Onlinisms
The Cancer of Gor
On Misconceptions and Things Made Up
On this page, I will be presenting various "online-isms" — misinformations — and things that were simply made up because some room leader wished it to be so. These onlinisms have caught hold like wildfire and plague the online world of Gor, and effectively eating away realistic roleplay.
Agrimony and Willow-Bark
Two of the greatest onlinisms that plagues Gor. There is absolutly NO evidence that the Willow Tree or Agrimony is found on Gor!
But wait. There are excuses. Reasons, sorry. There are reasons why there is willow-bark on Gor. The reasoning that I've seen given often is — "When I went to Earth on a Voyage of Acquisition, I brought back what I needed." Or, "I visited with a merchant who had been a part of a Voyage of Acquisition and he brought back things necessary." Or, "I brought the items with me when I was captured on Earth." And the list goes on …
Mind you, out of the mouths often of those who cry out for more "realism" in roleplaying.
WHOA!!! — Now… what is wrong with these statements?! Plenty is wrong!
First off, who in hell is that person, a mere human, to override what careful balance that the Priest-Kings established on the planet? People seem to forget that it was the Priest-Kings that brought people to the world of Gor, with already certain technology afforded to humans. No doubt they also brought much of the flora and fauna upon the planet's surface, from which medications often are derived. For a mere human to decide that the Priest-Kings are wrong, is a mighty lofty opinion of one's self.
Secondly — humans did NOT go on Voyages of Acquisition. Those were the ventures of the Priest-Kings. It seems people confuse the agents of the Kur, which often were humans, and their raids upon the planet of Earth to be Voyages of Acquisitions. They were not. They were slave raids one-hundred percent. Only with a sinister purpose, which was to infiltrate slaves amongs key persons on Gor in an effort for the Kurii to take over not only Gor, but Earth as well.
Thirdly, we have to remember that yes, there are Earth-born living on Gor, these were generally all slaves, save for a very rare few, and would be highly doubtful that any Earth-born who are brought to Gor would be allowed in the physician's caste. These people, firstly, are not allowed to claim a homestone. Too, we see a lot of healing remedies that are of earth nature (i.e., willow-bark, dandelion, etc.) which are doubtful would be found on Gor. Remember, all living things brought to Gor evolved into varieties of beast and plant far different than their Earth (or other planetary) origins.
Agrimony
Firstly, what is agrimony (in addition to being a word commonly misspelled by so-called healers and physicians)? I have my doubts as to whether or not the roleplayers who play healers of physicians actually know this.
Agrimony:
any plant of the genus Agrimonia, of the rose family (Rosaceae). The name particularly denotes A. eupatoria, an herbaceous, hardy perennial that is native to Europe but is widespread in other northern temperate regions, where it grows in hedge banks and the borders of fields. A. eupatoria grows to about 120 cm (4 feet) tall and has alternate feather-formed leaves that yield a yellow dye. The oval leaflets, about 2–6 cm (0.8–2.4 inches) long, have toothed margins. The small, stalkless yellow flowers are borne in a long terminal spike. The fruit is a bur about 0.6 cm in diameter and bears a number of hooks that enable it to cling easily to clothing or the coat of an animal. A. gryposepala, a similar species, is widespread in the United States. — Encyclopaedia Brittanica © 2006.
Roses? On Gor? Well, not actually roses, but of the same family. Let's explore.
Synonyms: Common Agrimony. Church Steeples. Cockeburr. Sticklewort. Philanthropos
Part Used: The herb.
Habitat: The plant is found abundantly throughout England, on hedge-banks and the sides of fields, in dry thickets and on all waste places. In Scotland it is much more local and does not penetrate very far northward.
Agrimony has an old reputation as a popular, domestic medicinal herb, being a simple well known to all country-folk. It belongs to the Rose order of plants, and its slender spikes of yellow flowers, which are in bloom from June to early September, and the singularly beautiful form of its much-cut-into leaves, make it one of the most graceful of our smaller herbs.
