The headquarters of the Jane Mendoza Gang is strategically located in a series of volcanic caves about 30 kilometers from Firetown, concealed behind a rugged mountain range of the volcano Ralar. Its hidden position within the harsh landscape of the Dark Side on VOI 700 D, coupled with natural volcanic features, makes it exceptionally difficult to locate and breach. The gang’s headquarters is fortified by a pack of Korozos, fierce predators trained by members of the Zark Tribe, adding an additional layer of security and ferocity to the hideout’s defenses.

The entry to the Jane Mendoza Gang’s headquarters is an imposing and carefully hidden gateway, designed to be both discreet and secure.

The entrance begins with a narrow, one-meter-wide passage that opens to a Copper Gate, a 3×3 meter rolling door forged from copper extracted from the Copper mine near Firetown. This gate, reinforced with reclaimed materials from the Last Frontier, blends seamlessly with the rock face, nearly invisible in the ambient red glow from distant lava flows. In the dim, flickering light, the Copper Gate appears like a shadowed part of the mountain, casting an eerie sense of foreboding over those approaching.

A discreet, well-concealed spyhole is embedded within the gate, allowing the Zark guardians stationed on the inside to observe visitors before granting entry. Past the gate, the narrow passage is illuminated by the soft glow of bioluminescent mushrooms (Luminofera Dualis) embedded in the walls, their shimmering light guiding visitors into the headquarters’ depths. The mushrooms’ gentle, pulsing glow casts shifting shadows, adding to the atmosphere of secrecy and mystique as one steps deeper into the stronghold.

Entry to the headquarters follows a strict protocol, designed to immediately weed out intruders or anyone with ill intent:

• Knocking Code: To gain entry, visitors must knock in a specific sequence: three long knocks, followed by three short knocks, and ending with three long knocks again. This coded signal alerts the Zark guardians on the other side. Any deviation from this sequence results in immediate execution, ensuring that only those with the proper knowledge—or a gang escort—gain access.

• Guard Interrogation: When the door opens, visitors are met by two Zark guardians who immediately ask the purpose of the visit. If the individual cannot provide a legitimate reason or is not escorted by a known gang member, they are swiftly killed on the spot, preventing any unauthorized person from stepping inside.

• Security Check: Once a visitor has provided a valid reason or is escorted by a gang member, they undergo a thorough security check. All non-members are required to undress and surrender all belongings, including any weapons or personal items, to the guardians. This ensures no potential threat enters the headquarters. Compliance is non-negotiable, and any resistance results in immediate death by the guardians, as they enforce the gang’s stringent security measures.

Through these protocols, the entrance is effectively a barrier against any threat, securing the headquarters while maintaining the secrecy and exclusivity of the Jane Mendoza Gang’s inner sanctum.

The Main Cave is the heart of the Jane Mendoza Gang’s headquarters, a vast chamber approximately 60 meters in diameter with a towering 10-meter ceiling. Beyond the entry tunnel, this expansive space serves as the setting for the gang’s strategic discussions, rituals, and gatherings.

Key Features of the Main Cave

• U-Shaped Table for the Top 45: In the center of the cave stands a large, U-shaped table, crafted to accommodate Jane Mendoza, her Associates, and the Top 10 from each department. This table serves as the command center, where key decisions are made and plans are laid out.

• Memorial Stone: Along one side of the cave, a solemn memorial stone bears the names of those gang members who died honorably in service. Each name is etched into the stone to ensure that their loyalty and sacrifices are remembered by the gang, further reinforcing the gang’s reverence for loyalty and honor.

• Viewing Area for Ceremonies: A designated standing area, large enough to hold all 120 gang members, surrounds the central table and extends towards the execution site. This open space allows members to gather during ceremonies, such as executions or the singing of the gang’s Song of Gratefulness, creating a powerful sense of unity and shared purpose.

• Execution Platform: At the front of the cave, a raised platform with shackles and handcuffs is reserved for executions. Members sentenced to Death of Disgrace are restrained here, visible to the entire gang, before judgment is carried out by their mentor. This platform serves as a stark reminder of the gang’s rules and the consequences of betrayal.

• Chandelier of Knives and Weapons: Hanging from the high ceiling, a massive chandelier forged from old knives, broken crossbows, and other reclaimed weapons casts a dim, ominous light over the main cave. This piece of art not only provides light but also symbolizes the gang’s resourcefulness and strength, forged from their collective past struggles.

• Lava Stream Heating: Running beneath a glass panel along the cave floor, an underground lava stream provides natural heat, filling the space with a warm glow and a reminder of the headquarters’ proximity to the volcanic forces of Ralar.

