Category:Night Court

General Information
The Court of Night-Blooming Flowers is the formal name of a collection of thirteen houses dedicated to serving Naamah, located upon Mont Nuit in the City of Elua. To those that reside in the City, or a member of the thirteen houses, the Court of Night-Blooming Flowers is simply called the Night Court. In a land renowned for the grace and beauty of its courtesans, the Night Court stands a cut above the rest. "Founded over six centuries ago by Enediel Vintesoir, the Night Court serves not only Naamah herself, but the great Houses of Parliament, the scions of Elua and his Companions, and sometimes, even, the House Royal itself." (Comtesse Phedre nó Delaunay de Montreve)

As mentioned, the Night Court itself is composed of thirteen houses, each house ascribing to a different belief on how Naamah bedded the King of Persis in exchange for the freedom of blessed Elua. The houses in order are Alyssum, Balm, Bryony, Camellia, Cereus, Dahlia, Eglantine, Gentian, Heliotrope, Jasmine, Mandrake, Orchis, and Valerian. While each of the houses have a different way or preparing and training their novices for their life as a Servant of Naamah, some of the training is common such as courtly etiquette, literacy, philosophy, basic rhetoric, mathematics, languages, and culture. A Night Court Courtesan is expected to stand on their own, and not bring embarrassment to their patron or their House in any courtly function. It is in this part the reason why such courtesans are highly sought after, and why only but a noble could afford their fee for a single night.

Note: Individual training, debuts, clothing preferences, and daily life of a Night Court courtesan is covered under the individual House information page.

Titles Information
To clarify the different titles used within the Night Court for those who might not understand them:


 * Novice: A member of a House in training to serve Naamah. Generally, they expected to follow House rules, attend lessons, and serve in the House Salon when they near the time of their debut. If their Dowayne/Second allows, they may serve at other functions, but are watched closely. Overall, they do not have any true 'hands-on' experience sexually, their virginity held for their debut. Heavy punishment can come from a Novice flirting too much, slipping off alone with anyone, or crossing the line that makes them unfit to serve Naamah. Also, if they become injured or in any way their beauty changed, they may also be found unfit to serve Naamah. If this happens, without a Benefactor to buy their marque, they are then confined to their House, serving in whatever way the Dowayne sees fit till they pay off the cost of their marque. Sadly, this usually leaves them as an indentured servant to the House.


 * Adept: A member of a House who has had their debut, generally when they turn 16, though some Houses such as Mandrake and Valerian, may debut later when their Dowayne is certain they have mastered their art. Adepts are working on their marque, serving Naamah in assignations with patrons. Most of their monetary patron gifts go to pay to have their marque limned. Their clothing does not fully reveal their unfinished marque, as it is seen in bad taste to do so. Though they are allowed to assign with patrons themselves, they cannot take lovers outside of this, including assigning with other servants of Naamah should they have the funds to do so.  The only exception to this are the reciprocal assignations that Mandrake and Valerian courtesans are sometimes allowed for the sake of practicing their arts, which can be rather complex in nature, and are a result of the close working relationship of these two houses.


 * Courtesan: A member of a House who has finished their marque, and still continues to serve their House. Courtesans keep the majority of their assignation fees, tithing a portion of them to the House for their upkeep, and they keep their patron gifts completely, since they often receive jewlery or other items instead of money once they are limned. Their clothing will often reveal their completed marque, a silent sign that they are a Courtesan, and taking assignations. Within the House, they may help teach the Novices, put on Showings, and serve as role models for the Adepts.

 Note: While the above speaks of House members of Night Court, much the same can be said for the Independents, though they are held by whatever rules their Guardian or Benefactor sets up for them. The general basis of Novice-Adept-Courtesan still apply, however.

At times, Courtesans may also leave their House once they have completed their marques and gain enough money and/or a benefactor to help set up their own salon, becoming an Independent Servant of Naamah. They in turn, may sometimes, buy the marques of others, or take in someone to train as an Independent, the same as a House might do.

Alyssum House
It is said when Naamah gave herself to the King Persis to earn Blessed Elua his freedom, she did so with eyes down cast and shaking fingers as she fought to lay aside her modesty. It is said that the vision of her fresh innocence is what enticed the King to bargain with Naamah in the first place. This is what they believe at Alyssum House at the Night Court. Modesty and innocence, or at least the illusion of it, and making their patrons believe they are about to commit an act of taboo or indecency with a courtesan, are the specialties of an Alyssum adept.