Description:
From the long, black and somewhat woody perennial root, the erect cylindrical and slightly rough stem rises 1 or 2 feet, sometimes more, mostly unbranched, or very slightly branched in large specimens. The leaves are numerous and very rich in outline, those near the ground are often 7 or 8 inches long, while the upper ones are generally only about 3 inches in length. They are pinnate in form, i.e. divided up to the mid-rib into pairs of leaflets. The graduation in the size and richness of the leaves is noticeable: all are very similar in general character, but the upper leaves have far fewer leaflets than the lower, and such leaflets as there are, are less cut into segments and have altogether a simpler outline. The leaflets vary very considerably in size, as besides the six or eight large lateral leaflets and the terminal one, the mid-rib is fringed with several others that are very much smaller than these and ranged in the intervals between them. The main leaflets increase in size towards the apex of the leaf, where they are 1 to 1 1/2 inches long. They are oblong-oval in shape, toothed, downy above and more densely so beneath.
The flowers, though small, are numerous, arranged closely on slender, terminal spikes, which lengthen much when the blossoms have withered and the seed-vessels are maturing. At the base of each flower, which is placed stalkless on the long spike, is a small bract, cleft into three acute segments. The flowers, about 3/8 inch across, have five conspicuous and spreading petals, which are egg-shaped in form and somewhat narrow in proportion to their length, slightly notched at the end and of a bright yellow colour. The stamens are five to twelve in number. The flowers face boldly outwards and upwards towards the light, but after they have withered, the calyx points downwards. It becomes rather woody, thickly covered at the end with a mass of small bristly hairs, that spread and develop into a burr-like form. Its sides are furrowed and nearly straight, about 1/5 inch long, and the mouth, about as wide, is surmounted by an enlarged ring armed with spines, of which the outer ones are shorter and spreading, and the inner ones longer and erect.
The whole plant is deep green and covered with soft hairs, and has a slightly aromatic scent; even the small root is sweet scented, especially in spring. The spikes of flowers emit a most refreshing and spicy odor like that of apricots. The leaves when dry retain most of their fragrant odour, as well as the flowers, and Agrimony was once much sought after as a substitute or addition to tea, adding a peculiar delicacy and aroma to its flavour. Agrimony is one of the plants from the dried leaves of which in some country districts is brewed what is called 'a spring drink,' or 'diet drink,' a compound made by the infusion of several herbs and drunk in spring time as a purifier of the blood. In France, where herbal teas or tisanes are more employed than here, it is stated that Agrimony tea, for its fragrancy, as well as for its virtues, is often drunk as a beverage at table.
The plant is subject to a considerable amount of variation, some specimens being far larger than others, much more clothed with hairs and with other minor differences. It has, therefore, by some botanists, been divided into two species, but the division is now scarcely maintained. The larger variety, having also a greater fragrance, was named Agrimonia odorata.
The long flower-spikes of Agrimony have caused the name of 'Church Steeples' to be given the plant in some parts of the country. It also bears the title of 'Cockeburr,' 'Sticklewort' or 'Stickwort,' because its seed-vessels cling by the hooked ends of their stiff hairs to any person or animal coming into contact with the plant. It was, Gerard informs us, at one time called Philanthropos, according to some old writers, on account of its beneficent and valuable properties, others saying that the name arose from the circumstance of the seeds clinging to the garments of passers-by, as if desirous of accompanying them, and Gerard inclines to this latter interpretation of the name.
The whole plant yields a yellow dye: when gathered in September, the color given is pale, much like that called nankeen; later in the year the dye is of a darker hue and will dye wool of a deep yellow. As it gives a good dye at all times and is a common plant, easily cultivated, it seems to deserve the notice of dyers.
History:
The name Agrimony is from Argemone, a word given by the Greeks to plants which were healing to the eyes, the name Eupatoria refers to Mithridates Eupator, a king who was a renowned concoctor of herbal remedies.
