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| Tweet Topic Started: Oct 31 2010, 10:28 PM (140 Views) | |
| Julalina | Oct 31 2010, 10:28 PM Post #1 |
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Merchant Code & Tradition "Indeed, secretly among themselves, I have heard, they regard themselves as the highest caste on Gor, though they would not say so for fear of rousing the indignation of other castes. There would be something, of course, to be said for such a claim, for the merchants are often indeed in their way, brave, shrewd, skilled men, making long journeys, venturing their goods, risking caravans, negotiating commercial agreements, among themselves developing and enforcing a body of Merchant Law, the only common legal arrangements existing among the Gorean cities. Merchants also, in effect, arrange and administer the four great fairs that take place each year near the Sardar Mountains. I say "in effect" because the fairs are nominally under the direction of a committee of the Caste of Initiates, which, however, largely contents itself with its ceremonies and sacrifices, and is only too happy to delegate the complex management of those vast, commercial phenomena, the Sardar Fairs, to members of the lowly, much-despised Caste of Merchants, without which, incidentally, the fairs most likely could not exist, certainly not at any rate in their current form." (Nomads of Gor, 84) "Girls such as I [slaves] must expect to be marked,"' she said. "It is In accord with the recommendations of merchant law." (Kajira of Gor) "'You will all have your brands and collars.' I could not speak. 'Such things are prescribed by merchant law,' he said. 'This,' I whispered, frightened, 'is then truly a world such as that of which you spoke, a world on which women such as I are bought and sold as slaves?'" (Dancer of Gor, 62). "Many craftsmen, incidentally, keep such things as formulas for certain kinds of glass and alloys, and manufacturing processes, generally, in cipher. Merchant law has been unsuccessful, as yet, in introducing such things as patents and copyrights on Gor. Such things do exist in municipal law on Gor but the jurisdictions involved are, of course, local." (Magicians of Gor) Tradesmen "It is not unusual, on Gor, incidentally, for the articles sold in a shop to be manufactured on or near the premises. This is often the case with craft products, such as glassware, metalware, particularly gold and silver work, rugs and mats, sandals and jewelry. The tradesman, thus, closely supervises the production, and controls the quality of the articles he markets. There are also, of course, many shops which specialize in the sale of, so to speak, foreign goods. A major difference between Gorean shopping and that on Earth is that on Gor there are few stores of a general nature, handling a large variety of goods. One tends, usually, to go from one shop to another, garnering what one needs from a place which specializes in that sort of product. This is inconvenient, perhaps, in some respects, but at least, one knows that the shopkeeper one visits knows his goods and that the quality of his livelihood is intimately connected with the excellence of his merchandise. The place of general stores is taken largely by bazaars and markets where, quite close to one another, in various booths, sometimes of canvas, one may find a large variety of goods. There are, of course, shopping districts in all Gorean cities, where one may find clusters of shops, often specializing in different items. Sometimes, of course, certain areas specialize in, or are known for, given types of services or products." (Fighting Slave of Gor) Harness-Maker "The "harness makers" on Gor, provide not just harnesses but an entire line of associated products, such as saddles, bridles, reins, hobblings and tethers. Presumably the harness makers on this street would not have dealt in slave harnesses. That product would have been more likely to have been, as it still was, available on the "Street of Brands," a district in which are found many of the houses of slavers, sales barns, sales arenas, holding areas, boarding accommodations, training facilities, and shops dealing with product lines pertinent to slaves, such as collars, cosmetics, jewelry, perfumes, slave garb, chains, binding fiber and disciplinary devices. In such a district one may have a girl’s septum or ears pierced. There are many varieties of slave harness, incidentally, with various purposes, such as discipline, display and security. Many of them are extremely lovely on a woman, and many, by such adjustments as cinching, tightening, and buckling, may be fitted closely and exquisitely to the individual slave." (Magician of Gor) Musician The music of Gor is infused with a "wild, barbaric quality" (Assassin of Gor, 89) produced by a variety of instruments. It seems musicians commonly perform their melodies as a mix of specialized players of their instrument rather than necessarily a band or group which performs together on more than the one occasion. Each musician's status is determined by their instrument. "Among Gorean musicians, incidentally, czehar players have the most prestige; there was only