joy!

Angels

She stepped into the hall of mirrors
Where she discovered a reflection of herself

Sometimes she saw her real face
And sometimes a stranger at her place

Stargazing me

In a tumbling sea

Up in the galaxy

Staring down on me

Stargazer reach out to touch

With your mind that frees you so much

Stargazer kissing your kismet

With bright jewel encrusted scars

Stargazing me

In tranquillity

Up in the galaxy

Staring down on me


Fiery the angels fell; deep thunder rolled around their shores; burning with the fires of Orc.

I've watched Gas explosion glitter in the dark near the Tannhäuser Gate, Attack ships on fire off the shoulder of Orion.

All those ... moments will be lost in time, like tears...in rain.

The cAcKliNg rAt…

some say it should be called the „cackling Urt“, but have not taverns always have had fantasy names? What does “The honest Polititian” or the “Jolly Taxpayer” in Portsmouth, or the “Swan With Two Necks” refer to? So it is the cAcKlinG rAt!

What does it do?...yes, the effect is as expected. Tavern keepers are a powerful guild on Gor…usually roleplayers are trained to not battle there: But located right at the docks, greeting visitors and inviting them is so NEW to Gor!!

Everyone expects to not be welcome on a gorean sim, to be greeted with insults or futile threats, with arrows or –if a roleplayer is lucky- with ignorance or an instant ban, however absolutely no one is welcome on a gorean sim. At least as far as women on gor are concerned.

Sim Owners pay 295 US$ a month to release a set of rules that explain all the conditions for bans of their fellow goreans. Gorean sims are opened up to tell people there is better roleplay elsewhere.

At best, most sets of rules could be titled: “Leave, its no fun, go play elsewhere!” The sim Owners, yes it US, WE are the enemy of Gor, we keep saying there are too many sims on gor, we ignore the massive traffic in the Gor Hub, not understanding why so many roleplayers go there. There are not too many sims on Gor, we just try to make it as unwelcoming as possible. There are not too many sims, we fail in attracting people. Sim Owners send out notes advertising their sims, but when you go there, their rules are saying: “If you want fun, leave instantly!”

I still do not know more than five sims of Gor, because I do not ignore the sim rules. I read them. If they declare I m not welcome there I leave. They invariably do.

Saphronicus for example publishes:

“(i) The docks is no longer safe after 10 mins. Great thing,isn t it? Safe? Ok, I m already leaving.
All griefers will be banned. Goreans who break our rules and principles will be ejected and if 4 Council Members agree, a ban will be enforced on Goreans.

3) BANNED WEAPONS
(i) Banned weapons are in the attached list.

4. Any Free Woman found to be carrying or brandishing illegal weapons shall be subject to imprisonment and/or enslavement, or both.

7. A Free Woman may sell herself into slavery, but once the transaction is completed, it is too late for her to revoke it

11. A Free Man who saves the life of a Free Woman and is not her Free Companion, or Protector, gains the right to enslave her or receive compensation in the amount of her fair market value as a slave.”

would anyone sane really enter a city like that? Or are we all brain washed?

Where is the warm welcome of a fellow gorean? There is none. These rules are effectively saying that this sim welcomes no one.

Now you understand what the cAcKliNg rAt is for. Goreans are actually STUNNED when someone says: Welcome! I am happy that you are interested and brave enough to still explore Gor, despite not being welcome anywhere.

I witness that effect every day. People come on the sim, they are TENSE, bows drawn, set to battle, barely able to see what is there due to mouselook setting and switched off alpha channel, bow held up front. Approach your fellow gorean! Are you not happy to find another gorean in this synthetic Earth- world??

You should. Be grateful. Welcome your fellow gorean. Some people invest heavily in beautiful dresses, they invest into roleplay to make our gor a wonderful place. Listen to your fellow gorean and acknowledge that he or she is there to make it the wonderful place it deserves to be.
The channels are full of discussions about others doing wrong, about ones own ways being the only true ways. Why is that? The worst enemy every gorean sees is his or her fellow gorean.

Gor became a sad world, destined to fail.

It will never succeed if we do not change our ways. It will never succeed if we don t stop accusing our fellow goreans, whose only wrongdoing is being themselves, who only try to enjoy gor.

Discussions about profiles saying “No rape”? Is THAT your Gor? are you a happy rapist? Go to the ugly free bdsm sims, or even better, stay away from your comp: Gor should NOT be a gathering of the mentally ill, a gathering of the sickos that DO exist on earth. If THAT is Gor, then we are only lucky it does not exist, and we are lucky if it will never have success, for sim rules that TELL: This is a place meant for recruiting patients for psychopathology.

Where is the Gor of mentally healthy people who are only themselves, where is the Gor of nature loving people where is the Hero who battles for justice, where is the competent woman with a straight back who stands up and TELLS what is wrong here?

Gor is punished day by day by people who fail to mark it as the wonderful place it is meant to be. Gor as a copied system is the most outstanding case of mass mismanagement.

Withered Vanities

Oh treachery that you should so despise
my fair and bonny mien with scant disguise.
Nature that erstwhile did bear me quarter
hath turned to spite and doth love me shorter,
adopting now a cold and distant air,
my heart replete with darkness and despair.
How beauty fair and youthful personage,
mere vanities, do wither so with age.
Mine eyes must close as doth my weary heart
to guard 'gainst winter's chiding frigid art,
and rest upon the hearth and hope of spring
for all the vibrant joys that it may bring.

Gypsy Sparrowhawk

Raids

I m in my jungles…and enjoy nature, enjoy friends. Now and then people I ve never met come and see me. That’s sweet…I m happy to have company!!!!

“Welcome wanderer in the jungles of Gor, whose feet carried you out into a scarcely populated wilderness…what can I do for you?”

Some say they are exploring…”you are welcome to explore. We have no hidden gadgets here, you are welcome to walk around and enjoy the beauty of the flowers that grow…and once your feet are tired from exploring join me at the fireplace and tell me what you liked most”

Some say they are looking for someone: “you are welcome to look for someone. I m alone in these jungles, they are my home. If I meet the one you are looking for I ll leave word that there is you out there, seeking their company…smiles..”

Some say they want to capture a girl:” you are welcome to walk Gor capturing girls, but it is so futile, tired wanderer of Gor: why don t you go into any city of Gor where MASSES of girls kneel and long for someone to allow them to serve with their heart and soul and their bodies? Life is so easy on gor…if you seek a girl, all you need to do is to select one of the multitude of kneeling ones and allow her to serve you. So many who wait and hope, such a waste of beauty and desire…be an angel and accept the love that is offered?”

Some say they want to battle: “you are welcome to battle here. Have some vulo soup, I help you waiting for someone to battle and keep you company…are you sure you do not want to go to a place where people live who love to battle?”

Some say they come to hunt: “Welcome to your hunt, we are plagued by monkeys in the trees all around camp, pick as many as you want, and when you are tired you can sit with me and tell me of your success”

I m doing that since a long time and I found out that people on gor are SO open for a welcome, because no one ever does. Do we not fail our fellow goreans? Should we not invite them and offer them bread and salt? We are of ONE mind, after all? should we not talk about our gor and compare our experiences?

Gor is a good world. Lets live our Gor like it should be: A world of nature, a world of honesty with ourselves!

Metered combat cheats???

