Caste Requirements

All Goreans are proud of their caste and Fina there is no exception.
1. Caste may be legally changed. To change caste, the High Council of Fina must approve the change, based on the qualifications for the new caste and the willingness of the new caste to accept the citizen making an application.
2. In a Free Companionship, the woman can take the caste of the man.
3. Women in the Physician's Caste cannot practice medicine until they have first borne two children. Fina, at age fifteen, women place two bracelets on their left wrist. One is removed for each child that is born.
4. Once accepted to a caste, notification is sent out to all citizens and the accomplishment is recorded in the city records in the central cylinder.

(more on http://www.fina.moonfruit.com)

Castes of Gor

The society of Gor is divided into groups referred to as "Castes". Each Cast is made up of its own profession or occupation. Castes are ranked according to their particular place in Gorean society and its interaction. Many castes contain sub-castes that are particular to a unique activity and need of the profession.

An example of such a sub-caste would be the Slavers caste which would be in the caste of Merchants. Slavers are in the business of buying and selling though their particular caste specializes in one item or product.

All Goreans (excluding Priest Kings, slaves, and Outlaws) belong to a particular caste. Castes are hereditary although it is possible for a person to change his or her caste if they possess an ability or aptitude that allows them to raise or lower their caste.

Each caste had a set of "codes" which helps them maintain a series of beliefs and rules for its members. Members hold to these "codes" as they practice their profession. Each caste's code is different and deals mainly with matters of specific interest to that caste.

Most major castes of Gor have their own colors called the "Caste Color". Colors are often worn by the members to display outwardly to others what caste they are associated with. Banners, flags, and sometimes colors of buildings will reflect the caste colors of the individual. Others can see at a glance by the clothing what caste another is affiliated with.

The Five High Castes include:

CASTE OF INITIATES: ~ White ~ Members of this caste are supposed to be representatives of the Priest Kings in Gorean society. Their responsibilities include guiding the spiritual life of Goreans by use of rituals and prayers to the Priest Kings. There are rumors that some may even be able to call down the wrath of the Priest Kings upon those who have offended the Priest Kings. They wear white robes, shave their heads as well as their faces. They do not eat meat and do not indulge in alcohol. They lead a celebrate life, are well learned and read. They are often feared and many times distrusted by members of the lower castes.

CASTE OF SCRIBES: ~ Blue ~ Members of this caste are the scholars of Gor. They are the writers and historians of Gorean society. They are responsible for accounting, record-keeping, and writing. They are usually serious and studious, have an eye for detail and a passion for knowledge. There are several sub-castes in this caste which include Mapmakers - explorers, Magistrates, and Litigators.

CASTE OF BUILDERS: ~ Yellow ~ Included in this caste are architects, draftsmen, stonemasons, engineers, and other professions which are concerned with the physical creations and engineering works of Gor. Inventors and technicians who develop these types of physical creations are also included in this caste.

CASTE OF PHYSICIANS: ~ Green ~ Those who are concerned with the healing arts belong to this caste. Members include, surgeons, apothecaries, medical researchers and health practicioners. They are recognized in all of Gor as non combatents during times of war.

CASTE OF WARRIORS: ~ Scarlet ~ Members of the military such as infantry, tharlarion calvary, and tarnsmen fill this caste. Their set of codes is known to be one of the strictest. This caste comprises the military branch of Gor government.

Low Castes Include:

CASTE OF MERCHANTS: ~ White and Gold ~ Containing literally hundreds of sub-castes this group is a very large caste. Members of this caste deal with selling and trading of merchandise for a profit. For as many products as there are that are to be sold there are about that many sub castes.

CASTE OF SLAVERS: ~ Blue and Yellow This caste deals with the buying and selling of human merchandise. It is a sub caste of the Merchants.

CASTE OF MONEYLENDERS: This caste is composed of the bankers of Gor. The members of this caste are those who trade and speculate with money for profit. The only product they handle is money.

CASTE OF BAKERS: ~Orange and Brown This caste consists of hundreds of sub castes. Generally they are members who prepare vegetarian food or sa-tarna in its many forms.

CASTE OF BUTCHERS ~ This caste and its many sub-castes concern themselves with the acquisition and preparation of sa-tassna, all forms of edible Gorean meat. In conjunction with the caste of Bakers, this caste and its many sub castes are responsible for maintaining the majority of the Gorean industries involved with food service.

CASTE OF WINEMAKERS: ~ The professional production of most fruit based Gorean alcohol is under the auspices of this caste.

CASTE OF BREWERS ~ takes care of the production of the grain based alcohols.

CASTE OF SAILORS: ~ There are several dozen sub-castes in this group. Each sub caste has its own specialty. An example would be the BARGEMEN who steer river barges on the freshwater waterways of Gor.

CASTE OF FISHERMEN: ~ This caste is a sub caste of the caste of Sailors. They harvest the differing varieties of Gorean fishes and sea life for human consumption. Some sub castes include the CASTES OF RIVER FISHERMEN, THASSA FISHERMEN, and NET MAKERS.

CASTE OF ARTISANS ~ This caste is extremely broad. It includes many hundreds of sub castes. Any production of hand-made goods for any use, is considered to be a work of art.

CASTE OF POT MAKERS: ~ Brown and Green ~ This caste is a sub caste of the Caste of Artisans. They produce vessels used to contain substances of all kinds.

CASTE OF SADDLE MAKERS ~ Tan

CASTE OF METAL WORKERS: ~ Gray ~. A sub caste of Artisans they are concerned with the production of most metal items made on Gor. Some of the sub castes under this one would include: SWORDMAKERS,

ARMORERS, and those that work with blacksmithing or farrier work repairing wagon wheels and shoeing Gorean draft and riding animals.

CASTE OF CLOTH WORKERS: ~ Another large and expansive caste, this group contains many sub castes. They are concerned with the professional production of woven cloth for use by the people of Gor.

CASTE FOR RUG MAKERS: ~ This group is a sub caste of the Caste of Cloth Workers. They produce woven rugs for general use. Members of this caste see themselves as independent from the Caste of Cloth Workers.

CASTE OF WEAVERS: ~Concerned with the professional production of textiles for the textile industry, this caste is a sub caste of the Rug Makers Caste.

CASTE OF CARDERS: ~ Sub caste of the caste of Weavers. They produce woven cloth for the textile industry.

CASTE OF DRYERS: ~ This sub caste of Weavers deals with the staining and coloring of cloth for the textile industry.

CASTE OF CLOTHIERS: ~ Another sub caste of the Caste of Weavers, they produce articles of clothing for the Gorean people.

CASTE OF DRESS MAKERS: ~ Sub caste of Weavers which makes feminine clothing.

CASTE OF ROPEMAKERS: ~ Sub caste of Artisans that produces rope, binding fiber, thread and cordage of all types.

CASTE OF LEATHERWORKERS: ~ Sub caste of the Artisan Caste, deals with the fabrication of various leather goods from animal hides of all kinds.

CASTE OF TORTURERS: ~Black and Red ~ Found only among the Wagon People of the far south they are considered to be a sub caste of the caste of Artisans. An assumption may be made that those of the Wagon Peoples consider the application of Torture as an art form.

