The Dawnstar Social
The Dawnstar Social Club, once called the Dawnstar Casino, is a quiet cornerstone of Glass Quarter social life. It sits on the lower streets of the Quarter where property values are a bit more flexible, close to the Earth Gate. It still has all the flash and glitter of a gentrified establishment, but doesn’t go out of its way to be the “best on the block.” The real attraction of Dawnstar is its stability, integrity, and its ability to grow without overstepping itself.
The mainstay of the Dawnstar is its casino. After passing through the foyer, where a valet will check coats and stable horses, any players of the night will arrive in a ballroom packed with games of all sorts. Dice tables, wheels of chance, and a nightly raffle are all illuminated by a masterwork crystal chandelier overhead. The chandelier is one of the most beautiful in Rharne, and is dusted daily to a dazzling shine.
To one side of the ballroom is the “card gallery,” where players may bring their own card decks if they wish and face whatever opponents they can find. The self-moderated tables can order food from the restaurant, although brawling is strictly forbidden on the premises. If a game goes foul and the players simply must sort it out with their fists, there is a modest patch of lawn behind the Dawnstar for just that purpose. If a player hungers for higher stakes, there is a nightly game moderated by the house with a prize for the winner. No one can bring their own cards to this game; Dawnstar cards only, with the dealer watching carefully to prevent cheating.
To the other side of the ballroom is Dawnstar’s most recent addition: the restaurant. With the addition of a new wing and a spectacular cook, plenty of patrons visit Dawnstar simply to dine with friends, family, or lovers. Tables must be reserved in advance, typically two trials beforehand. It’s also fully possible to move back and forth between the gambling and dining area. No server is going to track someone down in the main ballroom, but with a reserved table, food and drinks can be delivered to a single location for the patrons to pick up as they please.
For most seasons, Dawnstar’s schedule is predictable: doors open at sunset, and final call is at sunrise. The daylight hours belong solely to the staff. By morning, the main cleaning crew sweeps in to tidy up all the rowdiness of the previous night without having to worry about bothering patrons. Prep cooks make sure the nighttime cooks have nothing superfluous to worry about which could slow down the nighttime rush. The owner, Kitt, often uses this time to meet with her various heads of staff, debrief the night’s happenings, and plan for the next night. While the split between day shift and night shift might be a bit unusual, it prevents almost all delays to nighttime operations.
During Saun and Cylus, however, all gambling closes down. This used to mean that the Dawnstar itself was closed, but with the new addition of the restaurant, Dawnstar dining tables can be reserved in patterns of ten-break blocks, to give staff a predictable schedule to clean and prep. Whenever the Dawnstar expands its building or develops new areas of entertainment, the work is usually done over these two seasons so everything is ready for use by the time a proper day-and-night balance returns.
The second floor of Dawnstar is small and modest. It isn't for patrons; this is the personal living space of Kitt Keating, the owner, so that she is within easy reach if something ever goes wrong. She does not take kindly to uninvited guests.
Staff
Developed by: Jinyel
