People of Gor
((A Discussion by Joy))
Greetings again and thank Y/You for be here
for a discussion on the inhabitants of Gor
First a Disclaimer:
Joy like to say that W/we have to admit, that W/we no longer on earth
and W/we all gave a pledge to the tribe ‘to honor Gor’
When looking to SL, i do not see it as a ‘Game’, as behind every avatar is a real living person. But rather see it as a film in the making.
A film-set made, and heavy payed by, the sim owners, and a basic film script given to Y/you by them in form of the books of John Norman and rules of the sim. But Y/you are the actor, the actor that makes the film by the thing W/we call RP.
So in a way, Y/you have to know the basic film script. Otherwise see it, as in the Arena at the race in historical Rome, Ben Hur is RP his fight in his 4 horse carriage and Y/you enter the Arena in a 1930 Gangster outfit and start to shoot Y/your Tommy-Gun.
And that is the reason O/our En ask Joy to do this discussions, not to change the way W/we live here, but to not spoil unwillingly other persons RP, there AND when come to U/us.
Ok, this time we going up North of the map, or better in Gorian, W/we going VAR, as VAR W/we can.
W/we will enter the world of freezing ice and the land of the Red Hunters
“Ax Glacier was far to the north, a glacier spilling between two mountains of stone, taking in it’s path to the sea, spreading, the form of the ax. The men of the country of Ax Glacier fish for whales and hunt snow sleen. They cannot farm that far to the north.
its the world of the Polar sea, Lar Plain and the Axe Glacier.
“Four days after leaving the northern edge of Ax Glacier, we climbed to the height of the pass of Tancred, the mountains of the Hrimgar flanking us on either side. Below the height, the pass sloping downward, we could see the tundra of the polar plain. It is thousands of pasangs in width, and hundreds in depth; it extends, beyond horizons we could see, to the southern edge of the northern, or polar, sea.”
“Beasts of Gor” page 192
“Many people do not understand the nature of the polar north. For one thing, it is very dry. Less snow falls there generally than falls in lower latitudes. Snow that does fall, of course, is less likely to melt. Most of the land is tundra, a cool, generally level or slightly wavy, treeless plain.
[12:21] Felicity Coronet: There was once a settlement of Tancred Landing. If it still exists would be interesting to visit
——————————————————————————–
In the summer this tundra, covered with mosses, shrubs and lichens, because of the melted surface ice and the permafrost beneath, preventing complete drainage, is soft and spongy.
In the winter, of course, and in the early spring and late fall, desolate, bleak and frozen, wind-swept, it presents the aspect of a barren alien landscape. At such times the red hunters will dwell by the sea, in the spring and fall by its shores, and, in the winter, going out on the ice itself.”
“Beasts of Gor” page 196
So this is the world they live in, The Red Hunters
“With Imnak’s help we would cross Ax Glacier and find the Innuit, as they called themselves, a word which, in their own tongue, means “the People.”
“Beasts of Gor” page 188
“I had not really thought of the red hunter as an Indian, but I supposed this was true. The men of the polar basin are usually referred to as the red hunters in Gorean. Certainly they were culturally distinct from the red savages, tarn riders, of the countries north and east of the Thentis mountains, who maintained a feudal nobility over scattered agricultural communities of white slaves.
Those individuals, more than the red hunters, I thought of as Indians. Yet, doubtless the red hunters, too, if one were to be strict about such matters, were Indian. On the other hand the children of the red hunters are born with a blue spot at the base of the spine and those of the red savages, or red tarn riders, are not.
There is, thus, some sort of racial dis affinity between them. There are also serological differences. Race, incidentally, is not. a serious matter generally for Goreans, perhaps because of the inter-mixtures of people.
“Savages of Gor” page 155/6
“The Innuit do not have “war generals.” War, in its full sense, is unknown to them. They live generally in scattered, isolated communities. It is as though two families lived separated in a vast remote area.
There would be little point and little likelihood to their having a war. In the north one needs friends, not enemies. In good years, when the weather is favorable, there tends to be enough sleen and tabuk, with careful hunting, to meet their needs.
One community is not likely to be much better or worse of than another. There is little loot to be acquired. What one needs one can generally hunt or make for oneself. There is little point in stealing from someone what one can as simply acquire for oneself. Within given groups, incidentally, theft is rare.
