Frees
Addressing a Caste Member by Color: There is one exception. It is the use of the color when addressing someone as being "of certain caste." For example, "of the Scarlet Caste," except it is not used as the color of the person but clearly as the color of the caste he belongs to. "Tal, warrior," is fine. "Tal, red," is not. Consider this: would anyone address a slaver as blue and yellow or a merchant as white and gold? Why should high caste people be called a color? They are initiates, builders, scribes, physicians, warriors, and not whites, yellows, blues, greens and reds.
"'He wears the black tunic,' said Sura, 'and I do not know who he is, but he is not of the Black Caste.'"--Assassin, p. 363
"'Perhaps you are even of the Scarlet Caste,' he said."--Mercenaries, p. 204
"I had sought out the physicians, those of the Green Caste, in camp." A Free Calling Another Free "Master": This does not imply that the speaker is a slave.
"On the way to the street of weapon makers I again passed the water carrier. His bag on his shoulder was now, again, damp, dark, bulging. 'Tal, Master,' said he to me." Bro/Brother: Goreans never addressed anyone as "bro," and "brother" was only used for members of the same caste.
Jarl or Master: While a slave addressed a free man as "my Jarl," not every Torvaldslander was a Jarl. That was a title bestowed on selected individuals for prowess in battle, etc., by the High Jarl. There was only one High Jarl over all of Torvaldsland. A free man, even one from the south, would be addressed as "my Jarl" in Torvaldsland. Equally, a Torvaldslander would be called "Master" if he was in the south.
Sir and Lady: Goreans addressed other free men as either "Sir" or by name, never both together. "Sir Euphanius" is not Gorean. "Lady Julia" is fine, but never used for males. (John Norman did not write "The Story of O".)
Mambas: Mambas, who were cannibals, were only located in the Ushindi jungle, an eight-day journey upriver from Bila Haruma's capital. They did not come out of the jungle and did not attack cities or wander all over Gor.
Mercenaries: These were military companies and the only female members were either already in a collar or due to have one very soon. There were no armed female mercenaries. Tharna in Tribesmen was not a mercenary. She simply fronted for Abdul, the Salt Ubar, with his group of bandits. Sydney/Arlene in Beasts was only mercenary in the sense that she worked for money not that she fought.
Outlaws: An outlaw on Gor is simply someone who does not have a Home Stone. They were not the Gorean version of Jesse James or Robin Hood and they did not band together to attack cities. There were no female members of outlaw groups. Marlenus referred to Verna as outlaw simply because she did not have a Home Stone. But she was a panther girl. There were no mixed sex outlaw groups.
Panther Girls: They are simply bands of armed female outlaws roaming the Northern Forest. They are known for capturing and selling men as slaves, among other things. They are still free women, just like any outlaw, so slaves still must treat them as such, calling them "Mistress," kneeling before them, and obeying them. These were referred to by the name of the leader. There was no "En" or "Se." Also, they were bands, not tribes, and had a leader. There is no such word as chieftess.
"The panther girl, Sheera, who was leader of this band, sat down in the warm sand."--Hunters, p. 40
"When Hura’s band arrived, ready to fight for these pasangs of forest, ready to drive Verna’s band out, they would meet no opposition."--Hunters, p. 185
“'I am of the band of Verna,' said the girl." Torvaldslanders: While they may be descended from Scandinavians, they are not Vikings. There were no Vikings on Gor, any more than there were Romans, Greeks, Hittites, Mongols, Sioux, or any other Earth race. The one exception was the Red Hunters, who were also called Inuit.
First Sword: This was never a rank, just a champion swordsman. As for "Second Sword," that only means they are "second best".That is not in any book. It is a title given by others to the one that is most adept at using the sword. It does not need to be a warrior. Equally, there were never any "First Axe," "First Bow," "First Lance," or first anything else, except for the first and last spear when Goreans were hunting the mighty larl.
"That Drusus Rencius was first sword among the guards, then, in this case, as his insignia made clear, was not a reference to his rank but a recognition of his skill with the blade." First Slaver: It is one of the ways of referring to the caste leader of slavers in a given city.
"Samos wore the blue and yellow robes of the slaver. Indeed, he was First Slaver of Port Kar, and First Captain in its Council of Captains, which council, since the downfall of the four ubars is sovereign in Port Kar." Free Woman Collared for Striking a Man: A free woman could not be collared for striking a man.
