La
Feminine. "I am." Also "you are."
"The first words I had been taught were 'Kajira,' which my captor had addressed to me, and 'La Kajira,' which expressions I understood, from Eta's example, I must utter to my captor… now I was a Kajira; my thigh stung; I moaned with anguish; I wept; a Kajira, I knew, was not even a servant; a Kajira was a slave girl; and the meaning of 'La Kajira,' which I had uttered to my captor was 'I am a slave girl.'" — Slave Girl of Gor, page 65.
"Ute," repeated the short, dark-haired girl, pointing to herself. Then she again pointed at me. "La?" she asked … "Ute," repeated the short, dark-haired girl, pointing at herself. Then she again pointed at me. "La?" she inquired. …
"Ute," repeated the short, dark-haired girl, pointing at herself. Then she again pointed at me. "La?" she inquired. …
"La?" persisted the dark-haired girl, pointing at me with her strapped hand. "La?"
"Elinor," I whispered.
"El-in-or," she repeated, smiling. Then, facing the other girls, she pointed at me. "El-in-or," she said, pleased. She seemed delighted. — Captive of Gor, — page 55.
La Kajira
"I am a slave girl."
"She must learn Gorean," said Kamchak to me. "Teach her 'La Kajira'."
"You must learn Gorean," I told the girl. She tried to protest, but I would not permit it. "Say 'La Kajira'," I told her.
She looked at me, helplessly. Then she repeated, "La Kajira."
"Again," I commanded.
"La Kajira," said the girl clearly, "La Kajira." Elizabeth Cardwell had learned her first Gorean. "What does it mean?" she asked. "It means," I told her, "I am a slave girl." — Nomads of Gor, page 40.
Laager
A wagon encampment; it is a defensive wagon formation utilized by wagon peoples. Wagons are arranged in a circle, end to end, tongues inward, and chained together, the front axle of one wagon chained to the rear axle of the next. The peoples and livestock are protected within.
Etymology:obsolete Afrikaans lager (now, laer), from German, camp, couch, lair, from Old High German legar couch, lair;
"Africa: camp; especially: a travelers' encampment protected by a circle of wagons; a military encampment or defensive position protected by a ring of armored vehicles." — Merriam-Webster Dictionary ©2004-2006
"The laager of the Alars, like that of similar folks, is a fortress of wagons. They are ranged in a closed circle, or concentric, closed circles, draft animals, and women and children within. Also, not unoften, depending on the numbers involved, and particularly when traversing, or sojourning in, dangerous countries, verr, tarsk, and bosk may also be found within the wagon enclosure. Sewage and sanitation, which might be expected to present serious problems, do not do so, because of the frequent moving of the camps." — Mercenaries of Gor, page 43.
Lamp of Love
When a master wishes to make sexual use of his slave girl, he tells her to light the lamp of love, and place it in the window. This sends the message that he wishes not to be disturbed.
"When a master wishes to make use of a slave girl he tells her to light the lamp of love which she obediently does, placing it in the window of his chamber that they may not be disturbed. Then with his own hand he throws upon the stone floor of his chamber luxurious love furs, perhaps from the larl itself, and commands her to them." — Priest-Kings of Gor, page 68.
"Light the lamp of love," I said. She looked up at me, gratefully, but saw then my eyes. Her test was not yet done. Trembling she fumbled with the flint and steel, to strike sparks into the moss bowl, whence by means of a Ka-la-na shaving the lamp might be lit. I myself threw down, in one corner, near a slave ring, the Furs of Love. — Raiders of Gor, page 117.
Lance
Any of a number of various spears found on Gor; used when riding a mount, such as a kaiila, tharlarion or tarn. See "Kaiila Lance," "Tharlarion Lance" and "Tarn Lance" for descriptions of each of these culturally unique spears. See also: "Gorean Spear."
Etymology: Middle English, from Old French, from Latin lancea; Date: 14th century;
"A steel-tipped spear carried by mounted knights or light cavalry." — Merriam-Webster Dictionary ©2003-2006The Lance:
"Spear used by cavalry troops. It usually consisted of a long wooden shaft with a sharp metal point. Its employment can be traced to the ancient Assyrians and Egyptians, and it was widely used by the Greeks and Romans, despite their lack of the stirrup, which did not appear until the 6th century AD. The combination of lance and stirrup gave the armoured knights of the European Middle Ages tremendous shock potential in battle and led to the development of the tournament joust , in which single knights sought to unhorse each other by holding their lances level and charging headlong at each other. The butt end of the shaft was couched in a leather rest attached to the saddle. Medieval battles usually disintegrated into hundreds of such single combats." — Encyclopaedia Britannica © 2003-2006
"Now I could see down the wide, grassy lane, loping towards us, two kaiila and riders. A lance was fastened between them, fixed to the stirrups of their saddles. The lance cleared the ground, given the height of the kaiila, by about five feet." — Nomads of Gor, page 35.