Castes of Gor

Castes of Gor:
High Castes; Warriors, Builders, Scribes, Initiates, & Physicians. Tarnsman of Gor pg 41

• 3 statuses outside of the Caste System; slave, Outlaw, Priest King. Tarnsman of Gor pg 46
• High Castes of Gor, are permitted, by the Priest-Kings, only the Second Knowledge. Lower Castes, are permitted only the First Knowledge. Priest-Kings of Gor pg 40

Assassins, Caste of:   Beasts of Gor pg 358 - 359

• not won easily
• only 1 in 10 completes the course of instruction
• rumored failed candidates are slain
• withdraw from caste not permitted
• training in pairs
• friendship encouraged
• final training each member of the pair MUST hunt the other
• when one has killed ones' friend; one is likely to better understand the meaning of the word black; one is unlikely to find mercy in his heart for another; one is alone with gold and steel
• men loyal to secret codes
• content most men do not dare guess
• have no Home Stone
• would be difficult to take fee's on one whose Home Stone they shared
• caste color is black

Bakers, Caste of:   colors are yellow and brown.   Nomads of Gor pg 237
Builders, Caste of: the caste which includes architects, draftsmen, stonemasons, etc.; the Builders are one of the five High Castes included in the government of Gor; their caste color is yellow. Tarnsman of Gor pgs 41 & 62
Growers of the Rence, caste of:    Raiders of Gor pg 21
Initiates, Caste of: the representatives of the Priest-Kings in Gorean society; the Initiates are one of the five High Castes, and are the religious branch of the government; their caste color is white.  Tarnsman of Gor pg 41 & 62

• White Robed; shaven headed
• rich on Gor
• carry a standard on which is mounted the symbol of the Priest Kings
• golden circle
• no beginning/no end
• symbol of eternity/symbol of the Priest Kings   Beasts of Gor pg 46
• Goreans do not kneel:
• even in the temples of Initiates
• pray standing
• hands sometimes lifted
• Forbidden for Initiates:
• to touch women
• for women to touch Initiates
• avoid meat and beans
• Initiates attempt to purify themselves by the study of mathematics. Magicians of Gor pg 17
• Converse amongst themselves in archaic Gorean. Marauders of Gor pg 26

Caste Codes of Initiates:    Assassin of Gor pg 267

• Are not permitted by their caste codes to bear arms; nor are they permitted to injure or kill
• hire men for such purposes

Merchants, Caste of: the caste of those who deal in merchandise and trading; their caste colors are white and gold.  Tarnsman of Gor pgs 41 & 62

• the gold of merchants, in most cities, exercises its not imponderable influence   Nomads of Gor pg 84
• regard themselves as the highest caste on Gor
• are in their way brave, shrewd, skilled men
• develop and enforce a body of Merchant Law
• only common legal arrangements existing among Gorean cities
• in effect, arrange and administer to the four great fairs, near the Sardar Mountains

Musicians, Caste of:   czehar players have the most prestige; next follow the flutists and then the players of the kalika; the players of the drums come next; and the farthest fellow down the list is the man who keeps the bag of miscellaneous instruments, playing them and parceling them out to others as needed

• are never enslaved; they may be exiled, tortured, or slain
• it is said, that he who makes music must, like the tarn and the Vosk gull, be free Nomads of Gor pg 154
• Flute players names usually occurs on the theatrical advertisements immediately AFTER that of the major performer or performers  Magicians of Gor post scripts pg 378

Peasants, Caste of: the basic caste of Gor; they regard themselves as the "Ox on Which the Home Stone Rests"    Outlaw of Gor pg 27 & 66
Perfumer, Caste of:    (mentioned but no description given)   Fighting Slave of Gor pg 209
Player, caste of: a member of a caste like society who plays Kaissa professionally; their caste colors are red and yellow. They are made up of men from various castes who often have little in common but the game.  Assassins of Gor pg 27

• It is a criminal offense to enslave one of the Caste of Players
• a similar decree, in most cities, stands against the enslavement of one who is of the Caste of Musicians.  Beasts of Gor pg 44

Physicians, Caste of: the caste which practices the healing arts; the Physicians are one of the five High Castes which make up the Gorean government; their caste color is green. Tarnsman of Gor pg 41 & 62
Scribes, Caste of: the caste concerned with history, accounting, record keeping, etc.; one of the five High Castes which make up Gorean government; their caste color is blue Tarnsman of Gor pg 41 & 62

• Lawyers, Scholars, Record Keepers, Teachers, Clerks, Historians and Accountants are also members of the Scribes   Assassin of Gor pg 208
• Geographers - Cartographers are members of the Scribes. Explorers of Gor pg 213

Slavers, Caste of:  Magicians of Gor pg 315

• sometimes regarded as a subcaste of the Merchants, and sometimes as an independent caste
• colors: blue and yellow
• by virtue of their merchandise and practices  Assassin of Gor pg 208

Sleen Trainers, Caste of: Professionals, colors brown and black.  Beasts of Gor pg 78
Thieves, caste of: Those who make their living by stealing, robbery, picking pockets, etc.; exists only in Port Kar. Raiders of Gor pg 104

• identified by the "Theif's Scar"
• tiny 3 prong brand burned into face in back of and below the eye, over right cheekbone
• a strong caste which naturally protects it’s members  Nomads of Gor pg 85
• thievery is punishable by:
• ear notching; first offense
• removal of right hand; second offense
• removal of left hand, and both feet; third offense

Vintners, Caste of: winemakers, white garment with a representation in green cloth of leaves about the collar and down the sleeves. Assassins of Gor pg 29
Warriors, Caste of: the caste which includes infantry, tharlarion cavalry, and tarnsmen; one of the five High Castes which make up Gorean government, and as such the military branch of the government; their caste color is red.   Tarnsman of Gor pg 41 & 62
Misc. Information about castes:   Fighting Slave of Gor pg 209 - 210
"Though one is commonly born into a caste one is often not permitted to practice the caste craft until a suitable apprenticeship has been served. This guarantees the quality of the caste product. It is possible, though it is seldom the case, that members of a caste are not permitted to practice specific caste skills, though they may be permitted to practice subsidiary skills."

• one who is of the metalworkers, may not be permitted to work iron, but may be permitted to paint iron, transport and market it.

"Caste Rights: the right to caste support in time of need and caste sanctuary, when in flight, are given by birth."
Female Caste Members:

• often do not engage in caste work
• exception: the caste of Physicians
• women are commonly trained as are the males in the practice of medicine
• normally do not admit their women into full practice till they have born two children
• purpose is to retain a high level of intelligence
• professional women do not tend to reproduce themselves
• would likely produce a diminution in the quality of the caste

"Caste membership for Goreans, is generally a simple matter of birth; it is not connected necessarily with the performance of certain skills, nor the attainment of a given level of proficiency in such skills. Certain skills tend to be associated traditionally with certain castes."
"The welfare of the caste, typically, takes priority in the Gorean mind over the ambitions of specific individuals. The welfare of a larger number of individuals, as the Goreans reason, correctly or incorrectly, is more important than the welfare of a smaller number of individuals."

Castes

High Caste:

Scribe (blue)
Lawyer (blue)
Scholar (blue)
Record Keeper (blue)
Teacher (blue)
Clerk (blue)
Historian (blue)
Accountant (blue)
Builder (yellow)
Physician (green)
Warrior (red)
Caste of Initiates - Interpreters of the Priest-Kings (white)

Low Caste
Peasant (brown)
Assassin (black)
Merchant (gold and white)
Slaver (blue and yellow)
Musician (not mentioned)
Player (red and yellow)
Poet (aqua and red)
Singer (aqua and red)
Tarn Keeper (grey and green)
Thief (none specific)
Woodsmen (black and brown)
Charcoal Maker (black and gray)
Baker (brown and yellow)
Cloth Maker (not mentioned)
Rug Makers (not mentioned)
Carder (not mentioned)
Dyer (not mentioned)
Pot-Maker (brown/green)
Leatherworker (tan)
Saddle-Maker (tan)
Metal Worker (steel gray)
Lighter (striped green white and red)
Vinter (white with green leaves)

Caste System

Gorean society has a firmly established Caste System and almost all Free Persons belong to a Caste. The Caste system is a vital component of civilized Gorean society. In its most basic form, a Caste is your profession though there is much more involved than that. Your Caste defines your codes of conduct, generally limits those you interact with, sets your place within the Gorean hierarchy, and so much more. Your Caste defines much of who you are on Gor, far more than any job on Earth ever would.

There are three basic categories outside of the caste system: Priest-Kings, outlaws and slaves. Priest-Kings are the "gods" of Gor and live hidden away in the Sardar Mountains. A man who refuses to practice his livelihood or strives to alter status without consent of the Council of High Castes is by definition an outlaw. Outlaws belong to no city and usually live hidden in the forests, mountains or other isolated areas. Outlaws do not have identifying devices on their garb. Most cities will impale outlaws if they try to access the city gates. There are few outlaws on Gor as being cut off from Gorean society so to such a degree is a great onus. Slaves are considered property and have no status in the caste system. Any Caste they once had is stripped from them when they are enslaved.

There are also some peoples who do not fall into these three primary exceptions but are still outside the caste system. There are some people who have lost caste or been deprived of caste for various reasons. Some are born outside of the caste system. A few occupations are not traditionally associated with a caste, like gardening, domestic service and herding. There are also cultures and peoples on Gor without any caste system. But these peoples are traditionally considered barbarians and not a part of civilized Gor. These include such cultures as the Wagon Peoples, Torvaldslanders, Red Savages and the Tribesmen of the Tahari. All of these people are not considered outlaws though and are able to enter cities realatively freely.