Except for capture by someone from another city, free women were only subject to being collared if sentenced to slavery by a magistrate or an official after a hearing.
“'The Lady Sasi, of Port Kar,' said the praetor, 'in virtue of what we have here today established and in virtue of the general warrant outstanding upon her, must come under sentence.'
Free Woman Talking Back to a Free Man: Men respected free women of their own Home Stone and would protect them with their lives. The same men had no qualms enslaving women of any caste or family of other cities, especially their enemies. A sharp-tongued free woman did not inspire fear or hurt ego, causing a free man to quake and run for a collar to protect himself from this creature. Enslaving a free woman of one's own Home Stone requires legal action and the intervention and judgment of the magistrate.
"'Beware your words,' I cautioned her.
“'What are you talking about?' she demanded. 'Give me my clothing,' she demanded angrily. Again, the points of the two spears pressed against her abdomen. Again they penetrated the loosely woven cloth. Again she stepped back, for the moment disconcerted. I gathered that she had been accustomed to having her demands met by men. When a woman speaks in that tone of voice to a man of Earth he generally hastens to do her bidding. He has been conditioned so. Here, however, her proven Earth techniques seemed ineffectual, and this puzzled her, and angered her, and, I think, to an extent frightened her. What if men did not do her bidding? She was smaller and weaker, and beautiful and desirable. What if she discovered that it were she, and not they, who must do now what was bidden, and with perfection? A woman who spoke in that tone to a Gorean man, if she were not a free woman, would find herself instantly whipped to his feet." Free Women in Tavern: A tavern keeper could not just collar a free woman who entered. This had to be dealt with by a magistrate, as it was against the law in most places.
Debtor Sluts: Concerning redemption laws, these are women that are detained by the one they owe to. They are treated as captives, so they are really free women until someone pays their debt. They are not paid for the work, so they can not really pay off their debt themselves. By paying the debt of the woman, they become de facto their owners. Then they can free them or keep them enslaved.
"'She lived from men, following them and exploiting them,' I said. 'She was a debtor slut. I paid her bills and thus came into her de facto ownership, through the redemption laws.'
Slaves Bitch: There are no dogs on Gor, so no bitches. The one use was when two girls from Earth were insulting each other. A Gorean would not know what a bitch was. Bond-maids: There seems to be a strange notion that bonds are not kajirae. Kajira means slave girl so for anyone to say they are not kajirae is saying they aren't slaves. Bond-maid was also used in the south for a slave. "Then I rolled to one side, and lay on one elbow, regarding her. Bond-maids Do Not Kneel: Incorrect. "Bonds do not kneel." How many times have we heard this phrase, usually uttered with contempt by a bond that has been ordered to her knees by a free person. So, you feel it is valid to refuse an order given to you just because you happen to live in the north? "Certain of these things, such as failing to kneel in the presence of a free man, may be regarded as a capital offense on the part of a Gorean slave girl, even if it is inadvertent. If intent is involved in such an omission, it can be an occasion for death by torture."--Players, p. 429 In Marauders there are a few quotes that should be pointed out. The popular argument is that bonds do not kneel because of the snow. That is a very valid point and, frankly, I would not want to kneel in the snow either. But what about on a boat? In the long hall? In the fields, or at the Thing? Or, the Second Life equivalent, when visiting another city. Would a bond kneel on a boat? That is a good question. Some would say, “No, she is a bond.” I say yes; she is a slave. “'I am finished,' said the slender girl, returning to where we sat, and kneeling on the deck."--Marauders, p. 100 So, bonds did kneel on boats when ordered to. What about that now infamous quote given to prove that bonds did not kneel: "I saw people running down the sloping green land, toward the water. Several came from within the palisade. Among them, white-kirtled, collared, excited, ran bond-maids. These, upon the arrival of their master, are permitted to greet him. The men of the north enjoy the bright eyes, the leaping bodies, the squealing, the greetings of their bond-maids. In the fields I saw an overseer, clad in scarlet, with a gesture of his hand, releasing the thralls. Then, they, too, ran down toward the water. It would be holiday, I gathered, at the hall of Ivar Forkbeard."-- Marauders, p. 129 Yes, the bond enjoys more latitude and laxity than a southern slave. This is a product of her environment. There are two things that stand out and tell that this is not the status quo. Many quote the instance of Gunnhild greeting her jarl by pressing against him and kissing him. How many read on and quote Pouting Lips also? "A bond-maid thrust through the crowd. 