Lance and Tospit
A popular game of the Wagon Peoples. Often, the game is played cruelly involving the use of the "living wand." See also: "Living Wand."
Lanceolate
Refers to the lance-like shape of leaves, such as on a tree (Flahdah Tree).
Etymology: Late Latin lanceolatus, from Latin lanceola, diminutive of lancea; Date: circa 1760;
"Shaped like a lance head; specifically : tapering to a point at the apex and sometimes at the base as in "lanceolate leaves" and "lanceolate prisms." — Merriam-Webster Dictionary ©2004-2006
Lang Gim
A bird common in the Ushindi.
"In the ground zone, and on the ground itself, are certain birds, some flighted, like the hook-billed gort, which preys largely on rodents, such as ground urts, and the insectivorous whistling finch, and some unflighted, like the grub borer and lang gim." — Explorers of Gor, page 311.
[The] Language
The mother tongue of Gor.
"Do we not speak the Language?" I asked, referring to the beautiful mother tongue spoken in common by most of the Gorean cities." Is the Language not yours?" I demanded. — Outlaw of Gor, page 79.
Language Learning Machine
Developed by the Priest-Kings, after the Nest Wars this device was used to help humans that lived in the Nest learn Gorean, in a matter of an hour. The machine induces sleep; while in the sleep-state, messages are sent to the brain and are "learned." No particular name is given to this machine.
Interestingly, Elizabeth learned to read Gorean in the Nest, and in less than an hour. Learning that she could not read the language, Kusk volunteered to teach it to Elizabeth had agreed but was startled when placed on a long table, actually of a size for a Priest-King, and found her head enclosed between two curved, intricate devices, rather like two halves of a bowl. Her head was fastened in an exact position by metal clamps. Further, that she not be terrified and attempt to struggle or leave the table, she was secured to it by several broad metal bands, plus ankle, leg, wrist and arm clips. "We found, after the Nest War," Kusk informed me, "that many of our ex-slaves could not read, which is not surprising since they had been bred in the Nest and it had not been generally thought important that they have that skill. But, when they became free, many wished to learn. Accordingly we developed this device, not too difficult with the single, rather simple brain of the human, which so orders the brain that it can recognize letters, in various forms, and words. The neural dispositions which allow the human to read are of course the result of certain patterns of synaptic alignments, which are here produced without the time-consuming process of habit formation."
Kusk twiddled a knob, and Elizabeth said "Please," once more and then it seemed she could hardly keep her eyes open, and then she closed her eyes and was asleep … There was a tiny click and a small odor signal was emitted from the apparatus closed about Elizabeth's head. Kusk perked up his antennae and stalked over to the apparatus, switching it off. He moved back the two curved pieces, and I freed the girl of the bands and clips. She opened her eyes. "How do you feel?" I asked. "I fell asleep," she said, sitting up and rubbing her eyes, swing her legs over the side of the table." Im sorry. I could not help myself."
"That is all right," I assured her.
"I'm awake now," she said." When can we start?"
"We are finished," said Kusk, the words coming, even-spaced, from his translator. — Assassin of Gor, pages 62-64.
Lar
Literal meaning "Central."
"Oddly enough, one of the expressions in the tongue of Gor for our sun was Lar-Torvis, which means The Central Fire, another Pythagorean expression, except that it had not been, as I understand it, originally used by the Pythagoreans to refer to the sun but to another body." — Tarnsman of Gor, page 28.
Lara
Port town located on the Vosk River.
"They had demonstrated that they could have destroyed Lara, but they had not seen fit to do so. This was taken as an expression of disinterest on the part of Ar in all out warfare with the Salerian Confeeration." — Rogue of Gor, page 62.
Larl
Large, feline beast, which can reach a shoulder height of eight feet, and weigh as much as 800-900 pounds, a vicious, swift hunter, indigent to the mountains. Taming and/or domestication of these beasts is realistically not possible.
"…the larl, a tawny leopardlike beast indigenous to the Voltai and several of Gor's ranges, standing an incredible seven feet high at the shoulder and feared for its occasional hunger-driven visitations to the civilized plains below." — Tarnsman of Gor, page 147.
Larma
This tree, cultivated in orchards generally, bears two distinct forms of fruit, the Hard Larma and the Segmented Larma.
