Gorean Sports/Games
Lemuel~~~ ~looks about taking another sip of the kalda~
Alright...we might as well get started...better late than never, eh? ~G~
Same rules as always, please send any topics to Me in a whisper.
jasma{LB}GSFG~~~ ~getting the pieces of rence paper ready~
Lemuel~~~ O.K. — since I don't have a topic yet...
Does anyone know what sports (if any) Goreans have?
Kasba~~~ ~grin~ oh... the best one for Men is "Bat and ball"
Kayla~~~ LOL... chasing women????
jasma{LB}GSFG~~~ ~listening to the question~..
playing stones
Kasba~~~ ~LOL~
Kasba~~~ It is a rough game though... Even the most hardy of Men can refuse a game without contempt.
jasma{LB}GSFG~~~ bones
jasma{LB}GSFG~~~ slaves play a cats cradle game with string
Kasba~~~ Sports are different then games. There was running the bola too.
Kayla~~~ well are games such as stones and bones really a sport?.. or Kaissa?
jasma{LB}GSFG~~~ various dice games as well are played
jasma{LB}GSFG~~~ ~nodding~.. true, Master..
Kasba~~~ ~winks at the kajira~
Kayla~~~ I agree Kasba.. track is a sport but not a Game...
Lemuel~~~ ~nods~ I suppose one might consider such games *sports* in that they can draw an audience...but I was thinking more along the lines that Kasba has mentioned.
Lemuel~~~ ~S~ Here's a quote from Magicians of Gor page 206...
We turned to look at the street. Approaching, singing, was a group of youths, in rows, a sports team, marching together. Their colors were of both Ar and Cos. Such teams, drawn from various parts of the city, competed in various games, in hurling the stone, in hurling the thonged javelin, both for distance and accuracy, in races of various sorts, in jumping, in wrestling, and such. There were meets, and local championships, with awards, such as fillets of the wool of the bounding hurt, dyed different colors, and for champions, crowns woven of the leaves of the mighty Tur tree. Eventually various teams, in their respective age brackets, would become city champions. Such sports as these were familiar to Goreans, and had for years been privately practiced at numerous palestrae throughout the city. Indeed, such palestrae, upon occasion, would compete with one another.
Errand Knight~~~ a most popular sport would be tarn racing..and in some places tharlarion racing
Kasba~~~ There were quite a few sports mentioned as part of the "Thing" in Torvaldsland too. some walking the line between games and sports.
jasma{LB}GSFG~~~ would the soccer-like-game played by the Red Hunters be considered a sport then?
Kayla~~~ Of course that is a good example jasma *ss*
Errand Knight~~~ and of course the various palestrae games and arena contests
Kasba~~~ Yes it would jaz. There is also Tarn racing, which definately had team affiliations but seemed more like a gambling venue.
Lemuel~~~ ~grins as more sports are mentioned~ Yes, tarn racing, arena combat, the ball game of the Red Hunters would all be sports in My opinion. ~S~ Any others?
Kasba~~~ ~LOL~ Is this a quiz?
jasma{LB}GSFG~~~ ~listening to her Master as He quotes a part in Magicians.. nodding head at the words.. and to Master Kasba's words.. Master Knights'.. and Mistress Kayla's.. ~
Lemuel~~~ ~chuckles~ No, just a thought that occured to Me on a Monday Night...~thinking the Men will catch the reference~
Kasba~~~ ~grin~ Bat and ball is what first came to mind ~wink~
jasma{LB}GSFG~~~ ~looking to her Master.. smiling knowingly~
Errand Knight~~~ and how could one forget girl catch ..now theres a sport!
Kasba~~~ ~nodding profusely~ How did I forget that???
Kayla~~~ The Men Captain... LOL.. Some Ladies like the Monday night sports as well *ss*
Lemuel~~~ ~grins at E.K.~ Aye, now that's a fun sport...
Lemuel~~~ ~chuckles and nods at Kayla~ True, but they seem to be few and far between. ~G~
Kayla~~~ well if more Male sports were played naked then the Women would watch more ...LOL
Kasba~~~ ~looks at Kayla a moment~
penny{Kyo}~~~ listening to catch up on the topic, wracking her brain to think of any references to sports that haven't already been mentioned
Errand Knight~~~ *chuckles at Kayla*
now for the gorean champion of the Game of Favors thats saying something!
Kayla~~~ ~looking to Kasba~ Wellll It is true
serena{Briggand}~~~ settles quietly to masters furs..ready to listen..
Penny{Kyo}~~~ smiilng delightedly as the room fills up, beaming a smile to Master Kurrus as she listens to the forum
Lemuel~~~ ~G~ Any other topics? Or should I think of another trivia question?
Kasba~~~ ~reaching out and resting a large hand on black tresses~ Are We continueing with Sports Lemuel?