Weapons:

Bows and blades are tested, tested, tested and tested….

the whole matter is an epic failure:

1. the damage is SHOWN to every player..no different damage is possible. If an arrow hit shows “arrow” damage, its arrow damage, nothing else.
2. the speed of an arrow…can be an issue…higher speed guarantees that a player needs less correction for running avatars…so easy to test an arrow for speed
3. the delay time…is easily tested…a shorter delay is noticed in battle
4. multiple bows…now what a delay will result of THAT? lol

speed and delay in between hits would be easy to gauge by the meter but it can be a separate gadget as well…

there is not much cheating possible with a bow but ONE thing: a guided arrow! THAT is possible by a lil tool, run in parallel to second life and impossible to find out.

Meters:

there are cheatermeters as well, people using homemade meters. Now THAT is an effective tool to win every battle!!! They can be found out.

there are no cheater shields…shields can be seen.

Computers:

There is however one cheat with a MASSIVE influence on your battle result: An ultra fast internet connection and a comp that works with that speed. Why so? because a high frame rate is a guarantee that every arrow hits. If in battle your frame rate is as low as 2 you can never win, because you don t know where your opponent is and shoot blindly.

Therefore, if someone tells me they win, I know how fast their comp is.It’s a cheat! Because it is a massive advantage that is independent on skill.

Independent on skill?...now, seeing an avatar and pressing a fire button is not really a “skill”, is it? Yes, there are newb failures, I do not talk THEM. I do talk equally knowledgeable gamers who consider the usual. They press the fire- button at the right spot. However one of them does not see the other changed direction, because the comp was too slow. Who will win?

Summarized, cheating to win saves money for a comp. That’s all. A new comp with a fast connection technically does not qualify as a cheat, but that does not make battle fairer. Its still a method of winning or loosing that is independent on skills other than the skill to spend money. All the thorough research on “cheats” is therefore a massive waste of time. Roleplay comes by agreement, not by combat skills. But those are not needed: Gor matured and no one will waste time by roleplaying with an unwilling party.

Therefore, Fabiens Hub is the best invention since establishing gorean sims. A place to socialize: That’s all we come to gor for.

Isolated

So I am a proud Gorean. I have my own island, I enjoy the beauty of Gor, I enjoy the company of my Sisters, I enjoy the people who come and visit me.

A world of beauty. I should be content.

There is something like 600 sims of Gor in Second Life’s 16000 sims. I don t know them. I know about 5 gorean sims, including the Gor Hub.

So I walk. Want to see more. I walk and go to another place…weeeeee it’s beautiful here by the looks of it? So I leave the docks and am met by a shooting runner. Ok, I m not wanted here. I leave.

I visit another dock…read the rules…as soon as I enter roleplay the safety of the docks is gone?...”Tal Panther” the man with the blade in his hand says. I leave without a word.
The next sim…Kurii…Kurii???...They eat humans right? I don t even go down. The next is a city. I will not wear a veil.

Isolated.

Our sim rules sound like a threat, not like rules. You can be captured, mutilated, whatever…I read my own sim rules. I think I should rewrite my sim rules, my sim rules are as forbidding as all of them.

“Welcome on an island of beauty! It is here for you to enjoy with me! Join the fun, experience life on a planet without pollution, be One with Nature, One with yourself and see the beauty of our gorean lands!”

But not now. I took a job in a club, they have great music and DJ s, people are happy. I host, I welcome people...I love it! I am my inviting self again, my welcoming self and try to make everyone happy! So much me, I am not responsible here, and I can help and support, its me, it's a great club! I prefer to not be responsible. It sets me free. In my rl I’m a lone mom ALWAYS responsible, weeeeeeeeeeeee I DANCE I whirl I laugh and smile!

On coming back home, I ponder. I once fled to Gor to be myself?! What is missing here? I need my sim, on no other place of gor I would be welcome: 598 sims wasted (598 just in case: I made an exception for YOURS, goreans LOVE to argue!)

Gor is not welcoming. Goreans like to attack, to FORCE you to do something you never came for. Instead of a greeting you meet hisses and snarls if you are lucky. If not you meet arrows, risk being entangled in some roleplay you never aimed for, and don t DARE to try n be yourself, we have RULES, we are not DISNEY or anything? and here s your ban! Thank you.

I found out that Disney is my Personality. Call me Daisy, please.

I have 135 members in my tribe. Do I? I think I have 5 Members in my tribe, the rest left Gor to whatever places. Why was I unable to keep them interested? Was I not welcoming enough, not helpful enough? Or was my sim not gorean enough? No, that is not the case. They left Gor.

Gor. It shuts us out. No need for 598 sims that don’t welcome anyone anyways. Try different places, try places of beauty where you are welcomed and where someone is happy that you join in.

Gor has massive problems: Sims suffer for not having enough traffic, some say we have too many sims: Is that not a declaration of bankruptcy? We have too many sims? We do not. We FAIL in making people welcome on Gor!

Remember the Gor Hub. That place with the map of Gor. It became a hangout. One of the RARE places on Gor that welcomes people!!! Fabien, YOU understood what Gor does so wrong!! And you are rewarded with MASSIVE traffic! People feel good in your Hub, they talk, they socialize. Happy Gor! Go to Fabiens Hub, forget the Rest.

People build vast fortresses. A fortress can look good, but what I see is fortresses with locked doors. Why? Are you afraid? Afraid of what? A fortress with locked doors is stupid. A scripted item that removes anyone who is not on the access list is easier. It will guarantee that you do not have unwelcome people with you. A fortress with locked doors…symbol of shutting people out. It’s the reason why gor will never succeed. Open them! Open your doors, unroll a red carpet that leads into the sim!

The model of Gor is not being given a chance ever with the way it is mismanaged. Its not your fault, roleplayer. It’s the summary of mass management failures. Failing to welcome people. There is Thassa…ok, 597 sims remain that don t welcome anyone.

Sim Owners send out notes, seeking for roleplayers to populate their sims. On reading the rules you become aware they don t. We are a BtB sim. BtB? Does that translate into me not being allowed to be myself? To play a set role? Great if it pays as a job for an actress, I apply. To my disappointment they don t pay actors well.

Isolated. People act BtB roles.

Once upon a time, online Gor was meant to liberate you from the restrictions of our modern times world. Our Online Gor mutated into the most unwelcoming places in Second Life. Don t DARE to bring in your personality! It may not be by the books if you feel mercy! Remember, Gor MUST be a harsh place!! Must it be?

Oh the books are so vastly misinterpretated! Do you really think the Vikings were battling all the time? They would soon be extinct.

A Kajira may want to be Kajira in Online Gor. Its nice to be cared for. A lot of them forget that CARE is not a one way road. And when their Owner walks away and leaves them at home it serves her right. Kajirae are a sim Owners Kajirae. THEY have the capacity to welcome people, to keep people on the sim.

They most often don’t. Instead they greet politely and kneel and are silent. Waiting for orders.

Dolls

We have good schools for kajirae in many places. We teach them to serve, to dance, to greet, to dress properly. And then? Hey you are taught? Now be ACTIVE??...they don t. they kneel. Its what they learnt. A kajira has EVERY means in her hands to seduce. And the result? pussies and breasts flashing from every girl. How boring. Gor is full of naked bodies, who cares for another pussy. No one wants to drag a doll on a chain behind? I grew up, I did not have a toy on a leash since I’m 4.

Isolated.

In more than one sense. Sometimes its better to dream than to try it out and let the dream be ruined.

I should write new sim rules. Tomorrow. Or the day after. Maybe.

1 sim of 600. 0.2% of Gor. In terms of Traffic a lot less. Gor, is it really needed that I conform? No one forces my hand! I have my own sim, I set the rules myself?!
I will WELCOME people, and try to make everyone to feel good! Tear down walls and stupid rules. Check everything and test it if it is truly needed.