"I took a slice of hard larma from the tray. This is a firm, single-seeded applelike fruit. It is quite unlike the segmented, juicy larma. It is sometimes called, perhaps more aptly, the pit fruit, because of its large single stone." — Players of Gor, page 267.
Lar-Torvis
The sun, literally meaning "Central Fire."
"Oddly enough, one of the expressions in the tongue of Gor for our sun was Lar-Torvis, which means The Central Fire, another Pythagorean expression, except that it had not been, as I understand it, originally used by the Pythagoreans to refer to the sun but to another body." — Tarnsman of Gor, page 28.
"Lar-Torvis is a Gorean expression for the sun." — Outlaw of Gor, page 178.
Last Blow
The final strike of a whip during a slave's initial whipping to remind her that she is a slave. See also: "Gratis Blow" and "Mnemonic Blow."
"I then stood behind her, and to her left, I grasped the handle of the slave whip with two hands. Then again, with unrestrained force, the hardest blow of all, was she struck. She cried out in pain. Then, again, sobbing, she hung in the bracelets, a whipped slave. This last blow is often, though not invariably, added to a slave's whipping. It is sometimes referred to as the gratis blow, or the mnemonic blow. Often it functions as little more than a stroke for, say, good measure. To be sure, whatever its purpose, it makes it very clear to the slave that she is fully under discipline, and that the master may, if he wishes, beat her how, when and as much as he pleases." — Guardsman of Gor, page 205.
Last Spear
Used traditionally in hunting, the one chosen as Last Spear is the hunter deemed the weakest, the least skilled. He stands at the end of a hunting line, his spear cast first at the beast being hunted. See also: "First Spear."
"The most significant reason, however, becomes clear when the role of the last man on the file, who is spoken of as Last Spear, is understood. Once Last Spear casts his weapon he may not throw himself to the ground. If he should, and any of his comrades survive, they will slay him. But this seldom occurs for the Gorean hunters fear cowardice more than the claws and fangs of larls. Last Spear must remain standing, and if the beast still lives, receive its charge with only his drawn sword. He does not hurl himself to the ground in order that he will remain conspicuously in the larl's field of vision and thus be the object of its wounded, maddened onslaught. It is thus that, should the spears miss their mark, he sacrifices his life for his companions who will, while the larl attacks him, make good their escape. This may seem cruel but in the long run it tends to be conservative of human life; it is better, as the Goreans say, for one man to die than many … Paradoxically, perhaps, Last Spear is normally the weakest of the spearmen, the least skilled." — Priest-Kings of Gor, page 20.
Last Veil
One of the many veils worn by free women. Technically, the "Last Veil" is the veil that is actually placed on first, but it is the last veil to be removed, as in a face-stripping.
Latch Bar
Doors that do not have cylinder locks or some other form of lock, often have latch bars; often these bars have a hole drilled which allows the use of a cording to be used as a lock, secured by a signature knot.
I was not altogether without an expedient, however, as, upon examination, I discovered that the door had, as well as the latch string hole, another small hole bored below the latch bar, doubtless put there by someone who had used the room before myself. "This permits," I said to Elizabeth, indicating the small hole below the latch bar, "the complex knot." — Assassin of Gor, page 52.
Latch Hole
In rooms which are not afforded a lock on the door, often found are latch holes, used for inserting a latch string, which is connected to the latch bar.
"I had closed the door, which was of wood and heavy, and barred it with the double beam. When not barred it might be opened from the outside, if the latch string were thrust through the latch hole. Otherwise one would have to cut through the wood. I reminded myself to remember and put the latch string through when I left the room. The disadvantage of such a door, naturally, is that when no one is in the room and the latch string is out, anyone might enter, and either search the room or wait within." — Assassin of Gor, page 50.
"I was not altogether without an expedient, however, as, upon examination, I discovered that the door had, as well as the latch string hole, another small hole bored below the latch bar, doubtless put there by someone who had used the room before myself. "This permits," I said to Elizabeth, indicating the small hole below the latch bar, "the complex knot." — Assassin of Gor, page 52.
Latch String
A piece of string which is connected to the latch bar on a door so as to permit entry into a room.
"I had closed the door, which was of wood and heavy, and barred it with the double beam. When not barred it might be opened from the outside, if the latch string were thrust through the latch hole. Otherwise one would have to cut through the wood. I reminded myself to remember and put the latch string through when I left the room. The disadvantage of such a door, naturally, is that when no one is in the room and the latch string is out, anyone might enter, and either search the room or wait within." — Assassin of Gor, page 50.
