Free Women - Quotes

Cruelty Hatred Veils Raiment Kneeling
Couching Price/Worth Differences - Slaves Curiosity - Sex Jealousy
Contempt Pressures Feared - Slaves Interesting Etiquette
Rejection Subjection Unclothed If Enslaved Coin Value
Utterance Seldom Raped Treatment A Riddle Unkempt
Envious Set - Masters Compete Ignorance Slavery
More Desirable More Interesting Teaching Back To Main Page

Cruelty:
...free women, it is no secret, in many respects, envy their enslaved sisters, their beauty, their joy, their attractiveness to men; this may explain why free women are often quite cruel to slave girls. ~ Slave Girl, pg. 97

Cruelty:
Free women are often cruel to beautiful female slaves. They put us under terrigying discipline. Perhaps they sense in us something of greater interest to men than themselves, something which constitutes to them a threat, something which is subtly competitive, and successfuly so, to them. ~ Slave Girl, pgs. 291-291

Hatred:
"There are few things a female slave fears more than a free female. Female slaves, so helpless in their collars, so much at the mercy of any free person whatsoever, live in terror of such females, for they know that they despise and hate them." ~ Mercenaries, pg. 328

Hatred:
It is sometimes hard to understand the hatred of the free female for her imbonded sister. It has to do…with the venomous jealousy of a woman who has taken an unhappy, path, a road commended to her by many but one which she discovered leads only to her ultimate frustration, misery and lack of fulfillment. No woman is truly happy until she occupies her place in the order or nature. ~ Mercenaries, pg. 219

Veils:
Some veils are held not with pins but with hooks or cords, passing about the back of the head. Others are a part of the hook itself. With the hooked cords, which can fasten the hood more or less closely about the neck, like a cloak, I fastened the veil in place. She then looked at me, well silenced. ~ Renegades, pg. 90

Veils:
Veils are worn in various numbers and combinations by Gorean free women, this tending to vary by preference and caste. Many low-class Gorean women own only a single veil which must do for all purposes...The veil, it might be noted, is not legally imperative for a free woman; it is rather a matter of modesty and custom. Some low-class, uncompanioned, free girls do not wear veils. Similarly certain bold free women neglect the veil. Neglect of the veil is not a crime in Gorean cities, though in some it is deemed a brazen and scandalous omission. ~ Slave Girl, pg. 107

Veils:
Free women, drinking, commonly lift their veil, or veils, with the left hand. Low-caste free women, if veiled, usually do the same. Sometimes, however, particularly if they are in public, they will drink through their veil, or veils. Sometimes, of course, free women will drink unveiled, even with guests. Much depends upon how well the individuals are known, and who is present. In their homes, of course, with only the members of their families present, or servants and slaves, most free women do not veil themselves, even those of high caste. ~ Fighting Slave, pg. 276

Veils [Unveiled]:
"In some cities an unveiled free woman is susceptible to being taken into custody by guardsmen, veiled, by force if necessary, and publicly conducted back to her home... Repeated offences in such a city usually result in the enslavement of the female." ~ Players, pg. 125

Veils:
"In some cities an unveiled free woman is susceptible to being taken into custody by guardsmen, veiled, by force if necessary, and publicly conducted back to her home... Repeated offenses in such a city usually result in the enslavement of the female." ~ Players, pg. 125

Veils [5 Described]:
Eta, from behind me, pinned the first of five beils, about my face. It was light, and shimmering, of white silk, almost transparent. Then, one after the other, she added the freedom veil, or veil of the citizeness, the pride veil, the house veil, and street veil. Each of these is heavier and more opaque then the one which lies within. ~ Slave Girl, pg. 107

Veils [Street]:
The street veil, worn publicly, is extremely bulky, quite heavy and completely opaque: not even the lineaments of the nose and cheeks are discernible when it is worn... ~ Slave Girl, pg. 107

Veils [House]:
...the house veil is worn indoors when there are those present who are not of the household, as in conversing with or entertaining associates of one's companion. ~ Slave Girl, pg. 107

Veils [Various Numbers And Combinations]:
Veils are worn in various numbers and combinations by Gorean free women, this tending to vary by preference and caste. Many low-class Gorean women own only a single veil which must do for all purposes. Not all high-caste women wear a large number of veils. A free woman, publicly, will commonly wear one or two veils; a frequent combination is the light veil, or last veil, and the house or street veil. Rich, vain women of high caste may wear ostentatiously as many as nine or ten veils. ~ Slave Girl, pg. 107

Veils [Not Legally Imperative]:
The veil, it might be noted, is not legally imperative for a free woman; it is rather a matter of modesty and custom. Some low-=class, uncompanioned, free girls do not wear veils. Similarly certain bold free women neglect the veil. Neglect of the veil is not a crime in Gorean cities, though in some it is deemed a brazen and scandalous omission. ~ Slave Girl, pg. 107

Raiment:
"Free women, in most of the high cities on Gor, particularly those of higher caste, go veiled in public. Also they commonly wear the robes of concealment, which cover them from head to toe. Even gloves are often worn. There are many reasons for this, having to do with modesty, security, and such." ~ Magicians, pg. 12

Raiment:
Many Gorean women, in their haughtiness and pride, do not choose to have their features exposed to the common view. They are too fine and noble to be looked upon by the casual rabble. Similarly the robes of concealment worn by many Gorean women are doubtless dictated by the same sentiments. On the other hand veiling is a not impractical modesty in a culture in where capture, and the chain and the whip are not unknown. One not regarded as inconsiderable, is that it is supposed to provide something of a protection against abduction and perdition. Who would wish to risk his life, it is said, to carry off a woman who might, when roped to a tree and stripped, turn out to be as ugly as a tharlarion? ~ Rogue, pg. ??

Raiment:
"Free women, incidentally, among the Wagon Peoples are not permitted to wear silk: it is claimed by those of the Wagons, delightfully I think, that any women who loves the feel of silk on her body is, in the secrecy of her heart and blood , a slave girl, whether or not some master has yet forced her to don the collar." ~ Nomads, pg. 58

Raiment:
`In Ar's Station,' he said, `as in Ar, robes of concealment, precisely, are not legally obligatory for free women, no more than the veil. Such things are a matter of custom. On the other hand, as you know, there are statutes prescribing certain standards of decorum for free women. For example, they may not appear naked in the streets, as may slaves. Indeed, a free woman who appears in public in violation of these standards of decorum, for example, with her arms or legs too much bared, may be made a slave.' ~ Renegades, pg. 367

Kneeling:
" On Gor, men sit cross-legged, not women. The Gorean female, whether free or slave, whether of low caste or high caste, kneels. This posture on the part of women, aping that of men, is a provocation. I had seen panther girls in the north, in their desire to repudiate their own nature, and in their envy of men, adopt such a posture." ~ Magicians, pg. 118

Kneeling:
"Aphris of Turia, pleased with herself, assumed her place between the merchant and Kamchak, kneeling back on her heels in the position of the Gorean Free Woman. Her back was very straight and her head high, in the Gorean fashion." ~ Nomads, pg. 94

Couching:
"Any free woman who voluntarily couches with another’s slave, or readies herself to do so, becomes the slave of the slave’s master. By such an act, the couching with, or the readying herself to couch with, a slave, as though she might be a girl of the slave’s master, thrown to the slave, she shows herself as no more than a slave, and in this act, in law, becomes a slave." ~ Magicians, pg. 303

Priceless/Worthless:
I had recalled that he had told me that although the use of an inn girl would cost me, in these times, three copper tarsks for only a quarter of an Ahn, I might have the free woman working in the paga room for an Ahn for only a tarsk bit. To be sure, that perhaps overrated her value considerably, as she was only a free woman. Whereas free women, technically, are priceless, that are also, usually, in bed worthless. They are not worthy of kneeling and humbly holding a candle within a thousand pasangs of a slave. To be sure, they commonly hold an inflated opinion of their expertise and desirability. ~ Renegades, pg. 63

Differences From Slaves:
The slave girl is in a totally different category from the free woman. It is the difference between being a person and being property, between being a respected, legally autonomous entity, entitled to dignity and pride, and being a domestic animal. The same fellow who will go to ubsurd lengths to please a free woman, and even make a fool of himself over her, will, even with the same woman, if she has been enslaved, simply gesture her with whip, and without a second thought, to the furs. ~ Renegades, pg. 65

Differences From Slaves:
"One of the major differences between the slave and free sister is that the slave is generally far more sexually fulfilled than her free sister. This is not to say that a slave may not occasionally be made to beg for sex, or that she may not, upon occasion, have to beg for it. These things help her to understand that she has sexual needs, and that whether or not these needs are to be satisfied, is at the option of the master. ~ Dancer, pg. 298

Differences From Slaves:
"How well, if haughtily, she now walked. I considered the walks of free women, and of slaves. How few free women really walk their beauty, perhaps they are ashamed of it, or fear it. Few free women walk in such a way as to display their beauty, as a slave must." "The long garments, usually worn by free women, such as that now worn be Boabissia, might cover certain defects of gait perhaps, but when one’s legs are bared, as a slave’s commonly are, one must walk with beauty and grace. Too, given the scantiness of many slave garments, it is sometimes necessary to walk with exquisite care." ~ Mercenaries, pg. 207

Differences From Slaves:
"As women, there is no comparison between a free women and her imbonded sister. Perhaps that is why free woman so hate slaves. To be sure, there is something to be said of free women. It is enjoyable to capture, enslave and train them. That is interesting. But then in a matter of time, one is not then dealing with a free woman, but another slave." ~ Mercenaries, pg. 319

Differences From Slaves:
"There is a difference" laughed Hassan, "between the pride of a free woman and the pride of the slave girl. The pride of a free woman is the pride of a woman who feels herself to be the equal of a man. The pride of the slave girl is the pride of the girl who knows that no other woman is the equal of herself." ~ Tribesmen, pgs. 332-333

Curiosity About Sex:
Naturally both free women and slaves, as both are women, are very much interested in one another's sexual activities. It is very natural. To be sure, unless the slave is a bred slave, most of this interest is on the part of the free women, for the slaves have usually, at one time or another, been free women, and have a very good idea of how narrow, dull, limited and mediocre is the sex life of the free woman. Indeed, the matter is paradoxical, for free women have a tendency both to inquire eagerly into the behaviours expected of slaves, and enjoined upon them, and, at the same time, commonly profess horror and scandal at what they hear. ~ Renegades, pgs. 403-404

Jealousy:
I saw that she was terribly jealous of the attention which men might bestow upon the slave, but how could that be, for she was, by her account, infinitely superior of the slave, and she was free? ~ Renegades, pg. 84

Jealousy:
" ‘Why are there so few slaves among the wagons?’ I asked. " ‘The free women kill them,’ said Hurtha." "She was exactly the sort of female which, in her helplessness and collar, in her vulnerability and brief tunic, tends to inspire jealous hatred, sometimes bordering almost on madness, in free women, particularly homely and sexually frustrated ones." ~ Dancer, pg. 50

Contempt:
" 'Slave girls, Mistress?' I asked. 'Yes,' she said. 'They are stinking, meaningless, lascivious little sluts who have been slaves in the arms of Gorean men. It has spoiled them for freedom. They are worthless, sensuous little beasts whose passions Gorean men have seen fit, as cruel masters, to ignite. Their sexuality, their shamelessness, their need, their helplessness, makes them an insult to free women.'" ~ Fighting Slave, pg. 63

Social Pressures:
She ties her master's sandals; she looks up at him; she loves; she serves; she is the female. The slave girl, it might be mentioned, in connection with the "releasing effects" of the collar, is relieved of many social pressures to which the free women, because of her freedom, must remain subject. The free woman, for example, may fear that men will learn of her sexual vitality. It would not do for them to know that she, that a lofty creature, on the couch, is a helpless, panting, licking she-sleen. The slave girl, on the other hand, does not have this problem. She knows that she belongs to a category of women toward which respect need not shown, and will not be shown. ~ Guardsman, pg. 210

Feared By Slaves:
"Most slave girls, incidentally, fear free women greatly." ~ Captive, pg. 197

Feared By Slaves:
"Slave girls fear free women muchly. It is almost as if there was some unspoken war between them, almost as if they might be mortal enemies. In such a war, or such an enmity, of course, the slave girl is completely at the mercy of the free person; she is only slave. One of the great fears of a slave girl is that she will be sold to a woman. Free women treat their female slaves with incredible hatred and cruelty. Why this is I do not know. Some say it is because they, the free women, envy the girls their collars and wish that they, too, were collared, and at the complete mercy of masters." ~ Marauders, pg. 154

Most Interesting Thing:
"The most interesting thing about them was that they could be seized and enslaved. After that they might become of real interest to a man. ~ Mercenaries, pg. 346

Etiquette:
"Some porridge has been spoiled," I said, "It doubtless overflowed the sides of the bowl when you pressed your face into it. That can happen when one feeds too greedily, too enthusiastically. One expects a woman to feed more delicately, more daintily. To be sure you are a free woman, and may eat much as you wish. Still, such feeding habits would disgust a tarsk. If a slave fed anything like that, she would be under the whip within the Ehn." ~ Renegades, pg. 74

Etiquette:
The principle he had alluded to pertains to conduct in a free woman which is take as sufficient to warrant her reduction to slavery. The most common application of the principle occurs in areas such as fraud and theft. Other applications may occur, for example, in cases of indecency and vagrancy. Prostitution, rare on Gor because of female slaves, is another case. The women are taken, enslaved, cleaned up and controlled. Indulgence in sensous dance is another case. Sensuous dance is almost always performed by slaves on Gor. A free woman who preforms such dancing publicly is almost begging for a collar. In some cities the sentence of bondage is mandatory for such a woman. ~ Renegades, pg. 372

Rejection:
"This thing is free!" cried the fellow, giving the Lady Temione another shake. "How dare you send it to my table! I do not want it! Send me a female! Send me a woman! ~ Renegades, pg. 78

Rejection:
Many free women regard themselves, without justification, as marvellous prizes. It can come a great shock to them to suddenly realize they are, for most practical purposes, worthtless. This rejection had shaken her profoundly, Like many free woman she probably regarded herself as inordinately attractive. ~ Renegades, pg. 79

Subjection of Slaves:
I wondered if the free woman really thought that the subjection of slaves to orders ended with such matters as cooking and cleaning, the polishing of leather, and such, and that they would not be similarly subject to orders, and also absolutely, where the intimae, marvellous, precious, private, delicious realms of the furs were concerned. ~ Renegades, pg. 81

Unclothed:
It is one thing for a free woman, tearfully, while in the dignity of robes and veil, to attempt to impose on a fellow's gullibility or good nature, and quite another for her to do so when she is unclothed. When a woman is naked it is sometimes hard for a man not to see her as a female. ~ Renegades, pg. 98

