The Tarn

A Regal Beast

The tarn is a large, crested bird, similar in looks of that of both a hawk and jay of Earth, although hundreds of times larger. These birds are raised, bred for both colors of plumage, as well as intelligence and strength, and trained to be ridden; it is one of the most common mounts found on Gor. Depending upon the variety of tarn, they are used among the military, in the hauling of goods, and in racing. A powerful bird, the musculature developed for quick take-offs from its perch, rather than a running start as most large birds, the tarn is known amongst its riders, known as tarnsmen, as Brothers of the Wind due most likely to the kindred bond man and beast develop. The tarn is neither a pet, nor a beast to contend with if you are not a tarnsman, replete with the necessary implement to remain in control of your mount, the tarn-goad.

With regards to females and tarns, it is a statement of fact many times over in the books that females tend to be quite frightened of them. In fact, you will never read of females riding a tarn, except perhaps tied across the saddle if she were a slave, or in a tarn basket if she were a free woman. Perhaps another reason that there are no women tarn riders is that this sort of thing is considered for men only on Gor. Seems very unladylike to me, too, to find a woman on the tarn dressed as a man. A man of Gor would never allow such either. Another hint at the fact women are not riders of tarns as the men, is the fact the reference of "Brothers of the Wind." See the section on tarnsmen further down.

My first impression was that of a rush of wind and a great snapping sound, as if a giant might be snapping an enormous towel or scarf; then I was cowering, awe-stricken, in a great winged shadow, and an immense tarn, his talons extended like gigantic steel hooks, his wings sputtering fiercely in the air, hung above me, motionless except for the beating of his wings. "Stand clear of the wings," shouted the Older Tarl.
       I needed no urging. I darted from under the bird. One of those wings would hurl me yards from the top of the cylinder. The tarn dropped to the roof of the cylinder and regarded us with his bright black eyes. Though the tarn, like most birds, is surprisingly light for its size, this primarily having to do with the hollowness of the bones, it is an extremely powerful bird, powerful even beyond what one would expect from such a monster. Whereas large Earth birds, such as the eagle, must, when taking flights from the ground, begin with a running start, the tarn, with its incredible musculature, aided undoubtedly by the somewhat lighter gravity of Gor, can with a spring and a sudden flurry of its giant wings, lift both himself and his rider into the air. In Gorean, these birds are sometimes spoken of as Brothers of the Wind.
       The plumage of tarns is various, and they are bred for their colors as well as their strength and intelligence. Black tarns are used for night raids, white tarns in winter campaigns, and multicolored, resplendent tarns are bred for warriors who wish to ride proudly, regardless of the lack of camouflage. The most common tarn, however, is greenish brown. Disregarding the disproportion in size, the Earth bird which the tarn most closely resembles is the hawk, with the exception that it has a crest somewhat of the nature of a jay's.
       Tarns, who are vicious things, are seldom more than half tamed and, like their diminutive counterparts the hawks, are carnivorous. It is not unknown for a tarn to attack and devour his own rider. They fear nothing but the tarn-goad. They are trained by men of the Caste of Tarn Keepers to respond to it while still young, when they can be fastened by wires to the training perches. Whenever a young bird soars away or refuses obedience in some fashion, he is dragged back to the perch and beaten with the tarn-goad. Rings, comparable to those which are fastened on the legs of the young birds, are worn by the adult birds to reinforce the memory of the hobbling wire and the tarn-goad. Later, of course, the adult birds are not fastened, but the conditioning given them in their youth usually holds except when they become abnormally disturbed or have not been able to obtain food. The tarn is one of the two most common mounts of a Gorean warrior; the other is the high tharlarion, a species of saddle-lizard, used mostly by clans who have never mastered tarns. — Tarnsman of Gor, pages 51-52.

Wild Tarns

Wild tarns are especially dangerous, for they have no fear of anything, and never tasted the sting of a goad. Wild tarns would be found in mountainous regions, known also as the Mountain Tarn, where they have their aeries, or nests, strategically located away from other predators. The wild tarn will bring its prey back to its nest to tear apart and devour.

"Perhaps it was my wild, almost demented laughter that attracted the tarn. I saw him coming, making his silent strike with the sun at his back, his talons extended like hooks. Savagely those vast talons struck and closed on my body, forcing the frame for an instant beneath the water, then the tarn was beating the air angrily with its wings, struggling to lift his prey, and suddenly both myself and the heavy frame were pulled free from the water. The sudden weight of the frame swinging against my roped wrists and ankles, while the talons of the bird gripped my body, almost tore me apart. Then, mercifully, the ropes, not meant to sustain the weight of the heavy frame, broke loose, and the tarn triumphantly climbed skyward, still clutching me in his wild talons. I would have a few moments more of life, the same brief reprieve nature grants the mouse carried by the hawk to its nest; then on some barren crag my body would be torn to pieces by the beast whose prey I was. The tarn, a brown tarn with a black crest like most wild tarns, streaked for that vague, distant smudge I knew marked the escarpments of some mountain wilderness." — Tarnsman of Gor, page 140.

"I had no desire to die eventually of starvation in the lonely aerie of my tarn." — Tarnsman of Gor, page 145.

"Then the bird threw back its head and opened its wings, and, eyes gleaming, as though among the crags of the Thentis Range or the Voltai, uttered the challenge scream of the Mountain Tarn, shrill, wild, defiant, piercing." — Assassin of Gor, page 363.

Tarns in Battle

Tarns provide many uses, as previously discussed, however, the major and most highly prized usage of tarns is in times of war and in raids. The war tarn is the largest breed of tarn, and a fierce and able fighter. Its talons steel-shod, not only as a means to protect the talons, but too, as a display of pride and dressage. Due to the use of tarns in battles, cities, especially those consisting towers, such as Ar and Ko-Ro-Ba, use a sort of netting of wire, called tarn wire, to prevent enemy tarn from landing.

"Ripping savagely with his steel-shod talons, slashing with his scimitarlike beak, my sable war tarn in a matter of seconds left the attacking tarn a shuddering heap of feathers. With one of the great steel-shod talons on the body of his fallen foe, my tarn emitted the challenge scream of his kind." — Tarnsman of Gor, page 199.

"Ar, beleaguered and dauntless, was a magnificent sight. Its splendid, defiant shimmering cylinders loomed proudly behind the snowy marble ramparts, its double walls — the first three hundred feet high; the second, separated from the first by twenty yards, four hundred feet high — walls wide enough to drive six tharlarion wagons abreast on their summits. Every fifty yards along the walls rose towers, jutting forth so as to expose any attempt at scaling to the fire from their numerous archer ports. Across the city, from the walls to the cylinders, I could occasionally see the slight flash of sunlight on the swaying tarn wires, literally hundreds of thousands of slender, almost invisible wires stretched in a protective net across the city. Dropping the tarn through such a maze of wire would be an almost impossible task. The wings of a striking tarn would be cut from its body by such wires." — Tarnsman of Gor, pages 162-163.

I blew a note on the whistle, and it was shrill and different, of a new pitch from that of the Older Tarl. Almost immediately from somewhere, perhaps from a ledge out of sight, rose a fantastic object, another giant tarn, even larger than the first, a glossy sable tarn which circled the cylinder once and then wheeled towards me, landing a few feet away, his talons striking on the roof with a sound like hurled gauntlets. His talons were shod with steel — a war tarn. He raised his curved beak to the sky and screamed, lifting and shaking his wings. His enormous head turned towards me, and his round, wicked eyes blazed in my direction. The next thing I knew his beak was open; I caught a brief sight of his thin, sharp tongue, as long as a man's arm, darting out and back, and then, snapping at me, he lunged forward, striking at me with that monstrous beak, and I heard the Older Tarl cry out in horror, "The goad! the goad!" — Tarnsman of Gor, page 53.

The Challenge Scream

The scream of a tarn, that of a challenge between one war tarn to another is said to cause even the fiercest of warriors to shiver.

"My own tarn, on its platform before the fourth perch, was unhooded. The crowd cried out, as it always did, at the sight of that monstrous head, the wicked beak, that sable, crackling crest, the round, black gleaming eyes. An attendant for the Steels unlocked the hobble from the fight leg of the bird and leaped aside. The steel-shod talons of the war tarn tore for a moment at the heavy beams of the platform on which it stood, furrowing it. Then the bird threw back its head and opened its wings, and, eyes gleaming, as though among the crags of the Thentis Range or the Voltai, uttered the challenge scream of the Mountain Tarn, shrill, wild, defiant, piercing. I think there were none in that vast stadium who did not for the moment, even in the sun of summer, feel a swift chill, suddenly fearing themselves endangered, suddenly, feeling themselves unwitting intruders, trespassers, wandered by accident, unwilling, into the domain of that majestic carnivore, my black tarn, my Ubar of the Skies." — Assassin of Gor, page 363.

"I whipped out the Tuchuk bow and, in the instant, found myself wheeling and fighting in the midst of more than a dozen tarnsmen, while many others, wheeling about, attempted to press in upon me. Ubar of the Skies suddenly uttered a scream that terrified even me, raising the hair on my neck and arms; it was not simply the challenge scream of his kind; it was a scream of pleasure, of horrifying eagerness, of the tarn's lust for blood and war, steel-shod talons grasping, screaming, beak tearing, Ubar of the Skies, his black eyes blazing with delight, hurled himself on odds that pleased him, odds which even he, that majestic carnivore, could accept as worthy." — Assassin of Gor, page 372.

"Near the railing of the front tier, I stopped. I was now some forty yards from the birds. I stood still. Then, as though searching for me in those multitudes, that turbulence of faces and cloth, of sound, of cries, I saw the gleaming eyes of the tarn cease their scanning and fasten upon me. The wicked, black eyes, round and blazing with light, did not leave me. The crest on its head seemed to lift and each muscle and fiber in that great body seemed filled with blood and life. The vast, long black wings, broad and vast, broad and mighty, opened and struck against the air, hurling a storm of dust and sand on all sides, almost tumbling the small, hooded Tarn Keeper from the low wagon. Then the tarn threw back its head and once more screamed, wild, eerie, fierce, savage, a cry that might have struck terror into the heart of a larl, but I did not fear it. I saw the talons of the tarn were shod with steel. It was, of course, a war tarn." — Assassin of Gor, pages 221-222.

Weaponry and the Tarnsman

The usual weaponry of the tarnsmen in calvaries is pretty much every basic weapon used amongst the Warrior. This would include sword and shield, spears, the longbow and the crossbow. The Red Savages of the Barrens use what they term the tarn lance. The only weapon not found among the tarn cavalries is that of the small bow. It is conjectured that perhaps warriors felt the small bow was not worthy of their knowledge. (Note: This section will be updated periodically.)

"I mounted my tarn, that fierce, black magnificent bird. My shield and spear were secured by saddle straps; my sword was slung over my shoulder. On each side of the saddle hung a missile weapon, a crossbow with a quiver of a dozen quarrels, or bolts, on the left, a longbow with a quiver of thirty arrows on the right. The saddle pack contained the light gear carried by raiding tarnsmen — in particular, rations, a compass, maps, binding fiber, and extra bowstrings." — Tarnsman of Gor, page 64.

"An attendant, from beneath his cloak, threw to the saddle the tiny, swift bow of Tuchuks, the narrow, rectangular quiver, with its forty arrows. Not hurrying I strung the bow. It is small, double-curved, about four feet in length, built up of layers of bosk horn, bound and reinforced with metal and leather; it is banded with metal at seven points, including the grip, metal obtained from Turia in half-inch rolled strips; the leather is applied diagonally, in two-inch strips, except that, horizontally, it covers the entire grip; the bow lacks the range of both the longbow and the crossbow, but, at close range, firing rapidly, it can be a devastating weapon; its small size, like the crossbow, permits it to clear the saddle, shifting from the left to the right, or to the rear, with equal ease, this providing an advantage lacked by the more powerful but larger longbow; but, like the longbow, and unlike the crossbow, which requires strength and time to reset, it is capable of a considerable volume of fire; a Tuchuk warrior can, in swirling , from the saddle of the running kaiila, accurately fire arrows, drawn to the point, in half an Ehn. — Assassin of Gor, page 365.
       "The small bow, interestingly, has never been used among tarnsmen; perhaps this is because the kaiila is almost unknown above the equator, and the lesson of kaiilaback has not been much available to them; perhaps it is of tradition, which weighs heavily in Gorean life, even in military affairs for example, the phalanx was abandoned only after more than a century of attempts to preserve and improve it; or perhaps the reason is that range is commonly more important to tarnsmen in flight than maneuverability, of the bow. I suspect, however, that the truest reason is that tarnsmen, never having learned respect for the small bow, tend to despise such a weapon, regarding it as unworthy a Warrior's hand, as being too puny and ineffective to win the approval of a true Gorean fighting man. Some of the riders of the Steels, I recalled, seeing it among the belongings of Gladius of Cos, had jested with me about it, asking if it were a toy, or perhaps a training bow for a child; these men, of course, had never, on kaiilaback, and it is just as well for them, met Tuchuks. It seemed to me that combat on kaiilaback, and combat on tarnback, had much in common; I suspected that the small bow, though it had never been proven in battle on tarnback, might prove that it had worth in the Gorean skies as well as on the dusty, southern plains; I had further, in many nights of training with my tarn, taught it to respond to a variety of voice commands, thus freeing my hands for the use of weapons. Commonly, the tarn responds only to one voice command, that of "Tabuk," which tends, roughly, to mean "Hunt and feed"; further, I would have liked to use the Tuchuk tem-wood thrusting lance from the saddle of a tarn. The tarnsman commonly carries, strapped to the saddle, a Gorean spear, a fearsome weapon, but primarily a missile weapon, and one more adopted to infantry. The tarnsmen, of course, centuries before, had been developed from land forces; it had always seemed to me that the tarn cavalries of Gor might be considerably improved by a judicious alteration of weapons and training practices; however, I had never had a command of tarnsmen of my own, and my ideas were of little interest, even to the tarnsmen of Ko-ro-ba, my city." — Assassin of Gor, pages 365-366.

