GoreanLibrary.As it was written

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FW, Escorts, & Gorean Society
posted on: 12/12/2003 5:22:24 AM

(Copy of post from AR boards)

The topic of FW and escorts seemed important enough to extract from current events and stand on its own. It is one that has the potential to affect so many situations in day to day Gor.

FW do not need escorts.

i agree with that statement depending on the interpretation of the word "need". Legally, FW are not required to have suitable male guard on Gor. i can find no place in the books that a FW unaccompanied by a responsible male will necessarily find herself on the wrong side of the law "for that reason".

But does she "need" one to hedge her bets for safety? Let's examine that.

Through all the cultures across the entire planet of Gor, slavery and capture are accepted as a part of life. (Even among the Alars - although the FW kill the female slaves, the fact that women *can* be enslaved is accepted.)

Of course, there are laws to protect citizens of cities and women. The attempted capture of a Free Woman is punishable by impalement.

Does this mean that it never happens? Does this mean that a FW is guaranteed safety wherever she may wish to go?

No. No more than i am guaranteed safety from rape, car-jacking, kidnapping, theft or murder just because there are "laws" against it where i live.

quote:

There can be many dangers involved for the slaver in the capture of women for slave markets.
- Guardsmen

What possible danger could there be for a slaver in capturing women for his trade (business / livelihood) if the only women ever to befall danger are those traipsing through the empty fields of Gor alone?

Certainly there is more danger for a slaver - or any man - to capture a woman within the walls of a city. Some men prefer a challenge ~s~

quote:

Considering the nature of the good commonly found in Laura, rough goods for the most part, one might have supposed it strange that Targo was bound for that city. It was not strange, however, for it was spring, and spring is the great season for slave raids. Indeed, the preceding fall, at the fair of Se’Kara, near the Sardar Mountains, he had contracted with a marauder, Haakon of Skjern, for one hundred northern beauties, to be taken from the villages, upward even to the edges of Torvaldsland.
- Captive

Slavers are contracted to supply slaves to buyers. In this case it was 100 women who found themselves enslaved.

Yes, there was danger on Gor.

Even women who were where they were supposed to be, and within the protective range of suitable guard did find themselves in a spot of trouble.

quote:

But I suspected that the lofty Claudia Hinrabia, of the Hinrabians, would not dance in pleasure silk at a Collaring Feast. Rather she would be returned for ransom. What puzzled me about the matter was that she had been abducted. It is one thing to drop a loop about a girl on a high bridge in streaking over the walls and quite another to pick up the daughter of an Administrator in her own quarters and make off with her. I knew the Taurentians to be skilled Warriors, wary and swift, and I would have thought the women of the Hinrabians would have been the safest of the city.
- Assassin

FW on Gor were inordinately precious. As such, they were treated by the men in their lives in the way that one would treat something that is inordinately precious.

We see that in most cities FW must ask permission from a male (FC or relative) to even leave their own quarters.

quote:

Indeed, in Ko-ro-ba, a woman might even leave her quarters without first obtaining permission of a male relative or the Free Companion, a freedom which was unusual on Gor.
Outlaw

quote:

In many cities a free woman may not even leave her dwelling, without the permission of a male guardian or member of her family."
Captive

Why might that be? Perhaps so that in the instances when neither he nor his male relatives, suitable men in his hire, etc are available to see to her safety - she is kept safely tucked in her quarters?

The women that we do see in the books moving about apparently without suitable guard are those who do not appear to have male relations in their lives to take that place of responsibility for her welfare.

If there was never any need for a FW to be properly escorted within city walls, then this scene would never have happened -

quote:

The most interesting attempted escape which I know of, however, took place in a locked tavern, not unlike the Chatka and Curla. In it, a clever slave girl, taking advantage of just such a diversion as now rocked the Chatka and Curla, neck-thonged a free woman from behind and dragged her, helpless, to an alcove. There, intimidating and overpowering her, she stripped the free woman, and bound and gagged her. Then, in the confusion and noise of the brawl, she, pretending distaste at the activity of the ruffians involved, went to the gate, was released, and made away. She was free only a few hours, however, for, as an unescorted free woman, guardsmen swiftly went to her protection, prepared to help her safely home. In a few moments, they questioning her, it became clear to them that something was amiss. A free woman was found who thrust back her robe and veils. Her ears had been pierced. The free woman, then, as the guardsmen looked away, tore down her robes to the shoulder, revealing the collar, which bore, of course, the name of her master. She was swiftly returned to him for a severe beating.
Slave Girl

From that, my take on it is that city guards, if and when taking notice of an unescorted FW, would promptly see her safely back home. (As opposed to following her about as she shops and visits).

i feel that we would do Gor and ourselves a great disservice if we were todevelop the belief that because a FW does not legally "need" suitable male company then anything that might befall her is somehow "invalid".

Yes, magistrates, guardsmen and the leaders of cities would indeed not look kindly on the capture of one of their own - ~points wayyy back up there to the impalement thing~ but that meant a pursuit of the assailant - and if luck was on their side, a capture of the assailant and then the impalement. ~s~

Those laws are only as good as a cities ability to enforce them.

~s~ my apologies for being so long-winded tonight, i woke up and couldn't get back to sleep ~L~

wishing all well ...

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