Pre-Forum Topic
Slave Goads
Lemuel~~~ ~S~ Too bad...I don't have a topic eaither...maybe we could talk about how slave goads are manufactured...~G~
ariel{R}she-urt~~~ *eyes open wide* it's priest-king magic isn't it Master?
jasma{LB}GSFG~~~ *looking to her Owner as He mentions slave goads*..
Lemuel~~~ ~chuckles~ No, not magic...though the Priest-Kings keep a close eye on the technology that goes into slave goads. I've lost many a colleague to the flame-death because they couldn't resist pushing the envelope of what is allowed....
ariel{R}she-urt~~~ wouldn't pushing the envelope on a slave goad just make it an instrument of murder?
Lemuel~~~ ~S~ Slave goads already have a "kill" setting, so you can't push it much farther along those lines. It's more the other things that energy devices (like slave goads, energy bulbs etc.) suggest that get Builders in trouble.
Choosing a Caste
Lemuel~~~ Alright, I guess we'd better get the ball rolling...
The forum is now officially started. No begging to enter or exit for the kajirae, keep off topic chat and greetings to whispers, etc. etc.
If anyone has a topic, please send it to Me in a whisper...
Lemuel~~~ ...or, if no one has a topic, we could have a discussion about castes or animals, or something along those lines...
Suggestions?
Paedur~~~ Lemual, I have one to offer, if there is nthing else to speak of.
I am curious as to how One learns and joins a certain Caste in Gor?
I know We make the choice, and being unfamiliar with all the books, wondering how so?
SholGar~~~ And can you quit one Caste and join another?
Lemuel~~~ ~S~ Well, My view on choosing a caste is that One should pick something with which they are familiar r/t. Not necessarily what they do for a living r/t, but something they might do as a hobby. That way they will have a bit of practical knowledge to apply online.
Paedur~~~ Aye Thank You Sholgar
Kayla~~~ In Roleplay it is always best to choose a Caste that is close to Your own RT or atleast one you have a strong intrest in... The warrior who has no knowledge of weapons is lost and will have to work harder to learn a working knowledge of the the Caste than one that maybe has had fencing lessons or is a hunter in RT
Kyoto~~~ Well, there is justification in the books for leaving one cate and joining another, in the second book, the man that Tarl met on the road to Koroba had fought beside him in Ar... in the intervening years, he went on to become an initiate.
Kayla~~~ and aye Sholgar it is not common but in the books sometimes a change in Caste happened... Usually do to a fall from one caste or in case of a Woman a union with a Man of another Caste
Lemuel~~~ Depends Sholgar. One is born into a caste in the books and normally wouldn't really think about abandoning their caste, but it did happen occasionally. Some would become outlaws or sometimes would be invested in another caste...
SholGar~~~ ~listening~ ~LOL~ I'm asshole sometimes...but I didn't see a Caste for that.
Sorry..couldn't let that one pass. ~LOL~
Paedur~~~ So are You saying that a Thief should have some personal skills there? *S*
Sorry just playing a bit of devils advocate.
But not many have sword skills and yet the Warrior Caste is a large one.
Lemuel~~~ ~nodding at mention of initiates~
Initiates and Assassins are different from most castes in that members are not born into the caste, but selected.
Errand Knight~~~ *listening to the issue of Caste*
shirin{SholGar}~~~ ~*~giggles softly as she listens~*~
Kayla~~~ well the only thief I have met on Gor seemed to fit the mold *ss*
Errand Knight~~~ *growls at the mention of the Initiates*
Paedur~~~ So I get from the conversation that One learns from birth of Their Caste?
Lemuel~~~ ~nodding~ Aye, if one wished to be of the caste of thieves it wouldn't hurt to have some experience in locksmithing, etc. And it should be noted that Port Kar is the only city on Gor known to have a caste of thieves.
Kayla~~~ I think is alot about temperment Paedur *ss* alot of Men may not have training in weapons but collect swords and have some knowledge of balance and such... But then there are those that pick a Caste because it is popular... and are ill suited to that Caste... I am sure We have all seen exapmles of that from time to time..
Errand Knight~~~ "It is apparently one of the socially stabilizing forces on Gor. It tends to reduce the dislocations, disappointments and tragedies inherent in more mobile structures, in which men are taught that they are failures if they do not manage to make large amounts of money or excel in one of a small number of prestigious professions. The system also helps to keep men of energy and high intelligence in a wide variety of occupations, this preventing the drain of such men into a small number of often artificially desiderated occupations, this tending then to leave lesser men, or frustrated men, to practice other hundreds of arts the survival and maintenance of which are important to a superior civilization." (Dancer of Gor, p.186-7)
Paedur~~~ Chuckles and thinks so there should be an Asshole Caste. LOL
Sorry couldn't help it, I am in quite a grand mood. LOL
Lemuel~~~ ~nodding~ Yes, a child would normally learn the caste of their father. There are sometimes exceptions. If a child shows an early aptitude for a higher caste the city council will sometimes allow him to raise caste. By the same token, if a child does not show an ability for their birth caste they may be lowered in caste.
