House of a Thousand Tongues
The House of a Thousand Tongues, like the The Invisible Market, the Vault of the Whisperers, and the numerous locations in The Undercity, is one of those locations whose mere existence is largely speculative. Even those who claim to have enjoyed the establishment's services admit that the business's location is a secret held even from its customers, who are transported to the brothel with bags placed over their heads to obscure the route.
A potential customer's initial visit to the House of a Thousand Tongues is always by invitation, which is typically issued only to those with wealth, power, or fame. Those who are selected receive a beautifully-crafted letter on expensive, perfumed paper informing them that they've been invited to sample the house's hospitality. The letter also provides a time and location for them to meet the guides who will conduct them to the House of a Thousand Tongues.
Those who arrive at the appointed location at the appointed time are greeted by an emmissary from the brothel, who leads them to a nearby barn or enclosed courtyard where a bag is placed over their head and they are loaded into a wagon with other customers. For the next hour, the customer is led blindly through the city, typically moving from the wagon to a gondola and then to another wagon at some point during the journey. The final stretch involves descending a seemingly endless number of steps, a short trip through what most agree seems to be an underground corridor, and then a much short ascent to the brothel's front door. Once there, the customers are led one by one into the foyer, where they trade their back for a more stylish mask to hide their identity from other attendees.
The brothel's secrecy is due mainly to the unusual nature of employees, since the House of a Thousand Tongues caters to those whose tastes are ven more exotic than those who choose to visit the ghost of Wild Rose at Madame Xanthia's. If the stories are true, the employees of the House of a Thousand Tongues include succubi, incubi, and assorted other demons as well as elf maidens, fallen gods, a medusa, magical atomatons, and even more exotic beings.
The brothel itself is richly appointed and serves a wide variety of exotic delicacies and fine liquers, which can be enjoyed while enjoying a variety of exotic and usually erotic entertainments.
A client's first evening at the House of a Thousand tongues is always complimentary. When the party ends, a determination is made as to whether the customer will be invited back. Those who are accepted receive plain round token made of bone and about the size of a standard gold coin. They are also informed of a drop site where they should place the token the next time they wish to visit the House of a Thousand Tongues. If they place the token in the designated location, they will typically receive an invitation to visit the brothel sometime within the next week. Clients who routinely fail to honor invitations that they themselves have requested will find their tokens revoked.
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