Welcome to Gaia! ::

A line of people now trailed along the street, most of them hunched against the night’s cruel weather. If you were to take the time to walk along this line, looking at the shuffling figures, you would notice that the majority were men – and not only that, but a vast mix of men.

The two standing at the door are staff, in fact bouncers. Broad shouldered and squarely built, they resemble hulking gorillas more than men. They have shaved heads, and wear black suits - though to look at them you’d think this was their first time wearing clothes. The cloth just doesn’t seem to fit…these men are the type one would imagine wearing loincloths, and pulling the heads off of their dinner. They stand stony faced, not a glimmer of humor in their cold eyes, as they check the entrants for identification. They nod silently as they allow men to pass, and only give a hint of a smile when the occasional woman passes through the doors.

The fourth man in the line is obviously a rich businessman. He wears a tailored suit, though it is ruffled and worn from the day’s work. He wears a golden ring, a wedding ring, which he plays with nervously, twisting it round and round, until finally pulling it off and, with a guilty glance, stuffing it into his pocket…

Next, we come to a rather different looking man. He is younger, and yet his haunted eyes speak of many things seen. He has a large gash across his cheek – it’s possible that this man is a soldier. Such people are frequent visitors here, as are assassins. Perhaps it is the draw of the welcoming atmosphere (though at times it can resemble a battlefield) or the beautiful women. Men who kill for their living must take pleasure elsewhere or go mad. Or so they say.

Scan the faces here, and you’ll see the variety. Warriors, tailors, shopkeepers, assassins – you name it, they come here. They all know that they can lose themselves here, at the Kistsune Klub. Who wouldn’t want to lose themselves once in a while? Become an entirely different entity, be it a more primal, savage one (as is with the men who come to salivate over the dancers) or to watch the bands that play and to lose themselves in the fresh, new-feeling music or to become part of a non-discriminating group, where they can seat themselves at a table with complete strangers and yet feel welcome.







Enter the club, and you are hit by two walls – the first, warmth, the second…noise. The large room is filled with the sound of laughter, talk, songs and shouts and the loud beat of good music.

This first room is about the size of a warehouse. At one end is a stage, on which a lively band are playing to an eager, bouncing audience. Then, past the dancing pit, there are tables – around 100 of them. Each one is lit by a single candle, the colour different on each table. Here the less rambunctious music fans sit, enjoying the spectacle from a safe distance, not at risk of being crushed within the pit.

Then there is a walkway, formed by a pale carpet, which contrasts starkly against the otherwise wooden flooring. This pathway leads to further, private rooms, where meetings and gatherings take place throughout the night. Some of these rooms have closed doors, with ‘Do Not Enter’ signs hung from the handles. Inside, groups of people huddle in the near-darkness, smoke trailing above their lowered heads. A murmur of discussion can be heard, but not understood...

Back in the main room, and past the walkway, is a cluster of more tables. Here it is quieter, and people sit to discuss the Kingdom’s events, the day’s happenings and just enjoy general friendly banter. The tables here are better lit, with a centrepiece of three or more candles. Also on each table is a large menu, depicting the delectable dishes available in this place.

Carry on past this area, and you come to the bar. There is a huge selection of beverages on offer – by far the greatest in the Kingdom. This area is bustling with activity; people lined up four deep, waiting to be served by the staff. Laughter rings out from this crowd as people begin to unwind, relax and shake off the day’s troubles.

Look to your right, and you will see an enclosed area, with a doorway marked ‘Kitsune Cove – Lose Yourself’.

Through that doorway are the girls.

They say that they are the most breathtakingly beautiful girls in the entire Kingdom, and they’re correct. A group of girls aged 18-25, and all handpicked by the club’s owner, Sasete Mau. Elegant, confident and charming, these girls dance for their loyal customers.

Scattered around the room are comfy sofas, large floor cushions and various tables. The room is bathed in a golden glow from many flickering candles, and there is a smell of incense in the air.

There is a strict no-touch rule in place, which is ensured by the four or five bodyguards stood unobtrusively around the room hidden in shadow or quietly talking to each other.

However, the bodyguards are merely for show. These girls have no need of them - there’s more to these girls. A pretty face will only get you so far, or so Sasete thinks. These girls are also hand-picked for their intelligence, their fighting prowess and their individual abilities. You have to be great to be a Kitsune girl…

So, are you coming in?

A lone figure walks through the dimly lit streets to the Kitsune Klub. A man lay nearby for the authorities, or vermin, to clean up; that man was the late Rubricante Verminos. He was a vampire slayer who got a little too into the biz…

Cayne, a master assassin, had happily taken the assignment. Deadly in combat, and even deadlier in the shadows, which is from where he had sent Rubricante to Asgard.

Cayne blew a bit of smoke from the tip of his customized pistol and a smirk passed over his faded lips revealing a long, gleaming fang. He darted into the Kitsune Klub, soaking a single piece of parchment in the man’s blood before leaving "killing my kind, plus touching little girls…" He planted another bullet in the man’s head before continuing on his way.

His silenced pistols made no noise and he did not care if they did. He stepped into the brightly lit entrance of the club, and made his way to the main bar, sitting down and draping his black leather coat over the end.
He stood out among the people as a Akavir, or he would if Akavir were well known. Only another creature or an assassin would know of his breed…

"Where is the owner?" he asked over the pounding noise, hoping to get through the back hatch of the guild. His face stood out in the roving lights, a strong, handsome face with mystery revolving around him. His voice was dark as well, holding a hint of malice, yet just the same amount of kindness.

