An Introduction

The main entrance to The Spiked Tiger is a false wall built into the side of a narrow tunnel. Only a select group of clients have the ability to access the speakeasy. A hard shove will shift the cobblestone panel enough to allow entry into the corridor that runs parallel to the tunnel. At the end of the cramped, downward sloping walkway is a large mahogany door, a sharp rap upon the polished wood will summon the door man, a hefty Appaloosa stallion named Daric, who will ask for a membership card. After inspecting the mostly blank card (save for a small curled tiger’s tail in the center) he’ll grunt and step aside, giving the guest a full view of the extravagant interior of the nightclub. On any given night one might spy a spry looking leopard performing on the wide stage across from the entrance. Tossing articles of clothing to and fro, using a large feather fan to cover up her modesty. The sound of the drums beating out a languid tune in harmony with the blares of a trumpet float about the room. A crowd is gathered at the foot of the stage, gentlemen dressed in suits and ties hooping and hollering at the prospect of getting a glimpse at what’s behind the large fans. As she finishes up her routine the cheering gets louder, she eggs on the crowd, asking if they wish to see exactly what is behind the fan. The curtains begin to close and the crowd grows frantic, wondering if all of the teasing was just that, a coy ruse meant to leave them wondering. But alas just before the curtains seal her away she lifts the fan to reveal that she is in nothing more than a sparkling brazier with matching panties. She gives a shimmy before parting the curtains and disappearing behind them with a wink. Satisfied the crowd goes wild, begging for an encore, some more brazen patrons asking for a private show. The announcer reveals that the next performance will commence in a half hour. Giving the guests ample time to toss back another drink or two. At first glance it might seem like your typical illegal hooch operation but just under the surface there is a large power struggle going on. The liquor trade is a high stakes, highly competitive market and there is only so much of it to go around. It’s all about connections and no one is as connected as Mr. Sykes, the mysterious owner of the popular speakeasy. Most of the patrons haven’t even seen the proprietor as they acquired membership through one of the girls. All of the employees have seen Mr. Sykes at least once (as he insists on giving them the once over once they are hired) and for most once is enough. Described as a brick wall he is a towering achromatic tiger with broad shoulders and a scowling face. His pale violet eyes are piercing and even though he can’t see out of his left one he manages to deliver an intimidating stare. His hands and forearms are riddled with scars from his time working in the mines of his hometown. His thick accent only intensifies his intimidation, he speaks forcefully, struggling to enunciate the foreign dialect. All in all it adds up to a very menacing image. No one is sure of Mr. Sykes actual name, some claim it’s Andrei, others Sergei, and some will swear it’s Sasha. But if one were to take a peek at his birth certificate they would discover that Mr. Sykes’ real name is in fact: Yury Rostov. The unseen owner of the Spiked Tiger runs his place on a strict schedule. He believes that structure is key to a booming business. The girls must be at work, in the dressing room at 8 am sharp. They get their performance assignments at 8:15 and have until 8:30 to make any adjustments. Rehearsals run from 8:30 to 11:30 then the girls break for lunch. They have ‘free time’ (though their free time is usually spent fine tuning their acts, tweaking their costumes, and other housekeeping tasks) until the doors open at 6 then it’s show time. The main attraction at the Spiked Tiger is Jezebel, a swanky clouded leopard. Her act alone brings in at least half of the guests of the joint and it’s no surprise why. Jezebel has a stage presence that is matched by none, her routines are the envy of burlesque queens everywhere. She is most noted for her fan dances and reindeer routine around the holidays. Jezebel has only been dancing for three years, recruited by Mr. Sykes himself she is the obvious favorite of the tough tiger. She’s one of the lucky (or unlucky) few who have been granted his company on numerous occasions. While she’s not the oldest dancer there she is the leader of the group, determining routine assignments and organizing other aspects of the club. She’s even been known to go on a few hooch runs with Ike, the clever stag who is the figure head of the Spiked Tiger and Mr. Sykes’ right hand. Jez is a versatile feline and her background is impressive to say the least. She came from money but lost it all when her father died of a ‘heart attack’ (most say it was no accident, but that’s a story for another time…) and left her with nothing. She spent a few months waitressing, struggling to make ends meet but soon she was discovered by Mr. Sykes and found her calling.