one in this group, I noted, and he was their leader; next follow the flutists and then the players of the kalika; the players of the drums come next; and the farthest fellow down the list is the man who keeps the bag of miscellaneous instruments, playing them and parceling them out to others as needed. Lastly it might be mentioned, thinking it is of some interest, musicians on Gor are never enslaved; they may, of course, be exiled, tortured, slain and such; it is said, perhaps truly, that he who makes music must, like the tarn and the Vosk gull, be free." (Nomads of Gor, page 154) "I have never seen a bowed instrument on Gor; also, I might mention, I have never on Gor seen any written music; I do not know if a notation exists; melodies are passed on from father to son, from master to apprentice." (Nomads of Gor, page 153) If you are of the caste of Musicians or very interested in details surrounding Gorean music, our compendium of music & dance quotes may be of use to you. Caste of Players "In spite of having the respect, even to some degree the adulation, of almost all Goreans, the Players lived poorly. On the Street of Coins they found it difficult even to arrange loans. They were not popular with innkeepers, who would not shelter them unless paid in advance. Many were the nights a master would be found rolled in robes in a Paga tavern, where, for a bit of tarsk meat and a pot of paga, and an evening's free play with customers, he would be permitted to sleep. Many of the Players dreamed of the day they might be nominated for intercity competitions at the Pairs of the Sardar, for a victor in the Sardar Fairs earns enough to keep himself, and well, for years, which he then would devote to the deeper study of the game. There is also some money for the masters in the annotation of games, printed on large boards near the Central Cylinder, in the preparation or editing of scrolls on the game, and in the providing of instruction for those who would improve their Kills. On the whole, however, the Players live extremely poorly. Further, there is a harsh competition among themselves, for positions in certain streets and on certain bridges. The most favorable locations for play are, of course, the higher bridges in the vicinity of the richer cylinders, the most "pensive Paga taverns, and so on. These positions, or territories, are allotted by the outcome of games among the Players themselves." (Assassin of Gor) "The word actually cried was "Kaissa," which is Gorean for "Game." It is a general term, but when used without qualification, it stands for only one game. The man who called out wore a robe of checkered red and yellow square' and the game board, of similar squares, with ten ranks an ten files, giving a hundred squares, hung over his back; slung over his left shoulder, as a warrior wears a sword, was leather bag containing the pieces, twenty to a side, red an yellow, representing Spearmen, Tarnsmen, the Riders of the High Tharlarion, and so on. The object of the game is the capture of the opponent's Home Stone. Capturings of individual pieces and continuations take place much as in chess The affinities of this game with chess are, I am confided more than incidental. I recalled that men from many periods and cultures of Earth had been brought, from time to time to Gor, our Counter-Earth. With them they would hat brought their customs, their skills, their habits, their games which, in time, would presumably have undergone consider able modification. I have suspected that chess, with its fascinating history and development, as played on Earth, may actually have derived from a common ancestor with the Korean game, both of them perhaps tracing their lineage to some long-forgotten game, perhaps the draughts of Egypt or lone primitive board game of India. It might be mentioned that the game, as I shall speak of it, for in Gorean it has no ether designation, is extremely popular on Gor, and even children find among their playthings the pieces of the game; there are numerous clubs and competitions among various castes and cylinders; careful records of important games are kept and studied; lists of competitions and tournaments and their winners are filed in the Cylinder of Documents; there is even in most Gorean libraries a section containing an incredible number of scrolls pertaining to the techniques, tactics and strategy of the game. Almost all civilized Goreans, of whatever caste, play. It is not unusual to find even children of twelve or fourteen years who play with a depth and sophistication, a subtlety and a brilliance, that might be the envy of the chess masters of Earth." (Assassin of Gor) -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Animal Handlers - A large caste category which contains many specific sub-castes, all concerned with the use and care of domestic animals in use upon Gor. Drovers - This caste concerns itself with the care and feeding of the various draft animals in use upon Gor, as well as the task of using wagons drawn by such creatures to ship goods from city to city. Goatkeepers - This caste concerns itself with the care and maintenance of herds of goats and other animals such as the woolly Gorean