SOCIAL VALUES After a successful raid, the men will celebrate with Victory Ale. A huge tankard, that may hold about five gallons, is filled with ale. The sign of Thor is made over this two-handled tankard. The tankard is then passed among all the men who drink heartily from it. Unlike most Gorean men, the men of Torvaldsland do not allow themselves to cry. One method for a man to prove he is telling the truth is to run with two bars of red hot metal about twenty feet. Unfortunately, it is not clear as to what the results are supposed to be. Maybe the simple act of being able to make it twenty feet is sufficient to prove you are telling the truth. It could also be if your flesh is able to tolerate the heat without being injured. This was a common method of ordeal on Earth. A wergild is compensation that must be paid when you unjustly kill another person. There is no wergild involved for a rightful duel. The relatives of the deceased person set the price of the wergild. There are certain customs that dictate the usual wergild amounts though a person is not legally bound to follow custom. A person that refuses to pay a wergild becomes an outlaw. When men seal a friendship, they commonly shake hands and then taste salt from the back of each other's wrist. Gift giving is important in Torvaldsland. By custom, the host is supposed to give the best gifts. It would be seen as an insult for a guest to give the host a better gift than he received. In the north, a man is honored when he rightly bestows honor upon another. "As we honor this man we, in doing this, similarly do honor onto ourselves." (Marauders of Gor, p.182) This does not entail a taking from someone. It is much more similar to a giving of gifts, a mutual exchange of honor. To a lesser extent, this would also apply in lands south of Torvaldsland. This concept helps to promote a cohesiveness to the society, making men accountable for how they treat others. The converse of this concept would also apply. If you wrongfully dishonor someone, that dishonor would attach to you as well. Thus, honor is based in part on how you interact and treat with your fellow men. |