Okay, this is totally opinion, and I would like as much input as I can get from diverse points of view.

Lets say we're in a Sword & Planet situation. The main protag is a female native of the setting planet. She's around 25 years old. She's an Ebrani Ranger, which means she a skilled hunter and tracker and an excellent climber. Needless to say, she's in extremely good physical condition. Nevertheless, she finds herself rescued by the hermit she was seeking. He is from Earth. He's just shy of twice her age in appearance, but he doesn't age here. He has a wife back on Earth and has no idea that she also has a manifestation in the setting world here. Fact is, he left his position as a Luminary in the College of Esoterics in the City of the Sun to avoid the fairer sex as much as to avoid the politics of society and now has lived alone in a cave for over twenty years. He's not been with a woman since his advent here because of his loyalty to her. So . . . turns out my female protag wants to seduce him. How do each of these characters reason through this? >>

He is definitely fascinated by the young woman, but is socially clumsy and resents her powers to tempt him. On the other hand, he's a sorcerer here and so knows that the woman is indispensable to his longterm plans.

She resents his power over her, which she doesn’t even understand. But she is also intrigued with him because of his self-contradictions as well as the fact that he is so contrary to all her preconceptions based on legends of him. She is very much drawn to him physically. She is also drawn to the legend. And the Ranger in her wants the conquest.

What are the moral implications? Is he cheating on his wife if he allows himself to be seduced? Does it make him despicable?>>

Why is he avoiding the fairer sex?     To avoid the temptation to sleep with them – actually to keep from objectifying them.>>

So, is there a chance of him getting back?      He’s pretty sure that he can get back; he’s just afraid to try it. If he fails to get back, it means his death.>>

How long was he married before he was displaced?       Does it matter how long? He took a vow. Call it ten years.>>

What sort of person is he?       He thinks of himself as a scholar more than anything. He also admits to having a terribly overblown sense of responsibility – because he has a great deal of power.>>

Does he value marriage or is he afraid of what his wife will do to him?      Yes Both. He’s torn between what he is, what he wants to be, and what he thinks he should be. >>

At his age the old hormones are not thundering like they are at hers, that--along with his lifestyle--may mean he doesn't even want a physical relationship.      hmmm. Very good point. And definitely true of him.     Is he from a culture that expects such a relationship?      Which relationship? He’s from presentday lace w:st="on">Americalace>. lace w:st="on">Midwestlace>. Husbands are supposed to be faithful.     Why would a 25yo woman think a 50yo mage is a hottie?        Good question. But I see it all the time – on the ground as well as on TV. Women are drawn to men for different reasons than men to women – and the same, I guess. He’s got power and influence, and all the security and material wealth anyone could need – though it’s irrelevant to this story. (Unless he's pretty active, 50 can be a very seedy age.  I've seen folks at 50 who look 70!)      He got into condition when he was transplanted as a matter of survival. He’s a mountain man through and through. Also keeps fit for the sake of keeping his mind nimble.          -  In most cultures I've read about, monks and mystics refrain from sex for esoteric reasons.     His mysticism actually finds great power in the sex act. But he’s not a powermonger. He’s one of the most knowledgeable mages in the setting world because of his love of knowledge, one of the most powerful because he feels responsible to use his knowledge and power to benefit humanity. Though he doesn’t really care for people in general.          -  Does he even remember his wife after 20 years of magic?      He probably writes her a poem every other day. His memory of her keeps him breathing through the long winters.      Other than an icon of a past life, I mean.      He refuses to concede his life to the past. In part, this keeps him both sane and insane. It’s a large part of why he’s so eccentric.>>

He believes so, but has no real reason to believe he can.

At this point in time, he has no idea that his wife is also a key character in this setting world. He thinks he knows a way back, but if he's wrong he'll die in the attempt. And despite his assertions otherwise, he really loves life.

In the BIG picture, he's been married to his wife for . . . ever. He only recalls his life on Earth and his subsequent relocation. On earth, his wife is his "third time's a charm" wife. They've been married for ten years. Having been a player through his 20s and 30s, he constantly fights the compulsion to wander; it is only the immensity of his love for wife #3 [and the immensity of his guilt for having been a s9it to his first wife and somewhat less a jerk to his 2nd] that keeps him honest. He holds an intellectual appreciation for monogamy, but really doesn't feel it. Truth and honesty are core values, and he feels it would be dishonest and disrespect his wife by being with another woman. If it did happen, he would not be able to lie to her about it - and yet he's learned better than to appease his own guilt by heaping grief and doubt on her and so would not voluntarily confess. Unless, perhaps, he were suddenly forced by circumstance to adopt a daughter obviously of his bloodline. Though he'd likely suggest that his brother's genes would create such a likeness before his own would (distraction, aka lying by diversion).