hurt. Sleen Trainers - Brown/Black : This caste concerns itself with the care, feeding and training of the Gorean Sleen. TarnKeepers - Grey/Green : This caste concerns itself with the care, feeding, and training of the Gorean tarn, the fierce winged saddle-bird of Gor. Vart Trainers - This caste is exclusive to the island Ubarate of Tyros. Members of this caste concern themselves with the care, feeding and training of the Gorean vart, a bat-like creature in use upon Tyros, often trained and used as a weapon. Artesians - This is a very broad caste which includes hundreds of sub-castes. Since any production of hand-made goods, no matter its use, is considered by the typical Gorean to be a work of art, this caste is very broad indeed. Leather Workers - This caste is concerned with the fabrication of various leather goods from animal hides of all types. Harness Makers - They provide not just harnesses but saddles, reins, tethers, hobblings and bridles. Metal Workers - Steel Grey : They are concerned with the production of most metal items fabricated upon Gor. Armorers - They produce the varios shields and helmets in use upon Gor. Blacksmith or farrier - They repair wagon wheels and shoe Gorean draft and riding beasts. Locksmiths - Most Gorean doors have locks, many of which are ornate, they are usually set in the center of the door and control a long bolt. Most are pin-tumbler locks, but some are disk locks, cylinder locks, padlocks, ring locks and combination locks. Most locks on slave collars are cylinder locks, either pin or disk varieties. There are six pins or disks, one for each letter in the word Kajira. It is a capital offense for a locksmith to make an unauthorized copy of a key. Swordmakers - They forge the fine swords and knives of gor. Net Makers is often considered a sub-caste of the caste of Fishermen. Poets - Aqua/Red : They concern themselves with the creation of the poems of Gor. This is probably a subcaste of Artesians because Goreans view the creation of a poem to be no different from the fabrication of any other, physical, work of art. This caste is outlawed in Tharna. Pot Makers - Brown/Green : They make containment vessels. Rope Makers - They produce rope, binding fiber, thread and cordage of all types. Torturers - Black/Red : Not a common Gorean caste, found only among the Wagon People of the far south. One must therefore suppose that those of the Wagon Peoples consider the application of Torture to be an art form. Weavers - They are concerned with the professional production of textiles for the garment industry. Cloth Makers - They produces articles of Gorean clothing. Dressmakers - They produce female garments. Assassin - Black : They are comprised of those who kill strictly for pay. Their existence has long been suppressed, though they still appear occasionally. They refuse to use poison to dispatch their enemies (they consider it the mark of an amateur) and are required by their caste codes to renounce all ties of friendship and family. In addition they claim NO homestone. Bakers - Gold/White : Another very broad caste, which consists of hundreds of sub-castes. Generally, those who are members of this caste are those who prepare sa-tarna, or vegetarian food, in any of a hundred thousand forms. Bleachers - Only mentioned in a group no description given. Brewers - This caste concerns itself with the production of most grain based Gorean alcohol. Butchers - This caste, in conjunction with the caste of Bakers, is responsible for maintaining the majority of the Gorean industries involved with food service. This caste and its many sub-castes concern themselves with the acquisition and preparation of sa-tassna, all forms of edible Gorean meat. Charcoal Makers - Black/Grey : concerns itself with the production of charcoal for use in Gorean forges and ovens. Cosmetician - Free women rarely wear cosmetics, but, in Ar many free women do commonly use them. Cosmetics are usually regarded as for slaves only. Many cosmeticians treat their free women clients almost like slaves. There are one hundred and eleven basic shades of slave lipstick and there are even flavored lipsticks. Toenails and fingernails are rarely painted though slaves at night may have painted nails. Dyers - A caste that may be under the Weavers caste, they dye fabrics. Entertainers - A large caste category which contains many specific sub-castes, all concerned with providing entertainment to other members of Gorean society. Magicians - They wear long robes and plumed turbans, the most famous magicians come from Anango. Musicians - Aqua/Red : Often working in conjunction with the caste of Singers, this caste concerns itself with providing and performing instrumental musical works, as well as accompaniment for those of the caste of Singers. Singers - Aqua/Red : They concern themselves with the performance of verbal entertainment set to music. Hairdresser - Upswept hairdos are reserved for free women or high slaves as it is a mark of status. Free women sometimes even buy wigs or falls, though they desire only the hair of other free women. Usually slave hair is worn long and loose, or confined in some simple way as with a ribbon or wooden