The Red Lantern is the whisper on the lips of men and women who dare not reveal the lusts and wants they harbour during day-to-day life. Have a husband that simply won't take notice of you? Have a wife that's too busy with the children?
There will always be someone available that will direct you to the only brothel in the city, hidden among the sprawling towers scattered across the Zintia Peak. A haven of pleasure nestled between two mundane shops and perpetually inconspicuous, it takes a trained eye to hone in on the entrance, and you will notice the pair of lanterns hanging beside the door that give the brothel its name. Stepping inside the doors of the Red Lantern, one will find that long drapes of silk frame the large, ornate lanterns hanging above, and that doorways take a very unusual circular style. In one corner of the Lantern there lies a bar, filled to the brim with exquisite wine, with a handful of tables carved out of wood and seats accentuated with red cushions. In the opposite corner is the lounge, where private musicians play to a host of men and women sprawled over various couches. Every inch of the area is gilded, intricately detailed, and draped in red.
There are two stories to the establishment. The first consists of the bar, the lounge and the rooms used for the more... sensual jobs of the workers that live there. Each room is garnished with a magnificent bed, more drapery, and plenty of extra 'accessories' should the customer want or need them. The second story is the home of the men and women who make a living in this business; each room is furnished with a bed, a dresser, a drawer, a hearth, and a multitude of personal items. At the end of the long hallway of the second story is the room of the proprietor, Madame Belladonna, strictly off limits to everyone but the wealthiest and most influential of customers.
Upon entering, one is equally likely to be greeted by a man or woman, all dressed scantily but luxuriously, who will ask what your business at the Red Lantern is; they can then help direct you to where you need to go, or help you acquire the services you seek. The majority of patrons will make use of the specifically designated rooms on the first floor, but the occasional regular or extremely wealthy client may be escorted upstairs to their chosen worker's personal quarters for a seemingly more intimate experience.
Name: Madame Belladonna
Race: Human
Birthdate: 490 AV
Birthplace: Lhavit
Occupation: Owner and pleasure worker at the Red Lantern
Skills: Cosmetology - 70, Leadership - 83, Persuasion - 55, Seduction - 95, Socialization - 62, Subterfuge - 64, Unarmed Combat - 90, Weapon (Stiletto Dagger) - 41
Languages: Common (Fluent), Nari (Fluent), Vani (Basic), Isur (Poor)
No one truly knows much about the fabulous Lady Belladonna. Some say she grew up an orphan, a wench who somehow with sheer luck, beauty, and skill surpassed the iron grip of poverty and became one of the most beloved of the underground; others say she's the daughter of a Seiza judge, disowned by her father after having been caught red-handed in her debauchery.
Whatever the case, she is a picture of grace and exudes wealth and power, but those close to her know that she can and has been known to viciously dispose of those who truly displease her. She is quick to please the important patrons to the brothel, and does so efficiently and with promise of grander things. Through it all, the Madame takes care of her workers, although she can be strict to those that repeatedly make mistakes. Belladonna is all sweet smiles and graceful gestures, with a tongue that can sometimes hold poison.
Madame Belladonna, while the owner of the Red Lantern, is also a pleasure worker herself, and may be requested by those who are able to afford her. 
Name: Gweneveh
Race: Human
Birthdate: 492 AV
Birthplace: Lhavit
Occupation: Pleasure worker at the Red Lantern
Skills: Acrobatics - 44, Acting - 97, Intelligence - 25, Meditation - 36, Persuasion - 63, Seduction - 51
Languages: Common (Fluent), Fratava (Fluent), Nari (Basic)
Gwenenveh had an insignificant upbringing. Her parents held no great influence but didn’t find themselves poverty-stricken. Theirs had been an arranged marriage, something of a sideways business move that went nowhere, leaving the two in a loveless relationship with nothing more to show for it, but the two were in it together and decided to make the best of it.
While they didn’t love each other, they weren’t about to miss out on the pleasure to be had. The fruits of that pleasure were three children, all daughters. The eldest left the City of Lights and made a name for herself defying death with the Inverted in Alvadas. Showing a particular affinity for projection, the youngest joined the Shinya, thriving there while not necessarily moving up the ranks.
