Kisaeng - Korea - Goryeo Dynasty
The Kisaeng of Korea were, first and foremost, entertainers of a less erotic nature. Some were indeed prostitutes, but it was mostly their art and skill that was sought after.
The rank of a Kisaeng was the same as other entertainers, butchers, and slaves- a low rung on societies pole, and it was hereditary.
Going up in a class was hard, and if you had been born to a Kisaeng, slave, or one of the other ‘unsavory’ members of society, you were now as well.
The career was short lived, often ending in the mid-twenties- training places for Kisaeng taking in children as young as eight, though, if ones career lasted, it was regulated that they had to retire from their work at the age of fifty.
Despite being handed a life in which they were constantly monitored by the government, freedom could only be bought at a high price, and were looked down upon by almost everyone, the Kisaeng was not an unimportant role.
Hired to entertain foreign visitors of political nature, Kisaeng were some of the most well informed people and thus were used as a form of intelligence. With the Seven Years War, many Kisaeng were forced to entertain the military leaders of the winning army.
Nongae, a Kisaeng of this time, is famous for an act that was considered a brave act for her people and country.
The Japanese army, successful in their invasion, commanded that all the Kisaeng in the area come to them to a pavilion that they chose to celebrate at. Nongae lured a General to come out with her and view the cliff-side at which the party was being held.
Quickly wrapping her arms around the man, her bejeweled fingers locking together in a tight bright, Nongae forced them both over the cliff- killing herself, but also the General.
So, how can we apply the above into roleplay?
Again, this is another kind of courtesan that is not based around intimate relations with her customers- artist before anything else.
The social structure of the past in Korea, among other places in the east, prevented social climbing by keeping status hereditary. I'm not 100% on the lore, but I believe that this is not something common or found in FFXIV; do correct me if I am wrong, of course.
One could simply call them lesser courtesans, if injected into roleplay, that their skills be in demand but their presence outside of business considered tainted or lesser.
For example: Searing Grape is a Lohengarde woman who wanted to break from the traditional lines of work for her people and become a skilled artist. She trained very hard to get where she is- not exactly the classiest act out there, but she made a fair bit of coin.
It was a real shame that she, and a few others that were traveling got caught by a Garlean patrol.
Now Searing Grape entertains for the enemy, who is not exactly as giving in their coin as her former clients.
Can she use her wiles and skills to get free, or at least help the others with her escape? How trusting can Garlean military be when faced with a giant, attractive young Lohengarde?
Up next: Cortigiana Onesta/Cortigiana Di Lume
