House of Cards GM Log

IMC: The Red Lantern District

posted by Ginger at 03:02 PM, October 24, 2003 | Filed under : IMC , Traveller's Guide to Amber | Comments and Followups

Arref talks about where and how the elite of Amber find companionship for sale.

The Red Mill in Grand Affair shares a name with its counterpart in House of Cards, but is very different. Red Mill, along with Diogenes, the Naval, the Prince’s Retreat, and a number of other such establishments, is not a whorehouse, but a gentleman’s club: a place where gentlemen can meet and enjoy a variety of masculine pursuits. Each club is known for one or more specialties that reflect the interests of its membership: the Naval for naval interests (obviously), Diogenes for intellectuals, Prince’s Retreat for politics, and Red Mill for bohemians, musicians, and gamblers.

The clubs have engaged the services of courtesans, who serve the needs of the members. In addition to the obvious, they also serve as hostesses. It’s not uncommon for club members to choose a courtesan as a regular companion. Martin and Lucas both have mistresses at Red Mill, and Martin’s mistress Violet acts as hostess for his poker parties at the club. There is some sort of contractual relationship between the women and the clubs where they are employed; Martin has discussed his plans to buy out Violet’s contract and establish a household for her with more than one of his cousins.

There are other establishments where more temporary companionship can be purchased, although none of the Royals are known to frequent such places on a regular basis. At some of the upscale taverns of the city, it’s also possible for men to find freelancers who will spend the night with a man. In the Docksides, there are a number of bordellos that serve the needs of sailors, but, again, these are not establishments favored by the Royal family.

Sadly, Amber does not hold with Gentlewoman’s Clubs, so we cannot hold our muted debauch surrounded by pretty young men eager for our favors.

If women frequent the other red-lantern establishments, it’s kept very quiet. Such matters are very different in Rebma, of course, but in Amber, women at least appear to be chaste, so there is no obvious commercial opportunity in serving their needs.

1 Comments

Arref
Oct 24, 2003 3:08 PM

A salient point: how easy is it to imagine a canon Amber with a red-lantern house that actually has women as clients? I wonder how 'M' got away with *that* for so many years?
Hmmm--ponder.
Another story I must investigate.

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