The smallness of the groups provides a powerful social control. If one were to steal something where would one hide or sell it? Besides, if one wished something someone else owned and let this be known, the owner would quite possibly give it to you, expecting, of course, to receive as valuable a gift in return.
Borrowing, too, is prevalent among the red hunters. The loan of furs, tools and women is common.”
“Beasts of Gor” page 188
“Violence, of course, is not unknown among the Innuit. They are men.
Aside, however, from considerations such as the fewness, comparatively, of their numbers, and their geographical separation, and the pointlessness of an economics of war in their environment, the Innuit seem, also, culturally, or perhaps even genetically, disposed in ways which do not incline one to organized, systematic group violence.
For example, they seem generally to be a kindly, genial folk. Hostility seems foreign to them. Strangers are welcomed. Hospitality is generous, honest, open-hearted and sincere. Some animals, doubtless, have better dispositions than others.
The Innuit, on the whole, seem to be happy, pleasant fellows.’Perhaps that is why they live where they do. They have been unable, or unwilling, to compete with more aggressive groups. Their gentleness has resulted, it seems, in their being driven to the world’s end. Where no others have desired to live the Innuit, sociable and loving, have found their bleak refuge.
Imnak’s whip cracked down across the bare back of Thimble, the blond, who had been Barbara Benson, and she cried out and wept, “I hurry, Master!” She busied herself with loading the sled. Thistle, the dark-haired girl, who had once been the rich Audrey Brewster, hurried, too, lest it would be her own back which next would feel the lash.
The red hunters, though a genial folk, keep their animals under a firm discipline.”
“Beasts of Gor” page 188/9
“Though they are reticent to speak their own names, have little reservation about speaking the names of others. This makes sense, as it is not their name, and it is not as if, in their speaking it, the name might somehow escape them.
This is also fortunate, It is sometimes difficult, if not impossible, to get one of these fellows to tell you his own name. Often one man will tell you the name of his friend, and his friend will tell you his name. This way you learn the name of both, but from neither himself.
The names of the red Hunters incidentally have meaning, but, generally, I content myself with reporting the name in their own language. ‘Imnak,’ for example, means “Steep Mountain”; ‘Poalu’ means “Mitten”; ‘Kadluk’ means “Thunder”.
I have spoken of ‘Thimble” and ‘Thistle.” More strictly, their names were ‘Pudjortok’ and ‘Kakidlamerk’. However, since these names, respectively, would be ‘Thimble’ and ‘Thistle’, and Imnak often referred to them in Gorean as ‘Thimble” and ‘Thistle”
I have felt it would be acceptable to use those latter expressions, they being simpler from the point of view of one who does not natively speak the tongue of the People, or Innuit.”
“Beasts of Gor” page 194
“I did know the red hunters were extremely permissive with their children, even among Goreans. They very seldom scolded them and would almost never strike a child. They protected them as they could. Soon enough the children would learn. Until that time let them be children.”
“Beasts of Gor” page 266
“The red hunters are generally a kind, peaceable folk, except with animals. Two sorts of beasts are kept in domestication in the north; the first sort of beast is the snow sleen; the second is the white-skinned woman.
“Ho,” said the red hunter, and strode from the platform. The two beasts he had purchased hurried after him.
“Theirs will be a hard slavery,” I said to the slaver’s man.
“They will learn to pull a sled under the whip,” he said.
“Yes,” I said. Such women were used as draft animals. But they would serve, too, as slave girls do, many other purposes.
“Wait until the red women get hold of them,” laughed the slaver’s man.
“They may kill them,” I said.
“They have one ‘chance for life,” he said, “to obey with total perfection.”
“Beasts of Gor” page 76
that was it for today, and sure they will never see Joy there, brrrrrrr
In Depth, Red Savages
South of the Axe Glacier with there Red Hunters, and before the Northern Forests there is a land called Torvaldsland
The east side, or RIM, is not known of any inhabitants. The west side, or KLIM has some city’s. Also along the coastline there are islands and it still called the Arctic sea, but below the islands its the Thassa.
Torvaldlander do not have homestones or castes. All man are worrier. And proud to not waste time at schools. Handling the Axe is the highest goal. Need two strikes with the axe to kill one, makes one already the laughing stock.
So no scribes, but story tellers are info about the past, present and future. The settlements are of stone and wood build, with most no windows. Every settlement has a big long house, the Long House, that is a place to gather, to talk, take decisions, and drink and storytelling.