Famous Tarns

 

Ubar of the Skies
The most well-known war tarn, at least to the readers, was the tarn belonging to Tarl Cabot, which he called "Ubar of the Skies." A sable colored tarn, Ubar of the Skies was considered a rarity amongst tarns, as his loyalty to his rider was proven time and again. The bird made a poor judgment, however, eventually carrying off the barbarian girl at her command so that she would remain on Gor and not return to Earth. For this error, Tarl chased the tarn off, and sent him returning to the Voltai.

"The tarn was brought into the open. He gleamed with health and energy. Still, the days in the tarn cot, gigantic though it was, must have been confining for that Ubar of the Skies, my tarn, and I knew he would relish flight, the chance to pit his wings once again against the fierce winds of Gor." — Tarnsman of Gor, page 190.

"Now that is a bird!" cried Ho-Sorl , as the low, wheeled platforms were being drawn on the track.
       I heard several in the crowd cry out in amazement. I looked down to the track, and could not speak. I sat frozen on the tier. I could not breathe. Throughout the stands, startling those multitudes, unsettling the other birds being drawn by the homed tharlarion on the low carts, there was heard the sudden shrill, ringing challenge scream of a tarn, unhooded, a giant tarn, black, a wild mountain cry of one of Gor's fiercest, most beautiful predators, that might have been heard in the sharp crags of the Mountains of Thentis, famed for its tarn flocks, or even among the red peaks of the lofty, magnificent Voltai itself, or perhaps in battle far above the swirling land below as tarnsmen met in duels to the death.
       "It is not even a racing tarn," said a man nearby. I now stood on my feet, stupefied, staring down at the wagons, the birds being brought to the perches.
       "They tell me," said Relius, "that the bird is from the city of Ko-ro-ba." — Assassin of Gor, pages 220-221.
       I heard Relius behind me. "Take this," he said. He pushed something into my hand, something like a folded cloth of leather. I scarcely noticed. Then he was left on the stairs, and I was descending again, alone. Near the railing of the front tier, I stopped. I was now some forty yards from the birds. I stood still. Then, as though searching for me in those multitudes, that turbulence of faces and cloth, of sound, of cries, I saw the gleaming eyes of the tarn cease their scanning and fasten upon me. The wicked, black eyes, round and blazing with light, did not leave me. The crest on its head seemed to lift and each muscle and fiber in that great body seemed filled with blood and life. The vast, long black wings, broad and vast, broad and mighty, opened and struck against the air, hurling a storm of dust and sand on all sides, almost tumbling the small, hooded Tarn Keeper from the low wagon. Then the tarn threw back its head and once more screamed, wild, eerie, fierce, savage, a cry that might have struck terror into the heart of a larl, but I did not fear it. I saw the talons of the tarn were shod with steel. It was, of course, a war tarn. I looked down at the wad of leather in my hand. I opened it, and drew on the hood concealing my features. I leaped over the rail and strode to the bird.
       "Greetings, Mip," said I, mounting to the platform, seeing the small Tarn Keeper.
       "You are Gladius of Cos," said he.
       I nodded. "What is the meaning of this?" I asked.
       "You ride for the Steels," said he.
       I reached up and touched the fierce, curved beak of that mighty bird. And then I held it, and pressed my cheek to its fierce surface. The tarn, that predator, gently lowered its head, and I put my head against its head, below its round, gleaming right eye, and, within the leather hood, unseen, I wept. "It has been long, Ubar of the Skies," I said. "It has been long." — Assassin of Gor, pages 221-222.

"My own tarn, on its platform before the fourth perch, was unhooded. The crowd cried out, as it always did, at the sight of that monstrous head, the wicked beak, that sable, crackling crest, the round, black gleaming eyes. An attendant for the Steels unlocked the hobble from the fight leg of the bird and leaped aside. The steel-shod talons of the war tarn tore for a moment at the heavy beams of the platform on which it stood, furrowing it. Then the bird threw back its head and opened its wings, and, eyes gleaming, as though among the crags of the Thentis Range or the Voltai, uttered the challenge scream of the Mountain Tarn, shrill, wild, defiant, piercing. I think there were none in that vast stadium who did not for the moment, even in the sun of summer, feel a swift chill, suddenly fearing themselves endangered, suddenly, feeling themselves unwitting intruders, trespassers, wandered by accident, unwilling, into the domain of that majestic carnivore, my black tarn, my Ubar of the Skies." — Assassin of Gor, page 363.

"I looked down into the open hold of the round ship. The wicked, curved, scimitarlike beak of the unhooded tarn lifted itself. Its eyes blazed. It looked like a good bird. I regretted that it was not Ubar of the Skies. It was a reddish brown tarn, a fairly common coloring for the great birds. Mine own had been black-plumaged, a giant tarn, glossy, his great talons shod with steel, a bird bred for speed and war, a bird who had been, in his primitive, wild way, my friend. I had driven him from the Sardar." — Raiders of Gor, page 272.

Tarns who are feasting, or have recently tasted fresh blood are even more dangerous to be near. However, still this unusual relationship between Tarl and his Ubar of the Skies is demonstrated once again, amazing those present to witness such a bond.

I said and grimly strode toward the perch where I knew there would be the great black tarn, the majestic tarn of Ko-ro-ba, my Ubar of the Skies. Approaching him we heard a wild tarn scream, of hate and challenge, and we stopped. I beheld, in its compound, strewn about its perch, more than five men, or the remains of such. "Yellows," said one of the men with the crossbow, "who tried to slay the bird."
       "It is a War Tarn," said another.
       I saw blood on the beak of the bird, its round black eyes, gleaming, wild. "Beware," said one of the men, "even if you be Gladius of Cos, for the tarn has tasted blood." I saw that even the steel-shod talons of the bird were bloodied. Watching us warily it stood with one set of talons hooked over the body of a yellow. Then, not taking its eyes from us, it put down its beak and tore an arm from the thing beneath its talons. "Do not approach," said one of the men. I stood back. It is not wise to interfere with the feeding of a tarn. — Assassin of Gor, pages 350-351.
       "How do we know you be Gladius of Cos?" asked another.
       I smiled. "The tarn will know me," I said.
       "The tarn has tasted blood," said the leader. "It has killed. It feeds. Do not approach the tarn now or it will mean your death." … I stepped toward the great black tarn. It was at the foot of its perch. It was chained by one foot. The run of the chain was perhaps twenty-five feet. I approached slowly, holding my hands open, saying nothing. It eyed me.
       "The bird does not know him," said one of the men, he who had suggested I might be a spy of the yellows.
       "Be still," whispered the leader of the group.
       "He is a fool," whispered another.
       "That," agreed the leader, "or Gladius of Cos."
       The tarn, the great, fierce saddlebird of Gor, is a savage beast, a monster predator of the high, blue skies of this harsh world; at best it is scarce half domesticated; even tarnsmen seldom approach them without weapons and tarn-goad; it is regarded madness to approach one that is feeding; the instincts of the tarn, like those of many predators, are to protect and defend a kill, to the death; Tarn Keepers, with their goads and training wires, have lost their lives with even young birds, trying to alter or correct this covetousness of its quarry; the winged majestic carnivores of Gor, her tams, do not care to share their kills, until perhaps they have gorged their fill and carry then remnants of their repast to the encliffed nests of the Thentis or Voltai Ranges, there to drop meat into the gaping beaks of white tarnlings, the size of ponies.
       "Stand back!" warned the leader of the men.
       I stepped forward, until I stood within the ambit of the tarn's chain. I spoke softly. "My Ubar of the Skies," I said, "you know me." I approached more closely, holding my hands open, not hurrying. The bird regarded me. In its beak there hung the body of a Yellow.
       "Come back!" cried one of the crossbowmen, and I was pleased that it was he who had thought I might be a spy for the Yellows. Even he did not care for what might now occur.
       "We must ride, Ubar of the Skies," said I, approaching the bird. I took the body of the man from its beak and laid it to one side. The bird did not attempt to strike me. I heard the men behind me gasp with wonder. "You fought well," said I to the bird. I caressed its bloodied, scimitarlike beak. "And I am pleased to see you live." The bird gently touched me with its beak. "Ready the platform," said I, "for the next race."
       "Yes," said the leader of the men, "Gladius of Cos!" His three companions, putting aside their bows, rushed to prepare the wheeled platform. — Assassin of Gor, pages 352-353.

The Green Ubar
The most well-known tarn amongst the peoples of Ar, at least, was a racing tarn by the name of the Green Ubar. This tarn and his rider, a man named Melipolus of Cos, won over one thousand (1,000) races. Many thought Melipolus had disappeared to retire, the Green Ubar in the knowledgable hands of a Tarn Keeper known as Mip. However, when the day was needed for victory for among the people, the Green Ubar and Melipolus emerged to help in that battle. The Green Ubar, however, did not survive.

Mip was fondling the beak of one bird, an older bird I gathered. It was reddish brown; the crest was flat now; the beak a pale yellow, streaked with white. "This is Green Ubar," said he, scratching the bird's neck. I had heard of the bird. It had been famous in Ar a dozen years ago. It had won more than one thousand races. Its rider, one of the great ones in the tradition of the greens, had been Melipolus of Cos. — Assassin of Gor, page 170.

"Suddenly Green Ubar, in the flash of the wings and the cries of the riders passing him, righted himself and with a cry of rage and pain burst toward the rings… Then the bird, which had in its time won a thousand races and more, addressed itself again to that fierce and familiar path in the Stadium of Tarns. It was Green Ubar as I had heard speak of him, Green Ubar of the legends, Green Ubar as he had been in the stories told by men who had seen him years before, Green Ubar, greatest of the racing tarns, holder of awards, victorious, triumphant." — Assassin of Gor, page 358.
       I lifted Mip in my arms. He opened his eyes. "The tarn?" he asked.
       "Green Ubar is dead," I told him. — Assassin of Gor, page 359.

Varities of Tarns

Although a tarn is a tarn, there are different varieties of these beasts, from small to the more gigantic. Too they come in many colors of plumage. Too, the training of each variety will determine their domestication; the war tarn considered anything but domestic.

"The plumage of tarns is various, and they are bred for their colors as well as their strength and intelligence. Black tarns are used for night raids, white tarns in winter campaigns, and multicolored, resplendent tarns are bred for warriors who wish to ride proudly, regardless of the lack of camouflage. The most common tarn, however, is greenish brown. Disregarding the disproportion in size, the Earth bird which the tarn most closely resembles is the hawk, with the exception that it has a crest somewhat of the nature of a jay's." — Tarnsman of Gor, pages 51-52.

Draft Tarns
Large tarns bred primarily for strength and gentler dispositions for use in transporting goods. Tarn caravans, utilizing these larger tarns, often travel with hundreds of these birds, baskets hanging filled with goods.

"Some tarns are bred primarily for strength and are used in transporting wares by carrying basket. Usually these birds fly more slowly and are less vicious than the war tarns or racing tams." — Assassin of Gor, page 143.

"It is true that if she, with other girls, were shipped by wagon to Ar, this schedule would not be met; but we knew that the House of Clark, in the case of select merchandise, under which category Elizabeth surely fell, transported slaves by tarn caravan to the markets of Ar, usually binding them in groups of six in slave baskets, sometimes as many as a hundred tarns, with escort, flying at once." — Assassin of Gor, page 79.

Jungle Tarn
A rare tarn to be sure, the plumage of it exquisitely colorful, the jungle tarn can be found in the tropical reaches of the Cartius, in the region of the Ushindi. As with all tarns, it is carnivorous and fierce.

"To the crowd's astonishment, but not to mine, he wheeled his tarn, a rare, gloriously plumaged jungle tarn from the tropical reaches of the Cartius, to block the first of the right center rings. The bird, beautiful, fierce, talons lifted, wings beating, hanging almost motionless before the ring, faced us." — Assassin of Gor, page 368

Racing Tarn
Smaller tarns bred and trained for racing competitions in the larger cities. Please see the section "Racing Tarns" below for more detailed information.

"The tarns were, of course, racing tams, a bird in many ways quite different from the common tarns of Gor, or the war tams. The differences among these tarns are not simply in the training, which does differ, but in the size, strength, build and tendencies of the bird. … The racing tarn, interestingly, is an extremely light bird; two men can lift one; even its beak is narrower and lighter than the beak of a common tarn or a war tarn; its wings are commonly broader and shorter than those of the other tarns, permitting a swifter take off and providing a capacity for extremely abrupt turns and shifts in flight; they cannot carry a great deal of weight and the riders, as might be expected, are small men, usually of low caste, pugnacious and aggressive. Racing tarns are not used by tarnsmen in war because they lack the weight and power of war tarns; meeting a war tarn in flight, a racing tarn would be torn to pieces in moments; further, the racing tarns, though marvelous in their particular ways, lack the stamina of the common tarn or the war tarn; their short wings, after a flight of perhaps only fifty pasangs, would begin to fail; in a short-distance dash, of course, the racing tarn would commonly be superior to the war tarn." — Assassin of Gor, pages 143-144.

War Tarn
The war tarn, also known as the most common tarn on Gor, is the largest of the breeds of tarns. The plumage of the war tarn can vary, from black, white, and multi-colors, depending on purpose or vanity of the warrior. They are bred for strength, speed, agility, swiftness and combative instinct, and can fly for great lengths of time, their stamina quite great.

"The plumage of tarns is various, and they are bred for their colors as well as their strength and intelligence. Black tarns are used for night raids, white tarns in winter campaigns, and multicolored, resplendent tarns are bred for warriors who wish to ride proudly, regardless of the lack of camouflage. The most common tarn, however, is greenish brown. Disregarding the disproportion in size, the Earth bird which the tarn most closely resembles is the hawk, with the exception that it has a crest somewhat of the nature of a jay's. — Tarnsman of Gor, pages 51-52.

"I blew a note on the whistle, and it was shrill and different, of a new pitch from that of the Older Tarl. Almost immediately from somewhere, perhaps from a ledge out of sight, rose a fantastic object, another giant tarn, even larger than the first, a glossy sable tarn which circled the cylinder once and then wheeled towards me, landing a few feet away, his talons striking on the roof with a sound like hurled gauntlets. His talons were shod with steel — a war tarn. He raised his curved beak to the sky and screamed, lifting and shaking his wings. His enormous head turned towards me, and his round, wicked eyes blazed in my direction." — Tarnsman of Gor, page 53.