I was not altogether without an expedient, however, as, upon examination, I discovered that the door had, as well as the latch string hole, another small hole bored below the latch bar, doubtless put there by someone who had used the room before myself. "This permits," I said to Elizabeth, indicating the small hole below the latch bar, "the complex knot." — Assassin of Gor, page 52.
Lateen
A triangular shaped sail; considered by mariners to be the most beautiful type of rigging, as compared to the squared rigged ships.
"A triangular shaped sail." —American Heritage College Dictionary, Third Edition ©2001
"As I watched, the long, starting-out line of round ships of Port Kar moved past, tacking, scarcely using their oars, their small, triangular storm sails beaten from the north. The lateen-rigged galley, whether a round ship or a ram-ship, although it can furl its sail, cannot well let out and take in sail; it is not a square-rigged craft; accordingly she carries different sails for different conditions; the yard itself, from the mast, is lowered and hoisted, sails being removed or attached; the three main types of sail used are all lateens, and differ largely in their size; there is a large, fair-weather sail, used with light winds; there is a smaller sail, used with strong winds astern; and yet a smaller sail, a storm sail, used most often in riding out storms." — Raiders of Gor, page 265.
Laura
Small trading city along the Laurius River.
"Laura is a small trading city, a river port, whose buildings are largely of wood, consisting mostly it seems of warehouses and taverns." — Captive of Gor, pages 59-60.
Laurius River
One of the major tributaries on Gor.
Laving Bowl (or Laver)
Wash basin.
"I struggled to my feet and staggered to the laving bowl on the table and splashed some water in my face." — Tarnsman of Gor, page 60.
"Beside her, on the floor, rested a laver of polished bronze, filled with water, a towel and a straight-bladed Gorean shaving knife … The girl rose and carried the bronze laver to a drain in one corner of the room and emptied it." — Priest-Kings of Gor, page 34.
Law of the Home Stone
Being that whenever one speaks of the home stone, much honor is involved. Should one blasphemy or desecrate the home stone in some way, punishment is generally death.
"I have been refused bread, and fire and salt," I said to Elizabeth … I looked at Hup. "But why has this been done to me?" I asked. "It seems unworthy of the hand of a Ubar."
"Have you forgotten," asked he, "the law of the Home Stone?"
"Better surely banishment than torture and impalement."
"I do not understand," said Elizabeth.
"In the year 10,110, more than eight years ago, a tarnsman of Ko-ro-ba purloined the Home Stone of the city… It was I," I told Elizabeth. She shuddered, for she knew the penalties that might attach to such a deed. — Assassin of Gor, page 406.
Leach
Also: "Leech"
Blood sucking worm found.
"He reached under the water and pulled a fat, glistening leach, some two inches long, from his leg." — Explorers Gor, page 267.
Leading Chain of Ten
Long chain, which can hold up to ten slaves, and used as a leash.
"Without glancing at the common soldier, he ordered him to leash me, to fasten around my throat the leading chain of ten used on Gor for slaves and prisoners." — Tarnsman of Gor, page 103.
Leading Position
Leaf Urt
One of the several varieties of rodents.
"…a small animal, such as a leaf urt…" — Explorers of Gor, page 294.
League of Black Slavers
The black men of Schendi who make their fortunes in the sales and acquisitions of female slaves; they belong to the Caste of Slavers.
"Schendi, incidentally, is the home port of the league of black slavers. Certain positions and platforms at the fairs are usually reserved for the black slavers, where they may market their catches, beauties of all races." — Beasts of Gor, page 47.
"Schendi was a free port, administered by black merchants, members of the caste of merchants. It was also the home port of the League of Black Slavers but their predations were commonly restricted to the high seas and coastal towns well north and south of Schendi. Like most large-scale slaving operations they had the good sense to spare their own environs." — Explorers of Gor, page 34.
"Slaves, interestingly, do not count as one of the major products in Schendi, in spite of the fact that the port is the headquarters of the League of Black Slavers. The black slavers usually sell their catches nearer the markets, both to the north and south. One of their major markets, to which they generally arrange for the shipment of girls overland, is the Sardar Fairs, in particular that of En'Kara, which is the most extensive and finest." — Explorers of Gor, page 115.
League of Taverners
Governing group of tavern owners which oversees the registration and copyright of tavern names.
"The four-chain chaining arrangement, of course, and variations' upon it, is well known upon Gor. Four other paga taverns in Port Kar alone used it. They could not, of course, given the registration of the name by Procopius Minor with the league of taverners, use a reference to it in designating their own places of business." — Explorers of Gor, page 42.
Leash [1]
See "Lesha."
Leash [2]
A ponytail hairdo, also known as the "Hair Leash" and is often favored by masters because a girl may be seized and controlled by it.
