The Slaves
The Kajirus
The Male Slave of Gor
On Gor, the male slave is a far smaller population than their female counterparts. In the traditional sense, male slaves are generally not sexual pets for free women, but rather are often assigned heavy laborious tasks. Most male slaves are captives of war or criminals and are seen as simply animals of the lowest sense. Male slaves generally do not wear ornate or locked collars, but rather the plain plate collar which is hammered around his neck. Too, male slaves are often kept in chains because of their dangerous nature.
"… the male slave, or Kajirus, seldom has a locked collar; normally a band of iron is simply hammered about his neck; often he works in chains, usually with other male slaves; in some cities, including Ar, an unchained male slave is almost never seen; there are, incidentally, far fewer male slaves than female slaves… " — Assassin of Gor, page 51.
The Fighting Slave
Male slaves, especially if they are particularly large and strong, are trained as fighters. Pitted against each other in an arena, wagers are made, and often the honor of a city or high-ranking family are at stake. These "fighting slaves" do at times duel to the death, mirroring the gladiatorial events of ancient Rome. Such were the infamous and notorious games of the Stadium of Blades in Ar.
These bloody, cruel games are held in Ar in which men meet men, females meet females, men (and females) meet beasts, and at times, even men meeting female slaves; and are often fought to the death. The combatants are slaves (both male and female) or criminals, or low caste citizens, just as in the contests of the gladiator.
John Norman apparently failed history, however. In the quote posted below from Assassin of Gor, he eludes that some of the games in the Stadium of Blades are representative of the ludi. However, the games of the ludi were peaceful, comprised of chariot races and theatrical performances, the most famous being the Circus Maximus. The ludi were games of honor, and warriors eagerly participated. Norman also states that in the games of the ludi, one such popular game was the net and the trident. That also is incorrect. The net and trident were representative of the gladiatorial contests, of the retiarius ("net man") and the secutor ("pursuer"). Another example is the blind helmets worn in the Stadium of Blades. This too is representative of the gladitorial contests, that of the fabled equites (also: andabatae). The beastarii are also represented here in the games is bestiarii in a venatio (contests between man and beast).
Of course, it is possible that in John Norman's reference to "ludi" was not to the Ludi Saeculares, but rather to the literal Latin translation, "games". It's easy, I suppose, to make that mistake, as the school for gladiators was called a ludus.
Please also refer to my page, The Fighting Slave, for detailed information, as well as, The Gladiator, for more information on the gladiators of ancient Rome.
"I learned such things as the pacing of the bird, the model trajectories for negotiating the rings, techniques of avoiding birds and blocking others, sometimes forcing them to hit or miss the rings; racing could be, and, often was, as dangerous and cruel as the games in the Stadium of Blades, where men met men and beasts, and often fought to the death." — Assassin of Gor, page 188.
"The games in the Stadium of Blades finished their season at the end of Se'Kara, a month following the season of races. I attended the games only once, and found that I did not much care for them. To the credit of the men of Ar I point out that the races were more closely followed. I do not choose to describe the nature of the games, except in certain general detail. There seems to me little of beauty in them and much of blood. Matches are arranged between single armed fighters, or teams of such. Generally Warriors do not participate in these matches, but men of low caste, slaves, condemned criminals and such. Some of them, however, are quite skillful with the weapons of their choice, surely the equal of many Warriors. The crowd is fond of seeing various types of weapons used against others, and styles of fighting. Buckler and short sword are perhaps most popular, but there are few weapons on Gor which are not seen over a period of three or four days of the games. 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. Sometimes men fight locked in iron hoods, unable to see their opponents. Sometimes men wrestle to the death or use the spiked gauntlets. Sometimes slave girls are forced to fight slave girls, perhaps with steel claws fastened on their fingers, or several girls, variously armed, will be forced to fight a single man, or a small number of men. Surviving girls, of course, become the property of those whom they have fought; men who lose are, of course, slain. Beasts are also popular in the Stadium of Blades, and fights between various animals, half starved and goaded into fury by hot irons and whips, are common; sometimes the beasts fight beasts of the same species, and other times not; sometimes the beasts fight men, variously armed, or armed slave girls; sometimes, for the sport of the crowd, slaves or criminals are fed to the beasts. The training of slaves and criminals for these fights, and the acquisition and training of the beasts is a large business in Ar, there being training schools for men, and compounds where the beasts, captured on expeditions to various parts of Gor and shipped to Ar, may be kept and taught to kill under the unnatural conditions of the stadium spectacle. Upon occasion, and it had happened early in Se'Kara this year, the arena is flooded and a sea fight is staged, the waters for the occasion being filled with a variety of unpleasant sea life, water tharlarion, Vosk turtles, and the nine gilled Gorean shark, the latter brought in tanks on river barges up the Vosk, to be then transported in tanks on wagons across the margin of desolation to Ar for the event.
