Onlinisms

Common onlineisms concerning Herbs of the Green Caste

Note: An onlineism is a term or expression that has not originated in the books but rather by a role player somewhere and added to a note card or website and duplicated over and over.

Some examples of onlineisms:

Agrimony

Blue Short Grass

Green Paga

Willow Bark

Valerian

Marigold Oil

Anserke

Kelvantari

Olvar

Yarrow

Kanda for pain

Pepper in wounds

Wild yam

Stinging spices

Latex gloves

Chamomile for a sedative

Some thoughts and discussion on onlinesms

This was taken from the Annals of Gor http://www.moonproductions.com/Fantasy/Gor/healingplants.html

Onlinisms of Healing Plants

Remember those many reasons how one obtained certain items from Earth? You know, the trips to Earth to get supplies, et al? The following plantlife are the most highly used things for various ailments across many chat sites on Gor in which the reasoning for having this item stems from those excuses. I mean, reasons.

Agrimony and Willow-Bark simply put, are two of the greatest onlinisms that plagues Gor. There is absolutly NO evidence that the Willow Tree or Agrimony is found on Gor! To see such practices in a roleplay room is rather an indulgence by those portraying such; it's obnoxiously annoying, especially for those who truly want realism in roleplay.

• Agrimony

Bust, first — what exactly is agrimony (in addition to being a word commonly misspelled by so-called healers and physicians)? I have my doubts as to whether or not the roleplayers who play healers of physicians actually know this.

Agrimony:

any plant of the genus Agrimonia, of the rose family (Rosaceae). The name particularly denotes A. eupatoria, an herbaceous, hardy perennial that is native to Europe but is widespread in other northern temperate regions, where it grows in hedge banks and the borders of fields. A. eupatoria grows to about 120 cm (4 feet) tall and has alternate feather-formed leaves that yield a yellow dye. The oval leaflets, about 2�6 cm (0.8�2.4 inches) long, have toothed margins. The small, stalkless yellow flowers are borne in a long terminal spike. The fruit is a bur about 0.6 cm in diameter and bears a number of hooks that enable it to cling easily to clothing or the coat of an animal. A. gryposepala, a similar species, is widespread in the United States. — Encyclopaedia Brittanica © 2006.

Roses? On Gor? Well, not actually roses, but of the same family. Hmm. Okay, let's explore this.

Synonyms: Common Agrimony. Church Steeples. Cockeburr. Sticklewort. Philanthropos

Part Used: The herb.

Habitat: The plant is found abundantly throughout England, on hedge-banks and the sides of fields, in dry thickets and on all waste places. In Scotland it is much more local and does not penetrate very far northward.

Agrimony has an old reputation as a popular, domestic medicinal herb, being a simple well known to all country-folk. It belongs to the Rose order of plants, and its slender spikes of yellow flowers, which are in bloom from June to early September, and the singularly beautiful form of its much-cut-into leaves, make it one of the most graceful of our smaller herbs.

Description:

From the long, black and somewhat woody perennial root, the erect cylindrical and slightly rough stem rises 1 or 2 feet, sometimes more, mostly unbranched, or very slightly branched in large specimens. The leaves are numerous and very rich in outline, those near the ground are often 7 or 8 inches long, while the upper ones are generally only about 3 inches in length. They are pinnate in form, i.e. divided up to the mid-rib into pairs of leaflets. The graduation in the size and richness of the leaves is noticeable: all are very similar in general character, but the upper leaves have far fewer leaflets than the lower, and such leaflets as there are, are less cut into segments and have altogether a simpler outline. The leaflets vary very considerably in size, as besides the six or eight large lateral leaflets and the terminal one, the mid-rib is fringed with several others that are very much smaller than these and ranged in the intervals between them. The main leaflets increase in size towards the apex of the leaf, where they are 1 to 1 1/2 inches long. They are oblong-oval in shape, toothed, downy above and more densely so beneath.

