Prostitution in Brevoy

Prostitution is legal (only for adults, obviously) and seen as another legitimate trade providing an in-demand service like baking or roof-thatching, with no cultural stigma for being, or using the services of, a prostitute. People (mostly women, but also some men) engage in prostitution for the same reason other people ply their own trades: they're good at it, it makes them money, they enjoy it, or it was the family business. Most tavern wenches and attendants of the popular public baths known as "banya" in Brevoy offer at least some light sexual services on the side to supplement their income. Streetwalkers are uncommon (mainly due to the climate). Nobles often have escorts or courtesans on semi-permanent retainer. Prostitutes can come from any caste. Not everyone in Brevoy who engages in prostitution necessarily does so as a full-time occupation, & most Brevic women, from peasants to noblewomen engage in exchanging sexual services for something at least a few times in their economic life-cycles. Marriage is typically no barrier to prostitution - marrying a skilled & well-known prostitute is seen as an enviable accomplishment, and many a farmer's wife will offer sexual services during the off-seasons to supplement her family's income, with her husband's consent, and often encouragement, as well as protection. This is seen as no morally different from her earning the family money by serving food to those outside the marriage - the meals she makes for her husband are no less special between them.

Maintaining professionalism in one's trade is a core virtue espoused by the church of Abadar, and prostitution in Brevoy is no different in this regard. Prostitutes are expected to keep themselves clean and presentable, free of disease, and prevent unintentional pregnancy. Typically, the cost of a prostitute's services includes contraceptives (such as Bachelor's Snuff or Night Tea, as appropriate), as well as the cost of healing. The churches of Brevoy have a good working relationship with the prostitution trade, typically offering contraceptives and removal of disease in exchange for services. In the larger cities, prostitutes typically organize themselves into guilds like many other professions, for mutual protection, passing down training, and being able to secure more lucrative contracts. In settlements large enough to build such structures, bordellos serve not only as houses of bawdy entertainment, but as performance halls for risque shows, and of course, comfortable meeting places for making business deals.

Visiting a prostitute is viewed not only as acceptable, but even a socially expected and traditional form of leisure and recreation (much like drinking, gambling, and fist-fighting), and is typically part of the luxury a person or couple rewards themselves with during their "night on the town" when they can afford it. Additionally, publicly showing off that you can afford a good prostitute can boost one's social status in the competitive Brevic culture. Prostitutes are the closest thing in Brevoy to professional "relationship counselors" (due to their experience with many clients), and it's quite common for individuals and married couples alike to visit one just to talk and get advice on matters of love.