Dream Den

I've been to a Dram Den a few times, to put it lightly. Though, after we found the Tuumon Kova, I frequented far more regularly. I wouldn't say I was addicted, but I will say I needed it to relieve some of my stress. And besides, how can you get addicted to sleeping?

— Aoax

A dream den is an establishment where guests can come and share a dream of a professional dreamer. This is called dream melding, a profession as old as the others found in most red-light districts. While dream melding is not strictly adult-centric, due to its slightly taboo nature, youth typically are not allowed to participate. However, like illicit substances and other vices, it's still incredibly popular.

Sharing of the mind, in most places that I've been, is already something that is both intrusive and destructive. While you're awake, you at least have some control of your thoughts, so you might not let slip anything too revealing. However, when dreaming, your most inner being is laid bare as it tries to resolve itself and what the day has changed about it. Now imagine, during that delicate molting, someone has unobstructed access not only to viewing, but to meddling. Now, when you emerge, your thoughts may not be entirely of their own. THat's the fear anyways. And, in some areas with less repute, dreamers run that risk. But most dreamers have higher security and the devices used to share dreams keep tampering out of the equation. Mostly.

— Grandmother Wayfarer

Inside the Dream Den

You move from the streets, lamps dripping with the new rain, golden balls dropping into shadowed scum. The velvet doorway is easily pushed aside, warmth welcoming you with a hug. The attendant at the front desk greets you with a tired smile, you wonder how long their shift has been since it's so late at night. You give her your name; you're expected, a solo experience you'd saved up for with all those late shifts. Gentle incense stroke your very being, inviting you to one of the many cushioned seats. It will be some time before your chamber is set up.
You take in the ambience around you. There are no others, it's that time of night where either one is done visiting bars and clubs or one is at the dreary point of their night-shift. Either way, you expected at least one person to be there, but there was none. Stringed Kes permeates the foyer with music that seems to have you melt deep into your cushion.
It's not long before you are called by the receptionist. She walks you down a hallway with doors every few feet. You come to your door, complete with the name of the party that will be hosted. They must not have many solo guests. She closes the door behind you, wishing you a nice trip. She does not lock the door as you somehow suspected, only gently shutting it so the dim false sky may barely illuminate yet more cushions and beds. You suppose the room may have a theme, there are stars decorating everything and white wisps drawn into the wall and furniture. Space, maybe? You sit down on one of the beds, not sure if you want to lay just yet. You look to the other side of the room, where shadows nearly obscure your dreamer. The room has a pressuring silence, you cannot hear your dreamers breath through their pod. You know it would be futile looking in the pod, you would not see them.
The voice of the receptionist comes on over the intercom. They ask you to stare into the crystal in the center of the room. You do, not sure how you didn't notice it before. It does not emit any glow, it barely reflects the starlight. Yet, you are fully aware of its presence now and know exactly where to look. It takes you in, you can feel something breathing against the back of your mind. You feel yourself drifting, falling back and back, further and further. The room expands to a grassy plane with people appearing, throwing up confetti as they welcome you.

Dream Melding

Dream melding does not need any technical marvels to occur. One can meld their dreams with whoever they wish, if they enter the mind of one sleeping. While sleeping, every living being has their mental gate set up on maximum security, for it is the safest way to be. But, let it down or break through it and one's dream becomes two's.

Dream dens opt for these expensive machines. They may put their dreams in a protective shell, the pod, that keeps them both physically and spiritually secured. The only link they have to the outside is through a connected dreaming crystal. Those who stare in to it are gently pulled into the dream and will remain there until either woken externally or the dreamer wakes. The dreaming machine will protect the dreamer and will not allow for any of the guests' dream manifest. These machines allow for multiple guests, though the more there are the higher the risk of something happening. Most Dream Dens limit their parties to eight.

The dreamers are often trained on the best way to lucid dream to ensure that the dream itself does not go towards a nightmare. They are not supposed to fully lucid dream, as that would remove much of the excitement for the guests. However, they must be able to keep a subconscious state that will let them pull away or towards any direction at any time to keep the guests happy.