The flowers, though small, are numerous, arranged closely on slender, terminal spikes, which lengthen much when the blossoms have withered and the seed-vessels are maturing. At the base of each flower, which is placed stalkless on the long spike, is a small bract, cleft into three acute segments. The flowers, about 3/8 inch across, have five conspicuous and spreading petals, which are egg-shaped in form and somewhat narrow in proportion to their length, slightly notched at the end and of a bright yellow colour. The stamens are five to twelve in number. The flowers face boldly outwards and upwards towards the light, but after they have withered, the calyx points downwards. It becomes rather woody, thickly covered at the end with a mass of small bristly hairs, that spread and develop into a burr-like form. Its sides are furrowed and nearly straight, about 1/5 inch long, and the mouth, about as wide, is surmounted by an enlarged ring armed with spines, of which the outer ones are shorter and spreading, and the inner ones longer and erect.

The whole plant is deep green and covered with soft hairs, and has a slightly aromatic scent; even the small root is sweet scented, especially in spring. The spikes of flowers emit a most refreshing and spicy odor like that of apricots. The leaves when dry retain most of their fragrant odour, as well as the flowers, and Agrimony was once much sought after as a substitute or addition to tea, adding a peculiar delicacy and aroma to its flavour. Agrimony is one of the plants from the dried leaves of which in some country districts is brewed what is called 'a spring drink,' or 'diet drink,' a compound made by the infusion of several herbs and drunk in spring time as a purifier of the blood. In France, where herbal teas or tisanes are more employed than here, it is stated that Agrimony tea, for its fragrancy, as well as for its virtues, is often drunk as a beverage at table.

The plant is subject to a considerable amount of variation, some specimens being far larger than others, much more clothed with hairs and with other minor differences. It has, therefore, by some botanists, been divided into two species, but the division is now scarcely maintained. The larger variety, having also a greater fragrance, was named Agrimonia odorata.

The long flower-spikes of Agrimony have caused the name of 'Church Steeples' to be given the plant in some parts of the country. It also bears the title of 'Cockeburr,' 'Sticklewort' or 'Stickwort,' because its seed-vessels cling by the hooked ends of their stiff hairs to any person or animal coming into contact with the plant. It was, Gerard informs us, at one time called Philanthropos, according to some old writers, on account of its beneficent and valuable properties, others saying that the name arose from the circumstance of the seeds clinging to the garments of passers-by, as if desirous of accompanying them, and Gerard inclines to this latter interpretation of the name.

The whole plant yields a yellow dye: when gathered in September, the color given is pale, much like that called nankeen; later in the year the dye is of a darker hue and will dye wool of a deep yellow. As it gives a good dye at all times and is a common plant, easily cultivated, it seems to deserve the notice of dyers.

History:

The name Agrimony is from Argemone, a word given by the Greeks to plants which were healing to the eyes, the name Eupatoria refers to Mithridates Eupator, a king who was a renowned concoctor of herbal remedies.

Agrimony was one of the most famous vulnerary herbs. The Anglo-Saxons, who called it Garclive, taught that it would heal wounds, snake bites, warts, etc. In the time of Chaucer, when we find its name appearing in the form of Egrimoyne, it was used with Mugwort and vinegar for 'a bad back' and 'alle woundes': and one of these old writers recommends it to be taken with a mixture of pounded frogs and human blood, as a remedy for all internal haemorrhages. It formed an ingredient of the famous arquebusade water as prepared against wounds inflicted by an arquebus, or hand-gun, and was mentioned by Philip de Comines, in his account of the battle of Morat in 1476. In France, the eau de arquebusade is still applied for sprains and bruises, being carefully made from many aromatic herbs. It was at one time included in the London Materia Medica as a vulnerary herb, but modern official medicine does not recognize its virtues, though it is still fully appreciated in herbal practice as a mild astringent and tonic, useful in coughs, diarrhoea and relaxed bowels. By pouring a pint of boiling water on a handful of the dried herb - stem, leaves and flowers - an excellent gargle may be made for a relaxed throat, and a teacupful of the same infusion is recommended, taken cold three or four times in the day for looseness in the bowels, also for passive losses of blood. It may be given either in infusion or decoction. Constituents:

Agrimony contains a particular volatile oil, which may be obtained from the plant by distillation and also a bitter principle. It yields in addition 5 per cent of tannin, so that its use in cottage medicine for gargles and as an astringent applicant to indolent ulcers and wounds is well justified. Owing to this presence of tannin, its use has been recommended in dressing leather. Medicinal Action and Uses:

Astringent tonic, diuretic. Agrimony has had a great reputation for curing jaundice and other liver complaints. Gerard believed in its efficacy. He says: 'A decoction of the leaves is good for them that have naughty livers': and he tells us also that Pliny called it a 'herb of princely authoritie.' Dioscorides stated that it was not only 'a remedy for them that have bad livers,' but also 'for such as are bitten with serpents.' Dr. Hill, who from 1751 to 1771 published several works on Herbal medicine, recommends 'an infusion of 6 oz. of the crown of the root in a quart of boiling water, sweetened with honey and half a pint drank three times a day,' as an effectual remedy for jaundice. It gives tone to the system and promotes assimilation of food. Agrimony is also considered a very useful agent in skin eruptions and diseases of the blood, pimples, blotches, etc. A strong decoction of the root and leaves, sweetened with honey or sugar, has been taken successfully to cure scrofulous sores, being administered two or three times a day, in doses of a wineglassful, persistently for several months. The same decoction is also often employed in rural districts as an application to ulcers. Preparation:

Fluid extract dose, 10 to 60 drops.

In North America, it is said to be used in fevers with great success, by the Indians and Canadians. In former days, it was sometimes given as a vermifuge, though that use; of it is obsolete. In the Middle Ages, it was said to have magic powers, if laid under a man's head inducing heavy sleep till removed, but no narcotic properties are ascribed to it.

Green (Universal Herbal, 1832) tells us that 'its root appears to possess the properties of Peruvian bark in a very considerable degree, without manifesting any of its inconvenient qualities, and if taken in pretty large doses, either in decoction or powder, seldom fails to cure the ague.'

Culpepper (1652) recommends it, in addition to the uses already enumerated, for gout, 'either used outwardly in an oil or ointment, or inwardly, in an electuary or syrup, or concreted juice.' He praises its use externally, stating how sores may be cured 'by bathing and fomenting them with a decoction of this plant,' and that it heals 'all inward wounds, bruises, hurts and other distempers.' He continues: 'The decoction of the herb, made with wine and drunk, is good against the biting and stinging of serpents… it also helpeth the colic, cleanseth the breath and relieves the cough. A draught of the decoction taken warm before the fit first relieves and in time removes the tertian and quartian ague.' It 'draweth forth thorns, splinters of wood, or any such thing in the flesh. It helpeth to strengthen members that are out of joint.'

There are several other plants, not actually related botanically to the Common Agrimony, that were given the same name by the older herbalists because of their similar properties. These are the Common Hemp Agrimony, Eupatorium Cannabinum (Linn.) called by Gerard the Common Dutch Agrimony, and by Salmon, in his English Herbal (1710), Eupatorium Aquaticum mas, the Water Agrimony- also the plant now called the Trifid Bur-Marigold, Bidens tripartita (Linn.), but by older herbalists named the Water Hemp, Bastard Hemp and Bastard Agrimony. The name Bastard Agrimony has also been given to a species of true Agrimony, Agrimonium Agrimonoides, a native of Italy, growing in moist woods and among bushes. — from www.botanical.com

Okay, so we learn that indeed agrimony is medicinal, but where is it mentioned on Gor? Could it be the dina of Gor?

• Dina A small, short-stemmed multi-petaled flower; indigenous to hillsides in the northern temperate zones. The dina resembles that of an Earth rose; sometimes called the "slave flower." It is often used as a design for slave brands.

"… the dina is a small, lovely, multiply petaled flower, short-stemmed, and blooming in a turf of green leaves, usually on the slopes of hills, in the northern temperate zones of Gor; in its budding, though in few other ways, it resembles a rose; it is an exotic, alien flower; it is also spoken of, in the north, where it grows most frequently, as the slave flower…" — Slave Girl of Gor, page 61.

OOPS! It only states that it resembles a rose, not that it is the rose of Earth and is, in fact, an alien flower

Okay boys and girls, repeat after me: "Hasta la vista baby!" to agrimony on Gor!

