a target as well.

"I couldn't," the squirrel said with a sad smile, ears lowering to give an oh-so-adorable look. At least she attempted to. "Just a couple of coins Miss, enough for food for a couple of days."

The girl wondered what was the catch really... and who the heck handed over a necklace that easily to an urchin like her? Either someone really dumb, or someone who wanted something from her... and she wasn't that keen on being used for anything.

Looking over to Ari when the other insisted that she leave them alone, Gimmy shook her cup again. "Penny for the poor miss?"

Rebecca shrugged, placing the necklace back on herself, glancing back at the creature when she was done. Hey, no one could say that she didn't try, as she offered more than enough. It the refusal didn't seem to bother her though, as thought it was just the creature being humble. She also wouldn't be surprised if the rodent came back to her later, though she hopped not. It was already bad enough to have to beg, going back to the person you rejected before would make things even worse.

Baozhai looked over her shoulder, floating body shifting to follow her, having nothing to hold it down. She gave Rebecca a charming smile and remarked, "If she won't take it, I will." Her eyes drifted to Gimmy and she cocked her head. "Don't understand why anyone'd turn down such a beautiful piece." It wasn't her style - unsurprisingly, she was more interested in silver jewelry. She scanned it, seeking telltale signs of magic - it was harder for her to spot such things nowadays but she wasn't completely useless.

The girl looked at Yaoh with a dead pan expression. "I can't sell that without being accused of stealing... and even if I could, I'd be marked out by the other urchins for having too many coins..." The girl shuffled her feet quietly. It was survival for her really. Too much and you'd be marked.

"I promise it's not enchanted... With anything bad," Rebecca giggled, taking off the necklace for inspection. "I've honestly never looked into it. Maybe you could."

There could be anything enchanted on it. Rebecca could feel the magic when she had put it on, but it didn't do anything horrible or life changing. With that in mind, she just assumed it didn't do anything worth looking into. Maybe this gal could look into it. For all Rebecca cared, she could have it; she had enough of her own magical curses.

Watching the exchange between the rodent and the other two, Krystal rubbed her chin. There weren't many beggars back in her hometown, but you would always pass by one or two when going through the main streets. The problem was in virtually every town you went to. It bothered her a bit, of course, when other less fortunate had to steal from others like them; but ultimately, the rodent had a point.

With a sigh, she pulled out the handful of coins she had out previously, and she snapped a few times to get the small rodent's attention. "Hey, kid. No need to bother them or anything. I got enough for three meals right here." She offered the coins to her.

Baozhai kept smiling, finally properly focusing her attention on Gimbold. "I see. Perhaps when you're older you'll learn to defend yourself properly. Good things come to those who fight for them, after all." Leaving her tea on the table, Baozhai twisted her body entirely and drifted closer to Rebecca, straightening up so one of her feet only brushed the ground.
She flicked the necklace's pendant, peering closely at it. "I'd have to set up a proper examination sphere to find anything useful out. Doesn't strike me as especially powerful, but you never know."
She brushed aside some hair and her smile grew wide enough to show her pearly fangs. "Unfortunately, I don't have the time right now. I've got something a bit more important to check out. If you're still here when I come out, I'll take it off your hands..!"

"Fine by me," Rebecca settled, "... What is it that you're 'checking out'?"
Placing the necklace back on herself, Rebecca's mind buzzes. Was this going to be her chance to learn something about this place? She doubted it was the Welspire but it would be a start for warming up to the locals.

((Sorry for the short post...))

Ari sighs, watching the tourists be tricked so easily. She didn’t want to get mixed up in drama. “Whatever, although I wouldn’t trust people so easily if I were you.” She says, walking off. It’s not like she didn’t warn them.

Gimmy nodded her head at Baozhi's words.

"But I'm still small... one day I'll be this BIG! And then I'll fight to protect myself and others who are smaller," she said with a grin as she stretched her hands to show how big she would get... not very since her hands weren't exactly long.



She would however, reach to accept Krystal's offer of coins. "Thank you miss!"