GUIDELINES FOR THE FREE
Free Men
Tahari men, like Goreans in general, are patient, extremely proud, easily offended men, with a touchy sense of honor. They enjoy war. A rumor of an insult or outrage, not inquired closely into, perhaps by intent, will suffice to excite them to war. Most large scale Tahari battles devolve into a melee of individual combats. The names of leaders do not figure into the war cries of the Tahari tribes for it is the tribe that is significant. The cry of the Aretai is "Aretai victorious" and that of the Kavar is "Kavars supreme." It is difficult to maintain a lengthy siege in the Tahari as food supplies at an oasis are short, except for the stores in the Kasbah. Supply lines are also long and difficult to defend. Thus, sieges are rare.
"The forms change but, in the Tahari, as elsewhere, order, justice and law rest ultimately upon the determination of men, and steel." (Tribesman of Gor)
Appropriate Dress
Free men must dress according to the ways of the Tahari. Visiting free men are strongly encouraged to dress appropriately for the desert climate.
Examples of appropriate dress in the Tahari:
Head scarf/Wrapped Turban - usually made of repcloth and wrapped around the head. Worn by lower class Men which also cushions items carried on the head.
He wore a head scarf, the wrapped turban, wound about his head. It was of rep-cloth. It protects the head from the sun; its folds allow beat and perspiration to escape, evaporating, and, of course, air to enter and circulate. Among lower-class males, too, it provides a soft cushion, on which boxes, and other burdens, may be conveniently carried on the head, steadied by the right hand. ~Tribesmen of Gor
Djellaba - striped, hooded, loose fitting robe.
A merchant passed me, climbing the stones of the street. He wore a striped, hooded, sleeved, loose robe, a djellaba. The striping was that of the Teehra, a district southwest of Tor, bordering on the Tahari.~Tribesmen of Gor
Burnoose - sleeveless, hooded desert cloaks, preferred by Those wielding scimitars.
Djellabas and burnooses, sleeveless, hooded desert cloaks, were being sold in another stall. The burnoose can, as the djellaba cannot, because of the sleeves, be thrown back, freeing the arms. One who rides the swift kaiila, who handles the scimitar and lance, chooses the burnoose. ~Tribesman of Gor
Kaffiyeh - scarf worn around the head.
Agal - cord used to hold the kaffiyeh in place
He wore the kaffiyeh and agal, the cording that of the Aretai.~Tribesmen of Gor
Weapons - The weapons of a tribesman is the scimitar and the lance and they fight from the back of a kaiila. Bows are not often used and men in the Tahari are not very skilled with it.
Collaring Free Women - Norman was very clear on those behaviors that would place a woman in a position to be collared, and for the process of doing so.
In short, there are three situations a woman may find herself in that will lead to enslavement; legal proceeding at the decree of the Magistrate or Pasha if convicted of a crime, conduct becoming of a slave, or exhibiting a slave nature and capture, a woman taken when her home stone is destroyed, or as the spoil of a raid or war.
Slaves - Only a dishonorable man would make use of another's property without permission. Slaves that are assumed to be available sexually are cafe -not inn- slaves and coin girls.
Anything else you should assume is someone's property. Owners should keep slaves not available for general usage but who are serving in a cafe or bath house belted.
"Please, Master," she said, "take pity on me. Take pity on the miserable needs of a girl."
"You are not mine," I told her. "You are a pretty little thing, but I do not own you."
"Please," she said.
"Your master," I said, "if he chooses, will satisfy your needs. If he does not, he will not."
For all I knew she might be under the discipline of deprivation. If that were so, I had no wish to impair the effectiveness of her master's control over her. Besides I did not know him. I did not wish to do him dishonor, whoever he might be." (Beasts of Gor)
"What if she were seized by one not her master?"
"The same," said he. "No more than a verr or tarsk. But in such a case the master might object, and take action, perhaps charging a coin for the girl's use, or perhaps killing the thief."
"The thief?"
"Surely, has he not availed himself of another's property without authorization, has he not stolen a use?" (Kur of Gor)
Rape - The rape of a free woman is a grievous offense, especially if the woman is of the same Home Stone. The man responsible for such actions is subject to severe penalties, up to and including death. Be certain that you and the woman involved are willing to share the consequences of such roleplay if it is made known.
"The rape of a free woman is a serious offense," I said. (Rogue of Gor)
"Am I to understand," asked Miles of Argentum, "that you are confessing to the rape of a free woman, one who was even a Tatrix?"
Speusippus turned white." (Kajira of Gor)
"But one can rape a free woman?"