• Willow Bark

There has been debate on whether the Hogarthe Tree is the "white willow" thus bearing argument that "willow-bark" would be available on Gor. Members of the family Salicaceae include poplars such as aspen, balm-of-gilead, cottonwood, true poplar, quiverleaf and western balsam, as well as the willow tree. The true white willow (genus Salix Alba) is not the white poplar (genus Populus alba), although the trees are of the same familiy, Salicaceae. The Hogarthe Tree is described as being related to the poplars of Earth (please refer to the Plants page under "Hogarthe Tree"), but whether the Hogarthe is a white poplar, or another of the family Salicaceae would be dependent on if it would be of medicinal value. Some poplars do have beneficial medicinal properties, such as the balsam poplar (Balsamic, expectorant, stimulant properties) and the cottonwood which treats urinary tract infections, fevers, and diarrhea. The white poplar, (Genus Populus, Species alba), has no medicinal uses whatsoever, whereas the white willow has great medicinal value, such as in the treatment of fevers, infection and diarrhea.

Two different poplars are mentioned in the Scriptures, the white poplar and the Euphrates poplar. White poplar, Populus alba, is familar in North America because it is often planted as a rapidly growing shade tree. The younger portions of the stem are usually a bright white; leaves are covered with dense hairs beneath but the upper surface is dark green. In Israel, the white poplar is often common along rivers and is frequent along the Banias, one of the sources of the Jordan; it is also widely planted. The second poplar is the Euphrates poplar, Populus euphratica, which forms a conspicuous part of the vegetation of the lower Jordan River as well as the Aravah. In the sections of the Euphrates River I have examined in northern Syria, P. euphratica is the most common tree. It forms dense stands along the banks, likely clones formed from runners of a parent tree. The leaves are polymorphic, that is, different leaves on the same tree or even the same branch may have strikingly different shapes. The bark of this tree, unlike its close relative the white poplar, is not white nor do the leaves have a white undersurface. It can tolerate relatively high salinity. Common in many parts of the Middle East, it is assumed that the Euphrates poplar is intended in Psalm 137:1-3 where the captives hung their harps on the "willows" of Babylon. The commonly planted "weeping willow" was given its name, Salix babylonica, after this portion of scripture. However, it is apparently native to China and never grew in Bible lands. — Old Dominion University

Willow is the inner bark of several species of Salix, trees in the willow family including white willow (S. alba). Four other European species recognized as sources are crack willow (S. fragilis), purple willow (S. purpurea), violet willow (S. daphnoides), and bay willow (S. pentandra). All except bay willow are naturalized in North America. For more than 2,000 years, people of the northern hemisphere used willow bark as a wash for external ulcers and internally to reduce fevers and relieve aches, pains, rheumatism, arthritis, and headaches. The Houma used black willow root bark as a blood thinner; the Creek used the root tea to relieve inflammation in rheumatism and reduce fever. In American folk tradition, the bark was used to thin the blood and treat fever. The tea was also taken for dyspepsia. — American Herbal Products Association

I stared, tremblingly, at the lonely pair of trees. "The trees," I said. "The trees." They were Hogarthe trees, named for Hogarthe, one of the early explorers in the area of the Barrens. They are not uncommon in the vicinity of water in the Barrens, usually growing along the banks of small streams or muddy, sluggish rivers. Their shape is very reminiscent of poplar trees on Earth, to which, perhaps, in virtue of seeds brought to the Counter-Earth, they may be related. — Blood Brothers of Gor, page 300.

Special Note

Because of the differences in publishing the books, depending upon whether published in the U.S. or Europe, depending upon whether a first publishing or a Masquerade Books release, page numbers will often vary. All of my quotes are from original, first-printing U.S. publications (see The Books page for a listing of publishers and dates) with the exception of the following books:

Tarnsman of Gor (2nd Printing, Balantine)

Outlaw of Gor (11th Printing, Balantine)

Priest-Kings of Gor (2nd Printing, Balantine)

Assassin of Gor (10th Printing, Balantine)

Raiders of Gor (15th Printing, Balantine)

Captive of Gor (3rd Printing, Balantine)