"The tarns were, of course, racing tams, a bird in many ways quite different from the common tarns of Gor, or the war tams. The differences among these tarns are not simply in the training, which does differ, but in the size, strength, build and tendencies of the bird. … The war tams, of course, are bred for both strength and speed, but also for agility, swiftness of reflex, and combative instincts. War tarns, whose talons are shod with steel, tend to be extremely dangerous birds, even more so than other tarns, none of whom could be regarded as fully domesticated. — Assassin of Gor, page 143.
       Racing tarns are not used by tarnsmen in war because they lack the weight and power of war tarns; meeting a war tarn in flight, a racing tarn would be torn to pieces in moments; further, the racing tarns, though marvelous in their particular ways, lack the stamina of the common tarn or the war tarn; their short wings, after a flight of perhaps only fifty pasangs, would begin to fail; in a short-distance dash, of course, the racing tarn would commonly be superior to the war tarn." — Assassin of Gor, page 144.

Tack and Equipment

As with any riding beast, there are various implements and tack involved in both riding, handling and care of the tarn.

Aerie
The nest of the wild tarn.

"I had no desire to die eventually of starvation in the lonely aerie of my tarn." — Tarnsman of Gor, page 145.

Basket Harness
Used with the large draft tarns, the harness is secured around the body and head of the tarn and is used for the attachment of the large baskets for the transportation of goods and people, as well as guidance attachments, to permit being controlled from the basket itself.

On the roof we met Cernus and others. Some were tarnsmen, others members of the House. On the roof there were eight tarns, beside five of which there were carrying baskets attached to the tarn harness. — Assassin of Gor, page 93.
       I swung myself into the basket, which I shared with two men-at-arms. Cernus and Ho-Tu rode together in another basket. The tarn basket may or may not have guidance attachments, permitting the tarn to be controlled from the basket. If the guidance attachments are in place, then the tarn is seldom saddled, but wears only basket harness." — Assassin of Gor, page 94.

Cistern
The cistern is a generally a large underground tank for storing water. This is used to water the tarns who wander freely inside the tarn cot.

Etymology: Middle English, from Old French cisterne, from Latin cisterna, from cista box, chest.
       "An artificial reservoir (as an underground tank) for storing liquids and especially water (as rainwater)" — Merriam-Webster Dictionary ©2006

"Many of the perches were empty, but there were more than a hundred birds in the room; each was now chained to its area of the perch; but each, I knew, at least once in every two days, was exercised; sometimes, when men do not wander freely in the cot, and the portals of the cot, opening to the sky, are closed, some of the birds are permitted the freedom of the cot; water for the birds is fed from tubes into canisters mounted on triangular platforms near the perches, but there is also, in the center of the cot, in the floor, a cistern which may be used when the birds are free." — Assassin of Gor, page 169.

Guide Ropes
Ropes used in guiding the tarn, rather than the typical reins, fashioned by the Kinyanpi tribe of the red savages.

"I went forward and seized the guide-ropes of the tarn, near the beak. It shook its head. The guide-ropes, or reins, of the tarn, as the Kinyanpi fashion them, seem clearly to be based on the jaw ropes used generally in the Barrens by the red savages to control kaiila. This suggests that the Kinyanpi had probably domesticated kaiila before tarns and that their domestication of the tarn was achieved independently of white practice, as exemplified, say, by the tarnsmen of such cities as Thentis. The common guidance apparatus for tarns in most cities is an arrangement involving two major rings and six straps." — Blood Brothers of Gor, page 340.

Knotted Ropes
Rather than the cumbersome baskets, lengths of knotted rope hung from the large war tarns can easily carry seven to ten men this way; used in military seiges. Tarl and Harold employed this tactic when the Tuchuks rose against Turia, and later, Tarl, as Bosk, utilized the same methods with a much greater number of tarns in Port Kar.

"On one of these wagons, with the top removed, were the two tarns Harold and I had stolen from the roof of Saphrar's keep. They had been brought for us, thinking that they might be of use in the warfare in the city or in the transportation of goods or men. A tarn can, incidentally, without difficulty, carry a knotted rope of seven to ten men." — Nomads of Gor, page 256.

"You have, in the ten round ships," I said, "one hundred tarns, with riders."
       "Yes," said he, "and, as you asked, with each tarn a knotted rope and five of the seamen of Port Kar."
       I looked down into the open hold of the round ship. The wicked, curved, scimitarlike beak of the unhooded tarn lifted itself. Its eyes blazed. It looked like a good bird. I regretted that it was not Ubar of the Skies. It was a reddish brown tarn, a fairly common coloring for the great birds. Mine own had been black-plumaged, a giant tarn, glossy, his great talons shod with steel, a bird bred for speed and war, a bird who had been, in his primitive, wild way, my friend. I had driven him from the Sardar. — Raiders of Gor, page 272.

Mounting Ladder
On the left hand side of the saddle is a ladder which is kept folded. This ladder is used to mount the tarn.

"I placed the Home Stone in the saddle pack, snapping the lock shut, and then reached down to haul in the mounting ladder." — Tarnsman of Gor, page 80.

"The Older Tarl had mounted his tarn, climbing up the five-rung leather mounting ladder which hangs on the left side of the saddle and is pulled up in flight. He fastened himself in the saddle with a broad purple strap." — Tarnsman of Gor, page 52.

"I folded the ladder and fastened it in its place at the side of the saddle." — Tarnsman of Gor, page 80.

Saddle Pack
A pack of leather that is secured to the saddle; used to store weaponry and other implements of use to a tarnsman, such as binding fiber and compass, for example.

"I placed the Home Stone in the saddle pack, snapping the lock shut, and then reached down to haul in the mounting ladder." — Tarnsman of Gor, page 80.

"I mounted my tarn, that fierce, black magnificent bird. My shield and spear were secured by saddle straps; my sword was slung over my shoulder. On each side of the saddle hung a missile weapon, a crossbow with a quiver of a dozen quarrels, or bolts, on the left, a longbow with a quiver of thirty arrows on the right. The saddle pack contained the light gear carried by raiding tarnsmen — in particular, rations, a compass, maps, binding fiber, and extra bowstrings." — Tarnsman of Gor, page 64.

Safety Strap
On the common saddle, the safety strap is rather broad and generally purple in color, and is used to secure the rider and protect his life. On the smaller racing saddle, two such straps are utilized to ensure the rider does not fall off the saddle and thus lose the race. The use of two straps is less of a strain to them, the likelihood of either breaking greatly minimalized.

"I set her on the saddle of the tarn, telling her to hold to the pommel of the saddle. When I myself mounted I would tie her to the pommel with binding fiber. I would fasten about myself the broad safety strap, usually purple, which is an invariable portion of the tarn saddle." — Nomads of Gor, page 342.

"We fastened the safety straps. On the racing saddle there are two small straps, rather than the one large strap on the common saddle; both straps fasten about the rider and to the saddle, in a sense each duplicating the work of the other; the theory is that though smaller straps can break more easily the probability of both straps breaking at the same time is extremely small; further the two straps tend to divide strain between them, thereby considerably lessening the possibility of either breaking; some saving in weight, of course, is obtained with the two smaller straps; further, the broad strap would be a bit large to fasten to the small saddle; even beyond this, of course, since races take place largely and most often over a net there is normally not as much danger in a fall as there would be in common tarn flight; the main purpose of the straps is simply to keep the rider in the saddle, for the purpose of his race, not primarily to protect his life. — Assassin of Gor, pages 171-172.

Tarn Basket
Used with the large draft tarns, these baskets of various sizes and shapes, depending upon the function for which they are used, are utilized for the transportation of goods and people. Depending on if there is a tarnsman seated upon a saddle, the baskets come with guidance mechanisms to control the beast.

"On the roof we met Cernus and others. Some were tarnsmen, others members of the House. On the roof there were eight tarns, beside five of which there were carrying baskets attached to the tarn harness. — Assassin of Gor, page 93.
       "I swung myself into the basket, which I shared with two men-at-arms. Cernus and Ho-Tu rode together in another basket. The tarn basket may or may not have guidance attachments, permitting the tarn to be controlled from the basket. If the guidance attachments are in place, then the tarn is seldom saddled, but wears only basket harness. If the basket is merely carried, and the tarn cannot be controlled from the basket, then the tarn wears the tarn saddle and is controlled by a tarnsman. The basket of Cernus and my basket both had guidance attachments, similar to those of the common tarn saddle, a main basket ring corresponding to the main saddle ring, and six leather straps going to the throat-strap rings. The other three baskets, however, had no control attachments and those birds wore saddles and were guided by tarnsmen. Tarn baskets, incidentally, in which I had never before ridden, are of many different sizes and varieties, depending on the function for which they are intended. Some, for example, are little more than flat cradles for carrying planking and such: others are long and cylindrical, lined with verrskin, for transporting beverages and such; most heavy hauling, of course, is done by tharlarion wagon; a common sort of tarn basket, of the sort in which I found myself, is a general utility basket, flat-bottomed, square-sided, about four feet deep, four feet wide and five feet long. At a gesture from Cernus the birds took wing, and I felt my basket on its heavy leather runners slide across the roof for a few feet and then drop sickeningly off the edge of the cylinder, only to be jerked up short by the ropes, hover for a moment as the tarn fought the weight, and then begin to sail smoothly behind the bird, its adjustments made, its mighty wines hurling the air contemptuously behind it." — Assassin of Gor, pages 94-95.

Tarn Call
A whistle used to call one's tarn or issue commands to the tarn.

"The Older Tarl took a tarn whistle, or tarn call, from his tunic and blew a piercing blast." — Tarnsman of Gor, page 50.

"He tossed me a small object which nearly fell from my fumbling hands. it was a tarn whistle, with its own note, which would summon one tarn, and one tarn only, the mount which was intended for me." — Tarnsman of Gor, page 52.

Tarn Cot
The man-made home of the tarn. Please see the "Tarn Cots" section below for more detailed information.

"As soon as Mip entered the cot he picked a tarn goad from a hook on the wall over a small table with a lamp and papers on it. He then took a second goad, from a hook nearby, and handed it to me. I accepted it. Few dare to walk in a tarncot without a goad. Indeed, it is foolish to do so." — Assassin of Gor, pages 169-170.

Tarn Goad
An electrical device used in the control of the tarns by means of emitting an electrical charge to shock them by means of an "on-off" switch. The tarn goad is the only thing that the tarn fears. It is never to be used as a weapon. The slave goad, similar in design to the tarn goard, emits a much less amount of electrical shock. Both the tarn goad and the slave goad were developed in joint ventures between the Caste of Physicians and the Caste of Builders.

He entered my apartment, carrying a metal rod about two feet long, with a leather loop attached. It had a switch in the handle, which could be set in two positions, on and off, like a simple torch. He wore another such instrument slung from his belt. "This is not a weapon," he said. "It is not to be used as a weapon."
       "What is it?" I asked.
       "A tarn-goad," he replied. He snapped the switch in the barrel to the "on" position and struck the table. It showered sparks in a sudden cascade of yellow light, but left the table unmarked. He turned off the goad and extended to me. As I reached for it, he snapped it on and slapped it in my palm. A billion tiny yellow stars, like pieces of fiery needles, seemed to explode in my hand. I cried out in shock. I thrust my hand to my mouth. It had been like a sudden, severe electric charge, like the striking of a snake in my hand. I examined my hand; it was unhurt. "Be careful of a tarn-goad," said the Older Tarl. "It is not for children." I took it from him, this time being careful to take it near the leather loop, which I fastened around my wrist. — Tarnsman of Gor, page 50.

Marlenus and his men and I raced down the long stairs to the main hall of the Central Cylinder, where we came on the remains of the grisly feast of the tarns. The great birds, fed, were once again as tractable as such monsters ever are, and with the tarn-goads, Marlenus and his men were again in command. — Tarnsman of Gor, page 202.

"In that instant I switched the tarn-goad to the 'on' position, and when the great beak flashed downward again, I struck it viciously, trying to force it away from me. The effect was startling: there was the sudden bright flash of yellow glittering light, the splash of sparks, and a scream of pain and rage from the tarn as he immediately beat his wings, lifting himself out of my reach in a rush of air that nearly forced me over the edge of the roof." — Tarnsman of Gor, page 54.

As soon as Mip entered the cot he picked a tarn goad from a hook on the wall over a small table with a lamp and papers on it. He then took a second goad, from a hook nearby, and handed it to me. I accepted it. Few dare to walk in a tarncot without a goad. Indeed, it is foolish to do so." — Assassin of Gor, page 169-170.

"On the other side of the belt, there hung a slave goad, rather like the tarn goad, except that it is designed to be used as an instrument for the control of human beings rather than tarns. It was, like the tarn goad, developed jointly by the Caste of Physicians and that of the Builders, the Physicians contributing knowledge of the pain fibers of human beings, the networks of nerve endings, and the Builders contributing certain principles and techniques developed in the construction and manufacture of energy bulbs. Unlike the tarn goad which has a simple on-off switch in the handle, the slave goad works with both a switch and a dial, and the intensity of the charge administered can be varied from an infliction which is only distinctly unpleasant to one which is instantly lethal. The slave goad, unknown in most Gorean cities, is almost never used except by professional slavers, probably because of the great expense involved; the tarn goad, by contrast, is a simple instrument. Both goads, interestingly, emit a shower of yellow sparks when touched to an object, a phenomenon which, associated with the pain involved, surely plays its role in producing aversion to the goad, both in tarns and men." — Assassin of Gor, pages 84-85.

Tarn Harness
The common tarn harness is made of leather which is secured about the tarn's head; upon it two rings — the throat ring and the main saddle ring, though which the six leather reins are attached. The tarn harness of the draft beasts, known also as the basket harness, is heavy leather which is secured around the body of the tarn as well. See also: "Basket Harness."

