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On Government

On Gor, government is set up, usually in only a small handful of ways. First, and most usual online (but not necessarily on the books) will be Ubarship (which is the system I am utilizing in my room here). An Ubar is the Gorean equivelant of a King. But the word "Ubar" actually means "War Chieftan". In the books Ubars were generally only in power during times of war. Those that stayed in power thereafter were often, and usually publically impaled by their own men. However, online this is not the norm. An Ubar has complete and total control over what happens in his home city, tavern, hole in the wall, or whatever other setting his home is set in. For our purposes that will be the Island of Farnacium, which is both an island and the name of the main city upon the island. I am it's Ubar, and as such I have total say over what's done, or not done, how it's done etc etc etc within the borders of Farnacium. To quote a non-Gorean character of note (Judge Dredd): "I AM the law". (sorry I have a strange sense of humor, and like to throw it in sometimes).

Another form of government, that one might encounter online is the Council. Various Gorean places may have various sorts of Councils, often made up of various castes. In Port Kar for example, most places choose to install a "Council of Captains" as that is the form of government after the 25th of Sekarra battle which overthrew the 5 Ubars who were still fighting with one another over control of the city. Basically a Council is just that. Several people each who have a vote, usually led by some leader, IE: An Administrator, or Senior Captain. This is the most democratic form of government, but, in practice online can also be a very slow moving and sometimes ineffective form of government. Sometimes it can be very effective, and very successful, but any Council is only as successful as it's members are active, attentive and of like mind.

Some others you might find will in fact be variations on either of the above, so I won't go into detail. Much will depend on the setting. For example in the barrens of Gor, where the Red Savages (The Gorean equivelant of earthen Native Americans) reside, a tribal setting might be in place. The Ubar here might be called a Chief, instead of Ubar. They might have a tribal council, or they might have a Chief (Ubar).

Most of Gor is a very male oriented world, as those of you who have been on online Gor know already, but for those of you who don't, it is. As such you will generally not find women on Councils, and likely won't find too many female rulers. There is one exception to this. A home set in the City of Tharna before the fall of Free Women in that city might find themselves having to deal with a female ruler known as a Tatrix. This is just a female version of an Ubar.

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