You call yourself ‘Master’? Enjoy your kink, have a seat, like some vulo soup? You want to kneel and call yourself kajira? Enjoy your kink, have a seat, like some vulo soup? I’m ok if you flash your nakedness at me, I can look into my bathroom mirror and see the real thing, nothing really exotic for me to see on you.

You are a panther shooting panthers? Great, tell me of your adventures! Did you find love?

You are a slaver, hunting for prey? I m sure thousands would kiss your feet if they knew. Go and look for those. You are invited to a vulo soup. Tell me what you are on Gor for.

Gor is a themed roleplay world. There are different roles to enjoy. But Gor welcomes no one. Wherever you go, you meet enmity. Roleplayers who try to take your fun, Sim Admins who administrate badly composed rules that invariably lead to drama, Sim Owners who don t have a philosophy but paste and copy rules.

I want to be myself. That’s what I once upon a time came to Gor for. Its my choice to make it better. Its my choice to create my roleplay world to my content. I will. If you enjoy my sim, be welcome. How stupid I am that I did not start earlier.

© Larah Oh

Ancients of Gor

I think there is even a group called ‚Old farts of Gor’. ouch. A group no one really wants to belong to. What a horror. Who wants to be an ‘old fart’

but then you walk into sims, a place where you ve never been.…you cannot avoid the curious quick glance on the minimap, counting the yellow dots. Sims without yellow dots don t exist. There is no place on Gor where you don t know at least a few.

And you know what will happen. You select an innocent tag, you wipe your profile of groups that could be compromising. You grit your teeth, ready yourself for battle, and boldly take a walk on the wild side. Next thing that happens is: “Tal Larah”…uhm…blushes…omg…erm…”Tal my dear friend”…and suddenly you feel caught: You imagine the other thinking: “This one is becoming silly or something? in her old age? she should know better, what does she REALLY want here? This is our sim, our roleplay, what the hell does SHE want here?...can t you leave us alone? we are enjoying!!”

So you offer a hug, you smile, you smalltalk a little. How are you? How is your group? are you enjoying? Any news from other old friends? Yeah, its been a while. noooooo! aww how could I forget you, darling! A bit of chit chat…and in all the politeness you are suddenly aware you don t belong there. So you leave. Ashamed.

And suddenly you feel like a Vampire. A child of the millennia. Larah the ancient one. There are only very very few avas around with a birthdate of 2004…just a few more of 2005…but not many…one knows them…quite a few of 2006…I would not say I know them all. But many. ok THEY are ancient, aren t they?...but not me??...I have a look at what avas of my birthdate do. Ok, they had a few years time to get into the position they were looking for. So you meet the Ubara, you meet the group leader…yeah I know you…and you carry the whole arsenal of stuff around in your profile that practically yells: DO NOT RP WITH ME!

…she is self confident and knows her sl…can t possibly be intimidated
…she is En…she ll be a dominating bitch…soon her tribe will get her out…may lift the traffic, that’s all
…she has her own sim…no chance she would stay for ANY effort we take…she s going to leave soon, no potential for fun there
…she rp s maturely, leaving no room for fantasy…too bad..go home, bitch

All of this is true. All the ‘ancients’ I know are in charge somewhere. They have their ‘homestone’ in the best gorean sense and won t give it up. Gadgets like the restrained life viewer, like all types of visible rp helpers or whatever are mere crutches. They don t work anyways, the way they are intended to. You still need to restrict yourself from circumventing it. Don t script yourself an item, restrain yourself from sneaking out. So you keep on yahoo ing with your friends, go for another coffee and cuddle the cat on your lap while you watch your rp partner struggle and you feel like a scientist when observing a laboratory test rat: “Excuse me please, I m working on a forensic report on clinical pathologic mental aberrations. Please may I ask you a few questions for my lil questionnaire here? Be so kind and reply as truthfully as you can spontaneously. We go through it step by step. Don t be upset please, we ll do it together, ok? Tell me about your mom first, what is the first remembrance you have of her?” I agree, now I m intentionally bad.

So instead you try to be cute and naïve, you para rp if your rp partner is up for that and use the long breaks to chat with friends or play another computer game while you wait, you keep it short and quick if that’s the style and IM with your friends while you hack in another one liner now and then. Boys will ask for vidcam real soon, elderly people won t pew pew much, stupid people have a standard they rp, lazy people will pass the rp on, women are merciless, men are cock driven, kajirae are trying to bore you to death, Spaniards, Italians and south American men are machos, germans are nitpickers, US Americans are boasters, stupid lil office assistants like me rp dutifully, boringly, without fantasy but the ancients usually have so many ongoing stuff on their heels that they have no chance to dive into the rp wholeheartedly anyways.

Time for an alt, you may think. And many do. It costs a lot of linden to build up an ava to be fully functional and a second life to a second life is arising the question who you really are and if sl is worth the effort if you can t even handle a single avatar.

A well sorted inventory with all the pics, notes, items is not only valuable, its your avatar life! You can transfer all the dresses and scripts you made, but it’s still a declaration of bankruptcy of a life. And if you don t remove the REASON for your failure, the second alt will fail again: Don t tell me its all these OTHER awful people that lead you to make an alt: Its you. I know it. It will happen over and over again.

There is however ONE aspect that DEMANDS that you make yourself an alt: If your avatar is not you. If you don t let your sl touch your real life, if it’s a mere game, you lost: You will leave all bored, because the most wonderful aspect of your second life got lost: YOU.

If you don t let second life touch your heart, if you merely play a role, you end up entangled in boring mechanics. But if you managed to make sl an extension of your real life, have friends that you value, explore yourself and live who you are, your sl is rewarding. There is no way around it, be honest with yourself.

How to go on then? The conventional reply is to help. Creating environments, groups that help other people to enjoy their sl. Buy a sim, open a help group, open a shop and count your linden, give all your creations to a freebie market or write a blog to get rid of your frustrations *grins*. Roleplay a Dom and create a lil sub- heaven for newbs, but HAVE A PROJECT!!! Go for something real big, something that will never end, else it’s not a project: A sim is a project. A shop is a project. A school is a project. Learn scripting or learn sculpting. Do what you want, you can do it all: If not you, who else??

Another solution would be to join with a younger one. Get infected with the enthusiasm, with the newness of everything and sigh in joy when you see bright eyes glitter in wonder.

Don t give up, jumping from idea to idea will create frustrations and you ll switch off. Too many did, you old fart!

I’m temped to state here that there were less roleplay, less pew pew on Gor. That’s not true: The truth is, there is less pew pew and less roleplay for YOU. Live with that. Support those that enjoy. Make rules, enforce them, take drama out and prove superiority by being relaxed.

You just advanced from user to creator: Congratulations, old fart! Turn around and patiently explain for the umpteenth time how to create your own lil ao, or better even: Distribute the one you made. THAT is what you can do better than anyone: Advise! And THAT is what you lost: Listen and explore! Where is the curiosity that you had? Where is the awe and the respect you had? Yes, you learnt that second life is about people. You learnt that neither prims, nor textures nor scripts count. Learn respect to people again, listen to the fantasies, make yourself a picture, try to blend in and try to move things.

You scan this blog all bored and think: Nothing new here, Larah? Had it all and you re all wrong here? Welcome to the group of old farts then!

What do I do?

I mostly watch. Seriously. I watch people roleplay and explore, watch people get to know each other, enjoy each other and it makes me smile.

