Courtesan

Those inflicted by the Crimson Curse will slowly but surely change in horrific ways: their noses will elongate into a needle-like proboscis, their skin will turn deathly pale, their eyes will grow into large, black, unblinking spheres, and their teeth will fall out, only to be replaced by sharp fangs. Most horrifically, they will continue to believe that they are human, all the while their minds slowly subsume to delusions, madness and bestial instinct. Hidden under a thin veil of fake sophistication and nobility, these creatures are little more than insane beasts with an insatiable thirst for flesh and blood.

Courtesans were women with whom the Men of the Court had a relationship, but were not married to. A similar term is concubine, though it has a slightly different meaning. Courtesans were well-educated and independent women who attended the court, trained artists or artisans of dance and singing, especially one associated with wealthy, powerful, or upper-class society who were given luxuries and status in exchange for entertainment and companionship.

However, when the Crimson Curse infested the Courtyard, it quickly jumped from host to host in the heat of passion among the web of adulterous relationships and affairs. Once the loveliest and most beautiful maidens in the Court, they have since become bloodthirsty and twisted parodies of themselves. While they still retain a small fragment of their humanity, it only takes the scent of a single drop of fresh blood to send them into a murderous frenzy. As the bloodlust takes hold, they undergo a horrifying metamorphosis, and show the true monster that is hidden underneath.

## Behavior

The Courtesan typically allows her allies to do the hard work of dispatching intruders, but that is not to say she is entirely helpless. She supports her allies quite effectively by applying marks and granting large bonuses to PROT and damage with her skills. Once she reveals her true form, she becomes a fierce combatant all on her own, capable of taking full advantage of the groundwork she laid under her guise of humanity.

Because the Courtesan has five different abilities to choose from in Thirsty form, she can act somewhat unpredictably. Sometimes she uses relatively unimpactful skills like Damsel in Distress or Mind Your Manners, but she cannot be ignored because of her potential to use her more dangerous abilities. The Thirst and Careless Whispers both deal heavy Stress damage, and thus she should be prioritized if there are not more threatening enemies.

## Abilities

This enemy does not appear in Apprentice level Courtyard.

### Thirsty Form

* Veteran
* Champion

\*Unlike other self effects, the transformation requires a successful hit.

### Bloodlust Form

* Veteran
* Champion

## Related Enemies

### All Areas

* Supplicant
* Sycophant
* Gatekeeper
* Chevalier

### The Courtyard

* Manservant
* Esquire

### Bosses

* Crocodilian
* Baron
* Viscount
* Countess
* Garden Guardian

## Gallery

* Courtesan's combat animation
* Courtesan using *Careless Whispers*
* Courtesan using *Midnight Minuet*
* Courtesan using *Mind Your Manners*
* Courtesan using *Damsel In Distress* or defending in Thirsty form
* Courtesan using *The Thirst* in Thirsty form
* Courtesan Bloodlust form's combat animation
* Courtesan using *The Thirst* in Bloodlust form or *Renewed Appetite*
* Courtesan using *Expose the Vein*
* Courtesan defending in Bloodlust form
* Courtesan's corpse