Arioch swore under his breath as his carriage bounced along the cobblestone streets, and he made a mental note to hire a new driver as soon as he retired to his villa.  The current one seemed to have an uncanny knack for finding the worst ruts and holes in any road, and Arioch would almost have said that the man enjoyed discomforting his passengers.  Yes, he decided, a new driver is in order.<br/><br/>His second sat in the seat across from him, a lanky man in a dark coat; he had a long black case in his lap, and he cradled it protectively as if it were of extreme value.  And perhaps it was, to some.  To Arioch, it merely bore the tools with which he extracted his pleasure from women.  Carser, the man's name was, a long-time and loyal servant of the von Olenburgs;  Arioch's family had always been willing to turn a blind eye to the man's less savory appetites, so long as they were kept discreet and the evidence disposed of.  Thus far he had not disappointed them, and their indulgence made him more than willing to perform whatever tasks needed seeing to.<br/><br/>Arioch turned his thoughts from his dour servant to the house of pleasure to which he was headed, and thought of the recommendations of Marcus Flemming, his factor in the city.  The man had similar appetites to Arioch's own, though of a more bland and less strenuous nature.  The House had come up when Arioch had inquired of the entertainments available in this foreign land; Marcus had provided an address.  Briefly Arioch wondered if the madam would be amenable to his treatment of her whores;  after a moment he pushed such thoughts from his mind.  Even if she wasn't, a strange thought in and of itself, he could always find a desperate girl willing to subject herself to his desires, for the right price.  All one needed, he observed, was a lever in the right place.<br/><br/>At last the carriage's movement slowed and finally stopped, and the door swung open.  The driver lowered the steps, and Arioch stepped out into the street.  He barely noticed the House's facade, as many ad shabby exteriors to better hide their nature from prying eyes, and went to the door.<br/><br/>Carser rushed around him and opened it, stepping inside and announcing him: "I present his highness the Count von Olenburg, of Austria!"<br/><br/>Arioch stepped in while Carser closed the door behind him.  Removing his hat with a flourish, he said in a deep and thickly accented voice, "Good evening; would someone kindly direct me to this establishment's madam?"