I am in love. Deeply in love. Deeper in love than I ever was. I know it’s a dance on the volcano, THE pillar of my life. I depend on another. I breathe, I live, I laugh, I walk because of her. For her love. I dared. I jumped. I never fell. I m full of gratitude for every day of my new life. No not second life, ALL of my life. At times I FREAK and SCREAM in terror and fear when I think of the risk: Loosing her. It would crush me, leave me sobbing and begging and crying forever.

But she is strong. She is an angel. She keeps me safe. Never was I safer than today. She holds me tight in her love. She stops me when I am about to get lost and guides me back to the right path. I m a princess in a paradise. She created a throne for me. The dream of my life came true. I m grateful. Forever grateful. And she gives me time. Gives me time to think, gives me time when I am about to panic, because I have all a girl can ever wish for in her life: I am beloved. Princess of Gor? Yes, that’s me!!!

Funny: I try to be like her. It’s futile. No one can love like her. No one can care like her. No one can enjoy like her. No one can be shy like her. No one can be brave like her. No one can laugh like her. No one can cry like her. She teaches me love. She teaches me how to love. She defines life for me and became my life. I am aware that I am a lucky one. I am aware I did not deserve to be loved by an angel. I am grateful with every cell of my being. I went to second life to play games. The game got lost, instead I found my life. It’s whole now.

Do I sound stupid, addicted, silly, arrogant? I apologize. I m boasting. I burst in pride, in self righteousness, it proves I have a bad character. I should not publish any of this. My pride is the result of her love. Love is life. Every second of it is heaven.

Larah in love

Sa Jerag

jungle goddess

Here we come a piping,

In Springtime and in May;

Green fruit aripening,

And Winter fled away.

The Queen she sits upon the strand,

Fair as lily, white as wand;

Seven billows on the sea,

Horses riding fast and free,

And bells beyond the sand

tying the Cord,
renewing the Earth;
we are Her Children,
bringing Rebirth.
we are the Flow and we are the Ebb;
we are the Weavers,
we are the Web

Crescent One of the starry skies, Flowered One of the fertile plain,
Flowing One of the ocean's sighs, Blessed One of the gentle rain.
Hear my chant 'midst the standing stones, Open me to your mystic light.
Waken me to your silver tones, Be with me in my sacred rite!

East I call to you,
High above the trees
Gliding on a soft breeze
Eagle come to me.

South I call to you,
Burning within me
Running through the jungle
Panther come to me.

West I call to you,
Deep within the sea
Dancing with the waves
Dolphin come to me.

North I call to you,
Underneath my feet
Howling at the full moon
Wolf come to me.

Center I call you,
Everywhere I see
Joining in the circle
Snake come to me.

Lady of the morning
Maiden full of grace
Remind me of my courage
Hail and welcome be.

Lady of the moon
Mother round and full
Remind me of my creative spark
Hail and welcome be.

Lady of the dark
Crone the teacher still
Remind me of my wisdom
Hail and welcome be.

Tree Huggers

YES! we are happy with our trees, our flowers, our waterfalls, our lake and our beaches...

Raiders of Gor

1. Here they come running
2. surprised there is not battle
3. surprised that the jungles of Gor may not be what they thought it would, and gratefully accepting to drink from our tub
4. Gratefully accepting a cup of the best Vulo soup on Gor
5. and the Taluna tries her best in seduction!!!
6. but she has no success...a pity...another male lost...she needs to hone her seductive skills, it seems
7. Summary

1. Here they come running

[9:39] jungle drums shout: Rryen xxxx
[9:39] cathli's jungle drums shout: Rryen xxxx
[9:39] Shark Joe Smiling Jaws V1.6i shouts: SHARKS ARE HUNGRY !!!
[9:39] Shark William D V1.6i shouts: SHARKS ARE HUNGRY !!!


2. surprised there is not battle

[9:40] Larah Oh: Tal, runner of gor
[9:40] Rryen xxxx: tal
[9:40] Rryen xxxx: you a runaway slave?
[9:41] Larah Oh: you must be lost...running through the jungles...nine weeks of walking from schendi
[9:41] Larah Oh: are the kurii on your heels?
[9:41] Rryen xxxx: actualy i have a boat
[9:41] Rryen xxxx: but there were sharks


3. surprised that the jungles of Gor may not be what they thought it would, and gratefully accepting to drink from our loo

[9:41] Larah Oh: you have a boat?...still its a lot of paddling upriver from the thassa...
[9:41] Larah Oh: what brings you out of Gor into the middle of nowhere, all alone, runner of gor?
[9:42] Rryen xxxx: yeah its got like a sail and stuff you know grin
[9:42] Rryen xxxx: well i am a fisherman and i was fishing and mapping this area
[9:42] Larah Oh: well there is no sailing upriver...so you will have rowed..poor you...you must be hungry
[9:42] Rryen xxxx: i am hungry yes
[9:42] Rryen xxxx: and thristy
[9:42] Larah Oh: we happen to have some vulo soup on the fire....points to the camp...
[9:42] Rryen xxxx: oh?
[9:42] Rryen xxxx: lead the way
[9:43] Larah Oh: the lake is sweetwater...smiles...have more drinks than you ever dreamt of....smiles
[9:43] Rryen xxxx: i was thinking more like paga
[9:43] Larah Oh: oh...the next tavern is where you came from...in Port schendi
[9:44] Larah Oh: thats the last place where beverages from civilized gor could be had
[9:44] Rryen xxxx: ah well lead the way to your camp i will see what you have
[9:44] Larah Oh: we have water...smiles...but that is here, at the lake
[9:44] Larah Oh: in camp we have vulo soup
[9:44] Rryen xxxx: good come serve me some soup then
[9:44] Larah Oh smiles...and again....you are invited
[9:45] Rryen xxxx: come along
[9:45] Larah Oh: are you not thirsty?...you said so
[9:45] Rryen xxxx: yes
[9:45] Larah Oh points to the lake with a smile....
[9:45] Larah Oh: then please have a drink...once you did, I show you the fireplace with the vulo soup
[9:46] Rryen xxxx takes a knee as i splash some water on my face and drink some from hand a few times


4. Gratefully accepting a cup of the best Vulo soup on Gor

[9:46] Larah Oh smiles...I am happy I could help...
[9:46] Larah Oh: come...smiles
[9:47] Larah Oh: have a seat, runner of gor...smiles
[9:47] Larah Oh: there is the pot with the vulo soup...get yourself a coconut shell...smiles
[9:47] Rryen xxxx rubs my chin and looks you over so,,,tell me pretty girl where did you run from?
[9:48] Larah Oh: its the best in the jungles, I d say...smiles
[9:48] Larah Oh: me?...laughs...I live here...runner of gor...
[9:48] Rryen xxxx: i am sure you have not always lived here
[9:48] Larah Oh points to the vulo soup...but I am sure you did not travel nine weeks upriver from schendi to ask me where I was born
[9:48] Rryen xxxx takes the shell and the soup on the fire as i fill the large shell with it bring it to my both as i eat
[9:49] Larah Oh smiles...what do you know about Talunas of gor?
[9:49] Larah Oh: what do you know about the jungles?
[9:50] Rryen xxxx: not much but i know a girl like you would bring a silver on the slave market
[9:50] Larah Oh: now you make me laugh indeed!!!!
[9:50] Larah Oh: there are millions of girls on the slave markets and on the streets of port schendi...and you are telling me you travel nine weeks upriver to find another????
[9:50] Rryen xxxx: i am being serious,, i have seen uglier girls in the best paga taverns
[9:51] Larah Oh: you need a physician...
[9:51] Larah Oh: but we don t have any in the jungles....
[9:51] Rryen xxxx: no, i not looking for one here,,,i just make the piont is that you,,would bring a silver
[9:51] Larah Oh: but I can give you the adress of a good physician...smiles
[9:51] Larah Oh: oh...then that is a misunderstanding...smiles gently...
[9:51] Larah Oh: I have never seen a 'silver'...can you explain what that is?
[9:52] Rryen xxxx: its currency you buy things with it like girls like you and soup like this
[9:52] Rryen xxxx: surly men have come to take you away in chains ?
[9:52] Larah Oh: you BUY suop????..now that is an interesting concept...giggles
[9:53] Larah Oh: well here you need not buy soup...here you can eat until you are not hungry anymore...smiles gently...
[9:54] Larah Oh watches you eat and smiles gently...
[9:54] Rryen xxxx: most men would not let you lay up there nude like that, they would have you in a collar and chains on your knees
[9:54] Larah Oh: you must come from even farer away than the jungles...
[9:55] Larah Oh: else you would have known that that is not the custom in the jungles
[9:55] Rryen xxxx sips more of the soup as i relax back


