Gor is similar to Earth but slightly smaller in size. Because it contains less mass, the gravitational pull on Gor is lighter than Earth's. This allows the citizens of Gor to perform with much more strength and endurance. A man of Gor can lift more weight, leap higher heights, and throw a spear with greater velocity and accuracy. Most fighting on Gor is primitive and due to this abundant strength and power can be quite brutal and deadly.Gor is also very beautiful, with a sky that displays three moons. Its waters are pure, the air is fresh and clean, the sky free from pollutants, while plants and wildlife abound and flourish. Gor is nature in its truest and most harshest of forms. There are no automobiles, no factories with poisoning smoke stacks, no warfare with advanced weapons or life threatening chemicals. Gor is the culmination of everything basic, both beautiful and sometimes barbaric.
VOYAGES OF ACQUISITION A race of highly evolved and technically superior beings live in a rocky ledge in Northern Gor called the Sardar mountains. These insect form of beings, extremely intelligent, are called The Priest Kings. Through their superior knowledge and experimenting, they have grasped the control of the entire planet of Gor. Not only do they control the orbit and planet rotation, they also have created through experimentation of genetics, wonderous and well adapted species of life forms on the planet.
Many life forms, including the humans, were transported here from other planets. The Priest Kings would send out "Silver Ships" to journey to different worlds, and transport back all types of primitive life. These trips are called "Voyages of Acquisition." Many slaves on Gor were brought to the planet via these excursions, abducted from Earth against their will. This is why some Goreans consider and refer to Earth as a "slave planet."
INHABITANTS OF GOR The Priest Kings brought humans from earth, carefully choosing their selections to come from all different regions and cultures. In this way, Gor has evolved with a nice combination of races and ways of life. Looking closer one will see that the different languages, weapons, customs and ettiquette of dress originally evolved from Earth and has been bred into the Goreans throughout the centuries.
The Torvaldslanders emerged from the Norse Vikings, the Red Hunters of the North cultured from the Eskimo, Tribesmen of the Tahari a variation of the Arabs, the Wagon Peoples evolving from ancient Mongol Horsemen, Tribesmen of the Southern Forest coming from black African descent, the Red Savages derived from the Native American Indians, and Alars and smaller tribes which seem to mimick the Huns of Earth. The basic society of Gor is based on Ancient Greece.
WEAPONRY AND MEDICINE The Priest Kings wisely have not allowed large alliances between the different cultures on Gor. This permits warfare between the races in small scale only as technology concerning weapons is tightly restricted. Warfare is encourged though because it filters out the survival of the strongest and fittest, and also serves as a way of controling against over population.
Weapons, transportation and communication is kept at a very primitive level by the Priest Kings. Spears and crossbows are a familiar sight, along with swords and catapults. Chemical weapons as well as gun powder and explosives are strictly banned, preserving both the environment and its many cultures of people. The use of such forbidden weapons is a sign of cowardice to those on Gor and direct disobedience to the High Priests. Devices of surveillence are used to maintain control over the people. The High Priests have even implanted mind controlling devices in some inhabitants when necessary. To disobey their rules is suicidal and rarely goes by without being noticed. Those who do chose not to conform oft times find themselves reduced to ashes in a blue flame of fire known as the "Flame Death." This is used as an effective deterrant by the High Priests towards those who would foolishly consider challenging them.
The field of medicine on Gor has not only equaled but mostly surpassed the technology of Earth's. Modern operating rooms treat and heal with ease the most serious of knife and sword wounds. Medicines known and taken by wealthy Goreans, called "Stabilization Serums," allow the takers to possess a limitless lifespan. Because of this lack of aging, it becomes even more important to the Goreans, that warfare stay a prominent means of controlling the population, especially those living amongst the higher castes. The forbidding of high technology in communications and travel helps to keep the balance between life and death.
GOREAN SOCIETY Many customs have been commonly practiced and accepted by the Gor inhabitants to help bridge the wide mixture of cultures. The society of Gor is strictly caste oriented. Those born to a particular caste remain in that division for the rest of their lives. Each caste has its own rules of conduct and behavior which must be followed. Violating the laws of one's caste strips him of his rights as a Gorean citizen and labels him an outlaw of society. He is then shunned by not only other citizens of his caste but by his own family as well.
Goreans consider honor, loyalty, and strength of character to be virtues of most importance. It is also required to possess the skills and knowledge of those within your caste system. Showing emotions outwardly is expected in Gorean society and weeping for the loss of a close friend is not considered unmanly in the least. Pity is the only emotion that is looked down upon and repressed by all those in the society. It is considered weak and a vagrant display of insult to the one being pitied. The caste system is governed by detailed and strict codes. The world of Gor can be harsh, and it is always tempered by the personal love of freedom, to whatever extent is allowed within each caste.
SLAVES A necessary practice among the cultures, slavery can be widely varied, ranging from care as a valued possession to mild and severe cruelty. Goreans feel that if you have become a slave, it is because you were either too weak to fight and keep your freedom, or you have done something wrong to cause your enslavement. To those in Gor society, this is a perfectly correct way of life, and is totally accepted and supported by all Gorean customs and laws. Slaves are not considered to be part of any caste system and never allowed any say in dealings with the Gorean government.
A slave's psychological bondage is well understood by their Master, many times being used and abused. For on Gor, slavery is considered simply a part of life and not unjust or bad. There are very few people who are actually born into slavery, but most are enslaved due to their weaknesses as compared to the others in society. Becoming enslaved is acceptance that someone else is stronger. Freedom of all rights are stripped away and the slave is then humbled severely to teach that their place in life will always be one of servitude and pleasing others. Since women are of less physical strength than men, and not as strong in self-protection, they are the preferred sex for slavery. Although male slaves do exist on Gor, they are very rare. This is mainly due to the fact that most males will die during slavery by futile and relentless resisting, or by abuse and overwork by the Master trying to control them and force them to submit. Women on the other hand, are oft times treated as precious and of great value due to their intelligence and beauty. They can bring a very high price at the auction block once trained and also excellent in trade value.
As a slave you are considered nothing more than property, with no rights whatsoever except those granted by your Master. To be a slave on Gor, one is totally enslaved, as Gorean slavery is total slavery. Once committed as a slave, there is no turning back, you are always a slave for life and can never again be free. To dishonor, displease, or disobey one's Master to the point that the slave is released and cast aside brings most times the sentence of death. The slave's life or death is the decision of their Master, but to live as an outcast and rejected slave, is a dishonor whose fate is even more fearful and painful than death itself. For when released and allowed to live, most times the slave is first branded by their Master, symbolizing the trait which deemed them unworthy, whether it be a thievery, untrustworthiness, or disobedience. This brand will be a mark of warning to all others of the shame and valuelessness of the released slave. Then totally outcast, the rejected slave will slowly die a lonely, humiliating, and often abusive death.