"Both the games and the races are popular in Ar, but, as I have indicated, the average man of Ar follows the races much more closely. There are no factions, it might be mentioned, at the games. Further, as might be expected, those who favor the games do not much go to the races, and those who favor the races do not often appear at the games. The adherents of each entertainment, though perhaps equaling one another in their fanaticism, tend not to be the same men. The one time I did attend the games I suppose I was fortunate in seeing Murmillius fight. He was an extremely large man and a truly unusual and superb swordsman. Murmillius always fought alone, never in teams, and in more than one hundred and fifteen fights, sometimes fighting three and four times in one afternoon, he had never lost a contest. It was not known if he had been originally slave or not, but had he been he surely would have won his freedom ten times over and more; again and again, even after he would have won his freedom had he first been slave, he returned to the sand of the arena, steel in hand; I supposed it might be the gold of victory, or the plaudits of the screaming crowd that brought Murmillius ever again striding helmeted in the sunlight onto the white sand." — Assassin of Gor, pages 189-190.
More often that not, however, these fighting matches are performed merely to the point of exhaustion such as in modern Earth boxing or wrestling as depicted in the following quotes.
"Many slave fights are little more than bloody brawls, which free persons are pleased to witness. Kenneth and Barus, on the other hand, who bet on such matters, took these fights seriously. They had, over the years, devoted time and intelligence to the training and development of fighting slaves. The stables of the Lady Florence of Vonda had been, as a result of this, particularly in the last four or five years, unusually successful in the stable bouts. Indeed, Kenneth and Barus had accumulated small fortunes as a result of their efforts in this area." — Fighting Slave of Gor, page 240.
"Sometimes as often as every fourth or fifth day I was hooded and chained, and placed in a wagon, usually with some fellow slaves, fighters, too. I would then be unchained and unhooded, in my turn, in a shallow pit, about which free persons, almost always of low caste, would he gathered. In the pit, too, would be another slave. Our hands would be wrapped in leather that they might not he easily broken. One might kick but holds to the death were not permitted. One fought, with occasional rest periods, for this makes the fight last longer, the fighters being briefly refreshed, until one man or the other could no longer fight. There would be much shouting and betting. I had lost my first matches in our own stables but, in time, with training and advice, and pit experience, I had begun to do well. I had won my last seventeen bouts, five of which had been outside our own stables. I was usually one of a team of five fighters divided by weight. I was in the heaviest weight class. Some small men, as is well known, are extremely fine fighters, though, of course, they do not have the size and weight to consistently best larger men, assuming that the distribution of skills is similar. — Fighting Slave of Gor, pages 240-241
The Male Slave in Professions
Male slaves at times hold "professions" which leaves them to perform specific duties, such as in law. In Port Kar, male slaves which serve as messengers of the Council of the Captains in Port Kar are known as page boys.
"I took the note from the boy, who appeared suddenly beside my chair. He had long hair, and wore a tunic of red and yellow silk. I recognized him, he being a page of the council." — Raiders of Gor, page 142.
The Male Slave in Battle
During times of war, depending upon the situation, at times every able bodied male is required to play a role. Male slaves are no exception, and have been known to be utilized in battle; from ditch digging to carrying a weapon — and fighting alongside warriors.
This section is still under construction and much more information will be forthcoming.
The Male Silk Slave
There are males slaves which a free woman has kept for sexual use. These males slaves are known as "silk slaves" to deviate them from the typical labor slave. The most handsome and strong of these slaves are often mated with exquisitely beautiful women to breed strong, beautiful and handsome offspring. 
The union of slaves in this manner, of course, is done with both slaves hooded, that they not know whom they are bred with.
"You are then," I said, "trying to make me fear my sexual feelings that I will suppress them, and with them my manhood."
"It is the best way we know," she said, "to reduce a males effectiveness in all socially competitive situations. He is then crippled, of course, not only sexually, but often, in many other ways, too. When his sexuality does not give him spine he becomes timid and manipulable. He is then useful to ambitious women who, at another time, might scarcely have dared to speak to him." — Fighting Slave of Gor, page 71.
