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The Crypt Hotel

The Crypt Hotel was built as the Black Rose cabal's headquarters in New Alexandria about twenty years ago when a fire opened up a gap in the surrounding buildings. Deliberately styled to look like a gothic mausoleum, and using materials that would give the appearance of natural aging, it stands apart from its neighbours - both physically and metaphorically - and exudes menace.

A narrow path, tracked either side by a low stone wall, leads from the main street to the wide, heavy oak doors, their weight supported by iron bolts and latches. Twin monoceros heads, carved into the wall either side of the doors, welcome guests with a ruby-eyed stare, with a third peering down from above.

Either side of the narrow pathway is a small square of grass that surrounds the hotel and meets up at the back. This garden is rimmed by a wrought-iron fence, the sharply pointed ends thrusting towards the sky.

As well as lending to the menace, this fence serves to contain the livestock kept on Crypt grounds, these purportedly being "milked" to help supply the hotel's blood menu.

Foyer

Beyond the hulking bouncers (such as Brian Tempust) and the monoceros gargoyles is a massive foyer of pink marble floors and pillars, bloodred carpets and draperies, and gilded furniture. The entrance room is quite spacious, taking up most of the hotel's ground floor, but is often dimly lit with only wall sconces to make it appear darker and intimidating.

At the far end of the foyer is a sweeping marble staircase, a dark red carpet at its centre, that curves up and to the left over a glossy black grand piano. The massive windows to the right are hidden in their recesses by the thick curtains, and to the left is a wide marble desk (usually manned only during the day by Marcus Vriens), a HoPC crystal offset to the right and a wing chair, its gilded frame and deep red velveteen cushions made to match the decor, behind it.

Beyond the desk is a small redwood door rarely seen on first glance, as it is designed to blend in to the wall around it. This door leads downstairs to the basement bar. Another door, similarly blended, is hidden behind the grand piano and leads to the kitchen and back yard.

Upstairs

There is only one upper floor and the rooms here are often reserved for higher ranking members of Black Rose cabal, so the Crypt's name is rather misleading. The smallest two rooms are sometimes offered for those seeking sanctuary, however, and only one room - the largest, with a small connecting office - is reserved permanently for the cabal's queen.

Downstairs

The basement bar is the Crypt's main focus, and it is one of few places across Elysia that can and will guarantee a blood supply at all times.

Flowing through from the foyer, the decor continues in dark red and gold tones, but throws in some black with ravenwood and red brocade furniture. Dimly lit by wall sconces, the bar allows for a great deal of visual secrecy (though any Charmer with a mind to could easily 'listen in' on conversations), with booths or small round tables available for those who don't wish to remain at the bar.

The bar itself is a small, glossy rectangle in the far right corner, encapsulating shelves of intruguing bottles filled with alcohol and blood. There is often only one bartender on duty at any given moment (like Mike Dunstan), but he is usually more than enough to keep the clientele happy.