[Nexus] Temperance Teahouse

[Artemis97]

In an old section of the city stands a wooden building of ancient construction. From inside comes the sound of good conversation and, occasionally, music being played. The scents of exotic teas, spices, and good foods drift out onto the street. along with the scents and sounds come an aura of peace and comfort. It's a nice place here, you could definitely stick around for a while, to escape the general madness of the city.

Two wings extend out from the main building. To the north (the right side as you face the tea house) is an extension of the main structure, still made of wood, the architecture is slightly different and more brightly colored, and also noticeably newer. The west side of the building is surrounded by a stone wall, enclosing a garden. The garden ends at a low stone building running the length of the west wall.

[Restaurant]

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Inside the restaurant is filled with tables and chairs, spread out across the dark hardwood floors. Thick wooden pillars support the second floor and the roof, their tops carved with geometric designs. At the north side of the restaurant is a long counter, surrounding an open kitchen. Steam and smoke drift up from the fires and the woks used for cooking. A shelf along the back wall is filled with dozens of tins, each containing a particular tea or herbal blend. Interspersed among them are tea kettles, each one used to brew a particular type of tea.

The center of the restaurant is open to the second floor. Stairs lead up to more seating on the second level, which looks down on the restaurant below over carved wooden balconies. The ceiling above the open space is painted with a mural of a golden dragon floating through the clouds and circling the sun.

Seats on the west side of the building go fast, as they offer the best view of the gardens. The south and east sides offer views of the bustling streets below. The north side of the second floor has no windows and sits above the kitchen, so it is often darker and smokier than the rest of the restaurant.

Menu

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Drinks

Herbal Tea
Green Tea
Black Tea
White Tea
Yellow Tea
Red Tea
Blue Tea - Mentally stimulating.
Purple Tea - Very relaxing and slightly hallucinogenic.
Iced Tea - Served sweet or unsweet, with or without lemon.
Sake - Available chilled, heated, or at room temperature.
Lychee Wine - A rich sweet drink with a deep golden color. Pairs well with seafood. Served cold.

Food

Dim Sum
Sushi
Stir Fry - Served over rice or noodles
Noodles
Soup
Rice Cakes

Sweets

Ice Cream - Vanilla, Green Tea, Red Bean, and Mango flavored.
Dragon's Beard Candy - A spun sugar similar to cotton candy.
Moon Cake - A dense sweet cake around a salted egg yolk "moon".
Sun Cake - A crunchy pastry filled with a sugary cream.
Tempura Fried Bananas - Served over ice cream.

[North Wing]

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The north wing of the restaurant is of newer construction. It is more brightly painted and more heavily decorated than the main restaurant. Two doorways on each floor lead to a U shaped hallway that runs through the north wing. Sliding paper screens from the inner walls, so that they can be slid aside and make the spaces much larger. The lower floor holds private rooms that can be reserved for larger parties or special meetings. These rooms typically have a long low table surrounded by cushions. The second floor rooms have more flexible floor plans. Most have tables and chairs, often used to host card or board games. A few can be rented out for sleeping quarters, but patrons are reminded that the walls are, literally, paper thin. Disruptive behavior will have you evicted without a refund.

[Garden]

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The west wing of the tea house is a large garden surrounded by stone wall. A circular gate leads directly from the garden to the streets, as well as doors leading into the restaurant. The garden itself is carefully kept, trees and bushes trained and cut into pleasing shapes. Stone lanterns and statues decorate the garden. Two pools filled with koi fish sit diagonally from one another, connected together by a stream filled with river rocks. The sound of trickling water fills the garden. A winding path leads through the garden and over a low stone bridge. On the far side of the bridge, the path passes through another circular gate guarded by two stone dragons on plinths. the pair stare down at any visitors, questioning their intentions in passing through their gate.

Beyond the Dragon Gate the path becomes perfectly straight. On either side are large black stones surrounded by carefully raked white sand. The path passes under a red Torii gate before encountering the low stone building at the far side of the garden. The building runs the full length of the west wall and is open to the garden. Large prayer wheels line the opening and are turned by the breeze or visiting people. The walls within the building are heavily decorated and covered in hanging scrolls. At the center of the building is a shrine, covered in candles. Behind it is a mural depicting scenes of a warrior, a golden dragon, and the sun. Sitting on the shrine a wooden statue of a warrior, sitting in meditation, his sword set aside. The wood is lacquered and carefully inlaid with delicate patterns in gold. From the statue emanates a strong aura of peace, which spreads throughout the entire property.

NPCs

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Hideki - A large man with a red face and a long nose, he is most often found in the kitchen, cooking up tasty things.
Hanako - An older woman, her black hair streaked with grey. She is Hideki's wife and most often found behind the counter serving tea.
Sakura - A lovely young woman and the daughter of Hideki and Hanako. She acts as a waitress and sometimes plays music.

OOC: Please Read. Important information.

