Xena's gender confusion

[Admin]

Hey all...I've been doing some thinking about Xena...Warrior Priestess.

When I first created Xena, she was a "throw-away" character I rolled up for Survival of the Fittest (the name was a JOKE! lol) once she survived (surprisingly!!) I went about creating a history for her. One part of that history is that she began her adventuring career with an 18++ social level (now it's like 18++++). As a cleric of Athena, she fit the mold for an Amazon, and she is therefore a relation to the Queen of Amazonia.

After a while, I wanted to give her a more complex history...so, I created a past in which Xena was born "Alexander Xenos" (last name subject to change...lol) a man who left the island of Themescrya to become a cleric of Athena and earn the right to serve her. He was killed on an adventure and his compatriots had him reincarnated. The body was that of an Amazon woman. This seemed to be a sign. (Again, this was all fabricated history).

Xena's first really adventure for the Amazonians, was to retreive the girdle of Dinoria which had been stolen by the clerics of Hercles. As the years have passed, I thought it would be great for him to search for a way to get his original body back...so he could be a male priest of Athena ON Amazonia...however, lately, I've been thinking that may be short changing the character concept, and bucking a system on Amazonia that was years in the making... The angst of being a man trapped in a woman's body in order to fully be accepted into the Amazonian hierarchy seems more interesting.

I guess I'm looking for suggestions, thoughts, ideas on how to better develop this concept...

It does not make sense that he would risk his standing as a cleric (and newly made High Priestess) in order to be male again...his/her first loyalty is to Athena & Amazonia, specifically. Even if it means sacrificing the chance of marrying, having children, etc...

I could see Xena being offered a chance to be male again and refusing because it would put in jeopardy all that she's/he's worked for...

One additional thought I had, was that she would search for a way to make herself forget her former life as a male and therefore embrace her life as a female...or is it realistic to hold out for a chance to be a high PRIEST of Athena one day??

What do you all think??

[David]

Howdy Kari,

Well, Xena has now lived off of Themyscria for at least a decade now. She's close friends with at least two of the greatest men ever honored on the island (Vladimir, with whom she recovered the Belt of Denoria and Moorak, whose deeds are known even to the cloistered culture of Amazonia). She's met MANY other faithful of Athena and seen male priests to the goddess of wisdom and war in the West. Her worldview is much broader, as a result, than most of her sisters at home.

Given all this, Xena could choose to follow her inner self and be a male high-priest of Athena in the West (read: anywhere BUT Themyscria and the other Amazon enclaves). Heck, she could even help reconcile her people with the outside world (although that probably wouldn't work and would only weaken and piss off the Amazons -- but Xena could serve as a more-open-minded ambassador-type).

Another option would be for Xena to return to male form and ask Athena to judge him. True, this would be a HUGE deal, but there have been two other males granted the right to bear arms on Themyscria (Rufus and Vladimir). This would be tough and include Xena "bucking the system" but then Amazons come from a "successful-hot-dog-friendly" culture (much like Americans).

While Xena could decide to have his male identity erased, I don't know if I like that idea. But then, I love tortured characters, so go figure. It really is a question of how much of Xena's former life she remembers. If it's only vague recollections than I say, "Full boobs ahead!"

[Admin]

Well, since the character's reincarnation was more for the history/role play...I was assuming he remembers most (not all) of his former life...I'm thinking a 3,4 or 5 on a d6...The more I think about it, and with the points you've made, I'm honestly not that comfortable with her simply "erasing" her male life...cuz then what's the point of creating such a history...ya know? There has to be some angst, growth, internal conflict...

I guess I'm just a little confused (as Xena would be) about where and how her life should progress...I could definitely envision a cool story being that he is returned to his male body...then must complete some series of great missions for the Amazons in order to be allowed to come to Amazonia as a High Priest...