If at any time, or for any reason, a freewoman decides that it
is in her best interests either to become a slave or to openly
submit herself to a male for his protection and use, this is
accomplished by the performance of a formal gesture of
submission by which she invokes the ancient Gorean "rite of
submission." Many freewomen would rather die than perform such
a subserviant act. It is important that a freewoman understand
that when this rite is invoked, there is no going back.
Typically there are only two possible outcomes when a freewoman
submits so; either she is enslaved and becomes the personal
chattel of the male, his to do with as he sees fit, or she is
found lacking in desirability by the male in question and is
driven from him in disgrace. In the case of a Warrior, the
consequences are even more dire, since a Warrior is not
permitted by his codes to abandon the female while she is
still alive. Therefore, most Warriors have no qualms whatsoever
against putting the submitting female to death on the spot.
Indeed, to a Warrior's mind, it is better by far to take the
supplicant's life than to abandon her to be randomly enslaved
by the first man who comes along. Believe it or not, in such a
situation a Warrior is acting to preserve the honor of the
former freewoman and her caste and family.
The way the rite is invoked is this: the freewoman typically
facestrips herself, publicly announces that she willingly
submits to the individual she has chosen, and then assumes
"the Position of Female Submission," wherein the freewoman
kneels at her captor's feet and leans her body back, sitting
upon her heels, with her arms extended upward, crossed at the
wrists, and her head beneath them lowered in supplication.
If the male accepts her, she becomes his slave and forfeits
all titles, rank and property immediately. If he does not,
she accepts the consequences of her actions, even if it means
her death.
It should be obvious that a freewoman does not invoke the
Rite of Submission hastily or without much consideration,
as the very act can cost her her life.
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