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=== Races | Economy | Buildings & Organizations ===

====== FIRETOWN BILLIARDS SALOON (FIRE BILL) ======

{{:firetown_billiards_saloon_scenic2d.png?direct&400|}}


===== Overview =====

  * **Location:** Public Services Ring, [[firetown|Firetown]] 
  * **Address:** NW Public Services Ring Road 1
  * **Surroundings:** Located amidst the infamous Entertainment District, nestled between [[saloon_gloria|Saloon Gloria]] and the [[firetown_darts_club|Firetown Darts Club]].

Founded in 2628 by the legendary gambler [[Felix Linda|Felix Linda]] — dubbed “the luckiest human away from [[the_earth|Earth]]” — the Firetown Billiards Saloon (affectionately “Fire Bill”) quickly became the premier venue for high-stakes billiard tournaments and underground gambling games. With twenty tables catering to [[trilliards|Trilliards]] and Carom Billiards, the saloon attracted thrill-seekers and fortune hunters in equal measure. 

After the [[great_war|Great War]] and the rise of [[communardism|Communardism]], Supreme Councilor [[georgia_hawking|Aisha Patel]]’s administration moved to shutter Fire Bill alongside the rest of Firetown’s Entertainment District to enforce the resource-conservation mandates of the [[peace_treaty|Peace Treaty]]. Former [[mayors|Mayor]] James Mc Antie successfully petitioned for a special exemption — preserving Fire Bill, [[saloon_gloria|Saloon Gloria]], and the [[firetown_darts_club|Firetown Darts Club]] under Federal Confederation ownership with special permits. These venues retained their informal, walk-in operations but now observe [[the_gamma_age|Gamma Age]] regulations, including drink and game-entry limits.

===== Architectural Significance =====

  * **Construction Materials:** Stacked cargo containers form the core structure, reinforced with salvaged starship hull plating, exposed steel beams, riveted braces, and patch-welded panels. Rough timber planks and scrap wood are used for wind shields, interior dividers, and upper-level railings.
  * **Floors:** 2
  * **Design:** New frontier gaming hall with modular tables and removable partitions to accommodate tournaments of varying scale
  * **Geothermal Feed Vents:** Insulated steel stacks and vent assemblies integrated into the rear façade, channeling heat and hot water from the [[geothermal_power_plant|Geothermal Power Plant]] to maintain interior temperature
  * **Air Vents / Heat Recovery Ventilator:** The building's air exchange was managed by a centralized, mechanical ventilation system with a central intake on the exterior of the building.
  * **Power Supply:** [[quantum_fusion_batteries|Quantum Fusion Battery]]
  * **Lighting:**  Warm electric light

===== Building Structure =====

**Interior and Atmosphere Ground Floor**

  * **Gaming Hall:** 10 reinforced tables (5 Russian billiards, 5 Karambolage) arranged in a cruciform pattern. Billiard cues and chalk hang on the wall next to the tables.
  * **Stools & Tables:** Scrap‑wood frames with pool table felt tops — bolted to the floor to prevent easy tossing.
  * **Spectator Gallery:** A raised platform behind the bar provides benches for onlookers; curses and cheers bounce off stone walls.
  * **Space Drinks Bar Counter:** Styled in [[space_drinks_inc|Space Drinks]] livery. Staffed by a Butler Bot that taps kegs of Space Beer, Gravity Grog, and other Space Drinks Inc. labels (Beta Age only). Operated by exohuman staff  (Gamma Age).
  * **Restrooms (2):** Two unisex stalls with [[aurorasan_system|AuroraSan fixtures]], tucked behind the western partition.

**Interior and Atmosphere Upstairs**

  * **VIP Chambers (Beta Age only):** Three private rooms for high-stakes matches — each outfitted with custom tables, sound-dampening walls, personal attendants, and secured credenzas for valuables.
  * **VIP Rooms (Gamma Age only):** Repurposed by the [[jane_bold_gang|Jane Mendoza Gang]] for clandestine Frostpunkt and Twenty One games, accessible only via volcanic-stone tokens dispensed by the Federal Host.

**Exterior**

  * **Façade:** Broad arched entrance framed by neon-lit billiard balls and red neon letters spelling “Fire Bill.” In the Gamma Age, the neon signage and the lettering is darkened.


===== Look and Feel =====

==== Beta Age ====

Fire Bill in the Beta Age is a hall of measured tension rather than open chaos. The steady click of billiard balls echoes through the container walls, sharp and final, cutting through murmured bets and low voices. Pools of warm light hover over green felt tables, while the rest of the room remains deliberately dim.

Steel walls carry the scars of a thousand nights — scratched plating, patched welds, faded tournament markings. The air smells of chalk dust, stale beer, and cold metal slowly warming under geothermal heat. Spectators lean close, arms folded, eyes fixed on the table as fortunes hinge on a single controlled stroke. There is shouting, but never without purpose. Violence is rare — and swift when it comes.

