Night Court
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Overview
The Court of Night-Blooming Flowers, also known as the Night Court or Mont Nuit to some, refers to the Thirteen Houses of Mont Nuit in the City of Elua. It is the home to an elite cadre of religious courtesans, Servants of Naamah in Terre d'Ange. Each house has it's own canon and motto that they live by, relating to the reason it's residents believe Naamah, one of the seven companions, offered herself to the King of Persis. Each house is headed by a Dowayne, the highest-ranking servant who resides there. The Dowayne in turns is supported by his or her Second, and after that are the general residents of the Houses. There are additional positions of power within each House as well, catering to their specific themes.
Servants of Naamah are a group of high class religious prostitutes. They devote themselves and their bodies to the worship of the Companion Naamah, which is done through the serving of companionship and sexual pleasure. They are very different from any other type of prostitute or courtesan in that the ties to religion and the beliefs of the D'Angeline people puts them in a very high and respectable class of citizen. Well off patrons pay for the privilege of a hour or even a night of company and pleasure in the arms of a skilled servant, offering tribute to the companion Naamah for such blessing. Most Servants of Naamah in the city of Elua serve on Mont Nuit in one of the Thirteen Houses.
The Night Court was established by one Enediel Vintesoir, some 800 years past, the first Cereus Dowayne to serve the pleasures of the royalty, nobility and Scions of Elua. From this house, the 12 others quickly formed. Cereus alone held the seat on the judiciary council and the privilege of the Crowns ear. During the reign of King François de la Courcel (1124-1159) the Night Court houses were folded into a centralized Night Court guild, allowing them to work more closely and integrate each other with their respective houses. Since then, many novices have been trained in multiple Houses, often being 'loaned' to their neighbors for different training and switching Houses entirely to those that they are better suited within.
The thirteen Houses are Alyssum, Balm, Bryony, Camellia, Cereus, Dahlia, Eglantine, Gentian, Heliotrope, Jasmine, Mandrake, Orchis and Valerian. This is more information located below about the various houses. The name of each house was born in symbolism for the King's Night of Pleasure, after Naamah laid down with the King of Persis in exchange for Elua's freedom, When the door to Elua's cell was opened, a great fragrance of flowers poured forth, and Elua emerged singing, crowned with vines.
Quotes
"Of these it was Naamah, eldest sister, who went smiling to the King and offered herself with lowered eyelids, in exchange for the freedom of Elua. Besotted, the King of Persis accepted, and there is a story still told of the King's Night of Pleasure. When the door to Elua's cell was opened, a great fragrance of flowers poured forth and Elua emerged singing, crowned with vines. This is why, Brother Louvel explained, we revere Naamah and enter her service as a sacred trust." -From Kushiel's Dart by Jacqueline Carey, pages 11 and 12.
The Thirteen Houses
Canon: Modesty
Motto: "With eyes averted."
Dogma: When Naamah offered herself to the King of Persis, she trembled to lay aside her modesty.
Canon: Compassion
Motto: "Rest and be soothed."
Dogma: Naamah came in compassion when she offered herself to the King of Persis.
Canon: Avarice and Wagering
Motto: "Wealth seeks company."
Dogma: When Naamah offered herself to the King of Persis, she made a good bargain in the exchange.
Canon: Perfection
Motto: "Without fault or flaw."
Dogma: When Naamah lay with the King of Persis, her unveiled perfection caused him to go blind for two weeks.
Canon: Pale Fragility and Fleeting Beauty
Motto: "All loveliness fades."
Dogma: Unknown
Canon: Dignity and Regality
Motto: "Upright and unbending."
Dogma: When Naamah offered herself to the King of Persis, she bestowed herself like a queen.
Canon: Genius, Song, and Performance
Motto: "To create is to live."
Dogma: Naamah charmed the King of Persis with the sweetness of her song.
Canon: Mystic Purity of Spirit
Motto: "Truth and vision."
Dogma: Naamah was filled with such when she offered herself to the King of Persis.
Canon: Devotion and Love
Motto: "Thou, and no other."
Dogma: When Naamah lay with the King of Persis, she basked in love as in the sun.
Canon: Pleasure and Sensuality
Motto: For pleasure's sake."
