A complicated subject in Gor role-playing is the form, not the substance, of how Gor people behave in society: what is accepted, tolerated, or will cause a major row?

What follows, then, is a small collection of points of etiquette that are common on Gor. We’re talking about universal, general points here. They may vary a little from region to region, and these rules apply mainly to non-Barbarian cultures.

REMINDER: for a Gorean from the Priest-Kings culture, just about anything that lives far from home and doesn’t follow the same codes as him, let alone his religion, IS BARBARIAN. This applies without difficulty to earthlings, torvies and panis, but just as much to the nomads of Tahari or the People of the Chariots, and so on. A barbarian is a foreigner (and that’s a bad way of putting it) with exotic customs and habits that are suspect, if not downright dangerous. No city or village gorean will open the door to one of these barbarians without great caution and suspicion. And at the first sign of misbehavior, the barbarian cocks. That said, if the mistake wasn’t too shocking, the laws of hospitality could save him from the worst… but he’d better know how to negotiate diplomatically!

1- General politeness

Everything that concerns everyone, slaves included. There are a few clarifications to be made in the latter case, but here we describe a few universally-applied codes of politeness:

Greetings: Tal is a common greeting among Goreans. It is often accompanied by a visual greeting: the right hand on the left shoulder, palm inwards. This means that the person being greeted is not considered an enemy. The gesture proves that the hand is free of any weapon. Slaves say tal as well as good morning, or greetings, but of course they don’t make this gesture, which is devoid of meaning. A slave is never armed and, most often but no, not ALWAYS, will bow on her knees.

Cheering: The “Hail” (viva, if translated in the spirit), this is the cry that goreans utter to acclaim someone. It’s not much used on Gorreal role-playing sims in Europe, and for good reason: the sound reminds us of disturbing historical events. It’s an acclamation and a salute reserved for welcoming a champion, a man who has performed a feat or even a leader. But an expert kaissa player, for example, will be greeted in this way, just as a swordsman returning from triumph would be. Of course, whoever the slave is who has accomplished a feat, no one will ever acclaim him or her in this way.

Saying goodbye: The polite and common formula is: “I wish you well (or : all the best)”. Goreans don’t invoke the gods too much (they might talk back!), but wishing the departing gods protection or good wind is also done, especially if he’s leaving on a journey. You can also invoke the stars to ensure your guide and a safe journey.

Please and thank you: Goreans don’t always say please (but they do… it’s often used in novels). The polite, formal version is: “I request your favor.” Mind you, this has a real meaning! You’re asking for a favor, and that means you’re taking on a debt of honor. The favor must be returned, more or less equally. Women avoid using this formula with anyone they don’t know, and for good reason. Slaves say please instead: they can’t return favors they’ve asked for, since they have no honor.

Thank you is used everywhere, of course. Roughnecks don’t say thank you, least of all to women, even free ones. But then, they are boors. A polite gorean will always say thank you. A free gorean may or may not thank a slave, but… it’s not very common! The boor will not thank in any way, the more delicate master will do it with a caress, a nod, a smile. As they are not at all accustomed to hearing thank you from a master’s mouth, many slaves become particularly fearful when such consideration is addressed to them!

Hierarchical politeness: Gor is a terribly hierarchical world where status, rank and caste define individuals. As a result, all Goreans generally show respect to those with a higher rank, status or caste than themselves. The red caste respects the green caste above it, the green caste doctor respects the hospice chief, and the hospice chief respects his caste’s representative on the Council. And all will respect a woman of the merchant caste, but whose wealth and power place her as the recognized local leader of her city! Ranks have great importance: they define the place of individuals. And Goreans respect this. To question it is to question their society and themselves.

So, taking all this into account, Goreans are very polite, deferential and considerate towards those above them. But not always in both directions. Because rank matters so much, people of power over Gor tend to consider themselves privileged to be obnoxious. There are plenty of novels about these free women of high power who, inevitably, always end up falling from great heights and ending up enslaved. In short, if you’re not prepared to run away from your city, or end up impaled after a speedy trial, respect your superiors, even if they’re odious.

