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An '''escort''' is a person offering companionship and sexual services in exchange for money.
Equipped weapons:
* Holster 1: [[Glock 2619]] (1015+1 /1015, 11x 16x [[9x19mm Parabellum]], Standard JHP)- IS 3** Combined effects: 1.8x damage against unarmored ACs, 0.5x damage against armored ACs, FT +1
Inventory:
* Condor utility rig, General capacity: 2x [[Glock 9mm magazines|Glock 9mm 1015-round magazine]] (Each: 15 /15, 15x [[9x19mm Parabellum]], Standard JHP)
{{Lore}}
An escort is a person who works in the red-light industry (sex work). Specifically, an escort is a person who offers companionship and sexual services in exchange for moneyto customers, referred to as ''johns'' or ''janes'' depending on gender. Escorts can themselves be of any gender, but the vast majority are typically humans and halflings. (See [[Escort#Youkai and escort work|this section]] for details.)
The term ''escort'' is synonymous and partially interchangeable with ''prostitute''. Escorts consider that prostitution is specifically the sexual aspect of their job and that the word "prostitute" does not fully encompass the range of services they can offer, which ranges from simple companionship to advanced sexual services.
There are two broad categories of escort work; independent and organized.
Organized escorts are the most common. They are subordinates to An organized escort works for an ''escort ring'', led by a [[Escort boss|boss]] (pimp or madam) and . They usually work within a designated area; usually a single town. Large outfits rings may operate in larger geographic areas. An organized escort must tribute pay a percentage of their earnings (ranging from 15% to 75%) to their boss, in exchange for protection and fulfillment of basic needs, usually [[food]] and shelter. It is very common for escorts and Most escort bosses to be rings are themselves subordinate to a gang or criminal organization, generally for the purpose of protection.
Independent escorts are rarer. They are defined as do not working for work within a boss or organization at all, ring and therefore have no bosses, usually work working alone or in small teams of 2-4escorts. Being independent allows them to keep 100% of their earnings, but they are fully responsible for their own safety and protection. Independent escorts generally have more freedom; , usually operating in a designated area or adopt adopting the ''itinerant escort'' business model, traveling travelling between towns and intersections, and selling their services "in passing", using the temporary nature of their stay as a selling point.
Many escorts work in a [[strip club]], where they are also expected to perform strip dances and keep company to customers who request the "host/hostess" or "girlfriend/boyfriend" experiences. It is customary for escorts to push their customers to bring alcoholic drinks to share, [[valuable]] gifts (especially [[jewelry store|custom jewelry]]), or to go for one of the more expensive club services. The [[Yatela Crime Syndicate]] is thought to possess the largest network of organized escortsescort rings. They are known for being aggressive their aggressiveness towards competing networks and independents, usually by harassing or attacking their customers, coercing them into assimilation into the Syndicate's own network, or driving them out of business through more violent methods. This campaign of domination of the escort industry - nicknamed ''Operation Toss The Pineapples'', referencing the stereotypically unpopular pineapple pizza - is thought to have begun in [[History of the Mazes|E7-694]]. Within 2 years, the Syndicate gained control of a majority of escort bosses across the Mazes and managed to successfully suppress legitimate youkai escort businesses, virtually driving all of them out of existence.
=== Price index ===
=== Youkai and escort work ===
Although strictly speaking, youkai escorts ''can'' exist, they are virtually impossible to find. As part of the Yatela Crime Syndicate's ''Operation Toss The Pineapples'', the Syndicate consistently harassed and drove youkai operations rings out of business, often with extreme violence and prejudice, to delegitimize youkai sex work and ensure the Syndicate's control over the industry. The term "pineapple" was briefly known as an underground euphemism for a youkai escort.
Today, youkai sex services are confined to youkai communities, inside of secret, exclusive clubs that do not openly advertise their services. These clubs are reserved for a curated selection of customers who are usually sworn to secrecy, to protect the escorts' names and identities. Breaking a club's rule of silence is generally punished by death, and retribution is believed to be carried out by Youkai Nation activists.