5. and the Taluna tries her best in seduction!!!

[9:55] Larah Oh: its hot here....you may take your shirt off instead of suffering in the moist heat...
[9:55] Rryen xxxx: oh i doubt city men care about the customs of your forest
[9:56] Larah Oh: well there are no cities in the jungles...the jungles do not care for cities...even bila haruma, the black ubar lives not in a city
[9:56] Larah Oh: the trees, I think...do not care for houses...smiles gently...
[9:57] Larah Oh: where is your homestone, wanderer of gor, so far away from the world that you know?
[9:58] Rryen xxxx: i dont particluar have one,,a homestone


6. but she has no success...a pity...another male lost...she needs to hone her seductive skills, it seems

[9:58] Rryen xxxx: stands up and takes more soup as i fill the shell and eat more
[10:03] Rryen xxxx: be well girl
[10:03] Rryen xxxx: well i will go to my boat now, i dont trust you live alone and not sure i want to be here whensome of your tibe comes home
[10:03] Rryen xxxx has left the sim.


7. Summary

Vulo soup seems not to be seductive...a pity...me I like it! Maybe we should add an aphrodisiacal...:/

Larah's & Cathli's Battle Bows

Computed Autofire Reconnaissance
Low Range enhanced Register Arrows
Low Range behind the Horizon buoyancy hit Curve (Siege mode)
Low Range steep angle enhanced direct hit curve
Gorean Meter (GM) Scripted
Five different shoot soundsets
Draw Sound
Five different Siege Arrows
Adjustable Speed
Adjustable Aim height
SL Zero Directional Arrow
Parallel scripted
Mono Compiled
Mouseview Button
Full Range Gesture Access
Glow Tail Tracer Arrow
Concise Hit Protocol
Color Code Arrows
Combat mode/ Ultra Low Lag mode
Poison Arrow (ML)
Resize Scripted
Optional Toggledraw
Integrated Sim lag (dilation ) meter

Makers Guarantee: Free update Service
The Scripts are robust and multiply tested, checked, rechecked to ensure its never failing
If you battle on the large Battlefields of Gor, THIS is the bow for winners

These bows do not compromise: They are scripted and built to perform in the worst of conditions, its features are optimized for the large battles on gor.

1. Features

The bows perform without failure even in worst conditions, due to parallel scripting, prim and script minimization, simple texturing, mono compilation, a concise chat protocol and excluding gadgets that are not needed.
Its features are focusing on maximum performance in raids and defense situations, an ultra high register for low range arrows, lowering arrow bounce, but high buoyancy and an automatic aim correction in melee range.
unique Second life Zero directional slender arrows, italian design, with tracer glow tail feature to follow your hits that VISUALIZE which type of arrow you selected
ultra low lag feature with reduced script features and even more parallel scripting to battle even in worst conditions

The siege functions of the bow will have dramatic changes on the battlefield! They make this bow the ultimate weapon for the large wars on gor.

This bow has been developed for winners.

Adjustable arrow speed does NOT mean you shoot more arrows per second, and a high arrow speed does not mean you hit better: It only means the arrow flies faster or slower. The number of shot arrows per second is not changed with arrow speed. A slower arrow registers better, because the server has more time to estimate a hit. A fast arrow allows you to better hit a far away avatar that changes direction frequently. However a slow arrow that is also heavier flies a different curve: its downward directed flight vector enables you to aim for a direct hit without loosing the chance for a splash hit if you did not hit precisely enough. A similar effect is reached when a large avatar shoots at a small one from a greater height at a short distance.
Any arrow, approaching at an obtuse angle, faces a larger splash zone: The hit probability grows.

The CURVE of the downwards angle is determined by speed and by the weight of the arrow. However, a reduced arrow speed reduces reaction time if your opponent changes directions. Therefore these advantages count on short distances that are typical for battle.

Another tactical situation, typical for battle is opponents hiding behind walls. The buoyancy of a heavy arrow lets it drop inside from above, adding realism to battle like it has not ever been encountered on our Gor, where arrows fly straight and never drop. The deadly rain of arrows that archers aimed for, with their missiles coming from above that used to be a tactics on the medieval battlefield is now available for Battle on Gor!

Cathli&Larah

Gor matures!

1. Introduction
2. Disturbances in evolving Gor
2.1 Age Confirmation
2.2 “By-the-books”
2.3 “Roleplay-items”
3. Mature Gor
4. Conclusion

1. Introduction

Our SL Gor is quite easy to define: We roleplay in an environment scripted and designed to be as near to the descriptions in the books of John Norman as we can make it.
We copy lifestyles of typical groups and cities, and we build beautiful simulations of the world of Gor.

However, we do not STAGE the books, the dialogues and the events are primarily ours. That way new and entertaining stories evolve every day that could have happened in the books. In other words, we do not roleplay the books, we roleplay on the basis of the books.

In comparing the time between 2006 and today, the style of our roleplay changed little by little..and we are now in a different kind of Gor than we were.

2. Disturbances in evolving Gor
2.1 Age Confirmation

The introduction of age confirmation may have had an influence, however its effect was by no means immediate, if there was any effect at all. At times we had the impression that age confirmation made us more interesting for the pimply teenager than ever, and the adults were avoiding Gor altogether. However, it may be that the masses of teenagers that were intrigued by an age restricted area one by one left disappointedly and we now ARE a mature community.

It can however be taken as a fact, that sexual themed and or violent roleplay are exceptions and predominantly happen elsewhere outside gorean themed sims.

Both are not necessary to roleplay Gor as depicted in the books. A roleplay scene like…”I had, in my turn, with several of the other of the Forkbeard’s men, enjoyed Pudding and Gunnhild; both were superb” (Marauders of Gor, page 203)…are an entirely sufficient description for a scene that obviously depicts an orgy.

2.2 “By-the-books”

As mentioned above, the truest way to roleplay by the books is to stage scenes from the books. However, that is not meant here.In most cases, the “by-the-books” themed sims put a higher emphasis on men’s superior strengths and skills and even ban most or all female fighters from their sims' roleplay (Femlaw) or set up rules and conditions that favour their men dramatically. As a result women are to behave far more obedient to the overwhelming Gorean man on these sims, in many cases adopting oriental ways of dress (robes of concealment) combined with pre- victorian behavior.