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The Teahouse and garden are protected by an aura of non-violence. Violent acts cannot be committed here. You cannot attack another patron or do anything that would cause them bodily harm. Anyone who attempts it will find it extremely hard to convince themselves to do it. If a particularly willful person overcomes this compulsion, something in the environment will intervene, as if by seemingly random chance, to protect their victim as if by divine intervention. Because that's exactly what it is.

[FireFox]

The Bishop Tony Sciano, of the Holy Church of Nomos, was wandering around the older parts of the city, indulging in a little people watching, when he noticed the teahouse. Perhaps sensing the pacifistic aura or allured by the smells, the grey-robed cleric curiously steps inside. He takes a seat and, after politely requesting a detailed explanation of the many different types of tea, orders a blue tea.

[Reinholdt]

A man in dark red robes enters the teahouse. Hanging from his neck is an amulet. It appears to be a triangle within a triangle. There is a hood to his outfit, currently up, covering his hair and eyes. At his side on his belt is a large mace and a book.

He'll take a seat and order Herbal Tea.

[Artemis97]

((Note the new NPCs section))

Hanako will take the tea orders from both of the gentlemen and gets to work making the teas. It takes a little time, but that was part of the charm of this place. It gave you time to relax and chat. Also, one could not rush good tea.

[FireFox]

Tony's holy symbol is a balanced scale made out of platinum. As he waits patiently for his tea, he pulls some notes from a pocket and idly glances over them before curiously looking at the hooded stranger.

[Morty]

Dorota the meek alchemist from Erin's Emporium strolls into the new estabilishment. Finally a cultured, quiet place instead of a smoky tavern full of violence. She sits down at one of the tables and orders a black tea.

[Reinholdt]

Hooded guy thanks Hanako before waiting patiently, doing nothing, beyond sitting.

Though based on his position, he does appear to be observing the other patrons. Tony particularly, but Dorota when she comes in.

That, or he's sleeping while sitting up. It's a little hard to tell with that hood.

[FireFox]

Tony smiles at Dorotha and resumes looking over his notes.

[Reinholdt]

Saul reaches up and pushes his hood back, revealing blond hair and blue eyes. He's pretty human. He eyes Tony's holy symbol, in thought.
Probably trying to figure out who it belongs to.
Needless to say, it doesn't work, so he stops that, and sits back.

[Haruki-kun]

Haruki enters the restaurant and sits at a table. Alone. He's smiling calmly and looking around. It's like he's pretty happy about this place being here.

[FireFox]

After a few moments, Tony pockets the notes, stands, and approaches Saul's table. Excuse me sir, may I sit here?

[Reinholdt]

Saul nods politely.
"Of course."

[FireFox]

The brown-haired young man takes a seat and indicates Saul's amulet with a polite smile. May I ask if you are a cleric and, if so, what deity you worship?

[VampireRot]

Someone else enters the teahouse! It is a tall and thin man, with an angular and very pale face. His hair is short, neat, and black, and his eyes are a gleaming hungry red. His fine black suit seems like something you would wear to a fancy ball, and his velvet and high-collared cape billows appropriately behind him. His boots are not quite as fancy, studded with iron, and there is a wicked looking sword sheathed on his belt, showing he is not quite a gentleman.

Rot pauses as he enters, surprised by the sudden repressing of his urges, and shakes his head with a small growl. He then makes his way to one of the tables and sits down. The vampire orders a sun cake just to be ironic and then seems to notice who's table he sat down at.

"Oh. Um... Hello, Haruki. Fancy seeing you here."

Ooh. Ain't that awkward? The last time Rot saw the angel, well, Haruki kind of killed him. And it was painful.

[Rebonack]

A wyrmling slinks in through the door to the garden. A wyrmling with glassy scales and a sheen like molten brass. He's no bigger than a house cat and moves with quiet grace and subtle confidence. He doesn't bounce around energetically. Nor does he eye any especially shiny looking baubles.

No, instead he simply walks through the tea-house, taking in all the flavorful aromas.

He walks from table to table, at each briefly sitting on his haunches and looking up at each patron. Should anyone meet his gaze they may very well feel as though their heart is being weighed in the balances. It... isn't a bad feeling, honestly. But rather one of conviction. Not just for those of an evil heart, but even those who choose to mind their own business when faced with the opportunity to do good.

No judgement.

Simply...

A mirror.

[Murkus]

Though his sense of smell is not particularly acute, it was the aura of peace that drew Bellan here. The eldritch giant finds his way in front of the tea house with minimal difficulty, and momentarily debates whether or not he should go in. It looks... considerably more delicate than Trogs. In construction and patronage.

Still, he decides it can't hurt much. Bellan plods up the steps and stoops to make it through the front door, straightening to have a look around. The Sundered Hand is careful not to bump into anyone as he finds a place to rest his aching body. Unless there are some particularly large seats available, it's likely he'll just sit cross-legged in front of the table and look through a menu.

