Assallya

The Silken Tongue is a luxurious club that caters to the wealthy and the affluent of Waterdeep, the merchant princes, and the many wealthy land owners surrounding the town that provided crops and livestock. Built on the edge of Castle Ward and the North Ward, the Silken Tongue used to be a gladiatorial arena ages ago and was left to rot when blood sports were made illegal by the government at that time. It has since been refurbished and reopened as a night club and brothel.

The Rotunda
(Image will be cropped later to remove the modern lights! Sorry!)

The rotunda was where the blood sports happened but has been converted into the common area. Depicted to the side the rotunda is where patrons gather and enjoy themselves. The pits are designed to be comfortable and promote conversation in a manner that other establishments using tables and chairs lack. The pits also serve to segregate small clusters of people, giving the illusion of privacy while the side tables, which feature curtains that can be drawn around a party are available for an additional fee.

The serving staff move about on the floor above the recessed pits, either stooping to deliver drinks or stepping down inside to deliver platters of items. All manner of performers move across the elevated flooring, enticing those in the pits to call upon a server to reserve a room upstairs. Patrons are not allowed to touch the performers beyond their hands. This is one of the reasons for the recessed pits. A handshake or a kiss upon a hand is acceptable. Anything beyond will immediately attract the attention of servers and bouncers alike.

The Balcony and Private Rooms

Above the main floor is a balcony, sealed off from the general public, where the ladies often gather and look down. This used to be where the crowds gathered to watch the charnel sports that the building was built for. Two staircases lead up to the balcony from the rotunda floor, one is meant for upward travel, the other for going downwards though neither are marked as such. Those that hire a performer for "exclusive" performances are led up the stairs to the private rooms.

Private rooms are not just for intercourse. They are used for extremely private meetings and can be warded if necessary. Inside all manner of events may occur. Sometimes a young noble just wants to learn how to play a particular instrument and instruction is supplied. Poetry readings in various levels of undress are sometimes requested. Private erotic meals are sometimes provided where food is served upon a naked woman, or a chef uses a portable grills to cook rare, exotic, imported foods from across the world.

Each "private room" is a three walled affair. Most have a large couch that doubles as a bed on one side with one to two chairs and a small dais on the other but different furnishings can be made available.

At least one guard is always on patrol here while one or more rooms are in use. The purpose for this is two fold. One is that a curtain does little to prevent an intruder barging in. The guard (and the relaxing performers) ensure that nobody will try eavesdropping or intrude without warning. The other reason is the protection of the performers. The thick sound absorbing curtains provide privacy while allowing for screams and calls for help to be heard.

The Dock
Below the Silken Tongue lies a small dock leading to a small water course that leads out to the Sea of Swords. This is the hidden entrance. Many of the nobles across the countryside do not wish to be seen entering a house of ill repute and while the stout door is nearly always barred, arrangements can be made to have someone man the doorway.

It is also a space where small shipments can be smuggled. The local city guard have made the mistake of attempting to arrest visitors only to discover local nobles that were most displeased. As result the guard normally does not interfere with riverside deliveries.

The Courtyard

Assallya serving before she became matron

Information Brokerage The proprietress of the Silken Tongue is a collector of secrets. She is willing to pay coin for secrets and will sell secrets for coin in return. She is known to broker for criminals, helping interested parties attain their services. She doesn't divulge the identities of these clients but will pass on the desire to make contact for a fee. The secret to Assallya's success as an information broker is her ability to scry. By adding hair, nail cuttings, blood, semen or other fetishes she can bypass wards and protections against scrying for that person. She has a library of useful fetishes, often using those of servants or guards to bypass the defenses of their employers. In this she learns about infidelities, illicit activities and other information that could lead to possible blackmail opportunities. She also could learn of payroll shipments, tax collection dates, crop shipments, and a hundred other things thieves might be interested in knowing. Smuggling The dockside entrance is often used to bring in supplies for the Silken Tongue but since it's also an entrance used by Bridgetown's elite who wish to remain clandestine the city guard usually don't intercept small boats headed to the Silken Tongue. This presents an opportunity to smuggle small personal items that are banned or illegal.