Kovyioka (koh'vee'OH'kah)

Overview

Also known as the 'Kohvi boats', these are a pair of enormous boats kept in a lake just north of Niuus , built in the second year of Taras Shiroko's reign. Each one is 80m long and 25m wide, steered by a pair of 12m oars at the back. The front half of the deck is a three tiered space, with the lowest at the center and growing higher toward the front of the ship. Marble pillars line the sides and between them are garlands of flowers which change through the seasons. Enclosed lanterns light the exterior during the night with various colors achieved through colored glass on the outside.
At the back half of each boat are enclosed spaces much like miniatures palaces. Once more marble is seen in the walls and the interior is covered floor to ceiling in gold. The palace areas are two stories tall and divided into three large rooms per floor. The first room on the bottom floor functions as a ballroom where ‘public’ parties are held. These are for the invited nobility and often feature more fear for their own safety than enjoyment.
The next room is reserved for banquets. These are utterly lavish affairs with food from every corner of the empire served by pleasure slaves whose job it is to be as enticing as the food itself. Often, slaves will hand feed the guests or give pleasure while the guests are eating. The farthest room contains a stage where slaves perform dances, obscene plays, musical performances, and other such things for the guests.
On the upper floors, the layout is similar in the first two rooms. Only those invited up may enter the upper floors. The ballroom area is smaller, but more ornately decorated, with jewels added to the golden walls. Guests often dance with the pleasure slave rather than one another and slaves are encouraged to compete to see which can entice the highest ranking guests for longer or who can entertain the greatest number. The dining area is more intimate and features velvet couches and pillows for lounging and eating rather than sitting in formal chairs like the lower level.

Rather than a theater, the farthest room belongs to the ruler alone and a guest must be separately invited in. The inside contains a 3m diameter circular bed lined in silk and velvet. Instruments of pleasure and pain line the walls and the richest wines and apple meads are served only there. The most experienced and beautiful of the pleasure slaves are promoted from among those who work on the boats to serve the ruler. Hostages are also kept aboard.

Rankings

The ranking system seen in Eoin marriages (although not as prominent now) was instituted under Zora III (reign 776-796), the first of the rulers to have more than one spouse.
Taras has taken this system and given it a new life as a ranking structure for the pleasure slaves and hostages.
The rankings are as follows: 

• Tsooanbo tasupaedzy (high privileged consort)- these are the highest ranking of the emperor's lovers on the boats. They are able to enter the innermost room almost freely while the emperor is aboard. Along with this, they are also responsible for training new slaves and hostages.
• Tsooanbo vlasupaedzy (low privileged consort)- while not as favored as the tsooanbo tasupaedzy, the tsooanbo vlasupaedzy enjoy many of their privileges, although they are not allowed in the innermost room as freely. Their place is generally in the dining area making any guests feel welcome and attempting to rise to tsooanbo tasupaedzy.
• Taiwesubo tasupaedzy (high noble consort)- these generally work in the upper ballroom and are mostly used as lewd dancers. The most high ranking hostages are usually kept here.
• Taiwesubo vlasupaedzy (low noble consort)- some work on stage, but most of this rank wander through the theater area and give pleasure to guests while they watch whatever show is being performed.
• Taopeya (high companion)- the lower ranking 'workers' perform in the front two rooms of the first floor. These work in the lower floor banquet hall, both serving food and pleasing guests. Most hostages are kept at the lower ranks unless their prior station means they should be higher.
• Vlaopeya (low companion)- the lowest rank of the pleasure workers on the boats. They tend to work in the front ball room and on the dock of the boats. Primarily, they act as decoration and to give a little bit of companionship to the guests.

Hostages

In order to keep the nobility in line, Taras has begun taking their family members and placing them on the boats. This serves a dual purpose. First, it humiliates a high ranking family by reducing one of their members to nothing more than a pleasure slave. Second, he can keep them in line by using their family members as hostages. Far away from family protection and surrounded by his guards, he can make sure the nobles in court behave lest their loved ones be hurt more than they are already. On the other side, he has made it clear to the hostages that their actions also affect how their families in the palace are treated.

Owner

Taras Shiroko

Owning Organization

Eoion Overview