Disclaimer

These pages are not written for any specific home, but rather as informational pages for those not able to get ahold of the books and read them yourself. Opinions and commentaries are strictly my own personal views, therefore, if you don't like what you are reading — then don't. The information in these pages is realistic to what is found within the books. Many sites have added information, assuming the existences of certain products and practices, such as willowbark and agrimony for healing, and travel to earth and back for the collection of goods. I've explored the books, the flora, the fauna, and the beasts, and have compiled from those mentioned, the probabilities of certain practices, and what vegetation mentioned in the books is suitable for healing purposes, as well as given practicalities to other sorts of roleplaying assumptions.

thoughts on onlinism

Blacksmiths There are NO 'blacksmiths on Gor. They're the caste of metalworkers

Sir Goreans addressed males as EITHER 'sir' or by name. NEVER both together. 'Sir <name>' is not Gorean. 'Lady <name>' is fine but never for males.

Be well

Safe Paths

Wind and Steel

The Gorean 'goodbye' is "I wish you well" - NOTHING else, irrespective of status

Tal and greetings Tal MEANS 'greetings' so why say it twice?

The Thassa Sea Thassa means 'the sea' so why say 'the the sea sea'?

lilone Not in any book

bitch There are no dogs on Gor - so no 'bitches'

sis Slaves never called each other 'sis' (or sister for that matter)

heat This was never used as a synonym for a vagina

fur (as a verb) Never used in any book

kanda Kanda is NOT the Gorean version of chewing gum, nor is it a food flavouring. It's a VERY dangerous drug that will basically reduce anyone to a drooling idiot. Incidentally addicts chewed it - it was never smoked

from Nomads of Gor, page 71

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 skyabout a fire of bosk dung.

Sleen bites are NOT poisonous. A sleen is nothing like a Komodo Dragon (it's a six legged mammal and the dragon is a four legged reptile)

Drinking ka la na out of a silver goblet will do nothing - it's not a poison

Tassa Powder (note not 'thassa') 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's instantly lethal - no cure.

Breeding wine (or second wine) is NOT a treatment for fertility - it only counteracts slave wine and does not mean an automatic pregnancy

First Sword This was never a rank - just a champion swordsman. As for 'second sword' that only means they are 'second best' but that is not in any book. Equally there were never any 'first axe', 'first bow', first lance' or first anything else.

Torvaldsland 'healers' Never existed. Physicians were hired from the south.

From Marauders, page 236:

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.

Bond maids There seems to be a strange notion that bonds aren't kajirae. Kajira means slave girl so for anyone to say they aren't kajirae is saying they aren't slaves. 'Bond maid' was also used in the south for a slave

from Vagabonds of Gor, Page 537

Then I rolled to one side, and lay on one elbow, regarding her.

“A captive is grateful,” she said, “for the attentions of her captor.”

She then lay on her back, in the sand, looking up. We were near a Tur tree.

“I am sure of it,” Titus called down, from the branches of the tree. “I can see fields, some pasangs off. It is the edge of the delta!”

“Good,” said more than one man about, but surely they, as I, knew that the most one might think, would have contented even a lascivious bond-maid, not to mention a mere free woman.

“Oh, yes,” she said.

'Old Gorean' also known as 'Kassar Language'. This is completely non-Gorean and never existed in any book. The Kassars spoke Gorean

From Nomads of Gor, page 20

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.

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 are no willows, roses, lavender, marigolds or any other Earth herbal remedies on Gor

sa paga It's just 'paga'

From Tarnsman of Gor, page 68

I may have drunk too much of that fermented brew concocted with fiendish skill from the yellow grain, Sa-Tarna, and called Pagar-Sa-Tarna, Pleasure of the Life-Daughter, but almost always “paga” for short. I doubted that I would ever touch the stuff again.

Native born Goreans do need stabilisation shots

From Slave Girl of Gor, page 490

“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.”

“If there is need of it?” I asked.

“Yes,” she said.

“Do some not require the serums?” I asked.

“Some,” said Sucha, “but these individuals are rare, and are the offspring of individuals who have had the serums.”