Caste is primarily governed by birth. Children take on the caste of their father. If the mother does not share the caste of the father, there might be a problem if their Free Companionship eneded. In this case, it makes sense that the children would remain with the father as the children belong to his caste. Caste is far too important a matter to let the children go off with someone not of their caste. If mother and father shared caste, then the children could go with either parent. The books though do not make clear what happens to children when a Free Companionship ends.

The Caste system has little upward mobility though the opportunity does exist. Changing your Caste is generally not an easy task. Free Companionship is one method for free women to change their caste. Normally, relationships remain within the same caste. But, if of mixed caste, the woman can keep her own caste or take her partner's caste. This can serve to raise her caste. Generally, a woman would not change her Caste to a lower one. Though her Caste changed, the woman could not fully practice her new Caste until she had been properly trained and met all other prerequisites. Another way for man or woman to change is their caste is through a showing or lack of ability. This can serve to either raise or lower your caste. To lower your Caste through a lack of ability, the High Council of the Caste would have to make that decision. To raise your caste or willingly change caste, the High Council of the city must approve the change, based on your qualifications for the new Caste and the willingness of the new Caste to accept you. Women are promoted and demoted by the same criteria as men though it varies from city to city.

To most Goreans though, it is unthinkable to alter their caste. Most Goreans are proud of their caste, even peasants and laborers. It is recognized that all, or at least most, castes perform necessary, useful or commendable tasks. Their skills are appreciated by others and not generally looked down on. Each caste views itself as special in some way. Each Caste has its place and worth in Gorean society. Metal Workers state:

"Where would the dwellers of cities be without us?" Dancer of Gor

This is a way of saying that their skills are essential for civilization. Even the lowest Caste, the Peasants, consider themselves the "Ox on which the Home Stone Rests." They are the ones that provide the food for all other Castes.

Despite this respect for the place of each Caste within Gorean society, Caste discrimination is very common.

"Language and city, and caste, however, are matters of great moment to them, and provide sufficient basis for the discriminations in which human beings take such great delight." Beasts of Gor

Entertainment and Free Companionships generally follow Caste lines. There are paga taverns that cater to the different Castes and a Peasant would not dare enter a High Caste tavern. Many Castes will not use the Long Bow because it is seen as a Peasant weapon and beneath higher castes. The Double Knowledge is a method of discrimination meant to keep the Lower Castes in their place. The Low Castes are generally not permitted to vote or be on the High Councils. The Castes are ranked from Highest to Lowest which alone signifies that some are better than others.

Castes are divided into High Castes and Low Castes. There are only five High Castes and include Initiates, Scribes, Builders, Physicians and Warriors. Each has its own color, respectively white, blue, yellow, green, red, which is also their ranking of order of importance. The High Castes elect the Administrator and Council of a city for stated terms. There are subcastes of some of these castes. For example, cartographers and lawyers belong to the Caste of Scribes. The Lower Castes includes all the other established castes. These includes such castes as assassins, bakers, bleachers, carriers of wood (woodsmen), charcoal makers, cloth worker, cosmeticians, dyers, goat-keepers, growers of rence, leather workers, metal workers, musicians, peasants, potters, saddle makers, singers (poets), smiths, tarn keepers, vintners, and weavers. There are many more castes and some subcastes. These castes are also ranked in order of their importance with peasants at the bottom of the ranking order.

Each caste has its own Caste Code to govern the conduct of its members.

"The ethical teachings of Gor, …,amount to little more than the Caste Codes---collections of sayings whose origins are lost in antiquity." Tarnsman of Gor

Unfortunately the books provide little details on the Caste Codes for each different Caste. Only the Warrior Caste receives any siginificant details on its Caste Codes. These Codes are vitally important to the Caste members and are generally followed by all.

"It is the codes which separate men from sleen and larls," Slave Girl of Gor

Failing to follow the Codes could lead to sanctions from your Caste.

Belonging to a Caste also gives you certain privileges. Charity is administered through the caste structure. Goreans do not favor begging and some even view it as an insult. When charity is in order, the caste or clan comes to the rescue. Caste Sanctuary, the protection of caste members in times of need, is another privilege. A Caste protects its own members and they form a cohesive unity. Caste rights are a matter of birth and you are entitled to them automatically, even if you never practice your caste work.

One commonly cannot practice a craft in a Caste until an apprenticeship is done though you might be able to do some subsidiary work in that craft without such practice. A Metalworker, who has not completed his apprenticeship, might be able to paint iron or transport it though he could not work the iron. An apprenticeship helps to guarantee the quality of the Caste's products and services. Thus a Caste will consist of full working members of the Caste, members in training, and non-practicing members. Women of a caste often do not engage in caste work. Women generally do not work in Castes where physical strength is required. For example, women of the Metal Workers do not commonly work at a forge and women of the Builder's do not supervise the construction of fortifications.

But, women do commonly work as Scribes and Merchants. There are even female slavers. Another notable exception is that of the Physician's Caste. The Physician's Caste though does restrict women in one way. The Caste will not permit a woman to practice medicine until she has first born two children. In many cities, at age fifteen, a woman of the Physician's Caste dons two bracelets. One is removed for each child born, and when both are removed, she is allowed to practice medicine. The reason behind this is that it is understood that professional women tend not to reproduce themselves. This would serve over time to diminish the quality of the caste. Thus, the rule helps to preserve the future of the caste.

The future of the caste is vitally important to Goreans. The welfare of the caste takes priority over the ambitions of specific individuals. The welfare of a larger number of individuals is more important than the welfare of a smaller number of individuals. Caste is crucially important to Goreans in ways that those of Earth cannot easily comprehend. The importance of the caste to Goreans cannot be underestimated. Thus, the logic behind this restriction on women in the Physician's Caste should apply as well to the Warrior Caste.

Why would the Warrior Caste allow women to risk their lives in combat? There would be more women dying in combat which would lead to fewer births. In addition, dead women could not raise their existing children. Goreans would not want their children to grow up with mothers. This would all diminish the quality of the caste over time. With the welfare of the caste at stake, Warriors would not permit women to engage in combat. In addition, women would not want to endanger the welfare of the caste so they would accept their role in the Caste. This may be one of the strongest single arguments against female warriors.

There are a number of key differences between the High and Low Castes. First, each learns a different type of knowledge concerning their world. The Low Castes learn the First Knowledge that is a simpler knowledge with a number of falsehoods and half-truths. They learn that the world is flat and are not taught of the existence of Earth. The High Castes have the Second Knowledge. They know about Earth and most of the true information about Gor though they know little of the true nature of the Priest-Kings. Most of them would have uncovered these truths on their own anyways. There is a Third Knowledge belonging to the Priest Kings, a knowledge of the many secrets of Gor.

The Low Castes are also very superstitious normally. They are reluctant to reveal their true names. They thus have both a use name and a real name. Often only close relatives know their real name. High Castes usually use their names freely though the Lowers believe they have use names. Knowing a real name supposedly gives one power, a capacity to use the name in spells and insidious magical practices. Many of the Low Castes believe in magic and that some people can read thoughts. They believe the stories of the wizards and monsters of Anango.

There is an accent that differentiates the High and Low Castes, though some of the higher artisan castes speak almost like the High Caste. Illiteracy is common on Gor and is not taken as a mark of stupidity. Literacy usually follows by caste lines and many Goreans of the Low Castes cannot read. Even some of the High Castes, primarily warriors, may be illiterate. Some warriors feel that they should not be literate so they hide the fact that they can read.

The caste system is vital to the proper functioning of Gorean society. The caste system contributes considerably to the stability of society. It reduces competitive chaos, social and economic, and prevents the draining of intelligence and ambition into a small number of envied, prestigious occupations. By making each Caste important and instilling an attitude that the good of the Caste outweighs individual ambitions, people tend to remain in their Caste. Gorean society is not a battle over climbing a social ladder.

