skin, bone, and arrogance
Name: Cliveden's (or, formally, the Cliveden Club)
Image Source: http://www.primeresi.com
Classification: Gentleman's Club (traditional, not strip club)
Location: 41 Park Boulevard, Park District, Avalonia, Dosuun
Affiliation: Owned by Bardal Cliveden, 19th Duke of Palmendar (on Galidraan) - caters to First Order members
Description: A quintessential, traditional gentleman's club situated in the heart of Avalonia's Park Boulevard area, Cliveden's is a four-story (not including basement) oasis of tasteful refinement, tradition, and old-world charm in the the middle of a bustling city. It is an oasis of tasteful refinement, tradition, and old-world charm, that is, if you are the right sort of person -- to clarify, this would mean male, First Order-loyal, and human, as well as requiring some level of wealth to cover the cost of membership fees. This is an exclusive club, with security empowered to decline entry to anyone without a membership card, though typically guests and visitors are allowed to enter the lobby if they have a convincing enough reason to get past the doormen -- for instance, that they are meeting a member, picking up or delivering, or something else along those lines.
The ground floor features a fabulous lobby, filled with small seating areas comprised of plush leather sofas and club chairs -- Chesterfields, obviously -- around small tables. In addition to the lobby, the ground floor also contains the mess (actually a gourmet restaurant) and kitchen facilities, a bar, and a drawing room with a few card tables. It is on the ground floor that members are allowed to bring guests of the female persuasion. While women cannot be members of the club under normal circumstances, they are welcomed as guests for meals, drinks, and bridge in the drawing room, while being banned access to the other areas of the club. The rooms on the ground floor are supplied with fresh flowers daily -- typically small, white floral displays, slightly masculine and with minimal fuss. A concierge and several front-desk type employees are available at all hours to cater to the members' every whim.
The basement level contains a richly-paneled smoking room, stocked with all manner of t'bacc and other cigars, cigarras, cigarettes, and pipe-smoking paraphernalia; a pool, spa, sauna, and locker room; games rooms (billiards and cards). The first story contains a gallery overlooking the lobby; a management office; conference rooms available for the use of the staff; the members' library; and members' rooms, equivalent to five-star hotel rooms, available to members on a sliding scale of rates depending on usage (for instance, each member can 'book' the club for free for up to 54 nights a year; additional nights, from 55 to to 99 nights, the rate was 1/3 the typical cost; additional nights from 100 to 180 were 2/3 the typical cost; every additional night is available at full cost. The second and third stories are comprised entirely of member rooms.
History: Bardal Cliveden is old as well as old-fashioned. He was ancient when his association with the Fortan family began. His loyalty followed the Fortan clan to the First Order, where he became a wealthy investor in the Order, but he missed a part of Galidraan's stratified society. It was nice to be able to look down on people, and the egalitarian society imposed by the more democratic societies didn't allow for it. Hence, the appeal of the First Order, where in addition to a touch of xenophobia, there was a chivalrous streak that, on its flip side, seemed to justify a chauvinistic attitude, which suited the paleoconservative Cliveden just fine. So, he purchased a plot of land and built a club, based on his old club on Galidraan, and ruled over a palace of well-mannered frivolity and -- for the right price and a good tip for the concierge -- debauchery. And, just as he liked it, the club was filled with wealthy -- or at least upper middle-class -- human men.
In addition to Cliveden's men-only rule, and the colour bar banning aliens from the club, Cliveden established another rule that drew on Galidraani custom, which was to provide members with access to important figures in political and business circles. Membership is automatically offered, gratis, to the First Order's executive suite -- the Supreme Leader, the Supreme Commander, and the Grand Moff. This created the first wrinkle in Cliveden's rules, which simultaneously offered membership to a female -- Grand Moff Natasi Fortan -- while barring her membership. As it happened, Fortan accepted membership. Rumors circulated that the Grand Moff was challenged to down a large whisky "in one", and smoke a large cigar in record time in order to be accepted as "one of the boys," though this is likely largely apocryphal. Membership has also been offered to high-profile public figures in the military, business, and government circles.
Intent: Fleshing out Avalonia and providing a 'canon' social club for members of the First Order. Also will provide a 'male' analogue for a ladies' social club planned for a future PC.
Links: N/A
