Greetings Gorean,
I found interesting to bring some quotes around the very basics of Gor, some quotes that could seem evident, but when you look deeper to it, it shown that many did not have a clue about these littles things that could turn the life of a Gorean Free Woman into Hell situation.
I asked Lara, Kajira of Farnacium, to search and prepare a work a relevent note about Free Women clothings, here it is:
Thank you Lara.
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I know, I know... How do you tell which of the Free Women is the prettiest? Why, in the name of the Preist Kings, do they wear those silly viels? Is it some sort of fashion
item? Do they think it makes them look better? Perhaps all the pretty girls are slaves? No - this is not the case... Wearing the 'Robes of Concealment' is part of Gorean
Culture.
QUOTE:
Gorean free women, at least in the high cities, almost always wear veils in public, although some women of the lower castes are occasionally careless in this particular, permitting lax
arrangements, and such, especially the maidens. Too, some omit the veil altogether. Veils can be used, if handled and arranged in certain ways, for flirting, much as were fans, once on Earth, in
less androgynous times. (Prize of Gor, Chapter 16, pages 392-393)
Veils are worn in various numbers and combinations by Gorean free women, this tending to vary by preference and caste. Many low-class Gorean women own only a single veil which must do for all
purposes. The veil, it might be noted, is not legally imperative for a free woman; it is rather a matter of modesty and custom. Some low-class, uncompanioned, free girls do not wear veils.
Similarly certain bold free women neglect the veil. Neglect of the veil is not a crime in Gorean cities, though in some it is deemed a brazen and scandalous omission.'
Slave Girl of Gor, pg 107
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What is the punishment for a free woman to go about town unveiled? Some of you may have heard the myth that it is enslavement, that she secretly wishes for her neck to be encased in steel
and her wrists bound behind her. But that is not the case. Women without a veil have no modesty, it is true, but that in and of itself is not enough for them to be beaten, bound and
enslaved.
QUOTES:
The veil, it might be noted, is not legally imperative for a free woman; it is rather a matter of modesty and custom. Some low-class, uncompanioned, free girls do not wear veils. Similarly
certain bold free women neglect the veil. Neglect of the veil is not a crime in Gorean cities, though in some it is deemed a brazen and scandalous omission.
Slave Girl of Gor, p107
In the barbaric world of Gor, the Robes of Concealment are deemed necessary to protect the women from the binding fibres of roving tarnsmen. Few warriors will risk their lives to capture a
woman who may be as ugly as a tharlarion. Better to steal slaves, where the guilt is less and the charms of the captive are more readily ascertainable in advance. (Tarnsman of Gor, chapter
six, page 65)
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The veil that Free Women wear is not a single item, but a collection of viels that slowly obscure the face. Five, in total. Each is thicker and heavier than the last.
QUOTE:
Eta, from behind me, pinned the first of five veils about my face. It was light, and shimmering, of white silk, almost transparent. Then, one after the other, she added the freedom veil, or veil
of the citizeness, the pride veil, the house veil, and street veil. Each of these is heavier and more opaque than the one which lies within. the street veil, worn publicly, is extremely bulky,
quite heavy and completely opaque; not even the lineaments of the nose and cheeks are discernible when it is worn; the house veil is worn indoors when there are those present who are not of the
household, as in conversing with or entertaining associates of one's companion. Veils are worn in various numbers and combinations by Gorean free women, this tending to vary by preference and
caste. Many low class Gorean women own only a single veil which must do for all purposes. Not all high-caste women wear a large number of veils. A free woman, publicly, will commonly wear, one or
two veils; a frequent combination is the light veil, or last veil, and the house or street veil. Rich, vain women of high caste may wear ostentatiously as many as nine or ten veils. In certain
cities, in connection with the free companionship, the betrothed or pledged beauty may wear eight veils, several of which are ritualistically removed during various phases of the ceremony of
companionship; the final veils, and robes, of course, are removed in private by the male who, following their removal, arms interlocked with the girl, drinks with her the wine of the
companionship, after which he completes the ceremony.
