On Friday, May 26th, night falls on the edge of Old Temple and Dockside. Simultaneously near the sanctums and churches of the former and the slums and squalor of the latter, St. James Cathedral is a bit of both. Now deconsecrated but once a hall of worship, a new form of revelry has come to fill its halls and eaves with
pan²ic, Rhy'Din City's hottest new nightclub. As the sun sets in the west, red rises on St. James, creeping and crawling crimson illumination that inches higher and higher along the curves and cracks in the stone facade. The windows glow with preternatural light and cast eerie shadows thrown from stone gargoyles that never quite seem to be in the same place or pose twice.
“Unholy, unholy, unholy…”
Seraphic figures shrouded in sets of six ivory wings wrapped around them to hide their bodies and faces mill around the entrance, occupying space upon the restored stairs and along the sidewalks that play buffer between the cathedral and the street. Their voices echo this thrumming chant, beckoning and calling to those that pass, bidding them come inside. The double doors above are open, after all, one need only take the leap (and show an ID to the doorman, of course).
Sweet smelling smoke is a cloying temptress, drawing patrons into its curling embrace. This smoke is in no way real, nor is it ever allowed to mix with the real world. It is magic and what happens within is nothing short of divine. Once inside, guests are greeted by more angelic hosts, these in flowing robes of midnight blue and starlight white. They will guide your path through the labyrinth of writhing bodies, ensuring that everyone gets where they want to go and ensuring that you get back out again when the time comes.
The main floor is a crossroads of decadent delight. The pews of Purgatorio have been torn out and the pulpit has been converted to a neon lit DJ booth, but the original stained glass remains intact, depicting scenes seemingly from Dante’s Inferno. Purgatorio is by far the largest of the dance rooms, offering an expansive main floor with smaller gathering spaces in the side chambers. Curtained alcoves in the wings of the space offer intimate conversational spaces away from the ebb and flow of the beats that pulse throughout. Shrouded in smoke, a long metal bar emanates a soft red glow, guiding patrons to the wellspring served by the Fallen, a team of highly trained, top rated bartenders who wear little save for singed white cloth draped over pertinent parts and an ethereal set of blackened wings that seem less corporeal and more glamoured, as they do not interfere with the bartenders’ movements behind the counter. Stocking an assortment of local and imported beers, wines, and liquors, Purgatorio is the only place to order two signature cocktails;
Paradiso (black fig vodka martini with creme de cassis, dry vermouth, and fresh fig) and
Inferno (cognac and dark rum with cranberry, orange, and clementine, set aflame just before serving).
Cast your eyes above from the pit of Purgatory below to find the gilded smoke dance floor of Elysium. Hidden staircases tucked into the eaves allow patrons to venture up to the platform dance floor above. There you can find a completely different atmosphere and music every night. Where Purgatory is gritty bass and moody darkness, Elysium is shades of silver and white, faster beats, and unadulterated decadence. A thin layer of rolling smoke and fog gives the illusion of a less than solid dance floor, aided by the clear glass that separates the above from the below. When the smoke clears, one might be able to venture a glance at the poor souls in Purgatorio, who, while they may look up, cannot see you save for the wispy outlines of undulating bodies on high. Plush booths and VIP service are the hallmark of Elysium and the upper level will eventually be VIP only on busy nights. White lasers and lights bounce off the floor and ceiling, refracting glimmering motes of silver and gold light all around. Behind a golden gate, the DJ booth gives prime locale from which to spin the hottest beats for those blessed enough to call Elysium their party grounds for the evening, while servers clad in stylized white robes over body paint depicting seraphim wings, cherubim faces, and ophanim eyed wheels. There is no bar to be found, but plenty of floor staff ensures that no one goes thirsty and that all may partake of the two signature cocktails of Elysium;
Forbidden Fruit (apple vodka and pomegranate juice with simple syrup and lime) and
Iconoclast (tequila reposado and crème de cassis with lime juice and ginger beer).
There is a small room on the third floor, set apart from the revelry of the main floor and its attendant madness. It was here that the lost of Rhy'Din were once laid to rest, but now it serves another purpose entirely. In this quiet, holy place, a single altar stands, adorned with a simple vase of lilies. And in the center of the room, a pit of decadent pillows, plush and pleasing to the touch. It is a quiet respite from the endless noise outside, a place to decompress, recenter, and revitalize before returning to the party. Soothing music drifts softly from hidden speakers.
For those not blessed to attend the sanctum of Elysium, find your way to the pits of Pandaemonium. Find the church’s tomb within Purgatorio and pass through the wrought steel gate bearing the warning “
Lasciate Ogne Speranza, Voi Ch'intrate” ("Abandon Hope All Ye Who Enter Here") to venture down a metal stairway limned by pipes hissing (harmless) neon steam into the belly of the church. At the bottom, wait to cross a rough cut river chiseled into the stone floor and reach the dance floor beyond. The ferryman will take your payment and allow your safe passage. Despite being on street level, Pandaemonium has no windows and no other discernible light sources save for a permeating red glow that thrums and pulses with the music gothic industrial music that pumps through hidden speakers. Servers garbed in faceless habits are topped with sharp steel halo crowns and wrapped about the throat with thorned rosaries as they silently serve the damned of Pandaemonium one of two signature cocktails;
Avarice (spiced rum and tawny port with simple syrup, lemon, and fig) or
The Second Death (absinthe and champagne). A DJ wearing a coordinating black cassock and tab collar performs from the foot of a crimson glowing black metal throne. Mill among the masses with the writhing damned, some of which perform in suspended cages, illuminated by pulsing black light.
No matter where you stake your claim, stay calm...
House of Unholy Splendor and Hedonistic Revelry
The opening weekend is not one but three themed nights of bass fueled dancing and drinking within the restored church, chock full of drink specials, VIP membership deals, and door prize giveaways.The first 100 patrons on Friday will receive free drinks the whole weekend through. DJ Carnage, Ministre, and DJ ∞ (Pronounced DJ Infinity) will be spinning tunes on each floor of the club throughout the entire weekend.
Themes:
Friday, May 26th: The Road to Hell (Sultry beats and hedonist whims, come for a good time, stay for a long time)
Saturday, May 27th: Saints & Sinners (Rise or Fall, the choice is yours)
Sunday, May 28th: Take Me To Church - Whiteout (Wear all white but don’t expect it to stay that way)
Disclaimer: pan²ic, its parent organizations, the churches of Old Temple, and the proprietor of the establishment cannot be held responsible for dance related injuries, having too much fun, staying out too late, or other assorted maladies. We cannot be held responsible for patrons who overindulge in the environment, however what we can assure is safety. pan²ic is a safe consumption site and will have trained medical professionals on hand in the event anyone is incapable of controlling their vices. Should your vices control you, we promise prompt medical attention without law enforcement intervention, assuring no one is punished for having a good time. That said, please be mindful of your limits and consume responsibly.
((Board event only. Feel free to post outfits, attendance, reactions, etc etc etc here!))
