The Night Court

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The Court of Night-Blooming Flowers
The Night Court is situated at Mont Nuit, in the City of Elua.
It exists of 13 Houses and Cereus House was the first house to be found. All Houses are named after flowers, and have their own motto's and guidelines.
So what is The Night Court?
The Night Court is actually the courtisan-guild of the city. The men and women whom live there are courtisans(you know, prostitutes)and they are called 'Servants of Naamah'.

Naamah
Naamah was an angel and one of Blessed Elua's Companions. In order to help Elua, Naamah offered her body to the King of Persis. She lay with him and in exchange, Elua was free. They travelled and found a beautiful and fertile land. They decided to stay there and named it 'Terre D'Ange', The Land of Angels.
To honor Naamah, her servants take patrons. After earning enough money they can complete their marque and they are then set free by their House.

Children
Children are sold into these houses(of course not all children) at a young age. These children are called fosterlings. At the age of ten, the house will decide which house is best for them. Sometimes children are sold to another house, and sometimes they will stay. If the're not fit for Orchis House for instance, the house can sell the fosterling to Valerian.

Training
Fosterlings will learn how to read and write. They will learn how to prepare a bedchamber, how to serve food and drinks. All kinds of simple things.
At ten, the training to prepare them for the Service will begin. At 13, a child will be dedicated to Naamah(the ritual with the white dove) and the actual courtisan training will begin.
An apprentice will learn all kinds of things, for example, how to undress graciously, how to seduce, how to arouse a patron and later on, when they get older, how to perfom the languisement. They will also learn the guidelines of the House. For instance, an apprentice at Valerian house will learn about instruments like rods, flechettes, whips, etc.

Adept
At sixteen, the adept is sworn into Naamah's service, and he or she can take on patrons. This way, he or she can earn his or her money for his or her marque. From patron gifts, the adept will make his or her marque, by going to the marquist.

Marque
You can recognize a servant of Naamah by a tatooed pattern on the back. The marque symbolizes the marks of Naamah nails, scratching the backs of her patrons.
Most of the time it is a large figure or pattern, starting at the nape of the neck and ending at the base of the spine.
Most of the time, an adept can't complete the marque from one patron gift. It usually takes some time, depending on how much he or she earns and how many assignations he or she will take. It's done after more than one visit to the marquist.
After the marque is complete, the adept becomes a Servant of Naamah. He or she is free to go or he or she can stay to live at the house. You can keep all your patron gifts and fees, but you do have to pay rent , do services, etc. But you can also open a salon yourself.

Dowayne
The Dowayne is the head of the House. He or she handles the business of running the House, arranges assignations, accepts fosterlings and apprentices, arranges fetes and celebrations, and other bussiness in the House.
The Second is the assistent of the Dowayne and also the successor when the Dowayne dies.