Slave girl of Gor, p106
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So, Free Women might wear as many as five veils (some more vain women might wear as many as nine), but how do they drink? That is rather a simple affair... They do not remove the veils, but
simply use the left hand to lift their veils to allow the cup to their face. Sometimes, the Free will drink THROUGH their veils, especially in public surrounded by strangers.
QUOTE:
"Free women, drinking, commonly lift their veil, or veils, with the left hand. Low-caste free women, if veiled, usually do the same. Sometimes, however, particularly if they are in public, they
will drink through their veil, or veils. Sometimes, of course, free women will drink unveiled, even with guests. Much depends upon how well the individuals are known, and who is present. In their
homes, of course, with only the members of their families present, or servants and slaves, most free women do not veil themselves, even those of high caste."
Fighting Slave of Gor, pg 276
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You went out of your house without your veil and now you are wondering why all the men were leering at you, and the Free Woman you saw called you a beast and a slut... Well, the simple fact is
that you forgot to wear one of the most important items in a Free Woman's wardrobe. Don't take it to heart, and don't make the same mistake too often, or else you might find yourself in the
Kennels...
QUOTE:
It must be understood, of course, to fully appreciate what was going on, that the public exposure of the features of a freewoman, particularly one of high caste, or with some pretense to position
or status, is a socially serious matter in many Gorean localities. Indeed, in some cities an unveiled free woman is susceptible to being taken into custody by guardsmen, then to be veiled, by
force if necessary, and publicly conducted back to her home. Indeed, in some cities she is marched back to her home stripped, except for the face veil which has been put on her. In these cases a
crowd usually follows, to see to what home it is that she is to be returned. Repeated offenses in such a city usually result in the enslavement of the female. Such serious measures, of course,
are seldom required to protect such familiar Gorean proprieties. Custom, by itself, normally suffices.
~Players of Gor, page 124 &125~
An unveiled woman, for example, may find other women turning away from her in a market, perhaps with expressions of disgust. Indeed, she may not even be waited upon, or dealt with, in a market by
a free woman unless she first kneels. It would not be unusual for her, in a crowded place, to overhear remarks, perhaps whispers or sneers, of which she is the obvious object, such as “Shameless
slut,” “Brazen baggage,” “As immodest as a slave,” “I wonder who her master is,” and “Put a collar on her!” And if she should attempt to confront or challenge her assailants, she will merely find
such remarks repeated articulately and clearly to her face.
Players of Gor Book 20 Page 124 - 125
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So, as we have seen, the veil is a key peice of costume for any Free Woman. How much more key is their leggings, skirts and other coverings that hide their legs! The punishments for
going about unveiled in public are light compared to the public forced enslavement and selling of a woman seem with bare legs...
Free Women, before you put on your skirts, check you have some coverings for you legs!
QUOTES:
Contrariwise, almost no free woman would bare her legs. They would not dare to do so. They would be horrified even to think of it. The scandal of such an act could ruin a reputation. It is said
on Gor that any woman who bares her legs is a slave. Indeed, in some cities a free woman who might be found with bared legs is taken in hand by magistrates, tried and sentenced to bondage. After
the judge’s decision has been enacted, its effect carried out upon her, reducing her to the status of goods, sometimes publicly, that she may be suitably disgraced, sometimes privately, by a
contract slaver, that the sensitivities of free women in the city not be offended, she is hooded and transported, stripped and chained, freshly branded and collared, a property female, slave
cargo, to a distant market where, once sold, she will begin her life anew, fearfully, as a purchased girl, tremulously as the helpless and lowly slave she now is.
Mercenaries of Gor Book 21 Page 69
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Okay, so you have your veil, and your robes of concealment, and you are set. You walk into the Inn and plonk on a cushion, and demand a Black wine from the poor, overworked, pretty girl
there. But there is a hushed disquiet in the room. The Head Merchant glares at you... You must have done something wrong, but what could it be?
Free Woman sit in a position called Tower, similar to that which the slaves adopt, except they do not cross their wrists... Sitting as the equal of a man can get you into serious trouble.
QUOTE:
"The position of the Tower Slave, in which Vika knelt, differs from that of a free woman only in the position of the wrists which are held before her and, when not occupied, crossed as though for
binding. A free woman's wrists are never so placed."
Priest-Kings of Gor: --pg.46
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