"On the roof we met Cernus and others. Some were tarnsmen, others members of the House. On the roof there were eight tarns, beside five of which there were carrying baskets attached to the tarn harness." — Assassin of Gor, page 93.

He moved over the tem-wood beams until he came to two sets of racing saddles and harness, and he threw me one, indicating a brown, alert racing tarn two perches away. The racing harness, like the common tarn harness, works with two rings, the throat ring and the main saddle ring, and six straps. The major difference is the tautness of the reins between the two rings; the racing saddle, on the other hand, is only a slip of leather compared to the common tarn saddle, which is rather large, with saddle packs, weapon sheaths and paired slave rings." — Assassin of Gor, pages 171.

Tarn Perch
Made of thick steel, cylindric posts upon which the tarn roosts upon; massively larger versions of that which Tweety sits upon in his cage.

"I brought him to rest on one of the steel projections that occasionally jut forth from the cylinders and serve as tarn perches. The great bird opened and closed his wings, his steel-shod talons ringing on the metal perch as he changed his position, moving back and forth upon it. At last, satisfied, he brought his wings against his body and remained still, except for the alert movements of his great head and the flash of those wicked eyes scrutinizing the streams of men and women on the nearby bridges." — Tarnsman of Gor, page 77.

"We returned the birds to their perches and put the tam hobble on them there. We removed the small saddles and control straps from the birds, and hung them on vertical beams, a portion of the perch framework." — Assassin of Gor, page 174.

Tarn Saddle
The common tarn saddle is a heavy leather saddle, complete with a mounting ladding fastened at the left side, and a broad purple strap which serves to strap in the rider. The racing saddle is a slimmer, thinner version of the common saddle, equipped with two safety straps, rather than one. Another notable difference is that the common tarn saddle entails also saddle packs, sheaths for weapons and a pair of slave rings; the racing saddle of course absent of these features.

I set her on the saddle of the tarn, telling her to hold to the pommel of the saddle. When I myself mounted I would tie her to the pommel with binding fiber. I would fasten about myself the broad safety strap, usually purple, which is an invariable portion of the tarn saddle. — Nomads of Gor, page 342.

"The Older Tarl had mounted his tarn, climbing up the five-rung leather mounting ladder which hangs on the left side of the saddle and is pulled up in flight. He fastened himself in the saddle with a broad purple strap." — Tarnsman of Gor, page 52.

"The basket of Cernus and my basket both had guidance attachments, similar to those of the common tarn saddle, a main basket ring corresponding to the main saddle ring, and six leather straps going to the throat-strap rings." — Assassin of Gor, page 94.

"He moved over the tem-wood beams until he came to two sets of racing saddles and harness, and he threw me one, indicating a brown, alert racing tarn two perches away. The racing harness, like the common tarn harness, works with two rings, the throat ring and the main saddle ring, and six straps. The major difference is the tautness of the reins between the two rings; the racing saddle, on the other hand, is only a slip of leather compared to the common tarn saddle, which is rather large, with saddle packs, weapon sheaths and paired slave rings. I fastened the saddle on the bird and, with a bit of difficulty, the bird sensing my unsure movements, the tarn harness. Mip and I, moving the lock levers, removed the hobble and chain from the two birds and took the saddle. Mip rode Green Ubar; he looked well in the worn saddle; his stirrups were short. We fastened the safety straps. On the racing saddle there are two small straps, rather than the one large strap on the common saddle; both straps fasten about the rider and to the saddle, in a sense each duplicating the work of the other; the theory is that though smaller straps can break more easily the probability of both straps breaking at the same time is extremely small; further the two straps tend to divide strain between them, thereby considerably lessening the possibility of either breaking; some saving in weight, of course, is obtained with the two smaller straps; further, the broad strap would be a bit large to fasten to the small saddle; even beyond this, of course, since races take place largely and most often over a net there is normally not as much danger in a fall as there would be in common tarn flight; the main purpose of the straps is simply to keep the rider in the saddle, for the purpose of his race, not primarily to protect his life." — Assassin of Gor, pages 171-172.

Tarn Wire
Slender, nearly-invisible wires that are stretched across a city to protect them from enemy tarns. Should a tarn attempt to strike through these wires, its wings would easily be shorn off.

"Ar, beleaguered and dauntless, was a magnificent sight. Its splendid, defiant shimmering cylinders loomed proudly behind the snowy marble ramparts, its double walls — the first three hundred feet high; the second, separated from the first by twenty yards, four hundred feet high — walls wide enough to drive six tharlarion wagons abreast on their summits. Every fifty yards along the walls rose towers, jutting forth so as to expose any attempt at scaling to the fire from their numerous archer ports. Across the city, from the walls to the cylinders, I could occasionally see the slight flash of sunlight on the swaying tarn wires, literally hundreds of thousands of slender, almost invisible wires stretched in a protective net across the city. Dropping the tarn through such a maze of wire would be an almost impossible task. The wings of a striking tarn would be cut from its body by such wires." — Tarnsman of Gor, pages 162-163.

Water Canisters
Those tarns which are kept chained inside the tarn cot are fed water through tubes fed from mounted canisters. Similar to that water bottle setup you have for your hamster.

"Many of the perches were empty, but there were more than a hundred birds in the room; each was now chained to its area of the perch; but each, I knew, at least once in every two days, was exercised; sometimes, when men do not wander freely in the cot, and the portals of the cot, opening to the sky, are closed, some of the birds are permitted the freedom of the cot; water for the birds is fed from tubes into canisters mounted on triangular platforms near the perches, but there is also, in the center of the cot, in the floor, a cistern which may be used when the birds are free." — Assassin of Gor, page 169.

Riding a Tarn

So, are you ready to be a tarnsman, and leap across the back of this ferocious beast and fly high, with little protection? Let's look a bit on just how to ride one of these resplendid beasts.

First, not just anybody can hop on a tarn and expect to live, let alone control it. It is believed among the Goreans that there are specific people already fated with the inane ability to be a tarnsman. It is believed that the relationship is spiritual, the tarn knowing who is — and who is not — a true tarnsman.

"The Goreans believe, incredibly enough, that the capacity to master a tarn is innate and that some men possess this characteristic and that some do not. One does not learn to master a tarn. It is a matter of blood and spirit, of beast and man, of a relation between two beings which must be immediate, intuitive, spontaneous. It is said that a tarn knows who is a tarnsman and who is not, and that those who are not die in this first meeting." — Tarnsman of Gor, page 51.

Allright! The tarn accepts you and you climb up the ladder which hangs on the left hand side from the saddle and seat yourself on the saddle of leather. Pull up that ladder and tie it into place, then strap yourself in with the safety belt. Wait! That's it?! Just a single strip to hold you on? Indeed so! This strap, generally purple in color, is fairly wide.

"The Older Tarl had mounted his tarn, climbing up the five-rung leather mounting ladder which hangs on the left side of the saddle and is pulled up in flight. He fastened himself in the saddle with a broad purple strap." — Tarnsman of Gor, page 52.

Now, the trick of guiding this beast. Just look at the reins! All six of them! Nice looking colors, aren't they? Color-coding is a good thing, you might think, being that there are six straps each with their own purpose. However, a true tarnsman learns the straps by their position on the ring, rather than the color. There are six strategic positions in the placing in these rings, which follow a clockwise arrangement — that is to say, in clockwise direction is facing the tarn face-to-face. (NOTE: This is based on the fact that the mention of the one strap is at the very top of the neck, the two-strap used in a high right bank.) I have made the chart below for easier reading. The placement and purposes are backed by book quotes, however, three were interpreted without a quote per se regarding that specific strap, but in the general context of the method of locations and general descriptions.

"The tarn is guided by virtue of a throat strap, to which are attached, normally, six leather streamers, or reins, which are fixed in a metal ring on the forward portion of the saddle. The reins are of different colors, but one learns them by ring position and not color. Each of the reins attaches to a small ring on the throat strap, and the rings are spaced evenly. Accordingly, the mechanics are simple. One draws on the streamer, or rein, which is attached to the ring most nearly approximating the direction one wishes to go. For example, to land or lose altitude, one uses the four-strap which exerts pressure on the four-ring, which is located beneath the throat of the tarn. To rise into flight, or gain altitude, one draws on the one-strap, which exerts pressure on the one-ring, which is located on the back of the tarn's neck. The throat-strap rings, corresponding to the position of the reins on the main saddle ring, are numbered in a clockwise fashion." — Tarnsman of Gor, page 55.

"I went forward and seized the guide-ropes of the tarn, near the beak. It shook its head. The guide-ropes, or reins, of the tarn, as the Kinyanpi fashion them, seem clearly to be based on the jaw ropes used generally in the Barrens by the red savages to control kaiila. This suggests that the Kinyanpi had probably domesticated kaiila before tarns and that their domestication of the tarn was achieved independently of white practice, as exemplified, say, by the tarnsmen of such cities as Thentis. The common guidance apparatus for tarns in most cities is an arrangement involving two major rings and six straps. The one-strap is drawn for ascent, and the four-strap for descent, for example." — Blood Brothers of Gor, page 340.

The harnessing of the war tarn is far different from that of the harness of the racing tarn. Tarl, being used to the wider berth of the sky to manuever his warn tarn, learned that the handling of such a bird trussed in racing gear was far different. For one, the reins are tighter, thus, directing the bird with only a small tug, rather than harder tug. Tarl learns this almost the hard way.

"Do not try to control the tarn until you are out of the cot," said Mip. "It will take time to accustom yourself to the harness." He smiled. "These are not war tarns." Mip, scarcely seeming to touch the one-strap with his finger, almost a tap, took the old bird from the perch and in a whiplike flurry of its wings it struck the outside perch and stood there, its old head moving alertly, the wicked black eyes gleaming. My bird, so suddenly I was startled, joined the first.
       Mip and I sat on tarnback on the lofty perch outside the tarncot. I was excited, as I always was, on tarnback. Mip too seemed charged and alive. We looked about, at the cylinders and lights and bridges. It was a fresh, cool summer evening. The stars over the city were clear and bright, the coursing moons white with splendor against the black space of the Gorean night. Mip took his tarn streaking among the cylinders and I, on my tarn, followed him.
       The first time I attempted to use the harness, though I was aware of the danger, I overdrew the strap and the suddenness of the bird as it veered in flight threw me against the two narrow safety straps; the small, broad, rapid-beating wings of the racing tarn permit shifts and turns that would be impossible with a larger, heavier, longer-winged bird. With a tap on the two-strap I took the bird in a sudden breathtaking sweep to the high right and in an instant had joined Mip in flight. — Assassin of Gor, page 171-172.

Although the tarn goad is an essential tool for the tarnsman for controlling the beast on the ground, the tarn goad can be used in the event one finds himself without the straps, However, this use is rather inaccurate and dangerous, for once the tarn loses its fear of the goad, no longer does the tarnsman have the ultimate control. The tarn-goad is the only thing which the tarn fears.

"Tarns, who are vicious things, are seldom more than half tamed and, like their diminutive counterparts the hawks, are carnivorous. It is not unknown for a tarn to attack and devour his own rider. They fear nothing but the tarn-goad." — Tarnsman of Gor, pages 52.

"The tarn-goad also is occasionally used in guiding the bird. One strikes the bird in the direction opposite to which one wishes to go, and the bird, withdrawing from the goad, moves in that direction. There is very little precision in this method, however, because the reactions of the bird are merely instinctive, and he may not withdraw in the exact tangent desired. Moreover, there is danger in using the goad excessively. It tends to become less effective is often used, and the rider is then at the mercy of the tarn." — Tarnsman of Gor, pages 55-56.

"I lost the Home Stone," I said. "I was tricked by her I suppose to be the daughter of the Ubar, thrown from my own tarn, and saved from death only by your web. I think tonight there will be gladness in Ar, when the daughter of the Ubar returns the Home Stone."
       The mechanical voice spoke again. "How is it that the daughter of the Ubar will return the Home Stone of Ar when you carry in your belt the tarn-goad?
       Suddenly I realized the truth of what he had said and was amazed that it had not occurred to me before. I imagined the girl alone on the back of the fierce tarn, unskilled in the mastery of such a mount, without even a tarn-goad to protect herself if the bird should turn on her. Her chances of survival seemed now more slim than if I had cut the ladder over the cylinders of Ar when she hung helplessly in my power, the treacherous daughter of the Ubar Marlenus. Soon the tarn would be feeding. I must have been light for several hours. — Tarnsman of Gor, pages 83-84.

As previously stated, the war tarn of Tarl Cabot was a most rare bird. The bound developed between man and rider was to such an extreme, the sound of Tarl's voice effected the beast. I repeat, this was quite unsual for a tarn to respond this way .

"The sound of my voice had an unusual effect on the bird. He tilted his head to one side quizzically. I shouted at him again and again. And then, fool that I was, half demented with hunger and terror, I only then realized that the tarn was none other than my own! I shoved the steel-shod foot that pressed me into the sticks of the nest, uttering my command with ringing authority. The bird lifted his foot and backed away, still uncertain as to what to do." — Tarnsman of Gor, pages 142-143.

A chuckle for you. Harold, the mighty Tuchuk decided he would simply hop on a tarn and ride away. He was Tuchuk, after all. Idiot Scar, Ubar?