Panther and Taluna tribes following this movement frequently battled each other. Ensuing roleplay is of course less rewarding, since the roleplayers stay in their environment that they are familiar with (in Panther camps) and the thrilling element of Men being part of the roleplay is entirely lost as well.

Therefore, like the name of this movement already indicates, a good name is used to sell restrictions on roleplay for a more pre- defined storyline, that appears less rewarding for the majority of roleplayers.

Subsequently countering this movement, several gorean themed sims like Sardar banned “by-the-books” roleplay groups from their sims.

All in all, “by-the-books” is in no way truer to scenes in the books. Its just a name (see this blog, July 2009, Disney movement). However, the main impact of this movement was a separation of second life Gor. Gorean Cities are usually roleplaying on their own or with other Cities, Outlaws, Mercenaries, Pirates and Panthers are frequently having their gorean roleplay elsewhere.

Sims depicting northern lives, like Thorvaldsland or Viking sims, barren sims depicting Savage tribes and jungle sims have a separate status, since they are not part of the main gorean rule set, as laid out by the three pillars of caste, homestone, slavery. These sims have proliferated due to a more relaxed handling of issues, since roleplay is less predetermined due to less sources in the books.

2.3 “Roleplay-items”

With the introduction of meter- controlled “Roleplay-items”, a rush to hoard these set in, leading to an increasing inflation and the usage of all kinds of cheats, causing great numbers of complaints and frenzied efforts of sim administrations to keep these under control. The outcome of “Roleplay-items” was predictably a massive increase of kidnappings to gain and gather items, while roleplay itself was negatively affected, since kidnappings were not motivated by roleplay but by gathering items. Sim Management frequently supported these raids, kidnappings and rescues to increase traffic. In order to support their groups, Sim Owners installed or allowed the installation of “Factory Units” and subsequently complained when they were malfunctioning, or deemed to be malfunctioning, while smaller groups on Gor who had less access to these items suffered member losses due to a more obvious disadvantage when trades could not be done.

3. Mature Gor

In parallel to all these disruptive movements on Second Life Gor the multiple efforts of Sim managements and roleplayers advertising ‘roleplay, roleplay roleplay’ have taken effect.
Ads for sims almost invariably mention a focus on roleplay.

Groups that do not go well together mix less, ‘captures’ are more roleplay oriented. Standard “bind-collar-brand-rape-cage” roleplay is frequently frowned upon as much as the unimaginative “submit-or-die” roleplay of former years. OOC- Auctions have become a fashion to finance sims and to promote a get together of players. A growing majority of roleplay is initiated behind the ooc curtain of the roleplay stage: The roleplayers are more involved in the initial preparational stages and in success oriented behaviors, success meaning a multi- faceted and richly scened play.
Raids are frequently announced and negotiated with sim management before they are even staged, with the benefit of a fair and welcoming moderation of issues and group leaders sorting issues in their own groups before they become disruptive to make it work.

3.1 Current status

We may or may not miss the happy “pew-pew” of the past like in the aria sims, we may or may not miss the quiet lonesome days in a cage or on a cross in deep dungeons without any roleplay, the endless ban list of many sims, we may or may not miss the neverending discussions about minor differences in the interpretation of sim- rules, but:

The awareness that roleplay with an unwilling party is rarely rewarding for both roleplayers has changed the way we act on gor dramatically:

Neither the expectation that reckless entering of a Panther/Outlaw/Merc/Pirate camp will invariably result in exciting capture roleplay as a captive, nor the expectation that capturing a happy Panther/Outlaw/Merc/Pirate from his/her camp would automatically create a submissive, sweet and loving kajira or at least a steaming night in the furs have proven to be the rule.

Mature roleplayers talk with each other, they plan and create, they hone their skills and shape their gorean bio s, they enter new roleplay consciously and considerate, creating wonderful storylines, creating THEIR gorean bio true to their hearts.

4. Conclusion

The mature gorean roleplayers, serene, confident in their status and roles took over. An increasing majority of roleplays evolve intricate storylines, multifaceted with either party winning over now and then, reflecting fairness and truthfulness in who we are.

Our Gor evolved to the better!

© Larah

A Sa Jerag Taluna on the warpath: Aria!

Now and then, we all are in the mood for a !DARE!...for those who are not Taluna, aria lets you share in her adventure that she forwarded to me like a little report in IMs, so typical of life in the jungles!

after meditating in the early mornins sun about the harsh life in the jungles….she begins her war with a strategic wardance…

[19:05] aria Easterwood: so we arent talunas anymore we are savages?
[19:06] aria Easterwood: thats like sooo fuckered up
[19:06] Larah Oh: hu?
[19:06] Larah Oh: what do you mean?[19:07] aria Easterwood: ppl calling us savages and someong killing a random person who happens to be my friend lol
[19:07] aria Easterwood: iknow itsonly rp and 24 hrs but
[19:07] aria Easterwood we give well smiggs group gets a lot i bet she will get alot of shit for someone killingsomeone
[19:08] aria Easterwood: over a no trade
[19:08] Larah Oh: we are no savages...savages by the books do exist
[19:08] Larah Oh: but they live in the barrens
[19:08] Larah Oh: whoever calls us savages did not read the books
[19:09] aria Easterwood: those 2 guys that were there in lovers acouple mins ago
[19:09] aria Easterwood: and he said im btb gorean
[19:09] aria Easterwood: meh w/e

the brave Taluna picks up her bow and her battle gear…and readies herself for war!

[19:10] aria Easterwood: do you have an lm where maddog is i wanna pay him a visit :P
[19:11] Larah Oh: maddog told me he left gor, Sis
[19:12] Larah Oh: maddog thunder that is
[19:12] aria Easterwood: wat
[19:12] aria Easterwood: hes profile says hes still in it
[19:12] Larah Oh: he said so to me
[19:12] aria Easterwood: hes still in it
[19:12] aria Easterwood: i just asked him D;
[19:12] Larah Oh: I m sorry...talk to him and ask him if he s back
[19:13] aria Easterwood: hes in luna
[19:15] Larah Oh: oh ok
[19:15] Larah Oh: I m happy maddog is back
[19:15] aria Easterwood: i didnt know he left i mean i left too sorta lool
[19:16] Larah Oh: true....:(

She sets up her goal…honour and bravery!

[19:17] aria Easterwood: ima find their fort and plant a fun flag lmao they are leaving to go somewhere lmao
[19:18] Larah Oh: giggles

but then…typical for war on Gor…the prey is evasive and sneaky…and tries to avoid the Huntress of the Jungles…

[19:26] aria Easterwood: oh god i dont know which one it is lmao D;
[19:26] Larah Oh: you are in the wrong one?
[19:26] Larah Oh: laughs
[19:28] aria Easterwood: is luna and deslisea or w/e the same thing
[19:29] Larah Oh: I really don t know where he lives now, aria
[19:29] Larah Oh: last I met him was in battle in schendi
[19:32] aria Easterwood: hes in
[19:32] aria Easterwood: deslira group now changed a lot

the proud and wild Taluna carefully approaches the battlefield…following the scent of her prey, guided by her honed instincts, years of experience in many wars:

[19:34] aria Easterwood: oh someone is up there D:
[19:34] Larah Oh: giggles
[19:34] aria Easterwood: aria Easterwood hears some doors opening and closes and just stays at the bottom holding onto her grapple and rope looking upwards..
[19:34] aria Easterwood: lulz
[19:35] Larah Oh: giggles...you are DARING sis
[19:35] aria Easterwood: they arent really supposed to hear that thats what imdoing not saying anyting LOL
[19:35] Larah Oh: hehe

the fierce Taluna circles her prey...considering the angle of the sun to be in her back…and the long grass hiding her tanned body gliding noiselessly nearer...using every tactical advantage the land offers:

[19:36] aria Easterwood: hes like radar emerald pretty close to me D:
[19:36] aria Easterwood: meh i dont hear doors so i dont reallly knwo if hes gone or not D;
[19:36] Larah Oh: giggles...then be careful
[19:36] aria Easterwood: i hate that cuz radar i do now lmao
[19:39] aria Easterwood: its too damn short
[19:39] aria Easterwood: D;
[19:39] aria Easterwood: lmao
[19:39] aria Easterwood: ill have to jump D;

despite second thoughts…NOW is the time when she will jump! her heart pounding:

[19:39] Larah Oh: need a ladder?
[19:40] aria Easterwood: like i cant i had to like rp that off the docks lmao
[19:40] aria Easterwood: grrr lmao
[19:40] Larah Oh: true...
[19:40] Larah Oh: go back to the docks and rp a ladder?
[19:40] aria Easterwood: they just left on a raid so i cant go back there they might be back soon D;
[19:41] aria Easterwood: omfg
[19:41] aria Easterwood: im in
[19:41] aria Easterwood: and imtotally whispering now lmao
[19:42] aria Easterwood: omg i need to find mads omg ppl omg ppl omgogmgomggomgomgogmgmo

the prey suddenly becomes aware of the Huntress…and PREPARES for battle! CAREFUL, Taluna of Gor!

[19:42] aria Easterwood: PPL ARE HERE OMFG
[19:42] Larah Oh: laughs...
[19:42] Larah Oh: run!
[19:43] aria Easterwood: oh shit
[19:43] aria Easterwood: omgggggggggg
[19:43] aria Easterwood: i soo hear them lmao
[19:43] aria Easterwood: im frekaing
[19:45] aria Easterwood: OMFGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGMORE PPL CAME LMAO OMGGGGGGGGGG

then with the shrill warcry of the feared Talunas of Sa Jerag she LIFTS her spear and FIGHTS!

[19:46] aria Easterwood: aria Easterwood screams as she gets her bow out, "OMG MORE PEOPLE," tries to get them all highly doubting she would ever do that only hearing one damned door and seeing about 4 people, drops down and as she's hit quite alot..
[19:46] Geni Morane: over here

the warcry is causing a massive confusion, people yelling and confusedly running here and there as it must be an ARMY that attacks!!!!!

[19:46] aria Easterwood: yes but id totally hurt my ass jumping from the fort lmao
[19:47] aria Easterwood: ahhaha
[19:47] aria Easterwood: they came back too fast lmao
[19:49] aria Easterwood: oh joy you know im gonna totaly get killed i shot her and shes preggo now how the hell im i supposed to know hat i hit anything that moves lmao
[19:49] aria Easterwood: and i dont read profiles
[19:50] aria Easterwood: well this is soo good lmao
[19:50] aria Easterwood: i can see what they have so i have ideas on what to make lmao

Suddenly and unexpectedly the proud Taluna of Sa Jerag is in peril herself…poor her…will she survive ??

[20:01] aria Easterwood: im bulding gorean rp shit now and idk i dont have any damn items anymore D;
[20:01] aria Easterwood: i swear rp has totally changed
[20:01] aria Easterwood: they dotn keep anyone anymore its wierd
[20:02] Larah Oh: yes...you are right
[20:02] aria Easterwood: they arelike ok i dont want to rp tonight release her hello not in gor youd never do that lmao

with soothing words the cunning Huntress of Gor calms the prey…and the dust settles…and the Taluna picks up her spear…whipes the dust from her leathers…

A lucky day for a brave Taluna…a lucky day for the tribe!

And a busy scribe takes note for the next wardance…the story of a hunt…Thank you aria, that you let us be part of it!!!

(editors note, as reported via IM:
[19:51] Larah Oh: hey sis may I publish your report?
[19:51] aria Easterwood: omg what report lulz
[19:51] Larah Oh: laughs..what you told me
[19:52] aria Easterwood: ogm idc lmao
[19:52] aria Easterwood: omg*)

this truly happened. Chronicles of Sa Jerag, 25th of April 2010

Areba...thank you

We are here to remember Areba. She left us a heritage, the remembrance of her personality, her friendship, her companionship, her visions, her words.

When Areba joined Sa Jerag, I asked her to write something about herself for the tribe, for her Sisters, for me. I told her I will publish what she writes, and she was happy to do that.

Areba said:

“My name is areba, known by many as lyl bitch. Though, I have gathered many other names along the way as well. Some better or worse then others, in any regards I careless what you call me, as long as I am alive to hear myself called.”

That was her greatest wish: to live!

We are sad, so sad. We are so sorry, Sis. You were wild, bragging and lewd when you joined, Sis: No you ve not been an angel, you ve been you!

…we hugged a lot, like we so often do. We danced a lot, like we so often do…we sat and talked about nothing, about everything. And you complained about your comp, about lag, about the silly things we all complain about.

You did not want to talk about your true sorrows and pain, you did not want to let us know, because when you were with us, you were away from all that. Areba. You did not want to be special or different: You wanted to LIVE, just like everyone "I careless what you call me, as long as I am alive to hear myself called"

I hope we gave you shelter, gave you the normalcy that you were looking for, gave you our friendship and our companionship in our hugs and sitting together, in our lil adventures and joys.

One day you purchased ALL our bows from our little shop. All of them. Of course you knew you won t need them all, it was your way to donate to the the tribe without us asking what you are doing. It was your way to say farewell, it was your way to say:”thank you, I leave you now, I won t return, but I thank you.” But you did not want to say that, because you were hoping you would return, despite the odds that you felt in your heart.

Sa Jerag is a Taluna tribe, we all have our reasons. Some of us are lone moms: stay- at- homes for lack of options, some of us live out in the middle of nowhere, some of us are simply lonely, some of us seek adventures that would be too risky or too stupid to have in our rl, some of us explore and suddenly and unexpectedly find love, some of us are ill…we are united in having found something that rl has denied us.

All these things are pettinesses. Unimportant. We could read a book or knit a sweater instead. And suddenly a Sister dies. Her only wish was to stay alive!

Areba did not openly tell. She will have had enough of that, so many times in hospital, so many bad and worse news, relatives, friends, casting their eyes down, not knowing what they should say or do to help. I will not dwell here on the sorrow and fear that must have been heavy as lead on her heart. Instead I quote Areba herself: “Nothing in life appears as I dream it to be. I never shed a tear on that, as it is my life, and crying do nothing for making it right.”

And Areba said:

“But never have I been alone. I always have something about, an odd voice, that I hear at times, calling unto me."

And she said: "Recently I managed an escape [...] I met up with an old friend, and decided to join her tribe, as a Taluna. Seeing we share many the same attributes, I felt was a good plan. I look forward to many an adventure, in my new home, amongst my lovely sisters.”

Areba wanted normalcy, she wanted to be one of us, bragging, lewd, silly, adventurous, exploring the options, exploring herself. We all do.

I am proud she was with us. I am proud Areba chose to share her precious time with us. In her way, she let us know: What you do is worth to do, its life, you give me something that I miss; Companionship, just for myself, not for me being different.

In a way, I believe we got to know the true Areba. That Areba that SHE wanted to be, not the Areba that fate poured out for her.