Agrimony was one of the most famous vulnerary herbs. The Anglo-Saxons, who called it Garclive, taught that it would heal wounds, snake bites, warts, etc. In the time of Chaucer, when we find its name appearing in the form of Egrimoyne, it was used with Mugwort and vinegar for 'a bad back' and 'alle woundes': and one of these old writers recommends it to be taken with a mixture of pounded frogs and human blood, as a remedy for all internal haemorrhages. It formed an ingredient of the famous arquebusade water as prepared against wounds inflicted by an arquebus, or hand-gun, and was mentioned by Philip de Comines, in his account of the battle of Morat in 1476. In France, the eau de arquebusade is still applied for sprains and bruises, being carefully made from many aromatic herbs. It was at one time included in the London Materia Medica as a vulnerary herb, but modern official medicine does not recognize its virtues, though it is still fully appreciated in herbal practice as a mild astringent and tonic, useful in coughs, diarrhoea and relaxed bowels. By pouring a pint of boiling water on a handful of the dried herb - stem, leaves and flowers - an excellent gargle may be made for a relaxed throat, and a teacupful of the same infusion is recommended, taken cold three or four times in the day for looseness in the bowels, also for passive losses of blood. It may be given either in infusion or decoction. Constituents:
Agrimony contains a particular volatile oil, which may be obtained from the plant by distillation and also a bitter principle. It yields in addition 5 per cent of tannin, so that its use in cottage medicine for gargles and as an astringent applicant to indolent ulcers and wounds is well justified. Owing to this presence of tannin, its use has been recommended in dressing leather. Medicinal Action and Uses:
Astringent tonic, diuretic. Agrimony has had a great reputation for curing jaundice and other liver complaints. Gerard believed in its efficacy. He says: 'A decoction of the leaves is good for them that have naughty livers': and he tells us also that Pliny called it a 'herb of princely authoritie.' Dioscorides stated that it was not only 'a remedy for them that have bad livers,' but also 'for such as are bitten with serpents.' Dr. Hill, who from 1751 to 1771 published several works on Herbal medicine, recommends 'an infusion of 6 oz. of the crown of the root in a quart of boiling water, sweetened with honey and half a pint drank three times a day,' as an effectual remedy for jaundice. It gives tone to the system and promotes assimilation of food. Agrimony is also considered a very useful agent in skin eruptions and diseases of the blood, pimples, blotches, etc. A strong decoction of the root and leaves, sweetened with honey or sugar, has been taken successfully to cure scrofulous sores, being administered two or three times a day, in doses of a wineglassful, persistently for several months. The same decoction is also often employed in rural districts as an application to ulcers. Preparation:
Fluid extract dose, 10 to 60 drops.
In North America, it is said to be used in fevers with great success, by the Indians and Canadians. In former days, it was sometimes given as a vermifuge, though that use; of it is obsolete. In the Middle Ages, it was said to have magic powers, if laid under a man's head inducing heavy sleep till removed, but no narcotic properties are ascribed to it.
Green (Universal Herbal, 1832) tells us that 'its root appears to possess the properties of Peruvian bark in a very considerable degree, without manifesting any of its inconvenient qualities, and if taken in pretty large doses, either in decoction or powder, seldom fails to cure the ague.'
Culpepper (1652) recommends it, in addition to the uses already enumerated, for gout, 'either used outwardly in an oil or ointment, or inwardly, in an electuary or syrup, or concreted juice.' He praises its use externally, stating how sores may be cured 'by bathing and fomenting them with a decoction of this plant,' and that it heals 'all inward wounds, bruises, hurts and other distempers.' He continues: 'The decoction of the herb, made with wine and drunk, is good against the biting and stinging of serpents… it also helpeth the colic, cleanseth the breath and relieves the cough. A draught of the decoction taken warm before the fit first relieves and in time removes the tertian and quartian ague.' It 'draweth forth thorns, splinters of wood, or any such thing in the flesh. It helpeth to strengthen members that are out of joint.'
