The Kesha
The Kesha is a profession that predates, and is the traditional predecessor of, the Keylah.
These females are trained in and charged with maintaining the health of an Ammoian male and his household. They act as bathers/hygienists and also as cooks. An Ammoian male leader may have up to two, but usually have at least one. They do not have to be bound to the male, but they usually are.
It was originally the kesha's duty to feed and bathe the males of society that were important. But, if an amon isn't important enough to warrant the protection of a properly trained keylah, he might have himself a kesha instead. A kesha usually isn't as formidably trained in hand to hand combat as a professionally trained keylah is, however, security personnel can and often are chosen to be a younger amon's kesha, which may help them to be elevated from a kesha to a position of keylah, either after getting formal training or just placed in such a position out of necessity.
These females might also be charged with being a prince heir's protection until he is old enough to select a keylah for himself.
A kesha may augment or help a keylah with her duties, particularly in larger households. In this case one might cook, one might wash or bathe the amon, and then the keylah checks their work or tests their cooking.
Patriarchs will often have a keylah, two kesha, a data-drone and at least four bound body guards.
Over all, a kesha has the social prominence of being somewhere between a bound wife and that of being a geisha like position in Japanese culture. With time, and as the Ammoian culture started to become militarized, the positions of a kesha morphed into what is now today the position of the Keylah. If an amon has a professionally or traditionally trained keylah, then he usually doesn't have a kesha unless his household is larger, or the amon is of particular importance, to need one (or two).
Career
Qualifications
There are two levels of the kesha, the amateur and the professional.
The amateur doesn't need any formal training she only needs to be able to cook SOMETHING and be able to wash her amon.
The professional kesha on the other hand is trained in proper nutrition and what foods play off each other well. She knows her soaps and scents and the traditions that go with using which and when. The professional kesha also knows proper and traditional wash techniques and knows about good water use and hygiene. On a starship they may also be charged with changing water filters or maintaining water purification devices. They also know what ceremonial foods to feed their amon around certain festivals and ceremonies. Hence the professional kesha can start training as a young girl until her age of official adultship.
Where as the keylah is trained in combat arts and food ceremony, the kesha training in martial arts is intended as more of a survival and less "artsy" style, whereas she might have to defend her mate in bath or shower setting where weapons might not be available. She may also be in a slippery environment, hence professionally trained kesha are trained in ways to fight under such conditions.
Career Progression
There's not a whole lot of progression, however, it is possible for an amateur to get formal training, and in cases where there are two kesha, one may become the primary or the prominent one and the other might be an apprentice or an assistant. This usually happens if one is more experienced than the other, usually by age difference. This can also happen if an amon had two but lost one in death for whatever reason and the older amona has to train up a younger female to replace her.
Ultimately though, the Keylah is still above the kesha in duties and in scrutiny.
Payment & Reimbursement
They are part of an amon's household and therefore payments are usually unnecessary.
A kesha may oversee funds that pay for soaps and food items, but in any sizeable estate they may be more apt to make such items at home when feasible.
Other Benefits
There aren't any formal benefits to being a kesha, not like being an amon's keylah, however, they do have access to the household's food supply and are more likely to have a... "robust" stature!
Perception
Purpose
The ultimate purpose of the kesha is for the care and upkeep of Ammoian society's amon. Whether it's to feed them, clothe them, or wash them.
Social Status
The amateur kesha is usually of low status. In this case she is probably either just a body guard, or she is an informal wife to the amon, or possibly intended mate.
Professional kesha are of more social prominence, or at least a little more social prominence to their amon. An amon with two professionally trained kesha are considered to be of high status. Although the keylah always has more status than the household's kesha.
Demographics
First off, a kesha is always female. As to how many females can be considered a "kesha" is a little hard to pinpoint.
A young female might be appointed to be a young male's kesha, to be intended for them to bond together later. In this case amateur kesha might be as high as 25% of the female population, in some manner.
On the other hand, professionally trained kesha might be about two times the size of the professionally trained keylah population.
History
The position dates as far back as Amon and Eva. The original context or use of the kesha was to mean "wife" or mate or the Ammoian version of "Help-meet". As Ammoian society began to mature and diversify, the kesha became its own "profession".
At first the kesha was to mean a wife or intended wife. The kesha took care of her amon. As other needs began to arise, and as the male to female gap began to widen, Ammoian households took in more female mates. Once the Ammoians started going into space and the race started to militarize, the need to have one primary female looking over a male's affairs began to materialize. Hence the position of Keylah was born.
In the modern era, an amon of status may still have a keylah and a couple of kesha, particularly if his household is large or he is a male of high status. The kesha act as assistants to the keylah. Kesha can act as a tender for the amon's children if necessary, if he does not have a dedicated tender.
The bottom line is that the position of a kesha is flexible. For the most part she is either looking out for an unbound male, with the intent to someday be bound to him, or she is bound to an amon with the intent to be an assistant to his keylah.
Operations
Provided Services
A kesha can have a range of duties:
Hygiene - she ensures that the amon is bathed, brushed, and is in clean clothing. This is particularly necessary for military leaders who spend a lot of time out in the field.
Cooking - In larger households this can be necessary to assist the keylah in her duties. The keylah can oversee their actions, or she can focus on feeding her amon, while the others prepare the food for the rest of the family.
Tendering - The kesha can provide these services for the amon's children, with the added responsibility of raising his daughters with a proper education, at least until they are old enough to start proper schooling, or are old enough to haveĀ their own kesha assigned to them, if they are male.
Alternative Names
"Hygeinists" is a more professional, and modern, description, while the term "Bathers" is a little more unprofessional, but is also more traditional.
Demand
If an amon doesn't have a keylah, he might have a kesha instead. Ultimately, an amon with two kesha is of higher station. The demand for professionally trained kesha is often reserved for higher ranking amon.
Legality
The main difference between a kesha and a keylah is that the keylah can act in the stead of her mate, what she says is as if it is coming from her mate. The kesha may not be formally bound to the male she serves, hence, while she works for his care and feeding, she cannot officially act in his capacity, or in his stead.
Other Associated professions
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