Fear Factory

The ChantLocated within the block of shops sandwiched between Lords Row and Gluttons Gorge in the Lady's Ward is a building that appears to have been recreated in the style that surrounds the Great Foundry in the Lower Ward. The front door is never left open for extended periods of time and the windows appear to be permanently steamed over. A sign suspended above the front door depicts an anvil and forge promoting the place as some kind of blacksmith's shop.

Upon stepping inside the shop you are immediately assaulted by an incredible wave of depressing heat and become drenched to the bone with steam that lingers in the air and restricts visibility to just a few feet. From what you can see the place appears to be rather lavishly decorated with marble and slate panels on the walls and floor which do a remarkable job of keeping the heat inside of the seemingly ramshackle wooden building. Hooded lanterns are permanently affixed equidistant along the lengths of all visible walls.

After a few moments to orientate yourself with the new surroundings, an impeccably dressed man standing roughly six foot high saunters up to you and asks if you have a reservation. He wears extremely high quality black trousers, a white silk shirt with a black vest that is lined with red velvet and spotlessly polished black leather shoes. His black hair is slicked back over his head and held in place by an unmeasurable amount of hair gel, his eyes have dull look in them and his skin seems remarkably pale. He introduces himself as Rudolfo the Maitre'De and if you have no reservation politely asks you to either make one for another time or (depending on the size of the party) take a seat in the lavishly appointed foyer and wait for a table to become available.

If you have a reservation or wait for a table to become available, Rudolfo will call for a waiter to show you to a table. Moments later a shuffling humanoid figure emerges from the mists and asks you to follow it to your table. The shuffling figure whether male of female wears similar black pants and shoes as Rudolfo, it's shirt is made of white cotton instead of silk and it also wears a straight unlined black cotton vest. The waiters skin seems deathly pale and appears to be covered in unsightly pockmarks.

It doesn't take patrons long to figure out that their waiter is in fact a Juju Zombie and that Rudolfo is a Vampire, in fact all the staff of The Fear Factory are some form of intelligent undead. The cleaning staff is comprised regular zombies and the roving minstrels are a group of four ghasts and wights who can play almost any song you care to mention on their violins. A fifth member, a female spectre that sings the song that you request, accompanies them.

The dining room continues the theme started in the foyer that of dull grey slate floor tiles and brilliant white marble walls with gold plated hooded lanterns equidistantly spaced around the walls. Adding to this theme are the operational forges spread around the place, responsible for the almost unbearable heat and ever-present steam. Each table is a large slab of smooth slate resting on a highly polished blacksmith's anvil at either end. In the middle of each table is another gold plated hooded lantern and on either side of the table are two chairs. The tables are set with expensive silver cutlery and the finest porcelain dinnerware embossed with gold edging.

Once seated, the waiter will give a menu, which upon first touch feels to be made of leather. However closer inspection reveals that the menu is covered in treated human skin and the writing is dried blood - of what can't be determined but it certainly isn't red. The corners of the menu are covered with protective sleeves once again plated with gold. The items available on the menu are varied, but are mostly meat dishes, which are offered with either a fresh garden side salad or steamed mixed vegetables with a baked potato. Of course there is also the mandatory vegetarian dish and if so desired the meat dishes can be ordered with garnish of any description.

Also available on the menu are some of the finest planar wines and spirits, the perfect accompaniment for the style and class of dish served in The Fear Factory. Prices are obviously high, but then this place isn't aimed at the average citizen, the target clientele are those with superfluous amounts of money and are trying to make an impact on those that they are dining with. It is not uncommon for Estavan the Merchant Lord of the Planar Trade Consortium, Spiral Hal'Oight and numerous other Golden Lords to be seen here wining and dining prospective customers.

If for some reason or another the service is substandard or you wish to question the practices of the staff and call for the manager, you will be greeted by a tall gaunt looking male human. He wears high quality blacks robes that fall to the floor and are richly embroidered with intertwining gold and red brocade. His skin is pale just like the rest of the staff however his seems to be drawn tightly over his bones with very little obvious flesh separating them. His left eye when you it them has a far distant look to it and also has a magical glow. The other eye socket is now populated by a brilliantly cut multi-faceted red ruby to glistens in the steam and reflects the light from any nearby forges. It is instantly obvious to those that have met his type before that he is a lich.

The DarksThere is no doubt that The Fear Factory is some how connected to the Dustmen and they don't deny this fact, however they won't reveal the reason for the bizarre places existence. Some people believe that it is somehow connected with the factions 'Death Pact', some believe that it is just a fund raising venture for the faction and still others believe that it is used to help teach about the 'True Death'.

What no one realizes is that it really serves as an experiment in the interaction between the living and unliving. It is carefully controlled and the reactions of all patrons are recorded and analyzed by dustmen factotums, it is hoped the compiled knowledge will one day provide a valuable link to obtaining true death.

The Fear Factory is heavily enchanted and if magic is detected for will light up like a proverbial lighthouse. The whole house re-enchanted each by the manager with many different spells, among many of them are several charm related spells and other necromantic spells designed to slow down the decay exhibited on the lesser staffs faces and hand.

Obviously there are some restrictions upon who or what enter the establishment. All priests, clerics, paladins and other similar people are asked to remove any holy symbols from their persons before leaving the foyer and place them in a lead lined box provided by Rudolfo - they can be reclaimed upon leaving. Also anyone attempting to cast any form of magic at all within the confines of the restaurant will have the wrath of the manager brought down mightily upon them.