There are several other plants, not actually related botanically to the Common Agrimony, that were given the same name by the older herbalists because of their similar properties. These are the Common Hemp Agrimony, Eupatorium Cannabinum (Linn.) called by Gerard the Common Dutch Agrimony, and by Salmon, in his English Herbal (1710), Eupatorium Aquaticum mas, the Water Agrimony- also the plant now called the Trifid Bur-Marigold, Bidens tripartita (Linn.), but by older herbalists named the Water Hemp, Bastard Hemp and Bastard Agrimony. The name Bastard Agrimony has also been given to a species of true Agrimony, Agrimonium Agrimonoides, a native of Italy, growing in moist woods and among bushes. — from www.botanical.com
Okay, so we learn that indeed agrimony is medicinal, but where is it mentioned on Gor? Could it be the dina of Gor?
• Dina A small, short-stemmed multi-petaled flower; indigenous to hillsides in the northern temperate zones. The dina resembles that of an Earth rose; sometimes called the "slave flower." It is often used as a design for slave brands.
"… the dina is a small, lovely, multiply petaled flower, short-stemmed, and blooming in a turf of green leaves, usually on the slopes of hills, in the northern temperate zones of Gor; in its budding, though in few other ways, it resembles a rose; it is an exotic, alien flower; it is also spoken of, in the north, where it grows most frequently, as the slave flower…" — Slave Girl of Gor, page 61.
OOPS! It only states that it resembles a rose, not that it is the rose of Earth and is, in fact, an alien flower.
Adios to agrimony.
Willow Bark
There has been debate on whether the Hogarthe Tree is the "white willow" thus bearing argument that "willow-bark" would be available on Gor. Members of the family Salicaceae include poplars such as aspen, balm-of-gilead, cottonwood, true poplar, quiverleaf and western balsam, as well as the willow tree. The true white willow (genus Salix Alba) is not the white poplar (genus Populus alba), although the trees are of the same familiy, Salicaceae. The Hogarthe Tree is described as being related to the poplars of Earth (please refer to the Plants page under "Hogarthe Tree"), but whether the Hogarthe is a white poplar, or another of the family Salicaceae would be dependent on if it would be of medicinal value. Some poplars do have beneficial medicinal properties, such as the balsam poplar (Balsamic, expectorant, stimulant properties) and the cottonwood which treats urinary tract infections, fevers, and diarrhea. The white poplar, (Genus Populus, Species alba), has no medicinal uses whatsoever, whereas the white willow has great medicinal value, such as in the treatment of fevers, infection and diarrhea.
Two different poplars are mentioned in the Scriptures, the white poplar and the Euphrates poplar. White poplar, Populus alba, is familar in North America because it is often planted as a rapidly growing shade tree. The younger portions of the stem are usually a bright white; leaves are covered with dense hairs beneath but the upper surface is dark green. In Israel, the white poplar is often common along rivers and is frequent along the Banias, one of the sources of the Jordan; it is also widely planted. The second poplar is the Euphrates poplar, Populus euphratica, which forms a conspicuous part of the vegetation of the lower Jordan River as well as the Aravah. In the sections of the Euphrates River I have examined in northern Syria, P. euphratica is the most common tree. It forms dense stands along the banks, likely clones formed from runners of a parent tree. The leaves are polymorphic, that is, different leaves on the same tree or even the same branch may have strikingly different shapes. The bark of this tree, unlike its close relative the white poplar, is not white nor do the leaves have a white undersurface. It can tolerate relatively high salinity. Common in many parts of the Middle East, it is assumed that the Euphrates poplar is intended in Psalm 137:1-3 where the captives hung their harps on the "willows" of Babylon. The commonly planted "weeping willow" was given its name, Salix babylonica, after this portion of scripture. However, it is apparently native to China and never grew in Bible lands. — Old Dominion University
Willow is the inner bark of several species of Salix, trees in the willow family including white willow (S. alba). Four other European species recognized as sources are crack willow (S. fragilis), purple willow (S. purpurea), violet willow (S. daphnoides), and bay willow (S. pentandra). All except bay willow are naturalized in North America. For more than 2,000 years, people of the northern hemisphere used willow bark as a wash for external ulcers and internally to reduce fevers and relieve aches, pains, rheumatism, arthritis, and headaches. The Houma used black willow root bark as a blood thinner; the Creek used the root tea to relieve inflammation in rheumatism and reduce fever. In American folk tradition, the bark was used to thin the blood and treat fever. The tea was also taken for dyspepsia. — American Herbal Products Association
I stared, tremblingly, at the lonely pair of trees. "The trees," I said. "The trees." They were Hogarthe trees, named for Hogarthe, one of the early explorers in the area of the Barrens. They are not uncommon in the vicinity of water in the Barrens, usually growing along the banks of small streams or muddy, sluggish rivers. Their shape is very reminiscent of poplar trees on Earth, to which, perhaps, in virtue of seeds brought to the Counter-Earth, they may be related. — Blood Brothers of Gor, page 300.
