Sex and Sexuality in D&D. . .

[Samnell]

Heck, go one step further--what about disease immunity? Imagine an elite group of courtesans made up of Paladins.

I love your brain with every part of my body.

 

[Dannyalcatraz]

I don't know if you could do that with Paladins...but you definitely could with devotees of Aphrodite and similar gods & goddesses.

 

[jdrakeh]

I don't know if you could do that with Paladins...but you definitely could with devotees of Aphrodite and similar gods & goddesses.

I think that Paladins of Aphrodite could also be courtesans if you adhere to the explicit RAW and ignore the implied Christian-leanings of said class.

 

[Dannyalcatraz]

You're probably right on the Paladins of Aphrodite...assuming they define prostitution as "Good" and not "Neutral."

But for most other faiths, whether they could or not depends on things like the meaning of acting honorably (some might not view prostitution as an honorable profession) or lawful (it could violate the laws of certain regions).

 

[Rystil Arden]

You're probably right on the Paladins of Aphrodite...assuming they define prostitution as "Good" and not "Neutral."

But for most other faiths, whether they could or not depends on things like the meaning of acting honorably (some might not view prostitution as an honorable profession) or lawful (it could violate the laws of certain regions).

Definitely not where prostitution was illegal and shady business, indeed! With Paladins, it would be done with honour and totally aboveboard--bringing pleasure and happiness to others for a donation.

But if we look at pre-Christian religions, temple prostitutes were common and considered extremely holy and sacred in many of them. In some worship of the Sumerian Inanna, the copulation between the high priestess and the king was seen as symbolic of the goddess's protection and love of the city-state.

 

[Dannyalcatraz]

But if we look at pre-Christian religions, temple prostitutes were common and considered extremely holy and sacred in many of them. In some worship of the Sumerian Inanna, the copulation between the high priestess and the king was seen as symbolic of the goddess's protection and love of the city-state.

No disagreement, but there is still something somewhat unseemly about linking sexuality with the capacity for out and out violence- Paladins are somewhat more inherently warlike than Priests.

So, I'd still be more inclined (so to speak) to believe in priestly prostitutes than paladin panderers.

 

[Rystil Arden]

No disagreement, but there is still something somewhat unseemly about linking sexuality with the capacity for out and out violence- Paladins are somewhat more inherently warlike than Priests.

So, I'd still be more inclined (so to speak) to believe in priestly prostitutes than paladin panderers.

If we're talking Inanna in particular (since I tossed her name before), she was actually the goddess of both love/fertility/pleasure and war in her pantheon, so it would be pretty much perfect, I think.

Well, I can imagine that when these courtesan paladins went to war with the boys, troop morale would be notably higher than in most armies

 

[DarkKestral]

Also there was Inanna. The first goddess of sex we see in literature... and the first goddess of war too. She was also noted for sleeping around.

So.. for her, Paladin temple prostitutes would be... fairly likely. Especially as she wasn't a mother goddess.. and was noted for being very prone to deciding to go to war against her lovers. So they might be perfectly willing to sleep with the enemy...

There are also a few other notable examples of that combo.

 

[Rystil Arden]

Also there was Inanna. The first goddess of sex we see in literature... and the first goddess of war too. She was also noted for sleeping around.

So.. for her, Paladin temple prostitutes would be... fairly likely. Especially as she wasn't a mother goddess.. and was noted for being very prone to deciding to go to war against her lovers. So they might be perfectly willing to sleep with the enemy...

There are also a few other notable examples of that combo.

 

[DarkKestral]

Aye. I noticed that you and Danny both mentioned Inanna just after posting. Either way, sex and violence have tended to go together in some cultures. I don't really consider Greek god(desse)s to be good examples, because ALL of them are sex god(desse)s so it's not really fair, but it is another case.

Well, except for Athena and Artemis... who are the most martial of the female deities which makes that bit kinda funny..