Balm House
It is said when Naamah gave herself to the King Persis to earn Blessed Elua his freedom, she did with compassion heavy in her heart, compassion over the plight of blessed Elua, and compassion for the King of Persis. Her kiss was like a soothing balm, and with that and a tender caresses, she persuaded the King to forget his worries and concern for one evening as she brought him peace. Compassion is the canon of House Balm and their motto is rest and be soothed. When patrons come to House Balm, it soothing and compassion that adepts bring them

Bryony House
It is said when Naamah gave herself to the King Persis to earn Blessed Elua his freedom, she did so by striking a good bargain, wagering that her beauty and the King of Persis desire for her would be enough to secure the freedom of Blessed Elua. Avarice and wagering are the canon of House Bryony. Playing games of chance, matching wits and skill against a patron, and the spice of competition are the lures the courtesan uses in drawing patrons to House Bryony.

Camellia House
It is said when Naamah gave herself to the King of Persis to earn Blessed Elua his freedom, it was the sheer perfection of her beauty that caused the King of Persis to pay any price, even that of freeing Blessed Elua himself, to have Naamah for just one night. Flawless and perfect beauty is the canon of Camellia.

Cereus House
House Cereus, the first house of the Night Court, created by Enediel Vintesoir some four hundred years after Blessed Elua and his Companions settled Elua. Unlike the other Houses of the Night Court, House Cereus believes that Naamah loved Elua with such a fierce loyalty that she gave herself to the King of Persis in exchange for Elua's freedom. The canon of fading beauty as they believe when the bloom of life start to fade from a courtesan that their true mettle and character comes to the fore.

Dahlia House
It is said when Naamah gave herself to the King Persis to earn Blessed Elua his freedom, she approached the King of Persis with the regal bearing of a queen, and her bearing caused him to treat her as an equal, the only person capable of understanding his desires. The canon of House Dahlia is dignity and regality, and it shows with every fiber of their being.

Eglantine House
It is said when Naamah gave herself to the King Persis to earn Blessed Elua his freedom, it was the sweetness of her voice, the joyous melody of her song, and the dancers grace of her body that enticed the King to make the bargain with her to free Blessed Elua. Artistic genius, song, and performance, all are canon of House Eglantine, and as a result one of the more popular Houses on Mont Nuit.

Gentian House
It is said when Naamah gave herself to the King Persis to earn Blessed Elua his freedom, it was the purity of her voice, the truth of what she spoke, and the aura of spiritualism about her was so great that the King of Persis had to have her so he could know what his future would be. Mystical purity of spirit is the canon of Gentian House, and patrons that have troubles they need to discuss, issues they cannot go to a priest to, it is House Gentian they turn to.

Heliotrope House
It is said when Naamah gave herself to the King Persis to earn Blessed Elua his freedom, it was warmth and sincerity of her love for the King of Persis that convinced him that she was a woman for him, and to agree to her heart's desire. Love, pure, intense and abundant is what a Heliotrope adept believes in, and every patron they are with, they are with them out of love.

Jasmine House
It is said when Naamah gave herself to the King Persis to earn Blessed Elua his freedom, it was desire, pure and think desire that leaves one blood running hot, sweat pouring from one's skin, and a deep hunger that can only be satisfied by matching fire with fire, flesh upon flesh, until the joining of the two become one. Desire and pleasure are the long standing trademarks of House Jasmine, making it among the more popular Houses of the Night Court.

Mandrake House
House Mandrake, one of the two houses that are part of the Night Court of Blooming Flowers that deal with the "sharper" pleasures. Each House upon Mont Nuit has their own belief on how Naamah approached the King of Persis when securing the release of Blessed Elua, House Mandrake differs radically from many of the others. It is believed that her beauty and presence alone caused the King of Persis to be whipped into a frenzy, and to prove his love and devotion to Naamah, willingly let her lash and flail his skin as a demonstration of his love and affection for her. The canon of House Mandrake is Dominance and Discipline, and their Motto is Yield All.

Orchis House
It is said when Naamah gave herself to the King Persis to earn Blessed Elua his freedom, it was done with laughter and for the novelty of the idea, a lark as it were, and the King of Persis was so charmed with her personality and candor that he consented to Blessed Elua's freedom for a night with her. Mirth is the canon of House Orchis, and they use it well in pleasing their patrons, making House Orchis one of the more popular Houses in the Night Court.

Valerian House
It is said when Naamah gave herself to the King Persis to earn Blessed Elua his freedom, it was done with her eyes downcast, kneeling before the king with her hands raised, giving up her body in submission to his dark desires. One of the two Houses of the Night Court that deals with the darker and sharper pleasures, House Valerian's canon is submission, and in that submission pleasing their patrons every desire, not matter how dark or unusual that desire may be.

Independent Servants
At times, Naamah's Servants find a patron to buy their marques, or go their own way from the House that they might have once served to become independent Courtesans. They still serve Naamah, owning or serving in a private salon, though they are not technically a part of the Night Court.