"Surely," he said, "and the penalties for that can be grievous, particularly if a Home Stone is shared." (Kur of Gor)
"The rape of a free woman with whom one shares a Home Stone, on the other hand, is a very serious offense. Fellows have been tortured, and publicly impaled, for that sort of thing." (Mariners of Gor)
Free Women
“A Free Woman does not learn overnight how to behave. She learns from childhood. The Gorean girl is, even if free, accustomed to slavery; she will perhaps own one or more slaves herself; she knows that she is weaker than men and what this can mean; she knows that cities fall and caravans are plundered; she knows she might even, by a sufficiently bold warrior, be captured in her own quarters and, bound and hooded, be carried on tarn back over the walls of her own city. Moreover, even if she is never enslaved, she is familiar with the duties of slaves and what is expected of them; if she should be enslaves she will know, on the whole, what is expected of her, what is permitted her and what is not; moreover, the Gorean girl is literally educated, fortunately or not, to the notion that it is of great importance to know how to please men; accordingly, even girls who will be free companions, and never slaves, learn the preparations of serving of exotic dishes, the arts of walking, and standing and being beautiful, the care of a man’s equipment, the love dances of their city, and so on.” ~Nomads of Gor, page 63
Norman was very clear on those behaviors that would place a woman in a position to be collared, and for the process of doing so.
In short, there are three situations a woman may find herself in that will lead to enslavement; legal proceeding at the decree of the Magistrate or Pasha if convicted of a crime, conduct becoming a slave, or exhibiting a slave nature and capture, a woman taken when her home stone is destroyed, or as the spoil of a raid or war.
Appropriate dress
Free women must dress according to the ways of the Tahari. Visiting free women are strongly encouraged to dress according to the way of the Tahari or face the penalty of being enslaved due to conduct (inappropriate dress in the Tahari).
Examples of appropriate dress in the Tahari:
Gowns - also known as a dress, usually loose fitting with long sleeves and skirts.
She wore a long, bordered skirt, with scarlet thread at its hem, which swirled as she turned; she wore a jacket, tan, of soft kaiila-hair cloth, taken from the animal's second coat, which had a hood, which she had thrown back; beneath the jacket she wore a cheap, printed blouse of rep-cloth, blue and yellow, which well clung to her.~ Tribesmen of Gor
**this is speaking of Alyena who is a collared slave..but it is a great description of being fully dressed
Haik - Black, covers a woman from head to toe. At the eyes there is a tiny bit of black lace to allow vision.
The haik, black, covers the woman from head to toe. At the eyes, there is a tiny bit of black lace, through which she may see. On her feet were soft, black, nonheeled slippers with curled toes; they were decorated with a line of silver thread. ~ Tribesman of Gor
Cloak - Used to add bulk to a woman's form
Veils - Cloth worn over the face in many layers, concealing all but the eyes.
A woman, veiled, passed me. She held a baby inside her cloak, nursing it.~Tribesmen of Gor
Among the upper classes in the Tahari, it is scandalous that a woman's mouth not be concealed.
"The mouth of a woman, by men of the Tahari, and by Goreans generally, is found extremely provocative, sexually.~Tribesman of Gor
Gloves
Slippers - Soft, non-heeled slippers with curled toes decorated with a line of silver thread are worn on the feet.
The haik, black, covers the woman from head to toe. At the eyes, there is a tiny bit of black lace, through which she may see. On her feet were soft, black, nonheeled slippers with curled toes; they were decorated with a line of silver thread. ~ Tribesman of Gor
Walking Chain - Used to train Women to walk with a measured gait, which is considered attractive in the Tahari.
Free women, in the Tahari, incidentally, usually, when out of their houses, also measure their stride. Some fasten their own ankles together with silken thongs. Some dare even the chain, though they retain its key. ~Tribesmen of Gor
Virgin Bell - Small cuff with an attached bell worn about the ankle of Free Woman to signify Their availability as Companions.
Free girls, not yet companions, but of an age appropriate for the companionship, sometimes signal their availability to possible swains by belling their left ankles with a single "virgin bell." The note of this bell, which is bright and clear, is easily distinguished from those of the degrading, sensual bells of the slave. ~Tribesmen of Gor
Displays of Submission or "slave like behavior, appearance or dress" - Any display of submissive 'slave-like' behavior such as kneeling in submission to a man or referring to free as Master, or inappropriate dress can cause a free woman to lose her freedom if witnessed. A case should be brought to the Administrators or city officials for hearing if in dispute.
Face Stripping - It is illegal to face strip a woman without just cause. Gorean men pride themselves on being able to remain unaffected by the abuse of women.
Women may not openly attack
Women may not openly attack and cannot carry weapons that are inappropriate to their station in Gor. However, you may defend yourself if necessary.
Rape - The rape of a free woman is a grievous offense, especially if the woman is of the same Home Stone. The man responsible for such actions is subject to severe penalties, up to and including death. Be certain that you and the man involved are willing to share the consequences of such roleplay if it is made known.
"The rape of a free woman is a serious offense," I said. (Rogue of Gor)
"Am I to understand," asked Miles of Argentum, "that you are confessing to the rape of a free woman, one who was even a Tatrix?"
Speusippus turned white." (Kajira of Gor)
"But one can rape a free woman?"
"Surely," he said, "and the penalties for that can be grievous, particularly if a Home Stone is shared." (Kur of Gor)
"The rape of a free woman with whom one shares a Home Stone, on the other hand, is a very serious offense. Fellows have been tortured, and publicly impaled, for that sort of thing." (Mariners of Gor)