Lemuel~~~ ~grins~ Aye, we could continue with sports if there's nothing else...
Kasba~~~ Is meat catch a sport? There is certainly wagering ~LOL~
calia{SI}~~~ ~*mewls contently as His large hand slides through soft spirals - nuzzzzling some~ feral eyes sneaking a glance of her Owner~* .... , calia listens for the next topic,quietly....
Lemuel~~~ ~chuckles~ I suppose it might be considered a sport for kajirae...or kajirae and their Masters...
Kayla~~~ and the girls certainly are physical in the game.. I would say it is a sport of slaves wagered on by Free... ~shruggs~
penny{Kyo}~~~ perking up with interest at the subject of meat toss, remembering lots of fun games of friendly competition
endy~~~ ~entering quietly to listen~
Errand Knight~~~ meat catch is almost as much fun as girl catch
shirin{SholGar}~~~ ~*~giggles hearing Master EK, eyes of hazel sparkling bright~*~
Lemuel~~~ ~grins~ Aye, it is at that, E.K.
What about the sports of the Wagon Peoples? I believe Kasba mentioned running the bola earlier...can anyone remember a few more?
Kasba~~~ Is sleen hunting a sport? The Tuchuks kept hunting sleens to guard the heards and find errant slaves.
penny{Kyo}~~~ Didn't the wagon people used to throw some sort of spears through hoops or such? They had all kinds of games that they played...
scratching her head and trying to remember
Lemuel~~~ ~nods~ I suppose hunting with sleen, or any hunting for that matter would be considered sports...I was thinking of a particular sport on which Kamchak and Tarl had wagered though...
Kasba~~~ ~nodding to penny~ Yes, they did it mounted on kaiila at high speed. Loops and a fruit held in a kajira's mouth.
Errand Knight~~~ well the most well know games take place during the Love War which is held between the wagon peoples and the Turia
Kasba~~~ ~sitting back, fingers twirling dark locks absently~ They waged on many things... but tospit seeds isn't a sport ~LOL~
Errand Knight~~~ aye .....lance and tospit with the living wand
calia{SI}~~~ ~*brushing her poreceline face along His thigh - licorice tresses tumbling loosely ~ she steals glances of Him occasionally,with a warm smile ~* - listening,quietly...
SholGar}~~~ ~listening to the topic and catching up with the group as I stroke the dark locks spilling over My arm~.
Lemuel~~~ ~nods to Kasba~ Aye, that last is the one I had in mind...
From Nomads of Gor page 79:
"The score is tied," said Kamchak, "and the wager is concluded. There is no winner."
"Agreed," said Conrad.
"No," said Albrecht.
We looked at him.
"Lance and tospit," he said.
"The match is at an end," I said.
"There is no winner," protested Albrecht.
"That is true," said Kamchak.
"There must be a winner," said Albrecht.
"I have ridden enough for today," said Kamchak.
"I, too," said Conrad. "Let us return to our wagons."
Albrecht pointed his lance at me. "You are challenged," he said. "Lance and tospit."
"We have finished with that," I said.
"The living wand!" shouted Albrecht.
Kamchak sucked in his breath.
Several in the crowd shouted out, "The living wand!"
penny{Kyo}~~~ Master just walked past and was mentioning the Torvaldslander's games, at the thing...
laughing and shaking her curls
He mentioned something about greased pole walking or climbing...
Kayla~~~ nods as I listen *S*
Lemuel~~~ ~grins~ And the children of the Wagon Peoples had a game in which a ball was thrown and lads would take turns trying to hit it with a quiva...
We've mentioned some other games...bones/dice, etc. — what about games played during the festivals in Port Kar? ~winks to calia~
Kasba~~~ ~nodding at the quote~ A dangerous game for a slave to be played in.
calia{SI}~~~ ~*looks to her Master*~ please can calia offer one she knows of?
Kasba~~~ ~tugs calia's hair~ Its forum, offer all you know at the right times.
endy~~~ There is also one this girl knows..
a carnival-type game that entails a Free Man balancing ,for an allotted time, usually an ehn, on a filled wineskin that has the surface greased. Many times the prize is the full wineskin.
Book 25: Magicians of Gor, page 36
Errand Knight~~~ have never attended a Thing Fair ..but the games are said to be excellent
calia{SI}~~~ .....~*softly offering as she smiles between Master Lemuel and her Owner...~* the game of favors....
where FreeWomen have, handfuls of scarves and run around asking Men to accept Her favor - the obvious winner get rids of all Her scarves first ~*smiling~*
Kasba~~~ ~smiling at the two interesting sports~ Very unusual, I remember those now.
penny{Kyo}~~~ nodding as she hears endy's quote
Magicians had all sorts of nifty game types of references...
jasma{LB}GSFG~~~ ~listening quietly as she scribes~
Lemuel~~~ ~nodding to endy and calia~ Very good! Yes, those are both games that would be played at a festival or carnival. ~S~
endy~~~ ~smiles to penny~..aye...