• Lightning: Along the walls and ceiling, clusters of the Luminofera Dualis, bioluminescent mushrooms, cultivated for their faint, steady glow, enhance the eerie lighting. These mushrooms emit a soft, bluish-green luminescence, casting shadows that shift across the cavern, creating a hypnotic, almost ethereal atmosphere. The combination of the chandelier, lava glow, and mushroom light infuses the main cave with an otherworldly ambiance, reinforcing the mystique and power of the gang’s hidden stronghold.

This cavernous space, with its careful design and symbolic features, serves as both a functional and ceremonial center for the Jane Mendoza Gang, embodying their values and reinforcing the bonds that hold them together.

• Sleeping Quarters (General): The general sleeping area is divided into four sections, one for each department, with gang members sleeping in hammocks. Each member has a small “treasure chest” near their hammock for personal belongings. In the corner of each sleeping area is a designated common washing facility, consisting of buckets filled with water drawn from a nearby brook, along with a simple drain system. These facilities provide gang members with a practical means of refreshing themselves within their quarters.

• Private Quarters (Jane Mendoza and Associates): Reserved for Jane Mendoza and her four Associates, these luxurious quarters offer significant privacy and comfort. Each room is equipped with individual washing facilities and enhanced with relics from the Last Frontier and advanced technology from the Beta Age. Jane’s private chamber is particularly advanced, equipped with five Service Bots that assist her with various tasks, symbolizing her leadership status and the gang’s resourcefulness.

• Storage Caves: Hidden chambers are scattered throughout the cave network, storing essential supplies. These storage caves contain weapons, food, and goods from raids, ensuring the gang is well-equipped for prolonged periods. Each storage area is strategically placed to remain concealed from potential intruders. The Department for Organization is tasked with maintaining the Records Room, keeping all records accurate and up to date. Access to this room is limited to Jane Mendoza and her Associates, preserving confidentiality over the gang’s internal records.

• Dining Hall: The Dining Hall is a communal space where general gang members gather for meals. Capable of seating around 80 members, it is designed to foster camaraderie and reinforce the gang’s bonds. The tables here, rather than carved from stone, are stolen wooden tables from the Federal Carpentry in Morningstar, adding a touch of defiance to the space. Meals are prepared by rotating members, ensuring that responsibilities are shared among the gang.

• Kitchen and Food Pantry: Adjacent to the Dining Hall is a well-organized Kitchen and Food Pantry. The kitchen is equipped with cooking tools and basic appliances salvaged or built from scrap, enabling the gang to prepare meals for the large number of members. The Food Pantry stores preserved foods, fresh ingredients, and rations obtained from raids or trades, ensuring that the gang is well-provisioned even in lean times.

• Records Room: This secure cave serves as the Records Room, storing essential information on each gang member. Within it are files containing personal details, entry dates, and symbols of membership, such as Zapor feathers awaiting retrieval by Prospects who successfully complete their initiation. The Records Room is accessible only to Jane Mendoza and her Associates, maintaining strict confidentiality over the gang’s internal records.

• Toilets: Simple latrines carved into the rock, with waste disposal channels leading directly to the lava flow, handle waste management within the hideout, allowing for clean and efficient sanitation without compromising the cave's concealment.

• Korozos Den: Guarding the headquarters is a den of Korozos—formidable creatures trained by Jane Mendoza and the Zark Tribe to protect the entrance and interior passages. This separate cave is strategically located to deter intruders, with the Korozos acting as fierce, loyal guardians. Their presence enhances both the security and the wild aura of the headquarters.

• Hoo Stable: The Hoo Stable houses the gang’s steeds, particularly Hoos used for transportation and trade. This stable provides safe shelter for these valuable animals, with basic feeding and grooming facilities maintained by designated gang members. With his exceptional skill in handling Hoos, Olai Nygard oversees the care and training of the gang’s steeds, ensuring they are well-prepared for rough terrain and long journeys.

• Zark Tribe’s Exclusive Area: The Zark Tribe, numbering approximately 350 members, holds a distinct and exclusive area within the headquarters. This section is reserved solely for Zark tribe members, maintaining their autonomy and privacy within the shared stronghold. Their area is furnished with symbols of the tribe’s heritage and culture, making it a space where they can carry out their traditions and daily routines apart from the gang’s primary activities.

The precise location of the Jane Mendoza Gang’s headquarters is a closely guarded secret, known only to members of the gang and the Zark Tribe. Those outside these two groups who discover the headquarters are swiftly eliminated to maintain secrecy. This unyielding policy ensures that the gang’s activities remain undisturbed and that the hideout remains concealed from the Federal Sheriff’s forces. The secretive nature of the headquarters adds an extra layer of danger and mystery, making it a nearly mythical stronghold in the eyes of those who know of its existence.

• The Jane Mendoza Gang
• Ceremonies of the Jane Mendoza Gang
• Armament of the Jane Mendoza Gang
• The Song of Fate
• The Song of Gratefulness