"There are various hairdos in which such combs are worn in the hair. usually, however, the hair of slaves is worn long, and loose, or confined only in some simple way, as with a ribbon or woolen fillet. Some masters like the ponytail hairdo on a slave, which, on Gor, is usually spoken of as the 'leash,' or 'hair leash,' for, by it, a girl may be conveniently seized and controlled." — Dancer of Gor, page 112.
Leash-Leg Tie
A standard submission tie.
Leash Paces
In the training of new slaves, this indicates the use of the leash by slaves to test her responsiveness.
"The leash, it might be mentioned, aside from its convenience in controlling a slave, particularly the choke leash, is an extremely useful training device. Many trainers, the leash looping about their left wrist hold the leash in their left hand at their training whip in their right. Girls, too, can be taught to use the leash to enhance their seductiveness, appearing to draw away, then, approaching, using it about their body, kissing it taking it in their mouth, fingering it, and so on. A test for slave potential used by some slavers is to leash a new girl and see if she, in her apparent rebellion and defiance, act ally, subtly, perhaps in the beginning unconsciously, uses the leash to enhance her desirability and beauty. This indicates that she, in her heart is not displeased to wear the leash of the Master. Indeed, the leash, not uncommonly, can cause woman to sexually blossom. This is presumably a function of such things as its actual restraint, which is quite real; message to, her that she is an animal, a slave, and its making clear to her, by a device, such as a bracelet, a brand or collar, what is the order of nature, who it is who controls her and who it is whom she must obey, who is the slave, and who the Master. A leash, even apart from questions of training of course, can have a powerful emotional impact on a girl. It a very useful way of convincing a girl that she is a slave, similarly it can always serve as an effective reminder. Some girls do not seem to believe they are slaves until they have been leashed. But after that, and after having been through 'leash paces,' there is seldom any doubt in their mind. Some girls beg to be leashed, sometimes crawling their Masters, their leash held between their small, fine teeth Most Masters use the leash at one time or another. A Gorean saying has it that a lashed slave is a hot slave." — Fighting Slave of Gor, pages 366-367.
Leather Bracer
Worn on the arm as a protective shield while using the long bow.
"Mixed in with the arrows were the leather tab, with its two openings for the right forefinger and the middle finger, and the leather bracer, to shield the left forearm from the flashing string." — Raiders of Gor, page 68.
Leather [Finger] Tab
Leather piece with two holes for slipping through fingers; used in conjunction with the long bow as protection.
"Mixed in with the arrows were the leather tab, with its two openings for the right forefinger and the middle finger, and the leather bracer, to shield the left forearm from the flashing string." — Raiders of Gor, page 68.
Leather Streamers
Tarn reins.
"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." — Tarnsman of Gor, page 55.
Leather Worker, Caste of
One of the Low Castes.
Leech
See: Leach.
Leem
A small, arctic rodent.
"… the leem, a small arctic rodent, some five to ten ounces in weight, which hibernates during the winter. The hunter drew forth from the bundle of furs two tiny pelts of the leem. These were brown, the summer coats of the animals." — Beasts of Gor, pages 74-75.
Lelt
A small blind fish which inhabits the brine pits such as those at Klima in the Tahari.
"Lelts are often attracted to the salt rafts, largely by the vibrations in the water, picked up by their abnormally developed lateral-line protrusions, and their fernlike craneal vibration receptors, from the cones and poles." — Tribesmen of Gor, page 247.
Leech Vine
A hemovorous plant, vine-like and tendriled, that fastens two hollow, fang-like thorns into its victim.
"Once I shouted in pain. Two fangs had struck into my calf. An ost, I thought! But the fangs held fast, and I heard the popping, sucking sound of the bladderlike seed pods of a leech plant, as they expanded and contracted like small ugly lungs. I reached down and jerked the plant from the soil at the side of the road. It writhed in my hand like a snake, its pods gasping. I jerked the two fanglike thorns from my leg. The leech plant strikes like a cobra, and fastens two hollow thorns into its victim." — Outlaw of Gor, pages 33-34.
Leg-Spreader
Devices of various complexity designed to keep a slavegirl's legs spread while being used sexually; sometimes used on male captives as an indication of humiliation; used mostly among the Red Savages of the Barrens.
Below us, half concealed in the tall grass, on their backs, lay the two fellows I recognized as the brothers, Max and Kyle Hobart. They were stripped and their hands were thonged behind their backs. They could not rise to their feet. Each wore a crude, single-position, greenwood leg-spreader. "It is a present to me, from my friends, the Dust Legs," laughed Grunt, "The leaders of those who followed us."
