The Court of the Ebon Flame
The Bamboo Tower
The Bamboo Tower, officially known as the International Bank of Beijing Tower, stabs up out of the heart of Little Asia’s Business Zone. The Tower’s nickname comes from the segmented appearance that the latest Japanese earthquake-proofing techniques lends. The black segments with tinted windows rise forty stories, towering over every other skyscraper in the city. The double plexi-glassed doors serving as the front entrance face the east. To the north and west, alleys and other buildings surround. To the south, the upper ground level of a two-story underground parking garage attaches itself to the Tower.
The first floor of the Tower consists of the public exchange level. Bank terminals and financial advisory offices fill this area. It is decorated mainly with indoor fauna: potted trees and the like. A few Asian images can be seen, particularly the fat Golden Buddha sitting in the middle of the main room. Three elevators stand at the end of a corridor. Two black-doored lifts lead up, but across from them stands a red-doored elevator with no directions. A guard stands by at the elevator corridor at all times and permits no one but residents (Kuei-jin) access to the red elevator. A staircase for fire escape (or serious elevatorphobes) lies directly at the end of this hall.
The upper floors of the Bamboo Tower are comprised solely of spacious offices and data entry laboratories. During the day, these rooms bustle with activity. During the night, they are all but dead. A few die-hard employees plow away at left-over or future work, and all wonder what the “residents” are up to on the other side of the Tower. The Tower’s night-shift security team patrols the entire structure rigorously, dissuading late-nighters from falling asleep in their offices.
The red elevator has only three stops: the sub-basement, the penthouse, and the roof. The penthouse of this round, black glass skyscraper offers an unequaled view of Little Asia and the city beyond. Inside, plush carpets and chairs are in perfect feng shui alignment, along with plants and pakua mirrors that stimulate chi flow. Surrounded by ornate samurai armor, golden Buddhas, and prayer wheels, this penthouse is where Kuei-jin come to be with their own kind and reconnect with their homeland. Aside from the communal den, there is an attached kitchenette, bathroom, and a hall that leads to a dozen suites (where Kuei-jin can call haven for themselves or prized vessels if they choose). An emergency staircase leads from the penthouse to the CEO’s office.
And atop the graceful Bamboo Tower is a peaceful rock garden with tiny ancient bonsai trees. Zen simplicity stands in contrast to the swirling view of Western chaos miniaturized in the city below. When hosting other shen, except in the event of inclimate weather, the Kuei-jin treat their guests on the rooftop garden usually.
Meanwhile, the sub-basement is another story. A virtual labyrinth of torch-lit, gently curving corridors established in a spiral pattern, things are said creep through the stone passages watchfully. Red silk and gold trim decorates the walls. The maze leads down many dead-ends, though at the end of many of these halls one may find a valuable and possibly priceless Asian antiquity. The core of the labyrinth is an octagonal chamber decorated with the same silk hangings. The gold trim forms kaja glyphs on each of the five walls. In the center of the room rests a large brass gong suspended from a solid gold stand. The gong is truly ancient, yet shines as if brand new. When the torch-light catches the surface of the gong the right way, the flash is said to bring enlightenment.
Though this isn’t true, the artifact is a stable center of spirituality unified by perfectly-designed feng shui and pakua. It gifts the Court of the Ebon Flame with a small Dragon Nest from which they may transverse into the Mirror Lands, travel dragon tracks, restore their Chi energies, and more.
OOC: During the day, a team of twenty SWAT-trained security guards, a loyal “tong” to the Court (mostly through good pay and a hefty use of Obligation) patrols the Tower. During the night, that number is halved. However, other guardians protect the Tower day and night. A small number of loyal (mostly Chinese) wraiths guard the Tower, patrolling its Yin World area carefully. In the Yang World, a dozen deadly Guardian Spiders (as per the Weaver-spirits) whose loyalties have been ensnared in the cunning webs of Kuei-jin magics patrol and assault intruders on either side of the Gauntlet. The mirror-based feng shui of the penthouse prevents nosy scryers from peeking into the room most often used to hold Court Lectures (+3 difficulty to all scrying rolls to see inside the penthouse den area).
Finally, in the sub-basement, Devil Tiger “puppies” roam, forbidden only to enter the central chamber of the Dragon Nest. These are virtually mindless bakemono servants who are given raw, rotten meat everyday. This is their preferred diet. It keeps them sated enough to avoid attacking Court-mates who wander down to visit the Dragon Nest. The Dragon Nest is Level 1 in value and kept a secret from even the rest of the Coalition (though some of the older Court elders may suspect its existence).
Wall Rating (Lobby/Offices): 8
Wall Rating (Penthouse): 7
Wall Rating (Rooftop/Sub-basement): 6
Wall Rating (Dragon Nest Heart): 4
The Rack
The seediest part of Little Asia lies on the northern border of the Red Light District. Ramshackle buildings huddle close, providing numerous tight alleyways for the locals’ sleazier activities. Few street-lamps still work at night and the smog of heavy traffic by day keeps a perpetual cloud of shadow on this rectangular four-block section of town.
And by day and night, all manner of street persons ply their trade in the Red Light District. Prostitutes, their pimps never far, strut the avenues. Drug dealers lurk in the alleyways. Gangs gather outside and in slummy bars. Unmarked hovels lead into modern “opium dens” -- hives of Triad and yakuza-run vice.
Though the risk of contracting disease is higher in this part of town, so is the list of illegal immigrants. With no record of their existence here, no one would miss them… The Kuei-jin make great use of this to populate their personal herds and acquire stronger criminal connections for their Scarlet Screens.
OOC: Though the Cainite-sensing bell ward is set even on these streets, there is no overall security. Some of the more nefarious establishments and pits are manned by mortal gangsters but that is all. The Kuei-jin do not truly control this area but ply its waters far more than anyone else does.
Wall Rating: 8