If Enslaved:
"Should you become a slave," I said, "submit yourself to your sisters in bondage, not as one who was recently a free woman but as one who is now the lowest and most ignorant of slaves, the humblest of tyros and novices. Watch them. Learn from them. Serve them. Bring them small treats which you might earn. beg them to help you, to teach you their ways, their arts and secrets. Even such small things as the use of the tongue can make a great difference in whether you survive or not." ~ Renegades, pg. 165

Coin Value:
" ‘This coin,’ I said, ‘when you were put out in the morning if you were used tonight, was to be tied there. It signifies to all who see it that you have served a man. You are given a coin because you are a free woman. That is your payment. To be sure, it is the smallest-denomination coin in common circulation. It is, thus a comment on your value.’ " ~ Mercenaries, pg. 392

Utterance of Master:
"If and when a free woman should utter this, in the Gorean culture, of course, this sort of thing is very significant. Indeed, in some cities such things as kneeling before a man, or addressing him as "Master" effects legal imbondment on the female, being interpreted as a gesture of submission." ~ Players, pg. 139

Seldom Raped:
"There seem to be two major reasons why free women are seldom raped on Gor. first, it is thought that they, being free, are to be accorded the highest respect, and secondly, slave females are regarded as being much more desirable." ~ Guardsman, pg. 184

Harsh Treatment:
"This harsh treatment, incidentally, when she is thought to deserve it, may even be inflicted on a free companion, in spite of the fact that she is free and usually much loved. According to the Gorean way of looking at things a taste of the slave ring is thought to be occasionally beneficial to all women, even the exalted free woman. Thus when she has been irritable or otherwise troublesome even a Free Companion may find herself at the foot of the couch looking forward to a pleasant night on the stones, stripped, with neither mat nor blanket, chained to the slave ring precisely as though she were a lowly slave girl. It is the Gorean way of reminding her, should she need to be reminded, that she, too, is a woman, and thus to be dominated, to be subject to men. Should she be tempted to forget this basic fact of Gorean life the slave ring set in the bottom of each Gorean couch is there to refresh her memory. Gor is a mans world." ~ Priest Kings, pg. 67

A Riddle:
"The Free Woman is a riddle, the answer to which is the collar." ~ Magicians, pg. 50

Permitted To Become Unkempt:
The lovely figures of slave girls are not accidents, only Free Women are permitted to become unkempt or gross.~ Guardsman, pg. 264

Envious of Slaves:
Indeed it was known that some free women actually envied their lightly clad sisters in bondage, free, though wearing a collar, to come and go much as they pleased, to feel the wind on the high bridges, the arms of a Master who celebrated their beauty and claimed them as his own. ~ Outlaw, pg. 66

Natural Set of Masters:
"Goreans, in their simplistic fashion, often contend, categorically, that man is naturally free and woman is naturally slave. But even for them the issues are far more complex than these simple formulations would suggest. For example, there is no higher person, nor one more respected, than the Gorean free woman. Goreans do believe, however, that every woman has a natural master or set of masters, with respect to whom she could not help but be a complete and passionate slave girl. These men occur in her dreams and fantasies. She lives in terror that she might meet one in real life." ~ Hunters, pg. 311

Unable to Compete:
"…no free woman, because she is free, can truly compete for the attention of a man as can a slave girl." ~ Fighting Slave, pg. 217

Ignorance:
"An ignorant free woman is a commonplace. An ignorant slave is an absurdity" ~ Savages, pg. 196

Beauty Enhanced In Slavery:
"Any beauty a free woman has, for example, is enhanced a thousandfold when she becomes a slave." ~ Players, pg. 92

Slaves More Desirable:
"In any contest of desirability the free woman must always lose out to the slave" ~ Mercenaries, pg. 346

Slaves More Interesting:
"The female slave, yours in her servitude, is ten thousand times more interesting than a free woman could ever dream of being" ~ Mercenaries, pg. 346

Teaching:
"It is pleasant to take a proud free woman and teach her her womanhood" ~ Vagabonds, pg. 58

Scribe Caste Quotes

"Ho!" cried Torm, that most improbable member of the Caste of Scribes, throwing his blue robes over his head as though he could not bear to see the light of day.
Tarnsman of Gor Book 1 Page 36

I sensed that a certain distrust existed between the Caste of Scribes and the Caste of Initiates.
Tarnsman of Gor Book 1 Page 40

I was specially drilled in the Code of the Warrior Caste.
"It's just as well," said Torm. "You would never make a Scribe."
. . .
I was also instructed in the Double Knowledge - that is, I was instructed in what the people, on the whole, believed, and then I was instructed in what the intellectuals were expected to know. Sometimes there was a surprising discrepancy between the two. For example, the population as a whole, the castes below the High Castes, were encouraged to believe that their world was a broad, flat disk. Perhaps this was to discourage them from exploration or to develop in them a habit of relying on commonsense prejudices something of a social control device.
On the other hand, the High Castes, specifically the Warriors, Builders, Scribes, Initiates, and Physicians, were told the truth in such matters, perhaps because it was thought they would eventually determine it for themselves, from observations such as the shadow of their planet on one or another of Gor's three small moons during eclipses, the phenomenon of sighting the tops of distant objects first, and the fact that certain stars could not be seen from certain geographical positions; if the planet had been flat, precisely the same set of stars would have been observable from every position on its surface.
I wondered, however, if the Second Knowledge, that of the intellectuals, might not be as carefully tailored to preclude inquiry on their level as the First Knowledge apparently was to preclude inquiry on the level of the Lower Castes. I would guess that there is a Third Knowledge, that reserved to the Priest-Kings.
Tarnsman of Gor Book 1 Page 41

The Scribes, of course, are the scholars and clerks of Gor, and there are divisions and rankings within the group, from simple copiers to the savants of the city.
Tarnsman of Gor Book 1 Page 44

I did learn, casually from a Scribe, not Torm, that slaves were not permitted to impart instruction to a free man, since it would place him in their debt, and nothing was owed to a slave.
Tarnsman of Gor Book 1 Page 46

The Chamber of the Council is the room in which the elected representatives of the High Castes of Ko-ro-ba hold their meetings. Each city has such a chamber. It was in the widest of cylinders, and the ceiling was at least six times the height of the normal living level. The ceiling was lit as if by stars, and the walls were of five colors, applied laterally, beginning from the bottom - white, blue, yellow, green, and red, caste colors. Benches of stone, on which the members of the Council sat, rose in five monumental tiers about the walls, one tier for each of the High Castes. These tiers shared the color of that portion of the wall behind them, the caste colors.
The tier nearest the floor, which denoted some preferential status, the white tier, was occupied by Initiates, Interpreters of the Will of the Priest-Kings. In order, the ascending tiers, blue, yellow, green, and red, were occupied by representatives of the Scribes, Builders, Physicians, and Warriors.
Torm, I observed, was not seated in the tier of Scribes, I smiled to myself. "I am," Torm had said, "too practical to involve myself in the frivolities of government," I supposed the city might be under siege and Torm would fall to notice.
I was pleased to note that my own caste, that of the Warriors, was accorded the least status; if I had had my will, the warriors would not have been a High Caste. On the other hand, I objected to the Initiates being in the place of honor, as it seemed to me that they, even more than the Warriors, were nonproductive members of society. For the Warriors, at least, one could say that they afforded protection to the city, but for the Initiates one could say very little, perhaps only that they provided some comfort for ills and plagues largely of their own manufacture.
Tarnsman of Gor Book 1 Pages 61 - 62

The Home Stone of a city is the center of various rituals. The next would be the Planting Feast of Sa-Tarna, the Life-Daughter, celebrated early in the growing season to insure a good harvest. This is a complex feast, celebrated by most Gorean cities, and the observances are numerous and intricate. The details of the rituals are arranged and mostly executed by the Initiates of a given city. Certain portions of the ceremonies, however, are often allotted to members of the High Castes.
Tarnsman of Gor Book 1 Page 68

"The women of the Walled Gardens know whatever happens on Gor," she replied, and I sensed the intrigue, the spying and treachery that must ferment within the gardens. "I forced my slave girls to lie with soldiers, with merchants and builders, physicians and scribes," she said, "and I found out a great deal." I was dismayed at this - the cool, calculating exploitation of her girls by the daughter of the Ubar, merely to gain information.
Tarnsman of Gor Book 1 Page 108

To my delight, even Torm, of the Caste of Scribes, appeared at the tables. I was honored that the little scribe had separated himself from his beloved scrolls long enough to share my happiness, only that of a warrior. He was wearing a new robe and sandals, perhaps for the first time in years.
Tarnsman of Gor Book 1 Page 217

Four times a year, correlated with the solstices and equinoxes, there are fairs held in the plains below the mountains, presided over by committees of Initiates, fairs in which men of many cities mingle without bloodshed, times of truce, times of contests and games, of bargaining and marketing.
Torm, my friend of the Caste of Scribes, had been to such fairs to trade scrolls with scholars from other cities, men he would never have seen were it not for the fairs, men of hostile cities who yet loved ideas more than they hated their enemies, men like Torm who so loved learning that they would risk the perilous journey to the Sardar Mountains for the chance to dispute a text or haggle over a coveted scroll. Similarly men of such castes as the Physicians and Builders make use of the fairs to disseminate and exchange information pertaining to their respective crafts.
Outlaw of Gor Book 2 Page 47

And it seemed strange to me that this rebellion, this willingness to pursue the right as they saw it, independently of the will of the Priest-Kings, had come not first from the proud Warriors of Gor, nor the Scribes, nor the Builders nor Physicians, nor any of the high castes of the many cities of Gor, but had come from the most degraded and despised of men, wretched slaves from the mines of Tharna.
Outlaw of Gor Book 2 Page 170

I shall deliver this manuscript to some member of the Caste of Scribes whom I shall find at the Fair of En'Kara at the base of the Sardar.
Outlaw of Gor Book 2 Page 245

I would stop briefly at the fair, for I must purchase food for the journey into the Sardar and I must entrust a leather-bound package to some member of the Caste of Scribes, a package which contained an account of what had occurred at the City of Tharna in the past months, a short history of events which I thought should be recorded.
Priest-Kings of Gor Book 3 Page 8

Further, members of castes such as the Physicians and Builders use the fairs for the dissemination of information and techniques among Caste Brothers, as is prescribed in their codes in spite of the fact that their respective cities may be hostile. And as might be expected members of the Caste of Scribes gather here to enter into dispute and examine and trade manuscripts.
My small friend, Torm of Ko-ro-ba, of the Caste of Scribes, had been to the fairs four times in his life. He informed me that in this time he had refuted seven hundred and eight scribes from fifty-seven cities, but I will not vouch for the accuracy of the report, as I sometimes suspect that Torm, like most members of his caste, and mine, tends to be a bit too sanguine in recounting his numerous victories. Moreover I have never been too clear as to the grounds on which the disputes of scribes are to be adjudicated, and it is not too infrequently that both disputants leave the field each fully convinced that he has had the best of the contest. In differences among members of my own caste, that of the Warriors, it is easier to tell who has carried the day, for the defeated one often lies wounded or slain at the victor's feet. In the contests of scribes, on the other hand, the blood that is spilled is invisible and the valiant foemen retire in good order, reviling their enemies and recouping their forces for the next day's campaign. I do not hold this against the contests of scribes; rather I commend it to the members of my own caste.
Priest-Kings of Gor Book 3 Pages 8 - 10

It took not much time to purchase a small bundle of supplies to take into the Sardar, nor was it difficult to find a scribe to whom I might entrust the history of the events at Tharna. I did not ask his name nor he mine. I knew his caste, and he knew mine, and it was enough. He could not read the manuscript as it was written in English, a language as foreign to him as Gorean would be to most of you, but yet he would treasure the manuscript and guard it as though it were a most precious possession, for he was a scribe and it is the way of scribes to love the written word and keep it from harm, and if he could not read the manuscript, what did it matter perhaps someone could someday, and then the words which had kept their secret for so long would at last enkindle the mystery of communication and what had been written would be heard and understood.
Priest-Kings of Gor Book 3 Page 15

My Chamber Slave's accent had been pure High Caste Gorean though I could not place the city. Probably her caste had been that of the Builders or Physicians, for had her people been Scribes I would have expected a greater subtlety of inflections, the use of less common grammatical cases; and had her people been of the Warriors I would have expected a blunter speech, rather belligerently simple, expressed in great reliance on the indicative mood and, habitually, a rather arrogant refusal to venture beyond the most straightforward of sentence structures.
Priest-Kings of Gor Book 3 Page 52

Gorean, I might note, is somewhat similar, and though I speak Gorean fluently, I find it very difficult to write, largely because of the even-numbered lines which, from my point of view, must be written backwards. Torm, my friend of the Caste of Scribes, never forgave me this and to this day, if he lives, he undoubtedly considers me partly illiterate. As he said, I would never make a Scribe. "It is simple," he said. "You just write it forward but in the other direction."
Priest-Kings of Gor Book 3 Pages 100 - 101

"Yes," he said, "I suppose that I am brave." He looked at the Older Tarl. "You must not tell other members of the Caste of Scribes," he cautioned.
I smiled to myself. How clearly Torm wished to keep caste lines and virtues demarcated.
"I will tell everyone," said the Older Tarl kindly, "that you are the bravest of the Caste of Scribes."
"Well," said Torm, "thus qualified, perhaps the information will do no harm."
Priest-Kings of Gor Book 3 Page 303

Once safely down Torm came over to me and reached up and touched my shoulder.
"I believed you," he said.
"I know," I said, and gave his sandy-haired head a rough shake. He was, after all, a Scribe, and had the proprieties of his caste to observe.
Priest-Kings of Gor Book 3 Page 304

It might be mentioned, for those unaware of the fact, that the Caste of Merchants is not considered one of the traditional five High Castes of Gor the Initiates, Scribes, Physicians, Builders and Warriors. Most commonly, and doubtless unfortunately, it is only members of the five high castes who occupy positions on the High Councils of the cities.
Nomads of Gor Book 4 Page 84

another wore the blue of the Caste of Scribes,
Assassin of Gor Book 5 Page 3

At his right hand there was a Scribe, an angular, sullen man with deep eyes, with and stylus. It was Caprus of Ar, Chief Accountant to the House of Cernus. He lived in the house and seldom went abroad in the streets. It was with this man that Vella had been placed, her registration, papers and purchase having been arranged. In the House of Cernus, after the sheet, bracelets, leash and collar had been removed, agents of House of Cernus had checked her fingerprints against those on the papers.
Assassin of Gor Book 5 Page 40

"These men are the champions among male slaves at hook knife," said Cernus. He scarcely glanced up from the game board at which he sat across from Caprus, of the Caste of Scribes, Chief Accountant of the House.
Assassin of Gor Book 5 Page 86

"He is one of us," she said. "He holds me to no close schedule, and lets me leave the house when I wish. Yet I suppose I should report in upon occasion."
"Are there other assistants to him?" I asked.
"He manages several Scribes," she said, "but they do not work closely with him. There are some other girls, as well, but Caprus is permissive, and we come and go pretty much as we please."
Assassin of Gor Book 5 Page 107

