• Description: A brief description of the Origin and its context in the setting of the Demi Monde.
• Strong Statistic: The Statistic the Origin favours. For information on how this works see Statistics.
• Weak Statistic: The Statistic the Origin has diffi culty with. For information on how this works see Statistics.
• Free Good At: Each Origin gives a Courtesan a free Good At in addition to the two she gets at the start of play. See Good At for details. • Preferred Method of
Procurement: See Chapter
3 for details on Procurement. A Courtesan’s Favoured Method of Procurement may be used free.
• Resource Bonus: Each Origin grants two points to a particular Resource. For details see Starting Resources and Chapter 3.
• Resource Penalty: Each Origin subtracts one point from a particular Resource. For details see Starting Resources and Chapter 3. • Special Strength: A
special weakness of the Origin that provides a mechanical benefi t to taking it.
• Special Weakness: A special weakness of the Origin that restricts her in some way.
• Examples: Examples of the archetype amongst the Courtesans of history.
Stereotypes
What they tend to think of each of the other Origins.
High Origins and Low Origins
Actresses, Professionals and Upstarts don’t have much class so they are referred to as Low Origins. The Schemers, Goldenhearts and Fallen Ladies have standards and a position in society that can be a disadvantage.
Actresses
Description: Ever since women
were allowed on the stage after the Restoration the profession has been disreputable: Mainly because of women like your Courtesan. Actresses were not paid much and many turned to prostitution to supplement their income. This led most people to believe that actress was just a polite term for prostitute. This belief was so ingrained that some theatre owners charged perverted rich men extra for a seat from which you could peak into the actresses’ changing rooms. Being a famous actress gave a Lady many tempting offers: Offers which some turned into the profession of the Courtesan. The same applied to a lesser extent to singers and dancers who can also be represented by this Origin but actresses were most notorious for this behaviour.
• Strong Statistic: Actresses have to be able to perform in public in some way. Their Strong Statistic is Performance
• Weak Statistic: The stage is a vulgar place and Actresses struggle in high society. Their Weak Statistic is Manners.
• Free Good At: Choose from Singing, Dancing, Striptease, Playing a Musical Instrument, Comedy Acting or Tragic Acting
• Preferred Method of
Procurement: Naturally
an Actress’ best way of attracting attention is through her stage
appearances. Their Preferred Method of Procurement is Appearing on Stage. • Resource Bonus:
Actresses are public fi gures for good or ill. They get a +2 bonus to their starting Legend
• Resource Penalty: Actresses are disreputable, spurned by High Society and avoided by political fi gures avoiding scandal. They suffer a -1 penalty to their starting Infl uence.
• Special Strength: As an
Actress said to a Bishop:
Actresses gain a special +1 bonus that stacks with all Good Ats, to any Pleasing act where the Admirer is particularly religious (any denomination or even a “heathen” faith.) • Special Weakness:
Artistes!: Actresses have
“Artistic temperaments” which makes them diffi cult to live with. At the end of every Contract Resolution Phase an Actress loses a dice roll of Reputation.
Examples: Probably the most
famous example of the Actress Courtesan was Nell Gwyn but my personal favourite is the lesser known but by most accounts far more talented Sophia Baddeley.
Stereotypes
Professionals: ‘Is fucking all you
do sweetheart?’
Fallen Ladies: ‘Not so high and
mighty now are we?’
Schemers: ‘Very cold fi sh.’
Goldenhearts: ‘Vain? Me? Ooooh
look at my hair! Sooo shiny!’
Upstarts: ‘They came from the
gutter like us but they have no talent.’
Fashionable Grammar Error
It’s Actress sweetie not actor. I mean actors are alright I guess but they’re nowhere near as classy as serious Actresses like my sweet darling Sophia... Hmmmm
Professionals
Description: Amongst any group of
disreputable Ladies there those who do it purely for the money. These are the Professionals. They may not have the talent of an Actress or the class of a Fallen Lady but they know what men want and they’re willing to give it up for a price. Trained in the arts of love, some from as young as possible (the age of consent was 13) they carry the baggage of a life of whoring but also the experience and erotic charm. Only the highest class of whores, members of the “Convents” or “Introduction Houses” qualify for this Origin. Anything lower and you are usually a dirty, dirty Upstart.
• Strong Statistic: Professionals have to keep themselves physically fi t and well practiced in lovemaking. Their Strong Statistic is Prowess
• Weak Statistic: With their focus on the physical side of things Professionals often lose sight of the intrigues whirling around them. Their Weak Statistic is Wits. • Free Good At: Choose
from Straight Sex, Blowjobs, Fulfi lling Fetishes,
Pleasuring Women, Massage or Outright Seduction
• Preferred Method of
Procurement: Once a
whore always a whore. Professionals have Attending a House of Introduction as their Preferred Method of Procurement.
• Resource Bonus:
Professionals are known and respected around the Town. They receive a +2 bonus to their starting Reputation • Resource Penalty:
Professionals are, by necessity, very private Ladies. They receive a -1 Penalty to their starting Legend
• Special Strength: Did
you hear what she did with that Fop?:
Professionals start all sorts of rumours that boost their standing on The Town. At the end of each Contract Resolution Phase they gain a dice roll of Reputation. • Special Weakness:
Baggage: Professionals
have been at this game for some time and have doubtless got the scars to prove it. A Professional starts with either a child (maybe handicapped but handicapped or not you have to keep him or her with the usual penalties and bonuses see Childbirth and Children*) or an additional point of Scandal. Either needs addressing in the
Example: Elizabeth Armistead is
probably the most famous example of a Professional. She started at the highest class establishment possible and made the small step into becoming a full Courtesan. She ended up marrying her long time lover Charles James Fox. In secret at fi rst before revealing to the world one of the most touching stories of true love to come out of the 18th
Century let alone the Demi Monde. *For now all you really need to worry about is that a Handicapped Child grants you +1 Legend for each year of its life so far.
Stereotypes
Actresses: ‘I met an Actress once,
very game girl. A good night was had by all. Especially when her Gentleman friend caught us and joined in!’
Fallen Ladies: ‘Seriously? You’ve
never done this with a girl before?’
Schemers: ‘Too much thinking
sweetheart. It’s not good for your complexion.’
Goldenhearts: ‘Immoral? Me? You
shagged that banker and gave it all to the criminal classes. At least I don’t fund thieves with my earnings.’
Upstarts: ‘Fucking sewer scum