House Alyssum

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House Alyssum

Statistics
House	Alyssum
Canon	Modesty
Motto	"With eyes averted."
Dogma	When Naamah offered herself to the King of Persis, she trembled to lay aside her modesty.
Dowayne	Isabelle
Second	None
Image Credit	©2007 Elegaer, used with permission of the artist.

A visit to Alyssum House oft involves desires whispered into waiting ears, and blushing courtesans preparing to fulfill them. Contracts are bestowed with hushed apology, and the blood is stirred by the aura of the forbidden. It may seem a dichotomy to make the acts of love feel shameful, but a trained courtesan from Alyssum House can manage the illusion well. It is for that which Alyssum Servants are sought and prized. Those who cannot understand the titillation of such a notion have their marques sold to other Houses.

1 Training
2 Debuts
3 History and Current Events
4 Quotes
5 Members
- 5.1 House Alyssum
6 Links

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Training

The training of novices of Alyssum House differs in several ways from that of the other houses on Mont Nuit.
In preparation for their debut and ongoing service to patrons, students of the house of modesty are trained to hone the following skill sets:

The fine art of graceful service, with emphasis on how to remain unimposing and unassuming.
Demonstrating modesty and humility towards all, regardless of rank.
Developing an artistic skill that produces an understated or under appreciated brand of beauty, such as sewing, writing, or painting.
Education in history and intellectual pursuits, enough so to be of interest in conversation without holding vain authority on any one specific topic.

It is not uncommon for novices of Alyssum House, as their training comes to an apex, to occasionally study with other Houses in order to refine certain aspects of their art. These lessons are always carefully controlled, with emphasis on expanding the education while still maintaining the fresh quality of shy innocence that patrons seeking Alyssum House deeply crave.

When an adept of Alyssum has reached a suitable point in their training, they are eligible for debut. (Usually around the ages of sixteen and seventeen.) Often, these debuts take the form of an auction, in which potential patrons compete via bid to win an adept's first assignation and virginity. It is emphasized most particularly in Alyssum House that the day of debut does not end a Servant's training, but rather begins a new phase of it, as the subtle art of remaining modest in a culture of decadent sensuality is no simple task.

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Debuts

In the case of Alyssum house, whose canon is one of modesty, a public auction is not always the most fitting means by which a debut is conducted, and so betimes they will accept private offers in lieu of a public presentation. A stranger is almost never invited to bid on an Alyssum adept, such a thing would test their modesty far too greatly on the first night of service to Naamah. Instead, patrons who have been visiting the House and made themselves familiar to Alyssum as a whole and to the adepts during training are discreetly (and sometimes blushingly) informed of upcoming debuts and those who are interested invited to bid either through private communication or occasionally at intimate gatherings held through invitation only.

Some rumors around Alyssum House suggest that it will not be long until the shy Aglae will have her debut. The mystery surrounding such an event continues to build, and those among the Night Court know that the Dowayne has taken great and meticulous pains with her training, more so than even the other disciplined servants of Alyssum House might undergo. Alyssum House has not held a debut in almost a year, stirring up curiosity among interested parties about what this one might entail, and contributing to their hope for an invitation.

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History and Current Events

Alyssum House is one of the few in the Night Court which has not felt change and upheaval as the de Morhban court rose to power and the Courcel line fell. Dowayne Isabelle has led the House for more than six years now with the quiet thoughtfulness that one would expect from one raised to her canon. The House has no second, though the reasons for such are unclear. Perhaps Isabelle prefers the solitude of working alone, or perhaps no one has yet shown the interest and aptitude to suit the position.

It has been noted recently that Alyssum is keeping to itself less, and adepts have been seen out and about. strolling the marketplace or visiting in the hall of games. This may simply be because several of the most promising of Alyssum's young flowers are recently coming of age. It is common in Alyssum House for adepts getting closer to the time of debut to be given permission to run errands outside the House for the Dowayne, and to send messages to the other Houses on Mont Nuit. Some say this is because it is one of the few ways that the shy Alyssum adepts can get exposure to their colleagues among the Night Court and their potential patrons before the crucial time of debut. Either way, it is clear that the time must be approaching for several of Alyssum's young blossoms, for more and more have been seen outside the House gates of late despite the turmoil upon Mont Nuit.

Towards the end of the winter of 1187, a tea was held at Alyssum House and interested patrons invited to bid on the young Aglaé, one of the most promising blossoms Alyssum has known in years. Rumor attests that the final virgin price was 150 gold ducats, a sum nearly unheard of on Mont Nuit, and certainly not common at the shy Alyssum. Though the winner of the bid was not announced formally, those familiar with Alyssum's patronage oft find themselves coming to one educated guess.

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Quotes

" The patrons of Alyssum House feed their fancies on illusions of modesty. While it may not be an intriguing notion elsewhere, D'Angelines are not known for their modesty, and that which is rare is always prized."

― Kushiel's Justice^{Pg 43}

" Naamah trembled at what she did when first she lay with a mortal man. At the audacity of it, at the shame of it, at the glory of it. Shame is a spice."

― Kushiel's Justice^{Pg 47}

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