Free Women

Clothing

City WomenRobes of Concealment The norm for the Free Women of the cities of Gor is for them to wear robes of concealment and veils. Women of high caste are much more likely to wear robes of concealment and veils though many low caste women do as well. The general idea of this garb is to conceal a woman from head to toe, allowing only her eyes to be revealed, perhaps not even that. This garb is reminiscent of the clothing worn by Muslim women on Earth, though the Gorean garb may be even more intricate and bulky. Basically, the higher your caste or station, the more complex your clothing will be. A low caste woman may only own a single or a couple robes, while a high caste woman might own dozens of different ones. The robes are worn in layers, each outer layer being stiffer and bulkier than the one below it. Only a couple of robes were specifically named in the books though undoubtedly other robes are named as well. The street robe is a very stiff robe and it goes over the house robe, which is more flexible. The robes are kept secure by a series of eyes and hooks and it can take some time for a high caste woman to dress in her multiple layers. She will need help dressing properly. Gloves are also commonly worn. The robes may be of any colors though one's caste colors will often be the predominant color. Beneath these robes, a woman may wear a slip-like undergarment, its fabric dependent upon the wealth of the woman. High caste women are more likely to own an undergarment of silk or a similar material. A low caste woman is more likely to wear an undergarment of rep cloth. Bras, panties and hosiery are not worn on Gor.   Veils Like robes, veils are worn in various numbers and combinations dependent upon one's Caste and station. Many low caste women possess only a single veil which must suffice for all occasions. High caste women often own many veils and will wear a number commensurate with the occasion. Some wealthy women may wear up to ten veils on a formal occasion. In general, most women will wear only one or two veils, such as the last veil and the street veil. Each veil is heavier and more opaque than the veil beneath it. A veil is commonly a long length of fabric that is wound around a woman's head and secured by veil pins. A narrow gap is left for one's eyes. There are a number of veils named in the books and others may exist as well. The last veil, also known as the light veil, is often worn next to one's face. It is similar in some ways to the intimacy veil. The intimacy veil is also worn next to the face but it is diaphanous. This veil is long though and can be wound several times around one's face, thus making it more opaque with each revolution. T he freedom veil, also known as the citizeness veil, is worn above the last veil. The pride veil is then worn above the freedom veil. The house veil is worn over the pride veil. The house veil is often worn indoors when the household is having guests, especially guests unfamiliar to the woman. The street veil is commonly the topmost veil worn in public. This veil is very heavy and absolutely opaque. There are also veils that signify one's position, such as the veil of state, an item worn by a tatrix or ubara. This will be an intricately embroidered item, fancy but still opaque.   Conventions In many Gorean cities, such as Ar and Ar's Station, it is not legally mandatory for Free Women to wear robes of concealment and veils. It is more a matter of custom, tradition and modesty. But, there are some cities that make it mandatory and repeated violations can lead to enslavement. Part of the justification for this garb is to protect Free Women from being kidnapped by raiders. Most men will not risk their life to try to abduct a woman who might turn out to be ugly. It is much more profitable to steal a slave who they can easily see is attractive. Gorean men are aware that many Free Women do not take care of their figures. There are slavers, though, who specialize in the abduction of Free Women. "There is a Gorean saying that Free Women, raised gently in the high cylinders, in their robes of concealment, unarmed, untrained in weapons, may, by the slaver, be plucked like flowers." (Hunters of Gor, p. 118) In the robes and veils, it is easy for a Free Woman to disguise her identity while she travels around the city. Another justification is that Free Women are supposed to be modest and not act like a slave in any way. Wearing clothes that are too revealing would be a social faux pas. Even in cities where such garb is not mandatory, there will still be laws that prevent Free Women from baring too much flesh in public. Violations of such laws can lead to enslavement. In addition, some high caste women do not want the low castes to see their faces. They feel they are above the low castes who are not worthy to look upon their faces. Normally only one's family may look upon a Free Woman without her veil. Within their homes, some women may not wear a veil in the presence of certain special guests. Free Women, when drinking in public, commonly lift their veils with their left hands to drink. Others will drink right through their veils. In public, some low caste women don't wear veils and a few bold high caste women may also not wear them. This is more likely to lead to negative ramifications for the high caste woman. Peer pressure helps to contribute to women wearing veils. If a high caste woman does not wear veils in public, she may find herself shunned by other women or even publicly insulted. Women of the barbaric lands often do not wear veils, and even women of some of the northern cities do not commonly wear veils. In the cities, it is often a serious crime for someone to face strip a Free Woman, to remove her veils against her will. It can be dangerous for other reasons as well. "It is not wise to try to tear away the garments of a free woman with one's bare hands. They may contain poisoned needles." (Beasts of Gor, p. 402) Footwear Footwear for Free Women is commonly either sandals or slippers, dependent on caste. Boots may also be worn, dependent on the situation. Some women wear platform shoes, especially those of high caste or station. For example, Talena once wore platform shoes that were about ten inches high so she could look down upon the citizens of Ar.   Cosmetics and Hairdressing Most Free Women rarely wear cosmetics or perfume, believing they are only for slaves. In certain cities, such as Ar, many Free Women do commonly use them. There are even stores that cater specifically to Free Women. Those stores do not commonly stock products for slaves, only Free Women. It is interesting though that many perfumers, hairdressers and cosmeticians treat their Free Women clients almost like slaves. This does not stop the Free Women from patronizing their establishments. Free Women may wear upswept hairdos, something generally not permitted to slaves who must often wear their hair long. Some Free Women even may purchase wigs or falls though they only want items made from the hair of Free Women. Women's hair is a common trade item and is especially prized for catapult ropes. During times of war, some Free Women will give their hair to the city to use for catapults.   Other Clothing Certain women may wear garb other than robes, dependent on the situation. For example, wealthy Free Women who own orchards, fields, ranches, vineyards or such may wear different clothes when they are supervising or inspecting their properties. One type of such outfit includes a full skirt, its hem about six inches off the ground, a blouse, a belted jacket that falls to the thighs, a hood attached to the jacket by hooks, leather boots, and an opaque veil. The height of the skirt hem is to protect it from dirt, water or mud. Interestingly enough, it also functions as a slave control device for kajiri. The sight of a Mistress' ankle, even booted, is very alluring to a kajirus. He will want to stare at it but understands he can be punished for doing so. This will make him a bit tense and wary around his Mistress and this can be used to control the kajirus. Women who go hunting may also wear different garb such as hunting leathers or a tunic, trousers, a cape and boots. In the North, a kirtle is commonly worn. This is a dress similar to a robe, except that it may be more tailored to the figure. It can be plain or ornamented, belted, sashed or no waist binding. Additional items include vests and cloaks. Because of the colder climate, boots are commonly worn, though slippers may be worn indoors. Free Companionship Free Companionship Elsewhere On Gor, except for Port Kar, free companionship lasts for a single year at a time, then it either must be renewed with the wines of love or it will dissolve. The renewal must be performed by the twentieth ahn, midnight, of the anniversary date. If either party dies or is enslaved, the free companionship will also dissolve. It is unknown whether the parties can voluntarily choose to dissolve, like a divorce, the free companionship prior to the year's end. As it is a contractual matter, the possibility exists, but the books do not speak on this matter. Free companionship is a very serious matter to Goreans. It is not entered into lightly and seems unlikely that Goreans would see a need to end it earlier than the year's end. There are others who feel differently about free companionship. "Some Goreans think of the Free Companionship as being a form of contract slavery." (Blood Brothers of Gor, p. 246) Free companionships may either be arranged or entered into voluntarily by both parties. If it is an arrangement, there is often a companionship price also known as a bride-price. This is the amount of money or goods that the prospective man must pay to the father of the woman he desires to be his free companion. The bride-prices of high caste women are often in gold or tarns. A beautiful woman might cost as much as forty tarns while the daughter of an administrator could go as high as one hundred tarns. The daughter of an ubar might even cost one thousand tarns. Low castes also arrange free companionships, though the bride-price would be much lower. The woman is often not consulted concerning the matter. She must accept what her father arranges for her. Some women might not even see the face of their intended until the free companionship ceremony. Many low caste women will know their intended companion, though they will pretend otherwise. It will often be someone of their caste, someone they might see in the market or on the city streets. The woman might be "…the same girl who slapped him with a fish yesterday and hurled such a stream of invective at him that his ears still smart,…" (Outlaw of Gor, p. 68) The books do not contain a complete free companionship ceremony, only small bits of information about its contents. In addition, it is clear that the ceremonies vary city to city. The only common denominator is that the ceremony includes the drinking of special wine, the wine of love. In some ceremonies, the couple will interlock their arms as they drink the wine. The wine must often be drunk to conclude the ceremony. In some ceremonies, the woman will wear eight veils, several which will be removed during certain phases of the ceremony. Some cities then have the final veils removed in private by the man while in other cities the final veils are removed in public during the ceremony. A person is only permitted to have a single free companion at a time. There is no limit to the number of subsequent free companions you may have. Free Women do not change their names in a free companionship like Earth women do in a marriage. A free companionship generally is supported by a companion contract outlining the conditions of the companionship. The books again do not contain the details of such contracts. There may be a feast celebration of the free companionship. At this event, it is common for the woman to wear a garland of talendars. If the prospective free companions are of different cities, the ceremony may be preceded by a companion or betrothal journey, where the woman journeys to the man's city. The wealthier the couple, the more involved this journey will be. Tarnsmen have a custom where the warrior playfully captures his intended woman and binds her across the saddle of his tarn. He then flies away with her, tossing her clothes to the ground below. Some men will even free a slave to make her his free companion. A female free companion, especially one of high caste, will often perform only the type of work they choose to do. They do not commonly work as a domestic servant in their home. There are public slaves who tend to chores such as cooking, cleaning and laundry. Such work is considered beneath most Free Women, especially those of high caste or station. This does give Free Women a lot of free time, especially if they do not work in their caste and do not have children.   