Dogma: When Naamah lay with the King of Persis, she gave her sexual favors for the sake of pleasure.
Canon: Algolagnia/Sadism/Dominance
Motto: "Yield all."
Dogma: Naamah chose her patrons like victims and whipped them to violent pleasures, leaving them sated and half dead.
Canon: Mirth
Motto: "Joy in laughter."
Dogma: Naamah lay with the King of Persis for a spirited and carefree adventure.
Canon: Algolagnia/Masochism/Submission
Motto: "I yield."
Dogma: Unknown
The Life Of A Servant
A Servant can come from any manner of birth, be it noble or common. As courtesans are highly regarded, it is a profession that many seek, but only a select group are given the opportunity to pursue.
The Child
Most adepts enter the Hill in early childhood, born or bought into it. Once a child reaches the age of ten, the Dowaynes determine whether they will remain in the House of their rearing, or move to another House which will more nearly suit their individual traits. It is not uncommon for parents who realize they cannot raise a child properly to spend money and offer the child to a House as a fosterling or House orphan. Others are born into the Night Court as children of courtesans, and grow up there reaping the benefits of a Night Court education until the age of thirteen where they will choose whether or not it is their wish to fully serve Naamah.
Those who choose not to serve as courtesans or are deemed unworthy of it for some reason are oft times welcome to stay as staff of the House or to use the skills they learned to make a living, but in such case they are expected to repay the investment the house made in rearing them at their earliest convenience. Most will do so in excess of what was received, due mostly to gratitude and friendship.
"We will raise the child as one of our own until she is ten. Any ability she has, we will foster. Her-bond price will command respect."
-From Kushiel's Dart, by Jacqueline Carey, page 8
The Novice
Noviceship begins at thirteen, when the children begin learning about the arts of sensuality and seduction, as conforming to the canon of their House. Their instruction begins with a Showing, wherein they witness a sexual rite between two adepts, as initiation into the arts. A Showing is a sacred ceremony, open to any who wish to see it, and is always between the traditional pair of a man and a woman.
The other milestone for novices is the official dedication to Naamah. It is a religious ceremony, pledging oneself to the Goddess for the term of one's marque. At age thirteen all fosterlings are given a choice as to whether or not they wish to make this pledge. Those that do are further instructed by the House or through the arrangements of the marques owner. At this age the instruction becomes more detailed in the arts of specific sensual pleasures, preparing one for the life of a courtesan.
The ritual itself involves a blessing, and the launching of a dove into the air that will fly to the temple apex and out through the dome.
"Startled into freedom, the dove launched itself into the air, pinions churching in the sunlight. Certain and unerring, she flew up to the apex of the dome, circling once then spiraling in a flurry of sun edged white feathers out the oculus, into flight and the open skies."
"Thus was I dedicated to the life unto which I was born."
-From Kushiel's Dart by Jacqueline Carey, page 19
The Debut
A night-flower's 'debut' is another word to describe their first night of true initiating into Naamah's arts, taking a patron for the first time. It is sometimes referred to as virgin auction or virgin price as well, though debut is considered a more proper term and certainly more commonly used upon Mont Nuit and in the City of Elua. By the time of debut an adept has studied the arts of lovemaking very thoroughly, whether from text or direct lessons within their House. (Or lessons arranged by the person owning the adept's marque, should it be an outside party.)
"At the stroke of midnight, Alcuin no Delaunay, who is dedicated to Naamah, will gain sixteen years of age. The holder of his marque asks that we hold an auction for his virgin-price. Is anyone here minded to object?"
-From Kushiel's Dart, by Jacqueline Carey, page.114
"You cannot afford her virgin-price, my friend"
-From Kushiel's Dart, by Jacqueline Carey, page.95
The Adept
Adepts are considered adults after their debut, as soon as they begin earning money towards paying for their marques. The marque is the sign of a Servant of Naamah, a tattoo covering the entire back. Courtesans belonging to Houses have their assignations arranged through the Dowayne, with a portion going to the House itself and a portion tithed to the Temple of Naamah. Those who have been trained legitimately outside Mont Nuit have similar agreements about tithing, but there the owner of the marque takes the portion in question. The rest of the coin from any assignation goes to the courtesan itself towards making its marque. A completed marque is a sign that the period of indentured servitude is over, and that the courtesan may make decisions about their own future. (See Below for more information) By tradition, the Dowayne of the House must see and acknowledge an adept's marque before it can be recorded as complete.
