Lore:Prostitution

The UESPWiki – Your source for The Elder Scrolls since 1995
Jump to: navigation, search
Attention.svg
Warning: This article contains mature subject matter. Reader discretion is advised.
A prostitute
A brothel

Prostitution is the act of trading sexual activity for payment. Those who engage in this practice are known by many names. Some are more common such as prostitute or courtesan[1] and some are nicknames or simply allude to the practice such as the term nightflower,[2] wench[3] or lady of the night.[4] Other more explicate names are also used such as whore,[5] tramp,[6] floozy,[7] harlot,[8] and slut.[9] These expletives may not always be directed at an actual prostitute and are also used as general insults as well despite their meanings.

Organization[edit]

A Khajiit Madame
A brothel owner tending bar

In Tamriel and beyond, organized prostitution is typically carried out in brothels where clients can pay for intimate services. Under the Guild Act, a Prostitutes Guild was created and granted an official charter recognized by the Second and Third empires of Cyrodiil.[10] A brothel or other grouping of prostitutes is usually led and run by a woman with the title of Madame[11][12] or Mistress.[13] Those who are a part of the guild however may go by the title guild mistress like other organized guilds.[8]

Brothels or singular prostitutes can be found across Tamriel and even in the realms of Oblivion.[14] Some cities are specifically mentioned for their brothels like the Skyrim cities of Riften[15] and Solitude[16] or the High Rock cities of Daggerfall[17] and Camlorn.[1] The docks of the Cyrodiilic city of Anvil are also a hotbed for such activity.[18] Camlorn in particular is notable for hosting an event known as the March of Beauty, a festival in which prostitutes in provocative clothing parade and dance through the cities streets. This event turns out much of Camlorn's menfolk as once the parade is concluded the women in the parade are available for sex.[1] In times of economic strife or war an entire town's economy may shift toward prostitution such as the Elsweyr town of Pa'alat which went from a town known as a vacation spot for nobles to a place where a large population of prostitutes serves passing soldiers.[19]

Although the main draw and function of any brothel is the prostitutes, they may also offer other services and hospitalities alongside their more sensuous ones. Several brothels also function as inns offering rooms for travelers and serving food or drink, sometimes both. Others are places where information can be bought or traded[14] and others serve as fest halls for large gatherings.[20] While these separate purposes are typically seen as legitimate, others are less so as brothels can serve as a headquarters for criminal activities as was the case with House Vien, a criminal syndicate from the Hammerfell city of Abah's Landing. They used a tavern turned brothel as not only a place for the locals and visitors to satisfy their sexual urges but as a drug den and a headquarters for their other criminal activities.[21]

It is not uncommon for a brothel to be identifiable in some way, often by a red light hanging beside the entrance[22] or throughout the interior. Inside the lights may hang from the ceiling or be placed wherever they will bathe the interior in a warm red glow.[23] Lanterns with a single red glass pane are commonly used for this purpose.[24] At some brothels guests may have access to a menu which lists all of the available services on offer.[25] At the conclusion of a guest's visit many brothels will gift them a keepsake pillow to remember it by.[26][27][28]

Interested parties may wish to rent out a particular brothel and use the space for large scale sensual encounters such as one involving an entire harem.[29] Although many brothels will serve a guest as long as they can pay, others are more discriminatory either by choice or coercion. Those within the territories of Morrowind's House Dres are forbidden from serving Ashlanders despite their willingness to pay.[30] Others may only serve a very specific type of clientele such as sailors, seamen in particular.[31]

In Practice[edit]

A client enjoying his session

The practice of prostitution is not unique to any particular area or race and is practiced by both mortals and daedra and while the majority of prostitutes are women, male ones also exist as well. Many of these prostitutes operate in a guild or brothel setting but others also act independently, attracting clients alone or in a small group and operating from a cities' streets[32] or from a refuge filled with other illicit services.[33] Some prostitutes, while not turning down clients, do express a certain preference in who they spend time with. They may also draw attention to a certain skill or part of their body that they feel is their best feature such as their tongue or fingers.[34][35] Some go as far as to highlight the vigor and warmth of their race.[36] A Courtesan is a specific type of prostitute that has wealthy or high-status clients such as nobles. They tend to have a much smaller pool of clients than a regular prostitute but receive repeat visits. Due to this a courtesan may keep a list of names of those that they meet for scheduled appointments.[37][38]

