Quote1. Women aren't allowed to hold ranks of power in Connlaoth – so they can't hold a high rank in the church, or have any say when it comes to politics, I'm assuming. However, what else constitutes as a rank of power? For example, would it be permitted for a woman to be a professor at the college in Uthlyn? Or a barrister (medieval lawyer)? Or, are they only allowed to take up trades as professions?
Woman are only allowed to take up trades. However, it's not to say women don't have influence, but it's behind-the-scenes influence. Women can have a
lot of influence and a
lot of power who don't necessarily hold a position of power. (Like they say, behind every man there's a woman, so women are totally capable of pulling political strings through their husbands to get what they want, to use an example. ^^ Being unable to hold a position of power doesn't necessarily mean they're powerless, they just have to be more creative.)
Women can also form trade guilds and get influence in an area, but this is not universal and it's difficult to do. However, it's not impossible. :3
Quote2. If a mage, for whatever reason, wanted to visit Connlaoth, would that be allowed? (To give a scenario, perhaps she somehow has family in the country?) If the mage swore not to use magic while in the country and allowed herself to be marked during her stay, would it be allowed, or would they prevent the mage from visiting at all? If the person was a magic-user but still swore not to use magic during their stay, would the situation change?
Any mages or magic-users would have to be marked, definitely! It's unlikely that they'd allow lower-class peasants to come in, but it's not
impossible, though it's far more likely that they'd allow merchants and traders who'd worked out agreements with the dukes of the land to do trade in their territory. They'd be marked and expected to follow all the same rules as marked mages. The same goes for nobility.
Visiting mages would also likely be given as escort, either a Mordecai or a soldier, just to keep an eye on them. x3
Quote3. The whorehouses in Uthlyn are legendary, but Connlaothians seem to be very prude about sex. Is it acceptable for a man to visit a whorehouse, as long as he doesn't talk about it with his buddies? Considering the double-standard when it comes to homosexuality, would it be okay for men to work in whorehouses and serve other men – as long it was only for the sex and not for love?
Well, prudish doesn't mean they don't have sexual urges. :3 It's not really
acceptable to visit a whorehouse and they should refrain from speaking about it in polite society, but that doesn't mean they can't or won't boast about their crazy conquests with their buddies! ^^ And hey, soldiers are especially known for being crude. But in polite society, it's not something you speak of.
As for male prostitutes, it happens, but it's even less acceptable, and a man sleeping with a man in a whorehouse is
veeery different from the male bonding that happens out in the field. Sleeping with another man outside that situation is very, very taboo. It's likely that some of the brothels in Uthlyn do contain a few male prostitutes but it's kept very hush hush, very don't ask don't tell.
It's also likely there are other brothels that deal with male prostitutes, but those tend to be low key and dirty, and male prostitutes generally have a much more difficult time getting by than female ones. Violence against them is also higher.
Quote4. Lastly (and this might be a question that answers itself), how are people who work in these whorehouses seen by society? For example, let's say Jane works at a whorehouse in Uthlyn and everyone just kind of knows her profession. Is she shunned by the everyday working-class, or are people just kind of "whatever" about it? I was assuming they would be considered the dregs of society, since Connlaoth is prude about sex, but these are legendary whorehouses after all! I'm not sure if it changes things.
You're correct! Prostitutes are indeed considered to be the dregs of society. :3 The profession is considered to be gross and dirty, and the people who work in that profession are treated as such. Typically treated very poorly and looked down on, and the lives they live are really rough.
High class prostitutes/mistresses can make their way up through society, but they'll always be looked down on by polite society. Basically, if you deal in the sex trade, you're considered dirty because they consider that to be a dirty job.
Hope that helps! Those were great questions!