Different Houses have different means by which assignations are arranged. Some patrons seek a specific courtesan's service, at which point they must merely negotiate price. Others go to one of the Houses on Mont Nuit not having a particular individual in mind, and thus the Dowayne or the House Leadership helps them choose who among their ranks would be most suitable for the patron's needs.
"In the antechamber of the Receiving Room, those adepts summoned would gather to prepare for the viewing and selection by patrons. I liked to visit for the refined air of urgency, the subtle tensions that marked the waiting adepts as they prepared to vie for patron's favors. Not that overt competition was permitted; such a display of untoward emotion would have been reckoned unbecoming. But it was there nonetheless, and there were always tales--a bottle of scent switched for cat piss, frayed ribbons, slit stays, the heel of a slipper cut to unevenness. I never witnessed such a thing, but the potential always eddied in the air."-From Kushiel's Dart by Jacqueline Carey, page 15
The Courtesan
A full courtesan who chooses to remain within the House has much more freedom than an adept. There are benefits when one chooses to do so, but also duties of course. The courtesans will choose their own patrons, but are still required to disclose those to the Dowayne when requested and tithe a portion of each patron price to house and temple while not the totality of it. This, much like that of the adepts, contributes to the funds which keep the House functional. A courtesan remaining with the house is also expected to assist with the training and development of novices and adepts of the house most times.
The advantages of staying with the house are many, from comfort to a steady flow of possible patrons to the satisfaction of the canon one is best suited for. There is the name of course, and the prestige of belonging to Mont Nuit itself as well as the economical advantages. In spite of advantages and duties alike, there are other reasons why courtesans stay. Some for duty, some for family, and many of them because of faith.
The Marque
A "marque" is ostensibly the tattoo (usually multicolored) placed on a Servant of Naamah's back that indicates that their debt to Naamah has been paid. Servants with completed marques may then choose to continue serving as courtesans, or they may move on to other fields or work or study, or even marriage and relationships chosen of their own free will. Those who continue to serve Naamah may do so either on their own through a private salon or via the House they made their marque through. If they choose the latter, they must continue to tithe to the House in return for their upkeep, but instead of the money they earn going toward their marque, they may invest or spend it however they please. Each House has a separate marque design, though Servants with marques owned by individuals usually take a specialized marque.
Marques cost 350 ducats all together. This is 50 for the bands and then 100 each for the stalk, leaves, and petals. The cost of the bands is deducted from the newly made Adept's virgin price won at their Debut.
It should be pointed out that a Servant is not a slave - while slavery exists outside of Terre d'Ange, a courtesan has full control over their decision to take a specific patron or leave the Night Court entirely at any time. Of course, this also means they can not complete their marque and they'll be shunned by other Servants -- it's considered fairly rude to simply leave after all the work that went into training, raising, feeding, and clothing the courtesan to begin with. A Servant is considered an indentured servant - they can earn their marque simply by taking patrons and acquiring money for the Night Court.
Traditions regarding the completion of one's marque include things such as it needing to be acknowledged by the Dowayne of the house or holder of the Marque before it is actually registered, and a gift given to the newly limned courtesan upon such completion.
Marque Economics (A FAQ)
- Who owns a novice's future marque?
The Night Court does as a whole. Adepts go from house to house as needed by the Dowayne's decision for different training and switching from one to another when the two Dowaynes deem that they suit best. Unmarqued backs are always under scrutiny to see where they will fit best.
- Who owns an adept's unfinished marque?
The Night Court does still, but once the Debut has happened and the Bands have been limned, the adept's marque will not be changeable, so it is currently not possible to switch houses after Debut, though cross training and assignations may continue to happen in different houses with agreement from the responsible parts. That means, a Jasmine courtesan could spend some time at Eglantine for training and assignations if their Dowayne believes that would make her/him better for Jasmine and the Eglantine Dowayne agrees to have them.
- Who can sell a marque outside the Night Court?
