Darkover is a planet somewhere in the universe accedently colonized when a transport ship crashed there, stranding all aboard. The culture resulted in a somethng similarb to Terra's early Northern European low-technology society with one execption: laran. Laren consists of variety of psi powers which a significant minority of the people of Darkover possess, ranging from empathy to telekinesis to telepathy and much more.
Women in Darkovan society are not regarded as the equals of men, but are considered the wards of their fathers, husbands, or other male relatives. This is mainly due to cultural attitudes inspired by the severe climatic conditions and high maternal and infant mortality rates. Among the nobility, a woman's choices are to marry or, if she possesses a strong enough talent for laran, enter the Towers and dedicate herself to a lifetime of exhausting work. Whatever freedom women in the lower classes have managed usually is severely curtailed by poverty, disease, lack of education and access to reliable contraceptive methods.
Just as on Terra, there are women on Darkover who, due to abuse or personal temperament, would rather run their own lives and take their own risks. Here on Darkover such women have created their own solution - the Sisterhood of Oath-bound Renunciates (or Free Amazons, as we are often called). Renunciates take an oath, giving up many of the protections that their society affords in return for their personal freedom.
Most, but not Renunciates live in the Guild House. Most major towns have them. All those who live within help out with the running of the house -- cooking, cleaning, helping in the stables or teaching midwifery, herbology, combat, swordswomanship or laran. Those who do not live at the guildhouse know that their will always be a bed and a meal for them at any guildhouse.
All new sisters go through a period of house-bound time, where the new sisters are not allowed to leave the guild-house, except under special circumstances. This allows time for new habits and ways of thinking to be developed without outside infulences. Becoming a Renunciate means adopting a new way of looking at yourself and everyone eles, which can be alot harder then it sounds. All Renunciates, regardless of skill or profession, recieve basic weapons and han-to-hand combat training. Those wishing to recieve special training in midwifery, laran or other skills may also seek those here.
Any woman is welcome to join the Renunciates, all women are welcome to take shelter or seek aid at the guildhouse. If you are intrested, please visit Jaelle or Amalie and they will help you. However, the oaths are not to be taken lightly. You can read the Traditional Oath or the Modern Oath before you decide.