One girl was dictating from a piece of record paper held in her hand and the other girl was copying it rapidly on a second piece of record paper. The speed with which this was done informed me that some form of shorthand must be being used. Elsewhere in the room there were some free men, Scribes I gathered though they were stripped to the waist, who were inking, using a silk-screen process, large sheets of layered, glued rag paper. One of them held the sheet up inspecting it, and I saw that it was a bill, which might be pasted against a public building, or on the public boards near the markets. It advertised a sale. Other such sheets, hanging on wires, proclaimed games and tarn races.
Assassin of Gor Book 5 Page 113

I looked to the area of the Administrator and saw the Hinrabian disgustedly turning away, dictating something to a scribe, who sat cross-legged near the throne, a sheaf of record papers in his hand.
Assassin of Gor Book 5 Page 141

Many castes, incidentally, have branches and divisions. Lawyers and Scholars, for example, and Record Keepers, Teachers, Clerks, Historians and Accountants are all Scribes.
Assassin of Gor Book 5 Page 208

Shortly thereafter Maximus Hegesius Quintilius was found dead, poisoned by the bite of a girl in his Pleasure Gardens, who, before she could be brought before the Scribes of the Law, was strangled by enraged Taurentians, to whom she had been turned over; it was well known that the Taurentians had greatly revered Maximus Hegesius Quintilius, and that they had felt his loss perhaps as deeply as the common Warriors of Ar.
. . .
The Scribes of the Central Cylinder examined the records and, to their horror, discrepancies were revealed, in particular payments to members of the Hinrabian family for services it was not clear had ever been performed;
Assassin of Gor Book 5 Pages 233 - 234

And Caprus seemed in a good humor; that perhaps was significant, betokening an end in sight for my mission. In thinking about this I realized what a brave man Caprus was, and how little I had respected his courage and his work. He had risked much, probably much more than I. I felt ashamed. He was only a Scribe, and yet what he had done had taken great courage, probably more courage than that possessed by many Warriors.
Assassin of Gor Book 5 Page 237

There is little love lost between Physicians and Initiates, even as is the case between Scribes and Initiates.
Assassin of Gor Book 5 Page 266

"Your calendar is well kept," I said. "Worthy of a Scribe."
"I am a Scribe," said the man. He reached under himself to hold forth for my inspection a shred of damp, rotted blue cloth, the remains of what had once been his robes.
Assassin of Gor Book 5 Page 277

Scribes at nearby tables endorsed and updated papers of registration, that the ownership of the girls be legally transferred from the state to individual citizens.
Assassin of Gor Book 5 Page 396

From time to time a warrior would add further booty to this catch, dragging or throwing his capture rudely among the others. These rencers were guarded by two warriors with drawn swords. A scribe stood by with a tally sheet, marking the number of captures by each warrior.
Raiders of Gor Book 6 Page 54

The Ubars were represented on the council, to which they belonged as being themselves Captains, by five empty thrones, sitting before the semicircles of curule chairs on which reposed the captains. Beside each empty throne there was a stool from which a Scribe, speaking in the name of his Ubar, participated in the proceedings of the council. The Ubars themselves remained aloof, seldom showing themselves for fear of assassination.
A scribe, on table before the five thrones, was droning the record of the last meeting of the council.
Raiders of Gor Book 6 Page 126

I had discovered, to my pleasure, that the girl Luma, whom I had saved from Surbus, was of the Scribes. Her city had been Tor.
Being of the Scribes she could, of course, read and write.
"Can you keep accounts?" I had asked her.
"Yes, Master," she had responded.
I had made her the chief scribe and accountant of my house.
Each night, in my hall, before my master's chair, she would kneel with her tablets and give me an accounting of the day's business, with reports on the progress of various investments and ventures, often making suggestions and recommendations for further actions.
This plain, thin girl, I found, had an excellent mind for the complicated business transactions of a large house. She was a most valuable slave. She much increased my fortunes.
I permitted her, of course, but a single garment, but I allowed it to be opaque, and of the blue of the Scribes. It was sleeveless and fell to just above her knees. Her collar, however, that she might not grow pretentious, was of simple steel. It read, as I wished, I BELONG TO BOSK.
Some of the free men in the house, particularly of the scribes, resented that the girl should have a position of such authority. Accordingly, when receiving their reports and transmitting her instructions to them, I had informed her that she would do so humbly, as a slave girl, and kneeling at their feet. This mollified the men a good deal, though some remained disgruntled. All, I think, feared that her quick stylus and keen mind would discover the slightest discrepancies in their columns and tally sheets, and, indeed, they seemed to do so. I think they feared her, because of the excellence of her work and because, behind her, stood the power of the house, its Captain, Bosk from the Marshes.
Raiders of Gor Book 6 Pages 130 - 131

A small fire was burning to one side, where a lamp with candle had been knocked to the floor, in the rush toward the door.
Chairs lay knocked over, furniture was broken. The floor was covered with papers.
The scribe at the central table, that before the empty thrones, stood numb behind the table.
Other scribes came and stood with him, looking from one to the other. To one side, cowering, stood several of the Page boys.
. . .
"Gather up and guard the book of the Council," I told the Scribe who had been at the great table.
"Yes, Captain," said he, leaping to seize it up.
Raiders of Gor Book 6 Pages 143 - 144

"I am going to the arsenal," I said. I turned to one of the captains. "Have scribes investigate and prepare reports on the extent of the damage, wherever it exists. Also have captains ascertain the military situation in the city. And have patrols doubled, and extend their perimeters by fifty pasangs."
Raiders of Gor Book 6 Page 148

"I now ask the table scribe," said Samos, "to call the roll of Captains."
Raiders of Gor Book 6 Page 158

Several committees were formed, usually headed by scribes but reporting to the council, to undertake various studies pertaining to the city, particularly of a military and commercial nature.
Raiders of Gor Book 6 Page 159

I took my chair. "I petition," said I to the scribe, as though it might be an ordinary meeting, "to address the council."
The scribe was puzzled.
The captains looked up.
Speak," said the Scribe.
Raiders of Gor Book 6 Pages 255 - 256

"Were you truly of the scribes?" asked the man.
"Yes," said Inge, startled.
"The refinement of your accent," he said, "suggested the scribes."
"Thank you, Master," said Inge, lowering her head.
Captive of Gor Book 7 Page 195

an intent, preoccupied scribe, lean and clad in the scribe's blue, with a scroll, perhaps come north for high fees to tutor the sons of rich men;
Hunters of Gor Book 8 Page 41

It was Luma, the chief scribe of my house, in her blue robe and sandals. Her hair was blond and straight, tied behind her head with a ribbon of blue wool, from the bounding Hurt, died in the blood of the Vosk sorp. She was a scrawny girl, not attractive, but with deep eyes, blue; and she was a superb scribe, in her accounting swift, incisive, accurate, brilliant;
. . .
Few scribes, I expected, were so skilled in the supervision and management of complex affairs as this light, unattractive, brilliant girl.
Marauders of Gor Book 9 Pages 1 - 2

Ivar, like many of those in the north, was a passable reader, but took care to conceal this fact. He belonged to the class of men who could hire their reading done for them, much as he could buy thralls to do his farming. It was not regarded as dignified for a warrior to be too expert with letters, such being a task beneath warriors. To have a scribe's skills would tend to embarrass a man of arms, and tend to lower his prestige among his peers.
Marauders of Gor Book 9 Page 231

The Companion Contract, thus, had been duly negotiated, with the attention of scribes of the law from both Fortress of Saphronicus and the Confederation of Saleria. The Companion Journey, then, when the auspices had been favorable, as they promptly were, these determined by the inspection of the condition and nature of the liver of a sacrificial verr, examined by members of the caste of Initiates, had begun.
Slave Girl of Gor Book 11 Page 111

"In Gorean," said Bosk, "the most frequently occurring letter is Eta. We might then begin by supposing that the combination of blue and red signifies an Eta."
"I see," said Samos.
"The next most frequently occurring letters in Gorean," said Bosk, "are Tau, Al-Ka, Omnion and Nu. Following these in frequency of occurrence are Ar, Ina, Sbu and Homan, and so on."
"How is this known?" asked Samos.
"It is based upon letter counts," said Bosk, "over thousands of words in varieties of manuscripts."
"These matters have been determined by scribes?" asked Samos.
"Yes," said Bosk.
"Why should they be interested in such things?"
"Such studies were conducted originally, at least publicly, as opposed to the presumed secret studies of cryptographers, in connection with the Sardar Fairs," said Bosk, "at meetings of Scribes concerned to standardize and simplify the cursive alphabet. Also, it was thought to have consequences for improved pedagogy, in teaching children to first recognize the most commonly occurring letters."
"I was taught the alphabet beginning with Al-Ka," smiled Samos.
"As was I," said Bosk. "Perhaps we should first have been taught Eta."
"That is not the tradition!" said Samos.
"True," admitted Bosk. "And these innovative scribes have had little success with their proposed reforms. Yet, from their labors, various interesting facts have emerged. For example, we have learned not only the order of frequency of occurrence of letters but, as would be expected, rough percentages of occurrence as well. Eta, for example, occurs two hundred times more frequently in the language than Altron. Over forty percent of the language consists of the first five letters I mentioned, Eta, Tau, Al-Ka, Omnion and Nu."
Slave Girl of Gor Book 11 Pages 383 - 384

In traversing the street I saw the fellow from the polar basin, he stripped to the waist, with fur trousers and boots. He was dealing with a large fellow, corpulent and gross, who managed one of the booths. There was a thin scribe present as well behind the counter.
Beasts of Gor Book 12 Page 50

"You are not of the scribes," I said. "Look at your hands."
We could hear the flame of the lamp, tiny, soft, in the silence of the tent.
His hands were larger than those of the scribe, and scarred and roughened. The fingers were short. There was no stain of ink about the tips of the index and second finger.
Beasts of Gor Book 12 Page 104

There are several barbarian languages spoken on Gor, usually in more remote areas. Also, some of the dialects of Gorean itself are almost unintelligible. On the other hand, Gorean, in its varieties, serves as the lingua franca of civilized Gor. There are few Goreans who cannot speak it, though with some it is almost a second language. Gorean tends to be rendered more uniform through the minglings and transactions of the great fairs. Too, at certain of these fairs, the caste of scribes, accepted as the arbiters of such matters, stipulate that certain pronunciations and grammatical formations, and such, are to be preferred over others.
Beasts of Gor Book 12 Page 154

Many Gorean letters have a variety of pronunciations, depending on their linguistic context. Certain scribes have recommended adding to the Gorean alphabet new letters, to independently represent some of these sounds which, now, require alternative pronunciations, context-dependent, of given letters. Their recommendations, it seems, are unlikely to be incorporated into formal Gorean.
Explorers of Gor Book 13 Pages 9 - 10

Two men from the desk of the nearest wharf praetor, he handling wharves six through ten, a scribe and a physician, boarded the ship. The scribe carried a folder with him. He would check the papers of Ulafi, the registration of the ship, the arrangements for wharfage and the nature of the cargo.
. . .
The scribe noted the physician's report in his papers and the physician, with a marking stick, initialed the entry.
Explorers of Gor Book 13 Pages 117 - 120

Geographers and cartographers, of course, are members of the Scribes.
Explorers of Gor Book 13 Page 213

"Surely Shaba will have others of his caste with him, geographers of the scribes," I said.
Explorers of Gor Book 13 Page 237

The men with him, I suspected, or most of them, were members of his own caste, geographers of the scribes, perhaps, but men inured to hardships, perhaps men who had been with him in his explorations of Ushindi and Ngao, men he trusted and upon whom he could count in desperate situations, caste brothers.
Explorers of Gor Book 13 Page 251

"I am a scribe, and a man of science and letters," said Shaba.
Explorers of Gor Book 13 Page 431

"He is Ngumi," said Shaba. "He is courageous, indeed. We did not know if he would get through."
"I did not know a scribe could be so courageous," I said.
"There are brave men in all castes," said Shaba.
Explorers of Gor Book 13 Page 433

"I am grateful," had said Ramani of Anango, who had once been the teacher of Shaba. I had delivered to him, and to two others of his caste, the maps and notebooks of Shaba. Ramani and his fellows had wept. I had then left them, returning to my lodgings. Copies would be made of the maps and notebooks. They would then be distributed by caste brothers throughout the cities of civilized Gor. The first copies that were made by anyone had already, however, been made, by the scribes of Bila Huruma in Ushindi.
Explorers of Gor Book 13 Page 454

Tenalion then turned to a bound, dark-haired woman who had been standing on the platform, her head down, her hair over her eyes. He thrust her from the platform. "Ten copper tarsks," he said to a scribe at a small table nearby, with papers and a box of coins. The scribe counted out ten copper tarsks to a fellow at the table.
Fighting Slave of Gor Book 14 Page 380

Such breedings commonly take place with the slaves hooded, and under the supervision of the master, or masters. In this way the occurrence of the breeding act can be confirmed and authenticated. Sometimes a member of the caste of scribes is also present, to provide certification on behalf of the city.
Blood Brothers of Gor Book 18 Page 319

"Scribes from the treasure rooms will be along shortly," he said, "to gather in and account for the cloths and coins.
Kajira of Gor Book 19 Page 95

This hairdo here, on Crystal, with the bun in the back, is favored by many free women of the scribes.
Kajira of Gor Book 19 Page 292

"Disgusting! Disgusting!" cried the free woman, one veiled and wearing the robes of the scribes, standing in the audience. "Pull down your skirt, you slave, you brazen hussy!"
"Pray, do withdraw, noble sir, for you surprise me unawares, and of necessity I must improvise some veiling, lest my features be disclosed," cried the girl upon the stage, Boots Tarsk-Bit's current Brigella. I had seen her a few days earlier in Port Kar.
"Pull down your skirt, slut!" cried the free woman in the audience.
"Be quiet," said a free man to the woman. "It is only a play."
"Be silent yourself!" she cried back at him.
"Would that you were a slave," he growled. "You would pay richly for your impertinence."
"I am not a slave," she said.
"Obviously," he said.
"And I shall never he a slave," she said.
"Do not be too sure of that," he said.
Players of Gor Book 20 Page 121

"Even if it were," said another fellow, "you apparently did not see the theft, and do not have clear evidence, even of a circumstantial nature, that he is the culprit." The fellow who had said this wore the blue of the scribes. He may even have been a Scribe of the law.
Mercenaries of Gor Book 21 Page 244

"Why would one think of her in the terms of a Ubara?" I asked. "Sworn from Marlenus, she is no longer his daughter."
"I am not a scribe of the law," he said. "I do not know."
Mercenaries of Gor Book 21 Page 265