The respective Dowaynes can, and those above them in the chain of command as well. This is rare per se and even more so after Debut, but it can happen. It will be up to the new owner whether to finish the marque as a similar one or as a different design altogether, but of course what is already there cannot be changed.
- How much does a marque cost?
Currently the price of a marque After Debut is 350 ducats. That is 50 ducats for the bands, then 100 per limning of stalk, leaves and petals to be paid by the courtesan. If these were to be limned for a private party it would add near 100 ducats to the total, which is close to the expense it would take the night court to raise and train them up to Debut time. It does take commitment and resources indeed.
- How long does it take for a marque to be complete?
It varies depending in a lot of factors. In average it would take a courtesan somewhere around 8 years to complete the marque at normal speed and with regular patrons. Some courtesans would take more, and others much less depending on the quality of gifts given to them, and their popularity among their house's patronage.
Assignations
A patron is simply a person who hires a Servant of Naamah for a certain length of time (often for an evening) for any purpose, which is deemed an assignation. A night with a Servant is considered a night in heaven; the expense of such an evening is by and large far outside the realm of most average people and only the wealthy are able to spend such amounts frivolously.
Hiring a Servant for an evening can be as simple as heading to Mont Nuit - they have large manors and private salons in each House - or, if the Servant is an independent, sending a letter specifying a date, time, and offering a price. A Servant can refuse at any time, of course, but they often take any patron simply because it'd appear rude to refuse. Many patrons are repeat purchasers so it's up to the Servant to ensure the patron wishes for future service.
Certain ethics concerning assignations are considered sacrosanct. A courtesan should never discuss what occurs between themselves and a patron while on an assignation with others, however the exceptions to this rule include their own Dowayne if questioned, through dispensation of the Temple of Naamah, or in some (arguable) cases, the ruler of Terre d'Ange, if for example the knowledge gained during an assignation best serves for the safety of the country. Such exceptions are exceedingly rare and should be given considerable thought before offering up for revelation.
The cost of an assignation may vary from House to House, however the standard fee ranges from 3 to 5 ducats. This standard fee is paid to the House, while the patron is free to pay an additional gift to the courtesan in the amount of a patron fee. If the patron fee exceeds the cost of the assignation, then the remainder is split between the courtesan and the house.
"In the Thirteen Houses of the Court of Night-Blooming Flowers, Naamah's Service was an item of faith. As Naamah had lain down with strangers on blessed Elua's behalf, so did we; but we were mortal, and where power intersects with pleasure there is danger."
-From Kushiel's Chosen by Jacqueline Carey, page 12
Independent Courtesans
If after being in a house for a time and one wishes to become independent, here are some things to ponder.
Someone must buy the former adept's marque and provide their training themselves. This is rare, as most people do not have the skills or resources that the Night court provides. But when one has been adopted/had their marque purchased by the Night Court, they have promised a certain amount of service (what it takes to earn the marque) to the Night Court itself. This goes back to the necessity of the house being recompensed for upkeep having been provided.
If they have completed their marque and choose not to continue with their House to set up their own salon, then they may be listed under Independent Servant status. Independent Servants are still considered Servants of Naamah but they are NOT members of the Night Court. The Night Court is the Thirteen houses on Mont Nuit in the City of Elua. All other servants of Naamah, be they in the city of Elua or in other duchies, are still Servants and still hold great prestige, but not membership in the Night Court itself.
It is also possible for a marque that has not yet been begun to be sold to a private party. This is very rare in Terre d'Ange, for it requires that the party not only have the coin to purchase the marque itself, but to also prove to the House the adept belonged to and to the Council of Mont Nuit that they have the resources to offer proper training so that the pupil will one day be fit to serve Naamah in full.
"I am willing...to consider a second [pupil]. Have you set a bond-price?"
"Done...I'll have my steward draw up the papers in the morning. She'll foster here until the age of ten as customary, yes?"
-From Kushiel's Dart by Jacqueline Carey, page 28.
On the off chance that an adept is discharged from their House or chooses to leave, they will still need to pay the house for the training and upbringing by said house. It would be similar to an indentured servant running away and would leave them disgraced. The marque upon thier back will also remain in the state of completion that it is when they leave, and cannot be completed further by law.
Other Information
Recent Events on Mont Nuit
The Longest Night
Night Court Council