'Does my Jarl not remember Gunnhild?' she asked. She whimpered, and slipped to his side, holding him, lifting her lips to kiss him on the throat, beneath the beard. About her neck, riveted, was a collar of black iron, with a welded ring, to which a chain might be attached. “Bonds don’t kneel in the long house.” They don’t? This is probably news to every jarl and mistress in the Torvaldsland of the books. Now, while serving, no, bonds do not kneel. They are too busy running back and forth with meat, mead, and bread to worry about the niceties of a formal serve.When they were not busy, yes, they knelt to one side and waited just like their southern counterparts. "I looked down at Thyri, kneeling beside my bench. She looked up at me, frightened. She was a beautiful girl, with a beautiful face. She was delicate, sensitive. Her eyes were highly intelligent, beautiful, and deep. A collar of black iron was riveted on her throat."--Marauders, p. 155"Ahh, but that is inside," I hear you say. "Bonds do not kneel outside. It is too cold!" Really? Is it winter every month of the year in Torvaldsland? They did have four seasons. Tarl arrived there during the growing season, hence the bosk and verr being out grazing and the grain growing in fields. Trust me, grain does not grow in the snow, and the bosk and verr would be far too valuable to the long house for food during the winter to actually allow them to wander and graze in the cold months. We all know the infamous scene at The Thing, where Forkbeard bumps into Bera, the woman of Jarl Blue Tooth. I will not add the entire quote. It is far too long and mostly is Bera questioning Forkbeard about where he is from. "At the foot of the steps leading down from the platform, the Forkbeard stopped and bowed low. I, too, bowed. The slave girls fell to their knees, heads down, Gunnhild with them. Yes, slaves kneel. Northern, southern, eastern, or western. If there is a collar around your neck, you kneel or suffer the consequences. What is that? Your jarl told you not to kneel? Unless he is there to speak up and countermand the order just given, you best get on your knees and fast. They most certainly knelt when ordered to. If you face any true Gorean with "I don’t kneel, I'm a bond," he is going to respond, “You’re a slave!” and backhand you to your knees, if you are lucky. Any jarl or master is well within his rights as a free man to kill a slave that refuses an order. All slaves knelt but not always. The atmosphere, the situation, the surface, the season of year, the mind of the free would all play a role in when a slave knelt. A slave would not kneel to an equal slave or one beneath her/him and would not kneel in the street alone either. Slaves had chores to do and would be seen all over the city working and on errands. They would not sit idle on their knees all alone. Slaves in the Long Hall Always Served Naked: False. "Male thralls turned the spits over the long fire; female thralls, bond-maids, served the tables. The girls, though collared in the manner of Torvaldsland, and serving men, were fully clothed. Their kirtles of white wool, smudged and stained with grease, fell to their ankles; they hurried about; they were barefoot; their arms, too, were bare; their hair was tied with strings behind their heads, to keep it free from sparks; their faces were, on the whole, dirty, smudged with dirt and grease; they were worked hard; Bera, I noted, kept much of an eye upon them; one girl, seized by a warrior, her waist held, his other hand sliding upward from her ankle beneath the single garment permitted her, the long, stained woolen kirtle, making her cry out with pleasure, dared to thrust her lips eagerly, furtively, to his; but she was seen by Bera; orders were given; by male thralls she was bound and, weeping, thrust to the kitchen, there to be stripped and beaten; I presumed that, if Bera were not present, the feast might have taken a different turn; her frigid, cold presence was, doubtless, not much welcomed by the men."--Marauders, pp. 299-300 Branding: Only slaves were branded, never captives unless they submitted as a slave. Again, there were no personal brands. A slave is a commodity which can be bought and sold and having someone's initials burnt into them is not likely to improve their sales value; the opposite in fact. Brand Removal: This just did not happen. "...But the freedom of a former slave girl is always a somewhat tenuous thing. Her thigh still bears the brand. And, should her ears be pierced, it is almost certain she will, sooner or later, be re-enslaved..."