Understanding Gorean Slavery: The kajira and kajirus

"The Gorean slave girl knows who she is, the utter property of her Master or Mistress. Her condition, though abject, is honest. No one lies to her about it, not even she herself. She knows she is owned, and must do as she is told. She knows she is a woman, and must behave as one. She knows she is female and a slave. Should she forget this, punishment will remind her. The Gorean slave girl if nothing else is commonly no stranger to love. She is not permitted to be. She is at a Master's/Mistress's beck and call and accordingly, willingly or not, will be taught love. If necessary she will learn it under the whip writhing in chains. The Gorean slave girl in my opinion, is the most desirable of women. What man I wonder, fully aroused, does not wish to own his woman. What woman, I wonder, fully aroused, helpless, is not in fact, in the arms of her lover, owned." (Hunters of Gor, page 198)

Branding As A Slave

Much care is put into the choice of a brand and its application. Although mechanical branding devices are available, it is still a common task of the Metal Workers to hand-brand new slaves. The rack, however, is a useful device, preventing a blurred brand.      Though a slave may be branded with a personal or city mark, most commonly kajira are branded simply with the first letter of the Gorean word for slave. There are also penalty brands which may be placed to mark a girl as a liar, a thief, a traitoress, etc.      Kef-The first character in Gorean of the word "slave"-kajira or kajirus. It is the most common slave brand.            Often the cursive "k" is used upon kajira, and block letters used upon kajirus.           Dina- Another common slave brand that is of a dina blossom,  a small multi-petalled flower frequently               referred to as the "slave flower."      Sa`Fora Mark- Another common expression for a female slave.      Torvaldsland's Mark- The brand used by the Forkbeard, found rather frequently in the North, consisted of a                                      half circle, with, at it's right tip, adjoining it, a steep diagonal line. The half circle is                                      about and inch and a quarter in height. The brand is, like many, symbolic, in the                                      north, the bond-maid is sometimes referred to as a woman whose belly lies beneath                                      the sword.      Treve's Mark- It is the first letter in cursive script of the City of Treve.      Tuchuk- Tuchuk standard, the brand of the four bosk horns, set in a manner to somewhat resemble the                    letter H, is only about an inch high.      Kataii brand- A bow facing to the left.      Kassar brand- Three-weighted bola.      Paravaci- A semicircle on an inverted isosceles triangle representing a bosk head.      Penalty Brands- A girl may be branded as punishment, and to warn others against her. They are tiny, but                             clearly visible.      A slave girl's brand is forever inescapable and irrefutable proof of her status; this gives it a strong psychological effect.

The Collaring of A Kajira or Kajirus

A woman becomes a slave. Her slavery must be made known to her on more than a intellectual level. So along with the branding, when she gains a new owner three other steps seem almost without fail to follow. First she is placed in her new ko`lar so that her owner is clearly identified to the world. Second, she submits to her new owner, often her wrists are bound and thus transitions to the third phase of an ownership ritual. A new slave is customarily stricken with the Gorean slave whip so she knows not to doubt her new owner's power over her; a mild beating is common when only taming her to the new collar rather than punishing her. The Common Gorean Slave Collar      More a range of styles within a common theme than a set and specific type, the Common Gorean Slave Collar, or Lock Collar, is the form most often used on slave girls. It is based on a simple piece of plain, but well formed steel, made to fit snug on the girl, and often sized to accurately fit her neck. It can then be etched, inscribed, enameled, "sleeved," or likewise adorned as fits the master's liking (a "collar sleeve" is a cover of fabric, made to go over the collar, enhancing its appearance).      Though called "common" it should be noted that it is common to the central regions of Gor, with those of lands such as Turia and Torvald having their own styles of collar which to them are the norm. The Common Hammered Collar      More a range of styles within a common theme than a set and specific type, the Common Gorean Slave Collar, or Lock Collar, is the form most often used on slave girls. It is based on a simple piece of plain, but well formed steel, made to fit snug on the girl, and often sized to accurately fit her neck. It can then be etched, inscribed, enameled, "sleeved," or likewise adorned as fits the master's liking (a "collar sleeve" is a cover of fabric, made to go over the collar, enhancing its appearance).      Though called "common" it should be noted that it is common to the central regions of Gor, with those of lands such as Turia and Torvald having their own styles of collar which to them are the norm. Jewelled Collars      Slaves, especially ones who have won the favor of their master, or are particularly striking, might well be collared in a band made not of steel, but some precious metal, perhaps even inlaid with rich gems. This is often done as a reflection upon the wealth of the owner, making the slave both in form and adornment, a testimony to the good fortune of her master. Dancing Collars      Dancing collars are made to be attractive, enhancing the beauty of the girl and her dance, while not restricting or hampering her movements. Sometimes these collars are part of an intricate arrangement that constitutes a form of dress, something that is also utilized in the dance itself. One such arrangement that is popular in the Tahari region is the "oval and collar." The Turian Collar      Contrary to the snug fitting band of the Common Slave Collar, the Turian Collar is a loose ring of steel. Enough space is allowed in the creation for a man's hand to grab hold of the steel and clench it in his fist. This type of collar is known to be harder to engrave though, owing to the metals round nature, but regardless is quite popular, especially amongst the Wagon Peoples and its namesake. The Turian Message Collar      The Message Collar is a curious item created by those of Turia and employed as a means to use a slave to transport a message that she will neither lose or herself read. The collar itself is high and made of leather. The message is placed within before it is shown shut and placed on the girl. It must be cut to be removed. Coffle Collars      Coffle Collars are of simple design, not unlike that of the Common Collar. They are made to fit snug and lock much the same as the other. The primary difference is that a Coffle Collar will have one or more rings directly attached to it, to which a chain my be connected or run through. In this manner, many girls are strung on a single chain, thus producing a coffle for transportation or collection and keeping. The Cord Collar      A Cord Collar is an article of a simple sort, usually employed by those with either little means, or not the intent to keep the girl, in the case of intended sale. It is simply a cord to which an identifying disk has been attached. The Peasant Collar      Those of the Peasant's Castes, living outside of the cities oin their villages, have their own means of collaring their slaves, they make simple and useful collars out of sleen rope, forming what is also know as the Rope Collar. The Shipping Collar      Shipping Collars are employed by Slavers and Merchants transportion slaves over long distances. They are used to mark what lot of good they are a part of, for easier accounting and identification. The collar itself will state not only the owner, but shipping infomation and sometimes current destination. These notations are usually placed on an attachment made to be easily removed and replaced from the collar. The Kur Collar      Not a collar commonly seen on Gor, this is of the type used by Kurii to collar their female captives, seen to the as livestock. The collar is large and thick, made of leather with attacked lock, and is often placed on top of any existing metal collar. It is a high collar that forces the girl to keep her chin up, limiting neck mobility, slightly. A large ring is sewn into its face. The Collar Common to the North      As those of the central and southern lands have collars which are common to them, so too do those of the northern lands of Torvald. The common collar of Torvald is a band of black iron, set with an attached, multi-purpose ring. The collar itself is not locked or hammered onto the girl, but rather its two halves are joined together by the placement of a rivet, which is forced between three-interlocking loops and hammered in place. The Collar Common to the Barrens      Those of The Barrens also have a form of collar which is fitting to their culture. The Red Savages use a Bead Collar, made of colored beads, placed in predetermined and symbolic sequence on rawhide string. The combinations of beads and knots used to tie the strings signify the owner of the girl, and the tribe he is from.