"A thoughtful present," I said. "Now they are yours."
"And a rich joke it is, too," laughed Grunt. "See?"
"Yes," I said. Max and Kyle Hobart wore leg-spreaders. These are commonly reserved by the red savages for their white female slaves. — Savages of Gor, page 162.
Lesha
Literal translation: "Leash." This command is given to a girl about to be leashed.
Liana Vine"Lesha!" he said. Immediately, responsive to this command, I flung my wrists behind me, separated by some two inches, and lifted my chin, my head turned to the left. — Dancer of Gor, page 365.
Common jungle growth in the rainforests. When cut open, small amounts of water may be extracted from the vine to drink. The strong vine is also used in the making of rafts. Depicted: Liana vines of Earth.
Etymology: French liane, from French dialect liône, lieune, liane, probably from lier to bind, tie;
"A climbing plant that roots in the ground with woody lianas being characteristic of tropical rain forests and herbaceous lianas of temperate regions." — Merriam-Webster Dictionary ©2004-2006
"We stood near the mud raft, that raft of logs and liana vines on which we placed our shovelfuls of mud." — Explorers of Gor, page 244.
Lice
Pesky insects, often found on ships, as well as infesting birds; the larger variety of lice infest the tarn.
"Good-naturedly, I scratched out a handful or two of lice which I slopped on his tongue like candy. — Tarnsman Gor, page 162.
Lichens
In times of hunger, men of the seas often chew on these mosslike plants which grow along rocks.
Etymology: Latin, from Greek leich*n, lich*n, probably from leichein to lick;
"Any of numerous complex thallophytic plants that constitute the group Lichenes, that are made up of an alga and a fungus growing in symbiotic association on various solid surfaces (as rocks or the bark of trees), that consist of a branching thallus which is not differentiated into stem and leaves but which may be crustose, fruticose, or foliaceous and which contains algal gonidia embedded in a meshwork of fungal hyphae, and that include organisms important in the weathering and breakdown of rocks and some that are sources of foods or dyes; see Ascolichenes, Basidiolichenes; Iceland Moss, Reindeer Moss; Archil, Litmus." — Merriam-Webster Dictionary ©2004-2006
"There is often not enough food under any conditions, particularly I n northern Torvaldsland, and famine is not known. In such cases men feed on bark, and lichens and seaweed." — Marauders of Gor, page 55.
Light Class
Denotes the size of a ship; the smallest, lighest war galleys, used mostly in patrols and communciations.
"Men scrambled on the long yard of the lateen-rigged light galley, a small, swift ram-ship of Port Kar." — Hunters of Gor, page 18.
Light Diversion Rings
One of the rings designed by the great Kurii scientist, Prasdak. See also: "The Five Rings" and "Invisibility Ring."
"Of course," I said, "it is the ring which I obtained in the Tahari, that ring which projects the light diversion field, which renders its wearer invisible in the normal visible range of the spectrum."
I looked at the ring …" If this is an invisibility ring, we are fortunate to have it fall into our grasp," I said. — Explorers of Gor, pages 27-28."The invisibility rings were the product of a great Kur scientist, one we may refer to in human phonemes, for our convenience, as Prasdak of the Cliff of Karrash. He was a secretive craftsman and, before he died, he destroyed his plans and papers. He left behind him, however, five rings." — Explorers of Gor, pages 28-29.
Lighter Of Lanterns
A person who wanders the streets of a city announcing when it is time to light the lanterns.
Outside on the bridges I hear the cry of the Lighter of Lanterns." Light your lamps," he calls." Light the lamps of love." — Outlaw of Gor, page 252.
Linen Paper
Heavy, glossy paper manufacutured in Ar.
"I would have expected the message to have been written either on stout, glossy-surfaced linen paper, of the sort milled in Ar …" — Nomads of Gor, page 49.
"A milled linen paper is much used, large quantities of which are produced in Ar…" — Raiders of Gor, page 8.
Lit
A bird native to the rainforests.
"In the level of the emergents there live primarily birds, in particular parrots, long-billed fleers, and needle-tailed lits." — Explorers of Gor, page 311.
Livery
As defined in the dictionaries of Earth: clothing, uniforms, attire. Used in the same meaning in the books, used in the meaning of all clothing and uniforms on Gor, free and slave alike.
"… the small figure still wearing the diagonally striped livery of the slave." — Tarnsman of Gor, page 72.
"In here," said the man in the brown and black livery of those men in the service of the Kurii. — Beasts of Gor, page 364.