More disturbing to me was the prospect of bringing the golden sphere down the rope and under the water and through the underground stream to the place where we had embarked on this adventure. Also, I was not clear how Harold, supposing him to be successful in his shopping amongst the ferns and flowers of Saphrar's Pleasure Gardens, intended to conduct his squirming prize along this unscenic, difficult and improbable route. Being an inquisitive chap, I asked him about it, some two or three hundred feet up the rope.
       "In escaping," he informed me, "we shall steal two tarns and make away."
       "I am pleased to see," I said, "that you have a plan."
       "Of course," he said, "I am Tuchuk."
       "Have you ever ridden a tarn before?" I asked him.
       "No," he said, still climbing somewhere above me.
       "Then how do you expect to do so?" I inquired, hauling myself up after him.
       "You are a tarnsman, are you not?" he asked.
       "Yes," I said.
       "Very well," said he, "you will teach me."
       It is said," I muttered, "that the tarn knows who is a tarnsman and who is not and that it slays him who is not."
       "Then," said Harold, "I must deceive it."
       "How do you expect to do that?" I asked.
       "It will be easy," said Harold. "I am a Tuchuk." — Nomads of Gor, pages 190-191.
       "Let us proceed," I said, "lest the tarns be flown from the roof and we be isolated in the tower."
       "My plan exactly," said Harold, "but first should you not teach me to master the tarn?" I heard Hereena moan with horror and she began to struggle madly to free herself of the scarves that bound her.
       "Normally," I said, "it takes years to become a skilled tarnsman."
       "That is all well and good," responded Harold, "but can, you not impart certain important information relating to the matter in a briefer span?" — Nomads of Gor, page 228.
       Harold once more had Hereena over his shoulder and was boldly approaching the tarns. There were two of the great birds left on the roof, both fine specimens, huge, vicious, alert. Harold dropped Hereena to the floor of the roof and strode to the first tarn. I shut my eyes as he vigorously struck it once, authoritatively, across the beak. "I am Harold of the Tuchuks," he said, "I am a skilled tarnsman — I have ridden over a thousand tarns — I have spent more time in the tarn saddle than most men on their feet — I was conceived on tarnback — I was born on tarnback — I eat tarns — fear me! I am Harold of the Tuchuks!"
       The bird, if such emotions it could have, was looking at him, askance and baffled. Any instant I expected it to pick Harold from the roof with its beak, bite him in two and eat the pieces. But the bird seemed utterly startled, if possible, dumbfounded. Harold turned to face me. "How do you ride a tarn?" he asked.
       "Get into the saddle," I said.
       "Yes!" he said, and climbed up, missing one of the rungs of the rope ladder at the saddle and slipping his leg through it. I then managed to get him to the saddle and made sure he fastened the safety strap. As swiftly as I could I then explained to him the guidance apparatus, the main saddle ring and its six straps. When I handed Hereena to him the poor girl was shivering and moaning in terror, uncontrollably trembling. She, a girl of the plains, familiar with fierce kaiila, herself a proud, spirited wench, brave and daring, was yet — like many women — utterly for some reason terrified of a tarn. — Nomads of Gor, pages 229-230.
       The slave rings on the tarn saddle are similar to those on the kaiila saddle and in a trice Harold, using the thongs streaming from the slave rings, one on each side of the saddle, had bound the girl on her back across the saddle in front of him. … Then, without waiting, uttering a great cry, he hauled on the one-strap. The tarn did not move but, I thought, though it was undoubtedly not the case, turned and regarded him skeptically, reproachfully. "What is the matter?" asked Harold.
       "It is still hobbled," I said. I bent to the tarn hobble and opened it. Immediately the huge bird's wings began to beat and it sprang skyward.
       "Aiii!" I heard Harold cry, and could well imagine what had happened to his stomach. — Nomads of Gor, page 230.

Feeding and Care of Tarns

Now that you have your tarn — what do you feed it? More importantly perhaps — how do you feed it?

Tarns are not gentle creatures that become dutiful domesticated pets when trained. Tarns still retain their very wild nature and, for the most part, still make their own kills. However, this would be problematic for those used by the military, and training had grown to include that of the tarn accepting prepared and even preserved meat, by starting at a young age, feeding them as the mother would do in the wild, by thrusting the meat into their mouths. For older tarns and those captured in the wild, this method is obviously too dangerous, as a tarn would just as easily kill and devour a man. Instead, fresh meat would be tied on live animals, so that the tarn would learn to develop the taste for prepared meat just as easily as its own kill. On special note, when feeding tarns that are in a tarncot, they are never fed bits of meat when allowed to move about freely; they are fed the bits of meat only while hobbled. This prevents the birds from fighting with each other over food.

"It might be of interest to note that when I had come to Gor, some years ago, domestic tarns, like wild tarns, almost always made their own kills. They may still do so, of course, but now many have been trained to accept prepared, even preserved, meat. Ideally, they are taught to do this from the time of hatchlings, it being thrust into their mouths, given to them much as their mother bird would do in the wild. Tongs are used. With older birds, on the other hand, captured wild tarns, for example, the training usually takes the form of tying fresh meat on live animals, and then, when the tarn is accustomed to eating both, effecting the transition to the prepared meat. Needless to say, a hunting tarn is extremely dangerous, and although its favorite prey may be tabuk, or wild tarsk, they can attack human beings. This training innovation, interestingly enough, and perhaps predictably, was not primarily the result of an attempt to increase the safety of human beings, particularly those in rural areas, but was rather largely the result of attempting to achieve military objectives, in particular those having to do with the logistical support of the tarn cavalry. Because of it, for the first time, large tarn cavalries, numbering in the hundreds of men, became practical." — Renegades of Gor, pages 52-53.

"During the day I freed my tarn, to allow him to feed as he would. They are diurnal hunters and eat only what they catch themselves, usually one of the fleet Gorean antelopes or a wild bull, taken on the run and lifted in the monstrous talons to a high place, where it is torn to pieces and devoured. Needless to say, tarns are a threat to any living matter that is luckless enough to fall within the shadow of their wings, even human beings." — Tarnsman of Gor, page 73.

"I had meat brought for the tarn, great chunks of tarsk, thighs and shoulders, which I had thrown before it, on the cold deck. It tore at them greedily. I had had the bones removed from the meat. If it had been bosk I would not, but the bones of the tarsk are thinner and splinter easily. Then I had water brought for the tarn, in a leather bucket, the ice broken through that coated the water like a lid. It drank." — Raiders of Gor, pages 281-282.

"Food for the tarns, which is meat, for that is their diet, is thrust on hooks and hauled by chain and windlass to the various perches; it might be of interest to note that, when any of the birds are free, meat is never placed on the hooks or on the floor below; the racing tarn is a valuable bird and the Tarn Keepers do not wish to have them destroy one another fighting over a verr thigh." — Assassin of Gor, page 169.

Tarns who are feasting, or have recently tasted fresh blood are even more dangerous to be near. However, still this unusual relationship between Tarl and his Ubar of the Skies is demonstrated once again, amazing those present to witness such a bond. (Yes, I'm repeating myself; glad you're paying attention!)

I saw blood on the beak of the bird, its round black eyes, gleaming, wild. "Beware," said one of the men, "even if you be Gladius of Cos, for the tarn has tasted blood." I saw that even the steel-shod talons of the bird were bloodied. Watching us warily it stood with one set of talons hooked over the body of a yellow. Then, not taking its eyes from us, it put down its beak and tore an arm from the thing beneath its talons. "Do not approach," said one of the men. I stood back. It is not wise to interfere with the feeding of a tarn. … — Assassin of Gor, pages 350-351.
       "The tarn has tasted blood," said the leader. "It has killed. It feeds. Do not approach the tarn now or it will mean your death." … I stepped toward the great black tarn. It was at the foot of its perch. It was chained by one foot. The run of the chain was perhaps twenty-five feet. I approached slowly, holding my hands open, saying nothing. It eyed me. … The tarn, the great, fierce saddlebird of Gor, is a savage beast, a monster predator of the high, blue skies of this harsh world; at best it is scarce half domesticated; even tarnsmen seldom approach them without weapons and tarn-goad; it is regarded madness to approach one that is feeding; the instincts of the tarn, like those of many predators, are to protect and defend a kill, to the death; Tarn Keepers, with their goads and training wires, have lost their lives with even young birds, trying to alter or correct this covetousness of its quarry; the winged majestic carnivores of Gor, her tams, do not care to share their kills, until perhaps they have gorged their fill and carry then remnants of their repast to the encliffed nests of the Thentis or Voltai Ranges, there to drop meat into the gaping beaks of white tarnlings, the size of ponies. … I stepped forward, until I stood within the ambit of the tarn's chain. I spoke softly. "My Ubar of the Skies," I said, "you know me." I approached more closely, holding my hands open, not hurrying. The bird regarded me. In its beak there hung the body of a Yellow. … "We must ride, Ubar of the Skies," said I, approaching the bird. I took the body of the man from its beak and laid it to one side. The bird did not attempt to strike me. I heard the men behind me gasp with wonder. "You fought well," said I to the bird. I caressed its bloodied, scimitarlike beak. "And I am pleased to see you live." The bird gently touched me with its beak. — Assassin of Gor, pages 352-353.

The tarn, despite its ferocious nature, is not one to turn away a good preening and bit of lice treats from its master. A slap on the beak is a sign of affection between master and beast. Tarns do have an affection for one special treat — the parasitic lice which breed in their feathers. Larger than your average everyday lice, about the sisze of marbles.

"I slapped his beak affectionately, as if we were in a tarn cot, and shoved my hands into his neck feathers, the area where the tarns can't preen, as the tarn keepers do when searching for parasites. I withdrew some of the lice, the size of marbles, which tend to infest the wild tarns, and slapped them roughly into the mouth of the tarn, wiping them off on his tongue. I did this again and again, and the tarn stretched out his neck." — Tarnsman of Gor, pages 142-143.

"The tarn, my sable giant from Ko-ro-ba, landed and stalked majestically forward. I waited uneasily until he thrust his head past me, over my shoulder, extending his neck for preening. Good-naturedly, I scratched out a handful or two of lice which I slopped on his tongue like candy." — Tarnsman of Gor, pages 161-162.

So, you have your tarn fed, but what about its need for water? In a tarn cot, the use of cisterns and watering canisters are utilized. Cisterns are underground storage tanks, or troughs, used to keep water. I remember someone telling me once, no, make that arguing with me, that cisterns were never mentioned in the books. Hm. The watering canisters, which were mounted with tubing, are much like your modern-day hamster waterer.

"Many of the perches were empty, but there were more than a hundred birds in the room; each was now chained to its area of the perch; but each, I knew, at least once in every two days, was exercised; sometimes, when men do not wander freely in the cot, and the portals of the cot, opening to the sky, are closed, some of the birds are permitted the freedom of the cot; water for the birds is fed from tubes into canisters mounted on triangular platforms near the perches, but there is also, in the center of the cot, in the floor, a cistern which may be used when the birds are free." — Assassin of Gor, page 169.

Tarncots

Now where would you keep your tarn? First —

NO! NO! NO! NO! A thousand times NO! A tarn pen is NOT called a "TARN COTE!" The word is tarn COT (no "e" at the end please!). How this Gor-plagued error happened most undoubtedly began with one of those horridly scanned books that are even to this day still floating around. In additions to misspellings, huge chunks of information are missing from a lot of those books. If you have them, please destroy them. They're worthless.

As stated, a tarn pen is not called a coop (or a cote); the correct term is "tarn cot." The tarn cot can be simply but a temporary cage of wire, or very technically built in order to facilitate both rider and tarn, and keep the tarn tethered to protect the humans which must tend to them. Generally, a band collar is placed around the leg of the tarn to which a chain is attached when the tarn is seated upon its perch, the other end of the chain attached to a bolted hobble. There are several ways in which a tarn cot is constructed, as well as the gates for which the tarn enters and exits.

In cities, especially cities of cylindrical buildings, tarn cots may simply be the roof area of the cylinder, such as the first tarn cot Tarl Cabot entered into in the city of Ko-ro-ba.

"We ascended a spiral staircase inside the cylinder and climbed for what must have been dozens of apartment levels. At last we emerged on the flat roof of the cylinder. The wind swept across the flat, circular roof, tugging one towards the edge. There was no protective rail. I braced myself, wondering what was to occur. Some dust blew against my face. I shut my eyes." — Tarnsman of Gor, page 50.

Must tarn cots always be high up? Generally, yes they are in cities as noted above. However, Marlenus, the might Ubar of Ar, must have perceived that one day he would need a hidden tarn cot…

"The end of the tunnel widened into a vast chamber, lit by hundreds of energy bulbs. In this chamber, though empty of human beings, was a monstrous tarn cot, in which some twenty gigantic, half-starved tarns huddled separately on the tarn perches. As soon as they saw us, they lifted their heads, as if out of their shoulders, and regarded us with fierce attention. The floor of the tarn cot was littered with the bones of perhaps two dozen tarns. I reasoned that the tarns must be those of the men of Marlenus, left in the tarn cot when he entered the city. He had been cut off. Left without care for weeks, the tarns had had nothing to feed upon but one another. They were wild now, crazed by hunger into uncontrollable predators." — Tarnsman of Gor, pages 197-198.

Examples of Cylinder Tarn Cots:

"The cot was one of six in a vast and lofty cylinder containing many of the offices and dormitories of those associated professionally with the Greens. Their records and stores, and treasures, are kept in this cylinder, though it is only one of four they maintain in the city. The tarncot in which Mip worked was the largest and, I was pleased to note, he was the senior Tarn Keeper in the place, though there were several employed there. The cot was a huge room beneath the roof of the cylinder, taking up what normally would be four floors of the cylinder. The perches were actually a gigantic, curving framework of tem-wood four stories high, and following the circular wall of the cylinder. Many of the perches were empty, but there were more than a hundred birds in the room; each was now chained to its area of the perch; but each, I knew, at least once in every two days, was exercised; sometimes, when men do not wander freely in the cot, and the portals of the cot, opening to the sky, are closed, some of the birds are permitted the freedom of the cot; water for the birds is fed from tubes into canisters mounted on triangular platforms near the perches, but there is also, in the center of the cot, in the floor, a cistern which may be used when the birds are free. Food for the tarns, which is meat, for that is their diet, is thrust on hooks and hauled by chain and windlass to the various perches; it might be of interest to note that, when any of the birds are free, meat is never placed on the hooks or on the floor below; the racing tarn is a valuable bird and the Tarn Keepers do not wish to have them destroy one another fighting over a verr thigh." — Assassin of Gor, page 169.

"As soon as Mip entered the cot he picked a tarn goad from a hook on the wall over a small table with a lamp and papers on it. He then took a second goad, from a hook nearby, and handed it to me. I accepted it. Few dare to walk in a tarncot without a goad. Indeed, it is foolish to do so. Mip, receiving and acknowledging the salutations of his men, made his rounds. With an agility that could come only from years in the cots he clambered about the tern-wood beams, sometimes forty feet from the floor, checking this bird and that; perhaps because I was slightly drunk I followed him; at last we had come to one of the four great round portals which give access to the open air from the tarncot. I could see the large, beamlike tarn perch extending from the portal, out over the street far below. The lights of Ar were beautiful. I stepped out on the tarn perch. I, looked up. The roof was only about ten feet above. A person could, I noted, if sufficiently bold or foolish, leap from the roof, seize the tarn perch and enter the tarncot." — Assassin of Gor, pages 169-170.