The middle daughter was Gweneveh. No one really ever expected much from her. They thought she would disappear into the regular day-to-day of the city, become another forgotten cog just like her parents, but she had ideas of her own and made connections as she grew up, the one that mattered most of these being Madame Belladonna. Gweneveh knew her before she opened the Lantern, and the two became fast friends.
When Belladonna, or Bee as Gweneveh knew her, suggested they open a brothel, Gweneveh was only too pleased to go along with the idea. Whether it was an idea of her own creation or the product of growing up with two parents in a loveless marriage, Gweneveh had come to the conclusion that love wasn’t real. One could love their family and their friends, but romance was just an idea that people played at, and if there were people foolish enough to pay for that illusion, she was happy to reap the benefits.
While she didn’t believe in it, she could fake it, play it, as if she was head over heels. Anyone she tried this on fell for the trick, tricked themselves into believing love was real, as she saw it. Together, the two managed to fund Bee’s idea and turn it into a reality, and while it was a joint effort, Gweneveh let Bee step into the spotlight. Her friend had the natural air of grace and sophistication that made her the better fit to be the face of their new venture.
As their business boomed, Belladonna drew them in, but it was Gweneveh who seemed to retain more clientele. Those who came to her believed they were in love. While her skills in pretending and making others believe in what she pretends are her greatest tool, her memory is what holds it all together. She remembers most everything her clients tell her about themselves and everything they tell her about the way they feel about her. She even remembers details that their closest friends don’t recall.
Though she is a somewhat clumsy seductress, Gweneveh more than makes up for it with the way she manipulates the emotions of those she entertains. She is unafraid to perform the usual work by the bell that most of the other women in the Lantern do, but she is in her element when she is alone with a single customer for a length of time. Most of her regular clientele will pay for a whole night or day with her, and those she has come to trust and know best are welcome to her actual living quarters on the second story.
As Gweneveh was with Belladonna from the beginning, she is one of the Madame’s few confidants and one of the few who knows the truth about her history. As manipulative as she can be, Gweneveh is loyal and would never disclose information about her friends and her clients. Though she firmly believes that romance is a pretense, she still cares for those whose hearts are in her hands. 
Name: Calix
Race: Human
Birthdate: 493 AV
Birthplace: Riverfall
Occupation: Pleasure worker at the Red Lantern
Skills: Acrobatics - 50, Bodybuilding - 30, Boxing - 25, Cosmetology - 65, Dance - 60, Leadership - 58, Massage - 82, Persuasion - 40, Seduction - 85, Unarmed Combat - 75, Weapon (Longsword) - 45
Languages: Common (Fluent), Tukant (Fluent), Kontinese (Basic)
Calix was born in Riverfall; his parents both died when he was only thirteen, and he grew up caring for his younger sister. Calix did his best growing up to fit in with the Akalak of the city, training hard and working out, but he never quite enjoyed the pressure placed on being as masculine as possible; while he enjoyed fighting and exercising, he had an equal passion for cosmetics and dance, as well as a hedonistic side that he enjoyed indulging on occasion.
Calix found work as a masseuse in Riverfall as he raised his younger sister. His favourite moments were spent with her, watching her grow up and teaching her about things like cosmetics and self-care, and spending time at bars where he could temporarily forget about things by flirting with people of all races and genders.
Unfortunately, his younger sister fell sick when he was 25, and passed away from her illness. Devastated, and with no further reason to stay in Riverfall, he packed his things and left. Eventually, he found Lhavit, where he decided to try working at the Red Lantern; it was a step outside of his comfort zone, but combined many of his interests and talents, and Calix found the work suited him.
Calix is well-known among both the workers and clients of the Red Lantern for his incredible massages, and customers often request them; he is also known to give-in and use his skills to ease particularly bad aches and pains from his fellow workers.
With customers, he is sly and sweet, preferring to take a gentle lead and open to almost anything. Outside of business, he is reclusive and quiet, preferring to keep to himself, but not unfriendly. He has a soft spot for the younger workers, particularly women, and will often go out of his way to help out more inexperienced or new workers with things like their make-up or clothing, and give them general tips and advice.