ChildrenA vital function of the Free Women of Gor is to reproduce, to provide children to give longevity to their family and caste. The child of a slave is most often legally considered a slave. Few free men will thus have children with their slaves. That is considered a privilege of Free Women. In general, it is Free Women who care for and teach the children in their crucial beginning years of development. Slaves are not permitted to teach free people so they could not teach even children. Slaves are limited to lesser roles with children, more a playmate than much else. Children will thus learn a lot from their free mothers so it is the obligation of their mothers to ensure they learn the proper information. It is likely they are the ones that begin to teach children about the caste codes, their proper modes of behavior. Goreans are fond of children and rarely would cause them harm or suffering. Even slave children are seldom abused. Slave children may not even realize they are slaves until they are in their teenage years. Despite this general love of children, there is also a dichotomy involved as well. Some Free Women sell their infant children into slavery, mostly their daughters. Some women even do this on a regular basis. The standard price for an infant girl is about two tarsk bits, a very low value. Some infants, if they appear sickly or too weak, may be left out to die, exposed to the elements. Some children are left in the Voltai Mountains, a wooden skewer through their heels. Goreans do not consider this to be cruelty. Female children learn many ways to please men, including such matters as the preparation of exotic dishes, the arts of walking, standing and being beautiful, the care of a man's equipment, and certain dances. These dances may include the love dances of their city and the stately dances of free maidens. These stately ones might be performed to honor and welcome visiting dignitaries. It is a slow and graceful dance, very modest. Female children must also learn how to submit to a man as they never know when that might save their life one day. The threat of enslavement is a very real danger for all women. Thus, they want to be prepared as most women would prefer slavery to death.   FrigidityIn general Free Women are seen as frigid and sexually repressed. Many know little about sex and see it more as a duty and a chore rather than as a matter of mutual pleasure. This frigidity is considered acceptable for free women though slaves are not permitted that quality. Men are commonly disappointed by this frigidity, especially if they have experienced the wanton sexuality of a slave. It generally takes from a third to a quarter of an ahn, 18 to 24 minutes, to arouse a Free Woman to orgasm. Some Free Women are proud of their frigidity. They consider it important to show how different they are from slaves. Other Free Women seek to change that aspect and learn how to be more sexually responsive. Physicians commonly tell Free Women who seek advice on changing their frigidity to learn slave dancing. Most consider it appropriate, though, that Free Women remain ignorant of the sexuality of the slave. "An unowned girl, a free woman, thus, can never experience her full sexuality…Passion, it is thought, deprives the free woman to some extent of her freedom and important self-control; it is frowned upon because it makes her behave, to some extent, like a degraded female slave; Free Women, thus, to protect their honor and dignity, their freedom and personhood, their individuality, must fight passion;… the free woman must remain cool and in control of herself, even in the arms of her companion, to avoid being truly 'had,'…" (Tribesman of Gor, p. 17) Free Women Laws Within the books, there are basically two types of laws that deal with Free Women. There are laws that protect Free Women and there are laws that state when a Free Woman may be legally enslaved. In addition, there are certain universal conventions that exist dealing with the enslavement of Free Women. Though these do not have the power of law, honor often dictates that the conventions will be followed if appropriate. An important point to consider is that it is generally illegal to collar a Free Woman, within the city of her Home Stone, on your own. Even if a Free Woman violates one of the city laws where the punishment is slavery, the legal process must still be followed. Either magistrates or a court will decide if the woman's actions warrant her judicial enslavement. Men will act to protect women of their Home Stone from being illegally enslaved. Also remember that the following list of laws may not apply in all Gorean cities. This is simply a list derived from the books. Each city will have their own laws and may or may not follow one of the laws listed here. Other laws, that are not listed here, will also exist. Laws It is illegal to touch pleasure silk to the skin of a Free Woman. It is considered too sensuous a material for them. Face stripping, removing the veils of a Free Woman against her will, is considered a serious crime. A Free Woman may engage in a form of limited self-contracting where she legally becomes a slave for a specific time period, commonly ranging from one night to one year. She cannot end this contract earlier than the specified time period. Once the contract takes effect, she becomes a slave with no legal powers at all. This curious contractual arrangement is not described in great detail. It raises numerous legal dilemmas that can only be speculated about. The books do not state that the contract does or does not cover any contingencies or limits the slavery in any way. The woman does becomes an actual slave. That would seem to mean she could be freely killed. What would happen if she was sold? Does the contract prevent that? Would the time period still apply if she was sold? What would happen if she was stolen? This passage seems to raise far more questions than it answers. The Couching Law states: "Any free woman who couches with another's slave, or readies herself to couch with another's slave, becomes herself a slave, and the slave of the slave's master." (Magicians of Gor, p. 7) This basically means that a Free Woman cannot have sex with a male slave she does not own. It does not prevent her from having sex with a slave she does own. It also means that she only has to prepare to have sex with someone else's slave to be in violation. Actual sex is not a requirement. Special seduction slaves are used by some owners to trap Free Women. Milo, from Magicians of Gor, is a prime example of a seduction slave. Tarl Cabot uses him to entrap Talena and enslave her by this law. The Couching Law exists in Ar and may have been adopted by other cities. There are other cities, like Vonda, that clearly do not have such a law because Free Women there may freely give their male slaves to a female guest. Debt can lead to a Free Woman's enslavement in either of two ways. First, if a father cannot pay his own debts, then his daughter may become the property of the state. She would then be publicly auctioned and her sale price would be used equitably to pay off her father's debts. The books do not state that sons are also susceptible to this law though it would seem unlikely that would be the case. Second, a Free Woman who cannot pay her own debts may be enslaved. There are redemption laws whereby another person can pay off the woman's debt and thus gain ownership of that woman. If no one chooses to pay off her debts within a specified time period then she will be sold to a slaver, the proceeds used to pay off her debt. The books do not specify the exact length of time before she would be sold to a slaver. This law is sometimes used by unscrupulous people to entrap Free Women. They may purchase a woman's debt from another and then request that the woman make good on the debt immediately. If the woman cannot do so, she will be enslaved. A Free Woman can sell herself into slavery but once the transaction is completed, it is too late for her to revoke it. If a Free Woman willingly submits to be a slave to a specific man, the city laws vary on what can happen. Some cities state that the woman becomes a slave automatically even if that particular man does not accept her submission. It seems probable she would thus become a state slave at that point. Other cities state that the woman remains free if that particular man does not accept her submission. If a Free Woman kneels before a man or addresses him as Master, this is sufficient to make her a slave. Her actions are interpreted as a gesture of submission. There is no law in the books that states a Free Woman may be legally enslaved for being insolent, insulting, ridiculing or demeaning a man. Some city laws require women to wear robes of concealment and veils. Repeated offenses of failure to wear them can lead to enslavement. Even in cities where the robes and veils are not mandatory, a Free Woman can still be enslaved for baring too much skin, especially her legs. There is an important legal principle concerning Free Women and "conduct indicating suitability for the collar." It deals with overt conduct that shows a predisposition to slavery, behavior that is considered sufficient grounds to legally enslave a woman. It will be judges or magistrates who make the decision on whether a particular woman's behavior warrants such a penalty. There would sometimes be a hearing with a presentation of evidence. Some of the behaviors known to warrant such a sanction include fraud, theft, indigency, vagrancy, prostitution, and performing sensuous dance. In addition, Free Women who show an inordinate amount of interest in slavery may also be found suitable for this sanction. If a woman tries to spy on men and their slaves, if they disguise themselves as a slave, or linger around slave markets, then they might find themselves being judicially enslaved. These cases will not always be clear cut and could entail a lengthy hearing. Conventions Here are two important conventions dealing with enslavement and Free Women. They do not have the effect of law but honor often dictates these conventions will be followed. These conventions are part of the Gorean tradition and thus are accorded much respect. The institution of capture is practiced by nearly every, if not every, city on Gor. If you capture