--Beasts, p. 388 (40th Anniversary Edition) Breeding Wine/Second Wine: This is not a treatment for fertility. It only counteracts slave wine and does not mean an automatic pregnancy. Additionally, slave wine is not a morning-after pill. That does not exist, nor does slave wine have any effect on kajiri. Capitalizing Names: Nowhere in any of the books does any proper noun appear beginning with a lower case letter. Free person names are capitalized. Tarn names are capitalized. City, river, ocean, mountain, and forest names are capitalized. Even the name given to a big, old salt shark was capitalized, as well as were slave names are capitalized. Leave this on the planet BDSM. It is not Gorean. Equally, capitalizing pronouns is wrong unless they start a sentence. Fur/Furring (As a verb): Never used in any book. Slaves were "sent to the furs," "used," "penetrated," and so on, but never "furred." Heat: This was never used as a synonym for a vagina. A slave could "display her heat," meaning her attitude and desire, or she could say she was "hot." Karta, Suga, and Table: There are no such positions as Karta or Suga specified in the books; however, the position Prostrate is mentioned and is similar to these positions. There is no position or command called Table mentioned in the books. It is a carry-over from the world of BDSM. Lil' One/Little One: Not found in any book. Menstruation: Slave wine did not prevent menstruation. “'You are just in a bad mood,' I said. Such moods were not uncommon with Marcus. Pregnant Slaves: Pregnant "love slaves" never happened. Masters did not breed on their slaves. Any breeding was done by mating a kajira and a kajirus, both hooded. “'If there is to be breeding done upon them, I will, of course, supervise it,' she said. Restrictions: Are very Gorean. A man would no more use another man's slave than take his tarn for a ride without permission. A slave was property and any man using without permission or damaging that property would suffer the consequences. There was always the risk of a man using another man's slave out of spite or as a grudge, so the only way to guarantee your slave's restriction to you was to put her in an iron belt when you were not around. "Although Marcus was harsh with his slave, pretending even to a casual and brutal disdain for her, he was also, it might be mentioned, extremely possessive where she was concerned. Indeed, he was almost insanely jealous of her. She was not the sort of girl, for example, whom he, as a host, even at the cost of a certain rudeness and inhospitality, would be likely to hand over for the nightly comfort of a guest. It would be at his slave ring alone that she would be likely to find herself chained."--Magicians, p. 27 Shaved or Not Shaved: Depilation of body hair seems to be optional and not consistent throughout Gor. "Some masters, too, prefer a smooth slave, and, in such a case, may have the slave depilated, or have her body hair shaved away. Sometimes the master attends to this himself. This is more common in certain cities than in others."--Smugglers, p. 155 Silk Levels: There were no training "levels" of any kind recognized in the books. A girl had either been taught to do something or she had not. The color of her clothing, if she was permitted clothing, had nothing to do with it. "Red silk" was a rather crude term for a girl who was no longer a virgin and "white silk" just as crude a term for a virgin girl. That is all. Sis/Sister: Slaves never called each other "sis" or "sister". They would address a girl who had been in a chain longer as "mistress". “'Now we are both mere work slaves, both of us only common sluts on the black chain of Ionicus.' Slave Papers: These were kept by a slave's owner. Slaves did not carry them around strapped to their leg or any other part of their anatomy. A slave could carry a note from their owner though, for purchasing something. The name of the slave's owner would be imprinted on the collar of the slave. Slaves Speaking in Third Person: In the books, slaves were sometimes made to speak in the third person as an object lesson or a training aid. Most of the time, though, slaves in the books used personal pronouns normally. Slaves Speaking the Name of a Free: Slaves are allowed to say the name of a free person when speaking of the free but never allowed to address the free by name, unless gaining permission first. This was usually only allowed in private, though. “'Whose slave are you, then?' he asked. A Slave Can Say No to a Free: “'Can you read?' asked a man, he who had said he was Teibar. Slaves Touching Coins: While slaves were not permitted to own money, they could handle it and carry it. Slaves were not forbidden to touch money. "She spit the coins she carried in her mouth into her hand, and told me what I wanted to know. Few Gorean garments are deformed by pockets."