A Companion is a skilled, well-educated, well-respected, and highly sought after member of a guild of professional courtesans/entertainers within the upper-class society of the Underdark. While most do frequently engage in a form of state-sanctioned prostitution, they are nonetheless treated with a great deal of respect and deference by nearly everyone, while non-guild prostitutes are generally treated in the reverse, even if they are former Guild members.
The Companion's Guild
The Companion's Guild established Guild Houses throughout the Underdark to train its members, though, due to the dangers within the Underdark. The Guild establishes its own laws and rules. For example, Guild law states that no House may ever be run by a man. The law also states that a Companion is free to choose her clients.
Trainees young as twelve may begin training, which includes a well-rounded education and years of physical discipline, religious study, and the arts. Girls and boys are taught dance, martial arts, calligraphy, how to play musical instruments, and singing. The children undergo rigorous testing on all subjects, and those who fail are sent back to their homes. They are taught the art of love play only upon successful completion of their schooling.
Companions must pass a test in order to gain their registration. To maintain that registration, they must also pass a yearly physical evaluation conducted at a licensed hospital.
Clients must pay a subscription fee to earn a place in the client registry. The Guild and the Companion must approve of the client. If a client ever mistreats a Companion, that client will earn a black mark in the client registry, preventing him or her from ever securing such services again.
A Companion House is run much like a monastery, protecting its inhabitants and sheltering them from the outside as they undergo their training. The services a Companion performs for the client are steeped in tradition and ritual. A Companion greets a client and bids that client farewell with ceremony and the act of lovemaking is designed to make each client feel that he or she is unique and valued - only one of the reasons an evening with a Companion is so highly sought after.
Contracting with a Companion earns the client 'an evening of pleasure' that goes far beyond the sexual encounter. A Companion is trained to listen, entertain, soothe, and even offer advice, for they are well-versed in any variety of subjects from politics to the economy. A Companion knows the traditional and contemporary dance. They are skilled musicians, are schooled in literature, and stay current with all significant newsworthy events. They have a high degree of empathy and are trained in psychology, so they can understand their client's needs.
The beauty, elegance, and skills of the Companions have earned them the highest respect in social circles. There is no stigma to bringing a Companion to a party, as doing so proves you have both money and the ability to impress the Guild, whose members set very high standards. However, a few Companions marry the wealthy prince and go off to live in the glittering castle. While of the social elite, Companions still exist outside society. Though a Companion is welcomed as an escort at a party, a Companion would not be so well-received as husband or wife. A Companion might commit to an exclusive, long-term contract, but that would still be a business arrangement. A Companion is encouraged to enjoy the work but is taught to stay emotionally detached from the clientele.
Most Companions work in the Underdark, entertaining clients in their own suites or meeting them elsewhere. Some choose to travel to other worlds and planes and are still revered by many, as their grace and elegance are well known throughout most inner planes. Few Companions choose to travel on their own, as a registered companion would be worth a lot on the black market. Those who travel off the beaten path can pick and choose their clients, though they may not make as much money as working in the higher society courts.
While the Companion Guild is in many ways a working company of skilled artisans, it also is much like a kind of religious sect. Heads of Companion houses are called "priestesses", and worship the deity Corellon. There are heavy religious overtones to many Guild practices, such as the use of incense, a focus on contemplation, and a cloistered lifestyle.
- Skill Proficiencies: You are proficient in Insight and Performance.
- Tool Proficiencies: You are proficient in one instrument of your choice and Brewer's Supplies
- Languages: You are proficient in Undercommon and another language of your choice.
- Equipment: You have an instrument of your choice, an ornate ceremonial tea set, a decorative fan,
When you enter a crowded room, it doesn't take much effort to gather the attention of the room. Your beauty and elegance can impressive even the highest of society. It isn't hard for you to find good lodging and meal if you are willing to work. Outside of the high societies of the Underdark, your profession and customs aren't well known to the public. However, you will find outside of the courts you are used to, a companion is that of legends and lore, and they are far more revered.
Suggested Characteristics
| d8 | Personality Trait |
|---|---|
| 1 | I am obsessed with perfection in myself, whether it be my clothes, hair, body size, personality. I want to always project perfection. |
| 2 | I may seem soft spoken, but my words, if I wish will cut like a knife. |
| 3 | Despite my profession I do not enjoy the spotlight on me. |
| 4 | I always want to know how things work and what makes people tick. |
| 5 | Nobody stays angry at me or around me for long, since I can defuse any amount of tension. |
| 6 | I know a story relevant to almost every situation. |
| 7 | Through my line of work I have lost hope in finding love. I use people, and people use me. That is just the way of life. |
| 8 | I am a romantic. I have never given up on finding true love. |
| d6 | Ideal |
|---|---|
| 1 | Peace. If I can bring a little bit of peace to the people I am around, I make the world a little bit better. (Good) |
| 2 | Tradition. The stories, legends, and songs of the past must never be forgotten, for they teach us who we are. (Lawful) |
| 3 | Freedom. Everyone should be free to pursue his or her own livelihood. (Chaotic) |
| 4 | Power. I will manipulate and use whomever I must to get the power and status I desire. (Evil) |
| 5 | People. I like to bring pleasure to people. That is all that matters (Neutral) |
| 6 | Aspiration. I work hard to be the best there is at my craft. (Any) |
| d6 | Bond |
|---|---|
| 1 | The guild where I learned my trade is the most important place in the world to me. |
| 2 | I pursue wealth to secure someone’s love. |
| 3 | I will do anything to prove myself superior to my hated rival. |
| 4 | One day I will return to my guild and prove that I am the greatest Companion of them all. |
| 5 | I will face any challenge to win the approval of my family. |
| 6 | I am in love with the heir of a wealthy family, but the family would approve of a me. |
| d8 | Flaw |
|---|---|
| 1 | I overheard something from a wealthy client that I shouldn't, now that person wishes to insure my silence any way possible. |
| 2 | I'm convinced that no one could ever manipulate me the way I manipulate others. |
| 3 | I care far too much about my appearance. |
| 4 | I am horribly jealous of anyone who outshines my handwork. Everywhere i go, i am surrounded by rivals. |
| 5 | It's very hard for me to trust anyone anymore, I have been cheated too many times. |
| 6 | I only see life as a game, that I aim to win. |
| 7 | I can't resist a pretty face. |
| 8 | I can't resist a heavy coin purse. |
It is infrequent, but a few Register Companions have chosen to abstain from the sexual transaction in being a Companion. They are looked at as an oddity, but still given the respect and courtesy of other Companions. So as not to complicate things, these Companions have a magical tattoo across her neckline to indicate what they are offering. However, those not accustomed to the etiquettes of Registered Companions, may expect the 'evening of pleasure' to end in a certain way. This does cause some awkwardness and even dangerous situations if the companion isn't clever and careful.
These Companions tend to focus more on being better performers and social companions. They tend to be magic users to enhance their performance, but not always.
During their 'evenings of pleasure', they tend to be more like a personal spiritual guru or a friendly counselor. These companions tend to reflect traditional courtship skills or act like dear friends to their clients.
To gain a personal Companion is a sign of great wealth and respectability. It is not easy to attract a companion but to attract a companion into signing a contract to be someone's personal companion, is an impressive task indeed. These contracts generally are for only several months to a couple of years, but there have been a few companions that have stayed with a client until retirement.
There are some cases in that a client and companion have fallen in love and the two into this contract so they can be together. Though this does happen it is against the guild rules and if found to be true, leads to the Companion being removed from the guild registry and the client receiving a black mark.
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