Slaves are not allowed to say the name of a free person

From Dancer of Gor, page 730

“Whose slave are you, then?” he asked.

“I am the slave of Teibar of Ar,” I said.

From Guardsman of Gor, pp 417-418

Slave girls, of course, may speak the name of their masters to others, for example, as in locutions such as, “I am the girl of Calliodorus of Port Cos,” or “I come from the house of Calliodorus.” It is only that they are seldom, in addressing the master himself, permitted to use his name. He is usually addressed simply as “Master,” or as “my Master.”

A slave can never say the word 'no'

From Dancer of Gor, page 183

“Can you read?” asked a man, he who had said he was Teibar.

“No, Master,” I whispered.

From Nomads of Gor page 232

“Aphris,” said Elizabeth firmly.

“No,” said Aphris, “no, Master.”

Pregnant 'love slaves' This never happened. Masters did NOT breed on their slaves. Any breeding was done by mating a hooded kajira and a kajirus

From Fighting Slave of Gor page 350

“If there is to be breeding done upon them, I will, of course, supervise it,” she said.

“Of course, Lady Florence,” said Kenneth.

Slaves are domestic stock. They are bred if and when, and as, the masters please.

From Kur of Gor page 47

Some Goreans breed slaves, of course. This is

commonly done by agreement amongst masters.

From Witness of Gor page 294

The breeding of slaves, like that of most domestic animals, is carefully supervised. Slave breeding usually takes place in silence, at least as far as speech is concerned. Similarly the slaves are normally hooded. They are not to know one another. This is thought useful in reducing, or precluding, certain possible emotional complications. The breeding takes place under the supervision of masters, or their agents, with endorsements being recorded on proper papers

Weapons Bows were looked down on by the caste of warriors and were never in general use

From Raiders of Gor, page 10

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.

Aii (or Aiii) This does NOT mean 'yes' - it's an interjection of suprise. The ONLY time it could possibly mean 'yes' is in something like "yes master, yes, YES..AIIIIII"

There is NO 'Bazi Tea Ceremony' and the Pani one is only done by contract women - NOT by slaves.

From Swordsmen of Gor page 277

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.

Kurii never had sex with human slaves - they'd eat them first.

They also never used bows, blowpipes or anything similar - the only weapons mentioned in the books are pangas (machetes) and axes. Normally they used their claws and teeth. They also avoided cities and didn't wander in to raid. If they were in a city, they were hidden by their agents.

Vulos are NOT pigeons and don't carry messages - they are the size of a pigeon - not an actual pigeon

It's Home Stone (two words, both capitalised) and NOT homestone.

Black wine (not blackwine, blackwyne or anything else) is a very expensive commodity and was only obtained from Thentis. It didn't grow anywhere else.

Ice also was very expensive and only the rich could afford it. Generally Goreans took their drink warm (in some cases hot) and NEVER chilled.

From Captive of Gor pp 508, 509

I then took the wine, with a small copper bowl, and a black, red-trimmed wine crater, to the side of the fire. I poured some of the wine into the small copper bowl, and set it on the tripod over the tiny fire in the fire bowl.

He sat cross-legged, facing me, and I knelt by the fire, facing him.

After a time I took the copper bowl from the fire and held it against my cheek. I returned it again to the tripod, and again we waited.

I began to tremble.

“Do not be afraid, Slave,” he said to me.

“Master!” I pleaded.

“I did not give you permission to speak,” he said.

I was silent.

Again I took the bowl from the fire. It was now not comfortable to hold the bowl, but it was not painful to do so. I poured the wine from the small copper bowl into the black, red-trimmed wine crater, placing the small bowl in a rack to

one side of the fire. I swirled, slowly, the wine in the wine crater. I saw my reflection in the redness, the blondness of my hair, dark in the wine, and the collar, with its bells, about my throat.