Ruger strides straight past the line leading to the front. The neon lights glow off of his red jacket as he enters the front door ingoring the people trying to block his way. He headed straight for the bar, where he stood and listened to the music and gauged the vibe of the crowd. He looked for someone to serve him a drink, and seeing no one began to also gauge their selection of spirits. He was prepared to order and waited for his bartender.

Cayne sat on a stool at the bar, taking out his guns and playing with them a bit. He had, in all politeness, removed the ammo from the pistol's clips. He remained sitting, looking around the room as he waited for the club owner and pulled out a few parchments of paper from his long, black overcoat. he had a contract, a writ for her for assassination of one Viktor crumb. ((*cough*))

HE had been covering his mouth and nose, simply because he hated the smell of incense that burned from the walls. He watched the lithe form of the other assassin walk out of her room, and he stuttered, she was beautiful, too beautiful for a mortal. He looked around and his lip pulled up into another fang-revealing smirk.

He watched the keys drop onto the table, and looked up to the person who dropped them. The flashing lights gave his skin an ethereal grace, like a ghost

Ruger heard from behind him on his right side a soft cough over the music. The cough being soft meant that it had to have been loud in order to make its way to his ear over the music, which meant to him this person wanted his attention. So he turned toward the cough looking toward the floor, and slowly lifting his head he began to study this person. Just then he saw that it was not just one person but two. Feeling a bit intimidated by this persons beauty, and her long flowing locks of flame, and beautiful ruby lips. He now knew why he was brought here.

The other person was a dark fellow, and had silver hair and a couple of pistols. This person was not nearly as attractive or interesting as the one who stands before him, so he just shifted his full attention to her.

"May I help you?" he said, with his hypnotic voice, laying his satchel on the floor.

Cayne sat where he was, watching the newcomer, a minestral, he wondered if he had *any* use of a fighter, so he decided to check him out. The assassin's eyes were the first thing to visibly change, his pupils becoming elongated and snakelike, and his skin getting even more pale. He parted his lips in a small smile as almost to reveal his fangs as he reached out with his mind. it was now obvious to all that he was a vampire. He allowed his face to return to normal, losing its frightening qalities and reassuming its attractive qualities.

He Tapped a small scroll on the desk. Pointing to it slightly and grinning to the mistress of the bar the scroll had the insignia of the brotherhood of shadows, the most feared orginization in antonia. the assassin's guild... He was looking at the newcomer as to give her an idea to an action. grinning the whole while.

He stood and moved to the office, walking past the areas necessary. then sat down, making himself comfortable.

((oh yeah, vampires are kind of rare, i guess...))

Sasete raised her eyebrow as she listened to the newcomer, Ruger, speak. She’d known he was of a traveling profession – he looked as though it were so – but she had not expected him to be a minstrel. In her mind, minstrels were always so much older, and tended to be, more often than not, a few ‘pints short of a barrel’… But this man seemed every bit the intelligent, charismatic and mysterious man as ever she met. Not to mention his looks were somewhat...striking.

Smiling at him, she raised her hand, and gestured for one of her Kitsune girls to follow them. She then turned round, grabbed Ruger’s left arm, and led him towards the office.

“If you’ll come this way please, Mr Ruger. I’ll get Lacy here to get the drinks. Just let her know your drink of choice, and it’s on the house.”

Opening the door to the office, Sasete grinned at Cayne. She enjoyed his visits – before he’d come to her about the guild a few weeks ago, it had been a bit boring around the place. Add that to the fact taht he seemed strangely familiar...

Seating herself by the fire, she motioned for Ruger to seat himself also.

“Don’t mind the wolves, sir, they are my childhood companions. The black one is called Ebony – he’s the grumpier one – and the white one is Ivory. She’s just a big puppy really...”

She laughed, throwing her head back slightly, and letting her voice bubble up, a rush of happiness and affection, as was often the case when she spoke about her animals.

Upon hearing him refer to her wolves as ‘adorable’, it was all Sasete could do not to giggle out loud. It wasn’t often…..if ever…..people reacted to her hulking beasts in this way. In fact, people tended to fear them – they normally became defensive and nervous when they were approached by the two canines. But Sasete knew better than anyone how dangerous her wolves could be – many a time she’d watched them kill.

She brushed the hair from her face, and stared at the man. Biting her lip, she nodded, and then said;

“Well, it’s sort of a long story Ruger, sir. These wolves aren’t your normal woodland beasts – far from it, in fact. They will most likely outlive me, my children, and their children. Who knows how long animal spirits live for?”

Nodding at Lacy, she accepted the offer of a drink, and watched as Lacy left the office. Lacy was a good girl, but Sasete felt she should be moving on to better things by now. She was now 3 months pregnant, though Sasete was the only other being she’d confided in, and Sasete was still troubled as to how to help the older girl - sometimes, when it came to such matters, Sasete felt her age. Eighteen was a young age to have done as much as she, and sometimes it was telling. But right now Sasete had other things to think about…

“So Ruger, where is it you come form, and what brings you to the city? Do you have an abode here, or did the whim take you to just wander in, and see what adventures you could find?”