Distracting him from the food, however, is the intricate architecture and the golden mural on the ceiling. Such beautiful things to look at, all the while being bombarded by pleasant smells. And the quiet, with an air of relaxed sophistication. Bellan likes it here already.

[Haruki-kun]

"Oh, hi, Rot!" says Haruki. "How have you been? It's been a while since the last time I saw you!"

The Angel doesn't seem to find it awkward at all! "Have you been doing OK?"

[Reinholdt]

The brown-haired young man takes a seat and indicates Saul's amulet with a polite smile. May I ask if you are a cleric and, if so, what deity you worship?

"I am indeed. I am the head cleric of the church of Terenti. And you?" Saul asks.

[Artemis97]

A young man enters the tea house, following the scent of delicious things. He had black hair, worn in a long thing braid down his back and his eyes were a deep blue color. He was dressed in comfortable loose-fitting robes, the bottoms a smokey blue, the top a lighter grey.

Spotting the kitchen, he quickly weaves his way through the tables and chairs, coming to stand at the counter. "Can I please have some... Sweet Tea and some... Dragon's Beard? Goodness, what a name. Oh, and Ice cream. Yes, definitely ice cream." He decides, grinning.

[VampireRot]

Rot waves a hand around vaguely. A vile, undead hand!

"Oh, I'm doing fine. I still seem to exist, at any rate. No one can put me down."

He sounds a bit proud of this fact.

"What about you?"

[FireFox]

I am Bishop Tony Sciano, of the Holy Church of Nomos. Tony nods with a measure of deference calculated to show that he, as a bishop, is inferior to the head cleric but that his God is not inferior at all.
... Tony is well practiced in the combination of religion and politics.

[Reinholdt]

The subtle gesture goes right over Saul's head. Saul is not superior or inferior to anyone else, nor does he believe so. That is not how the teachings read!

"Well it is a pleasure to meet you Bishop Sciano." Saul says with a nod that gives greater deference than Tony might expect. "I am afraid I am unfamiliar with Nomos, however. Perhaps you would care to enlighten me?"

Saul looks over at the young man interested in ice cream. A monk or a wizard perhaps? Or maybe just someone who likes robes. Like Magtok! Except Magtok wears dresses, not robes.

[Haruki-kun]

"Me too! I'm totally unbeatable. Being an Angel is awesome!" He smiles, flaps his wings, and nonchallantly flexes his bulgy muscles a bit. He's just saying it because it's true. Haruki loves being an Angel more than anything.

[Rebonack]

After making his quiet rounds between the tables and leaving a few people wondering if they should use their life to make more of a positive impact on the world Refuge approaches the counter.

As he walks hexagonal tiles of red marble resolve into being, forming a neat little flight of stairs allowing the wyrmling to reach eye level at the counter without any undignified leaping and scrambling about.

"Greetings. Might I have a bowl of black tea? And boiled eggs with broccoli stir-fry, if you please," the wyrmling inquires, his tone even and resonant with bell-like clarity. Though...

It's a rather small voice.

Despite doing his best to sound dignified Refuge still comes off as adorable. It simply can't be avoided.

At about the same time the energetic youth with quite the sweet tooth places his order. Refuge provides him with a somewhat questioning look.

[Artemis97]

The young fellow seems to misinterpret the look. Perhaps deliberately. "Would you like some?" he asks Refuge cheerfully.

[VampireRot]

"I suppose."

Rot shrugs.

"But you have to follow all sorts of rules being an angel, don't you? I mean, I know you're chaotic and all, but you're still restricted by your goodie-two-shoesness."

The vampire did, indeed, just make up that word.

"I think that being a vampire is much better. We can do whatever we want and don't have to listen to any gods or higher callings or anything."

[FireFox]

The pleasure is mine. Nomos is one of the most powerful deities on my world and has domain over Order, laws, and scientific knowledge. Tony smiles at Saul. May you tell me about your god, Terenti?

[Rebonack]

Refuge seems to consider that for a time.

He has no idea what 'Dragon's Beard' is. But given the rest of the boys order he has a pretty decent idea of what it would probably be made of. After careful consideration he provides an even reply.

"If you wish, provided you are willing to share my stir-fry."

Ha!

The dragon is going to make sure the kid eats his vegetables!

...

Or at least he's going to try.

"Is that acceptable?"

[Haruki-kun]

"Uh... not really, no. I don't have to follow any rules. And I don't do good things because I'm Good. I'm Good because... well, I just am, really. Being an Angel is unrelated." he nods. "Though yes, we do have to respond to gods.

I'd hate being a vampire, though. I wouldn't have wings. Or a halo. Or muscles. those are important. And then you have to drink blood every... like.... day. Or else your vampirism gets worse... I played that videogame where.... yikes. >.<"

[Artemis97]

"That sounds like a fair trade, I guess." he shrugs. "I'm Kaito, by the way. Who are you?"