Best Little Whorehouse in the Settlement

Esther's Seat

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Characters may be invited to the Seat by Esther, or hear rumors she is hiring. They arrive to find a kerfuffle going on.     Encounter: The Scenario. Ruby, a member of the Copperbottoms, refuses to pay Willy Palmer for his services. Willy is trying to rouse the drunken ex-Lawmaster, for help.

Present NPCs
Esther Judith Giles. (C/G, Female, Gnome Madam)
Protective of her brothel and employees. At 467, she is far too old for this. The Madam wants everything settled NOW!

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Ruby Summers. (N/E, Female, Human, Copperbottom)
Ruby is loud, aggressive, and refusing to pay (thug stats).

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Willy Palmer. (N/G, Male, Malkari, Prostitute)
Pleading for calm. Tries to rouse his wife and Dusty.

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Pankie Palmer. (C/N, Female, Malkari, Prostitute)
In with Dusty. She is calm, commanding, and always sides with her husband. Has four hands and is not afraid to slap.

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Dusty Mulligan. (L/N, Male, Orc Ex-Lawmaster)
Drunk and behind a locked door. He can be roused but slowly.  

Role. Dusty represents the people of the Settlements trying to survive. Well-meaning but unreliable, he insists on peaceful solutions, showing up at inconvenient times.   Combat Notes. Veteran stats. Dusty carries a revolver ( 2d8 piercing, range 40/120, reload 6 shots) and has 12 total bullets. He prefers non-lethal force unless threatened.

The Job

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Esther offers 50 gold per person to stop Holes from opening, promising “additional perks.” She doesn’t care how it gets done. If the characters helped with Ruby, Esther is willing to double the gold, but won’t say so without prompting. If Dusty overhears, he insists things get handled peacefully.

Possible Scenarios

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Direct Confrontation. Take the fight to Drippy and his crew. Head to Holes and cause a scene. Use Encounter: Drippy.   Infiltration for Dirt. Walen Peters, one of Hole’s people is a gossip. Gain Walen’s trust. Use Encounter: Walen.   Poaching Competition. Convince Esther’s loyal employees, Willy or Pankie, to join Holes. Success could end Esther's Seat.  

• Characters can speak privately with both Willy and Pankie. Use Charisma based checks against a DC 13 for Willy and DC 15 for Pankie. Offering bribes in gold lowers the DC by 2.

  Sabotaging Holes. Disrupt construction, steal supplies, or scare off workers. Delays Holes opening, but risks retaliation.  

• Set DC between 12 to 16 depending on the danger and ambition. Failure risks being caught and Holes retaliating.

  Turning the Town Against Holes. Spread rumors about Holes being a front for illegal activity or being unsafe.  

• Characters must reach at least 3 townsfolk of influence. Each interaction is a Charisma based skill check. A total of 3 succ-esses before 2 failures shifts the mood against Holes opening.

Running Interference

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Dusty inserts himself into scenes uninvited, insisting on peace and delaying escalation. When things heat up Dusty bangs on a door, shows up with a half-coherent lecture, or gets in the way.  

• Give Dusty drinks to make him disappear for a while.
• If insulted or ignored, he may snap and demand a duel.

Holes

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Holes promises nicer rooms, stronger security, and better holes. It’s not open yet, but the crew works long hours getting it there.     Drippy Kwik’wick. (C/N, Male, Goblin Pimp)
Ambitious and smooth-talking, Drippy has no concern for Esther’s Seat. He views Dusty as a nuisance and justifies his aggression with a list of grievances about incompetence.   Counteroffer. Double Esther’s reward if the characters eliminate Dusty, alive or dead. Triple Esther’s reward if they also convince any of her employees to join Holes full-time.   Encounter: Drippy. Drippy (goblin boss) calls reinforcements. Use as many goblins as needed. The goblins appear from everywhere while Drippy commands from the backline. If Ruby left Esther’s Seat unscathed, she is here and ready to fight.

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Walen Peters. (C/N, Male, Human Prostitute)
Walen is dramatic and eager to talk if it benefits him. Characters can earn his trust through charm, flattery, or trading in favors.   Encounter: Walen. He wants a bottle of Esther’s Reserve, a stash of brandy kept locked behind the bar. She never serves it, not even to staff. To gain Walen’s trust, characters must bring him a bottle. Stealing it risks the Seat’s wrath. Convincing Esther means sacrificing something valuable. Walen offers a useful piece of gossip related to Esther, Holes, or key figures.

Rewards

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Esther Judith Giles. 50 gp per person, up to 100 gp. Additional favors may be available upon request.   Drippy Kwik’wick. 100 gp if the characters eliminate Dusty. 150 gp if they also convince Esther’s employees to join Holes.