Celane Melons
This is one example of the rampant misinformation that plagues many Gorean sites. There is no such melon on Earth or on Gor. There are, however, unspecified varieties of melons mentioned in the books. Please refer to the Foods page and the Flora and Fauna page for further information on melons.
In my research, I did happen upon the term "celane." It's a Latin term that loosely means "mankind." Celane, is a euphorbic plant, which means, you definitely don't want to be eating it! I thought this interesting (and if you think about it, the nut does vaguely resemble a melon):
"Jatropha hedges were largely replaced in Senegal more than twenty years ago by two other euphorbias, known locally as celane and celane toubab. These were promoted by the agriculture extension service because they are very dense growing, and therefore make an even more effective barrier to wind and livestock than jatroha curcas. Farmers are familiar with jatropha and fondly remember its utilisation for village soapmaking and as a topical antiseptic. A few farners have begun the difficult task of replacing their celane, which has a caustic latex that burns the eyes, with jatropha hedges." — ATI Project in Senagal
Jatropha
(genus Jatropha), member of the spurge family (Euphorbiaceae), native in both New World and Old World tropics and containing about 125 species of milky-juiced herbs, shrubs, and trees, some useful for their oils or as ornamental plants in tropical gardens.
A garden curiosity is tartogo, or gouty jatropha (J. podagrica), from Guatemala and Honduras; it has a short trunk that is swollen at the base, erect red clusters of small flowers borne most of the year, and three- to five-lobed palmate (fanlike) leaves. The coral plant (J. multifida) from South America is outstanding for its huge, deeply cut, 11-lobed leaves on plants, 3 m (10 feet) tall, bearing small, coral-red clusters of flowers.
The peregrina (J. integerrima) from Cuba, about 5 m tall with spadelike leaves sharply lobed at the base, bears crimson flower clusters the year round. J. berlandieri, a perennial 30 cm (12 inches) tall distributed from Texas to Central America, is characterized by long-stalked, purple flowers.
The barbados nut (J. curcas), with yellow-green flowers and three- to five-lobed leaves on trees 6 m tall from Mexico and Central America, produces seeds from which cooking oil, soap, and a strong purgative are obtained. The seeds themselves are eaten if thoroughly roasted to remove the poison. The lac (a resinous substance) produced by a scale insect that feeds on the leaves is used to make a fine varnish for guitars.
