Profession - Courtesan?

[Malignor]

Courtesan used to mean the same thing as courtier.
So is this profession in reference to what it used to mean, or what it means now (high-class-ho)?

[Shadowborn]

It's a pretty safe bet the modern reference is being used. After all, with Calistria having sacred prostitutes in her temples, it's not like it would be uncommon.

[Professor Stuffington]

Etymologically, the word "courtesan" did indeed refer to a noblewoman, but as early as the mid-15th century, the word developed a common double-meaning to refer to the mistress of a man of rank.

That meaning became its primary meaning by late 15th century, and about that time it developed a new colloquial meaning to refer to the higher-class prostitutes that men of rank would indulge themselves with.

The "prostitute" meaning (esp. a "high-end" implication) has been the primary meaning of "courtesan" since at least the time of Shakespeare.

[VRMH]

I imagine that any courtesan uses pretty much the same skillset, regardless of what kind of escort they're meant to be. Knowledge (nobility), Knowledge (local), Diplomacy, Bluff, Disguise, Perform (dance). Even when the term is used to indicate a prostitute, it still denotes a high-class prostitute - one who can entertain in a variety of ways.

[strayshift]

This also goes along with the character of the court - just look at two different Kings, say Edward 1st and his son Edward 2nd.
Edward 1st's court was about power politics and war, Edward drove that policy.
Edward 2nd'c court was 'more courtly' (to put it nicely) with a younger generation participating in hunting, dances, etc. Edward 2nd preferred these sort of things.

A Coutier/Courtesan to some degree would be someone who exists within the court environment and fulfils a minor function in relation to it (say Lady in Waiting, King's mistress). It is also an avenue for noble houses to tout their sons and daughters as candidates in alliances within the power games that go on there.

Access to the person in charge is the name of the game in order to influence them (either formally or informally). This is also in my opinion a better focus for a player/npc courtier/courtesan.

[Dabbler]

Malignor wrote:

Courtesan used to mean the same thing as courtier.

So is this profession in reference to what it used to mean, or what it means now (high-class-ho)?

You have to bear in mind that this society was VERY sexist. For a woman to have influence in this world, she had to use every wile she had, and this would doubtless attract the ire of those men she bettered. What's the first insult a man directs at a woman he doesn't like? he calls her a you-know-what - especially if she has spurned his advances (for some reason, many men do not seem to understand the irony of this).

[strayshift]

Some societies were not as sexist or promiscuous as we think - for example women in Norse society could own property in their own right and often did (as the inheritence a father would give to his son was often a sword not a farm). Land often equals power.

In Pictish royality the lineage was through the female as you could lways be certain who your mother was.

Likewise the notion of honour has a direct impact upon gender relations in Le Morte D'Arthur courtly love was aspired to and a Knight could defend an obvious attraction through the medium of this idealised relationship (a societal defence if you like).
The dishonourable knights are often thise who take advantage of women... although I do lose count of how many times it happens to Lancelot when he is powerless to stop it in an honourable way.

A courtesan can mean what you want it to mean - the rules are societal not mechanistic game play.

Tea ceremony anyone?

[Malachi Silverclaw]

Yeah, Lancelot must have had a quick-release button on his full plate to cope with the sheer volume of tottie that he had absolutely no option but to 'dally' with!

*sniff*...'fall/fall scenarios' indeed!

[Coriat]

I suspect that the best general rule is not assume that the obsolete meaning of a word is the one that is meant unless you have a good reason to.

No more with courtesan than I would assume that a module that describes an NPC as affluent means to indicate that he is flowing towards the party, or that when a module says that an NPC is a knight it means to indicate that he is a servant.

So no, it doesn't mean courtier in Pathfinder.

[phallic khan]

the crb lists it as the hooker meaning

[Conundrum]

Shadowborn wrote:

It's a pretty safe bet the modern reference is being used. After all, with Calistria having sacred prostitutes in her temples, it's not like it would be uncommon.

What?! Time for my dwarf invulnerable rager to pay a visit!

[kyrt-ryder]

^Got to love that Dwarven Barbarian Fortitude save (though it's a bit odd that Hardy doesn't apply to diseases...)

[Conundrum]

Well, that's why he would visit the temple, on the off chance of catching something, not far to go to get the cure!