There are two stories to the establishment. The first consists of the bar, the lounge and the rooms used for the more... sensual jobs of the workers that live there. Each room is garnished with a magnificent bed, more drapery, and plenty of extra 'accessories' should the customer want or need them. The second story is the home of the men and women who make a living in this business; each room is furnished with a bed, a dresser, a drawer, a hearth, and a multitude of personal items. At the end of the long hallway of the second story is the room of the proprietor, Madame Belladonna, strictly off limits to everyone but the wealthiest and most influential of customers.
Upon entering, one is equally likely to be greeted by a man or woman, all dressed scantily but luxuriously, who will ask what your business at the Red Lantern is; they can then help direct you to where you need to go, or help you acquire the services you seek. The majority of patrons will make use of the specifically designated rooms on the first floor, but the occasional regular or extremely wealthy client may be escorted upstairs to their chosen worker's personal quarters for a seemingly more intimate experience.
Madame Belladonna
Race: Human
Birthdate: 490 AV
Birthplace: Lhavit
Occupation: Owner and pleasure worker at the Red Lantern
Skills: Cosmetology - 70, Leadership - 83, Persuasion - 55, Seduction - 95, Socialization - 62, Subterfuge - 64, Unarmed Combat - 90, Weapon (Stiletto Dagger) - 41
Languages: Common (Fluent), Nari (Fluent), Vani (Basic), Isur (Poor)
No one truly knows much about the fabulous Lady Belladonna. Some say she grew up an orphan, a wench who somehow with sheer luck, beauty, and skill surpassed the iron grip of poverty and became one of the most beloved of the underground; others say she's the daughter of a Seiza judge, disowned by her father after having been caught red-handed in her debauchery.
Whatever the case, she is a picture of grace and exudes wealth and power, but those close to her know that she can and has been known to viciously dispose of those who truly displease her. She is quick to please the important patrons to the brothel, and does so efficiently and with promise of grander things. Through it all, the Madame takes care of her workers, although she can be strict to those that repeatedly make mistakes. Belladonna is all sweet smiles and graceful gestures, with a tongue that can sometimes hold poison.
Madame Belladonna, while the owner of the Red Lantern, is also a pleasure worker herself, and may be requested by those who are able to afford her.
Gweneveh
Race: Human
Birthdate: 492 AV
Birthplace: Lhavit
Occupation: Pleasure worker at the Red Lantern
Skills: Acrobatics - 44, Acting - 97, Intelligence - 25, Meditation - 36, Persuasion - 63, Seduction - 51
Languages: Common (Fluent), Fratava (Fluent), Nari (Basic)
Gwenenveh had an insignificant upbringing. Her parents held no great influence but didn’t find themselves poverty-stricken. Theirs had been an arranged marriage, something of a sideways business move that went nowhere, leaving the two in a loveless relationship with nothing more to show for it, but the two were in it together and decided to make the best of it.
While they didn’t love each other, they weren’t about to miss out on the pleasure to be had. The fruits of that pleasure were three children, all daughters. The eldest left the City of Lights and made a name for herself defying death with the Inverted in Alvadas. Showing a particular affinity for projection, the youngest joined the Shinya, thriving there while not necessarily moving up the ranks.
The middle daughter was Gweneveh. No one really ever expected much from her. They thought she would disappear into the regular day-to-day of the city, become another forgotten cog just like her parents, but she had ideas of her own and made connections as she grew up, the one that mattered most of these being Madame Belladonna. Gweneveh knew her before she opened the Lantern, and the two became fast friends.
When Belladonna, or Bee as Gweneveh knew her, suggested they open a brothel, Gweneveh was only too pleased to go along with the idea. Whether it was an idea of her own creation or the product of growing up with two parents in a loveless marriage, Gweneveh had come to the conclusion that love wasn’t real. One could love their family and their friends, but romance was just an idea that people played at, and if there were people foolish enough to pay for that illusion, she was happy to reap the benefits.
While she didn’t believe in it, she could fake it, play it, as if she was head over heels. Anyone she tried this on fell for the trick, tricked themselves into believing love was real, as she saw it. Together, the two managed to fund Bee’s idea and turn it into a reality, and while it was a joint effort, Gweneveh let Bee step into the spotlight. Her friend had the natural air of grace and sophistication that made her the better fit to be the face of their new venture.