Errand Knight~~~ wonders if urt hunting is considered a game in Port Kar
endy~~~ And as one who spent much time in the North..a true test for a Jarl..would be oar dancing...*chuckling*
Kayla~~~ Hmmmm Some are new to Me I must admit *ss*
Errand Knight~~~ Kayla: You be the champ at the Game of Favors
endy~~~ *found the quote*
Oar Dancing
a feat of agility performed by the rowers of Torvaldsland, that of leaping from moving oar to moving oar of the Serpent ships of the Torvald. Apparently a celebratory act.
Book 9: Marauders of Gor, pages 82-83
shirin{SholGar}~~~ ~*~listens, thinking all the games would be great fun to watch and cheer on the Masters in~*~
Kayla~~~ Me?.. I doubt it... LOL.. I own no scarves...LOL
Lemuel~~~ ~nods at the thought of oar dancing~ Not one I'd care to try...I'd probably fall in...~g~
Kasba~~~ ~smiles as the bondmaid gives a good description~ That's a sport.
Errand Knight~~~ When urt hunting the men row out into the canals. A slave girl, who will be used as bait, has a long rope tied around her neck and secured to the bow ring on the boat. The kajira will jump into the water and splash around to attract urts. It is cheaper to use slave girls than a side of tarsk. Live verr are sometimes used as bait but they are not as effective. Urts usually approach their intended prey with their snout and eyes above water. You can thus detect an approaching urt and that should give the slave girl sufficient time to return to the boat before she is attacked. Not all girls are so lucky though. The hunter will then try to spear the urt. Some men will turn their own girls over to a urt hunter for discipline. A few days of being used as bait for urts will almost assurdely make them much more obedient.
jasma{LB}GSFG~~~ ~remembering Master Rollo one year at The Thing at the Great Lodge doing the oar dance.. giggling softly~
endy~~~ *chuckles at Master Lemuel*...Many a seasoned Jarls have been dunked also...
Lemuel~~~ ~grins~ Not sure if that qualifies as a game or sport, but it certainly is good for discipline.
penny{Kyo}~~~ smiling cheerfully to Master RavenCrest as he enters, her thoughts on Master Rollo dancing across oars at the thing
Lemuel~~~ ~G~ Any other sports or games?
Errand Knight~~~ "What is black, has eighty legs and eats gold?"
The Black Sleen, the ship of Thorgard of Scagnar.
calia{SI}~~~ believes there was a game called "stones" a guessing game of sort.....
Kasba~~~ ~petting the beast at My right~ What about Warrior skills like Archery and spear chucking? ~LOL~ sports or... what?
Lemuel~~~ ~nods~ Yes, the players would take turns cupping an odd or even number of stones and the other would try to guess which. The winner was the one with the greatest number of correct guesses in a session.
calia{SI}~~~ ~*whispering*~ and a game played with bones ~ small pieces with wagers if it fell upright or not...~ they were carved to look like gant,bosk or sleen...~
Lemuel~~~ ~nods~ There was archery at the thing fair Tarl attended and there was the javelin toss from the earlier "Magicians" quote...could be either sports or a game...
Kayla~~~ aye I remember jasma mentioning bones and stones before... games but not sports since we were making that distintion before?
Errand Knight~~~ Stones is a guessing game where a certain number of stones are held in the hand, usually two to five, and you must guess the number. You get a point for a correct guess and you can then try again. If you guess wrong, your opponent gets a turn. The game ends when one person reaches a set number of points, usually fifty. There are many variations of this game. There are even intricately carved and painted game boxes containing carefully wrought "stones" for the affluent enthusiast. The game is not simply an idle past time. There are numerous psychological subtleties and strategies involved. Tournaments are held and certain people are known as champions at the game. Given goreans luv of gambling entire estates have been known to change hands over a game.
Lemuel~~~ ~nods~ Aye, If I remember correctly that was played by the Red Hunters of the north, calia. ~S~
calia{SI}~~~ ~*adds quietly~ the children played with string too - like making cats cradle or something ~ lil weavings between the hands.....~shrugs~ unsure if that is considered game...
Lemuel~~~ ~nods~ Another game played by the women of the north...