fillet. They have little need for a hair dresser. Many masters even cut their own girls' hair. Merchants - Gold/White : They engage in the sale and trade of merchandise for a profit. There are almost as many sub-castes of the Merchants caste as there are products to be sold. Bounty creditor - These individuals buy bills at a discount from merchants and then collect the face value of the bills. They are essentially debt collectors and are very tenacious in their work. Although they are not identified as a specific caste they would be a subcaste of the Merchants. Milk Vendors - The cities have vendors of bosk milk, a milk man who makes his rounds with a two-wheeled cart and ringing a bell. It is unknown if they are an actual Caste or sub-caste. Money Lenders - They engage in the trade and speculation of money for a profit, and the only product they handle is money. They are the bankers of Gor. Slavers - Blue/Yellow : They deal with the buying and selling of human merchandise Spice Merchants - They deal in the sale and trading of spices. Municipal Servants - Grey : They are concerned with providing various public services to a specific city or village. Guardsman - They have no specific color, as they were the color of the city or village they work in. The guardsmen of Ar, for instance, wear Red and Gold , while those of Cos traditionally wear Blue, and Turian guardsmen wear Yellow. They are responsible for patrolling the city or village streets, arresting those that disobey the laws and assuring the general well being of the citizens. Lamp Lighter - Striped Green/White/ Red : This caste concerns itself with lighting the tharlarion oil lamps used to provide illumination to the city streets. Waste Collectors - This caste concerns itself with the management of collecting the assorted garbage and waste by-products stored in local waste bins and, in conjunction with the caste of Drovers, seeing that it is properly disposed of in carnariums (wastepits) located beyond the city limits. Oilmakers - This caste concerns itself with the production of various types of oil, used for purposes of lubrication and as a burnable fuel source. Peasants - Brown : lowest and most common on Gor, which is concerned with the maintenance, planting and harvesting of the vast lands surrounding most cities which have been divided into plots and set aside for agricultural use. These are the free farmers of Gor; although a Low caste they refer to themselves as "the Ox on Which the Home Stone Rests", due to their vital role in the production of raw foodstuffs for Gorean society. They have rather strict caste codes, and are considered the masters of several forms of distinctive peasant weaponry, including the quarterstaff and the Great Bow, or "Peasant Bow." Perfumers - This caste concerns itself with the production of various types of scented perfumes, used for purposes of esthetic appeal. Often works in conjunction with the caste of Oil Makers to produce scented oils and such. Also works with the caste of Charcoal Makers and the caste of Spice Merchants to create incense. Players - Checkered Red/Yellow : They have dedicated their lives to the furtherance of the Gorean game of Kaissa. A rare caste but found and supported in almost any city. Members of this caste are granted blanket immunity to prosecution and slavery, and are highly regarded based upon there level of skill. They wear distinctive hooded robes in their caste color Rence Growers - A slightly higher caste than the caste of Peasants, this is the caste of those who dwell in the various marshes and swamps of Gor, and who harvest Rence (a Gorean plant similar to Earth rice). They reside on great floating man-made islands amidst the marshes and are highly territorialand secretive. Sailors - Blue/Gold : Contains subcastes with their own specialties. Bargemen - They propel and steer the greatriver barges upon the freshwater waterways of Gor. Fisherman - They are concerned with harvesting the vast variety of Gorean aquatic life for food. Castes of River Fishermen Thassa Fishermen Net Makers - an artisan caste, is often considered a sub-caste of the caste of Fishermen. Thieves - This caste is comprised of those who make their living by stealing, robbery, picking pockets, etc.; the caste of Thieves is exclusive to the city of Port Kar. They have no recognizable castecolors, but can be indentified by a tiny, three-pronged black tattoo on their cheekbone, which is their caste marking. Vintners - White and Green (green being in the representation of leaves) concern itself the professional production of most fruit based Gorean alcohol. Woodsman - Brown/Black : concerned with protecting and managing the vast resources of various Gorean forests claimed by a particular city or village. They are experts in various forms of woodcrafts and are forest hunters, forest marshals, and forest trackers of Gor. Wood Carriers - They concern themselves with the harvesting and transportation of the trees of the Gorean forests and tree farms. They wear a short, tattered sleeveless robe with a leather back and shoulders to protect their backs from their loads |
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4:39 AM Jul 11