In most villages the free and slaves have the same clothing outside the home as of the cold weather, inside a bond may be naked if owner wish, but most are garbed in a kirtle of thin, white wool that is split to the belly.
Single Free women do braid there hair, claimed Free women are to wear it up, loose hair is for bonds. Swept to the side, tucked behind ears etc is still loose.
Unescorted Free women from the South or from non allied Northern villages who arrive alone will be captured and collared.
—–>>
About Being a Torvaldslander
I. TORVALDSLANDER CULTURE
It is believed that while the culture of Torvaldsland as described in “Marauders of Gor” by John Norman reflects its Norse roots from Earth, it has evolved as a distinctly Gorean construct ultimately defined by the central tenets of Gorean worldview.
Torvies aren’t Vikings in other words, they are Goreans. While they have a special outlook on life, religion and culture due to their position in Gor, they are none the less Gorean than a man of Ar, or of the Tahari. A holistic view of Gor should be taken into consideration of Torvaldsland rp and interaction, with consideration to the particulars and practical aspects of life north.
“Worldview” is the basic way of interpreting things and events that pervades a culture so thoroughly that it is a culture’s concept of reality — what is good, what is important, what is sacred, what is real.
In other words, Goreans do things with a certain view of their world and their lifestyle. These are defined below.
What defines Torvaldslander culture:
1. Adherence to Gorean worldview first and foremost, as this defined what of its Earth-based Nordic influences were adopted and how. Torvaldsland is a culture of the Gorean worldview.
They are Goreans first!
2. Embrace of the male Gods of our fathers, specifically Odin and Thor, and the coming of Ragnarok. Torvaldslander religion is not a wholesale adoption of the Nordic Earth pantheon, but is rather the influence of this pantheon manifested within the Gorean worldview.
As such, they do NOT recognize female deities or other elements of this influence that runs counter to the Gorean worldview. (( —>Joy: as there are at least one exception))
2.a a short RL thing. Odin and Thor are goods. But in the story’s there are great worriers. One and the oldest is the fighter Torval. There Y/you have the lands name Norman uses from RL. Also one big boss was called Bluetooth. And maybe now some minds go questioning: that name….. do ring a bell? And it is indeed a bell.
The name bluetooth comes from a Danish Viking leader, Harald I of Denmark, also called Harald Blauwtand . Because he made connections between Scandinavia and mainland Europe, he was thought of when naming the communication protocol.
3. Honoring the heritage of our fathers. Torvaldslanders are fiercely proud of their heritage. Heritage is the values, traditions and customs each Torvaldslander has inherited as a birthright and keep as a matter of honor. This includes lifestyle and religion, aesthetics, mores, ethics and values. Heritage structures and guides Torvaldslanders’ lives.
Some values that define the Torvaldslander heritage include:
– courage
– simplicity and directness
– wisdom as opposed to scholarship
– self-control and discipline
– justice above law
– fidelity, the keeping oaths and promises
– self reliance
– perseverance
4. Torvaldsland law.
-Holmgang: Ritual challenge to settle matters among men. The challenge is made in public, normally in the hall or among others, including the jarl of the hold. Men then will be escorted to the ring with the hazel posts and furs of verr below. They will then at the call by the highest ranking man fight. The fallen loses, the winner can claim wergeld of no more than 3 ravens silver unless agreed to beforehand. No grudges are held after Holmgang.
-Boasting and Oath taking: Speaking before forums of one’s intent
-Wergeld: Payment for wrongs
-The War Arrow: Clans unite and work together in times of need. People set aside smaller troubles for the good of all.
-The Thing and the Althing: A chance for all men to voice thoughts to others in the hold or in the whole of Torvaldsland, as is the case of the Althing.
—–>>
Some of the city’s:
Gudvangen:
(This is also a RL Viking museum village in Norway)
http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Pemberly%20Forest/126/208/22
This is Gor/Torvaldsland/Norse/Viking land
Under the Axe glacier at the end of the fjord ..way up north, you find the land protected by Frøya the Goddess. The winter comes early and leave late. People of the village Gudvangen are hardworking and totally self-sufficient
Kuriis have been seen there …
They not the black fur Kuriis that, btw got Joy to Gor, but ‘lesser’ white fur ones.
Torhall:
http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Thorhall/40/92/23
Houses from stone and wood, Viking like Gorean settlement
https://thorhallsecondlife.wordpress.com/ for website