Most Goreans, incidentally, do not attribute lightning and thunder to the grinding of the flour of Priest-Kings. They regard such things as charming myths, which they have now outgrown. Some of the lower castes, however, particularly that of the peasants, and particularly those in outlying villages, do entertain the possibility that such phenomena may be the signs of disunion among Priest-Kings and their conflicts, the striking of weapons, the rumbling of their chariots, the trampling of their tharlarion, and such. Even more sophisticated Goreans, however, if not of the Scribes or Builders, have been noted to speculate that lightning is the result of clouds clashing together in the sky, showering sparks, and such.
Renegades of Gor Book 23 Pages 18 - 19

The reform of chronology is proposed by a small party from among the caste of scribes almost every year at the Fair of En'Kara, near the Sardar, but their proposals, sensible as they might seem, are seldom greeted with either interest or enthusiasm, even by the scribes. Perhaps that is because the reconciliation and coordination of chronologies, like the diction and convolutions of the law, are usually regarded as scribal prerogatives.
Renegades of Gor Book 23 Page 347

The traditional high castes of Gor are the Initiates, Scribes, Builders, Physicians and Warriors.
Renegades of Gor Book 23 Page 368

"Who knows?" I said. "Perhaps a scribe would buy you to clean his chamber and keep his papers in order."
"What?" she said.
"You can read, can't you?" I said.
"Yes!" she said.
"And to serve him in other ways," I said.
"Scribes," she said, in disappointment, "are weak."
"Not all of them," I said, "as you might discover under his whip."
Vagabonds of Gor Book 24 Page 231

Indeed, several fellows I have known, of the scarlet caste, take pains to conceal their literacy, seemingly ashamed of an expertise in such matters, regarding such as befitting scribes rather than warriors.
Magicians of Gor Book 25 Page 76

"Are you a legal slave, my child?" asked one of the counselors, a scribe of the law.
"No, Master," said the woman.
"You are then a legally free female?" asked the scribe.
"Yes, Master," she said.
Magicians of Gor Book 25 Page 138

As I have mentioned, there were scribes on, or near, the dais with Talena. Lists were being kept, and referred to. One list, for example, had the names of the women upon it, in the order in which they ascended the platform. It was from this list that one of the scribes announced the names.
Magicians of Gor Book 25 Page 140

The scribes put their marking sticks away. They closed their wood-bound tablets, tying them shut.
Magicians of Gor Book 25 Page 155

"Have you read," I asked, "the Manuals of the Pens of Mira, Leonora's Compendium, the Songs of Dina, or Hargon's The Nature and Arts of the Female Slave?"
"No, Master," she said, eagerly. Such texts, and numerous others, like them, are sometimes utilized in a girl's training, particularly by professional slavers. Sometimes they are read aloud in training sessions by a scribe, a whip master in attendance.
Magicians of Gor Book 25 Page 193

Official clocks are adjusted, of course, according to the announcements of scribes, in virtue of various astronomical measurements, having to do with the movements of the sun and stars.
Magicians of Gor Book 25 Page 358

I have known extremely intelligent men on Gor, incidentally, who could not read. Illiteracy, or, more kindly, an inability to read and write, is not taken on Gor as a mark of stupidity. These things tend rather, in many cases, to be associated with the caste structure and cultural traditions. Some warriors, as I have indicated earlier, seem to feel it is somewhat undignified for them to know how to read, or, at least, how to read well, perhaps because that sort of thing is more in the line of, say, the scribes. One hires a warrior for one thing, one hires a scribe for another. One does not expect a scribe to know the sword. Why, then, should one expect the warrior to know the pen?
Magicians of Gor Book 25 Pages 393 - 394

I saw two officers beginning to examine the lines of captives. One had a grease pencil. They were followed by a scribe with a tablet, who made jottings as they proceeded down the line. Information pertaining to captives and slaves, their dispositions, and such, is sometimes marked on their bodies. The upper surface of the left breast is often used for this. The pertinent information, displayed in this manner, so conveniently and prominently, is easily read.
Witness of Gor Book 26 Page 433

One of the men with the officer, the captain, was clad not in the gear of war, but wore a blue tunic, and carried, on two straps, slung now beside him, a scribe's box. It was flat and rectangular. Pens are contained, in built-in-racks, within it. Depending on the box, it may contain ink, or powered ink, to be mixed with water, the vessel included, or flat, disklike cakes of pigment, to be dampened, and used as ink, rather as water colors. In it, too, in narrow compartments, are sheets of paper, commonly lined paper or rence paper. A small knife may also be contained in such boxes for scraping out errors, or a flat eraser stone. Other paraphernalia may also be included, depending on the scribe, string, ostraka, wire, coins, even lunch. The top of the box, the lid, the box placed on a solid surface, serves as a writing surface, or desk.
Witness of Gor Book 26 Pages 492 - 493

"Do you wish a record of this, Captain?" asked the fellow in the blue tunic, he with the scribe's box, on its straps, slung at his left side.
"No," said the captain. "Keep no record of this.
Witness of Gor Book 26 Page 495

Needless to say, caste members do not always wear the caste colors. For example, a scribe would normally wear his blue when working but not always when at leisure.
Witness of Gor Book 26 Page 519

Earlier in the day, after having been at the pool, and having been fed and watered, she, and those who had been in her ankle coffle, were conducted to an exhibition cage, one of more than perhaps fifty or sixty. While they stood outside the cage, roped together by the ankle, lot numbers were inscribed, with a grease pencil, or marker, on their left breasts. The left breast is used in such matters as most men are right-handed. Records were kept, regarding the lot numbers and names. Those girls who did not have names were given names, for clerical purposes, which might or might not be kept on them after a sale. Some of the names were lovely. All were suitable for female slaves. The matter was supervised by a scribe, with a clipboard, to which were attached several sheets of paper.
Prize of Gor Book 27 Page 400

She had been 'Auta' before, but the scribe had not cared for that name, and had given her the name 'Renata'. So now she was Renata.
Prize of Gor Book 27 Page 408

She dared to lift her head a little, but she saw neither Mirus nor Selius Arconious within the enclosure. She did see, this frightening her, and she quickly put down her head, the scribe who had interviewed her in the exhibition cage, and three guardsmen, with him, not one but three, all approaching.
Her apprehensions were much increased when she became aware that they had stopped in her vicinity.
Ellen, trembling, pressed her forehead down into the sand.
"117, Kajira Ellen," said the scribe.
"Yes, Master," said Ellen.
"Dismiss your girls, save this one," said the scribe.
"Return to the area of preparation," said the exterior whip master.
Immediately, with a rustle of bells, and the clinkings of necklaces and bangles, the other slaves hurried to their feet and went into the area of preparation.
"Master?" asked Ellen.
"Strip yourself, completely," said the scribe.
"Yes, Master," said Ellen.
"Help her," said the scribe.
One of the guardsmen undid the halter, behind her back, and pulled it away. One of the other two guardsmen whistled softly. "Nice," he said. Ellen, flushing, lifted aside the necklaces and the bracelet and, embarrassed, though a slave, unhooked the swirling skirt of dancing silk. "The veil, there, Masters," she said. "That was mine to wear, too." In this way she had purchased a moment's modesty. Then the veil was put beside her, and on it were laid the halter, the necklaces and bracelet. She looked up and, meeting the stern eyes of the scribe, lifted away the skirt, folded it, and, head down, placed it, too, beside her.
"Bells," said the scribe.
Ellen sat then in the sand, and drew up her left leg, to attempt to remove the bells. She was at this time naked, save for the bells. Her fingers fumbled. The knots seemed too close, too tight. She struggled, and began to weep.
"On your belly," said the scribe.
One of the guardsmen, then, crouching beside her, bending her leg, lifting it by the ankle, pressing it closely against her body, so closely she whimpered, undid the bells. With a jangle they were flung to the bit of garb and the few adornments beside her. She remained, of course, on her belly, but put her leg down. Her head was turned to the right, her left cheek in the sand.
"Well, little Ellen," said the scribe. "You danced well."
"Thank you, Master," whispered Ellen, frightened.
"But I thought it strange," said the scribe, "when I heard your number called in the camp, summoning you to a dancing circle, and, indeed, one so high as the ba-ta circle. I seemed to recall the number, and, accordingly, as is my wont in such instances, checked my records, which I have with me."
Ellen was silent, lying in the sand, the feet of the men about her.
"According to my records," said the scribe, looming over her, tall in his blue robes, she could see but the hem of his robe and his sandals, "you responded negatively when queried as to your ability to dance. Perhaps my records are in error?"
I think we may grant, even within this narrative, despite the possible risk of a seeming impropriety, hopefully not one punishable, that Ellen had at least average, or reasonable, intelligence. Certainly her life on Earth, her education, her attainments, her position, and such, suggest as much. More coercively, perhaps, we might note that intelligence ranks high among the selection criteria of Gorean slavers, of which, as noted earlier, we may assume that Mirus was one. I think that it is seldom that stupid women are brought to Gor. The Gorean master, you see, looks for high intelligence in a female slave. It is one of his pleasures to take a highly intelligent woman, even a brilliant woman, provided, of course, that she is attractive, would be of interest in chains, is likely to squirm well in the furs and such, and teach her her womanhood, a lesson which is too often neglected in the education of a free female, either on Gor or Earth. He delights then to take such an interesting, lovely, remarkable creature in hand and, step by step, with great patience, reduce her to an unquestioning, passionate, obedient chattel. The more intelligent she is, of course, the better slave she is likely to make; I assume that that is obvious; she is likely to be more aware of the subtlest and almost unspoken desires of her master; she is less likely to make errors which might displease him; and she is likely to be not only hot, devoted and dutiful, as the saying is, but inventive and zealous, conscientious and creative, intelligently desperate to please, in her unrelieved, categorical servitude. Also, I suppose that there is just more pleasure in owning an intelligent woman than in owning one who is less intelligent. She is a greater prize to have at one's feet. Too, the average Gorean master wants a woman he can talk to, seriously talk to, one with whom, in a sense, he can share his life. It is not unusual for a master to speak of numerous matters with his female slave, politics, culture, music, history, philosophy, and such, almost as though she might be his equal, though she is likely to be kneeling before him, naked, and back-braceleted. In this way she is not likely to forget that she is a female. Afterwards he can put her in pleasure chains, and, as it pleases him, turn her once again into a begging, submitted, conquered, spasmodic, writhing slave. A dull woman, you see, is not of great interest, whether in a collar or not. An interesting woman, on the other hand, is not the less interesting in a collar; indeed, she is more interesting in a collar.
"No, Master," said Ellen. "Your records are correct. I denied that I knew dance." She supposed that the question had been a trap, but, even had it not been, even if the scribe's question had been innocently, honestly, motivated, she thought it wisest to answer truthfully. As a slave she feared the penalties for prevarication, the least of which might be a severe whipping.
"Then," said the scribe, "it appears that you are a lying slave."
"No, Master," she wept. "I answered as honestly as I could. I am a slave girl. I would not dare to lie to a free man!"
"You said you could not dance, and yet with my own eyes, and to my pleasure, I may add, I saw you dance."
"I cannot dance!" cried Ellen.
There was laughter, from the scribe, and from one of the guardsmen, and from the two whip masters who had now come forth from the area of preparation.
"It is true," said Ellen. "I did not so much dance, as act to music. And I have seen dancers, in the circles. I tried to imitate them! I tried to do well! Then I felt myself taken by the music, and I could not help myself. Then, as though held in its chains, I found myself dancing. I had been captured by the music. I had no recourse but to obey it, Masters! I did not know I could dance, if dance I did."
"You danced," said the scribe.
Ellen groaned.
"You had lessons?" said the scribe.
"No, Master," said Ellen.
"But you have seen slaves dance?"
"Yes, Master," wept Ellen.
"And you learned from them?"
"Perhaps something, Master."
"And surely, as a slave," said the scribe, "you upon occasion, naked, in secret, had swayed before a mirror?"
"Yes, Master," whispered Ellen. She recalled that she had done this, not only on Gor, but even on Earth, as a frustrated female intellectual, more than once, in anguish, and curiosity, and embarrassment, in the privacy of her apartment, the shades drawn, far above the distant pavement, far above the dismal, crowded, gray streets below. She had wanted to see herself as she might be, and wanted to be, as a beautiful, natural creature, and to see herself, as well, as that creature might appear, beggingly presenting itself, beggingly displaying itself, in all the lure of the dance, to a member of the opposite sex, to a man. Once, to her astonishment, she had found herself whispering to the mirror. "I am here. Where are you, my master? I am ready for a collar. I want a collar. Come, collar me, my master!" She wondered how many slaves danced thusly in such small, lonely apartments, their slave needs starved, longing for a master.
"Then you have not only made observations, from which you perhaps learned something, but you have practiced," said the scribe.
"Yes, Master," wept Ellen.
"I think I shall have you remanded for the liar's brand," said the scribe.
"Do not have it put on me, please, Master!" begged Ellen, terrified.
"I would think that a good whipping would be sufficient," said a voice, "say, ten lashes."
Ellen started, keeping her head down.
"Who are you?" asked the scribe.
"I am called 'Selius'," said the voice.
Ellen dared to look up, from her belly, half buried in the sand, into which it seemed she would crawl, as though to hide. Her fingers dug into the sand, at the sides of her head. It was Selius Arconious!
"Perhaps you are right," said the scribe. "I myself was inclined to be lenient, though I suppose the liar's brand would be appropriate for her."
Ellen dug her fingers into the sand, in terror.
"I did, as doubtless did we all, enjoyed her performance, and that should count for something, I suppose," said the scribe, "and I, besides, upon reflection, am inclined to grant that she may not have fully understood her latent talents in the matter."
"It is instinctive in a woman," said the guardsman. "They are all slaves, with or without their collars. They are all born to dance the dances of slaves. Such things are in their belly from birth."
"True," said Selius Arconious. "But she was stupid not to understand this."
"Yes," agreed the guardsman.
Ellen bit her lip in anger, remaining quiet on her belly amongst the feet of the men.
"Surely she should at least have qualified her answer, or have been more candid, or more speculative, with our fellow here," said Arconious, indicating the scribe.
"Agreed," said the guardsman.
"I am inclined to forget the matter," said the scribe. "All in all, I do not think the little slut was trying to mislead us."
Ellen gasped softly with relief.
"But she did mislead you," said Selius Arconious.
"Inadvertently, unintentionally," suggested the scribe.
"Then she is stupid," said Selius Arconious.
"Granted," said the scribe.
Ellen dug her fingers into the sand.
"Apparently," said Selius Arconious, "those of Cos are indulgent with their slaves."
"We do not have that reputation," said the scribe, unpleasantly.
"Too, intentionally or not," said Selius Arconious, "she has made a fool out of you, and of Cos."
"No, Masters!" whispered Ellen, frightened.
"Were you given permission to speak?" inquired Selius Arconious.
"No, Master," said Ellen. "Forgive me, Master!"
"You see how stupid she is," said Selius Arconious.
"Yes," said the scribe.
"I did not know that Cos accepted stupidity in her slaves," said Selius Arconious.
"We do not," said the scribe. "Whip!"
The whip of the exterior whip master was handed to the scribe, who gave it to one of the attending guardsmen.
Of the other two guardsmen one took Ellen's wrists and drew them forward, holding them, and the other took her ankles, and, holding them tightly, drew them back, this extending her legs. In this way she was stretched at full length, on her belly, and held, vulnerably, in the sand. "What do you think should be her punishment?" asked the scribe.
"I would think fifteen lashes," said Selius.
Ellen sobbed in misery.
"Ten for the stupidity of imperiling the integrity of your records," said Selius Arconious, "and another five for the stupidity of daring to speak without permission."
Ellen saw the shadow of the guardsman, the arm lift, the hand holding the whip. She shut her eyes tightly, in misery.
But the blow did not fall.
She opened her eyes. Selius Arconious had interposed himself, and his hand rested on the arm of the guardsman, staying its blow. The guardsman, puzzled, lowered his arm.
"I will buy the strokes," said Selius Arconious. "I would suppose that a tarsk-bit a stroke would be sufficient, as the slave is stupid, rather than willful or wayward."
"That is acceptable," said the scribe. "Fifteen tarsk-bits."
"Done," said Selius Arconious.
Ellen heard the tiny sounds of small coins. She saw the whip returned to the exterior whip master.
The scribe distributed some of the coins to the attending guardsmen. "Good," said one of them. Such coins would buy more than one round of paga.
"So," thought Ellen. "How cleverly Selius Arconious demeans me! He knows I hate him, that I cannot stand him, that I loathe him! Now he whom I intensely despise chooses to interfere! From where has he come? Why is he here? By what right does he interpose himself betwixt a slave and an agent of her master, the state of Cos? How he humiliates me! So now I should be grateful to him? With what contempt he buys away my whipping! How better could he show his contempt for me? How better could he impress my vulnerability, my nothingness, my slavery, upon me? And so he wishes to put me in his debt, me, whom he so scorns! Am I now supposed to be grateful to him, for this act of calculated humiliation. I loathe him! I loathe him!" "You may belly," said the scribe, "and express your gratitude to your benefactor."
Ellen, who well understood her condition, needed not be reprimanded or kicked, nor required a suggestion, or command, to be repeated, but squirmed immediately, prostrate, on her belly, to Selius Arconious, and, putting down her head, her hair falling about his sandals, kissed his feet.
"Thank you, Master," she said, bitterly, angrily.
"Your gratitude may be premature, my dear," said Selius Arconious.
Ellen lifted her head a little, puzzled. Selius Arconious stepped back, away from her.
"Kneel up, slut," said the scribe. "Lift your wrists, crossed."
Ellen, kneeling up, lifting her wrists, crossed, flushed. She was obeying, and kneeling, a naked slave, in the presence of Selius Arconious, whom she hated.
She felt her wrists lashed together, at one end of a leather tether.
She was pulled to her feet.
She looked at Selius Arconious.
"I have always thought that you were a slave," he said, "and now I see that you are."
She looked down, angrily. Then she looked up, for her wrists were lifted, by the scribe, he hecking the confining knots which bound them.
"There is no more dancing or serving for you this night, 117, Ellen," said the scribe. "You are being taken to the slave cages. There you will wait. You will be sold tomorrow night." "She is a slut, meaningless and stupid," said Selius Arconious. "I recommend that she be confined straitly."
"I will see that she is put into one of the tiniest of the slave cages," said the scribe. "By tomorrow night she will beg to run to the block."
The slave's tether was then handed to a guardsman.
Ellen, turning about, cast an angry glance at Selius Arconious, who regarded her impassively. She turned away, angrily.
Then she was led away.
Prize of Gor Book 27 Pages 450 - 456