Male silk slaves are chosen to be such not because of their fraility, but because they are not weak. It is such that the free woman fears, knowing she could very well become empowered by her slave, and claimed to be his. Such is not uncommon. This is perhaps why there are those silks slaves who are quite feminine, preferred by those women who especially fear masculinity.
"Handsome and strong male silk slaves are hooded and bred with exquisitely beautiful female slaves, also hooded. The female offspring of this union are incredibly beautiful, and the male offspring, interestingly, are generally strong, handsome and quite masculine. This is perhaps because many male silk slaves are chosen to be male silk slaves not because they are weak like women, but because they are not. As a female slave is to fully please her Master, so is a male silk slave to fully please his Mistress. Some male silk slaves are rather feminine; some women prefer this type, perhaps because they fear true men as from such a male silk slave they need not fear that they may suddenly be turned upon and tied, and taught to be women. Most women, however, after a time, find this type of silk slave a banality and a bore; charm and wit can be entertaining, but, in time, if not conjoined with intellect and true masculine power, they are likely to wear thin." — Savages of Gor, page 69.
"The feminine type of male silk slave, incidentally, for better or for worse, is seldom selected for breeding purposes. Gorean slave breeders, perhaps benighted in this respect, prefer what they take to be health to what they think of as sickness, and what they take to be strength to what they deem weakness." — Savages of Gor, pages 69-70.
There is also insinuation that the female owner may castrate her male slave, thus rendering him a useless eunich. Such is speculation, although one free woman did threaten her slave with being gelded for his impudence.
Again I struggled, and was again held helplessly and perfectly in the steel. "Cease your struggles," she said, suddenly, angrily." Or I will geld you." — Savages of Gor, page 227.
The male silk slave is very rarely a Gorean male, for they are too dangerous and seldom make good silk slaves. Earth men seem to make the best silk slaves due to the sociological impact of "manhood" on Earth, as spoken by the female slaver Lady Tendite:
"This is not a common work slave," said the Lady Tendite to the crowd, "a simple brute, an insensitive lout for your fields or stables. This is a valuable and highly intelligent silk slave. Furthermore, he is a male from Earth. From birth he has been taught to be deferential to the wishes of women, to adopt whatever values they have told him to adopt, and to believe whatever propositions they have told him to believe buy him. He has been trained since birth to be the slave of women. Have no fear. He will be sweet, tender, solicitous, understanding, sympathetic and obedient. You need not fear lust and power from him. You need not fear to be alone with him. He is a male of Earth. Bid for him. He will always be to you a lovely and complete slave."" — Fighting Slave of Gor, page 162,
"Female pleasure slaves, given slave raids and the sackings of cities, are relatively plentiful on Gor. Male silk slaves are not. The explanation for this, I think, is reasonably clear. Gorean males seldom make good silk slaves." — Fighting Slave of Gor, page 164.
It should be interesting to note, that according to the values set by Goreans, the value of slaves, from least to most valuable are as follows. However, due to the fluctuating market, prices will vary at times, and these values are not set in stone. Additionally, this list does not include exotics, or those with professional abilities, such as law, medicine or fighting slaves.
- the female work slave, purchased to work the laundries and kitchens
- the male work slave, purchased for heavy labor
- the female pleasure slave
- the male silk slave
"I will get at least four tarsks for you," said the Lady Tima. I assumed she meant four tarsks of silver. That was a high price lovely woman often go for a silver tarsk or two. I did not think she would manage to get four silver tarsks for me. I was now being bid upon rather as might be a work slave, though there was some ambiguity in the bidding. The least valuable slaves are often female work slaves, purchase for the public kitchens or laundries. The next level of slaves, not generally thought to be of great value, tends to be male work slaves, usually used in cargo galleys, on the wharves, and the fields or quarries. The next level of slaves, and the most common form of slave on Gor, is the, female who can be used as a pleasure slave. It is my conjecture that so" ninety percent of Gorean slaves are female, and that some eighty percent of these fit into the category of slaves who must figure into their duties the serving of the pleasure of men. Indeed, even the miserable females in the fields, or those in the kitchens and laundries, know that upon occasion they will be used, usually chained, to slake the lust of their foremen or Masters. The female slave on Gor, knowing herself owned, is usually in little doubt as to what can occur to her in her slavery. The next level of slaves is that of male silk slaves. These usually bring higher prices, on the whole, than female pleasure slaves. This, it seems to me, is purely a matter of supply and demand. Female pleasure slaves, given slave raids and the sackings of cities, are relatively plentiful on Gor. Male silk slaves are not. The explanation for this, I think, is reasonably clear. Gorean males seldom make good silk slaves. — Fighting Slave of Gor, pages 163-164.