Thank you Sister for having been you. Thank you Sister that you found us good enough to share your time, your friendship, your companionship with.

That is Areba’s heritage, her message for us: Be grateful for your Sister next to you, who chooses to be with you, to share with you. Yes Areba, we take your message to our hearts.

We are in your debt.

And you, dear friends of Areba? Remember HER words:” … crying do nothing for making it right.”

Thank you for being here with me to remember Areba. Thank you for letting me tell about her.

Cathli&Larah

Some thoughts on RP

We lost two Sisters the other day who went to another tribe, and after it happened I started to wonder why they were dissatisfied? They wanted more action, was the comment I got. 

Here is the dilemna. The Sa Jerag are and were created as a proper Taluna tribe, fierce, yes, but living in the jungles to get away from Men and the fierce main world of Gor. And the tribe mirrors that. We have never actively sought fights (well not often), responding only to the capture of a Sister or for revenge for some past slight to one of Us. Oh and yes, of course we fight to defend our lands and our camp against raids and attacks. True to the world of Gor in the books, we never made a fort to defend ourselves - what are we? engineers? - but instead chose a place in the crater of a flooded extinct volcano, surrounded and protected by water. Here we live our own life in the edges of Gor, occasionally venturing in to trade and to visit other tribes , and  making alliances occasionally for strength and survival.

Of course, this doesn't suit everyone. We all come to this world for different reasons.

Here we come to some facts. We don't have one life in Second Life Gor. It is not like the books where each day we wake up with the events of the day before laid out behind Us; with chores to do, with animals to hunt and crops to tend for food. No we can wake up to find that the cage we are looking at is empty where before we went to sleep there was some naked Warrior (or in Dina's case, the Viking who took Her has gone....mean of Me). So what do we do, we wait a little while (20 mins no RP and I TP out....there is something I would get rid of) and then we TP home and start a new story and a new chapter.

If we are lucky, we develop a RP that allows several visits or occasions to search Gor, plant some flags or flirt with someone. only occasionally do these involve the whole tribe as we are rarely on at the same time. 

And so we make many lives, many RP's and live out many fantasies. A lot of the time these are wonderful. Sometimes they are bad. From time to time you see one of Us burn out and leave Gor or go somewhere to fulfil another fantasy - this is SL after all, so there are a world of them out there.

I have no answer to this but some suggestions to make our RP more fulfilling.

The first is to notice that very few Sisters take slaves. This is unusual except in fighting tribes. Slaves add rich variety to the RP of a camp with their own stories and tales and ways of RPing with each other. In a fighting tribe of course, there is no place for a slave. What slave is going to wait all shrivelled up for a Mistress who is never there with no possibility of expressing themselves?

The other is to take suggestions for tribe activities apart that is from warring. We are not true to our life if we never talk, tell stories, offer training to others, bicker and fight and make love (I am not suggesting we need to all be there at the same time to make love though... thinking about it some more, it could be fun!).

The next is for us to be sure to RP actively with our Taluna Sisters. Sometimes these may even lead to fighting, but the main thing is to get out there and to invite them back to Us as well. If a Sister from another tribe appears, then we should make an active attempt to engage them in RP. On several occasions we wonderful times with Mambas, Pigmies and Taluna tribes. We should be seeking them out more.

There is of course another alternative, although it will mean more burn out eventually. Far from engaging in lifestyle, we should become a much more aggressive tribe. Even though I am personally uncomfortable with only being a "fighting" tribe, I am aware that it brings all sorts of Goreans to our lands, adventurers, slavers, explorers and Sisters looking for a place to live. This depends very much on what the tribe wants and who is prepared to step up to become First Bow, but could mean that We take many more captives and then sell them to the auction houses in Port Schendi. And in turn We can expect to be taken ourselves. As our land is small, We would not be able to house everyone We captured if We truly went to war!

Whichever we choose, there are somethings I feel fair in asking from the tribe:

• Honour your RP and play it even if you think someone is cheating against You. Don't whine but get a Mod after the event. Sometimes You will be surprised how well the RP works out with someone you fought with first.
• TPing out of a RP should be a last resort (Of course I realise sometimes people go too far and I would not sanction anything that was not ultimately consensual)
• Play each RP as if it was Your last before You died.
• Yes it's fine to just have fun sometimes and joke and play throwing in RL and non-Gorean themes (being boring is worse), but don't make that an excuse for not behaving as a Gorean Taluna when the RP is serious. So know how to behave in different Gorean situations.
• If You choose to battle or have to battle, always support Your Sisters first. This is how it really would be in a Taluna camp. Don't run away from them unless there is absolutely no choice about it.
• Help to bring life into our lands by inviting others and recruiting for the tribe. Don't expect others to do it all the time for You. If you want more "action" be prepared to make it happen yourself.
• Once you start something, try to finish it, whether it is a raid, a RP or whatever. Things go wrong, but not supporting Your Sisters who came with You is surely not how our tribe would be or we want it to be.
• Have fun because We can't duplicate a real Gor where one event strictly follows another, but We can make a wonderful, rich world.

I will be asking You all for your feelings and thoughts on this. Both Larah and I have more RL things to do than We used to, and We have some wonderful Sisters who We would like to take the strain and help Us. I will be looking to choose a 1st Bow, a slaver and asking You to help lead the tribe as it grows and changes with time.

Your Chieftess, Cath

Valkyrs

When stood the shielded Maidens
Of the gory sword, strife-eager,
On the isle; the Bold of Mood then
Received the meat of wound-blood.

Fólkvangr 't is called, where Freyja rules
Degrees of seats in the hall;
Half the kill she keepeth each day,
And half Odin hath.

From her name comes Frú, by which noblewomen are called

Auction?

now PLEASE Sisters, you CAN T DO that!?

I mean…sharks in the water, training with bows, rescues and now YOU offer yourselves in an auction?

hey THAT made me ponder, rosa??

do not try explain logic to me…tribe psychology is beyond understanding.

But being En you have to be pragmatic. OK, they go to auctions. So I went and purchased an auction thing. Worked all right, although the auction board seems to be for goods, but it can be adapted to our purpose.

So we set it up…not enough boards, some are saying…enough boards some are saying…we ll see. And all of a sudden it seems that these sisters, dressed in rags, smeared faces, hissing and giggling have a lot of FANS??? Where are THEY from?

You impress me a lot, Sisters. The whole tribe will now be on their knees for three days it seems, serving and being all cute…I d love to play mouse: How will THAT look? *neener neener!*…I ll wait for the reports. About your nights…erm…ok, no don t tell me please!!!

However it seems like you all have to spend your share on silks these days, I mean…not becca of course *winks*, but everyone else!

The auction is nearly over, and 19258 L$ including the auction board itself were donated to the sim. I thank you so much, Sisters! its YOU! and I m sooo in your debt.

What are you saying?...HA! NOOOOOOOOOOOO I don t have deep pockets!!! *pouts*…I remind you that the grandfather rule will end in june, and I put it on a separate account to fund the sim when the tier rises to 125US$ and I can still only afford 90US$. But yes, your donation belongs to the tribe. I won t forget that. And hey, its not scary: We are busy lil weasels and we ll ALWAYS come up with something! Because we are Sa Jerag, we do what we want!

Lovers of Gor is YOUR home, the home of Sa Jerag.

thank you, Sisters for all that you do!!

Larah

p.s.: I may have seemed a bit absent to you, these days. I apologize. Something came up in my life that made me sad. But I m a strong girl, I won t let you down: Promised! Thank you for all your help and for giving me time, Sisters.