--Tarnsman, p. 294 Slaves Touching Free: Slaves are allowed to touch free without permission. You do not have to ask or beg to touch them. How can a slave expect to be alluring and seductive if she cannot even touch the man? However, a slave may not touch an Initiate, though, and a free woman might not enjoy being touched by a slave either (her personal preference). There are numerous instances in the books where a slave touches a free and even feeds them by lifting the food to their lips with her mouth. How could she do this if she was not allowed to touch them? Of course there are instances, such as in punishment, where the girl has to be told not to touch the Free. "'Are you as innocent and as clumsy as before?' he asked. Slaves Touching Weapons: Slaves are allowed to touch weapons. How can one be expected to complete a chore if they cannot lift an axe to chop wood, or wield a knife to slice meat? A common onlinism is, "Any slave even touching a weapon will be put to death." There are many instances throughout the books where a slave touches weapons. The difference being the intent when touching. You do not need to use your silks or a cloth to touch a weapon. "'I recalled how a guard had once given me his spear, and it had been so heavy, I could throw it only a few feet. He had then taken it from me and hurled it into a block of wood, head deep, more then a hundred feet away. He then sent me to fetch it for him and I had scarcely been able to work it free of the wood."--Captive, p. 106 Sweetening the Rim: Slaves did not "sweeten"--coat the rim of the drinking vessel with their honey--drinks for the free in the books. Slaves did not "warm" a drink with their slave heat either. They did not bring it to their pussy, they did not bring it to their belly, and they did not hold it to their heart for 3 heartbeats. They did not say a prayer and they did not back 3 paces before leaving the free. By the Book Serve vs. Typical Second Life Serve:What I am about to share with you is taken from the books, so this is not an Second Life (SL) mutation of serves, but what they did in the books. This is not to say not to be creative or unique in your role play. What I will tell may cut out a lot of the unneeded stuff. Many onlinisms are simply mutations of things that happened in the books. Many times, unknown to most, these minor mutations effect what it truly means and their purposes. Some were made up for more chest pounding, some just because they needed something frilly to emote and look all pretty. I can come up with a hundred reasons but I think ultimately it is ignorance of what was in the books. Some of things that SL schools teach are so made up that there is not a quote in the books to say, "Hey, this is so made up," like you can use quotes to back up other things. Most of these should be common sense, but to ensure that, I will simply highlight and explain in as much detail as possible from a Gorean standpoint why these are wrong, and some really wrong. I think you will enjoy this anyway. Let me start off with this, first and foremost. A true Gorean man does not want to wait half an hour to get his drink. He does not want his discussion or thoughts interrupted five times just to get the thing. So let us start by sharing a normal SL version of a serve: Beg to approach, ask to serve with some, "May this little one please be of service," repeat the order, back three paces, go to the servery, wash hands, dry them, grabs a bowl, wipes it clean, check for imperfections, sometimes against your flesh. Then, get the drink, if they request chilled, they run to the chillery, pours it, grabs the bowl, return near the master, beg to approach again, kneel, glide it to your belly, to your heart for 3 heartbeats while you say a silent prayer, press a kiss to it below the rim and lift it up with some dialog of, "Master, this little one prays that her service is pleasing and the drink and that the PK's smile down upon you." Then, you sit there, giggle, and wait for dismissal, or ask to be of further assistance. Anyone thirsty after all that? Do you see how ridiculous it is when put in basic terms like that? That is the SL version, not by the books (BTB). Let's face it, we are in a BTB sim. Now, I am going to break it down step by step:
"'Your paga, Master,' she said. But I did not take the paga. Now you ask, "So what is a decent Gorean serve, if all of this is crap?" Well, I will answer you. You kneel and beg to serve, you are told what to get, you go get it, you come back, you kneel, bow your head, kiss or do not kiss the vessel, you give it to them. Tah dah! See how easy? Great, you all now pass Serving 101. Before you have a heart attack and say this crap is boring, this is the foundation of a BTB Gorean serve. Include your creativity. Describe the way the firelight reflects off your sun-kissed skin, the way your sensual hips sway lewdly beneath he hem of your camisk. Here are other quotes: "'Paga!' called the standing man. 'Paga!' A blonde girl, nude, with a string of pearls wound about her steel collar, ran to the table and, from the bronze vessel, on its strap, about her shoulder, poured paga into the goblet before the seated man. The fellow who stood by the table, scarcely noticing the girl, placed a tarsk-bit in her mouth, and she fled back to the counter where, under the eye of a paga attendant, she spit the coin into a copper bowl."