Punishment of a Slave

Gorean men do not rely on methods of punishment as the primary means to invoke a girl's submission. A Gorean man uses his very masculinity itself to train a slave. The whip and various other articles are secondary considerations at best, tools to be used in conjunction with this manhood. While fear of the lash can keep a girl in line, and perhaps help her take her first steps towards the fullness of her slavery, it is the man's very being, coupled with the girl's own femininity, which bring out the slave within. There is no better training for a slave than open exposure to strong men. Fear and steel can keep her body enslaved, but it is much more that causes the depths of submission which produce a slave in absolute being. Whipping      The "Kurt" or five-bladed Gorean slave whip is a commonly used, and very effective form of punishment. So long as it is used properly it will not mark the flesh of the slave, but will cause flashes of intense, burning pain. Often, when a girl is first collared, she will be given an initiatory whipping so that she might know what such feels like against her skin. Usually, once a girl has felt the lash of the Kurt, she will swiftly seek to be pleasing in any possible way, rather than face the whip again. The Kurt is normally hung in open view within a household for just such a reason, that the slave might continually see the lash, and not forget what it is like to feel it. Its open presence is also symbolic of the house being ruled by the owner, it being "under the master's whip."      Whipping on Gor is not done for sexual pleasure, as Goreans do not face the contradictions and frustrations which breed this form of environment, and the resulting desire. Whipping is done for discipline and correction, and is not normally something a slave girl will ever seek. Some kajirae who have grown deeply accustomed to their slavery will sometimes relish the use of the whip, if not the feel, but this is not due to any form of responding sexual pleasure or release. In such uncommon cases, the whip is telling the girl in a very clear way that she is owned, a slave, an animal, and she is mastered. The strike of the whip and the pain caused is not enjoyed, but the knowledge that she is so deeply owned, shown in very real terms by the lash, is comforting and happily accepted, even as she is being punished. It in a sense reinforces what her mind and body have already come to gladly accept, that her very being is slave to men. Deprivation of Use      As a slave develops and grows, so too does her sexual responsiveness, need, and ability. These factors become a powerful drive within the girl, and as a result, a powerful tool for the owner. Sexuality is one of the facets of a slave girl, and it, just like the others, must be developed and molded to fit the desire of the Master. This process in itself can be used to train the girl, in a sense, her sexual training being a means to correct and control her in her overall development. It can be given as a reward, or taken away as a form of punishment, and in both ways becomes an increasingly effective means of control and conditioning, respective to the stages of her development as a slave. From the time of her first "slave orgasm," the girl begins to need the touch of a man, creating a sort of dependency, perhaps even addiction. It is said that while men have sex, women are sex manifested, and the "slave orgasm," with its associated need, aptly supports this opinion. A "slave orgasm" is a deep form of sexual release, far more fulfilling and complete than any free woman can possibly know. It is not something that is given to the girl by the master, but rather taken by him from deep inside of her, as he wishes and when he chooses. The control of the girl is further developed by control of her orgasm, with the slave only being allowed to release upon command, usually in response to the girl's abject and desperate begging. Only a girl who knows herself to be helpless before one who would treat her fully and only as a slave, a man who would accept nothing less, can achieve "slave orgasm." The deprivation of sexual use can thus quickly become a powerful means to correct and control a slave girl. She will seek ever harder to be pleasing in the hope of being touched and used. This is a constant motivating factor in how a girl acts, and a part of her overall need to be found pleasing to men. Deprivation of sex can be more painful to a girl, in different ways, than even the use of the whip, with the latter at times even being preferred. The reward or loss equation is an extremely useful tool to a Master, with the punished girl quickly seeking to correct the situation, end the punishment and gain the resulting reward. Denial of Clothing      A slave is something which is owned, not something that owns, a possession devoid of its own possessions. When a slave is given something, particularly and primarily clothing or jewelry, it does not become her property, she has no rights to it, it is simply something she is allowed to have for as long as the Master chooses, an object which enhances his pleasure in her. It is not something given to "protect her modesty," slave garments are usually far too revealing and scandalous to do anything other then bring even more attention to the girl's sexuality, making the girl also more aware of it herself through the feel of the fabric on her skin and the type of looks she receives from others, especially men as their eyes examine her, unabashed. But besides being something enjoyable to the Master, this provides the owner with another degree of control, presented in the giving and taking of those certain articles, most particularly, clothing.      