Living Wand
A popular, though dangerous, use of slave girls in the game of the Lance and Tospit. Instead of the tospit placed upon an inanimate object (the wand), the tospit is held in the mouth of a slave girl, thus becoming a "living wand."
Albrecht pointed his lance at me." You are challenged," he said." Lance and tospit."
"The living wand!" shouted Albrecht. — Nomads of Gor, page 79.
Lo
[Masculine] "I am." See also: "La."
"Lo Sardar" — "I am a Priest-King." — Priest-Kings of Gor, page 220.
"Lo Rask," said he. "Rarius. Civitatis Trevis."
"I am Rask," he said, "of the caste of warriors, of the city of Treve." — Captive of Gor, page 266.
Lock Collar
A slave collar which is locked with a key released lock.
"I will decide if and when they receive a lock collar," said Sura. — Assassin of Gor, page 154.
Lock-Collar Girl
A slave which has been given a lock collar to wear. Generally, these slaves are trained slaves.
"Elizabeth, at the beginning of her training, had simply exchanged her yellow collar for a red one. She had already been a lock-collar girl." — Assassin of Gor, page 200.
Lock Gag
Made of leather and metal; used on slaves.
Locksmith
A member of the Caste of Metal Workers.
"Lastly it might be mentioned that it is a capital offense for a locksmith, normally a member of the Metal Workers, to make an unauthorized copy of a key, either to keep for himself or for another." — Assassin of Gor, page 52.
Long Ship
Warship of Gor. See: "Ram-Ship."
"The fighting ship, incidentally, the long ship, the ram-ship, has never been, to my knowledge, in Port Kar, or Cos, or Tyros, or elsewhere on Gor, rowed by slaves; the Gorean fighting ship always has free men at the oars." — Raiders of Gor, page 140.
Long Bow
Considered the weapon of peasants.
"It was true that the long bow is a weapon of peasants, who make and use them, sometimes with great efficiency. That fact, in itself, that the long is a peasant weapon, would make many Goreans, particularly those not familiar with the bow, look down upon it." — Raiders of Gor, page 3.
Looking into The Blood Ritual
It is a belief that the future of an individual can be predicted by the blood of an animal slain by that person. Also called the "Ritual of Sleen Hunters."
"Then, soberly, though I acknowledged it as a supersition, I performed the Gorean ritual of looking into the blood. With my cupped hands, I drank a mouthful of blood, and then, holding another in my hands, I waited for the next flash of lightning. One looks into the blood in one's cupped hands. It is said that if one sees one's visage black and wasted one will die of disease, if one sees oneself torn and scarlet one will die in battle, if one sees oneself old and white haired, one will die in peace and leave children. I drank the blood, completing the ritual." — Outlaw of Gor, page 38.
"I shared bits of the heart of the sleen with my men, and, together, cupping our hands, we drank its blood in a ritual of sleen hunters. I had looked into the blood, cupped in my hands. It is said that if one sees oneself black and wasted in the blood, one will perish of disease; if one sees oneself torn and bloody, one will perish in battle; if one sees oneself old and gray one will die in peace and leave children. " — Beasts of Gor, page 14.
Lot Number
Number assigned to a slave girl at an auction house.
"When a girl first arrives at the Curulean, there is, on a ticket wired to her collar, a lot number." — Assassin of Gor, page 283.
Love Dance Of The Newly Collared Slave Girl
Also: "Love Dance."
Love Feast
A holiday time of year which is held annually during late summer, during the five days of the Fifth Passage Hand.
"Little then remained for them except to review their lessons, eat and sleep well, and be in prime condition for their sale in the late summer, during the Fifth Passage Hand, on the Love Feast." — Assassin of Gor, pages 211-212.
Love Furs
Luxurious thick furs upon which a slave girl may be used. See also: "Furs of Love."
"When a master wishes to make use of a slave girl he tells her to light the lamp of love which she obediently does, placing it in the window of his chamber that they may not be disturbed. Then with his own hand he throws upon the stone floor of his chamber luxurious love furs, perhaps from the larl itself, and commands her to them." — Priest-Kings of Gor, page 68.
"Elizabeth had gathered up the love furs which I had kicked across the room and had spread them at the foot of the couch." — Assassin of Gor, page 107.
Love War
An annual event, in which games are played between Turia and the wagon people.
"The institution of Love War is an ancient one among the Turians and the Wagon Peoples, according to the Year Keepers antedating even the Omen Year." — Nomads of Gor, page 115.
Low Girl
The complete opposite of "First Girl." The low girl is the girl who is the lowest on the range of seniority.