The closely related genus Cnidosculos is distinguished from Jatropha by the absence of petals in the flowers, though the sepals form a corolla-like bloom.Euphorbia
Etymology: New Latin, alteration of Latin euphorbea, from Euphorbus, 1st cent. A.D. Greek physician
"Any of a large genus (Euphorbia of the family Euphorbiaceae) of plants that have a milky juice and flowers lacking a calyx and included in an involucre which surrounds a group of several staminate flowers and a central pistillate flower with 3-lobed pistils; broadly." — Merriam-Webster Dictionary ©2006
Ready to munch some celane? Definitely, the one who created the concept of celane melons on Gor was not a friendly sort…
Chillery
Never is this word used in any of the books of Gor. I haven't figured out exactly what a "chillery" is; different people use it in different contexts. Some reference a "chillery" as if it's a refrigerator (walk-in or otherwise) or an ice box, while others reference it as a sort of walk in cold storage room. Ice is not easily obtained on Gor, however, there is some ice storage available, and only the wealthiest of Goreans can afford such luxury. The ice house is such a cold storage. However, such ice houses would not be found in places like the desert lands, the camps of wagon peoples, the jungle villages of the Schendi, etc.
Nomads of the plains and the barrens depended on the curing and drying of certain foods, such as meat. For the wagon peoples, the same would hold true for the winter months as well, as the wagons are leaving behind the snows and ice to a more temperate place in the equatorial zone to wait out those months — and ensure the survival of the bosk. And it's absolutely not realistic, that the wagon people would haul ice during their migrations. Food preparations would have begun before their migration northward, and therefore the need for hauling the ice would not be sufficient for the risk of the lives of the peoples and the bosk. In order for ice to remain effective while the peoples were camped at the equatorial zone for the winter, it would have to be an especially great amount of ice to be hauled! Even still, with temperatures at their coldest in the 60s (F), the ice would melt away rather quickly.
"I brought up from the kitchen, where I had been keeping it hot, a vessel of black wine, with sugars, and cups and spoons. Too, I had brought up a small bowl of powdered bosk milk. We had finished the creams last night and, in any event, it was unlikely they would have lasted the night. If I had wanted creams I would have had to have gone to the market. My house, incidentally, like most Gorean houses, had no ice chest. There is little cold storage on Gor. Generally food is preserved by being dried or salted. Some cold storage, of course, does exist. Ice is cut from ponds in the winter, and then stored in ice houses for it, or have it delivered in ice wagons. Most Goreans, of course, cannot afford the luxury of ice in the summer." — Guardsman of Gor, page 295.
Cho
A non-existent drink. This is another example of something that is placed on websites by those without access to the books, and cut-and-paste from other websites, from quotes and such, not understanding or fully knowing what is being placed on the pages. "Cho" is not found in the books written by John Norman, created by those on mIRC who even to this day have no clue.
Old Gorean versus Old Language
Also: Kassar Language
There is a such thing known as Old Gorean. It is a language created by the Intiates but not generally spoken on Gor. A comparative on Earth, is the ancient language of Latin, still used by priests, but not a spoken language amongst the main populace.
"… Old Gorean, a language cultivated by the Initiates but not spoken generally on the planet…" — Tarnsman of Gor, page 40.
Seen often and used in many Gorean chat sites is a language the misinformed call the Old Language, or the Kassar Language, apparently created by someone of a Kassar group of eons ago. Such misinformation is one of many rampant things that has been radically changed in the general online populace of Gor with the growing numbers who purchased their own books and read for themselves, discovering they were indeed duped. This misinformation, like a few other examples such as celane melone, servery, chillery, et al, perhaps were purposely created to give its author that sense of control, and perhaps something to laugh about watching as so many fall for the misinformation as "God's" honest and absolute truth, whereas "god" alludes to referencing John Norman, but sadly refers to this Kassar person. These terms, which include words/spellings such as "Blackwyne," "Urth," "Nidan," "Jashi," "Fadu," "Chaq," "Ahleena," "Jerag," "Vana'she," and "Avan'shea. have never appeared in the books written by John Norman.
The term Rask which has been called part of this fictitious language, is indeed in the Chronicles of Gor — as the name of the leader of a group of raiders from Treve. Now, it's a real good thing, I think, that Rask is a fictional character in a fictional book, because I don't think he'd be non too pleased to learn his name has been used as meaning a person's ass. I think that may just chap his rask–er–hide. ;)
Panthera
Never once this term is found in any of the books written by John Norman. The correct term is panther girls.
