(How the front entrance looks.)

Located near Lake Niras, Jade Dragon Bathhouse and Spa is exactly what its name implies, but with East Asian themes. That being said, customers are not allowed to be clothed when in the bathing/wet area. Of course, men and women have their own separate bathing areas for that reason, but there are also dry areas where clothing provided by the spa is worn and there is general mingling. So guests who are shy, or just don't want to be naked around other people, may refrain from entering the wet areas of the bathhouse and just enjoy the dry area if that is what they wish.

Now, there are certain customs and unspoken rules when it comes to East Asian public bathhouses, so to help customers who are unfamiliar with said customs and rules, Yao made a pamphlet that explains them all. They can be found in a neat pile on the front desk.

This establishment is owned by Yao Wang (China), who wanted to bring some more Eastern themes to Verens. Public bath houses in East Asia tend to attract many tourists, so why not build one here too? While he drew the blueprints, he also received help from the Otherworlders and natives in actually building the pools. To honor those who helped, their names are engraved in the wall behind the front desk, so that everyone who comes in will see them. Along with the names of the native NPCs, the Otherworlder names on the wall are:

Dazai Osamu
Kunikida Doppo
Trahearne
Korra
Lu Meng
(If I missed anyone, please notify me so I can correct myself right away! I based this off of what names were listed on the task board along with those who told me out-of-game that their characters were helping with the construction.)

The facility gets its heating from the use of multiple fire cores. There is one in the water heater and each heated sauna room has its own fire core. Meanwhile, the main source of water comes from the nearby lake through a filtered channel system, but there are also water cores stored within the water tanks in the basement.

Customers will pay for admission at the front desk. The cost depends on which areas you plan to enter. For both the bathing and dry areas, the fee is 20 sylvs. If you plan on using just one area, it's 10 sylvs. You will be handed some generic clothing--a pair of shorts and a t-shirt, both red in color--if you pay the 20 sylvs, or 10 for just the dry area as this is the unisex clothing meant to be worn where there is general mingling. If you plan on using the bathing areas, then you will also receive one folded washcloth, one folded towel, and a small basket, which you can use to hold your personal shampoo and soap (if you brought it; if not, you can purchase some from the spa).

Customers will also be given a locker key on a coiled band with a number on it, which should be worn like a bracelet so it's less likely to be lost or forgotten. From this point, male and female customers go their separate ways. The first thing they'll see are rows of smaller lockers meant for their shoes. Just find the one with the same number that's on the key. From there you'll enter a room with more rows of lockers, but bigger; these are where any personal belongings should be stored, including your clothes. Once again, find the locker that has the same number as your key.

The bathing areas include--for both the men's side and the women's side--two heated pools and one cold pool that are all indoors. One of the heated pools is infused with ginseng, which is said to promote general body vigour, to prolong life and treat many ailments including depression, diabetes, fatigue, inflammations, internal degeneration, nausea, tumours, pulmonary problems, dyspepsia, vomiting, nervousness, stress, and ulcers. The function of the cold pool is to cool you off after sitting in the heated ones.

Each side also has one large, outdoor heated pool for those who would like to feel the fresh air while enjoying the baths. For the open-air baths there is a high fence with an slightly-open rafter roof, so there's less worry for peeping toms. The borders of the outdoor pools are made of large rocks to give it a more natural feel while the indoor pools have a more modern look to them.


(Rough idea of what the indoor pools look like, only they wouldn't have as much Greco-Roman themes.)


(The wall and roof for the open-air baths, along with another rough idea of how the outdoor pools would look; they would be bigger and deeper.)

The bathing area also has showers. In fact, it's custom for bathers to shower BEFORE entering any of the pools, or else it's considered gross if they just go in the pools with whatever was on their body when they came in. There are shower heads on the wall, no curtains or doors, though. However, there are also rows of detachable shower heads with stools to sit on and mirrors.

Before entering the dry, general-mingling area, don't forget to dress into your spa clothes first. The dry area includes an ice room, a salt room, a jade room, and an oak and clay sauna. What are their purposes?

Ice Room: Exactly what it says, a room kept at a colder temperature with ice lining the walls. It's like the dry equivalent of the cold pool in the bathing area, because it will help you cool down if the heat from the other rooms becomes too much. Then of course, don't forget to stop by before you leave so you can stop sweating and dress yourself into your own clothes more comfortably. It's recommended that you don't stay in there for more than five minutes as the cold will no longer be refreshing after that time limit.

Salt Room: No table salt here, only large granules of unrefined salt cover the floor of this room, heated at 50 degrees Celsius. The heat may need some getting used to, but once you have, just relax and let it help your aching muscles to relax. Use the wooden 'pillow' to rest your head. Unrefined salt is supposed to help pull toxins from the tissues, or purify troubled skin; some even say that it prevents osteoporosis. Even the bricks of the walls are made of salt, meaning if you don't want to lie down, you can sit up and lean against the wall to receive the health benefits as well.

Jade Room: Many things can be said about the healing properties of jade. It is believed to enhance the body's filtration and elimination organs, making it great for treating the kidneys, spleen, and adrenal glands. It is also believed to help ease arthritis and muscle pain. And much more! The jade room is heated, though the temperature is not as extreme as in the salt room, and the floor is made of rough-cut jade stones.

Oak and Clay Sauna: This room has yellow earth mud, which when heated neutralizes poisonous effects of metal and stimulates your metabolism. It helps with alleviating symptoms of skin problems such as atopic dermatitis (eczema) and respiratory problems such as asthma. (Some say it is also good for women who have recently given birth.)

How Do Emotions Affect the Baths and Saunas?

To give a few general examples, if someone is angry, then the temperatures will rise above a comfortable level. If someone is sad or gloomy, then the temperatures will go down. If someone is happy, or calm, or anything similar, then those positive emotions will become infused with the pools and saunas, making them even more relaxing. In fact, those positive feelings may even be passed on to other customers who happen to be around.

Players, you don't have to confine yourselves to just these examples! Feel free to get more creative. HOWEVER, if it involves any possible damage that could happen to the spa (i.e. explosions, or the pools turning into geysers), or something extremely dramatic that would affect everyone in the facility, please discuss it with me first.

Moving on, Yao has taken people's emotions into account, so to help anyone who may be experiencing negative emotions when they come in, there is a meditation room with cushions to sit on to help customers calm themselves before they enter the baths and/or saunas. Taking advantage of the lovely greenery in the surrounding area, the window-walls allow people to admire the scenery while soothing music plays over speakers and incense infused with calm burns, filling the room with its pleasant scent (and emotion).

Dim Sum and other Refreshments

In addition, there's also a tiny cafe located in the corner of the unisex area that serves dim sum and teas for cheap; water is free. See the menu for more info.


(How it looks, but without the upholstery booth and TV mounted on the wall. Think wooden furniture.)