Crystal Cafe

The Crystal Café is a safe, friendly and neutral café and bar located in Shang Tu near the intersection of all three kingdoms, currently owned by James Adama. It’s surprisingly relaxed for a Shang Tu establishment, and is open to people from all walks of life (including gangs!), so long as they refrain from conducting violent “business” or other disruptive behavior on the premises. The Café staff are prepared to handle any trouble quickly and effectively.

Because of its central location, the Café serves food and drink from all three of the main kingdoms. Goods imported from Parusa will cost extra. There are no toxic dishes, as Avalicians have the same natural tolerance to chemicals like theobromine as normal people do, regardless of their base species. Of course, food allergens can still be present.

## Features

**Large, two-story building:** The upper level is aimed towards fliers, and has an open patio to land on from outside. Stairs and an elevator connect the levels inside the building. The main area can seat 75-90 people comfortably, and the lounge and side rooms can hold yet more.

**Seating:** There are different sizes and types to accommodate different types/heights of animals and groups of all sizes. The barstools are fully adjustable, and the chairs are designed to be comfortable for patrons with wings, tails, or both. Booster seats are also available.

**Lounge/rest area:** Separated from both regular dining areas by short ramps, this part of the Café contains chairs, couches and tables that patrons can relax in. A fireplace is always lit during the cold months, but the climate is always comfortable. Waitrons don’t make the rounds in the lounge, but you can ask for food or drink to be brought out. It’s also acceptable to spend the night here, as long as you’re not stinking up the place. The Café is quite safe at all hours.

**Stage:** The platform in front of the main seating area used to serve two purposes: a podium to address fellow Scarves, and a combat stage for public duels. When the establishment became a café, the stage was expanded, equipped with a sound system, and eventually upgraded with a large projection screen.

## Layout

**First floor:** The stage is on one wall, and the dining area is in front of it. The bar is on one side, and the kitchen is behind the bar. The stairs, elevator, and a storage area for chairs and tables are on the side opposite the bar, next to the main entrance. The ground-level stairs go up half a floor to the lounge area.

**Floor 1.5:** This area is dedicated to the lounge. The stage is visible from most of this floor. On the wall opposite the stage are a pair of large TVs. The elevator connecting all four levels is next to the stairs up, and the stairs to the second floor are just a few steps past the first flight, positioned against the wall. The bulletin board is hung against the outside wall of the second floor stairs, facing the rest of the lounge.

**Second floor:** This part of the building is positioned above the lounge, and has special accommodations for winged patrons. There’s a second level patio entrance outside, above the main entrance, for fliers to land on. There is also an indoor balcony facing the stage, but only those close to that end of it can look down on the stage. The opening is mostly so those on the upper level can hear what’s going on. The kitchen side has a small staff elevator and a minibar.

**Basement:** below the lounge area, holds the office, a storage area, bathrooms and part of the rest area. The office and rest area are much larger than they need to be, but most of the space is used as storage now… or so they say.

## History

The Café started as an old, undercover Red Scarves hideout that the gang eventually outgrew. Instead of selling it off completely and moving on, however, the growing band of bandits wanted to keep it as a safe place to hang out. To make money, the obvious thing to do was to make it into a restaurant… and what do you call a laid-back restaurant? A café.

The crystal theme naturally fell into place because the Scarves tend to like their flashy displays of loot. The building (and business) has been passed down using a honor system stronger than any deed, with the mutual agreement of being neutral ground at an intersection of both political and criminal borders.