Proper
Behavior and Conduct for the Freewomen in the City
If a Freewoman behaved exactly as
is prescribed in the books, we would have very dour lives indeed.
As a matter of fact, there would be very little opportunity for us to role
play or be involved. We're supposed to hate the slave girls, be adversarial
and sharp-tongued with the men, and let's not forget we're supposed to
be the Gorean equivalent of frigid. That, to me, does not sound like
much fun. For anyone. No one could fault a Freewoman on authenticity
if she were to behave in that manner, but it would be a very lonely existence.
Freewomen in the city have enough problems with leading a lonely existence.
They don't need this additional distance.
Hate the Slave Girls:
Regardless of our Gorean roots, this is a community. If you belittle,
scorn, mock, or are nasty to the slave girls, you will find yourself sitting
alone. Even if you are polite, charming, and kind you will often
find yourself sitting alone. As we have a consensual port, however,
you stand a greater chance of getting service and lively conversation if
you are gracious. It's fun to do an occasional disdainful sniff at
the naughty little tarts. It's even better if they know you're in
role and teasing, and they can giggle about it. But intentionally
hurtful and cruel is inappropriate within the city. The slave girls
are not a Freewoman's therapy punching bags.
Adversarial and Sharp-Tongued
with the Men: The reason
you see so many adversarial, sharp-tongued women in the books is because
they are more interesting to write about. Who wants to read about
Little Merry Sunshine Free Companion who loves her man completely, enjoys
being a free woman, and runs her household competently. That's not
fun to write about. Thus, Norman's books are populated with shrews.
Norman himself states that one out of every 40-50 women is a slave.
That's 2 to 2.5% of the population. Thus it seems clear there are
plenty of Freewomen who get along just fine with Freemen. The standard,
per Norman, is that the Freemen stand when the Freewomen enter the room.
A show of courtesy. That FM are very deferential to FW. Respectful.
Freewomen can afford to be gracious. And when we're gracious, we
don't have to worry about becoming part of that 2.5% of the population.
If we don't want to...
To be Free or Not to be Free
-- That is the Question: Freewomen who secretly want to be slaves
have a few options. One is to role play the conquering of your Freewoman
self and your acceptance and joy of your new slave status. Another
is to create a slave alias, which is permitted you. However, ne'er
the tween shall meet. It is totally inappropriate to role play a
Freewoman who is constantly being conquered by slaves. Have the courage
to admit who you are and accept your slave heart. It is equally inappropriate
to use a Freewoman name to take revenge for your slave alias, say spiteful
things that you can't say as your slave alias, or any other number of ways
a convenient Freewoman alias can be misused. If you are in your Freewoman
persona, BE a Freewoman. Guess what? Freewomen don't have much
concern over what happens to slave girls, provided it doesn't inconvenience
them. Allowing yourself to be petty and nasty for a slight, real
or imaged, to your slave alias is shameful. If there is a true problem,
report it to a DM. Otherwise, let it go.
Sexually Frigid: It's
mentioned over and over again that slaves are so much more fun in bed that
Freewoman are barely a satisfying second. I personally get the feeling
that Freemen may turn to a tharlarion for a fun romp in the hay before
a Freewoman, that's how dull and boring we're supposed to be in bed.
A sexually healthy Freewoman is appropriate within the city. Using
those slaves sexually is fun and enjoyable. Freewomen do not, however,
have sexual trysts with all the Freemen in the city. And especially
not in the public eye. If you want to play the tawdry tart, you should
seriously consider your slave heart. In the books, a Freewoman would
never deign to look at a coin girl. Yet in the city it is appropriate
for a Freewoman to use a coin girl. Role play is fun. Coin
girls can always be used to show a dance, and Freewomen should not feel
excluded from "using" a coin girl. Do not, however, assume that means
you get to use her sexually.
Clothing: Freewomen
are not required by law to wear veils within our city. It is inappropriate
for a Freewoman to be on the streets in revealing clothing, however.
Have the decency to wear Gorean appropriate clothing. This does not
include short skirts or low necklines for a Freewoman. Sorry, only
the slaves get to show off their charms that way. Cover up.
Service: In addition
to having a slave serve you drinks, as a Freewoman you have other things
you can ask a slave to do for you. For example: care of clothing,
manicure (free women do not wear nail polish), running errands, mending,
gathering flowers, cleaning, finding an item in the open market and putting
it on your household account, and more. Order them to prepare a picnic
and then have them come with you for conversation. Have your hair
brushed, but never in a public room. It is inappropriate to assign
a slave a risky or hazardous task that could seriously injure them.
"Unowned" slaves are owned by the city. The city does not look kindly
upon having its property damaged. The city has it clearly stated
in the rules that you, as a Freewoman, are just as entitled to service
in the tavern as is a Freeman. One of the things I like to do (although
it is not required) is to give any Freemen in the room the first shot at
granting entrance/exit for a slave girl. If they seem busy, or if
it seems urgent for the girl RL, I'll speak up. But typically, I
try to let the FM do it. After all, I'm a pampered, highly regarded
FW. And you are too!
Unlike in the books, a Freeman cannot
slam you into silks. However, it is inappropriate to think this means
you can poke at the Freemen with sticks and annoy them. Courtesy
is expected among the Free, and although Freewomen are pampered treasures,
so are Freemen revered strong protection. That they choose to continue
to be "protection" and not "captor" is not something to be tested lightly.