Tarn cots are not always permanent structures! Encampments often erect cages to serve as temporary tarn cots.

"At the entrance to the compound was a gigantic, temporary wire cage, a tarn cot." — Tarnsman of Gor, page 165.

The following is an example of a permanent tarn cot made within a large barn-like structure.

"I went about the shed and cot, and crossed the yard, moving between buildings. I wanted to make certain that the gate was indeed open. It was. It had not been opened to facilitate my departure, of course, but, as a matter of course, during the day, for the convenience of new arrivals. The two parts, or leaves, of the gate, within their supporting framework, of course, opened inward. They were now fastened back. In opening, they swung back across the landing platform, which was a foot or two above the level of the height of the palisade. An extension of this platform, retractable when the gate was closed, and probably braced with hinged, diagonal drop supports, would extend beyond the palisade. There was a ramp leading up to the platform on the inside, on the right. The leaves of the gate were very large, each being some thirty feet in height and some twenty-five feet in width. They were light, however, for their size, as they consist mostly of frames supporting wire. Whereas these dimensions permit ordinary saddle tarns, war tarns, and such, an entry in flight, the landing platform is generally used. It is always used, of course, by draft tarns carrying tarn baskets. The draft tarn makes a hovering landing. As soon as it senses the basket touch the ground it alights to one side. The sloping ramp, of course, makes it easy to take the tarn basket, on its leather runners, no longer harnessed to the tarn, down to the yard. It is also convenient for discharging passengers, handling baggage, and such.
       Not all tarn gates have this particular construction. In another common construction the two parts, or leaves, of the gate, within their supporting framework, lean back, at an angle of some twenty degrees. They are then slid back, in a frame, on rollers, each to its own side. This gives the effect of a door, opening to the sky. The structure supporting the gate, in such a case, with its beams, platforms, catwalks and mastlike timbers, is very sturdy. Narrow ladders, too, ascend it here and there, leading to its catwalks and platforms. Such a construction, of course, requires the more time-consuming, hovering landing of all birds, not simply draft tarns, carrying tarn baskets. It does, however, make the landing platform unnecessary. The construction of the Crooked Tarn, incidentally, was more typical of a military installation, in that it permitted the more rapid development and return of tarnsmen, coupled with the capacity to open and close the tarn gate in a matter of Ihn. The tarn gate's construction here suggested that the Crooked Tarn might not always have served as an inn. Probably at one time or another, before the founding of Ar's Station, it had served to garrison troops, perhaps concerned to monitor the more northern reaches of the Vosk Road. This was suggested, too, by its distance from the Vosk, which was approximately one hundred pasangs. The ordinary one-day march of the Gorean infantryman on a military road is thirty-five pasangs. The Crooked tarn, then, was almost exactly three days march from the river." — Renegades of Gor, pages 119-120.

Tarns in a Wagon Camp?

I have often seen the argument that tarns wouldn't possibly be found in, say, a wagon camp of the nomadic tribes. However, Tarl and Harold managed to bring two tarns to the camp of the Tuchuks, and created a tarn cot for them, deciding that tarns would be quite useful to the Tuchuks, especially during their seige on Turia.

"On one of these wagons, with the top removed, were the two tarns Harold and I had stolen from the roof of Saphrar's keep. They had been brought for us, thinking that they might be of use in the warfare in the city or in the transportation of goods or men. A tarn can, incidentally, without difficulty, carry a knotted rope of seven to ten men." — Nomads of Gor, page 256.

Breeding and Training

The breeding of tarns is something which takes great skill in handling these highly carnivorous beasts, and done by the Caste of Tarn Keepers. Books with detailed illustrations have been written by this caste in the breeding and care, as well as the equipment necessary with regard to the tarn. Breeding often requires crossbreeding, to obtain the most desirable of beasts.

The training of tarns is one in which must be perfect, with special care directed toward the war tarn. It must remain with its spirit in tact, yet still be able to be controlled by the tarnsman and allow them to be as one together in the sky, especially in battle. Training also involves teaching the tarn to accept prepared or preserved meat rather than making its own kill, again in the special case of the war tarn.

"That tarn," he said, "was bred for you, specially selected from the best broods of the finest of our war tarns. It was with you in mind that the keepers of the tarns worked, breeding and crossbreeding, training and retraining."
       "I thought," I said, "on the roof it would kill me. It seems the tarn keepers do not train their prodigies as well as they might."
       "No!" cried the Older Tarl. "The training is perfect. The spirit of the tarn must not be broken, not that of a war tarn. He is trained to the point where it is necessary for a strong master to decide whether he shall serve him or slay him. You will come to know your tarn, and he will come to know you. You will be as one in the sky, the tarn the body, you the mind and will. You will live in an armed truce with the tarn. If you become weak or helpless, he will kill you. As long as you remain strong, his master, he will serve you, respect you, obey you." — Tarnsman of Gor, page 58.

"It might be of interest to note that when I had come to Gor, some years ago, domestic tarns, like wild tarns, almost always made their own kills. They may still do so, of course, but now many have been trained to accept prepared, even preserved, meat. Ideally, they are taught to do this from the time of hatchlings, it being thrust into their mouths, given to them much as their mother bird would do in the wild. Tongs are used. With older birds, on the other hand, captured wild tarns, for example, the training usually takes the form of tying fresh meat on live animals, and then, when the tarn is accustomed to eating both, effecting the transition to the prepared meat. Needless to say, a hunting tarn is extremely dangerous, and although its favorite prey may be tabuk, or wild tarsk, they can attack human beings. This training innovation, interestingly enough, and perhaps predictably, was not primarily the result of an attempt to increase the safety of human beings, particularly those in rural areas, but was rather largely the result of attempting to achieve military objectives, in particular those having to do with the logistical support of the tarn cavalry. Because of it, for the first time, large tarn cavalries, numbering in the hundreds of men, became practical." — Renegades of Gor, pages 52-53.

"The war tams, of course, are bred for both strength and speed, but also for agility, swiftness of reflex, and combative instincts. War tarns, whose talons are shod with steel, tend to be extremely dangerous birds, even more so than other tarns, none of whom could be regarded as fully domesticated." — Assassin of Gor, page 143.

Caste of Tarn Keeper

The breeding of tarns is something which takes great skill in handling these highly carnivorous beasts, and done by the Caste of Tarn Keepers. Books with detailed illustrations have been written by this caste in the breeding and care, as well as the equipment necessary with regard to the tarn.

She seemed to be pleased when her friends were bought by handsome tarnsmen, and laughed delightedly when one girl, to whom she had taken a dislike, was purchased by a fat, odious fellow, of the Caste of Tarn Keepers. — Tarnsman of Gor, page 132.

I had never seen one of the tarns before, except on the tapestry in my apartment and in illustrations in certain books I had studied devoted to the care, breeding, and equipment of tarns. — Tarnsman of Gor, page 50.

"That tarn," he said, "was bred for you, specially selected from the best broods of the finest of our war tarns. It was with you in mind that the keepers of the tarns worked, breeding and crossbreeding, training and retraining."
       "I thought," I said, "on the roof it would kill me. It seems the tarn keepers do not train their prodigies as well as they might."
       "No!" cried the Older Tarl. "The training is perfect. The spirit of the tarn must not be broken, not that of a war tarn. He is trained to the point where it is necessary for a strong master to decide whether he shall serve him or slay him. You will come to know your tarn, and he will come to know you. You will be as one in the sky, the tarn the body, you the mind and will. You will live in an armed truce with the tarn. If you become weak or helpless, he will kill you. As long as you remain strong, his master, he will serve you, respect you, obey you." — Tarnsman of Gor, page 58.

The tarn, the great, fierce saddlebird of Gor, is a savage beast, a monster predator of the high, blue skies of this harsh world; at best it is scarce half domesticated; even tarnsmen seldom approach them without weapons and tarn-goad; it is regarded madness to approach one that is feeding; the instincts of the tarn, like those of many predators, are to protect and defend a kill, to the death; Tarn Keepers, with their goads and training wires, have lost their lives with even young birds, trying to alter or correct this covetousness of its quarry; the winged majestic carnivores of Gor, her tams, do not care to share their kills, until perhaps they have gorged their fill and carry then remnants of their repast to the encliffed nests of the Thentis or Voltai Ranges, there to drop meat into the gaping beaks of white tarnlings, the size of ponies. — Assassin of Gor, pages 352-353.

The Tarnsman

The tarnsman is a warrior whose battlefield is the sky. Those who ride the racing tarns are generally small men of a low caste; aggressive men who most likely have social skills other than tavern brawls. With regards to females and tarns, it is a statement of fact many times over in the books that females tend to be quite frightened of them. In fact, you will never read of females riding a tarn, except perhaps tied across the saddle if she were a slave, or in a tarn basket if she were a free woman. Perhaps another reason that there are no women tarn riders is that this sort of thing is considered for men only on Gor. Seems very unladylike to me, too, to find a woman on the tarn dressed as a man. A man of Gor would never allow such either. Another hint at the fact women are not riders of tarns as the men, is the fact the reference of "Brothers of the Wind."

"Tarnsmen, riders of the great tarns, called Brothers of the Wind, are masters of the open sky, fierce warriors whose battleground is the clouds and sky; they are not forest people; they do not care to stalk and hunt where, from the darkness of trees, from a canopy of foliage, they may meet suddenly, unexpectedly, a quarrel from the crossbow of an invisible assailant." — Captive of Gor, page 63.

"The racing tarn, interestingly, is an extremely light bird; two men can lift one; even its beak is narrower and lighter than the beak of a common tarn or a war tarn; its wings are commonly broader and shorter than those of the other tarns, permitting a swifter take off and providing a capacity for extremely abrupt turns and shifts in flight; they cannot carry a great deal of weight and the riders, as might be expected, are small men, usually of low caste, pugnacious and aggressive." — Assassin of Gor, pages 143-144.

"I then managed to get him to the saddle and made sure he fastened the safety strap. As swiftly as I could I then explained to him the guidance apparatus, the main saddle ring and its six straps. When I handed Hereena to him the poor girl was shivering and moaning in terror, uncontrollably trembling. She, a girl of the plains, familiar with fierce kaiila, herself a proud, spirited wench, brave and daring, was yet — like many women — utterly for some reason terrified of a tarn." — Nomads of Gor, pages 229-230.

"Are you familiar with tarns?" asked Mip. I thought for a moment. Some Assassins are, as a matter of fact, skilled tarnsmen. — Assassin of Gor, page 170.

Monetary Value of Tarns

How much for that doggy in the window?

So, you want to purchase a tarn? Or, maybe you don't want to own your own tarn, but you want to hire it for use? Here are a couple of examples of what that might cost you.

The tarn I had sold in Kasra, for four golden tarn disks. — Tribesmen of Gor, page 43.

"I will have a hundred stone of gold for the use of these birds and my men," said Terence of Treve.
       "You shall have it," I said.
       "I wish payment now," said the captain of Treve.
       I whipped my blade from its sheath, angrily, and held it to his throat. "My pledge is steel," I said.
       Terence smiled. "We of Treve," he said, "understand such a pledge." — Raiders of Gor, pages 272-273.

Uses of Tarns

Tarns can be used to carry men into war, which is their primary purpose. Large tarns can also act as draft beasts, to haul goods and people. Often armies will use them for this purpose. Tarns also are used for entertainment, such as the tarn races. However, one particular grisly use of the tarn, is that of the Tarn Death.

"Well done, young warrior," acclaimed Marlenus. "I thought I would see if you would die like a slave." He addressed his men, pointing to me. "What say you?" he laughed. "Has this warrior not earned his right to the tarn death?"
       "He has indeed," said one of the tarnsmen, who held a wadded lump of tunic over his slashed rib cage.
       I was dragged outside, and binding fiber was fastened to my wrists and ankles. The loose ends of the fiber were then attached by broad leather straps to two tarns, one of them my own sable giant. "You will be torn to pieces," said Marlenus. "Not pleasant, but better than impalement."
       I was fastened securely. A tarnsman mounted one tarn; another tarnsman mounted the other tarn. "I'm not dead yet," I said. It was a stupid thing to say, but I felt that it was not yet my time to die.
       Marlenus did not deride me. "You it was who stole the Home Stone of Ar," he said. "You have luck."
       "No man can escape the tarn death," said one of the men.
       The warriors of the Ubar had moved back, to give the tarns room. Marlenus himself knelt in the darkness to check the knots in the binding fiber, tightening them carefully. As he checked the knots at my wrists, he spoke to me. "Do you wish me to kill you now?" he asked softly. "The tarn death is an ugly death." His hand, shielded from his men by his body, was on my throat. I felt it could have crushed it easily. …
       He asked no more if he should kill me, but rose to his feet and walked away, under the snapping wing of one of the tarns, and waved farewell. "Goodbye, Warrior," he called.
       With a sickening lurch and sharp jolt of pain the two tarnsmen brought their birds into the air. For a moment I swung between the birds, and then, perhaps a hundred feet in the air, the tarnsmen, at a prearranged signal - a sharp blast of a tarn whistle from the ground - turned their birds in opposite directions. The sudden wrenching pain seemed to rip my body. I think I inadvertently screamed. The birds were pulling against one another, stabilized in their flight, each trying to pull away from the other. Now and again there would be a moment's giddy respite from the pain as one or the other of the birds failed to keep the ropes taut. I could hear the curses of the tarnsmen above me and saw once or twice the flash of the striking tarn-goad. Then the birds would throw their weight again on the ropes, bringing another flashing wrench of agony. — Tarnsman of Gor, pages 158-160.

The tarn is known for its draft-work capabilities, hauling tarn baskets loaded with goods or providing transportation for a number of people. However, in times of military seiges, knotted ropes which hang from the tarn saddle, were used to carry warriors.

