Librarian
This message was updated on 8/22/2004 11:59:35 AM by Librarian
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Veils
replied on: 8/21/2004 10:52:27 PM
If you are not a
Savage living out in the Barrens
Native of a Jungle Tribe living IN the middle of the Jungle Region
Woman of the Wagon Peoples living with the Wagon Peoples
Woman of the Rencers living on an island in the marshes
Woman of the North living IN (Torvaldsland and small towns in the far north)
Woman of the Alars, living with the Alars
Panther or Taluna
I have news for you - you are living in a part of the Gorean culture where veils are common. A part of the Gorean culture where in fact -
quote:
Normally, of men, only a father and a husband may look upon the woman unveiled.
- Tarnsman
Yes, there are two quotes that make reference to veils and "especially high caste" Free Women. Such as this one -
quote:
"Free women, in most of the high cities on Gor, particularly those of higher caste, go veiled in public. Also they commonly wear the robes of concealment, which cover them from head to toe. Even gloves are often worn. There are many reasons for this, having to do with modesty, security, and such."
Magicians
It would be a mistake to assume then that a)Even though most did, there were many high caste FW that didn't wear veils and it was no big deal. Or b) It's pretty common for low caste FW to go unveiled - again no big deal.
Let's start with B.
Dina of Turia, in Nomads, is of the caste of Bakers. This is far from a high caste, and yet, she wears veils and robes. Even when the shop her father had owned is burned and she must resort to doing shopping for high caste women - she does so, carting her market basket, in veils and robes.
When she is freed from slavery on the Plains and allowed to return to Turia, what is the first thing in her mind? Veils! She says she can't go to Turia, because she has no veils!
quote:
She seemed to me very happy and this, naturally, made me happy as well. Then suddenly her eyes clouded and her face was transformed withdistress. Her hands moved to her face, covering her mouth.
"Oh!" she said.
"What's wrong?" I asked.
"I cannot go to Turia!" she cried.
"Why not?" I asked.
"I have no veil!" she cried.
- Nomads
In Fighting Slave we see several examples of Free Women of the caste of Slavers. All are in veils and robes. When they are gathered together to examine the slaves - just slaves and FW, they still are in veils and robes. When they are working the auctions, or attending them, they are in veils and robes.
We see them UNveiled only in the scenes in privacy in their own quarters.
How does the book Nomads open? The opening scene is a peasant woman (A FW of the Caste of Peasants) fleeing to the safety inside the walls of Turia, from the oncoming Raiders of the Wagon Peoples.
quote:
"Run" cried the woman. "Flee for your life"
I saw her eyes wild with fear for a moment above the rep-cloth veil and she had sped past me.
She was peasant, barefoot, her garment little more than coarse sacking. She had been carrying a wicker basket containing vulos, domesticated pigeons raised for eggs and meat.
Her man, carrying a mattock, was not far behind. Over his left shoulder hung a bulging sack filled with what must have been the paraphernalia of his hut.
He circled me, widely. "Beware," he said, "I carry a Home Stone."
I stood back and made no move to draw my weapon.
Though I was of the caste of warriors and he of peasants, and I armed and he carrying naught but a crude tool, I would not dispute his passage. One does not lightly dispute the passage of one who carries his Home Stone.
Seeing that I meant him no harm, he paused and lifted an arm, like a stick in a torn sleeve, and pointed backward.
'They're coming," he said. "Run, you fool Run for the gates of Turia"
The caste of peasants is the lowest caste on Gor. Yet, she is veiled.
We could perhaps decide that she is only veiled because she is heading into the city of Turia. That as the thunder of the Raiders approaching was heard, she stopped to dig out a veil before running for her life from the village out on the Plains.
Well, let us then look at the peasant women living in the village of Tabuk's Ford.
First, just where IS Tabuk's Ford? It is 400 pasangs north (and slightly west) or the city of Ar. (That's 280 miles from the city)
quote:
The girls of Clitus Vitellius, I among them, stood at the line scratched in the dirt within the peasant village of Tabuk’s Ford, some four hundred pasangs to the north, and slightly to the west of Ar, some twenty pasangs off the Vosk road to the west.
- Slave Girl
Traveling from tabuk's Ford, to the city of Ar, there are no other "cities". There are other villages. One passes villages more frequently the closer one gets to Ar (as seen in the quote below). This tells us that Tabuk's Ford is wayyy the heck out there.
quote:
I had been his slave for some two weeks.
We had visited various villages, but, on the whole, we had made our way along the road to Ar. He must replenish his stores. I was pleased that he had not sold me to peasants. Another fate, I knew, he had in store for me.
When we had come to the great road I had rejoiced. It is broad, fairly smooth, and built like a wall, sunk in the earth. It is not hard to draw the cart on such a road. My work, thus, was easier. We could see villages here and there more frequently now; too, occasionally there were hostels and taverns on the road.
- Slave Girl
And what do we see in this peasant village? In everyday life there? We first see Melina, the Companion of Thurnus, inside her own hut - and she is wearing - a veil!
quote:
"Thurnus," said his free companion, a large, heavy woman, in a rep-cloth veil, kneeling to one side. She was squat and heavy. She was not much pleased.
There was a kennel nearby, where Thurnus kept his girls. He did not tend his fields alone.
- Slave Girl
We see her outside the hut, and again, she is veiled -
quote:
Outside the low walls, several individuals observed the proceedings, the balance of the men of Clitus Vitellius, some villagers, including some peasant boys, and Melina, veiled, the slack, fat companion of the huge Thurnus.
- Slave Girl
Lady Nyx wrote some wonderful modules, six in all, for her Free Sisters of Vanir's Fjord. (A home based in Torvaldsland, a culture where women do not wear veils)
In module one she wrote
quote:
Note on that: I NEVER want to see a Free Woman of Vanir’s Fjord going into a city or place on Gor that requires veils, and post an av WITHOUT veils, but puts the words “With Veils On” under Your name. To me, that shows a lazy FW who didn’t take the time to get a veiled av, and there are MANY out there who make veiled avs. If you HAVE no veiled av, DO NOT put up a picture; go in with just your name.
Lady Nyx, Module One
I find her words to be worthy of consideration.
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