Ellen followed in line, in pain, almost hobbling, scarcely able to walk. The scribe of the exhibition cages and silken enclosure, it seems, had certainly been wrong about one thing. When she was taken from the cage she would not run to the block. She could scarcely walk to it.
Prize of Gor Book 27 Page 461

Common Gorean, you see, does not use an "Arabic notation," but represents various numbers by letters, combinations of letters, and such. Most figuring is done on an abacus. It is said, interestingly, that some of the higher castes, for example, the Scribes and Builders, have a secret notation which facilitates their calculations.
Prize of Gor Book 27 Pages 471 - 472

She heard herself described in some detail, by the auctioneer's assistant, who read from papers, presumably extracted from scribes' records. Various measurements were iterated matter-of-factly, for example, those of her bosom, waist and hips, and those of her neck, wrists and ankles, the latter primarily of interest with respect to the dimensions of appropriate identificatory or custodial hardware, the collar, wrist rings and ankle rings.
Prize of Gor Book 27 Page 483

The love of a free woman, should they be capable of love, is very different from the love of a slave. The free woman must have her respect, her self-esteem, her dignity. She must consider how her friends will view her, and the match, and what they will think of her, and say of her. She must consider her assets, her properties, and their protection. All details of contracts must be arranged, usually with the attention of scribes of the law.
Prize of Gor Book 27 Page 704

To many Gorean males this seemed almost incomprehensible, but, we note, many languages are spoken on Gor, though obviously, because of the standardizations agreed upon by the caste of Scribes, meeting at the great fairs, Gorean is the most common.
Kur of Gor Page 28 Page 36

Colors in the Gorean high cultures, as in most cultures, have their connotations or symbolisms. Too, in the Gorean high culture, certain colors tend to be associated with certain castes, for example green with the Physicians, red, or scarlet, with the Warriors, yellow with the Builders, blue with the Scribes, white with the Initiates, and so on.
Swordsmen of Gor Book 29 Page 146

"West," said Andronicus, once of Tabor, once of the Scribes. Andronicus was no stranger to the Second Knowledge. He could read.
Mariners of Gor Book 30 Page 130

Even a brilliant woman, witty and articulate, learned, of the high Scribes, collared, her blue robes exchanged for a rag, must apply herself to new studies, the use of her lips and tongue, of her small fingers and glossy hair.
Mariners of Gor Book 30 Page 292

"He is a Scribe," said the stranger. "You can tell from his robes."
"You know something of Earth!" she cried.
"I am familiar with the second knowledge," I said.
Mariners of Gor Book 30 Page 465

"He is privy to the second knowledge," said the stranger. "See his robes. He is a Scribe."
Mariners of Gor Book 30 Page 469

The tunic I had prescribed for her today was the tiny one, of blue rep-cloth. It would not hurt for idlers and passers-by to guess, from the color of her scrap of clothing, that she was a Scribe's girl.
Mariners of Gor Book 30 Page 479

And how fetching she was, barefoot, in the brief, ragged tunic of blue rep-cloth.
She had clutched the coins in her hand.
Had she been natively Gorean she would probably have carried them in her mouth.
When the fellows in the market saw the color of the tunic they would guess, I supposed, and correctly, that she was the property of a Scribe.
Mariners of Gor Book 30 Page 488

With Demetrion were his aides, also of the Merchants, and two Scribes, one of which was Phillip, my superior in the registry.
Mariners of Gor Book 30 Page 491

Demetrion's aides were as reluctant as he to stoop to retrieve the small, but weighty sack. The two Scribes, as well, looked away. Little love is lost between the Scribes and Merchants. The Scribes is a high caste and the Merchants is the richest caste. Each therefore regards itself as superior to the other, and each, then, would be reluctant to seem to lower itself before the other. I would have been quite willing to retrieve the sack and deliver it to Demetrion, but Phillip, my superior, was in his party, and there is, of course, the dignity, and the prestige, of the caste to maintain.
Mariners of Gor Book 30 Page 493

Many Goreans, particularly of the lower castes, and some of the Warriors, a high caste, cannot read. Literacy is accepted in the lower castes, but not encouraged. There are Peasants who have never seen a written word. Some Warriors take pride in their inability to read, regarding that skill as unworthy of them, as being more appropriate to record keepers, tradesmen, clerks, and such, and some who can read take pains to conceal the fact. Swords, not words, rule cities, it is said. And some Goreans feel that reading is appropriate only for the less successful, those too poor to have their reading done for them, their letters written for them, and such. Slaves, unless formerly of high caste, are often illiterate. And barbarian slaves are seldom taught to read. This produces the anomaly that many barbarian slaves, who are generally of high intelligence, will be literate in one or more of the barbarian languages, but illiterate in Gorean. Indeed, they are often kept so, deliberately, that they may be all the more helpless, as slaves, and know themselves all the better as mere slaves. Needless to say, all members of my caste, even from childhood, are taught to read.
Mariners of Gor Book 30 Page 516

In a few moments I had made my way to a vendor's cart and purchased some wrappings of food. I spent a bit more than I had intended, an extra tarsk-bit or two, but, in this manner, I thought, I might demonstrate the munificence of the Caste of Scribes, apparently a munificence well beyond that of warriors, mariners, the common oarsman, the newly rich, and such, a munificence, to be sure, commonly exercised within judicious limits.
Mariners of Gor Book 30 Page 548

"Should I not be bound and leashed?" asked the slave.
"Your master retained the sirik," I said.
"You have no binding fiber, no leash?" she asked.
"I am a Scribe," I said.
"Do not Scribes have slaves?" she asked.
"This one does not," I said.
Mariners of Gor Book 30 Page 550

"You have treated me well," said Callias. "You were kind in the tavern. You offered me money. You befriended me. You gave me lodging. I am grateful."
"It is nothing," I said.
He pressed into my hand a tiny beadlike object.
"No," I said.
"Yes," he said.
"Low Scribes do not have such things," I said.
"Be the first," he said.
"I cannot accept this," I said. My view of rich men, and, in particular, of Cosians, was in the process of being suddenly and radically transformed. They were, after all, were they not, generous and noble sorts?
"Would you dishonor me, by refusing?" he asked.
"No," I said.
Mariners of Gor Book 30 Page 553

I removed the Scribe's satchel, my purse, the Scribe's robes, and lay upon the comforter and, on one elbow, regarded the slave.
Mariners of Gor Book 30 Page 567 - 568

"Do you know much of Scribes?" I asked.
"Only that they make me serve well in the alcove," she said.
"But that is not unusual, is it?" I asked. "With fellows of any caste?"
"No, Master," she said.
Mariners of Gor Book 30 Page 568

I had spent several years in the household of my teacher, who would accept no pay, because, for our caste, knowledge is priceless. One day he had said to me, "You may leave now," and I knew then that I was of the Scribes.
Mariners of Gor Book 30 Page 569

"I am a poor man," I said, "a low Scribe, one who labors in the registry. I could not afford you."
Mariners of Gor Book 30 Page 574

The standardization of Gorean is accomplished largely in virtue of the meetings of Scribes four times a year on the neutral ground of the great seasonal fairs held in the vicinity of the Sardar itself. This tends to standardize lexicons and prevent phonetic drift.
Conspirators of Gor Book 31 Page 142

I saw a lovely-legged, long-haired girl in a brief blue tunic. I did not know if that were because her master favored the blue, or if he might be a scribe.
Conspirators of Gor Book 31 Page 314

"I do not even know the caste of my Master," I said.
"It is what I wish it to be," he said, "a Metal Worker a Forester, a Poet, or Singer, a Cloth Worker, a Peasant, a Scribe, such things."
"I do not understand," I said.
"It is sometimes convenient to be of one caste, sometimes of another."
"It is a disguise," I said.
"Of course," he said. "In some ventures, in some pursuits, it is well to blend in, to attract less attention."
Conspirators of Gor Book 31 Page 660

The last, who wore blue carried a marking board, and pencil.
Smugglers of Gor Book 32 Page 58

From the yard of a dark building, behind the wharves, through a double wooden gate, wide enough to exit a wagon, a scribe, in his blue work tunic, carrying a tablet, had emerged.
Smugglers of Gor Book 32 Page 82

Two days later, I was halted in my work, and knelt, on the dock, in the presence of a stately fellow with blue robes, who carried a clipboard. He was of the caste of Scribes.
Smugglers of Gor Book 32 Page 169

Quotes on Wardens

There are wardens who watch the trees, guarding against illegal cutting and pasturage, and inspectors who, each year, tally and examine them. The wardens are also responsible, incidentally, for managing and improving the woods. They do such work as thinning and planting, and trimming, and keeping the protective ditch in repair. They are also responsible for bending and fastening certain numbers of young trees so that they will grow into desired shapes, usually to be used for frames, and stem and sternposts. Individual trees, not in the preserves, which are claimed by Port Kar, are marked with the seal of the arsenal. The location of all such trees is kept in a book available to the Council of Captains.
Raiders of Gor Book 6 Page 141


Cuwignaka nodded, recognizing the justice of this view. It was not Hci, so to speak, who was being obeyed, but rather a duly constituted authority, an officer, a constable or warden in such matters.
Blood Brothers of Gor Book 18 Page 11


"But you did not listen," said Hci. "You chose, rather, to deliberately disobey a warden of the hunt."
Blood Brothers of Gor Book 18 Page 67


"You might be spared," he said. "You might be enclosed in a cage, suspended in the piazza. Others might then learn from your fate a lesson. You might be put in a dozen chains and flung into the deepest dungeon in the city. Perhaps then, eventually, you would be forgotten, save perhaps by a warden and some urts. You might even be kept chained in the public tarsk pens, in the mud, for years, there to compete naked, mocked by all, for your swill."
Witness of Gor Book 26 Page 209


The "Tarsk," the pit master, or, to use his more exact title, the depth warden, was still at the table.
Witness of Gor Book 26 Page 302


"It was your aide," I said. "I only conveyed your please to the depth warden. Had I not do so, in some failure to comply with your request, I might have risked serious discipline."
"Nonetheless, I am grateful!" she exclaimed. "You need not, I am sure, have conveyed my pleas. You might even have managed somehow to escape punishment for the inadvertence. Since my care was put in your keeping I have not even seen the depth warden. He might never have known. You might have pretended to misunderstand, or forget, or you might have denied that such pleas were made."
"In such a matter," I said, "your word would be taken over mine."
"How vulnerable are slaves!" she marveled.
"Yes," I said, climbing upward. "We are vulnerable."
"But you could have conveyed my pleas in such a manner as to have had them discounted, or rejected as haughty demands, or such."
I was silent.
"You must have enjoined them upon the depth warden with sympathy."
Witness of Gor Book 26 Page 315


Specifically, I think it was useful to have had to explicitly, frequently, and humbly address the depth warden as "sir," which practice apparently, in its present authentic form, began on that day, to know that she was not permitted to attempt to interfere with the latching of the cage, and might thus, at any moment, walking or sleeping, be plunged into the pool, to the creatures which frequented it, and, perhaps most significantly, to learn that she, though a free woman, was being housed in a slave cage.
. . .
She had began soon after that, as I had learned from the brunette, Fina, she preferred by the pit master, who slept at his feet, to kneel in the cage at the approach of the pit master, the depth warden, who commonly attended to her.
Witness of Gor Book 26 Page 316