women from another city, your own city will recognize the legality of that capture and your rightful possession of the new slave. Remember that those women must belong to another city. You cannot legally raid your own city to obtain women to be your slaves. The city you are raiding will defend its women but they also understand that captures are a part of life. If a man saves the life of a woman, convention states that he has the option to enslave her. In essence, the man has won the right to the woman's life by saving it. Though this is not a law, few people would refuse a man this right. Even a woman's own family would be likely to honor this convention. It would be considered to be the honorable course of action. Restrictions Free Women have a number of freedoms and restrictions within different cities, not all that reach the level of an actual law. They are much more based on tradition and Goreans are very supportive of tradition. The general freedom of a Free Woman is closely tied to each particular city. Ko-ro-ba may be the Gorean city that accords the most personal freedom to Free Women and Tharna, after its revolution, may be the most repressive. For example, in Tharna, Free Women who visit must temporarily wear a collar, slave tunic and leash. The other cities of Gor fall somewhere in between this spectrum. In some cities, Free Women are not permitted to leave their homes without the permission of a male relative or their free companion. In addition, some cities permit their women only to speak to blood relatives. Women commonly travel outside the cities only accompanied by a sufficient group of armed guards. They do not commonly travel with only a single guard. It can be very dangerous for women outside the cities. Even within the cities, some women will travel with guards though they are more apt to only travel with a single guard. This would apply more for women of high caste or high station who can afford such protection. The average peasant woman would not walk around Ar protected by an armed rarius. There are no known laws limiting the type of weapons that women may carry but practicality commonly limits their choices to daggers and/or poisoned needles. Poison is considered to be a woman's weapon, not a weapon of warriors or assassins. Women will carry their weapons concealed, hoping to rely on surprise if they ever need to actually defend themselves. Without the element of surprise, most men could easily disarm a woman. Some Free Women engage in the sport of hunting and are skilled in the use of the crossbow or small bow. They may even dress in hunting leathers, ride a tharlarion and hunt on their own, though that is dangerous. When sitting, Free Women kneel in what would be considered almost a tower slave position. Their hands though lie on their thighs, palms down. Free Women maintain good posture while kneeling. Free Women do not sit cross-legged as that is only for men. It is considered an insult to men for women to sit cross-legged. Free Women may enter a house first, rather than behind a man like a slave. Free Women commonly drink delicately and eat in small bites. A Free Woman might eat larger bites, though that is most often done to arouse a man she desires. Free Women are rarely permitted to observe slave dances that are erotic or especially sensuous. This is not because they might be offended but it is for their own protection. It is thought that such sights might inflame the slave desires within a Free Woman. Most Free Women dislike the theater, especially its more vulgar and ribald minor forms. If anything, they will attend performances incognito so others can not identify them. It is only the more serious and major forms of theater that Free Women feel comfortable attending. The Twelfth Passage Hand, just before the solemn Waiting Hand, is often a time of great festivities, a carnival. Carnival is also a time for people to don masks and bizarre costumes, allowing an opportunity for jokes and pranks. They also permit incognito assignations between free people. Some Free Women even go as far as to masquerade as slaves and run naked through the cities. Another common game during the Carnival is called Favors. In the basic version, Free Women are given ten scarves, each set unique to each woman. The Free Women then pass out the scarves to men and receive a kiss in return. The first woman who passes out all of her scarves and returns to the starting point wins. This gives Free Women a valid way to flirt during this specific time. Rhetoric The Gorean novels are filled with much rhetoric concerning beliefs about Free Women. Many of these sayings allege that all women are natural slaves. Most of these sayings are not mentioned in the presence of Free Women. They are what men say when they get together to discuss women. "Every woman in her heart wants to wear the chains of a man." (Priest-Kings of Gor, p. 204) "The institution of freedom for women, I decided, as many Goreans believed, was a mistake." (Nomads of Gor, p. 286) "…the garments of a free woman are designed to conceal a woman's slavery,…" (Rogue of Gor, p. 276) "On Gor it is said that free women are slaves who have not yet been collared." (Magicians of Gor, p. 22) "A Gorean saying came to mind, that the free woman is a riddle, the answer to which is the collar." (Magicians of Gor, p. 50) Some of these sayings also allege that true love can only exist between a man and a kajira, not a Free Woman. The general idea is that, for women, the price of being free is that they must sacrifice love. Again, these are sayings generally not spoken of in the presence of Free Women. "A woman , I had learned, must choose between freedom and love." (Slave Girl of Gor, p. 412) "A man can truly love only that woman who is truly his, who belongs to him. Otherwise he is only a party to a contract." (Slave Girl of Gor, p. 444) "…no free woman, because she is free, can truly compete for the attention and affection of a man as can a slave girl." (Fighting Slave of Gor, p. 217) "Bondage is a soil in which it is natural for love to blossom." (Blood Brothers of Gor, p. 113) Yet, despite all this rhetoric, Free Women remain in the overwhelming majority on Gor. If all women are natural slaves, then why have not the majority of women been enslaved? If true love is only found with a slave, does that mean the vast majority of male Goreans live without love? It seems obvious, based on the evidence within the books, that all of this rhetoric is mostly just talk. It is manly banter that has little basis in the realities of Gorean society. Though generalizations can be made about Free Women, there are surely many exceptions as well. Some Free Women are capable of intense passion and love. Many men must find contentment with their Free Companions as Gorean men in general are said to be happy people. Do not confuse the rhetoric with the reality. Look deeper than the surface to find the true answers of Gor. Slave Ownership Free Women may own slaves, both male and female. There are no legal restrictions on their ownership rights concerning slaves. Silk slaves are special male slaves trained to please women. In the presence of Free Women, slaves are commonly required to be more modest. This applies mostly in public places, though it may apply elsewhere as well depending on the circumstances. On city streets though, kajirae are rarely punished for a lack of modesty. Free Women must tolerate almost any type of slave behavior that occurs there. A Free Man can walk his kajira naked through the streets if he so desires and the Free Women would just avert their eyes. Men are often solicitous of Free Women so they would rarely walk their slaves naked except maybe as a form of discipline. Men generally do not openly flaunt the sexuality of their slaves in front of Free Women. They often try to respect the sensitive feelings of the Free Women. In general, Free Women despise kajirae, treating them with cruelty and viciousness. If a slave is especially attractive, a Free Woman will treat her even worse. This is motivated in part by envy and jealousy. Free Women know that men often prefer the company of slave girls. This resentment is thus taken out on the slaves and not the men. Free Women also envy the slave's freedom to be sexual beings, especially of those slaves that seem the happiest. Some Free Women also despise slaves in a denial of their own feelings and desires to be a slave. The consequence is that most kajirae fear Free Women. They understand the power Free Women have over them and they do not want to irritate Free Women any further. They dread the possibility of being owned by a Free Woman. Since most men do not interfere when a Free Woman punishes a slave, a slave knows she has little recourse except to be as pleasing as possible to Free Women. Society The proper role of Free Women in Gorean society is one of the most misunderstood aspects of Gor. This misunderstanding is perpetuated by several factors. First, the rhetoric in much of the books states that all women should be slaves. Second, a cursory reading of the novels shows that basically all of the major Free Women characters, who are often haughty, end up as slaves. Third, there is a popular myth that male dominance is absolute on Gor. These three matters combine to skew one's view of Free Women on Gor. It is only through a deeper study of the novels do you better understand the actual complexity of the role of Free Women on Gor. They are far more than just potential slaves. The vast majority of the women on Gor are Free Women. Only 2 to 3% of all the women on Gor are actually slaves. That statistic alone speaks volumes about the place of Free Women in Gorean society. Despite all the rhetoric, Goreans do not follow through on those platitudes and enslave most of their women. They do not even enslave a significant portion of their women. There must be some compelling reasons to support this stance. Free Women must be able to fulfill important roles that slaves cannot. The need for those roles must supersede the need for slaves. Free Women are commonly treated with respect, courtesy and honor, especially Free Women of high station or caste. Free Women on Gor would be considered to possess a greater status than a typical Earth woman. Free Women, especially those of high station, are often referred to as "Lady." On the other hand, men are not referred to as "Lord" in the books. Free Women may often say what they wish, without anyone's permission, and many men will listen to what they have to say. Part of the key is that those Free Men and Women who share a Home Stone have much in common. Thus, they are more apt to listen to the thoughts and feelings of one another. Free Women may often be bold, within certain limits. "A free woman is inordinately precious. She is a thousand times, and more, above a mere slave." (Players of Gor, p.92) "For example, there is no higher person, nor one more respected, than the Gorean free woman." (Hunters of Gor, p. 311) Free Women are rarely raped unless it is leading to direct enslavement. Even a Slaver who enslaves a Free Woman will treat her with courtesy until she has been branded. Many men find Free Women boring, preferring the company of slave girls. Free Women are seen to be ignorant, arrogant and frigid. Yet, Free Men often will take no action against a Free Woman who annoys them. "A free woman may often make a man angry with impunity, she being lofty and free, this latitude is seldom extended to the slave." (Blood Brothers of Gor, p. 221) A male relative or a free companion of a Free Woman does have some options to discipline her. The