"There are twenty-eight girls in Stones of Turmus," continued Sucha. "We come from nineteen cities. Six of us are bred slaves… "Teach her she is low girl," said Sucha. One of the girls seized me from behind by the hair and threw me back to the tiles. I cried out. The other girls then, swiftly, kicked and struck at me. I screamed, twisting. "Enough," called Sucha. The beating had lasted no more than a brief handful of seconds, perhaps no more than five or six seconds. Its purpose was no more than to intimidate me. I looked up, horrified, my head still held down by the hair. My leg was bleeding where I had been bitten. "Release her," said Sucha. "Kneel, Dina." My hair released, I knelt. "You are low girl," said Sucha. — Slave Girl of Gor, page 256.
Ludi
Ancient Roman games.
The Ludi Saeculares (translation: "new generation games") were celebrations held in ancient Rome to mark the commencement of a new saeculum, or generation. The games originated with the Etruscans , who, at the end of a mean period of 100 years (as representing the longest human life in a generation), presented the underworld deities with an expiatory offering on behalf of the coming generation. As practiced by the Romans the festival lasted three days and three nights, during which sacrifices were made to various deities. Originally the gods of the underworld were worshiped in the ceremony, but later Apollo, Diana, and Leto were introduced, probably by the emperor Augustus (reigned 27 BC-AD 14).
The first definitely attested Roman celebration of the games took place in 249 BC, the second was in 146, and the third, under Augustus, in 17 BC. Other celebrations, also commemorating the founding of Rome, took place in AD 47, 88, 147, 204, 248, and 262. In 1300 they were revived by Pope Boniface VIII and called the papal jubilees.
The Ludi Publici (translation: "public games"), ancient Roman spectacles, primarily consisted of chariot races and various kinds of theatrical performances, usually held at regular intervals in honour of some god; they are distinct from the gladiatorial contests (associated with funeral rites). A special magistrate presided over them. Oldest and most famous were the Ludi Romani, or Magni, dedicated to Jupiter and celebrated each year in September. Like the Ludi Apollinares (for Apollo) and the Ludi Cereales (for Ceres), they centred on the chariot races of the Circus Maximus. A special feature of the Megalensia, or Megalesia, held in April and dedicated to Cybele, the Great Mother, were the ludi scaenici, consisting of plays and farces.
The Ludi Scaenici, (translation: "stage games"), in ancient Rome, were theatrical performances associated with the celebration of public games (ludi publici), in which Greek dramatic forms were first used by the Romans. Although originally performed at the Ludi Romani (for which Livius Andronicus wrote the first Latin tragedy and the first Latin comedy in 240 BC), the ludi scaenici became the characteristic feature of the Megalensia, or Megalesia, the festival of the goddess Cybele (established in 204 BC). They originally included serious dramas but later, under the Roman Empire, were almost wholly devoted to farces and pantomime. The Ludi Saeculares (Secular Games) were celebrated only once in a century." — Encyclopaedia Britannica ©2004-2006
"The games in the Stadium of Blades finished their season at the end of Se'Kara, a month following the season of races… Another popular set of weapons, as in the ancient ludi of Rome is net and trident. Usually those most skilled with this set of weapons are from the shore and islands of distant, gleaming Thassa, the sea, where they doubtless originally developed among fishermen." — Assassin of Gor, page 189.
Luck Girl
A slave girl who acts as mascot onboard ship; her use is usually reserved for the captain of the ship, but she may be shared with the crew, usually as a disciplinary measure.
Lung Fish
Fish found in the salt waters in Klima; much like the Gint.
"It was similar to the tiny lung fish I had seen earlier on the river, those little creatures clinging to the half-submerged roots of shore trees, and, as often as not, sunning themselves on the backs of tharlarion, those tiny fish called gints." — Explorers of Gor, page 384.
Luraz
A minor tribe of the Tahari.
Lure Girl
This is a slave that is used by her owners to entice and entrap a free male, often sold to labor camps or to ship captains seeking galley slaves.
"Such devices, of course, but without the authenticity and ultimate surrender, are often resorted to by 'lure girls,' slaves who serve as bait for captains who need crewmen, masters of work gangs, and such." — Slave Girl of Gor, page 244.
Lute
A musical instrument.
Lydius
Free port city along the Laurius River.
"At the mouth of the Laurius, where it empties into Thassa, is found the free port of Lydius, administered by the merchants, an important Gorean caste." — Captive of Gor, page 59.
Lyre
A stringed musical instrument.
"Sura, I knew, played the instrument. Elizabeth, Virginia and Phyllis had been shown its rudiments, as well as something about the lyre, but they had not been expected to become proficient, nor were they given the time to become so…" — Assassin of Gor, page 207.
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.