All very good examples...
calia{SI}~~~ ~wonders~ if the Oxen contests was already discussed - not wishing to bring up previous games/sports ~*biting back a small smile*
Errand Knight~~~ Sometimes different palestrae compete against each other. Some games they engage in include hurling the stone, hurling the thonged javelin both for distance and accuracy, races of various sorts, jumping, and wrestling. Many of these games are similar to games that the ancient Greeks performed in their Olympics. You can win awards such as fillets of wool of the hurt dyed different colors, like Earth ribbons. Champions might even receive crowns woven of the leaves of a Tur tree.
calia{SI}~~~ *~kneels quiet~* - gentle eyes following the conversation
Lemuel~~~ ~not remembering the oxen contests~
What were those calia? I'm afraid I'm drawing a blank on that?
calia{SI}~~~ ~* offers softly~* this is seen as races,perhaps not sport of game Master ~*lowered eyes~*
calia remembers reading about many Oxen put into 4 teams..
chained together and dragging heavy items...~ ~biting into her lips thinking*~ in Outlaws,yes?
Errand Knight~~~ In the Tharna Amusements there were two oxen gladiatorial games (not involving oxen). One was the Contest of Oxen, where men were yoked and chained together in teams of four. Each team was chained to a block of granite weighing about a ton. The teams would race towing the blocks. One man would sit on the block as the driver and wield a whip. In another game, the Battle of Oxen, the men wore yokes fitted with steel horns about eighteen inches long. They then had to fight each other to the death using the horns to gore each other.
calia{SI}~~~ ooooh Master thank You ~smiling toward Master EK)
Lemuel~~~ ~nodding~ I think I recall it now...when Tarl, Andre and Kron were set in the traces of oxen for the Amusements of Tharna.
Errand Knight~~~ thats the one Lemuel
Errand Knight~~~ I recall a reference to tharlarion racing in the city of Venna ..pictured it as a bit like the chariot race in Ben Hur
Lemuel~~~ ~grins~ I'll have to find the quote for that and start the next forum with it then, E.K.
Rite of Knives
Lemuel~~~ ~grins~ O.K. how about a new topic...
Does anyone here know anything about the "rite of knives"?
Kasba~~~ ~thinks a moment~ Nope, I don't think I've read of it.
Errand Knight~~~ Lemuel: aside from knowing it is a way of settleing disputes I have only heard it mentioned in passing ...perhaps it is part of the warrior code
Lemuel~~~ ~grins~ Actually, I think it is a rite of Panther Girls...I found a quote...
Kasba~~~ Oh, Its forum! I hope I'm not intruding.
Lemuel~~~
From Hunters of Gor pages 314-315:
"May I not remain a moment, Captain?" asked Rissia. She turned to face me.
"Very well," I said.
"I ask the rite of knives," she said.
"Very well," I said.
One of my men held Ilene by the arms. She was frightened.
Two daggers were brought. One was given to Rissia. The other was pressed into the unwilling hand of Ilene.
Ilene was thrust forward to the sand before my chair. Rissia faced her.
"I -- I do not understand," stammered Ilene.
"You are to fight to the death," I told her.
She looked at Rissia. "No!" She wept. "No!" Ilene threw away the knife.
"Kneel," ordered Rissia.
Ilene did.
Rissia stood behind her.
"Do not hurt me," begged Ilene.
"Address me as Mistress," said Rissia.
"Please do not hurt me, Mistress," begged Ilene.
"You do not seem so proud now, Slave, without your switch," said Rissia.
"No, Mistress," whispered Ilene.
With her knife, from the back, Rissia cut away Ilene's slave tunic, stripping her.
Lemuel~~~ ~laughs~ Not at all Kasba. All are welcome during the forums.
jasma{LB}GSFG~~~ ~remembering now as Master has posted the quote from Hunters.. shaking head that one forgot prior~
Errand Knight~~~ thanks Lemuel ..so it does seem a means of dispute resolution open to all
Lemuel~~~ ~nods~ Apparently E.K. — It was not something Tarl/Bosk was unfamiliar with at any rate...
Lemuel~~~ ~looking to the clepsydra as it drips out the Ihn quietly in the corner~
If there's nothing further...
Lemuel~~~ ~grumbling about oversized urts and looking to the water clock again~
I think with that I'll call the forum to a close...
My thanks to E/everyone for coming and participating. ~S~
jasma{LB}GSFG~~~ ~scribing the last of the notes.. and softly speaking~
Yours thanks You, Master for permitting her to take part and learn..
Kasba~~~ ~smile~ Thanks Lemuel, A good time. I enjoyed recounting something other then the meaning of honor and mentoring at a forum! Good job.
Errand Knight~~~ thanks again Lemuel ..a lot of interesting stuff contributed by A/all
endy~~~ Master Lemuel..endy thanks You for allowing her to enter and listen tonight...Mistress Kayla..*warm smile*...thank You also....a girl wishes A/all a wonderful night..
shirin{SholGar}~~~ ~*~whispers with a small smile from the comfort of Master's arms~*~
thank You Master Lemuel, shirin enjoyed tonight
calia{SI}~~~ ~*softly~* thank You Master Lemuel, it was most enlightening to be here tonight and permitted participation...~lowered eyes~