"On one of these wagons, with the top removed, were the two tarns Harold and I had stolen from the roof of Saphrar's keep. They had been brought for us, thinking that they might be of use in the warfare in the city or in the transportation of goods or men. A tarn can, incidentally, without difficulty, carry a knotted rope of seven to ten men." — Nomads of Gor, page 256.

"You have, in the ten round ships," I said, "one hundred tarns, with riders."
       "Yes," said he, "and, as you asked, with each tarn a knotted rope and five of the seamen of Port Kar."
       I looked down into the open hold of the round ship. The wicked, curved, scimitarlike beak of the unhooded tarn lifted itself. Its eyes blazed. It looked like a good bird. I regretted that it was not Ubar of the Skies. It was a reddish brown tarn, a fairly common coloring for the great birds. Mine own had been black-plumaged, a giant tarn, glossy, his great talons shod with steel, a bird bred for speed and war, a bird who had been, in his primitive, wild way, my friend. I had driven him from the Sardar. — Raiders of Gor, page 272.

Seafaring Tarns

Tarns are land fowl, most originating from the mountains. Therefore, trying to take such a land bird out over the sea is quite difficult, even for a short distance, even with the use of a tarn-goad. They have been known to kill their rider who attempted such flights over the water. However, Tarl experimented with the tactic of making them seafaring, forcing the birds to fly across the vast sea to reach land.

"The tarn is a land bird, generally of mountainous origin, though there are brightly-plumaged jungle tarns. The tarns crowded into the holds of the round ships were hooded. Feeling the wind and the cold suddenly strike them they threw back their heads and beat their wings, pulled against the chains that bound them to the keel timbers. One was unhooded, the straps that bound its beak un-buckled. It uttered its scream, that pierced even the freezing winds of Thassa. Men shook with fear. It is extremely difficult to take a tarn far out over the water. I did not know if they could be controlled at sea. — Raiders of Gor, page 271.
       "Generally even tarn goads cannot drive them from the sight of land." — Raiders of Gor, page 272.

"The tarn can scarcely be taken from the sight of land. Even driven by tarn goads he will rebel. These tarns had been hooded. Whereas their instincts apparently tend to keep them within the sight of land, I did not know what would be the case if they were unhooded at sea, and there was no land to be found. Perhaps they would not leave the ship. Perhaps they would go mad with rage or fear. I knew tarns had destroyed riders who had attempted to ride them out over Thassa from the shore. But I hoped that the tarns, finding themselves out of the sight of land, might accommodate themselves to the experience. I was hoping, that, in the strange intelligence of animals, it would be the departure from land, and not the mere positioning of being out of the sight of land, that would be counter-instinctual for the great birds." — Raiders of Gor, page 273-274.

"The bird climbed until I released the one-strap and then it began to circle. Its movements were as sure and as swift as though it might have been over the familiar crags of the Voltai or the canals of Port Kar. I tested its responses to the straps. They were immediate and eager. And suddenly I realized that the bird was trembling with excitement and pleasure, finding itself swift and alive and strong in a new world to his senses. Already, below me, I saw tarns being unhooded, and the straps that bound their beaks being unbuckled, and cast aside. Riders were climbing into the saddles. I saw tarns leaping to the decks of the round ships, and I saw the knotted ropes being attached to the saddles, and picked seamen, experts with the sword, five to a rope, taking their positions. And besides these seamen, each tarnsman, tied to his saddle, carried a shielded, protected ship's lantern, lighted, and, in the pockets of leather aprons, tied together and thrown across the saddles numerous clay flasks, corked with rags. These flasks I knew, were filled with tharlarion oil, and the rags that corked them had been soaked in the same substance. — Raiders of Gor, page 275.
       "Soon, behind me, there were some hundred tarnsmen, and below each, dangling, hanging to the knotted ropes, were five picked men." — Raiders of Gor, page 275.

Racing Tarns

We've learned that tarns are useful for things such as military seiges, raiders for carrying off women, and transportation of goods and people. However, tarns provide amusement for the people of Ar at the Stadium of Tarns. These tarns, bred for slightness and swiftness are the thoroughbreds of Gor; racing against each other, while people bet on their favorite team, or faction as they are called.

The tarns are brought into the arena, hooded, upon wheeled platforms drawn by tharlarion. The rider too, is upon the cart beside his mount, dressed in silks of his faction color. The carts themselves are also painted in the color of the faction for which the rider and tarn ride. Upon arrival at their designated perch, the birds are then unhood.

The perches are numbered, and the birds and rider assigned by the drawing of lots. The inside perch is the most highly priced, as it affords the best chance of winning. The same perches that are used in starting the race are the perches which the tarns will take after the race. The winning perch, or the first perch after the race, is that perch closest to the stands, rather than the inside perch, that which is closest to the dividing wall. The inside perch, which is first with respect to the beginning of the race is desirable at the completion of the race, becoming last place.

Interesting is the definition of "faction:"

Etymology: Middle French & Latin; Middle French, from Latin faction-, factio act of making, faction
       "1 : A party or group (as within a government) that is often contentious or self-seeking; clique;
       2 : party spirit especially when marked by dissension." ;— Merriam-Webster Dictionary © 2006

"I heard the judge's bar ring three times and I could now see the tarns coming forth. There was a cry of expectancy from the crowd. Last-minute bets were being placed. Cushions were being rearranged. Eight tarns were flying in this race, and, hooded, they were brought forth on low, sideless wheeled platforms, drawn by horned tharlarion. The carts were painted in faction colors. The rider rode on the cart beside his bird, dressed in the silk of his faction.
       The tarns were, of course, racing tams, a bird in many ways quite different from the common tarns of Gor, or the war tams. The differences among these tarns are not simply in the training, which does differ, but in the size, strength, build and tendencies of the bird. Some tarns are bred primarily for strength and are used in transporting wares by carrying basket. Usually these birds fly more slowly and are less vicious than the war tarns or racing tams. The war tams, of course, are bred for both strength and speed, but also for agility, swiftness of reflex, and combative instincts. War tarns, whose talons are shod with steel, tend to be extremely dangerous birds, even more so than other tarns, none of whom could be regarded as fully domesticated. The racing tarn, interestingly, is an extremely light bird; two men can lift one; even its beak is narrower and lighter than the beak of a common tarn or a war tarn; its wings are commonly broader and shorter than those of the other tarns, permitting a swifter take off and providing a capacity for extremely abrupt turns and shifts in flight; they cannot carry a great deal of weight and the riders, as might be expected, are small men, usually of low caste, pugnacious and aggressive. Racing tarns are not used by tarnsmen in war because they lack the weight and power of war tarns; meeting a war tarn in flight, a racing tarn would be torn to pieces in moments; further, the racing tarns, though marvelous in their particular ways, lack the stamina of the common tarn or the war tarn; their short wings, after a flight of perhaps only fifty pasangs, would begin to fail; in a short-distance dash, of course, the racing tarn would commonly be superior to the war tarn.
       "The tarns were now being unhooded and they leaped up, with a snap of their wings, to their perches, numbered and chosen by lot. Possession of the inside perch is regarded, of course, as an advantage. I noted Green had the inside perch this race. This would swing some Silver to Green surely, for men, though they have their factions, yet will purchase the tiles of the bird they feel has the best chance of winning. The same perches that are used in starting the race, incidentally, are the perches which the tarns will take after the race. The winning perch, or the first perch after the race, is that closest to the stands, rather than that closest to the dividing wall, the inside perch, which is first with respect to the beginning of the race, most desirable at the beginning, least desirable at the end.
       "I noted that two of the tarns in this race were not of given factions, but were the property of private owners, not associated with the faction corporations; their riders, similarly, were not faction riders; the rider, incidentally, is quite as important as the bird, for an experienced rider often manages to bring a new bird to the first perch, whereas even a fine bird, controlled poorly or timidly, is likely to be far outdone." — Assassin of Gor, pages 143-144.

The most famous racing tarn in Ar, the Green Ubar, and his rider, Melipolus of Cos, were said to have won over one thousand (1,000) races. Though it was thought that Melipolus had retired, the Green Ubar being left in the capable hands of the Tarn Keeper, Mip, it was later discovered this Tarn Keeper was indeed that fabled rider. Sadly, coming out of retirement, bird and rider, to win a critical race, the Green Ubar did not survive.

Mip was fondling the beak of one bird, an older bird I gathered. It was reddish brown; the crest was flat now; the beak a pale yellow, streaked with white. "This is Green Ubar," said he, scratching the bird's neck. I had heard of the bird. It had been famous in Ar a dozen years ago. It had won more than one thousand races. Its rider, one of the great ones in the tradition of the greens, had been Melipolus of Cos. — Assassin of Gor, page 170.

"Suddenly Green Ubar, in the flash of the wings and the cries of the riders passing him, righted himself and with a cry of rage and pain burst toward the rings… Then the bird, which had in its time won a thousand races and more, addressed itself again to that fierce and familiar path in the Stadium of Tarns. It was Green Ubar as I had heard speak of him, Green Ubar of the legends, Green Ubar as he had been in the stories told by men who had seen him years before, Green Ubar, greatest of the racing tarns, holder of awards, victorious, triumphant." — Assassin of Gor, page 358.
       I lifted Mip in my arms. He opened his eyes. "The tarn?" he asked.
       "Green Ubar is dead," I told him. — Assassin of Gor, page 359.

Organization of a Faction

Just as with the horse races well-known on Earth, wagering on a favored faction was part of the amusements of the races. And as with the football games on Earth, wearing a favored factions colors was done on all levels, from the regal to the simple slave girl. And, as with the racecar circuit on Earth, each faction was backed by supporters, who provided the monetary means to pay the expensive track fees, costs of feeding, housing and training the tarn, as well as the payment to the rider himself. In addition to the required sponsorship, the tarn and rider must prove themselves in the races they compete in, winning the majority within the first two tarn-racing seasons. The hiring of riders, too, and adequate staff is sometimes too overwhelming for a new faction; older factions blackballing riders who seek employment with the newer factions.

"The Steels were a new faction in Ar, their patch a bluish gray. But they had no following. Indeed, there had never yet been a Steel in a race in Ar. I had heard, however, that the first tarn would fly for the Steels in this very race, the eleventh race, that which was shortly to begin. I did know, further, that a tarn cot for the Steels had been established during Se'Var and riders had been hired. The backing of the faction was a bit mysterious. What gold there was behind the Steels was not clear, either as to quantity or origin. It might be noted, however, that a serious investment is involved in attempting to form a faction. There are often attempts to found a new faction, but generally they are unsuccessful. If a substantial proportion of races are not won in the first two seasons the law of the Stadium of Tarns discontinues its recognition of that faction. Moreover, to bring a new faction into competition is an expensive business, and involves considerable risk to the capital advanced. Not only is it expensive to buy or rent tarn cots, acquire racing tarns, hire riders and Tam Keepers, and the entire staff required to maintain a faction organization, but there is a large track fee for new factions, during the first two probation years. This fee, incidentally, can be levied even against older factions if their last season is a very poor one; moreover, a number of substandard seasons, even for an established faction, will result in the loss, permanently or for a ten-year period, of their rights on the track. Further, the appearance of new factions is a threat to the older factions, for each win of the new counts as a loss against the old. It is to the advantage of any given faction that there should be a small number of factions in competition and so the riders of an older faction, if unable to win themselves in given races, will often attempt to prevent a good race being flown by the riders of the new faction. Further, it is common among older factions not to hire riders who have ridden for the new factions, though sometimes, in the case of a particularly excellent rider, this practice is waived." — Assassin of Gor, pages 219-220.

The Faction Patch

As earlier stated, followers of certain factions wear patches in the color of their favored team. These patches can be very ornate to simple scraps of colored cloth or ribbon.

"All we know is this," said the man, handing him a greenish patch.
       Kuurus studied the patch. "It is a faction patch," said he. "It speaks to me of the tarn races of Ar."
       "It is true," said the man.
       The faction patches are worn in Ar by those who favor a given faction in the racing. There are several such factions, who control the racing and compete among themselves, the greens, the reds, the golds, the yellows, the silvers. — Assassin of Gor, page 5.

"Do you know the name of the man whom you seek?" asked Cernus.
       "I have only this," I said, drawing forth from my belt the wrinkled patch of green cloth.
       "It is a faction patch," said Cernus. "There are thousands of such in Ar."
       "It is all I have," I said.
       "This house itself," said Cernus, "is allied with the faction of the Greens, as certain other houses, and various of the establishments of the city, are associated with other factions.''
       "I know," I said, "that the House of Cernus is allied with the Greens." — Assassin of Gor, page 43.
       "It is unlikely though," said Cernus, "for those who favor the Greens are numbered in the thousands and come from all the castes of Gor. The Administrator of Ar himself, and the High Initiate, are partisans of the green." — Assassin of Gor, page 44.

Mip, for some reason, seemed to like me, and he spoke much during the evening, as we drank together, of the factions, of the organizations of the races, of the training of tarns and riders, of the hopes of the greens and the other factions, of given riders and given birds. I suspected few knew as much of the races of Ar as Mip. After we had eaten and drunk together, clapping me on the shoulders, Mip invited me to the tarncot where he worked, one of the large cots of the Greens. I was pleased to accompany him for I had never seen a faction cot before. — Assassin of Gor, page 168.

Stadium of Tarns

The large arena which housed the famous tarn races, was typical of stadiums of ancient Rome, with the tiers designed to house the higher castes against the lower castes.

"Then Mip turned his bird and it seemed to veer and slide through the air, the cylinders below slicing to the right and he brought it to rest on a great rail above and behind the highest tier on Ar's Stadium of Tarns, where that afternoon I had watched the races. The stadium was empty now. The crowds had gone. The long, curving terraces of tiers gleamed white in the light of Gor's three moons. There was some litter about in the tiers, which would be removed before the races of the next day. The long net under the rings had been removed and rolled, placed with its poles near the dividing wall. The painted, wooden tarn heads, used for marking laps of the race, stood lonely and dark on their poles. The sand of the stadium seemed white in the moonlight, as did the broad dividing wall. I looked across to Mip. He was sitting on his tarn, silent. " — Assassin of Gor, pages 172-173.