In general, you show respect to those with a higher status, station or caste. This includes free women. A free woman of high caste deserves the respect of men of low caste. A very wealthy woman would be considered a woman of high status and would also be considered a respectful woman. Although men may consider themselves dominant over women, they still respect ideas of status, station and caste. Men also respect men of higher rank than themselves. A Ubar would have the highest status of all city chiefs and be respected by all.

Titles: forget Madame or Monsieur, these words don’t exist in Gorean. The same goes for Sir, but Lady exists and is attached to the name or title of a free woman. If you don’t know someone, you call them by their caste or function. Not by color! Never! A red caste is called a rarius, a green caste a doctor, and so on. If you know they title, you use it. Advisor comes before caste, like Administrator or Ubar. You can use first names to challenge, but this means you’re either rather boorish, or you’re familiar with the person being challenged.

Order of priority for serving: a free man or woman may serve other free men or women around a table. The most important person in precedence is served first… in the event of a tie, the man is always served first. The ubars, heads of city councils, etc. are served first, then the order of castes is respected: initiates, scribes, builders, doctors and warriors. In the last case, we refer to wealth: the merchant is served before the peasant, but if the merchant is poor and the peasant rich, the peasant will be served first. The rule is generally respected by the Libres, and every slave had better know it without making a mistake!

Compliments: Goreans don’t flatter much. So when a Gorean compliments, he means it. And he’ll only pay one if he sincerely believes it. A free woman never overreacts to a compliment, and especially not about her looks or personality. Slaves love compliments. A free woman who shows too much liking for them could be accused of being a slave at heart, a good enough excuse to enslave her! A gorean who sees a man flattering (complimenting out of interest, without meaning it), will consider the flatterer to be of little esteem or honor.

Sitting down: goreans prefer cushions to chairs and armchairs. The latter are usually reserved for special people like Administrators, Ubars and judges, in official sessions, to impose their rank. Most of the chairs found on Gor are rather uncomfortable anyway. It’s not really their thing, and so cushions are what’s most often found for sitting, close to the floor, that is. Men sit cross-legged, with no real rules… Free Women, on the other hand, kneel to rest. Their knees are kept tightly together and their hands flat on their thighs, as in the “tower” posture.

Haggling: Haggling is a constant part of business. Goreans don’t set prices, and there’s always plenty of haggling to discuss. If you want to buy something, haggle over the price. In haggling, you start with a low offer and the seller with a high price. You negotiate to get a reasonable price, until both parties are satisfied. It’s a game, and a haggler will be disappointed to find someone who won’t haggle with him.

NOTE: during a haggle, including a negotiation between enemies, a sacred space is virtually created, where no blood may be spilled for as long as the haggle lasts. This code is known as the Merchant’s Law, and ensures massacre-free bargaining. For any Gorean, betraying this code is the ultimate insult.

2- Free women

Taverns & inns: a free woman does NOT enter a tavern. A Gorean tavern is a place reserved for men, where they drink, feast and sexually abuse slaves in full view of the public. A man can invite a Free woman to enter a tavern, but more often than not, she’ll prefer to refuse if she has the choice, and especially if things are happening there.

In an inn, a woman may come and go as she pleases, but…. the precedence of the men and women of Gor is NOT that of Earth! If something bothers the Free Woman, she can’t demand that things stop, unless she has the power, authority and bodyguards to back up her demand. She can try to politely ask the men present to restrain themselves, but in an inn, men come first. In short, if a man is happily groping a slave in an inn, that’s his right. If he has a free woman as a witness, that’s rude, but if he’s a boor, he doesn’t care.. A woman can do absolutely nothing about it, and in fact has no right to demand anything. And will be forced to put up with it, or leave. Men are, however, respectful of women, so public romps in an inn are not that common. For that, men have taverns.

Free men and powerful women: Free women are to be treated with respect and honor. Considerable deference is due to a free woman, and is considered normal by goreans. Free women can speak freely and raise their voice, and don’t need anyone’s permission. You NEVER say “shut up” to a free woman if you’re not a male member of her own family; she’d be under no obligation to comply, could very well retort and she’d be right. Only the men in her family can order her. A free woman can get angry, take the piss, stand up to a man, even slap him – with good reason.

