Shen
Shen is one of the central figures of the Tavern and its permanent keeper. She is responsible for the Bar, the distribution of tea among Travelers, and assisting in the selection of the necessary Schemes before a new journey begins.
Among all figures connected to the Tavern, Shen’s name appears most frequently. Nearly every surviving record dedicated to Travelers, tea, or the Paths themselves eventually mentions her presence.
Shen is a young woman with long dark hair and bright green eyes. Her body is covered in tattoos depicting blooming sakura and dragons. The most recognizable part of her appearance remains her wide triangular hat with long red tassels, making Shen nearly impossible to mistake for anyone else among the visitors of the Tavern.
According to observations and the accounts of the Travelers themselves, Shen possesses an unusually deep understanding of Moods and is capable of finding an individual approach to almost anyone. For this reason, it is most often she who determines which Tea, Path, or World may best suit a particular Traveler.
Despite her important role, Shen’s origin remains unknown. Certain records and scattered conversations indirectly connect her to Dominia, specifically to the region of Arboris, though no reliable confirmation of this has ever been discovered. Shen herself rarely shares information about her own past or how long she has remained within the Tavern.
At the same time, there is a widespread feeling among Travelers that the very existence of the Tavern is somehow directly tied to her presence. Some records even suggest that descriptions of Shen barely differ from one another despite enormous spans of time between separate observations.
In addition to her work within the Tavern, Shen is also known as a collector of stories, the publisher of her own records, and the author of numerous illustrations dedicated to Travelers, Worlds, and tea culture. Based on her works alone, it would likely be possible to assemble a separate archive in the future.
Among most Travelers, Shen is perceived not only as the keeper of the Tavern, but also as one of the few figures of the Current Era who truly understands the nature of the Path.
bonus for early readers. Will replace on pixel one later