Even the simplest of rags, a bare strip of cloth that does little to conceal anything, will be prized by the slave girl, as precious to her as the finest of expensive garments. Often, this object is something she must earn in the first place, her nudity teaching her quickly the condition she is held in, and that first scrap of cloth being something that when given is a symbol of accomplishment as one having been found somewhat pleasing, and which futhers the bond of dependency to the master. This article, once given, may of course be taken from her at the whim of her owner. This gives another dimension of power and control, for the girl will seek to keep what very little she is allowed to hold, particularly simple garments, and this also obviously provides an excellent method of discipline. The article might be taken away as punishment or simply due to mood, for a limited time, or for a long period, with the effect of nudity and the uncertainty as to when it might occur, leaving the girl with a feeling of excited helplessness. Though many feel that even more attention is brought to a girl's sexuality when she is dressed in slave garments than simply left naked, the girl will seek to be allowed any sort of article with which to clothe herself. Even if scandalous and highly sexual in itself, garments provide a sense of security that is much sought by the slave girl, who by simple nature of her condition, is often left unassured. Removal of Name      A Gorean slave girl possesses nothing, not even her name. Such is given and taken at the whim of the master, and the name chosen itself is further based upon what he desires and what he finds pleasing. When the girl is named, her consciousness understands clearly that like an animal, a pet, she has been given a name by her master, her owner. This event can be a happy one for the girl, but it also puts a very clear mark on her psyche, one whose meaning and ramifications is not lost. In this way, the naming of a slave can be used as a means to train the girl, and also punish her. When a slave is nameless, she undergoes a feeling of shame and worthlessness, a condition that causes the placement of even the most simple or perhaps demeaning name to be welcomed gladly. In the nameless state, the girl is made to feel even more like an animal, an object, less in control of herself and more insignificant, helpless and powerless. The removal of a girl's name as a form of punishment, regulates the girl to this state of unimportance and impotence both internally and externally, as she not only feels this herself, but is shamed in front of other men and her slave peers. This can also be coupled with treating the girl as an actual animal, having her feed, crawl on all fours, and act as such, perhaps even not allowing her to speak, thus amplifying the overall effect. A nameless slave is the lowest of the low, an object not even worth a name to be called by. No slave would long enjoy this, as Gorean kajirae thrive on being found pleasing, and simply as women, need to feel that they are wanted and desired, and that they have not failed. Degradation and humiliation are not pleasing stimuli to such a girl. It may help her at times to become a better slave, to seek to be more pleasing, but it in itself is not a reward, even if the result of the discipline may make her more deeply feel her slavery. Shearing of Hair      Gorean slave girls commonly wear their hair long and loose. Such is appealing to men, a sign of beauty and femininity, and a symbol of the girl's position in society. Normally, only free women will wear their hair up, and neither free or slave will dye their hair as such is considered unnatural and fraudulent, especially in terms of the slave trade. The shearing of a girl's hair is a very visible and lasting sign of her being disciplined. It is an embarrassment to the girl, makes her feel less attractive and less feminine, and displays to the world the fact that her owner has found her displeasing. The length of time the hair takes to grow back, causes the girl to constantly remember why she was sheared in the first place, and quickly fosters the understanding that this is not something she wishes to have happen again. The readily recognizable sign to others, that the girl has angered her master, is also a futher measure of punishment, not just for the shame it brings her as others look upon her and know she has done wrong, but because it is a badge which marks a "displeasing girl" and gives the expectation that such she will need further correction for anticipated failure.