A free woman of high caste, rank or power deserves, expects and can demand respect from men of lower caste, warriors included! And failure to do so may well result in a complaint, a lawsuit…. and the man will lose. A woman from a very wealthy family, or placed at the head of a Council or being a member of one, will be considered of high status and can expect respect and deference, without even being forced to reciprocate. Although men don’t like having to submit to the whims and orders of a powerful, dominant woman, they still respect the notions of status, rank and caste. Caste and rank define all Gorrean relationships, and they all respect them. Even if that doesn’t mean they like it, and can make it pay on the sly. There are a few examples in the novels of free women of high power, capricious and unbearable, who end up badly, when an opportunity has arisen to take revenge for her insults.

Begging & pleading: for any gorean, begging means pleading, and showing weakness. No gorean begs. Even the she-urth won’t, offering their services for food and drink. A gorean who begged or pleaded would lose face and be treated as less than nothing. But a Gorean woman who begs or pleads for mercy exposes her weakness for all to see. Literally, she has just thrown her honor as a free woman into the fire. The sentence will be dramatic and immediate: her family will repudiate her, and the man to whom she has begged or pleaded will be free to enslave her, even with the encouragement of her family!

3- Slaves

The basics of slave politeness: All slaves must address free people as master or mistress. They should only address their own master as “my” master or “my” mistress. Slaves are not allowed to address free people by name. It is often said that a slave becomes shameless if her lips are allowed to utter her Master’s name. But, some masters do allow it; again, the slave does as her master commands… and must assume what will happen to her. However, this is generally permitted in private. On the other hand, IMPORTANT: a slave can perfectly well and all the time tell others the name of her master or any other master when she has to talk about him, identify him or name him.

It’s stupid (and a ridiculous onlinism) to forbid a slave to give the name of a free person to identify him. It only complicates the work she has to do, and the obedience to the service she must perform. And above all… there’s no such thing in the books!

Slaves and taverns & inns: When a slave enters a tavern or inn, she’s there to serve, so: either she serves her master, or she joins the kitchens and service areas to make herself useful, or, in a pinch, she kneels visibly in a corner of the service area, which is often in front of the entrance, or to the side, not far from the kitchens, and waits to be asked for her service. A slave does NOT need to ask permission on her knees or anything to enter an inn or tavern. She just has to greet people as they enter, before getting down to work. Once a slave has entered a tavern or inn, she may only leave with the permission of her master, the owner of the premises, or a master who frequents them.

Precedence and the master: In general, a slave serves his master first. But AFTER serving the people in authority at the table, and in the right order of precedence (see above). Ubars, advisors, wealthy notables, caste leaders, etc… Sometimes, the master will want to be served last… to keep his slave close!

Sitting for slaves: All slaves kneel on the floor to sit down. Their postures are generally highly codified. Slaves NEVER sit on free people’s chairs or cushions, and could be whipped or even killed for daring to do so!

Hospitality and slaves: in a house with slaves, it’s customary to welcome the (male) guest by offering him any available slaves. Better than an explanation, here’s a quote that describes it well. Note that not offering a slave when you have one is an insult to your guest!

“In a large house, with a number of slaves, it is thought to be an elementary act of courtesy, on the part of a host, to allow a guest to use one of the girls for the evening. Each of the girls deemed eligible for this service, at some point during the evening, will approach the guest and offer him wine. His choice will be indicated by the girl whose wine he accepts. I looked at the girl. Her eyes met mine, softly. Her lips were slightly parted.

– “Wine, Master?” she asked.

– “Yes,” I said, “I’ll have wine.”

She poured the diluted wine into my cup, bowed her head and with a shy smile, gracefully descended the stairs behind me, then turned and hurried away.

– “Of course,” said Ho-Tu, “you won’t get it tonight, because she’s a white silk.”

– “I understand,” I said.

Assassin of Gor