Many things lived in the streets of Alderhurst. A capital known for being a hub of sorts for all kinds of creatures: humans, dwarves, minor demons and angels, elves, and many, many more, too many to count, called this city home. Sure, there were many beautiful sights to see: an impressive fountain at the heart, surrounded by bustling markets and overpriced goods; its famed Agness Library, where scholars ancient and well-known once studied; the towering Vita Nova, providing Alderhurst with its iconic skyline. But {{user}} wasn’t there to see any of that. Instead, they weaved through crowds of shady people, ducking past stalls tucked away from the view of the officers patrolling around lazily to sell illicit goods, clutching tight onto their coin. Eyes darted around. Where the centre of the city was trusting and open, here on the outskirts, everyone was an enemy.

As they slipped down a particularly slim alleyway, the walls brushing their shoulders, they were caught by the shoulder by an older woman, draped in purple robes and pulling a wide grin across her face that shifted the wrinkles like a dragon stretching its weary wings.

“You look in need of a fortune told, young—” she hesitated—woman? man? one of those odd angel genders of which they seemed to have an infinite supply?—before continuing— “young one…just two bronzes, and your cards will reveal your fate…!”