"It is the pit master, the depth warden, really, ultimately," I said. "who permits such things."
Witness of Gor Book 26 Page 334


"You are in the presence of a warden of our city, Lady," said the clerk. "It is in his keeping that you will find yourself until your disposition is clear."
Witness of Gor Book 26 Page 540


"You may begin," she said, "by removing these horrid bracelets and this obscene leash!"
"They are the devices," said he, "of your current keeper, a warden of the city."
Witness of Gor Book 26 Page 542


The jailer, the warden of the cliff cells, Tenrik, in whose care I had first been in this city, had come out upon the plank and brought me back to safety, before I might fall.
Witness of Gor Book 26 Page 649


The container was transparent, and had there been wardens or guards, visitors or bystanders, the container's occupants would have been in public view.
Kur of Gor Book 28 Page 62

Quotes on Ubar and Ubara

The High Council names a Ubar, sometimes known as a War Chieftain, [1] in a time of crisis. [2] Usually the Ubar will be one of the Caste of Warriors. [3] To be eligible though, you must at least be of High Caste. [4] Or, one can presume to name himself Ubar and hope the people will accept him. [5] But if not of a High Caste, he would violate the limits of caste and the traditions of Gor to do so. [6]

There can be quite a celebration when a Ubar or Ubara takes the throne. The great signal bars of the city are rung. Warriors lift their swords in salute. Members of the High Council stand and applaud. Processions take place on the bridges. There are tournaments of the game organized. Poets and historians vie in praising the day. A holiday is declared, and great games and races are sponsored without cessation for the next ten days. [7]

For a Ubara, a crown of Tur leaves might be placed upon her head. Of course, members of the High Council would be in attendance. A medallion would be placed about her neck. Too, the ring of the Ubar would be placed on her finger. Also she is given the Home Stone of the city to hold it in her left hand, and a scepter, a rod of office, signifying power, to hold in her right hand. Her coronation might be followed by a declaration of five holidays. [8]

While Ubar, what authority does he have?
The Ubar's word is law. More powerful than a king, [9] he rules without check and by decree, [10] needing to give no accounting or explanation for what he does. [11] His power is limited institutionally only by his capacity to inspire and control those whose steel keeps him upon the throne. [12]

While on the throne, there is still a High Council in place. [13] It's just that the Ubar's word takes precedence over councils. [14] The courts of the city are also under the jurisdiction of the Ubar. [15]

The Ubar could also be involved with seeing to it that certain women are sold as a slave. [16]

What does a man wear to signify he is Ubar?
Like several of the Castes which have their own color broadcasting their meaning, the Ubar wears imperial purple proclaiming his position. [17] No doubt this includes a swirling cloak of office. [18] He also wears a golden chain of the Ubar, from which hangs a medallion inset with a replica of the Home Stone of the city. [19]

The Ubar Bila Huruma of Schendi is shown to wear a resplendent outfit. He sits upon a royal stool, of black, lacquered wood, mounted on the crossed, tied, horns of kailiauk. He has gold armlets, bracelets, and anklets. About his loins are the pelts of the yellow panther. As a necklace, the teeth of a beast. Also a gigantic cloak of yellow and red feathers, from the crested lit and the fruit tindel. On his head he has an elaborate headdress, formed largely from the long, white, curling feathers of the Ushindi fisher. [20]

It might be mentioned that, while, obviously, many of the free women of Gor and almost always those of High Caste wear the Robes of Concealment, their garments are seldom as complex or splendidly wrought as those of a Ubar's daughter. [21]

And then, somewhat humorously, at least it was to me, is that daughters of Ubars wear ridiculously tall platform shoes so that they can look down on their subjects, literally. [22]

Among the other numerous duties of being a Ubar, [23] perhaps the unification and revision of the codes, [24] he is responsible to, on the first day of En'Kara and in the name of the city, greet the sun, welcoming it to the city on the first day of the year. [25]

It has been said that the power of the Ubar rests on the lower castes. [26] One can imagine trying to keep the populace in check. To do so, Ubars have always employed the Initiates as tools to keep the lower castes contented. [27] But yet it is known that Ubars may fear the White Caste. [28]

Ubars might court the favor of the Merchant Caste [29] and are often in debt to them. [30]

Contests of arms, fought to the death, are popular in some cities. [31] And then there is always the clan of torturers, trained as carefully physicians, in the arts of detaining life and the arts of detection and persuasion. [32] He may even have on hand what is known as a torture slave, a slave trained to arouse, humiliate, frustrate, and then deny a male prisoner. [33]

The life of a Ubar is not easy. To illustrate, here are just a few quotes, the rest can be found below in the supporting references. [34]

"Take what men of mine you will," he said. "But I must fight for my city. I am Ubar of Ar, and while I live, my city will not perish."
Tarnsman of Gor Book 1 Page 203

"If a Ubar does not respect the law of the Home Stone, what man shall?"
"None," said I. "It is hard to be Ubar."
Assassin of Gor Book 5 Page 407

It is not always desirable to look deeply into the eyes of a Ubar.
Explorers of Gor Book 13 Page 237

"Ubars, and Ubaras, have no friends," said Alcinoë.
Mariners of Gor Book 30 Page 399

Even though the Ubar would most likely have his palace in the tallest cylinder of the city, [35] complete with its own kitchens, [36] he might still have his own separate dwelling. [37] Too, he may be fond of wine, to the point where he might barter a city or a hundred slaves for a given flask of ka-la-na. [38] He would also have his own personal Physician. [39]

The palace and seat of power for a Ubar can range from a great domed chamber set with lights and stones in which, on a high, stepped dais, sits a marble throne, [40] to nothing more than a simple, worn, tattered robe of gray boskhide. [41] The palace of a Ubar is also the mint of a city. [42]

The Ubar's personal guards [43] might likely be outfitted in resplendent uniforms their helmets laced with gold, shields bound with silver and shoulders draped with the purple of the Ubar. [44] Also around their necks they might wear, in silver, the medallion of the Ubar. [45]

Some Ubars have a small number of elite and well paid guards. A drawback to this is that the honor of serving the Ubar is not broadly distributed. Also that faction of men might come, in time, to dominate the other guards. [46]

A Ubar may wish to keep his true identity secret as a protection against danger or assassination. [47] Messengers using tarns are commonly employed as couriers. [48] A should a Ubara be captured from a conquered city, quite likely, the victorious Ubar will keep the, now enslaved, woman for himself. [49]

Ubars needn't necessarily be of a city. Just as being the leader of his vast, predatory horde qualified Pa-Kur to be called Ubar. [50]

There are also the Ubars of the four Wagon Peoples who, of course, have no actual city. At times, they even chose a single Ubar to lead them all, referred to as a Ubar San. [51]

Port Cos, on the other hand, though a city, was at one time, ruled by five Ubars all at once. [52]

At one time in the forests outside of Brundisium, a famous brigand named Clearchus proclaimed his area of operations a Ubarate, proclaimed himself its Ubar, and then proceeded to impose taxes and levy tolls. Interestingly enough, in time, several cities accorded this Ubarate diplomatic recognition, generally in return for concessions on the taxes and tolls. Finally a large force of mercenaries, in the hire of the merchant caste, in a campaign that lasted several months, put an end to the spurious reign of Clearchus, driving him from the forest and scattering his men. It is generally conceded, however, that had Clearchus had more men he might have turned out to be the founder of a state. [53]

And according to the codes of the Warriors, "Within the circle of each man's sword, therein is each man a Ubar". [54]

The Ubar would need to be cautious that he did not fall victim to the smile of a slave [55] or the sparkling eyes of a Free Woman. [56]

But then again, he may have innumerable slaves of whom he might not even be aware. [57]

The Ubara is the companion of the Ubar. [58] However, the Ubar does not companion casually or lightly. [59]

The Ubara may also just be a woman ruler. [60] The word Ubara is a title, just as is Ubar. [61]

She would be regally dressed in the full regalia of a Ubara. [62] This would also include a tiara [63] and medallion of the Ubara. [64]

To be Ubara is the most glorious thing to which a woman might aspire. It means she would be rich and the most powerful woman in the city. It would mean the armies and navies, and tarn cavalries, could move upon her very word. And that the most precious of gems and jewelries might be hers. [65] Her word might create and destroy fortunes, humble generals and exalt common armsmen. Armies might march at her word, tarn cavalries launch, wars begin and wars end. [66]

A Ubar can rule for years and years, even after a time of crisis has passed. [67] However, the Ubar is supposed to step down after the time of crisis. It can be voluntarily relinquished meaning the time of crisis has passed. [68] But it this rarely seems to happen. Not that the crisis never ends but that the Ubar does not voluntarily step down. The end of such a Ubar is not a pretty sight. [69]

It could be though, the Ubar makes a grievous error such as losing the Home Stone of the city. In such a case he would need to flee for his life. [70] Or the penalty could be being publicly refused bread and salt and, under penalty of death, ordered to leave the city. [71]

Perhaps the Ubar is thought to be unfit. It is not then uncommon for him to die beneath the steel of his outraged men. [72]







 

---

Supporting References



[1] "But," said my father, "sometimes such a war chief, or Ubar,
Tarnsman of Gor Book 1 Page 42

You have mastered a tarn, a war tarn. In your veins must flow the blood of your father, once Ubar, War Chieftain, now Administrator of Ko-ro-ba, this City of Cylinders.
Tarnsman of Gor Book 1 Page 58

Administrator of Ko-ro-ba, once Ubar, War Chieftain of the city.
Tarnsman of Gor Book 1 Page 62

[2] "The High Castes in a given city," said my father, "elect an administrator and council for stated terms. In times of crisis, a war chief, or Ubar, is named, who rules without check and by decree until, in his judgment, the crisis is passed."
Tarnsman of Gor Book 1 Page 42

No new Ubar, as far as I could tell, had yet been appointed by the council. There had been, at least, no general ringing of bars such as might be expected to announce such an appointment.
Players of Gor Book 20 Page 379

Gnieus Lelius, it seems, had been deposed, and Seremides, in a military coup he himself characterized as regrettable, had seized temporary power, a power to be wielded until the High Council, now the highest civilian authority in Ar, could elect a new leader, be it Administrator, Regent, Ubar or Ubara.
Magicians of Gor Book 25 Page 83

[3] The Initiates are sometimes thought of as the highest of the five high castes, and the Warriors commonly produce the administrators and ubars for a city.
Witness of Gor Book 26 Page 225

[4] It perhaps need only be added that now being a Warrior, and thus of High Caste, he was now eligible for a seat on the High Council of the city, and even for the throne itself, whether it be that of Administrator or Ubar.
Assassin of Gor Book 5 Page 211

[5] For the first time Kazrak spoke. "On the day that Ar falls, she will wed Pa-Kur and rule beside him. He hopes this will encourage the survivors of Ar to accept him as their rightful Ubar. He will proclaim himself their liberator, their deliverer from the despotism of the Initiates, the restorer of the old order, the glory of the empire."
Tarnsman of Gor Book 1 Page 173

[6] Since the siege of Ar, when Pa-Kur, Master Assassin, had violated the limits of his caste and had presumed, in contradiction to the traditions of Gor, to lead a horde upon the city, intending to make himself Ubar, the Caste of Assassins had lived as hated, hunted men, no longer esteemed mercenaries whose services were sought by cities, and, as often by factions within cities.
Outlaw of Gor Book 2 Page 72

[7] On the twentieth day of Camerius the great signal bars suspended about the walls of the city rang out the enthronement of a Ubar of Ar. Cernus had been proclaimed, as the Taurentians lifted their swords in salute and the members of the High Council had stood on the tiers of the Council Chamber and cried out and applauded, Ubar of Ar. Processions took place on the bridges; there were tournaments of the game organized; poets and historians vied in praising the day, each more ecstatically than the last; but, perhaps most importantly, holiday was declared, and great games and races were sponsored without cessation for the next ten days, extending even through the Third Passage Hand.
Assassin of Gor Book 5 Page 235

No new Ubar, as far as I could tell, had yet been appointed by the council. There had been, at least, no general ringing of bars such as might be expected to announce such an appointment.
Players of Gor Book 20 Page 379

[8] the ascension of Talena to the throne of Ar, as Ubara. Her coronation may have been somewhat less spectacular than Myron's entry into the city and Lurius' subsequent triumph, which may have grated upon her somewhat, but I think it had been impressive enough. The crown of Tur leaves was placed upon her head by Myron, but on behalf of the people and councils of Ar. Seremides and most members of the High Council were in attendance. Certain other members of the High Council were asserted to be indisposed. Some rumors had it that they were under house arrest. A medallion of Ar was also placed about Talena's neck but the traditional medallion, which had been worn by Marlenus, and which he had seldom permitted out of his keeping, and which he may have had with him upon his departure from the city long ago, had not been found. Too, the ring of the Ubar, which in any event would have been too large for the finger of Talena, was not found. But that ring, it was said, had not been in Ar for years. Indeed, it had been rumored in Ar, even before the disappearance of Marlenus, that it had once been lost in the northern forests, upon a hunting expedition. After the medallion, Talena had been given the Home Stone of Ar, that she might hold it in her left hand, and a scepter, a rod of office, signifying power, that she might hold in her right. Her coronation was followed by a declaration of five holidays.
Magicians of Gor Book 25 Pages 105 - 106

[9] "What is a Ubar?" she asked. "A king?"
"More powerful than a king," said Cabot.
Kur of Gor Book 28 Page 682

[10] who rules without check and by decree
Tarnsman of Gor Book 1 Page 42

"You are herewith, by edict of the Ubar," said Marlenus, "commanded from the city of Ar, to depart before sundown of this day, not to return on pain of penalty of torture and impalement."
Assassin of Gor Book 5 Pages 404 - 405

I saw that among those barbaric ornaments was a ring. I gasped, for it was the seal of Ar, the signet of Glorious Ar. He threw it to Verna, as a bauble.
She caught it.
"With that," he said, "you are safe in the realm of Ar. With that you can command the power of the city. This is as the word of the Ubar. With this you can buy supplies. With this you can command soldiers. Any who come upon you and see this ring will know that behind you stands the power of Ar."
Hunters of Gor Book 8 Page 301

[11] "A Ubar," pointed out Telima, "need give no accounting, no explanation."
Raiders of Gor Book 6 Page 95

[12] Some cities are governed by a Ubar, who is in effect a military sovereign, sometimes a tyrant, whose word is law. The Ubar's power is limited institutionally only by his capacity to inspire and control those whose steel keeps him upon the throne.
Slave Girl of Gor Book 11 Page 114

[13] The sack was to be opened, and she was to be presented to Claudius Ubar of Argentum, and the high council, and high citizens of Argentum, at the climax of a great feast, to be celebrated two days from now.
Kajira of Gor Book 19 Page 345