punishment will fit the woman's status and dignity. The books do contradict themselves as to whether Free women may be whipped or not. If so, they are whipped differently from a slave, much easier. A free companion might chain his woman to his couch, like a slave. This may occur even though a Free Woman is muchly loved. Some men do take risks to get back at a Free Woman who they feel requires punishment. This is a risk because their actions are generally illegal. One extreme example is that sometimes Free Women are captured, bound and gagged and then made to work in a brothel for a night. One key to the treatment of Free Women is their station and caste. The higher a woman's station or caste, then the more likely she will be treated with courtesy and deference. Her wealth and position are powerful factors that must be considered. A man ignores these factors at his peril. A second key is whether or not one shares a Home Stone with a woman. Those who share Home Stones generally respect and protect each other. Men do not willingly let men of other Home Stones enslave their women. They do not let their women come to harm if they can intervene and protect them. A third key is simply tolerance for the actions of Free Women. I think Tarl Cabot said it best, "It is not difficult, of course, to take insolence from a woman." (Mercenaries of Gor, p. 7) Many Gorean men will just laugh off a woman's insults. Free Women Roles Free Women on Gor fulfill a number of different roles, roles that essentially cannot be filled by kajirae. These are important roles, ones that contribute significantly to the effective functioning of Gorean society. These roles include positions of power, caste membership, rree companions and mothers. These roles are far more important than the role of a slave. Slaves, in general, contribute little to the operation of Gorean society. Though there are work slaves, the primary purpose of the majority of slaves is for the pleasure of men, a type of luxury. A city could exist without slaves but not without Free Women. Positions of Power In general, Gorean men do not prefer to place women in positions of power. "Women, …, seldom release the following instinct in men. Men, accordingly, do not on the whole, care to follow them. In doing so they generally feel uncomfortable. It makes them uneasy. They sense the absurdity, the unnaturalness, of the relationship. It is thus that normal men commonly follow women only unwillingly, and only with reservations, usually also only within an artificial context or within the confines of a misguided, choiceless or naïve institution, where their discipline may be relied upon. Their compliance with orders in such a situation cannot help but be more critical, more skeptical. Their activities tend then to be performed with less confidence, and more hesitantly. This often produces serious consequences to the efficiency of their actions. It is interesting to note that even women seldom care to follow women, particularly in critical situations. The male, biologically, for better or for worse, appears to be the natural leader. In the perversion of nature, of course, anything may occur." (Players of Gor, p.288) This is a generality for which there are a number of exceptions. A Free Woman of superior ability can achieve much, including ruling a city. That is fully supported by the philosophies of Gor. Women have ruled on Gor as administrator, ubara and tatrix. An administrator is an elected position, so a woman would have to win either the vote of the high council of the city or the vote of the high castes. Tharna was led by a woman administrator until she chose to step down. An ubara is a female ruler of the Warrior Caste. She may rule as the free companion of an ubar or on her own. As the free companion of an ubar, an ubara possesses great power, second only to the ubar. There is nearly nothing she cannot accomplish with her power. An ubara, with no ubar, can rule on her own if the city supports her. Talena was made the sole ubara of Ar when Marlenus was thought dead and the Regent had been deposed. She would thus possess ultimate power within Ar. A tatrix is similar to a civil ubara. It is a female dictator who does not belong to the Warrior Caste. She remains in power only through the support of the people though she was not elected into her position. Tharna, Port Olni and Corcyrus were all ruled at one time by a tatrix. If a woman can attain the highest position in a city, its ruler, then there is no logical reason why a woman could not fill other positions of leadership within a city such as a member of the high council of castes or caste leader. There are no specific prohibitions in the books that prevent Free Women from attaining such positions. It simply takes a woman of superior ability to be found worthy of such a position. On Gor, it may be rare but it is definitely within the realm of possibility. Women may also possess power in other ways. They may own and operate their own houses, often merchant houses. Their business skills and wealth allow them to possess various degrees of power. There are a number of examples in the books of women who own houses by themselves and wield power through their wealth and status. There are no laws prohibiting their ownership of property or real estate. It is often said that merchants are power brokers within many cities. Female merchants enter into that equation as well as men. Caste Free Women belong to almost all of the castes on Gor except the Initiates, Players and Assassins. The books specifically state that women may not belong to the Initiate Caste. Though there is no specific prohibition in the books against women belonging to the Player and Assassin Castes, the evidence supports their exclusion. Both are castes you must actively petition to join. Mere birth does not grant one membership in those castes. The books state that generally women do not or may not play kaissa. The books also state that the Assassin Caste seeks men of a particular caliber. There is no indication that either caste permits women or has female members. Free Women are either born into their caste, assume the caste of their free companion, or petition to join a caste. Children take on the caste of their father. This permits a woman to become a member of the Warrior Caste if her father is a member. Normally, free companions share the same caste though it is permitted for people to free companion people outside of their caste. When a woman joins in free companionship, she has the option to assume the caste of her mate. She can choose to retain her caste. It is unknown if the woman retains the option to change caste throughout the length of the free companionship or if there is a time limit on her choice. Even if she retains her caste, her children will still assume the caste of their father. Women can petition to join a caste and they follow the same rules as a man would in such a petition. The high council of the city would need to approve of the change as well as the intended new caste. When you become a member of a caste, you will receive all of the normal benefits of that caste, such as caste sanctuary and charity. You generally cannot work in your caste until you complete an apprenticeship or accepted training program. You may be permitted to engage in some limited caste activities without such training but your role would always remain limited. Many women choose not to perform the work of their caste but there are numerous exceptions. In general, women do not engage in work requiring a lot of physical strength such as working at a forge, woodcutting and such. Women often work as scribes and merchants. There are even female slavers, some who engage in field captures though the majority just manage slave houses within the cities. Women also engage in work in the Physician Caste. There is a common limitation on such women. They cannot engage in the full practice of medicine until they have first given birth to two children. It is likely their function before birthing the requisite children might be akin to being a nurse. In many cities, at age fifteen, a woman of the Physician Caste will be given two bracelets to wear. She can remove one bracelet each time she has a child. When she has removed both bracelets, she may then practice medicine as a full physician. The rationale behind this prerequisite is that professional women tend not to have children. If this were allowed to occur, it would serve over time to diminish the quality and size of the caste. Thus, the rule helps to preserve the future of the caste. The welfare of the caste takes priority over the ambitions and desires of specific individuals. The needs of the many outweigh the needs of the few, or the one. Caste is vitally important to Goreans so this logic is accepted as valid and is not questioned. Women may become members of the Warrior Caste by birth or Free Companionship. Yet, women are never trained by the caste to become warriors. There is no instance in any of the novels where a woman was ever trained as a warrior in the Warrior Caste. The books do not explicitly state that women are never trained as warriors, but the evidence supporting that conclusion is very compelling. Probably the most compelling argument is the same logic used by the Physician Caste. Female warriors would be less likely to reproduce and their deaths in combat would also serve to decrease the birth rate. Combined, these would tend to destroy the Warrior Caste over time, and this would never be permitted to occur. Submission If at any time, or for any reason, a Free Woman decides that it is in her best interest either to become a slave or to openly submit herself to a man for his protection and use, this is accomplished by the performance of a formal gesture of submission in which she invokes the ancient Gorean "rite of submission." Many Free Women would rather die than perform such a subserviant act. It is important that a Free Woman understand that when this rite is invoked, there is no going back. Typically there are only two possible outcomes when a Free Woman submits so: either she is enslaved and becomes the personal chattel of the man, his to do with as he sees fit, or she is found lacking in desirability by the man in question and is driven from him in disgrace. In the case of a warrior, the consequences are even more dire, since a warrior is not permitted by his codes to abandon the woman while she is still alive. Therefore, most warriors have no qualms whatsoever against putting the submitting woman to death on the spot. Indeed, to a warrior's mind, it is better by far to take the supplicant's life than to abandon her to be randomly enslaved by the first person who comes along. In such a situation the warrior is acting to preserve the honor of the former Free Woman and her caste and family. The way the rite is invoked is: The Free Woman typically face strips herself, publicly announcing that she willingly submits to the individual she has chosen. She then assumes "the position of female submission." A mat is used upon which to kneel for this. The Free Woman kneels at the man's feet. She leans back on her heels and extends arms upward, crossed at the wrists as though for binding. She lowers her head in supplication. If the man accepts her, she becomes his slave and forfeits all titles, rank and property immediately. If he does not, she accepts the consequences of her actions, even if it means her death. It should be obvious that a Free Woman does not invoke the Rite of Submission hastily or without serious consideration, as the very act can cost her life.

