The following are excerpts from Marauders of
Gor. In which certain differences are explained between the Free Women of the
South, and the Free Women of Torvaldsland.
Authority
“Bera, his woman, rose to her feet. I could see that her
mind was moving with rapidity. “Come tonight to our hall, Champion,” said
she. The Blue Tooth did not gainsay her. The woman of the Jarl had spoken. Free
Women in the north have much power. The Jarl’s Woman, in the Kaissa of the
north, is a more powerful piece than the Ubara in the Kaissa of the south. This
is not to deny that the Ubara in the south, in fact, exercises as much or more
power than her northern counterpart. It is only to recognize that her power in
the south is less explicitly acknowledged.” Pg 191
Castes
Initiates Skalds Demeanour
As in most Gor books, the Free Women are haughty, cold and
hate the female slaves. This is not disputed here on these pages. If You wish to
play this role, the choice is up to You. Note however, that a bickering,
cold-hearted, and snobby FW is not much liked, nor is going to make Her stay a
pleasant one in Our Steading.
Fashion
Restrictions for
FW: Veils “The Free Woman was a tall woman, large. She wore a great
cape of fur, of white sea-sleen, thrown back to reveal the whiteness of her
arms. Her kirtle was of the finest wool of Ar, dyed scarlet, with black
trimmings. She wore two brooches, both carved of the horn of kailiauk, mounted
in gold. At her waist she wore a jeweled scabbard, protruding from which I saw
the ornamented, twisted black of a Turian dagger; Free Women in Torvaldsland
commonly carry a knife; at her belt, too, hung her scissors, and a ring of many
keys, indicating that her hall contained many chests or doors; her hair was worn
high, wrapped about a comb, matching the brooches, of the horn of kailiauk; the
fact that her hair was worn dressed indicated that she stood in companionship;
the number of her keys, together with the scissors, indicated that she was
Mistress of a great house.” Pg 156
The following are all about Hilda the Haughty, Daughter of
Thorgard of Scagnar. When Tarl Red Hair and Ivar Forkbeard captured her.
Hilda sat in a great curule chair, carved with the sign of
Scagnar, a serpent-ship, seen frontally. On each post of the chair, carved, was
the head of a snarling sleen. She smiled, coldly. Her hands wore many rings. About her neck she wore, looped,
four chains of gold, with pendants. On her wrists were bracelets of silver and
gold. Pg 114
Ivar Forkbeard then bent to the girl's feet and pulled away
her golden shoes, and, his hands at her legs, she, her eyes closed, removed from
her, too, her scarlet, silken hose, of the style of Ar. Pg 117
Obviously, trade is good and comes from afar *grin*
The following describes fashion in Kassau, while, not in
Torvaldsland, is just south and west of Torvaldsland, and was raided by the
Torvaldslanders. Since Torvaldslanders tend to bring back booty, it is not
outside the scope of reality some of these fashions may have found their way
north. Use your own discretion.
“Her hair was hung in a snood of scarlet yarn, bound with
filaments of golden wire. She wore, over her shoulder, a cape of white fur of
the northern sea sleen. She had a scarlet vest, embroidered in gold, worn over a
long-sleeved blouse of white wool, from distant Ar. She wore, too, a long woolen
skirt, dyed red, which was belted with black, with a buckle of gold, wrought in
Cos. She wore shoes of black, polished leather, which folded about her ankles,
laced twice, once across the instep, once about the ankles.” Pg 25
“She was richly dressed. The cape of white fur was a
splendid fur. The scarlet vest, the blouse of white wool, the long woolen skirt,
red, were fine goods. The buckle from Cos was expensive. Even the shoes of black
leather were finely tooled.” Pg 34
“She wore black and silver, a full, ankle-length gown of
rich, black velvet, with silver belts, or straps, that crossed over her breasts,
and tied about her waist. From it, by strings, hung a silver purse, that seemed
weighty. Her blond hair was lifted from the sides and back of her head by a comb
of bone and leather, like an inverted isoceles triangle, the comb fastened by a
tiny black ribbon about her neck and another such ribbon about her forehead. Her
cloak, of black fur, from the black sea sleen, glossy and deep, swirled to her
ankles. It was fastened at the left shoulder by a large circular brooch of
silver, probably from Tharna. She was doubtless the daughter of a very rich man.
She would have many suitors.” Pg 35
Torvaldslander
Free Women being Collared
Most of the time, it was thought improper to collar a
Torvaldslander Free Women. Most of the bond-maids were captured FW taken in
raids to the south, or bred as slaves upon the Steadings.
“I do not care much for the making of women of Torvaldsland
bond,” said Ivar. “It seems improper,” he whispered to me. “They are of
Torvaldsland!” pg 147
“You have dared to collar the daughter of Thorgard of
Scagnar!” cried Bera to Ivar Forkbeard. Pg 200
(NOTE: Here
once more we see the double standard which runs through John Norman’s books. I
would surmise from reading Marauders of Gor, that while it was not common
practice, nor looked upon with favor to collar Torvaldian Free Women by the
Torvaldslander Rarius, in certain instances, it was done. Such as capturing the
daughter or companion of One’s enemies and making them bond-maids. This, of
course, would be viewed as the ultimate insult to One’s enemy (EVIL GRIN)
Weapons
Dagger/Knife
“No female, incidentally, may become an Initiate.” Pg 30
Singers, Poets and Storytellers. The book does not mention if these are male or
female.
“They walked as proud, shameless bond-maids; the exposure of the female’s
navel, on Gor, is known as the “slave belly”; only female slaves expose
their navels....” pg 143
“The women of the north, commonly, do not veil themselves.” Marauders of Gor
pg 199.
I reached for another vial.
She wore rich green velvet, closed high about her neck, trimmed with gold.
She took the next vial, which I had opened for her. "No," she said,
handing it back to me.
Her hair, long, was braided. It was tied with golden string. Pg 112
“At her waist she wore a jeweled scabbard, protruding from which I saw the
ornamented, twisted black of a Turian dagger; Free Women in Torvaldsland
commonly carry a knife...” pg 156