From the bar, Butler Bots slide drinks across scarred counters, while Felix Linda’s presence hangs over the room like an unspoken rule: luck is respected here, but discipline is mandatory.
==== Gamma Age ====

Under Communardism’s watchful eye, Fire Bill feels hushed and constrained. Only soft Luminofera lamps burn overhead; the neon façade is half-dark. Conversations are cautious. Patrons clutch their Federal Allotment Cards at the bar, limited to a single beer or water, while shady deals and extra bets slip through the cracks. In the upstairs chambers, the hush deepens — only the faint click of billiard balls hints at the high-risk gatherings taking place behind locked doors.

===== Roles and Responsibilities =====

==== Beta Age ====

  * **Felix Linda (Owner & Head Arbiter):** Organizes tournaments, settles disputes, and enforces “house rules.”
  * **Bouncers (3):** Patrol entrance and gaming floor to break up fights and eject troublemakers.
  * **Groupiers (3):** Host the three Twenty One tables, deal cards etc.
  * **Butler Bots (2):** The [[butler_bots|Butler Bots]] serve drinks and deliver snack trays.
  * **Cleaning Bot (1):** The [[cleaning_bots|Cleaning Bot]] maintains table surfaces and clears debris after brawls.

==== Gamma Age ====

  * **Federal Host (1):** [[maria_reuter|Maria Reuter]] oversees Gamma Age compliance, issues [[allottment_cards|Allotment Cards]], and enforces drink/game limits.
  * **Security Officer (1):** [[haruto_miller|Haruto Miller]] ensures only approved patrons enter.


===== Games & Gambling Services =====


| # | **Game**          | **Description**                                                   | **Stakes ( Beta Age Only)**                  | **Fee** **(Beta Age only)**            |
| 1 | **[[trilliards|Trilliards]]** | Three-player sequential-number potting variant of pool billiards | Calls on 1–15 balls (players pledge pots)   | 10 Kourou per table hour      |
| 2 |** Carom Billiards**: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carom_billiards       | Three-cushion carom game favored by seasoned players              | Open wager — house takes 10% | 10 Kourou per table hour |
| 3 |**Pool**: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pool_(cue_sports)    | Series of cue sports played on a billiard table. | Open wager – house takes 20%  | 10 Kourou per table hour  |

===== Menu =====

==== Beta Age ====

| # | **Label**                   | **Style & Flavour Note  ( ABV )**                    | **Quick-Play Table Quirk**                                                                           | **Price** |
| 1 | **[[Space Beer|Space Beer]]**          | Light, foamy lager; faint citrus (5 %)         | First pint grants +1 temp HP; drinker emits a joyous shout audible 30 m                        | **4 K**      |
| 2 | **[[Red Dwarf Firewater|Red Dwarf Firewater]]** | Cinnamon-hot liqueur that self-warms (45 %)     | Resist cold damage 1 h; must pass Con DC 12 or take 1 fire dmg                                     | **2 K**     |
| 3 | **[[Gravity Grog|Gravity Grog]]**        | Heavy amber ale   (8 %)                       | Move speed –1 m for 30 min; Advantage on Intimidation checks                                   | **6 K**     |
| 4 | **[[Starshine Schnapps|Starshine Schnapps]]**  | Virel Spice-infused schnapps (30 %)                     | Breath fog glitters; Stealth checks –2 for 1 h                                                     | **4 K**     |
| 5 | **Water**       | Glass of Water from a [[mistspring_water_inc|Mistspring Water Inc.]] jerrycan             | Removes one level of exhaustion; advantage on saves vs. dehydration for 2 h; regain 1d4 HP if below half max HP     | ** 1 K**     |

==== Gamma Age ====

| # | **Label**                   | **Style & Flavour Note  ( ABV )**                    | **Quick-Play Table Quirk**                                                                           | **Price** |
| 1 | **[[Federal Beer|Federal Beer]]**          | Light, foamy lager; (5 %)         | First pint grants +1 temp HP; drinker emits a joyous shout audible 30 m                        | Max. 1 with Allotment Card      |
| 2 | **Water**       | Glass of Water            | Removes one level of exhaustion; advantage on saves vs. dehydration for 2 h; regain 1d4 HP if below half max HP     | Max. 2 with Allotment Card     |

===== Security Measures =====

==== Beta Age ====

  * **Entrance Check:** Bouncers ensure compliance with the rules.
  * **Butler Bot Watch:** Service bots programmed to alert bouncers when fights break out.
  * **House Safe:** Reinforced vault beneath the bar secures high-value chips and cash, opened only with the Owner’s key token.