The clients of prostitutes have a varied list of desires that must be catered to. This isn't always of a direct sexual nature or may serve as a lead up to more activity. A prostitute may have to perform an erotic dance,[39][40] sing or play a song,[35] or simply keep the client company.[3] The more extreme desires of a client can be just as varied and can range from them wishing to engage in bondage, putting themselves at the mercy of the prostitute[41] to a prostitute having to endure the harsh treatment of a rough minded client, sometimes causing them to have to take time to recover afterwards.[8] The services of daedric prostitutes are often difficult to endure and can cause bodily harm or death to a mortal who partakes in them too often.[42]

Typically, Prostitution is a consensual act of trade with the prostitute in question agreeing to provide whatever service the client pays for. However, times may arise where individuals are forced into the act through coercion, blackmail, or necessity. This can come about through the whims of unscrupulous or sadistic individuals and groups. Examples include a mother forced into performing sexual favors to secure medicine for her sick daughter because she lacks the gold to pay for it[43] or a group of invading soldiers suggesting that a civilian woman service an officer and all of his men in exchange for her mother's life.[44] Actual prostitutes must sometimes deal with those who are unwilling to pay for their services and so attempt to take them by force. To combat this, some of them sew small razors into their undergarments, giving them a chance to maim the very vital areas of an attacker.[4]

There exists times where a prostitute is called upon for reasons other than sex. They may be hired to gather information on an individual[45] or distract them for some purpose.[46] Certain chapters of the Thieves Guild include prostitutes in their ranks[47] and the idea to start a brothel within the Fourth Era Skyrim Thieves Guild was floated by some.[48] Prostitutes may have to fall back on other skills like healing when the situation calls for it such as when a brothel is turned into a hospital in times of war. In this case she may tend to the wounds of soldiers and civilians and be referred to as a "healer courtesan."[49]

Nord armies will sometimes employ Nordic women as prostitutes in their war camps, these women are available for sex with the troops for the purpose of keeping up morale. This earns them the "rank" of morale officer.[50]

Known Brothels[edit]

  • Desele's House of Earthly Delights- A gentleman's club and more discrete brothel well known for its erotic dancers.[22]
  • Haelga's Bunkhouse- A secretive operation located in the city of Riften. Money is not always required.[51]
  • Lusty Argonian Traveling Tents- A unique group that travels around the Bal Foyen region of Morrowind. They are known for their bawdiness.[28]
  • The Chaste Harpy- An infamous brothel located in High Rock.[21]
  • The Dark Den- A combined brothel and fest hall.[20]
  • The Fo'c's'le- A brothel and boarding house in which the ladies only serve male sailors.[31]
  • The House of Whims- A strange daedric brothel located in the realm of Fargrave. It is also a place to trade in secrets and many unusual services.[14]
  • The Winsome Welwa- A Breton style brothel built to cater to depravity and debauchery. It offers illegal forms of prostitution, drugs, and other vices to a clientele consisting of pirates, merchants, and visiting nobles. [21]

Gallery[edit]

Prostitutes, Courtesans, and Madams[edit]

Female[edit]

  • A Breton prostitute (Daggerfall)

  • A Redguard prostitute (Daggerfall)

  • A Breton prostitute and dancer (Morrowind)

  • A Redguard prostitute and dancer (Morrowind)

  • A Nord prostitute and dancer (Morrowind)

  • A Breton prostitute and brothel owner (Oblivion)

  • A secretive Nord prostitute (Skyrim)

  • A Dunmer prostitute (ESO)

  • A Khajiit prostitute (ESO)

  • A Nord "morale officer" (ESO)

  • A Redguard courtesan (ESO)

  • A Xivilai intent on giving pain and pleasure (ESO)

  • A Dark Seducer madam and trader of secrets (ESO)

  • A Dark Seducer from a harem (ESO)

Male[edit]

  • A dancing Bosmer prostitute (ESO)

  • A dancing Nord Prostitute (ESO)

  • An Altmer prostitute (ESO)

  • A Dunmer prostitute (ESO)

  • A dancing Argonian Prostitute (ESO)

  • A Golden Saint offering cleansing pleasures (ESO)

  • An Ogrim offering the warmest embrace (ESO)

Brothels[edit]

  • Desele's House of Earthly Delights (Morrowind)

  • The Fo'c's'le (Oblivion)

  • Haelga's Bunkhouse (Skyrim)

  • The Ebony Flask (ESO)