"I have not mentioned exotics, incidentally, slaves bred or trained for unusual purposes. I have not mentioned, either, slaves with professional competences, such as medicine or law, or fighting slaves, in effect gladiators, men purchased for use, as bodyguards or combatants in arranged games. The intricacy of the institution of slavery on Gor is prodigious. These general remarks, dealing only with major and obvious categories, should be understood as no more than a crude orientation to the subject matter as a whole. The utility of generality must not be permitted to blind us to the specificity of reality. There are always market variables, and buyer and slave variables. A girl who seems to most men only a low-grade kettle and mat girl may be to a given man very precious. She may be as valuable to him as a collared Ubara, one who must now, strictly, be taught her duties as a slave." — Fighting Slave of Gor, pages 164-165.
"Female pleasure slaves, given slave raids and the sackings of cities, are relatively plentiful on Gor. Male silk slaves are not. The explanation for this, I think, is reasonably clear. Gorean males seldom make good silk slaves. The explanation for the much smaller number of male as opposed to female slaves on Gor, speaking now generally of male work slaves, is also clear. First, the female tends to be the desired object of the slavers seizure. She brings higher prices than male work slaves, Secondly, in battles, often male defenders have been slaughtered or driven off. Their females thus remain as spoils for the chains of the victors. Too, male captives are often killed. Female captives, on the other hand, particularly if comely, are usually spared for the collars of their conquerors. They learn to yield well to their Masters." — Fighting Slave of Gor, page 164.
On Whipping a Male Slave
The whip generally used on male slaves is the notorious whip. It is said that it can kill even a strong man. While female slaves are whipped, devices are used and the degree of the whipping is never so that her flesh will be scarred (marked). With regards to the male slave, such is not the case.
"The snake is to be distinguished from the much more common Gorean slave whip, with its five broad striking surfaces. The latter whip, commonly used on females, punishes terribly; it has, however, the ad-vantage of not marking the victim. No one is much concerned, of course, with whether or not a thrall is marked." — Marauders of Gor, page 105.
The Thrall
In the northern lands, such as Torvaldsland, male work slaves are not called kajirus, but rather are referred to as a thrall.
"Men in the fields wore short tunics of white wool; some carried hoes; their hair was close cropped; about their throats had been hammered bands of black iron, with a welded ring attached. They did not leave the fields; such a departure, without permission, might mean their death; they were thralls." — Marauders of Gor, page 82.
"To one side, tall, broad-shouldered, stood a young male thrall, in the thrall tunic of white wool, his hair cropped short, an iron collar on his throat." — Marauders of Gor, page 86.
"If the thrall had been nothing in Torvaldsland before, he was now less than nothing; his status was now, in effect, that of the southern, male work slave, found often in the quarries and mines, and, chained, on the great farms. He, a despised animal, must obey instantly and perfectly, or be subject to immediate slaughter." — Marauders of Gor, pages 152-153.
The Kajirus and the Kajira: Relationships
The kajirus was … one hundred percent (100%) NOT a brother to a kajira. Whoa the infiltration of the BDSM world into Gor.
In fact, the kajirus was much abhorred by female slaves. The kajira needs the strong hands of men who are masters, and not the male slave who is deemed weak. Often subjected to taunts from female slaves, the male slave is indeed low beast.
"Why does Lola so hate me?" I asked.
"You are different from the other men she has known," said the Lady Gina. "She finds you despicable. You do not master the slave in her."
"She is a person," I said. "She has feelings."
"Of course she has feelings," said the Lady Gina. "She has the deep, exciting, profound feelings of a woman who knows herself a slave. Have you answered those feelings in her?"
"No, of course not," I said.
"You are a male of Earth," she smiled.
"Yes!" I said. "She is not supposed to have those feelings!" I said. "She is supposed to be a person!"
"Women are slaves," said the Lady Gina. "They long for their masters. That is far deeper than your myths and political inventions, regardless of their expediency in your form of society." — Fighting Slave of Gor, page 79.
To copulate with a female slave is certain death for the kajirus. There are, those times, however, when a kajirus may be provided a female slave for the night, as if she were his slave. This both rewards the kajirus and reminds the kajira that she is indeed, just a slave.
