Guðdómlegur Konur

Guðdómlegur Konur (literally meaning "divine women" in Borealian) is a Borealian term for women who are believed to be living incarnations of the Triple Goddess of Woman. Originally referring to various groups of temple prostitutes, the tradition of the Guðdómlegur Konur has gradually evolved into a highly distinct caste that historically served a major social role in both the justification of the legitimacy of the Borealian nobility (as it was believed that specific members of the Guðdómlegur Konur, the Guðdómlegur Prinsessa, could justify the rule of various Borealian nobles) as well as the religious traditions of Borealian paganism. The roles of the Guðdómlegur Konur themselves change as they age, from the prophetic roles fulfilled by prepubescent girls (believed to be incarnations of the Maiden), to the temple prostitutes of young to middle-aged women (believed to be incarnations of the Mother) to the elderly nuns and witches transmitting ancient wisdom, who are believed to be incarnations of the Crone. The ancient role of the Guðdómlegur Konur has diminished in modern times, as the Constitution of 1925 abolished the practice of legally requiring daughters of Guðdómlegur Konur to become Guðdómlegur Konur themselves, although the same Constitution required the Sacred Circle of Druids (the highest body in the Borealian religion) to allow for laywomen to become Guðdómlegur Konur themselves. The Guðdómlegur Konur have nevertheless remained a strong religious force in Ultima Borealia and are still revered and worshipped by the vast majority of Borealians.

Guðdómlegur Konur are themselves not considered equal, as a highly elite class of Guðdómlegur Konur generally referred to as Guðdómlegur Prinsessa limited to one per Hundred are themselves chosen through a rigorous selection process and are believed to be purer and stronger incarnations of the Triple Goddess. Once functioning as incarnations of the Mother, they are highly-prized and expensive prostitutes whose services can only be afforded by the wealthiest members of society. The highest of all Guðdómlegur Prinsessa are the four Prinsessa that are chosen for each Jarldom/Free City (with the exception of [disorganised religion state]), and later come to function as various high-ranking clerics within the Sacred Circle. The Guðdómlegur Prinsessa are referred to as "Divine Princesses" as historically, many Guðdómlegur Konur (and often Guðdómlegur Prinsessa, particularly for Jarls) would become concubines of nobles and one of their daughters would almost always become the next Guðdómlegur Prinsessa' for their Hundred.

Although the system of Guðdómlegur Konur is unanimously agreed upon by scholars to have indigenously developed and its features are almost entirely unique to Ultima Borealia, the system itself has been heavily influenced by the tradition of Prostitution in Tuthina (which itself began as a system of temple prostitution before largely secularising during the Warring States period), with the system of concubinage of many Guðdómlegur Konur often believed to be inspired by the system of sindu, and many differences in temple prostitutes often believed to be inspired by differences in Tuthinan prostitutes; the etiquette and traditions of Borealian temple prostitutes, although definitively distinct from Tuthinan prostitution, are often believed by scholars to be inspired by the Tuthinan system due to the heavy influence of Tuthina on Borealian history.