Kyoto~~~ *Chuckling*
I think some choose warrior so they can boast of having a huge sword... sounds like compensation to me...
Incidentally, Gorean swordsmen prefered smaller and lighter swords that emphasized quickness and skill.
SholGar~~~ mmm sounds like Plato may have visited Gor. ~S~
Lemuel~~~ ~nodding at Kayla's words~ True. And then there are others like Me that do have some r/t knowledge of weapons, martial arts, etc. but don't like conflict so choose something different. ~S~
Lemuel~~~ ~grins at Sholgar~ One of the long time Goreans online, Ubar Luther, has written several papers showing the link between Plato's republic and the Gor books.
Paedur~~~ Aye Lady Kayla.
I know I choose My Caste simply becasue it is somehting I know quite well and extensively.
and yes knowing as well as We do, You can see the falacies at times.
but I always remember this is for fun, and enjoyment, and so should not be so critical.
Plus if it comes down to it, in the pits, well, One should never give away secrets. LOL
Errand Knight~~~ Paedur: classic greek society was a strong influence on Norman's creation of gor ..pity We couldnt be a bit more platonic in our dialogues *chuckles*
Kyoto~~~ For those who know me, I tend to be fiesty, so it seems natural I'd gravitate towards the role of a warrior. Besides, I've always loved weapons, I find them fascinating.
Kayla~~~ I think alot of Men would be suprised to know that there are many Women who have much knowledge in the area of the Warrior such as fencing and martial arts.. Now of course that is not acceptable except as a Panther but a fact of knowledge none the least
Lemuel~~~ ~nodding to Kayla~ Yes, when I started fencing r/t it amazed Me how many women were enrolled in the class - almost 1/3 of the class. Same goes for martial arts classes.
Errand Knight~~~ aye tis best to "belong" and not be an outlaw, live a precarious existence on the outskirts of civilization, hiding in the wilds such as the Voltai Mountains or the Northern Forests. Or even to be of the barbarian cutures such as the Wagon Peoples, Torvaldslanders, Red Savages, Red Hunters and the Tribesmen of the Tahari.
Paedur~~~ Aye Errnad Knight, I understand completely. I did not know that the old Greek Society influenced His writings, but then I have not yet gotten through much of it.
But I will keep it in Mind as I do read.
Lady Kayla, I enjoy speaking with Free Women who have genuine knowledge. Especially when it comes to martial arts, since I have been involed with it more than half My life.
AS well as intelligent and respectful conversation period. *S*
Errand Knight~~~ Kayla: and I understand that it is more common for a FW to change their caste than it is a FM, as happens at times as a result of Free Companionship
Kayla~~~ But Port Kar is filled with Thieves, Outlaws and just the general scum of Gor *S* That is what makes Port Kar so dangerous
Lemuel~~~ ~nodding at E.K.'s words~
Lemuel~~~ ~nods to Kayla~ It is most likely because Port Kar did not have a Home Stone that the outcasts of polite society gathered here. And I think this is why the Tavern is set in the period before Port Kar found its Home Stone, to encourage the kind of roudy, raucous behavior that one might expect to see in such a lawless port city.
shirin{SholGar}~~~ ~*~listens intently even tho castes have no meaning much to a slave, as she is casteless~*~
Errand Knight~~~ Paedur: the basic concept od Counterearth (gor) comes from Pythagoras, the greek alphabet and words are similar ans derives, indeed much of warrior weaponry and armament has its origins in ancient greece, locations are trascribes and even our own paga tavern has its basis on a greek symposium where the women present were generally slaves. The men would play games, engage in discussions and debaucheries. Drunkeness and sex were common elements of these places.
Paedur~~~ You kow Errand Knight, that explains a lot, clears up a great deal of My misunderstanding of Gor.
Very well put Friend.
Paedur~~~ Damn I am glad I asked THAT question here in forum.
Opening My eyes about a great deal of things in Gor. *S*
Errand Knight~~~ didn't know we were set before the epic events of 10120 C.A.
makes sense
Lemuel~~~ ~nods to E.K.~ It's on the Home page, but it doesn't explain *why* the Tavern is set before the battle on the 25th of Se'kara
Paedur~~~ Yes it does now Errand Knight.
Errand Knight~~~ Lemuel: aye the victory against the combined forces of Cos and Tyros is important to our city and also to the Captains rule.
The Books.. Generally Speaking
Lemuel~~~ ~nodding~ There are thousands of things in the books that originate in classical Greek/Roman culture. Not terribly surprising when one considers that John Norman's doctorate is in Philosophy and that he also holds a degree in history. ~grins~
SholGar~~~ Ya know....I started reading some of his books and I just don't think he writes very well. You can follow it along for the ideas and settings but I don't think it's well written. Seems ponderous to Me.
