The Web of Desire

Posted by admin on Friday, July 17, 2009 · Leave a Comment

Written by Paul King

Editing by Matthew Cicci

“Ladies, tonight we’ve got distinguished company comin’ – Hettie, take the general; see if he won’t spill the beans on that mass of troops spotted over on the eastern front. Ursula, I want you to entertain the high priest; ask him if he’s heard any good confessions lately. Daphne, make sure the wine cellar is stocked. Remember girls: Loose bodices loosen tongues. I want this to be a profitable evening for all of us!”

“Look boy, as far a mercs go, we got it made. Decent pay, plenty of booze, cards and women – an’ all that for little more than havin’ to occasionally go out and chase off a bunch of uptight old harpies or growl at some snot-nosed noble who’s more interested in how his sword looks with his knickers than usin’ it. But if you if’n you gotta itch to go kick in the teeth of some wild northern barbarian with an axe taller than yerself – you go right ahead. Just don’t go rockin’ the boat for those of us who appreciate what we got here.”

Background

Prostitute and mercenary, two professions that have been around since money first changed hands. Under The Desire these two industries have become intertwined and organized in such a way that almost nothing happens in the kingdom without her discovering it. This level of connectivity has risen in conjunction with her power and influence; nearly all criminal activity in Highcourt now lay under her control. Those criminal operations that she could not annex, she swiftly moved into advantageous alliances and pacts of non-aggression with. The remaining few businesses and individuals who wanted nothing to do with The Desire and her underhanded, back-alley dealings quickly found themselves in the minority and were easily pressured into accepting the new status quo.

The result of this conglomeration is an informal network of brothels, taverns, gambling parlors, and other dens of vice and iniquity, forming a web with The Desire at the center. Each member of this web seeks to curry The Desire’s favor; they know well the generosity she shows to those who provide useful information and the wrath she unleashes on those who waste her time. Not every individual or business that finds itself under The Desire’s banner is happy to be there, but they all recognize the futility of resisting and, in a depressed area where it’s already hard enough to eke out a living, are trying to make things as easy for themselves as possible.

Mission

While The Desire seeks to bring ruination and humiliation to her enemies, the people and businesses under her control are merely trying to survive. Any day with three square meals in it is a particularly good day, by their standard. The easiest way to accomplish this is selling information to The Desire – the better the information, the more money its worth. Of course, most of that money gets paid back through the various extortion rackets she runs, but at least they’re still open for business – and alive. Not everyone is as lucky in what has become, quite literally, a cutthroat economy.

Structure

Each brothel, tavern, gambling house and drug parlor operates under its own management. The owners of each of these businesses submit regular reports, as well as payments or ‘tributes’, to The Desire by way of her lieutenants.

Lieutenants are individuals who have, by any and every means necessary, gotten into The Desire’s good graces and amassed for themselves a small measure of wealth and influence in her service. This, however, is a very precarious position to be in, as there are always people seeking to overthrow and replace them in this unofficial capacity. The Desire views this constant pressure and competition as a means of keeping each of her subordinates motivated and sharp. Should one be overthrown, then, in her view, they were obviously not as driven, dedicated or talented as the person who replaced them.

The Desire is at the center of everything. All information eventually comes to her, and no decisions are made without her approval.

Occupying the bottom rung of The Desire’s web are the mercenaries. These unscrupulous men (and occasionally women) are assigned residence within The Desire’s taverns and brothels to provide the muscle that enforces her will. As long as a location remains paid up and in good standing with The Desire, the mercenaries aid the establishment. However, upon missing a payment or falling out of The Desire’s good graces, the mercenaries are ordered to relocate to a new establishment and no longer offer assistance or protection of any kind to the delinquent business or individual. These delinquent businesses then become subject to hostility, often at the hands of the very same mercenaries who were positioned there only a few short hours before.

Benefits & Drawbacks

The primary advantage to joining The Desire’s network is the freedom to operate relatively unmolested. Additionally, since most of the money in the area comes from The Desire in one way or another, she is essentially responsible for keeping the struggling economy on its feet. Where many see oppression and extortion, some see opportunity for riches and advancement; and, for a scant few, the dream becomes a reality, as long as they are able to fight for it.

Within this organization, however, there are those who realize exactly how much they are being taken advantage of. Whatever money The Desire pays out, be it for information or bankrolling mercenaries, she manages to make most, if not all, of it back. Individuals who attempt to speak up for fair treatment are quickly silenced. Occasionally, a group of these disgruntled will come together, but more often than not they either lack the ability to efficiently rebel in any meaningful way, or are discovered (often upon being ratted out) and made an example of to any others who consider acting upon their unrest.

Adventure Hooks

The PC’s happen upon a business that is been menaced by a group of mercenaries. They discover that the owner has been unable to keep up his payment for protection and is now being victimized.
A petty thief has stolen some item of value from the PC’s and darted into the nearest brothel/tavern/drug den/gambling hall. Upon entering, they find themselves surrounded by mercenaries who are more than happy to break the monotony of the day with a good fight. Of course, once you fight one mercenary in The Desire’s employ, they all become involved.
A mercenary approaches the PC’s with a proposition: Help organize and lead the resistance against The Desire and free everyone from the iron grip she has over the city. Discretion and secrecy are of the utmost importance or his life will be forfeit.
A man begs the PC’s for protection. This man is actually a lieutenant of The Desire and sees in the PC’s not only a means of staying alive, but has plans to use them to kill off the other lieutenants and replace them with his lackeys. Eventually he’d like to usurp The Desire herself, and establish a new criminal empire.

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