Once I have this thing drafted, I'd really appreciate opinions on it.

If you'd be willing to offer more or less of a critique, please PM me and I'll send the draft to an email you designate.

How'd I give the impression she's alien? She's definitely human. Right now, anyway. And he really doesn't have a moral aversion to any act of pleasure - unless it inflicts harm on another. He's been away from his wife for far more than forty years! And, you're right, his mindset defaults to 'forget about it'; however, the guy is definitely very human and definitely attracted to the girl for numerous reasons. Among those reasons: she is key to his longterm schemes; she has a hot body; she is the most skilled ranger he's ever met, which is saying quite a lot; she's one of the most skilled martial artists he's ever met, and again that is saying a great deal; and he's been alone for fifteen years living in a cave and studying flora, fauna, and geology!

But it was the drugs that got to him . . . Not a thing either of them could have done to stop it. Simple mistake.

I'd say that he's screwed either way. In his mindset, he's being disloyal to his wife - if she's still around and waiting on him - if he does permit himself to engage in any kind of romance or relationship. On the other hand, he's a man with needs like any other. How long should he wait before he gives up on getting back home? How much pleasure must he forfeit in the name of fidelity?

He would expect her to go on living without him. To continue as though she were enjoying life enough for both of them. He would want that for her. And . . . it's been a really long time . . . But, that kind of has its downside in that he's a bit self-conscious of it.

Also, he'd be cheating any mistress by giving her 'left-overs'. Because no matter how he feels about the woman, his heart is too full of his wife to be given to any other. She can never be more than 'the other woman' to him. Even if she bears him a child. Which she will because she must, or the future is going to go very badly for the Vale . . .

So. Does he cheat on his wife to save the world in which he presently lives? Or remain faithful at the cost of countless innocent lives?

If he has a wife and he's supposed to remain faithful, then yes, he's cheating if he sleeps with someone else.

But he really doesn't have a marriage, in the true sense. Why did he leave his wife to take a vow of chastity? What married man does that? Sounds like he's abandoned his wife.

I haven't read the whole thread yet, so I don't know if any of that has been answered.

~Beth

Well, if you're interested in seeing how I handled it, just let me know. PM me with your email address and I'll be happy to get feedback from discerning readers.

More story being written presently, but I'll send what I've got so far for feedback. It's a bit over ten-thousand words at the moment. Likely to end up around 25K.

Nicholas, it wouldn't be my head on a pike . . .

Seriously, though, I understand that. I used to use that excuse, but I learned that it was a copout and just got honest about it.

I don't want to spoil it, so I won't tell you how it happened. I think it makes both characters more human as well as more sympathetic the way I worked it. No date rape [if you have to prove intent, anyway], and no crutching on the wine and shrooms - not exactly, anyway.

I seriously would have had no qualms in regards to the date rape scenario except for audience feedback. In the context of their culture, I don't think it would have been out of the question. HOWEVER, it really did go against the ranger's character. She wanted him on her own merits, not by deception or worse. She wanted him as much as a conquest as a companion - which came with its own psycho-social baggage for her. She is, after all, a soldier. And, truth to tell, she got way more than she bargained for . . .

I thought you were bouncing between Devil's Advocate and the Charlie Harper approach (Two and a half Men - Charlie Harper). Never occured to me to take it as seriously your POV, just sort of tossing out some other alternatives.

ON the other hand, I really liked the Lancelot comment. It got me to thinking a little bit. So thanks for that.

Jordan Lapp said...
What's awesome is that I'm coming across as a COMPLETE pig in this thread, and I'm so totally not. You'd be a genius among the porcine races, being able to type and all. And even in coherent sentences.

---

Read me soon in The Return of the Sword!
Blog: http://bitterhermit.wordpress.com
Buy wine: http://fringemonkey.org
Poetry Blog: http://fringemonkey.wordpress.com

-  Ran through the first half a dozen chapters, I sent you commentary via email so it's not chopped & smurfed by the PM system. 

Good luck with it,  Rob

Rob,

Thanks for the feedback. I really appreciate your time and effort.
David