Xenikos
Located at the southeastern tip of Eknopolis, Xenikos is a filthy and crowded brothel district that is frequented by the stevedores and sailors of Nestoria Harbor. Originally an area of Eknopolis dedicated to foreign settlement, Xenikos has developed into a rowdy and crime-ridden neighborhood that only the foolish traverse after dark if they are an outsider.
Demographics
As the second largest city on the surface of Tel, the wealth of Eknopolis has attracted sentients from every corner of the known world. Yet, even by Eknopolitan standards, the population of Xenikos is extremely diverse. Humans, Ghamadim, Oameni, Half-Urks, and even more exotic races rub shoulders in the cramped, labyrinthine side-streets and alleyways of the district. If inhabitants of Xenikos have anything in common it is that they are forced to live in its squalor due to abject poverty and societial prejudice.
Government
Xenikos is divided into two dimoi of which the responsibility for administration is shared by two senators each. As the residents of Xenikos are considered to be among the lowest classes of Eknopolite society, there is little consequence for the overall neglect shown by the Eknon bureaucracy towards the district. As of 114 PR, the senators of the first dimos are Vassilios Bariades and Theodoros Samaratos, and the senators of the second dimos are Theseus Priscides and Theodosis Maneas. While none of the senators are actually resident in Xenikos, they derive most of their income from the operation of the many brothels and bathhouses located there. The senators spend their resources and influence to maintain the orderly operation of the sex industry, but beyond that, there is no appreciable civic investment or oversight of Xenikos. This situation has forced the Xenikan populace to turn to organized crime families for protection from street thuggery.
Defences
The southern border of Xenikos is demarcated by the enchanted city walls of Eknopolis on the east side of the Sideron Gate. There is presence of the Eknopolite City Vigils near the gatehouse, but even the guards dare not wander a few blocks beyond their post.
Industry & Trade
Due to the corruption that pervades Xenikos, prices for goods and services are 10 percent higher than average. The economy of Xenikos is almost entirely dedicated to the low-end brothels that make up the majority of the district. While there are numerous establishments catering to the sex trade, there are three of particular note:
- Elena's Baths: This brothel only appeals to the most desperate and destitute of patrons. The four rooms available are filthy and the beds are flea-infested. Elena's girls have neither the youth nor beauty to command a high price for their companionship. Riddled with pox, emaciated from a diet of thin adara gruel, and cowed into mind-numbing submission through physical abuse, they service almost 50 clients a day.
- House of Zinovia: Despite being one of the higher quality brothels in Xenikos, the four rooms available are still dirty with poor furnishings. The prices are higher for Zinovia's girls as they have a reputation for cleanliness and pleasant personalities; nevertheless, they still charge only one-half of the price asked for in the more upscale brothels of northern Eknopolis.
- Mytisia Bathhouse: The largest brothel in Xenikos, it offers nine rooms and a choice of male and female prostitutes. The accomodations are ramshackle and the sheets typically soiled. While rates are lower than average, they also offer a wide array of intoxicants to patrons who are willing to pay, including golden lotus, sauma, and opia.
Another notable business is the apothecary operated by Tem Dombi, a Oameni who specializes in remedies for veneral disease and abortifacient herbs.
Infrastructure
The majority of Xenikos is dedicated to the bathhouses and housing for the unfortunate souls who occupy the district; however Xenikos also contains several other notable structures. In particular, the The Order of the Great Mother of Mercy operates a small shrine to Maya that provides charity and spiritual guidence to the prostitutes that visit the shrine to make offerings to the Ouranic Goddess of Love in all its aspects. Likewise, the large Oameni presence in the district is reflected by the presence of a shrine to their gods. Finally, the Talparia (Molehill) is an abandoned complex of apartments that now serves as the gathering-place for a thriving black market.
Guilds and Factions
Several factions of the criminal underworld compete for control of Xenikos; the Pisani family is currently in control of the protection and extortion racket within the district. Considering the general lawlessness of the area, the brothel owners are content to pay a modest monthly fee in exchange for the security provided by the Pisani bravos. Additionally, the Melkishi, a Oameni street gang, operate pickpocketing and confidence games with the Pisani's blessing. Recently, the Vallakos family, with the help of the Shadow Snakes of Nestoria Harbor, have attempted to wrest some control of the brothel protection racket from the Pisani. This has led to a number of violent street fights and arsons,
