hello, I love your work! I am curious how the Galenii feel about sexuality?
This has to be answered more in terms of how Wardi cultural views on sexuality work
This is a culture that produces eunuchs for both religious and punitive reasons, and eunuchs are viewed as somewhat close to a third gender. They occupy a social space that is simultaneously holy (in the case of the Galenii at least) and something 'lesser', seen as neither a man or woman.
An adult man can have sex with women or eunuchs or younger men with no questions asked. The key to normative male sexuality is that one is the active member of a sex act, and does not receive any form of penetration. To do so is considered emasculating and challenges one's credibility and authority.
The sexuality of women and eunuchs is not subject to as specific social standards, and rather is viewed in frameworks of acceptable levels of libido. (Which is another dimension of common regional sexual standards- there is no moral importance placed on celibacy but there is importance based on discipline and normative sexual appetites)
For the Galenii specifically, they occupy a sort of gray area where they are seen as neither men or women and are thus free from many standards of normative sexuality, while also being seen as somewhat strange and debased for that fact.
Galenii monks are supposed to be entirely celibate (along with following other ascetic practices), as another dimension of their self-sacrifice to ensure fertility of those under their spiritual protection. This is not thoroughly enforced though, as 'celibacy' in this culture is defined along the lines of penetration (and all Galenii are castrated). Galenii priests are not expected to remain celibate and are relatively free to do what they want (though again, will experience social consequences for deviating from standards of a normative sexual appetite). They are also commonly assumed to be wholly desexualized due to their castration. It may be true in many cases that this starkly reduces libido, but the removal of a penis and testes in a human does not necessarily eliminate sexuality or the ability to orgasm.
This can be difficult to navigate on an individual basis. A lot of Galenii are accused criminals who took this path to escape more severe punishment (giving criminals the option to become Galenii is seen as both a way to redeem themselves through sacrifice and to 'disempower' them via castration), and are going to naturally have very difficult relationships to their sexuality after the fact. Their cultural standards tell them they are no longer men, but they aren't necessarily going to feel like something innate has changed due to coerced removal of their genitalia. On the other end, some people are attracted to the role as a socially acceptable means of escaping the expected standards of manhood, many of whom would perhaps be considered gay and/or trans per 21st century irl lgbt definitions of identity. Many Galenii do not have exceptionally complicated relationships to their gender/sexuality and are simply devoted to their role in service to God and as conduits to ensure blessings of fertility to Its people and lands.
Bottom line: it's complicated.