As their business boomed, Belladonna drew them in, but it was Gweneveh who seemed to retain more clientele. Those who came to her believed they were in love. While her skills in pretending and making others believe in what she pretends are her greatest tool, her memory is what holds it all together. She remembers most everything her clients tell her about themselves and everything they tell her about the way they feel about her. She even remembers details that their closest friends don’t recall.
Though she is a somewhat clumsy seductress, Gweneveh more than makes up for it with the way she manipulates the emotions of those she entertains. She is unafraid to perform the usual work by the bell that most of the other women in the Lantern do, but she is in her element when she is alone with a single customer for a length of time. Most of her regular clientele will pay for a whole night or day with her, and those she has come to trust and know best are welcome to her actual living quarters on the second story.
As Gweneveh was with Belladonna from the beginning, she is one of the Madame’s few confidants and one of the few who knows the truth about her history. As manipulative as she can be, Gweneveh is loyal and would never disclose information about her friends and her clients. Though she firmly believes that romance is a pretense, she still cares for those whose hearts are in her hands.
Calix
Race: Human
Birthdate: 493 AV
Birthplace: Riverfall
Occupation: Pleasure worker at the Red Lantern
Skills: Acrobatics - 50, Bodybuilding - 30, Boxing - 25, Cosmetology - 65, Dance - 60, Leadership - 58, Massage - 82, Persuasion - 40, Seduction - 85, Unarmed Combat - 75, Weapon (Longsword) - 45
Languages: Common (Fluent), Tukant (Fluent), Kontinese (Basic)
Calix was born in Riverfall; his parents both died when he was only thirteen, and he grew up caring for his younger sister. Calix did his best growing up to fit in with the Akalak of the city, training hard and working out, but he never quite enjoyed the pressure placed on being as masculine as possible; while he enjoyed fighting and exercising, he had an equal passion for cosmetics and dance, as well as a hedonistic side that he enjoyed indulging on occasion.
Calix found work as a masseuse in Riverfall as he raised his younger sister. His favourite moments were spent with her, watching her grow up and teaching her about things like cosmetics and self-care, and spending time at bars where he could temporarily forget about things by flirting with people of all races and genders.
Unfortunately, his younger sister fell sick when he was 25, and passed away from her illness. Devastated, and with no further reason to stay in Riverfall, he packed his things and left. Eventually, he found Lhavit, where he decided to try working at the Red Lantern; it was a step outside of his comfort zone, but combined many of his interests and talents, and Calix found the work suited him.
Calix is well-known among both the workers and clients of the Red Lantern for his incredible massages, and customers often request them; he is also known to give-in and use his skills to ease particularly bad aches and pains from his fellow workers.
With customers, he is sly and sweet, preferring to take a gentle lead and open to almost anything. Outside of business, he is reclusive and quiet, preferring to keep to himself, but not unfriendly. He has a soft spot for the younger workers, particularly women, and will often go out of his way to help out more inexperienced or new workers with things like their make-up or clothing, and give them general tips and advice.
Prices
Drinks
Ale: 4 jade kina/mug or 2 topaz kina/pitcher (~6 glasses)
Tea (Green): 4 jade kina/mug
Wine (Red or white): 2 kina/glass or 10 kina/bottle (~5 glasses)
Pleasure Services
Single pleasure worker: 3 kina/hr
Multiple pleasure workers: Additional 2 kina/hr per worker after the first
Madame Belladonna may be requested; her services cost 10 kina for the first hour, and 15 kina for each hour after.
One person may have a maximum of 5 pleasure workers attending to them at one time. Exact services are left to the customer's discretion; just about anything goes, within reason of course.
Ale: 4 jade kina/mug or 2 topaz kina/pitcher (~6 glasses)
Tea (Green): 4 jade kina/mug
Wine (Red or white): 2 kina/glass or 10 kina/bottle (~5 glasses)
Pleasure Services
Single pleasure worker: 3 kina/hr
Multiple pleasure workers: Additional 2 kina/hr per worker after the first
Madame Belladonna may be requested; her services cost 10 kina for the first hour, and 15 kina for each hour after.
One person may have a maximum of 5 pleasure workers attending to them at one time. Exact services are left to the customer's discretion; just about anything goes, within reason of course.
