Evening Diversions [Heian Period piece - interest check]

[Ieatcookies]

A sandbox group game without much interference from the GM. It is the Heian Period in Japan, a time of poetry, tea, silken robes and folding screens. In this alternate universe the ladies (especially those of nobility) are the ones to choose their lovers, despite being married or not. The higher their social status, the higher is their value as lovers and so are their standards. An evening diversion is a passionate encounter planned through the use of poetry and letters. The lady should compose the first poem (or have someone with artistic skill write it for her) and she has the right to send it to whomever she pleases or wants to experience an evening diversion with. She can also send multiple poems to see who "bites" and so reduce her chances of rejection, but that is a procedure usually frowned upon. It also up to the lady to secretly visit her potential lover or deny his nightly visit when she no longer desires an encounter.

Of course, these are not rules of the game, just plot suggestions. Posting this up to see if there is any interest before I get into details.

[Sekah]

I'm certainly interested! I love the Heian period.

[Capone]

So I'm an awful history major, but this concept seems unique and interesting. So I looked up a bit about the Heian Period and realized I'd need to do more reading. I also looked up whether Geisha were around by this time and it looks like the Geisha as we know it didn't exist until the 18th Century, but the foundation was being laid during this era. So, to that end, are the males expected to have the skills that the women of the time possessed? So the women being nobility will have high skill in calligraphy and poetry, but are they seeking for entertainment that the male must provide? Or was there a separate intent?

[Ieatcookies]

I'm certainly interested! I love the Heian period.

Happy to know it, I'll save you a spot!

So, to that end, are the males expected to have the skills that the women of the time possessed? So the women being nobility will have high skill in calligraphy and poetry, but are they seeking for entertainment that the male must provide? Or was there a separate intent?

Think of it as a social norm or rather this way: one's value in society is based on their writing skill, much like conversation was the standard in the Edwardian Era (I think). In this version, both men and women are expected to have calligraphy and poetry skills, so much so that if they suck at it, their reputation will clearly suffer.

The women are seeking for the entertainment their potential lovers might provide, as you very well put it, and this is certainly a bedroom aspect, but it's not only that. Some prefer music or tea ceremony or moon-gazing before they actually get to business. I guess what I'm looking for in this idea is to set a mood and a potential history-type drama (more often than not evening diversions were carried at the palace between in-laws, future in-laws, relatives of close friends, someone's fiancee etc) with all the smut that follows. It's more romantic than it sounds :)

The main idea is that ladies had the power to initiate these sensual escapades and also end them if they weren't satisfied. Sometimes these were just one-night stands, other times it ended in a long affair.