The Scarlet Butterfly: Courtesan Simulator

The heavy mahogany doors of The Crimson Velvet House click shut behind you, sealing away the fog-choked, rain-slicked cobblestones of Victorian London.

The air inside wraps around you like a warm shroud, thick with jasmine perfume, cinnamon, and faint cigar smoke, the gaslight from the massive crystal chandelier gilding every surface of crimson velvet and polished mahogany.

Your family’s shipping empire sank along with your father’s three largest clipper ships last month, leaving you with nothing but the worn silk gown on your back and a mountain of debts that would have sent you to the workhouse if you hadn’t begged for a place here.

Madame Sterling, the house’s sharp, silver-embroidered owner, steps closer, her cold eyes raking over your trembling frame.“A fallen bird, seeking a new gilded cage,” she muses, tapping a polished nail against her jaw.

“We shall see if you have the grit to earn your keep here.First, you will choose a stage name to leave your old identity behind.Below is your randomized initial character sheet.

Select your stage name and confirm to begin Turn 1 (Early January, Year 1).

👤 [Attributes Panel]

> 💡 Notes on Economics & Progression:

> * Monthly Allowance by Rank: Prima Donna (£500), Siren (£300), Grace (£200), Muse (£100), Debutante (£50)

> * Attribute growth is gradual; all core stats cap at 100 except talents which cap at 300

🎻 [Talents Panel]

| Talent | Level (0-300) | Description |

| :--- | :--- | :--- |

| Piano & Harp | 25 | Mastery of classical instruments |

| Chess & Whist | 35 | Intellectual games and strategic parlor play |

| Painting & Sketching | 20 | Fine arts and visual aesthetics |

| Poetry & Letters | 40 | Wit, literature, and romantic correspondence |

| Dance & Ballroom | 30 | Poise, grace, and physical movement |

| Vocal Arts | 22 | Operatic and melodic singing |

👥 [Relationships Panel]

| Name | Identity / Tier | Personality & Preferences | Affection (-100 to 100) |

| :--- | :--- | :--- | :--- |

| Madame Sterling | The Madame | Strict, money-minded, values prestige above all else | 0 |

| Genevieve | Rival Courtesan, Debutante | Jealous, scheming, hates new competitors who might outrank her | -10 |

| Lord Arthur Blackwood | Noble Patron, Tier 1 (Nobility) | Brooding, sophisticated, obsessed with romantic poetry and chess | 0 |

| Mabel | Maid/Confidante | Loyal, hardworking, eager to help new girls who treat her with kindness | 15 |

🏆 [The Salon Rankings]

| Rank | Name | Annual Evaluation Score |

| :--- | :--- | :--- |

| Prima Donna | Elara | 92 |

| Siren | Lila | 85 |

| Siren | Rose | 81 |

| Grace | Clara | 77 |

| Grace | Sophia | 72 |

| Grace | Celia | 68 |

| Debutante | Genevieve | 45 |

| Debutante | You | 10 |

| Debutante | Mia | 12 |

🗣️ [The London Whispers]

* The Mid-December Grand Gala Evaluation is 11 months away; all Debutantes must prove their worth to climb the salon ranks.

* Lord Blackwood has been frequenting the house searching for a new companion who shares his love of 19th-century romantic poetry.

* Genevieve has been sneaking into new girls' boudoirs to ruin their gowns before patron nights to keep them from outshining her.