"Telitsia!" said Kenneth, standing before the stall. We drew quickly, guiltily, apart. We both, immediately, knelt, heads down, before a free person.
"Where have you been?" said Kenneth.
"Here, master," she whimpered.
"Get your rag on," said Kenneth. "The wagon is ready."
"Yes, Master," she said, hurrying to pull her tiny, pathetic garment over her head.
"You, Jason," said Kenneth, sternly. "Were you given permission by some free person to engage in slut sport with this bond girl?"
"No, Master," I said, head down.
"You understand that you could be slain for this?" he inquired.
"Yes, Master," I admitted.
"How was she?" he asked.
"Lovely, and slave hot," I said.
The girl blushed, all the exposed parts of her body turning red, even her legs. I smiled. I did not think Kenneth truly objected to my rutting with the lovely, neck-ringed stable slut. Indeed, he had not kept her chained by the neck to her ring in the kennels for stable sluts this morning, a precaution which is not uncommon for a girl who is to be soon sold. Rather he had let her wander free. I think that he was not, in his way unkind. He had doubtless suspected that she would seek me out, or another male slave of her choice. There had been no great search for her. Kenneth, it seemed, had come almost directly to the barn where I was training. — Fighting Slave of Gor, pages 242-243."You have seen," said Ottar, to the Forkbeard, "that he has been bold with a bond-maid, the property of free men."
"Thralls and bond-maids, sometimes," said I, "banter."
"He would have put his hands upon her," said Ottar. That seemed true, and was surely more serious. Bond-maids were, after all, the property of free men. It was not permitted for a thrall to touch them.
"Would you have touched her?" asked the Forkbeard.
"Yes, my Jarl," whispered the young man.
"You see!" cried Ottar. "Let Red Hair strike!"
I smiled. "Let him be whipped instead," I said.
"No!" cried Ottar.
"Let it be as Red Hair suggests," said the Forkbeard. He then looked at the thrall. "Run to the whipping post," he said. "Beg the first free man who passes to beat you." — Marauders of Gor, pages 104-105.I took another piece of meat from the wooden bowl. I looked down at the straw, and my blanket, heavy and dark, upon it. I did not really wish to retire so soon. I then heard her weeping, being dragged down the corridor. I sprang up. I then saw the, guard, Prodicus, on the other side of the bars. He was a huge man. I had already had experienced of his strength when he, with his fellow guard, the Oriental, had handled me with such case. I know he could break my arms and legs with case, if he chose "Stand back in the cell, Slave," he said. I stood back. At his left hip, cruelly bent over, his hand knotted tightly in her hair, he held a girl. She was naked and crying. Her small hands, were fastened behind her back with slave bracelets. A key on a wire dangled downward from her collar. It was the key, I "supposed, to the bracelets she wore. Also, tied about her neck, fastened there by its blades, dangling downwards, was a slave whip. Prodicus, with a jangle of keys on his ring, thrust a key into the lock on my cell door and freed the bolt. He then returned the key, on its ring, to the hook on his belt. He swung open the cell door. He entered the cell, dragging the girl. He threw her cruelly to her knees before me. "She is yours for the night," he said. "Do not kill her. Do not break her bones."
"I understand," I said.
He then, not turning his back on me, left the cell. In a moment he had locked it and, replacing the ring of keys on his belt, had disappeared down the corridor. Lola, the slave whip tied about her neck, terrified, looked up at me. "Please do not hurt me, Master," she said.
It startled me that she had called me 'Master,' but then I recalled that she had been given to me for the night. For the night I owned her. — Fighting Slave of Gor, page 90."Sometimes," said he, "to discipline a bond-maid, she is hurled naked among the thralls." He smiled. "Do not fear. Should this be done to you I, in my turn, shall use you well Bond-maid. Quite well." — Marauders of Gor, page 89.
A Chance at Freedom
Unlike the kajira, the male slave is often released of his duties, given his freedom, either when he has paid for his penalty of crime with time served, or, as more often, an offer of freedom if he is the victor under dangerous circumstances.
"Male slaves, from time to time, can receive opportunities to win their freedom, though, to be sure, usually in situations of high risk and great danger. Such opportunities are never accorded to the female slave. She is totally helpless. If she is to receive her freedom it will be fully and totally, and only, by the decision of her master. — Savages of Gor, page 70.
In Closing
These pages on the slaves of Gor will help to bring about a better understanding of what and who exactly the kajira is.
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.