The oldest profession was legalised sometime in the 700's in Dorlaf. Though the Erish Empire abolished it, putting it back on the permitted list was one of the first things the kingdom did when winning back their independence. Its legalised status was confirmed in the epic Mulzzo Codes acts of 1123. Dorlaf remains the only province where prostitution is permitted, a fact which helps give it its rather unfair reputation as being the centre of vice. Things are, naturally, more tightly regulated than in the old days. Prostitutes must work for brothels; these in turn have to be registered with their Town Council, and are subject to standards and checks (e.g. on hygiene, treatment of their employees) in much the same way as other licensed trades. Unsanctioned streetwalking or soliciting is a criminal offence, not treated too harshly but usually through public punishments e.g. public floggings, intended to expose and shame the culprits. The legalised status of the trade reflects what is still the prevalent mood - that it is inevitable whatever the government does, and if so it's better that it's controlled. Prostitutes are given a fair amount of sympathy, at least if they display the right attitude (i.e. honest but slightly ashamed about their profession, only choosing it through economic necessity and yearning to lead a normal life) though reactions to their clients is rather harsher. the issue is still a highly divisive one, however. Never a year goes by without a reactionary Emissary hopefully trying to float through a private bill calling for "The end to the trade of Vice and imprisonment of the filthy Whores". Women's groups have a long history of blowing up into fragments over the issues. Some campaigners believe prostitutes to be women freely choosing what to do with their bodies and don't think the laws are liberal enough; others focus on the degradation of the trade. The women's freedom campaigns of the 1200's did manage to cancel one anomaly and get male prostitutes (and thus female clients) legalised on a similar status. Most prostitutes are still female, though the numbers of men have crept up to about 20%. It is still illegal to hire a prostitute of the same sex, a fact which irritates the most progressive reformers.
Even most of the licensed Cities brothels remain rather shamefaced little establishments tucked away in backstreets or above more reputable shops. Often the only sign is the symbol of a lapwing carved above the door or windows, their official badge of licence. Inside most the rooms are plain and grubby, the business carried out as quickly as possible, with no attempt to entertain clients. The spartan furnishings are mainly to preserve profits; they also reflect local unease with publicly displayed sexuality, one area in which the Cities is very repressed. A glaring exception to the mundane brothels is The Big Room, Dorlaf Avenue, Jalkin,