"Tomorrow night, at the great victory feast," he said, "you will be turned over to Claudius, my Ubar, and the high council."
Kajira of Gor Book 19 Page 351

At these tables were Claudius, the Ubar of Argentum, and members of the high council.
Kajira of Gor Book 19 Page 362

It was not within your province to determine my innocence or guilt. That responsibility was that of Claudius, the Ubar of Argentum, and the high council.
Kajira of Gor Book 19 Page 396

[14] The men about him he appointed high officers, by his word alone."
This was possible, as the word of the Ubar takes precedence over councils.
Swordsmen of Gor Book 29 Page 115

[15] There are two systems of courts on Gor those of the City, under the jurisdiction of an Administrator or Ubar, and those of the Initiates, under the jurisdiction of the High Initiate of the given city; the division corresponds roughly to that between civil and what, for lack of a better word, might be called ecclesiastical courts.
Tarnsman of Gor Book 1 Page 194

[16] Apparently he had realized she would be sold in this market on this day. I supposed that was not common knowledge. It seemed probable to me that this matter had been arranged, perhaps even with the collusion of a praetor, if not the Ubar himself.
Conspirators of Gor Book 31 Page 134

[17] "Why do the slaves wear purple?" I asked Misk. "That is the color of the robes of a Ubar."
Priest-Kings of Gor Book 3 Page 91

I was glad that the tunic I wore was not of the Ubar's purple
Priest-Kings of Gor Book 3 Page 108

Kamchak stood before the throne of Phanius Turmus, the purple robe of the Ubar over one shoulder,
Nomads of Gor Book 4 Page 255

Some seventy or eighty yards away I saw the box of the Ubar and, upon the throne of the Ubar, Cernus, of the House of Cernus, in the imperial purple of the Ubar.
Assassin of Gor Book 5 Page 354

He was not wearing the purple of the Ubar, but his shoulders were covered with a brown cloak, rather of the sort worn by Administrators in certain cities, civilian statesmen, servants of the people, so to speak.
Mercenaries of Gor Book 21 Page 288

[18] the swirling robe of the Ubar,
Assassin of Gor Book 5 Page 376

[19] Around his neck he wore the golden chain of the Ubar, carrying the medallionlike replica of the Home Stone of Ar.
Tarnsman of Gor Book 1 Page 154

the golden medallion of a Ubar
Assassin of Gor Book 5 Page 6

"One who steals a sul may be mutilated, crippled, or killed," said Callias, "whereas one who steals cities may be gifted with the medallion of a Ubar."
Mariners of Gor Book 30 Page 514

[20] "He is surely a big fellow," I said, "but I scarcely noticed him." Bila Huruma, indeed, had been an extremely large man, and long armed. He had sat upon a royal stool, of black, lacquered wood, mounted on the crossed, tied, horns of kailiauk. His arms and legs had been bare, and they had glistened from oil. He had worn armlets and bracelets, and anklets, of gold. He had worn at his loins the pelts of the yellow panther. He wore, too, the teeth of his beast as a necklace. Behind and about him had swirled a gigantic cloak of yellow and red feathers, from the crested lit and the fruit tindel, brightly plumaged birds of the rain forest. In making such a cloak only two feathers are taken from the breast of each bird. It takes sometimes a hundred years to fashion such a cloak. Naturally it is to be worn only by a Ubar. His head was surmounted by an elaborate headdress, formed largely from the long, white, curling feathers of the Ushindi fisher, a long-legged, wading bird, It was not unlike the common headdress of the askari. Indeed, save for the length of the feathers and the intricate leather and beading, in which the feathers were mounted, it might have been such a headdress.
Explorers of Gor Book 13 Page 236

[21] Many of the free women of Gor and almost always those of High Caste wear the Robes of Concealment, though, of course, their garments are seldom as complex or splendidly wrought as those of a Ubar's daughter.
Tarnsman of Gor Book 1 Page 87

[22] She tried to rise, but one foot was, of course, some ten inches higher than the other. She fell again, and I unstrapped the remaining shoe. "No wonder you can hardly walk," I said. "Why do you wear these silly things?"
"The daughter of a Ubar must look down on her subjects," was the simple if extraordinary reply.
. . .
The daughter of a Ubar looked up to no man.
Tarnsman of Gor Book 1 Page 92

[23] Cernus was often in the Central Cylinder, attending to the numerous duties of Ubar of the city,
Assassin of Gor Book 5 Page 271

[24] the unification and revision of the codes of the five Ubars,
Raiders of Gor Book 6 Page 159

[25] Then, at dawn, on the first day of En'Kara, in the name of the city, the Administrator of Ar, or a Ubar if it be Ubar, greets the sun, welcoming it to Ar on the first day of the New Year.
Assassin of Gor Book 5 Page 211

Lastly, as the culmination of Ar's Planting Feast, and of the greatest importance to the plan of the Council of Ko-ro-ba, a member of the Ubar's family goes to the roof at night, under the three full moons with which the feast is correlated, and casts grain upon the stone and drops of a red winelike drink made from the fruit of the Ka-la-na tree. The member of the Ubar's family then prays to the Priest-Kings for an abundant harvest and returns to the interior of the cylinder, at which point the Guards of the Home Stone resume their vigil.
Tarnsman of Gor Book 1 Page 68

At dawn on the day of the vernal equinox a ceremonial greeting of the sun takes place, conducted usually by the Ubar or administrator of the city. This, in effect, welcomes the New Year to the city.
Players of Gor Book 20 Page 10

[26] It was sometimes said that the power of Marlenus, the Ubar himself, rested ultimately on the lower castes, whom he cultivated and flattered.
Conspirators of Gor Book 31 Page 103

[27] Ubars have always employed the Initiates as tools, some of the boldest even contending that the social function of the Initiates is to keep the lower castes contented with their servile lot.
Tarnsman of Gor Book 1 Page 188

[28] "Perhaps," he said, "the ost, the sleen, the hith, the panther, the river shark, the larl, was created in their image."
"Such words might have you impaled," I said.
"Only where Ubars fear the white caste," he said.
Smugglers of Gor Book 32 Page 144

[29] She had apparently once been of the Merchants, perhaps the high Merchants, and had even held herself to be of high caste, despite the fact that few Goreans accepted the Merchants as a high caste. It was regarded as a rich caste, but that is not, in the eyes of many, the same as being a high caste. It was, of course, a powerful caste, given its wealth, and even Ubars might court its favor.
Smugglers of Gor Book 32 Page 154

[30] If the Merchants are not a high caste, it is clear they are an important caste. It is said they own councils and sway law, that their gold hides and whispers behind thrones, that cities heed their words, that Ubars are often in their debt.
Smugglers of Gor Book 32 Page 64

[31] Contests of arms, fought to the death, whereas they may not take place at the fairs are not unknown on Gor, and are popular in some cities. Contests of this sort, most often involving criminals and impoverished soldiers of fortune, offer prizes of amnesty or gold and are customarily sponsored by rich men to win the approval of the populace of their cities. Sometimes these men are merchants who wish thereby to secure goodwill for their products; sometimes they are practitioners of the law, who hope to sway the votes of jury men; sometimes they are Ubars or High Initiates who find it in their interests to keep the crowds amused.
Priest-Kings of Gor Book 3 Page 11

[32] I hoped that I would be granted death in battle, if death it must be. The Wagon Peoples, of all those on Gor that I know, are the only ones that have a clan of torturers, trained as carefully as scribes or physicians, in the arts of detaining life.
Some of these men have achieved fortune and fame in various Gorean cities, for their services to Initiates and Ubars, and others with an interest in the arts of detection and persuasion.
Nomads of Gor Book 4 Pages 9 - 10

[33] A torture slave, as is well known, is a slave trained to arouse, humiliate, frustrate, and then deny a male prisoner. Some captains, commanders, Ubars, and such, utilize the services of such a slave, usually for the pleasure of witnessing the discomfiture and misery of some hated enemy. Irons, knives, and cords are not the only means by which a helpless enemy may be tormented.
Smugglers of Gor Book 32 Page 412

[34] I looked at Marlenus, testing the man. "What is it, Ubar, that you hold dearest - your city or your title? Do you seek the welfare of Ar or your private glory?"
Marlenus leaped to his feet, hurling the yellow robes of the Afflicted from him, drawing his blade from its sheath with a metallic flash. "A Ubar," he cried, "answers such a question only with his sword!"
Tarnsman of Gor Book 1 Page 172

"Take what men of mine you will," he said. "But I must fight for my city. I am Ubar of Ar, and while I live, my city will not perish."
Tarnsman of Gor Book 1 Page 203

It was obvious that Thorn, unlike my old enemy Pa-Kur, who presumably had perished at the siege of Ar, was not a man above sensual vices, not a man who could with fanatical purity and single-minded devotion sacrifice himself and entire peoples to the ends of his ambition and power. Thorn would never make a Ubar.
Outlaw of Gor Book 2 Page 60

The wagons are said to be countless, the animals without number. Both of these claims, are of course, mistaken, and the Ubars of the Wagon Peoples know well each wagon and the number of branded beasts in the various herds;
Nomads of Gor Book 4 Page 21

The Wagon Peoples are fascinated with the future and its signs and though, to hear them speak, they put no store in such matters, yet they do in practice give them great consideration. I was told by Kamchak that once an army of a thousand wagons turned aside because a swarm of rennels, poisonous, crablike desert insects, did not defend its broken nest, crushed, by the wheel of the lead wagon. Another time, over a hundred years ago, a wagon Ubar lost the spur from his right boot and turned for this reason back from the gates of mighty Ar itself.
Nomads of Gor Book 4 Pages 27 - 28

Tuchuks do not make good spies, for they tend to be, albeit fierce and cruel, intensely loyal; and there are few strangers allowed in the wagon of a Tuchuk Ubar.
Nomads of Gor Book 4 Page 201

Conrad, Hakimba and the Paravaci strode to the throne of Kamchak, but none of them, as befitted Ubars of their peoples, knelt.
Nomads of Gor Book 4 Page 334

He released my hand and sat back, cross-legged, his back straight as that of a Ubar,
Assassin of Gor Book 5 Page 35

"If a Ubar does not respect the law of the Home Stone, what man shall?"
"None," said I. "It is hard to be Ubar."
Assassin of Gor Book 5 Page 407

"His hand on the hilt of his sword," said Mira, "and his other hand on the medallion of Ar, his daughter was disowned."
I gasped, stunned.
"Yes," laughed Verna, "according to the codes of the warriors and by the rites of the city of Ar, no longer is Talena kin or daughter of Marlenus of Ar."
I lay, stunned. According to irreversible ceremonies, both of the warriors and of the city of Ar, Talena was no longer the daughter of Marlenus. In her shame she had been put outside his house. She was cut off. In law, and in the eyes of Goreans, Talena was now without family. No longer did she have kin. She was now, in her shame, alone, completely. She was now only slave, that and nothing more.
Hunters of Gor Book 8 Page 131

"Ubar," said I, "if the girl Verna had not cried out for mercy, if she had not wept and yielded herself, completely and utterly, to you as slave, would you have truly done what you threatened?"
"I do not understand," said Marlenus.
"Would you truly have hamstrung her?" I asked.
"Of course," said Marlenus. "I am a Ubar."
Hunters of Gor Book 8 Pages 163 - 164

Only a Ubar, it is said, may sit upon the throne of a Ubar. Only when a true Ubar sits upon the throne is it said the pledge of sword loyalty is binding.
Slave Girl of Gor Book 11 Page 114

"To truly see a Ubar," I said, "to look into his heart can be a fearful thing."
. . .
"He who sits upon the throne, it is said," said Msaliti, "is the most alone of men."
. . .
It is not always desirable to look deeply into the eyes of a Ubar.
Explorers of Gor Book 13 Page 237

I then, truly, for the first time looked into the eyes of Bila Huruma.
He sat upon the high platform, above the others, solitary and isolated, the necklace of panther teeth about his neck, the lamps below him.
I sensed then, for a moment, what it must be to be a Ubar. It was then, in that instant, that I first truly saw him, as he was, and as he must be. I looked then on loneliness and decision, and power. The Ubar must contain within himself dark strengths. He must be capable of doing, as many men are not; what is necessary.
Only one can sit upon the throne, as it is said. And, as it is said, he who sits upon the throne is the most alone of men.
It is he who must be a stranger to all men, and to whom all men must be strangers.
The throne indeed is a lonely country.
Many men desire to live there but few, I think, could bear its burdens.
Let us continue to think of our Ubars as men much like ourselves, only perhaps a bit wiser, or stronger, or more fortunate. That way we may continue to be comfortable with them, and, to some extent, feel ourselves their superior. But let us not look into their eyes too closely, for we might see there that which sets them apart from us.
It is not always desirable to look deeply into the eyes of a Ubar.
Explorers of Gor Book 13 Pages 242 - 243

"Ubars," I pointed out to Kisu, "seldom see much point in engaging in single combat with common soldiers."
Explorers of Gor Book 13 Page 428

"To a Ubar a friend is precious," he said. "We have so few."
Explorers of Gor Book 13 Page 446

"Ubars, and Ubaras, have no friends," said Alcinoë.
Mariners of Gor Book 30 Page 399

[35] I had little difficulty making out the tallest tower in Ar, the cylinder of the Ubar Marlenus.
Tarnsman of Gor Book 1 Page 77

[36] Before them had been placed large golden dishes heaped with delicacies prepared by the kitchens of the Ubar,
Nomads of Gor Book 4 Page 253

[37] Cernus, upon occasion, though Ubar of Ar, would return to sit table in his own house,
Assassin of Gor Book 5 Page 237

[38] I had never tasted ka-la-na but I had gathered there were a great many varieties, differing much in quality. Some Ubars might barter a city or a hundred slaves for a given flask of the beverage.
Smugglers of Gor Book 32 Page 295

[39] "The personal physicians of Ubars do well," said Mrs. Rawlinson.
Conspirators of Gor Book 31 Page 26

[40] Soon we had emerged in the great domed chamber set with lights and stones in which, on a high, stepped dais, sits the marble throne of the Ubar of Ar.
Assassin of Gor Book 5 Page 395

[41] "His wagon," smiled Kamchak, "is the First Wagon and it is Kutaituchik who sits upon the gray robe."
"The gray robe?" I asked.
"That robe," said Kamchak, "which is the throne of the Ubars of the Tuchuks."
Nomads of Gor Book 4 Page 32

We mounted the dais and approached the seemingly somnolent figure seated upon it. Although the dais was resplendent, and the rugs upon it even more resplendent, I saw that beneath Kutaituchik, over these rugs, had been spread a simple, worn, tattered robe of gray boskhide. It was upon this simple robe that he sat. It was undoubtedly that of which Kamchak had spoken, the robe upon which sits the Ubar of the Tuchuks, that simple robe which is his throne.
Nomads of Gor Book 4 Pages 42 - 43

[42] the palace of a Ubar is also the mint of a city,
Nomads of Gor Book 4 Page 251