--Rogue, p. g 77 General Bazi Tea Ceremony: There is no Bazi tea ceremony, and the Pani one is only done by contract women not by slaves. In the books, tea came from the city of Bazi, hence the name. There is no such thing as a formal Bazi tea ceremony on Gor. It is served hot and highly sugared, and drunk in tiny glasses, usually three at a time, carefully measured. In taverns, it is often kept in a pitcher. "The collar-girl was ignorant of the simplest things, even the proper serving of tea, the careful, delicate, symbolic arrangements of flowers, and such. She would be of little interest to a gentleman, save for her performance of lengthy, servile labors, and her squirmings, gaspings, moanings, thrashings, and beggings, perhaps back-braceleted, in his arms. Certainly the contract women knew the attractions of simple collar-girls for males, but they did not regard them as rivals. When, wearied of a world's concerns, he wished to spend a leisurely, elegant evening, gratifying his various cultivated senses, physical, intellectual, and aesthetic, his choice would not be the collar-girl, but the women trained to comfort and delight him in traditional and cultural manners."--Swordsmen, p. 277 Black Wine: Two words, not blackwine, blackwyne, or anything else. It is a very expensive commodity and was only obtained from Thentis. It did not grow anywhere else. Black wine is not commonly available on Gor and it is not realistic to expect it in most taverns or establishments. “I grinned, and washed down the eggs with a swig of hot black wine, prepared from the beans grown upon the slopes of the Thentis Mountains. This black wine is quite expensive. Men have been slain on Gor for attempting to smuggle the beans out of the Thentian territories.”--Beasts, p. 21 Chairs: There were chairs in Gor, simply not very common, and usually disliked by Goreans. These were, if used at all, curule chairs not four-legged Earth ones. "The knife struck the back of the chair before which I stood, striking through the wood, stopping only with the hilt."--Assassin, p. 526 Earth or Urth: The word "Urth" was only shown in the books as a way to explain how Goreans pronounced the word. Urth comes from the written works of a different science fiction author, Gene Wolfe. The word in Norman's books was "Earth." Likewise, the word "ko-lar" was used in the book once, as an example of pronunciation. The hundreds of other times in the books, it is collar. To Greet: "Tal" or "Greetings" as a form of "Hello". Both are used by frees and slaves alike. The word "Hielsa", often used in northern sims, is a pure onlinism and is not found in any book. "The girls stood straight, proud under the gaze of a warrior. Home Stone: This is two separate words and both are capitalized. It is not home stone or Homestone. Also, it is not a synonym for a town or a city. To claim to be a citizen, the format is "My Home Stone is that of..." “My Home Stone is the Home Stone of Ko-ro-ba.”--Tarnsman, p. 70 Ka-La-Na Wine: Ka-la-na wine does not have the effect of making a free woman want to be a slave.This comes from a misunderstanding of an incident in Mercenaries where a free woman pretended to want to go with Tarl (Actually what she wanted was to slip tassa powder in his ka-la-na wine and rob him). Additionally, it is not poisonous if drunk from a silver goblet, or any other goblet, for that matter. Kitchen or Servery: Not servery/chilla/chillery/coolery/icebox. Outside of frozen Torvaldsland, there is no ice on Gor unless you are very rich and can afford to have it transported and stored in an ice-house. Chillas or iceboxes do not exist. Items were kept cool in a storage room with no windows, a hole under the floor with a hatch, or a cellar. Meat was preserved by salting, milk, bottles of ale, and wine probably kept down a well or in a flowing stream to keep them cool. Generally, Goreans took their drink warm (in some cases hot) and never chilled. "There is little cold storage on Gor. Generally food is preserved by being dried or salted. Some cold storage, of course, does exist. Ice is cut from ponds in the winter and then stored in ice houses under sawdust. One may go to the ice houses for it or have it delivered in ice wagons. Most Goreans, of course, cannot afford the luxury of ice in the summer."--Guardsman, p. 482 Larl: There were no tame larls anywhere on Gor. A larl was about 6 feet high at the shoulder and very dangerous. Hunting one took a squad of spearmen and nobody ever succeeded in taming one. I am aware there were larls used as guard animals in Book 9, but nowhere was it suggested they were tame or pets. They were controlled; how is not known but certainly they were dangerous. Message-Carrying Vulo: Vulos are not pigeons, only the size of a pigeon. There are some that are very rare and used, so far, only by the Pani to carry messages. "The Pani did have, however, one swift mode of communication. I gathered this from my friends amongst the lower Pani. To be sure, it was available only to a few. It was the swift-flighted, message-carrying vulo, released, seeking its familiar cot and roost."--Mariners, p. 545 Old Gorean: Also known as Kassar language. This is completely non-Gorean and never existed in any book. The Kassars spoke Gorean. "There would be no question of night spying on the Wagon Peoples. I knew they spoke a dialect of Gorean and I hoped I would be able to understand them."