GM Advice

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The Copperbottom Gang has loose ties to Esther’s past and may resurface if she loses ground. They deal in gunpowder and aren’t subtle. Mention them only if the players start digging into Ruby.   Let the players decide how to handle the rivalry. Use Dusty to slow momentum and challenge their ethics. Don’t overuse him.

NPCs

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Esther Judith Giles
C/G, Female, Gnome Madam   Esther is sharp-tongued and commanding, carrying an air of authority earned through decades of running Esther's Seat. Despite her age, she remains quick-witted and protective of her employees, treating them like family. She values tradition and sees Holes as a crass disruption to the community.   Roleplaying Esther Judith Giles
Personality Trait. “I do what I was put on Dromaria to do, and I do it better than anyone else.”
Ideal. “Pleasure. If you do what you love, you’ll never work a day in your life.”
Bond. “My house and my people are everything to me and it must remain a safe space for everyone.”
Flaw. “The attention I used to be showered with has waned. I try my best, but sometimes it’s hard to hide my jealousy.”

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Dusty Mulligan
L/N, Male, Orc Ex-Lawmaster   Dusty carries himself with the slouched certainty of someone who was once respected but has fallen from grace. His words are slurred and laced with sarcasm. Though drunk and unreliable, he still clings to his old instincts, insisting on peace. Dusty’s frustration boils over when his authority is ignored, and he can become surprisingly decisive when pushed.   Roleplaying Dusty Mulligan
Personality Trait. "I'm miserable and every time I try, I end up on my ass again so why bother?"
Ideal. "Hope. I want better for myself, but I'm so far down I have no one to help me."
Bond. "This job as Lawmaster is the only thing I have left to hold on to."
Flaw. "I'm a drunk, but not as much as I'd like."

Drippy Kwik’wik
C/N, Male, Goblin Pimp   Drippy exudes charm and ambition, always wearing a sly grin. He is flashy, from his sharp suit to his extravagant hand-waving. While outwardly polite, his temper flares when his vision is questioned. Drippy speaks with a practiced, persuasive voice, always angling for the upper hand.   He calls his workers any of the following: crannys, marms, tarts, nymphs, or imps.   Roleplaying Drippy Kwik’wik
Personality Trait. “There is enough hardship. Don’t you deserve a little pleasure?”
Ideal. “YOLO. I live for a good time, wherever I can get it.”
Bond. “The people of Holes are like siblings to me. Many of them are!”
Flaw. “I make a lot of unwanted eye contact.”

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Ruby Summers
N/E, Female, Human Thug   Ruby is loud, brash, and thrives on intimidation. Quick to anger and act, she has little patience for diplomacy. Ruby’s loyalty lies with the Copperbottoms, and she speaks with the confidence of someone who knows she has backup.   Roleplaying Ruby Summers
Personality Trait. “Your discomfort is my good time.”
Ideal. “Might. Do what you want at all times.”
Bond. “My gang will have my back.”
Flaw. “I’m an asshole who doesn’t know it.”

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Willy Palmer
N/G, Male, Malkari Prostitute   Willy is soft-spoken. His demeanor contrasts with the world around him, as he prefers to avoid attention. Pankie is his foundation and he defers to her judgment.   Roleplaying Willy Palmer
Personality Trait. “I’m the same as anyone else.”
Ideal. “Leisure. In a perfect world, we’d sleep forever.”
Bond. “My love is everything to me.”
Flaw. “I’m blind to anything bad my wife does.”

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Pankie Palmer
C/N, Female, Malkari Prostitute   Pankie is ambitious and practical, with a no-nonsense demeanor that masks a love for her work. She is loyal to her husband and always takes his side. She speaks firmly but warmly, exuding a sense of control.   Roleplaying Pankie Palmer
Personality Trait. “I get paid well, but there's always more.”
Ideal. “Skill. I can do things that others only dream of.”
Bond. “After work, I will always go home to my love.”
Flaw. “I get jealous when others make eyes at my man.”

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Walen Peters
C/N, Male, Human Prostitute   Walen is charming, with a flair for drama. A natural gossip, he knows everyone and isn’t shy about sharing secrets if it benefits him. Despite his theatrics, Walen is reliable when it comes to his work. He speaks with gestures and a melodic cadence.   Roleplaying Walen Peters
Personality Trait. “I enjoy the perks of the job.”
Ideal. “Self Worth. I go where I’m appreciated.”
Bond. “My clients are dear to me and follow me everywhere.”
Flaw. “I may be dumb, but at least I’m pretty.”