==== Gamma Age ====

  * **Token Access Control:** VIP rooms require volcanic-stone tokens from the Federal Host.
  * **Alert System:** Installed throughout the saloon, the [[analog_alert_system|Analog Siren System]] can alert the [[office_of_the_local_sheriff_of_firetown|Office of the Local Sheriff of Firetown]], in case of a security breach or unauthorized activity.
  * **Surveillance by Deputies:** Regular patrols by Deputies in the Entertainment District enhance the security of the saloon.
===== Illegal Activities in the Club =====

==== Beta Age ====

  * **Cheating Rings:** Organized groups using magnetic cue tips and weighted balls to rig outcomes.


==== Gamma Age ====

  * **Black-Market Bets:** Extra Frostpunkt entries and Twenty One rounds arranged off-book for higher payouts.
  * **VIP Bribes:** Tokens slipped to stewards for extra drinks or extended play beyond Gamma Age limits.
===== Influence of the Jane Mendoza Gang in the Gamma Age =====

Although restructured, Fire Bill is intertwined with the clandestine operations of the [[jane_bold_gang|Jane Mendoza Gang]]. The gang exploits the saloon as a subtle front for illegal gambling activities, using the former VIP rooms as a secret venue for high-stakes games like Frostpunkt and 21. 

Federal Hosts serve as the gang's key operative, discreetly screening patrons and granting access to the VIP rooms through volcanic stone tokens. Their role ensures the gang's operations remain secure and profitable.

===== Public Access, Operating Hours & Operational Rhythm =====

==== Beta Age ====

  * **Public Access:** Open to adults
  * **Opening Hours:** 10:00 – 04:00 (local time)

==== Gamma Age ====

  * **Public Access:** Strictly by Allotment Card and approved booking
  * **Opening Hours:** 17:00 – 23:00 (officially) 
  * **Shadow Opening Times:** Behind the scenes, illegal activities continue after 23:00h under the Jane Mendoza Gang's watchful eyes. Especially in the VIP-rooms.






===== Tactical Advice for Dungeon Masters =====

Fire Bill is a dynamic setting for social encounters, gambling intrigue, and risk-taking:

==== Adventure Hook Beta Age Example ====

  * **Vanished Farmer –** Late one evening, Jacob Lenz, a devoted father and farmer from [[Hope|Hope]], slipped away with a friend for a quick night out in Firetown’s Entertainment District. Their bar‑hop ended at the neon‑lit dive known as [[kittens_from_space|Kittens from Space]], where Jacob’s last coherent words were “I need to chat with Madama Talara.” When he didn’t rejoin his friend, panic set in. Another witness places Jacob, Madama Talara, and an unknown man entering the notorious [[saloon_gloria|Saloon Gloria]]. Now his desperate wife has hired you to retrace his steps through Firetown’s seedier spots, unearth what happened behind those swinging doors, and bring her husband home — alive, if he still is …

==== Adventure Hook Example Gamma Age ====

  * **Only 24 Hours –** Late one day in the dim glow of Firetown’s Entertainment District, your party’s mark — a notorious [[loners|Loner]] — challenged one of you to a high-stakes Twenty One match at the Firetown Billiards Saloon. You lost spectacularly, passing over 10 000 [[kourou|Kourou]] to settle the bet.Now, the Loner has given you 24 hours to repay the debt. He warns that if you fail, he’ll “find another way” to collect — with violence or worse …
===== Related Pages and Further Information =====

  * [[ralar_region|Ralar Region]]
  * [[beta_age|Beta Age]]
  * [[the_gamma_age|Gamma Age]]
  * [[firetown|Firetown]]
  * [[Felix Linda|Felix Linda]]
  * [[jane_bold_gang|Jane Mendoza Gang]]
  * [[haruto_miller|Haruto Miller]]
  * [[Maria Reuter|Maria Reuter]]
  * [[sergio_adams|Sergio Adams]]

**Venues within the Firetown Entertainment District (Beta Age):**

  * [[kittens_from_space|Kittens from Space]]
  * [[nebula_fight_arena|Nebula Fight Arena]]
  * [[the_red_wheel|Red Wheel]] 
  * [[saloon_gloria|Saloon Gloria]]
  * [[firetown_billard_saloon|Firetown Billiards Saloon]]
  * [[Firetown Darts Club|Firetown Darts Club]]
  * [[Dark Side Hotel|Dark Side Hotel]]
  * [[German Imbiss|German Imbiss]]
 
**Venues within the Firetown Entertainment District (Gamma Age):**

  * [[firetown_billard_saloon|Firetown Billard Saloon]]
  * [[firetown_bowling_alley|Firetown Bowling Alley]]
  * [[Firetown Darts Club|Firetown Darts Club]]
  * [[saloon_gloria|Saloon Gloria]]

**Exohuman Games on VOI 700 D:**

  * [[frostpunkt|Frostpunkt]]
  * [[twenty_one|Twenty One]]
  * [[trilliards|Trilliards]]
  * [[zugzwang|Zugzwang]]