--Nomads, p. 20 Scribery: Offices that stored scrolls and documents were called libraries, scribe's office, or scriptorium. In cities, there were Cylinders of Documents where records were kept. Never was scribery used. It is as sensible as a builder who invents things working in an inventory. The word for the office of the administrator (and the city scribes) is semnium. "We were at the foot of the low, broad steps of the Semnium, the hall of the high council."--Mercenaries, p. 200 The Thassa Sea: Incorrect. Thassa means "the sea," so why say, "the the sea sea," unless you suffer from a stutter? Weapons: Bows were looked down on by the Caste of Warriors and were never in general use. "Further, the heavy, bronze-headed spear and the short, double-edged, steel sword are traditionally regarded as the worthy and prime weapons of the Gorean fighting man, he at least who is a true fighting man; and, similarly traditionally, archers, who slay from a distance, not coming to grips with their enemy, with their almost invisible, swiftly moving shafts of wood, those mere splinters, are regarded as being rather contemptible, almost on the periphery of warriorhood; villains in Gorean epics, incidentally, when not of small and despised castes, are likely to be archers; I had heard warriors say that they would rather be poisoned by a woman than slain by an arrow."--Raiders, p. 10 Yes: There was no "aye/aii/ai" used in the books for yes. This is not a word in the Gorean language. It is simply English slang. Medical Gorean Medicines: Physicians never told anyone outside the caste what they used. Also, there is no mention anywhere of herbs being used, with the exception of brak bush. There was no willow, rose, lavender, marigold, or any other Earth herbal remedies on Gor. Let us leave Victorian herbal medicine where it belongs - on Earth. Gorean medicine was in advance of Earth, so the use of "antique" equipment is incorrect "You will learn that in lighting, shelter, agricultural techniques, and medicine, for example, the Mortals, or the Men Below the Mountains, are relatively advanced."--Tarnsman, p. 31 Kanda: Kanda is not the Gorean version of chewing gum, nor is it a food flavoring. It is a very dangerous drug that will basically reduce anyone to a drooling idiot. Incidentally, addicts chewed it; it was never smoked. "I sensed that for this man there could no longer be the saddle of the kaiila, the whirling of the rope and bola, the hunt and the war. Now, from the right side of his mouth, thin, black, and wet, there emerged the chewed string of kanda, a quarter of an inch at a time, slowly. The drooping eyes, glazed, regarded us. For him there could no longer be the swift races across the frozen prairie; the meetings in arms; even the dancing to the sky about a fire of bosk dung."--Nomads, p. 71 Poisons: Ost bites are fatal within seconds. There is no cure. Even if there was an anti-venom, there was not the time to administer it. "Poison of Tyros." This is a slur on Tyros. The poison was developed by Sullius Maximus on his own. When the ubar of Tyros, Chenbar, found out what had happened, he ordered that Sullius be cut with the poisoned weapons and forced to develop an antidote, which he sent to Tarl to restore the honor of Tyros. It would be more accurate to refer to it as "poison of Sullius." "It is a matter of pride for members of that caste to avoid the use of poisoned steel. Too, their codes forbid it."--Beasts, p. 229 Sleen Bites: Sleen bites are not poisonous. A sleen is nothing like a Komodo Dragon. It is a six-legged mammal and the dragon is a four-legged reptile. Stabilization Serum: Native born Goreans do need them with a very few exceptions. “'The masters, and the free, of course, if there is need of it, you must understand, are also afforded the serums of stabilization,' she said, adding, smiling, 'though they are administered to them, I suppose, with somewhat more respect than they are to a slave.' These were administered in four shots on four separate days. There was no four-in-one shot and were also administered at adulthood, never younger. "'You are very pretty,' said Cotina, 'perhaps in four or five years, or six or seven years, or eight or ten years, you might be thought worthy of the Curulean.' Tassa Powder: Not "thassa." It was never used to tip anything. It was only mixed in a drink as a Mickey Finn, not coating arrows, pins, or anything else. Kanda paste was used for that and it is instantly lethal. No cure. Torvaldsland Healers: Never existed. Physicians were hired from the south. "I saw, too, in the crowd, a physician, in green robes, from Ar and a scribe from Cos. These cities are not on good terms but they, civilized men, both in the far north, conversed affably. If the physician was there to meet with his Torvaldsland counterparts, he would have been with them and not with a Cosian."--Marauders, p. 236 The Unborn: A Gorean would never destroy an unborn child, no matter what. "But I would not destroy the egg—not only because it contained life."--Nomads, p. 17 Thanks are given to the City of Jasmine. |