I now, in the fashion of the slave girl of Treve, held the wine crater against my right cheek. I could feel the warmth of the wine through the side

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 isn't likely to improve their sales value - the oppostite 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 of Gor, Page 388 40th Anniversary Edition)

The following quote, while not from the 'Gor' series shows clearly what John Norman's view on the removal of brands is and what should happen to a physician who removes one surgically

"...brands, of course, stay on the girl; it is a serious offence to attempt to remove one surgically, punishable by enslaving the physician; furthermore slave women do not have moneys for the operation; slaves have nothing; they do not even own their own rags, collars or eating utensils; they own nothing; it is they, rather, who are owned; tissue studies can determine whether or not brand has been removed; girls, under slave interrogation, become swiftly glib; accordingly, no physician who removes a brand is safe; accordingly, few physicians dare to remove brands..."

(Imaginative Sex, page 266 Masquerade Edition)

corrections and comments on notes on onlinism

CORRECTIONS AND COMMENTS on 'Notes On Onlinisms'

By Khon of Port Haifa (Aratirn Bing)

These are some of my corrections and comments to this, otherwise, very good document on Gorean Onlinisms. Certainly a must read.

􀁆

CHAIRS - There were chairs in Gor, simply not very common, and usually disliked by Goreans.

The knife struck the back of the chair before which I stood, striking through the wood, stopping only with the hilt.

Assassin of Gor, pg. 526

On the arm of the captain's chair, my fist clenched.

Hunters of Gor, pg. 512

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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.

"He wears the black tunic," said Sura, "and I do not know who he is, but he is not of the black caste."

Assassin of Gor, pg. 363

"Perhaps you are even of the scarlet caste," he said.

Mercenaries of Gor, pg. 204

I had sought out the physicians, those of the green caste, in camp.

Swordsmen of Gor, pg. 732

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HANDS - They are NOT weeks... A Gorean week is called simply a "week" and a day is called a "day". A Gorean week lasts 5 days. and a month has 5 said weeks (making 25 days per month). Between months (and not being part of them) there is another 5 day period called "Passing Hand" which is numbered after the preceding month (First Passing Hand after the first month). There is an extra 5 day period between years, called "Waiting Hand".

It was one day to Thentis by tarn, but in the wagon we knew the trip would take perhaps the better part of one of the twenty-five day Gorean months. There are twelve twenty-five day Gorean months, incidentally, in most of the calendars of the various cities. Each month, containing five five-day weeks, is separated by a five-day period, called the Passage Hand, from every other month, there being one exception to this, which is that the last month of the year is separated from the first month of the year, which begins with the Vernal Equinox, not only by a Passage Hand, but by another five-day period called the Waiting Hand, during which doorways are painted white, little food is eaten, little is drunk and there is to be no singing or public rejoicing in the city;

Assassin of Gor, pg. 111

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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.

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FIRST SWORD - 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.

The black of the garment of Cernus was broken only by three stripes of silk sewn lengthwise on his left sleeve, two stripes of blue enclosing one of yellow.

When I had spoken several of the men-at-arms of Cernus had shifted uneasily. Some had grasped their weapons.

"I am the first sword in the House of Cernus," said Cernus.

Assassin of Gor, pg. 57

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FIRST SLAVER - It is one of the ways of referring to the Caste Leader of Slavers in a given City.

The auctioneer looked into the crowd. "Is not Samos," he asked, "First Slaver of Port Kar with us this evening?"

Assassin of Gor, pg. 417

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.

Hunters of Gor, pg. 7

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DEBTOR SLUTS (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't 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.

I then regarded the four women whose lips I had tasted. Each had, in a sense, though free, prostituted herself to me, that she might thereby influence me to rescue her from her clear and obvious plight, that of a debtor slut. Each was willing to bestow her favors in order to obtain her redemption. These were women, I had gathered, who had made a practice of relying upon the generosity and nobility of men, or of some men, to obtain their way in life, in a sense resorting frequently to types of female fraud, regularly exploiting and, in a sense, making dupes of men. Doubtless they had, at least until now, congratulated themselves on their success in such matters. Now, however, they were chained to a log wall in an inn's court. Frightened now, it seemed that they, even though free, were ready to escalate the level of their artifices.

Renegades of Gor, pg. 64

"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."

"But he did not free me then!" she cried.

"No," I said.

Renegades of Gor, pg. 257

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MESSAGE-CARRYING VULO - There are some, actually.. very rare and used, so far, only by the Pani.

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 of Gor, pg. 545