Red-Fruit
A non-existent fruit. This is another example of something that is placed on websites by those without access to the books, and cut-and-paste from other websites, from quotes and such, not understanding or fully knowing what is being placed on the pages. "Red fruit" was the literal term to describe the different red-fleshed fruits found on Gor, and is not a particular fruit named "red fruit." See also the Foods page.
Servery
Although this is a real world, used primarily in Great Britain, a servery being generally to denote kitchen equipment or portable kitchens, never is this word used in any of the books of Gor. What is used in the books are such terms as Kitchen, Commissary Wagon, Public Eating Tents and Tables, Public Wagons, and, Restaurants.
"I would stay in one of the public tents tonight. For five copper tarsks one may rent furs and a place in the tent. It is expensive, but it is, after all, En'Kara and the time of the fair. In such tents it is not unusual for peasants to lie crowded, side by side, with captains and merchants. During En'Kara, at the Fair, many of the distinctions among men and castes are forgotten. Unfortunately meals are not served in the tents. For the price it seems one should banquet. This lack, however, is supplied by numerous public kitchens and tables. These are scattered throughout the district of the fair. Also there are vendors." — Beasts of Gor, pages 50-51.
"In the restaurant I had eaten there were some two hundred tables, under tenting." — Beasts of Gor, page 61.
"… among the wagons by the masters of the public slave wagons, who buy, sell and rent girls, providing warriors and slavers with a sort of clearing house and market for their feminine merchandise. The public slave wagons, incidentally, also provide Paga. They are a kind of combination Paga tavern and slave market. I know of nothing else precisely like them on Gor." — Nomads of Gor, page 118.
Silver Goblets (Cups, Mugs, etc) Will Turn Wine to Poison!
Holy Macaroni! I would really love to find the idiot that start this nonsense.
Fallacy: Serving Ka-la-na or any wine or even Paga in a silver vessel will poison the drinker.
Fact: On Gor, drinking vessels are made of many things, such as, gold, silver and pewter. Serving Ka-la-na or any wine or alcoholic beverage in a metal vessel is perfectly acceptable, and absolutely does not taint the wine, as evidenced by the following quotes. Note that in the last quote, wines are served in goblets, though it does not state what the goblets are made of. However, based on the first quote, it's reasonable that the goblets were metallic, rather than ceramic. As a side note, however, Ka-la-na is traditionally served from the crater rather than a goblet.
""My hand clenched on the metal goblet. The wine moved in the vessel." — Tarnsman of Gor, page 30.
"I thrust out the silver Paga goblet, studded with rubies, and Telima, standing beside my thronelike chair, filled it. I did not look upon her." — Raiders of Gor, page 223.
"One girl held our head back, and others, from goblets, gave us of wines, Turian wine, sweet and thick, Ta-wine, from the famed Ta grapes, from the terraces of Cos, wines even, Ka-la-nas, sweet and dry, from distant Ar." — Tribesmen of Gor, page 213.
"Bring me a goblet," I said. A goblet was fetched. It was of heavy gold. — Marauders of Gor, page 22.
How the notion of metal vessels tainting wine came about in virtual chat rooms can be blamed on misconceptions and lack of knowledge, or perhaps carried over from another roleplay genre.
Tarncote
Also: Tarn Coop
NO! NO! NO! NO! A thousand times NO! The holding pens for tarns is NOT called a "TARN COTE!" The word is tarn COT (no "e" at the end please!); tarn coop is also incorrect. The correct term is "tarn cot.". 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.
Cot:
Etymology: Middle English, from Old English; akin to Old Norse kotsmall hut;
1 : a small house
2 : Cover, sheath; especially : Stall (animal enclosure)." — Merriam-Webster Dictionary ©2006.
"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.
"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…" — 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." — Assassin of Gor, pages 169-170.
"At the entrance to the compound was a gigantic, temporary wire cage, a tarn cot." — Tarnsman of Gor, page 165.
Editor's Note
This page is an on-going project and will be updated as time allows.
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.