Several different types of shield are described in the series.
Typically they are round in shape, though they range in size from the
huge shield used by the Gor-bound Kurii to the small bucklers wielded by
gladiators in the Stadium of Blades in Ar. The most common shield in use upon Gor
is the standard warrior's shield of the civilized cities. This is a largish
round shield comprised of many concentric overlapping layers of dried
shaped leather, probably stretched over a wooden or metal frame, and banded
for extra strength with brass or iron bands. It is fitted with a pair of straps
whereby it can be worn upon the user's arm, typically the left one, and is worn
slung across the back for ease of movement while its user in traveling from
place to place. Among the civilized armies of Gor such shields are normally
painted boldly and have infixed in them some device for identifying the
bearer's city. The Warriors of the southern city of Turia are known for their
usage of distinctive shields which are oval, rather than circular, in shape.
Shields appear in every book of the series
STANDARD WARRIOR SHIELD:
This is the most common shield in use upon Gor by the civilized cities.
This is a largish round shield comprised of many layers of dried shaped leather,
most likely covering a wooden or metal frame. Then banded for extra strength
with brass or iron bands. It is fitted with a pair of straps so that it can be
worn upon the user's arm and is slung across the back for ease of movement
while traveling. Among the civilized armies shields are often painted brightly
and have the identifying mark of the bearer's city.
"...and the rounded shield of layered boskhide, with its double sling,
riveted with pegs of iron and bound with hoops of brass;... "
Raiders of GOR
pge. 68
"The round shield, concentric overlapping layers of hardened leather riveted
together and bound with hoops of brass, fitted with the double sling for carrying
on the left arm, was similarly unmarked. Normally the Gorean shield is painted boldly
and has infixed in it some device for identifying the bearer's city. "
Outlaw of GOR
pge. 21
TURIAN SHIELD:
"The morning sun flashed from their helmets, their long tharlarion lances,
the metal embossments on their oval shields, unlike the rounded shields of most
Gorean cities. "
Nomads of GOR
pge. 113
QUOTES ON SHIELDS
COMBAT SHIELDS
“. . .the large rounded shields common to Gorean infantry in the north,
behind which a warrior might crouch. . .”
Blood Brothers of GOR
Pge. 416
“The bronze head of the spear had cut through the brass loops on the shield
and pierced the seven hardened concentric layers of bosk hide which formed it.”
Outlaw of GOR
Pge. 237
“…and the rounded shield of layered boskhide, with its double sling,
riveted with pegs of iron…”
Raiders of GOR
Pge. 68
“The round shield, concentric overlapping layers of hardened leather
riveted together and bound with hoops of brass, fitted with the double sling
for carrying on the left arm. . .”
Outlaw of GOR
Pge. 21
“I donned the helmet, and slung the shield and sword over my left shoulder.”
Outlaw of GOR
Pge. 24
“Normally the Gorean shield is painted boldly and has infixed in it some device
for identifying the bearer’s city.”
Outlaw of GOR
Pge. 21
“You wear no insignia on your shield,” he said. “You are outlaw.”
Nomads of GOR
Pge. 18
“Vina, with a shield, whose weight she could hardly bear, was trying to cover
the boy, Fish, as he fought.”
Raiders of GOR
Pge. 297
“To lift such a device for Ehn at a time, and receive blow after blow upon it,
bearing up under them, in time makes the arm desperately tired and sore.”
Renegades of GOR
Pge. 331
“They were not the large, oval shields of Turia, . . .
behind which a warrior might crouch. . .”
Blood Brothers of GOR
Pge. 416
“He wore a helmet and carried the Turian shield, which is oval.”
Nomads of GOR
Pge. 123
“Some of the men of the rencers, with their small shields of rence wicker,
fought, but their marsh spears were no match for the steel swords and the war
spears of Gor.”
Raiders of GOR
Pge. 52
“The shields were round, and of wood, variously painted, some reinforced
with iron bands, others with leather, some with small bronze plates.”
Marauders of GOR
Pge. 32
“I saw then that their action had been diversionary, to occupy us
while other longboats, fixed with wicker shields, of the sort used
for naval bowmen, lay along the chain.”
Guardsman of GOR
Pge. 11
“Behind the Kur, to one side, stood two other Kurii. They, like the first,
were fearsome creatures. Each carried a wide, round shield, of iron,
some four feet in diameter.”
Marauders of GOR
Pge. 171
“The oval leather shields and the stabbing spears of the askaris. . .”
Explorers of GOR
Pge. 439
“Lake Ngao, which was discovered by Shaba, and named by him, was named
for a shield, because of its long, oval shape. The shields in this area
tend to have that shape.”
Explorers of GOR
Pge. 100
“The askaris were jubilant, resplendent in their skins and feathers,
with their golden necklaces and armlets, their narrow, tufted shields. . .”
Explorers of GOR
Pge. 224
“It is a belief of the red savages that if they are unworthy, or do not
speak the truth, that their shield will not protect them. It will move aside
or will not turn the arrows and lances of enemies.”
Savages of GOR
Pge. 50
“I am speaking of the shields of the peoples of the Barrens and within the Barrens.
These are not your ordinary shields. These are made with the aid of spells.
The medicines of war are important in their construction and designs. They
are not merely equipment, not merely contraptions of metal or leather.
They are holy. They are precious. They are friends and allies.”
Blood Brothers of GOR
Pges. 175 & 176
“Still others spoke to their shields and weapons, telling them what
would be expected of them.”
Blood Brothers of GOR
Pge. 239
“It is not uncommon for a warrior to keep his shield in its case or cover
when not fighting. It is removed from the case, or cover, also, of course,
when it is sunned, set forth to draw in power and medicine from the yellow,
life-giving, blazing star of two worlds, Sol or Tor-tu-Gor,
Light Upon the Home Stone.”
Blood Brothers of GOR
Pge. 302
“. . .the Tarn Keeper and the Saddle Maker cried out, and began to stamp their feet
in the dust and pound their fists against their left shoulders. Then others watching
cried out in glee. I myself removed my sword from its sheath and with it struck
my shield.”
Assassin of GOR
Pge. 36
“And on its mast, round and of painted wood, had hung the white shield
. . . that it came in peace.”
Marauders of GOR
Pges. 30 & 31
“What shield is at his mast?” called the Forkbeard.
“The red shield,” called the lookout.”
Marauders of GOR
Pge. 70
“He then raised a spear and set it, like the shield, at his feet.
This gesture is a military convention employed by commanders on Gor
when calling for a parley or conference. It signifies a truce, literally
the temporary putting aside of weapons. In surrender, on the other hand,
the shield straps and the shaft of the spear are broken, indicating that
the vanquished has disarmed himself and places himself at the
mercy of the conqueror.”
Tarnsman of GOR
Pge. 187
“Swear, too,” he suggested, “by the side of the ship, by the shield’s rim,
by the sword’s edge.”
Marauders of GOR
Pge. 184
“He has sworn by his shield,” said Akihoka.”
Blood Brothers of GOR
Pge. 187
~~Master Zack~Mistress Dark Satin & eileen Creations~2003~~