  • The House of Earthly Delights (ESO)

  • The Sugar Bowl (ESO)

  • The House of Whims (ESO)

Notes[edit]

  • The Imperial Admiral Vasi Hadrach was assassinated by a rebel Reachman while visiting a Daggerfall brothel during the Tiber War.[54]
  • Courtesans are sometimes depicted in provocative artwork.[55]
  • Some ghosts, unhappy with where they passed away, have expressed a desire to have died in a brothel instead.[56]
  • Being the child of a prostitute is often looked down upon and those who are may be called insults such as "whorespawn."[57]

See Also[edit]

References[edit]

  1. ^ a b c Mystery of Talara, v 1 — Mera Llykith
  2. ^ Naril Heleran's dialogue during Taking the Tower
  3. ^ a b Handbills in Oblivion
  4. ^ a b Bodice Ripper item description in ESO
  5. ^ Biography of the Wolf Queen — Katar Eriphanes
  6. ^ Jena Colus's dialogue in ESO
  7. ^ Matilde Petit's dialogue in Oblivion
  8. ^ a b c Mystery of Talara, v 4 — Mera Llykith
  9. ^ Erikur's dialogue during Diplomatic Immunity
  10. ^ History of the Fighters Guild
  11. ^ Madame Bellyscratch in ESO
  12. ^ Madam Whim in ESO
  13. ^ Events of Taking the Tower
  14. ^ a b c The House of Whims in ESO
  15. ^ Abnur Tharn's dialogue during Shadow of Sancre Tor
  16. ^ a b The Wolf Queen, v3 — Waughin Jarth
  17. ^ Contract Text in Dark Brotherhood Contracts
  18. ^ The Fo'c's'le in Oblivion
  19. ^ Madame Bellyscratch's dialogue in ESO
  20. ^ a b Dark Den Remembrance Pillow item description in ESO
  21. ^ a b c Abah's Landing Merchant Lords, V. 3 — Tamonir, Master of Secrets for the Queen of Taneth
  22. ^ a b Desele's House of Earthly Delights in Morrowind
  23. ^ Desele's House of Earthly Delights in ESO
  24. ^ Dibella's Night Lantern item description in ESO
  25. ^ Menu from Madam Whim's item description in ESO
  26. ^ Chaste Harpy Keepsake Pillow item description in ESO
  27. ^ Winsome Welwa Remembrance Pillow item description in ESO
  28. ^ a b Lusty Argonian Keepsake Pillow item description in ESO
  29. ^ Madam Whim's dialogue during Destruction Incarnate
  30. ^ Fedrasa Andrethi's dialogue in ESO
  31. ^ a b Mirabelle Monet's dialogue in Oblivion
  32. ^ The Prostitutes faction in Daggerfall
  33. ^ Flicks-His-Tongue location in ESO
  34. ^ Bameli the Pure's dialogue in ESO
  35. ^ a b Amil the Deft's dialogue in ESO
  36. ^ Zadazi's dialogue in ESO
  37. ^ Courtesan's Appointment Book item description in ESO
  38. ^ Courtesan's Client List item description in ESO
  39. ^ Milva Githavel in ESO
  40. ^ Tsradarri in ESO
  41. ^ Renam Thervayn in ESO
  42. ^ Oruuzyn's dialogue in ESO
  43. ^ Tildri's dialogue during The Herbalist's Product
  44. ^ Drathyra Othrys's dialogue during Peril at the Pools
  45. ^ Niha's dialogue during A Thirst for Revolution
  46. ^ Events of A Noble's Debts
  47. ^ Generic Dialogue in Daggerfall
  48. ^ Niruin's dialogue in Skyrim
  49. ^ The Refugees — Geros Albreigh
  50. ^ Belfrost the Shy's dialogue in ESO
  51. ^ Events of Caught Red Handed
  52. ^ The Ebony Flask in ESO
  53. ^ The Sugar Bowl in ESO
  54. ^ Amiel Richton's biography on Redguard's official website
  55. ^ Risqué Etching item description in ESO
  56. ^ Forlorn Farela's dialogue in ESO
  57. ^ Selene's Dagger's dialogue during Knowledge Gained
Appendices
Arcana and Metaphysics
Culture and Tradition
Symbols
Transportation
Law and Politics
Rituals and Prophecies
Retrieved from "https://en.uesp.net/w/index.php?title=Lore:Prostitution&oldid=3226173"