Kayla~~~ It is not well written Sholgar... and his ideas are ill formed to be placed on paper...LOL
Errand Knight~~~ Sholgar: I have just read the first 2 books of the Barsdom series which is also a major influence on Norman as you know. Much better written, but conceptually not as well developed.
Paedur~~~ I agree Sholgar, they are very poorly written. LOL
SholGar~~~ and this guy was awarded a PhD? Perhaps he speaks better than he writes but the books are narcoleptic to Me.
Lemuel~~~ ~chuckling~ I don't think anyone has ever claimed that JN is a litterary genius. I think his first 6 books are fairly well written, but they degrade rappidly after that. He still does manage to write some interesting passages in each book though.
SholGar~~~ ~looks to Lem~ ~L~ Well he should put those in italics or something and spare us the pain of discovering them on Our own.
Lemuel~~~ ~laughs~ Sholgar, if you think the Gor books are poorly written You should try reading JN's book on philosophy, "The Cognitivity Paradox"...I defy anyone to make heads or tails of that on the first time through it.
SholGar~~~ ~stares at Lem~ You mean You read it more than once???!! jeesh...what ever is in there, You must want REAL bad! ~LOL~
jasma{LB}GSFG~~~ *listening as writing implement moves over the paper fluidly.. scribing*
Lemuel~~~ ~laughs~ Actually, no I only read that one once. Believe Me, once was *more* than enough for that one. I have read the Gor books several times through...
Errand Knight~~~ SholGar: besides the Gorean novels and his other works of fiction, John Norman wrote two non-fictions books. First, as John Norman, he wrote Imaginative Sex, a book exploring sexuality. Then, as John Lange, he in 1970 wrote a philosophical work, The Cognitivity Paradox: An Inquiry Concerning the Claims of Philosophy. It was an intended essay and therefore is mercifully brief.
shirin{SholGar}~~~ ~*~smiles just watching her Master speak~*~
SholGar~~~ And it shows Lem...I get the feeling that You have a handle on Gor. It's a hell of alot easier to ask One questions than gut it out readng that stuff. Gorean Cliff notes...!
SholGar~~~ EK how was the Imaginitive Sex book? I'm thinking that the topic alone might keep Me awake even if poorly written!
Lemuel~~~ ~taking a small bow~ Aye, the walking, talking Gorean Cliff notes at Your service. ~chuckles~
Paedur~~~ Laughs hard about imaginitive sex.
shirin{SholGar}~~~ ~*~grins as eyes drop~*~
Lemuel~~~ ~waiting for E.K.'s opinion of I.S.~
jasma{LB}GSFG~~~ *smiling softly gazing up at her Owner*
SholGar~~~ ~LOL~ I imagine sex all the time...I just wonder if it's more fun if someone else is present. ~L~
Lemuel~~~ ~dropping a hand to the girl at My side, trailing fingers thrtough her sable tresses~
Errand Knight~~~ Sholgar: I think more imaginate sex happens in the alcoves but then what was imaginative 50 years ago might have been a buzz to Norman/Lange *chuckles* Its of interest, to see where Lange was cuming from and like the gorean series easier on the head than his philosophical rant.
Paedur~~~ Kind of like Dr Ruth being a Sexpert.
I constantly wonder how she got ANY experience what so ever. LOL
SholGar~~~ Paedur...Ruth is so old she sucked dick on horseback! I'm with You...I can't believe she'd be a good roll in the hay....but ya never know!
Lemuel~~~ ~nodding agreement with the Physician's words~
Aye, it's not a hard read. It's mostly a series of role-play scenarios that couples might wish to try out to liven up an otherwise dull sex life. It also has some interesting information on how to buy a slave. ~G~
jasma{LB}GSFG~~~ *low purrs escaping lips as His fingers roam through hair.. listening*
Lemuel~~~ Alright, any other questions or comments on caste, the books, or is there another topic?
Lemuel~~~ ~chuckles~ I guess everyone is running out to see if they can find a copy of "Imaginative Sex" ~grins~
Kayla~~~ LOL
jasma{LB}GSFG~~~ *just listening to the conversation.. fingers taking a rest*
Lemuel~~~ ~looking about the Tavern~
Seems like the forum's running out of steam. ~G~
Errand Knight~~~ seems so
Kayla~~~ about that time Captain
Lemuel~~~ ~nodding~ Let's call the forum to a close then. Thanks to A/all for participating and making it an interesting forum. ~S~
jasma{LB}GSFG~~~ *softly*.. a wonderful forum Master.. a girl is always happy to learn.. thank You
Errand Knight~~~ thanks Lem..sorry I missed its start ..earning a living. Always enjoy Your moderation of Forum