[43] I was jostled in the crowds, and twice nearly knocked down by officers in the guard of Phanius Turmus, Ubar of Turia.
Nomads of Gor Book 4 Page 234

[44] Then to my surprise I saw, with us, fighting, a common Warrior, not a Taurentian, one whose helmet was not laced with gold nor his shield bound with silver, nor his shoulders covered with the purple of the Ubar's guard.
Assassin of Gor Book 5 Page 347

[45] Two warriors passed, proud in their red.
They were probably mercenaries. Their speech reminded me of that of Ar.
They did not wear, in silver, the medallion of the Ubar.
Hunters of Gor Book 8 Page 45

[46] The palace guard, I had learned from Hup, would be, on a staggered basis, rotated, in order that the honor of serving the Ubar would be more broadly distributed, and, further, presumably, that no given faction of men could come, in time, to dominate the guards; the pay of the guards, incidentally, was substantially reduced, perhaps in order that, in virtue of this sacrifice, the honor of the post might be more clear, and that fewer invidious distinctions might grow up between the palace guard and the military generally, from which it was now composed.
Assassin of Gor Book 5 Page 393

[47] Further, the Kassars, the Kataii and the Paravaci did not reveal their true Ubars with any greater willingness than the Tuchuks had. Each people, as the Tuchuks had, had its false Ubar, its decoy to protect the true Ubar from danger or assassination.
Nomads of Gor Book 4 Page 257

[48] Twice earlier, on the great road to Ar, Tup Ladletender had pointed out tarnsmen in flight, presumably messengers. Marlenus of Ar, and other Ubars, commonly employed such couriers.
Slave Girl of Gor Book 11 Page 248

[49] Sometimes special sales, well-publicized, are held, in which as few as fifteen or twenty girls, of great quality or interest, are sold. All Ar, it is said, tries to fill the house upon such occasions. If a Ubara of a conquered city, for example, were to be sold, it would, customarily, be in such a special sale, unless the victorious Ubar, he who had conquered her city and captured her, chose to have her sold, for his amusement, in a common sale and from an unimportant block. Normally, of course, the conquering Ubar would keep such a regal wench, now collared and debased to slavery, in his own pleasure gardens, as a delicious memento of his victory, and as a woman.
Slave Girl of Gor Book 11 Pages 431 - 432

[50] That night we brought the caravan into the palisade keep prepared for Mintar by Pa-Kur, the Master Assassin, who was the Ubar of this vast, scarcely organized, predatory horde.
Tarnsman of Gor Book 1 Page 131

[51] It is near Turia, in the spring, that the Omen Year is completed, when the omens are taken, usually over several days by hundreds of haruspexes, mostly readers of bosk blood and verr livers, to determine if they are favorable for a choosing of a Ubar San, a One Ubar, a Ubar who would be High Ubar, a Ubar of all the Wagons, a Ubar of all the Peoples, one who could lead them as one people.
Nomads of Gor Book 4 Pages 11 - 12

There had not been, I knew, a Ubar San in more than a hundred years. It did not seem likely, either, that one would be elected in the spring. Even in the time I had been with the wagons I had gathered that it was only the implicit truce of the Omen Year which kept these four fierce, warring peoples from lunging at one another's throats, or more exactly put, at one another's bosk. Naturally, as a Koroban, and one with a certain affection for the cities of Gor, particularly those of the north, particularly Ko-ro-ba, Ar, Thentis and Tharna, I was not disappointed at the likelihood that a Ubar San would not be elected. Indeed, I found few who wished a Ubar San to be chosen. The Tuchuks, like the other Wagon Peoples, are intensely independent. Yet, each ten years, the omens are taken.
Nomads of Gor Book 4 Page 56

[52] Politically, Port Kar is a chaos, ruled by several conflicting Ubars, each with his own following, each attempting to terrorize, to govern and tax to the extent of his power. Nominally beneath these Ubars, but in fact much independent of them, is an oligarchy of merchant princes, Captains, as they call themselves, who, hold council, maintain and manage the great arsenal, building and renting ships and fittings, themselves controlling the grain fleet, the oil fleet, the slave fleet, and others.
Raiders of Gor Book 6 Page 104

In the council, in effect, was vested the stability and administration of Port Kar.
Above it, nominally, stood five Ubars, each refusing to recognize the authority of the others, Chung, Eteocles, Nigel, Sullius Maximus and Henrius Sevarius, claiming to be the fifth of his line.
The Ubars were represented on the council, to which they belonged as being themselves Captains, by five empty thrones, sitting before the semicircles of curule chairs on which reposed the captains. Beside each empty throne there was a stool from which a Scribe, speaking in the name of his Ubar, participated in the proceedings of the council. The Ubars themselves remained aloof, seldom showing themselves for fear of assassination.
Raiders of Gor Book 6 Page 126

[53] As rumor has it, Clearchus was a famous brigand of some two centuries ago who decided to legitimize and regularize his brigandage. He proclaimed his area of operations a Ubarate, proclaimed himself its Ubar, and then proceeded to impose taxes and levy tolls. Interestingly enough, in time, several cities accorded this Ubarate diplomatic recognition, generally in return for concessions on the taxes and tolls. Finally a large force of mercenaries, in the hire of the merchant caste, in a campaign that lasted several months, put an end to the spurious reign of Clearchus, driving him from the forest and scattering his men. It is generally conceded, however, that had Clearchus had more men he might have turned out to be the founder of a state.
Players of Gor Book 20 Page 100

[54] "Within the circle of each man's sword," say the codes of the warrior, "therein is each man a Ubar"
Marauders of Gor Book 9 Page 10

[55] Much power I knew could reside within a collar. Have not Ubars succumbed to the smile of a kajira?
Conspirators of Gor Book 31 Page 302
"Some slaves," she said, "have entangled the hearts of Ubars in their meshes."
"Even a Ubar," I said, "may be a fool."
Smugglers of Gor Book 32 Page 179

[56] Surely the sparkling eyes of a free woman, and the hint of lips beneath a veil, had brought more than one general to defeat, more than one Ubar to ruin.
Conspirators of Gor Book 31 Page 502

[57] The pleasure gardens of Ubars and high merchants might house innumerable slaves, even slaves purchased by agents, slaves of whom their masters might not even be aware.
Smugglers of Gor Book 32 Page 470

[58] "A message from Pa-Kur," I said, "for the ears of Talena, his Ubara-to-be."
"I will carry the message," said one of the guards, a large man, his eyes suspicious. He regarded me closely. Obviously, I was not anyone he knew.
"The message is for the Ubara-to-be, and for her alone," I said angrily. "Do you deny admittance to the messenger of Pa-Kur?"
"I do not know you," he growled.
"Give me your name," I demanded, "so that I may report to Pa-Kur who it is that denies his message to his future Ubara.
Tarnsman of Gor Book 1 Pages 182 - 183

Harold looked at me. "Yes," he said, "she had been a Turian girl taken as slave by Kutaituchik - but he cared for her and freed her. She remained with him in the wagons until her death, the Ubara of the Tuchuks."
Nomads of Gor Book 4 Page 339

"This woman," said Kamchak of the Tuchuks, brusquely, his voice stem but almost breaking, "is called Aphris - know her - she is Ubara of the Tuchuks, she is Ubara Sana, of my heart Ubara Sana!"
Nomads of Gor Book 4 Page 340

Raised as she had been, in the sequestered quarters of high-born women in the palace of Tyros in Kasra, I supposed it was perhaps the first time that the lips of a man had touched hers. Doubtless she had expected to receive that kiss standing in the swirling love silks of the Free Companion, beneath golden love lamps, beside the couch of the Ubar of Cos; but it was not in the white, marbled palace of the Ubar of Cos that that kiss was to take place; and it was not to be received as a Ubara from the lips of a Ubar; that kiss was to take place in Port Kar, in the holding of her enemies, under barbaric torchlight, before the table of her master; and she was not to wear the love silks of a Free Companion and Ubara but the brief, wretched garment of a Kettle Slave,
Raiders of Gor Book 6 Page 235

[59] "A Ubar, a great lord, a potentate," said the beast, "does not companion casually or lightly.
. . .
A Ubar might companion a Ubara from another city, a coveted city, one of wealth and power, or companion the daughter of another Ubar, of such a city, such things."
"I see," she said, not pleased.
As I knelt in the background, inconspicuous but at hand, I saw that the Lady Bina was not so much dissuaded of her astonishing ambition, as convinced that its realization might be less easily achieved than hitherto anticipated.
"Occasionally," said the beast, "a Ubar may companion the Ubara of a captured city, forcing companionship however unwelcome, upon her, making of her free spoils, so to speak, thereby, as she is then companioned, entitling himself legally to the wealth of her treasury and the allegiance of her subjects. In such a case she may sit beside him, on a throne, within her fine robes, chained."
"I suppose," said the Lady Bina "he may do this severally."
"No," said the beast, "for one may have but one companion, at one time."
I had no doubt, of course that a Ubar, or, indeed, any person of means, might have several slaves.
"What if a second Ubara is conquered?" asked the Lady Bina.
"You are thinking of companioning?" asked the beast.
"Yes," she said.
"Then the Ubara of less consequence," he said, "will be demoted to bondage, and then kept, or put up for sale, or such."
"But surely," she said, "companioning is not always involved in such matters."
"Certainly not," he said. "The conqueror holds rights to all in virtue of the right of conquest, in virtue of war rights. The usual ensuance in such matters is that the conquered Ubara will be marched naked in the triumph, chained to the stirrup of the victor's tharlarion or kaiila after which she, and the women of her court, similarly paraded, will serve naked at the victory feast, during which they will be enjoyed, and after which, in the morning, they will be lashed and fitted with their collars."
Conspirators of Gor Book 31 Pages 228 - 230

[60] "How could this Talena become Ubara of Ar?" I asked. "I thought she was sworn from the line of Marlenus."
"She can be given legal entitlement to the succession," said a fellow. "I have heard it discussed."
"Not as of the line of Marlenus," I said.
"No," he said. "But one need not be of the line of Marlenus, surely, to rule in Ar."
"Minus Tentius Hinrabius and Cernus, both, ruled in Ar," said a man. "Neither was of his line."
"That is true," I said.
"She is a free citizen," said a man. "Accordingly, she could be given such entitlement."
Mercenaries of Gor Book 21 Page 271

[61] "I have chosen my name," she said. "I call myself 'Ubara'."
"That is not a name," he said. "It is a title."
Kur of Gor Book 28 Page 267

[62] She wore the concealing robes and veils, the full regalia of a Ubara.
Tarnsman of Gor Book 1 Page 184

[63] "What is the crown she wears?" asked the slave.
"A tiara," said Cabot.
"A tiara?"
"That of a Ubara," said Cabot.
Kur of Gor Book 28 Page 415

[64] The pendant had been the medallion of the Ubara of Ar.
Swordsmen of Gor Book 29 Page 526

[65] To be Ubara of Ar was the most glorious thing to which a woman might aspire. It meant that she would be the richest and most powerful woman on Gor, that armies and navies, and tarn cavalries, could move upon her very word, that the taxes of an empire the wealthiest on Gor could be laid at her feet, that the most precious of gems and jewelries might be hers, that she would be the most envied woman on the planet.
Hunters of Gor Book 8 Pages 300 - 301

[66] Had she had true power in Ar, had she been a true Ubara, and not a puppet of the occupation, her word might have created and destroyed fortunes, humbled generals and exalted common armsmen; armies might have been marched at her word, and tarn cavalries launched, wars begun and wars ended, but she had had, for the most part, only the trappings of power, not power itself.
Mariners of Gor Book 30 Page 378

[67] The power of Marlenus, or much of it, lay in the mystique of victory that had never ceased to attend him, acting like a magic spell on his soldiers and the people of his city. Never defeated in combat, Ubar of Ubars, he had boldly refused to relinquish his title after a Valley War some twelve years ago, and his men had refused to withdraw from him, refused to abandon him to the traditional fate of the overambitious Ubar. The soldiers, and the Council of his city, had succumbed to his blandishments, his promises of wealth and power for Ar.
Tarnsman of Gor Book 1 Page 65

[68] "The High Castes in a given city," said my father, "elect an administrator and council for stated terms. In times of crisis, a war chief, or Ubar, is named, who rules without check and by decree until, in his judgment, the crisis is passed."
"In his judgment?" I asked skeptically.
"Normally the office is surrendered after the passing of the crisis," said my father. "It is part of the Warrior's Code."
Tarnsman of Gor Book 1 Page 42

[69] "But what if he does not give up the office" I asked. I had learned enough of Gor by how to know that one could not always count on the Caste Codes being observed.
"Those who do not desire to surrender their power," said my father, "are usually deserted by their men. The offending war chief is simply abandoned, left alone in his palace to be impaled by the citizens of the city he has tried to usurp."
I nodded, imagining a palace, empty save for one man sitting alone on his throne, clad in his robes of state, waiting for the angry people outside the gates to break through and work their wrath.
"But," said my father, "sometimes such a war chief, or Ubar, wins the hearts of his men, and they refuse to withdraw their allegiance."
"What happens then?" I asked.
"He becomes a tyrant," said my father, "and rules until eventually, in one way or another, he is ruthlessly deposed." My father's eyes were hard and seemed fixed in thought. It was not mere political theory he spoke to me. I gathered that he knew of such a man. "Until," he repeated slowly, "he is ruthlessly deposed."
Tarnsman of Gor Book 1 Pages 42 - 43

[70] "Marlenus has fled," said the officer. "The city is in chaos. The Initiates have assumed command and have ordered that Marlenus and all members of his household and family are to be publicly impaled on the walls of Ar."
A moan escaped the girl.
The officer continued; "Marlenus lost the Home Stone, the Luck of Ar. He, with fifty tarnsmen disloyal to the city, seized what they could of the treasury and escaped. In the streets there is civil war, fighting between the factions that would master Ar. There is looting and pillaging. The city is under martial law."
Tarnsman of Gor Book 1 Page 102

when its Home Stone had been stolen and its Ubar forced to flee.
Assassin of Gor Book 5 Page 6

[71] Marlenus, in spite of his heroic role in the victory, submitted himself to the judgment of Ar's Council of High Castes. The sentence of death passed upon him by the usurping government of the Initiates was rescinded, but because his imperialistic ambition was feared, he was exiled from his beloved city. Such a man as Marlenus can never be second in a city, and the men of Ar were determined that he should never again be first. Accordingly, the Ubar, tears in his eyes, was publicly refused bread and salt, and, under penalty of death, was ordered to leave Ar by sundown, never again to come within ten pasangs of the city.
Tarnsman of Gor Book 1 Page 216

[72] When the Ubar is thought to be unfit, it is thought, too, he has dishonored the pledge of sword loyalty. It is not then uncommon for him to die beneath the steel of his outraged men.
Slave Girl of Gor Book 11 Page 114

http://www.thegoreancave.com/civil/ubar.php