A Day at the Races

The following demonstrates a typical day at the races. You can get also get a good idea of the set-up of the Stadium of Tarns. In description, it is similar almost word-for-word with the arenas of ancient Rome.

The shrill pain scream of the racing tarn pierced the roar of the frenzied crowd.
       "Blue! Blue!" screamed the man next to me, a blue patch sewn on his left shoulder, a pair of glazed blue clay plates clutched in his right hand.
       The tarn, screaming, its wing useless, tumbled uncontrollably from the edge of the large, open, padded ring suspended over the net on the track, plunging into the net, its rider cutting the safety straps and leaping from its back in order that he not be slain beneath the bird struggling in the net. The other bird, which had buffeted it against the edge of the ring, spun awkwardly through, turned in the air, and under the savage command of its control straps, and responding to a yellow flash of the tarn goad, regained its control and sped toward the next ring.
       "Red! Red! Red!" I heard from nearby.
       The next seven tams, strung out, sped through the ring and wheeled in flight to take the next ring. Their leader was a brown racing tarn, whose rider wore red silk, and whose small saddle and tight control straps were of red leather. This was only the third lap in a ten-lap race, and yet already two tarns were down in the net. I could see the netmen expertly moving across the broad stands approaching them, loops in their hands to tie together the bird's beak, to bind its curved, wicked talons. The wing one bird was apparently broken, for the netmen, after binding it, quickly cut its throat, the blood falling through the net, staining it, soaking into the sand below in a brownish red patch. Its rider took the saddle and control straps from the still-quivering bird and dropped with them through the broad strands of the net, to the sand some six feet below. The other bird was apparently only stunned, and it was being rolled to the edge of the net where it would be dropped into a large wheeled frame, drawn by two horned tharlarion, onto a suspended canvas, where it was immediately secured by broad canvas straps.
       "Gold! Gold!" cried a man two tiers away from me. Already the birds had turned the twelve-ring track and were again approaching. A bird of the Yellow faction was in the lead, followed by Red, then Blue, Gold, Orange, Green and Silver.
       In the crowd I heard the shrill screams of slave girls and free women alike, the differences between them lost in the moment of their excitement. During the time of the race the hawkers of candies, sweetmeats, Kal-da, pastries and paga were quiet, standing with their goods in the aisles watching. Many of them, too, were much involved in the race, for concealed in their trays or about their persons were doubtless the glazed clay tablets, purchased from the track merchants, redeemable at odds should their favorites finish in one of the four privileged positions. The birds swept past us again. "Oh Priest-Kings," cried a man nearby, a leather worker, "speed the wings of red!"
       Everyone in the crowd seemed to be on their feet, even those who sat in the marbled tiers beneath the awnings of purple silk. I rose also that I might see. Near the finishing perches, nine of which were standing for this race, were the areas reserved for the Administrator, the High Initiate, and members of the High Council. These areas were almost porches, extending beyond the regular stands, covered with awnings, on which were mounted sets of curule chairs, at different levels. Flanked by two guards, in the red of Warriors, I could see the throne of the Administrator on which, intent, leaning forward, sat the member of the Hinrabian family who now stood highest in Ar. Nearby, but lofty, as though disinterested, on a throne of white marble, but between two Warriors as well, sat the High Initiate. Before him sat two rows of Initiates, who were intoning prayers to the Priest-Kings, not watching the race. I noted that a green banner hung over the wall before both the thrones of the Administrator and the High Initiate, indicating they favored the greens. — Assassin of Gor, pages 138-140.
       There were other favored areas, too, about the stands, in the front, each covered by awnings, in which there sat members of the numerous high families of the city; I noted that some of these areas were now occupied by Merchants; I had no objection to this for I have always thought higher of the Merchants than many of my caste, but I was surprised; in the time of Marlenus, when he was Ubar of Ar, I think even his friend, Mintar, that great brilliant toad of a man, of the Caste of Merchants, would not have had so choice a vantage point from which to observe the races. Across the track, on the far side, I heard a judge's bar clang indicating that one of the birds had missed a ring, and a colored disk, silver, was hauled to the top of a pole. There was a groan from many in the crowd and others cried out with delight. The rider was wheeling the bird, trying to bring it under control, and returning to the ring. By this time the other birds had flashed through it. Below me I saw a hawker of sweetmeats angrily discarding four silver-glazed, numbered clay tiles.
       The birds were now flashing through the great rings before me. Yellow held the lead, followed by Red. Green had now moved up to third. "Green! Green!" a woman was crying out, not far from me, her veil awry, her fists clenched.
       The Administrator leaned forward even more on his throne. He was said to wager heavily on the races. On the low wall, some seven or eight feet in height, some forty feet in width, which divided the track, I could see that only three of the great wooden tarn heads remained on their poles, indicating that only three laps remained in the race. In a few moments, with a cry of victory, the rider of the Yellow brought his tarn to the first perch, followed closely by the Red and the Green. Then, one after another, Gold, Blue, Orange and Silver took their perches. The last two perches remained empty. — Assassin of Gor, page 140-141.
       I heard a judge's bar sound twice, indicating that the next race would begin in ten Ehn. There was some scurrying about to find the odds Merchants. Almost everyone in the crowd wore some indication of the faction he favored. Generally, it was a small faction patch sewn on the left shoulder; the faction patches of the High-Caste women tended to be fine silk, and tastefully done; those of low-caste women merely a square of crudely stitched, dyed rep-cloth; some of the masters had dressed their slave girls in slave livery of the color of the faction they favored; others had twined a colored ribbon about their hair or in their collar. "The races were better in the days of Marlenus of Ar," said a man behind me, leaning forward to speak to me. — Assassin of Gor, pages 141-142.
I heard the judge's bar ring three times and I could now see the tarns coming forth. There was a cry of expectancy from the crowd. Last-minute bets were being placed. Cushions were being rearranged. Eight tarns were flying in this race, and, hooded, they were brought forth on low, sideless wheeled platforms, drawn by horned tharlarion. The carts were painted in faction colors. The rider rode on the cart beside his bird, dressed in the silk of his faction.
       The tarns were, of course, racing tams, a bird in many ways quite different from the common tarns of Gor, or the war tams. The differences among these tarns are not simply in the training, which does differ, but in the size, strength, build and tendencies of the bird. Some tarns are bred primarily for strength and are used in transporting wares by carrying basket. Usually these birds fly more slowly and are less vicious than the war tarns or racing tams. The war tams, of course, are bred for both strength and speed, but also for agility, swiftness of reflex, and combative instincts. War tarns, whose talons are shod with steel, tend to be extremely dangerous birds, even more so than other tarns, none of whom could be regarded as fully domesticated. The racing tarn, interestingly, is an extremely light bird; two men can lift one; even its beak is narrower and lighter than the beak of a common tarn or a war tarn; its wings are commonly broader and shorter than those of the other tarns, permitting a swifter take off and providing a capacity for extremely abrupt turns and shifts in flight; they cannot carry a great deal of weight and the riders, as might be expected, are small men, usually of low caste, pugnacious and aggressive. Racing tarns are not used by tarnsmen in war because they lack the weight and power of war tarns; meeting a war tarn in flight, a racing tarn would be torn to pieces in moments; further, the racing tarns, though marvelous in their particular ways, lack the stamina of the common tarn or the war tarn; their short wings, after a flight of perhaps only fifty pasangs, would begin to fail; in a short-distance dash, of course, the racing tarn would commonly be superior to the war tarn.
       The tarns were now being unhooded and they leaped up, with a snap of their wings, to their perches, numbered and chosen by lot. Possession of the inside perch is regarded, of course, as an advantage. I noted Green had the inside perch this race. This would swing some Silver to Green surely, for men, though they have their factions, yet will purchase the tiles of the bird they feel has the best chance of winning. The same perches that are used in starting the race, incidentally, are the perches which the tarns will take after the race. The winning perch, or the first perch after the race, is that closest to the stands, rather than that closest to the dividing wall, the inside perch, which is first with respect to the beginning of the race, most desirable at the beginning, least desirable at the end.
       I noted that two of the tarns in this race were not of given factions, but were the property of private owners, not associated with the faction corporations; their riders, similarly, were not faction riders; the rider, incidentally, is quite as important as the bird, for an experienced rider often manages to bring a new bird to the first perch, whereas even a fine bird, controlled poorly or timidly, is likely to be far outdone. — Assassin of Gor, pages 143-144.

Learning to Ride a Racing Tarn

Tarl learns that riding a racing tarn is a lot different than riding that of a war tarn. His first attempt nearly cost him a lump on his head — and more.

He moved over the tem-wood beams until he came to two sets of racing saddles and harness, and he threw me one, indicating a brown, alert racing tarn two perches away. The racing harness, like the common tarn harness, works with two rings, the throat ring and the main saddle ring, and six straps. The major difference is the tautness of the reins between the two rings; the racing saddle, on the other hand, is only a slip of leather compared to the common tarn saddle, which is rather large, with saddle packs, weapon sheaths and paired slave rings. I fastened the saddle on the bird and, with a bit of difficulty, the bird sensing my unsure movements, the tarn harness. Mip and I, moving the lock levers, removed the hobble and chain from the two birds and took the saddle. Mip rode Green Ubar; he looked well in the worn saddle; his stirrups were short. We fastened the safety straps.
       On the racing saddle there are two small straps, rather than the one large strap on the common saddle; both straps fasten about the rider and to the saddle, in a sense each duplicating the work of the other; the theory is that though smaller straps can break more easily the probability of both straps breaking at the same time is extremely small; further the two straps tend to divide strain between them, thereby considerably lessening the possibility of either breaking; some saving in weight, of course, is obtained with the two smaller straps; further, the broad strap would be a bit large to fasten to the small saddle; even beyond this, of course, since races take place largely and most often over a net there is normally not as much danger in a fall as there would be in common tarn flight; the main purpose of the straps is simply to keep the rider in the saddle, for the purpose of his race, not primarily to protect his life.
       "Do not try to control the tarn until you are out of the cot," said Mip. "It will take time to accustom yourself to the harness." He smiled. "These are not war tarns."
       Mip, scarcely seeming to touch the one-strap with his finger, almost a tap, took the old bird from the perch and in a whiplike flurry of its wings it struck the outside perch and stood there, its old head moving alertly, the wicked black eyes gleaming. My bird, so suddenly I was startled, joined the first. Mip and I sat on tarnback on the lofty perch outside the tarncot. I was excited, as I always was, on tarnback. Mip too seemed charged and alive. We looked about, at the cylinders and lights and bridges. It was a fresh, cool summer evening. The stars over the city were clear and bright, the coursing moons white with splendor against the black space of the Gorean night. Mip took his tarn streaking among the cylinders and I, on my tarn, followed him.
       The first time I attempted to use the harness, though I was aware of the danger, I overdrew the strap and the suddenness of the bird as it veered in flight threw me against the two narrow safety straps; the small, broad, rapid-beating wings of the racing tarn permit shifts and turns that would be impossible with a larger, heavier, longer-winged bird. With a tap on the two-strap I took the bird in a sudden breathtaking sweep to the high right and in an instant had joined Mip in flight. — Assassin of Gor, pages 171-172.

"Wait here," he said.
       I waited on the height of the stadium, looking down into that vast, open structure, empty and white. Mip on his tarn, Green Ubar, seemed a swift, dark movement against the white sand and tiers, the shadow coursing behind them, seeming to break geometrically over the tiers.
       I saw the bird stop on the first perch. They waited there for a moment. The judge's bar, hanging on its chain from a pole on the-dividing wall, was silent.
       Suddenly with a snap of its wings I could hear more than two hundred yards away the tarn exploded from the perch, Mip low on its back, and streaked toward the first "ring," the first of three huge metal rectangles, before the round "rings" mounted at the corners and at the end of the dividing wall. Startled, I saw the bird flash through the three first rings, veer and speed through the first of the round "rings," and in the same motion, still turning, pass through the second and third of the round "rings," and then, wings beating with incredible velocity, its beak forward, Mip low on its back, pass in a moment through the three rectangular "rings" on the other side of the dividing wall, then whip about the end of the dividing wall, negotiating the three round "rings" in one swift, fierce trajectory and alight, wings snapping, talons extended, on the last perch of the line, that of the winner.
       Mip and the bird remained there for some moments, and then I saw the bird lift itself and turn toward me. In a moment Mip had alighted beside me on the high rail circling the top of the stadium. He stayed there for a moment, looking back over the stadium. Then he took his bird from the rail and I followed him. In a few Ehn we had returned to the perch outside the portal of the tarncot.
       We returned the birds to their perches and put the tam hobble on them there. We removed the small saddles and control straps from the birds, and hung them on vertical beams, a portion of the perch framework. — Assassin of Gor, pages 173-174.

 

 

Special Note

Because of the differences in publishing the books, depending upon whether published in the U.S. or Europe, depending upon whether a first publishing or a Masquerade Books release, page numbers will often vary. All of my quotes are from original, first-printing U.S. publications (see The Books page for a listing of publishers and dates) with the exception of the following books:

• Tarnsman of Gor (2nd Printing, Balantine)
• Outlaw of Gor (11th Printing, Balantine)
• Priest-Kings of Gor (2nd Printing, Balantine)
• Assassin of Gor (10th Printing, Balantine)
• Raiders of Gor (15th Printing, Balantine)
• Captive of Gor (3rd Printing, Balantine)

Disclaimer

These pages are not written for any specific home, but rather as informational pages for those not able to get ahold of the books and read them yourself. Opinions and commentaries are strictly my own personal views, therefore, if you don't like what you are reading — then don't. The information in these pages is realistic to what is found within the books. Many sites have added information, assuming the existences of certain products and practices, such as willowbark and agrimony for healing, and travel to earth and back for the collection of goods. I've explored the books, the flora, the fauna, and the beasts, and have compiled from those mentioned, the probabilities of certain practices, and what vegetation mentioned in the books is suitable for healing purposes, as well as given practicalities to other sorts of roleplaying assumptions.

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