Caste / Clans

Caste/Clans

Gorean society has a firmly established caste system, a very important aspect of their society. Almost every Free Person of the cities of Gor belongs to a caste. Priest-Kings, slaves and outlaws are the three primary exceptions who stand outside of the caste system. Priest-Kings are considered the gods of Gor and slaves are considered property and thus they have no status in the caste system. Those without Caste An outlaw is a man who chooses to rebel against the caste system. He either refuses to follow the caste he was born into or tries to change his caste without going through the proper procedures. Such a man, if convicted of being an outlaw, is banished from his city, losing his connection to his Home Stone and losing any caste status. If he dares to return to a city, he will typically be arrested and subject to impalement. The loss of a connection to your Home Stone and the caste system is considered a terrible loss and thus there are few outlaws on Gor. Outlaws live a precarious existence on the outskirts of civilization, hiding in the wilds such as the Voltai Mountains or the Northern Forests. Only the peasant might aid an outlaw, as the peasant feels he has little an outlaw would consider worth stealing. Thus, some outlaws and peasants have formed a tacit agreement to assist each other. The peasant will help to protect the outlaw and the outlaw will then share what he acquires. There are other people who do not fall into one of these exceptions but are still outside of the caste system. There are some whom have lost their caste for various reasons. For example, a slave who is freed has no caste upon manumission. They must petition to join a caste, even if they had belonged to a caste before they had been enslaved. A few people are born outside of the caste system such as the children of an outlaw. A few occupations are not associated with a caste such as gardening, domestic service and herding. Some of these people still have a connection to a Home Stone and thus are not in the same predicament as an outlaw though their lack of a caste is detrimental in various ways. We must also consider the barbarian cultures outside of civilized Gor as they do not have a caste system. These would include such cultures as the Wagon Peoples, Torvaldslanders, Red Savages, Red Hunters and the Tribesmen of the Tahari. It is the people of the cities who can afford to be specialists within a caste system. For the barbarian cultures, survival is a primary concern and thus they must become generalists to increase their chances of survival. Determining Caste Caste is primarily governed by birth and children always take on the caste of their father. Though upward mobility in the caste system is infrequent, it is still possible. In general, few Goreans try to raise their caste. It would be even rarer for a Gorean to willingly lower his caste. One way to change caste for a woman is through free companionship. Normally, mating remains within the same caste. In a free companionship a woman is permitted to take the caste of the man if she so desires. This can serve to raise her caste, even from a low caste to a high caste. A man cannot take on the caste of his free companion. A person's abilities can also serve to raise their caste, though, on the same hand, a lack of ability can lead to a demotion in your caste. To change one's caste, the high council of the city must approve the change based upon your qualifications for the new caste. The new caste must also be willing to accept you. Proper bribes can make this process easier, even if your qualifications may be lacking. Men and women are generally promoted and demoted by the same criteria in the caste system. In practice, few Goreans actually change their caste because they are proud of their caste, cognizant that each caste performs a valuable service for the community. Even the peasant, the lowest of all the castes, realizes that, without their efforts, many people would not be fed. Castes a City Institution Except for the Assassin Caste, you must belong to a Home Stone to have a caste. Each city has its own caste system and each specific caste has its own hierarchy particular to that city. Almost the only time that people from the same caste, but of different cities, might ever meet to discuss caste issues is at the Sardar Fairs. The Sardar Fairs are a very important time for the different castes to share information. You cannot belong to a caste in a city unless you also belong to the Home Stone of that city. In addition, you may only belong to a single caste. Dual castes are not permitted on Gor. Caste loyalty is far too important on Gor for someone to have dual loyalties by belonging to multiple castes. Now, if one changes their caste, they obviously do not lose any knowledge or skills they acquired from the first caste. There might be some restrictions on their use of those previously acquired skills. For example, a physician who became a warrior might not be permitted any longer to operate in hospitals owned by the Physician Caste. That physician would still retain his medical knowledge and skills. Castes also do not have complete monopolies over some of their skills. For example, any person can buy and sell slaves, not just a member of the Slaver's Caste. Anyone can learn how to wield a sword, not just a member of the Warrior's Caste. Obviously such individuals will not know or follow the caste codes of those castes. In addition, there would be some restrictions on their use of those skills. A caste would not generally permit someone to try to usurp their caste to a major degree. Goreans also realize that commonly someone cannot practice the work of their caste until they have satisfactorily completed an apprenticeship. This serves in part as a guarantee to the quality of the product. This guarantee would not apply to a person practicing the skills who does not belong to the caste. It would be a matter of caveat emptor. The caste system is intended to provide some structure and stability to Gorean society. "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, pp. 186-7) Caste and Status The welfare of the caste is of the utmost of importance to the individual Gorean. They will subsume their own individual desires and ambitions for the greater good of the caste. It is clearly that the needs of the many outweigh the needs of the few. This is a concept that is hard to accept for many people from Earth. The caste system is divided into high castes and low castes. The High Castes are considered socially superior to the Low Castes. There are only five high castes and include, in order of status and importance, the Initiates, Scribes, Builders, Physicians and Warriors. The Low Castes include all of the other established castes. They are ranked in order of importance as well though this hierarchy is not clearly defined in the books. We do know that the Peasant Caste is the lowest caste in the system. Some of these castes, high and low, also contain a number of sub-castes. The lines between caste and sub-caste are sometimes vague and the sub-caste may consider itself to be a separate caste, though legally it is not. Each caste has its own caste colors and some sub-castes also have their own caste colors. These colors are often publicly worn as people are proud of their caste. A person may own documents that certify their caste status which can be beneficial if the person is seeking caste benefits. Castes in the Books The books list a number of castes and sub-castes though sometimes they give few details concerning those castes and sub-castes. The books also mention a number of occupations but fail to explain whether they are actual castes, sub-castes or just positions. Not every occupation on Gor is an actual caste or sub-caste. Some are simply a titled position that has little to do with the actual caste. For example, a person of any caste (though most likely only a high caste) may be an ambassador. An ambassador is not a caste or sub-caste; it is simply a titled office. Some occupations that are mentioned would logically be a caste or sub-caste. Numerous speculations will be contained in the listings in that regard. The books also fail to provide many caste colors. There are numerous web sites that have assigned caste colors to certain castes that are clearly erroneous and have no support in the books. These web sites have been around for a long time and they are accepted as fact. Even the “Silk and Steel” web site, normally an excellent source for accurate Gorean information, has some erroneous information on their caste page.