Minor Underground Organizations and Establishments

Middenland

The Bliss

The Bliss is an illegal tavern and club located in Filamori, the capital of the Duchy of Parafiore. It can be found in an abandoned, underground temple-crypt complex in one of the poorer neighborhoods at the edge of the city. A Buyantu Goliath who ran from his home called Harkul guards the entrance, and provides cotton plugs for those who pay the entrance fee. The crypts have been slightly renovated and there is sitting room in the side alcoves. In the center is a high, large open room of what was once a simple temple. From the ceilings hang multiple cages containing Harpies, who are forced to sing to enthrall the customers. Patrons who remove their earplugs will be swept away by the seductive, enrapturing song of the Harpies as they wander or dance around in a trance-like state.
Those who have kept in their earplugs can order drinks and communicate by writing with chalk on boards or using hand signs. Another readily available good here is 'Reverie', a drug made of a dried, black fungus. It is provided as thin flakes that can be placed between cheek and gum. Users experience vivid hallucinations and a sense of euphoria that, combined with the Harpy's singing, elevate the experience to a new level.
The Bliss is owned by Harildan, a half-elf who unbeknownst to nearly everyone, has become a Vampire Spawn under Lady Vamora. His sister Jileri is known to be a dangerous cut-throat who will steal anything as long as the pay is good, but she spends most of her nights in The Bliss prodding the Harpies to sing. There are also at least a dozen thugs walking around at any given time who keep an eye on the charmed customers to ensure no unplanned theft occurs.

Labyrinth of Beasts

Near the richer part of the docks in Corasonne, the capital of the Duchy of Anthalia, lies an establishment often referred to as the Labyrinth of Beasts. It is a rather high-class establishment, with access only being granted through an invitation of a well-known patron, or by acquiring the password of that day through favors. The entrance is guarded by two jet-black Minotaurs, who will operate the levers in the room next door to clear a path. The inside is a maze consisting of riveted, metal walls that can turn or move thanks to a steam-powered mechanism. If anyone were to force themselves inside, they would inevitably get lost unless they figure out which combination of levers they have to pull. The wrong paths are littered with traps and glyphs to deter any invaders, and Alarm spells would alert the guards of this place. The tunnel opens up into a gaudy establishment that is filled with statues, some with expressions of fear, some with surprise, and some with proud defiance.
Near the entrance stands a man in butler costume called Sebastian, a perceptive Werewolf who will make sure any patrons enter without their weapons. On the left side is a bar tended by a large Minotaur Labyrinth Keeper called Dahrian, who is also responsible for the labyrinthine mechanism leading to this place. Imported, exotic animals can be bought here as food. Served with the most expensive of herbs and spices, you can order meals ranging from broiled Giant Spider to Constrictor Snake soup. If you would rather not eat them, you can also buy exotic creatures at the auction in the western wing of the establishment.
In the right wing there are all sorts of games of chance and gambling going on. Knife throwing, Chaos and Strife, Merchant's Dice, Wyrm Poker and more are played here with varying stakes. The main attraction however lies in the central northern wing. Here people who are desperate, drunk or just suicidal play a game called 'Stone Stare'. When someone takes this challenge the musicians change the song to a slow and intense tune as the cover is removed from the cage at the back end of the room. Any sane person would avert their eyes, but the contestant has to stare into the eyes of the Stone Strix and risk the petrification. If they manage to resist it, they will gain 500 gold, enough to turn one's life around. If they fail however, they better hope a friend of theirs can undo this petrification. Contestants who avert their eyes forfeit their 50 gold buy-in fee of course.
The establishment is owned by a Glabrezu demon who has disguised himself as a former loan shark called Drago Canni, whose soul and memories he has consumed. It is a large establishment that can hold up to 300 people, which is why there are a little over twenty floor men to keep the order in addition to a few invisible Quasits who watch for any cheating. Most of the floor men are regular thugs, but about a half dozen are secretly Bulezau demons disguised in their human forms and suppressing their rotting presence. The floormen are led by an Armanite, whose humanoid form is that of a tall Half-Orc called Grulan. There almost a dozen bar maids, some of which are Succubi, who serve customers their food or accompany them during their gambling.

Khuagawa Tetrarchy

The Crimson Festival

In Sabara, in the Dominion of Nigharb, north of the Jal'Tsuki Basins, lies the city of Arafel. And hidden in this city, somewhere beneath the winding streets of the Jhyrhito slums, is an establishment few would dare enter, at risk of never leaving. The Crimson Festival is a club and fighting ring ran by Almar Sassania: ringmaster of the local Arena during the day, but at night he takes his demon form as a Master of Cruelties who follows The Jagged Rose. In this place he provides the entertainment he wishes he could provide everyone.
The top floor consists of several private booths where the 'physicians', Blood Witches, provide care for visitors, as well as experimenting on them or dragging them down into their own depraved dreams. Some booths also contain baths, where one can wash away the sweat, grime..and blood. There are several stages at this level where people provide music or perform various acts of sword dancing, fire juggling, and other daring stunts. But the main act after which the place is named, is downstairs.
The bottom floor is mostly cleared out to make space for the main arena, except where it is flanked by the elevated stands. Here people go wild as they get to see some of the bloodiest and fiercest fights possible. Overhead hang the cages containing the crippled bodies of the losers, while beneath (kidnapped) people, demons and the occasional beast fight the fiercest and bloodiest fights of their lives to the cheering and jeering of the audience. Often these fights even take to the audience who, spurred on by Almar's aura, turn on each other in celebration of the vivid and primal emotions of rage and bloodlust.
There is little need for security as fighting amongst the crowd is somewhat encouraged and if it gets out of hand, Almar's captivating presence is usually enough to bring things to a halt when needed. But there are plentiful troops around when needed. The most iconic is the Bloodgray Giant bouncer also called The Mover, for he moves the stage around on his back when needed, or keeps back the Gorehound 'Big Bubba' in his cage in the corner. There are three Blood Witch physicians who can take control of people's bodies to halt them as well if needed. Beyond that there are the six Bloodscourge elite fighters, who lounge near the arena when they aren't turning people into paste in the ring itself. And lastly there are usually well over a dozen Cacklers around who double as both crowd, fighters and crowd fighters, but they'll calm things down if Almar commands them to.