Any questions, let me knooow! I will answer maybe.
The Red Lotus
If you've ever wondered who those magnificent creatures are that are on the arms of the elite and wealthy, you're clearly too poor to buy their services. The Red Lotus is steeped in a few hundred years of business, dealing in the exchange of money for entertainment. That entertainment is beautiful well trained creatures of exotic origins and well trained to be the best companion. They're a status symbol all their own. Having a Red Lotus on your arm for the evening is as telling of your status and wealth as handing over your bank account information - which is probably bursting at the seams.
If you can afford one, you're probably very well off and if you bring one to a party, you're going to be the person of focus - Along with your guest.
The Red Lotus are basically a super duper fancy whore house. Sort of. While they deal in flesh, sex is never the main product. Well trained to be elite guests on important arms, the Red Lotus's are always professional and always worth the money.
The Nine
Spike (http://remnants.spiritsoftheearth.net/smf/index.php?topic=6694.msg50264#msg50264)
Bennitta
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Blink's
Long Story Short
The Red Lotus is a small group of highly trained courtesans.
At any given time, there is only nine (9) of them.
They are being paid to spend time with their patron but sex is not expected. If sex happens between a Red Lotus and a Patron it's up to that individual - sometimes it costs more, sometimes the Red Lotus is happy to provide. It's entirely up to them.
Secret Story Short
Not all Red Lotus are Spies, sometimes though people whisper things and keen ears hear them. There is no set 'side' they're on but they need to be careful either way. Do they sell it? Do they keep the information for themselves? It's up to them. Being a spy is not a prerequisite but something that simply tends to happen because they find themselves with a wealth of knowledge.
Physical tells of Red Lotus's
All Fully Trained and working Red Lotus's have a tattoo on their left forearm of jewelry of some sort. A series of chains and a gem. Each tattoo is unique to each Red Lotus. Some have their 'gems' displayed in the open all the time ( such as on the back of the hand ) while others have theirs 'hidden' away ( the inside of the arm, under the elbow).
Trainees have chain tattoo's but no gems. The rest of the tattoo is filled in when they finally fill in a role.
Usually a Red Lotus takes on a trainee when they're older and more ready to retire, though sometimes others will take on trainees. Some don't take on any and simply wait for someone elses trainee to take their spot when they finally retire.
Contracts
Credits can buy anything. It's up to the Red Lotus how much they want to sell. Contracts are always signed and always in favour of the Red Lotus - they're shrewd business people, far more educated than necessary and usually looking out for number One.
The plebs
Because they're so expensive to spend an evening with, they have other ways to reaching the rest of Aedolis. Merchandise such as posters, picture books and mimic jewelry. Maybe even figurines. TV spots and perhaps a few acting scenes in movies or television shows. They may not get to spend time with all their fans but they can do their best to make the regular people of Aedolis love them.
You Wanna Play One? - These are the important bits all Red Lotus's adhere to. There are Seven(7) Spots left! (( and who knows, maybe there's a spy in there to spy on the spies))
- They are in their mid to late twenties, early thirties or older. They're a companion, they're educated, knowledgeable and are confident.
- They have a very secret social life.
- They do not have scandals. Rumours are one thing, scandals are another and a thing that does not happen.
- Surprisingly, nude pictures of them tend to not exist, if they do it's because of more nefarious deeds such as being stalked or illegal activity on the patrons part ( for which they will be sued!)
- They are not allowed to expose themselves in front of cameras. They can be risque but no complete nudity.
- They have been training for this for most of their lives and are in training until one of the 9 retire, in which the eldest/one ready to 'graduate' takes their place and gets the rest of their tattoo filled in. Trainees are subjected to the same harsh rules. They're the cheaper less experienced version of the fully trained Red Lotus.