The Garden :: Petals and Thorns

Gorean Glossary R

Gor is a complex lifestyle based on a series of novels by John Norman featuring a strict caste system of highly trained Free and slaves. For more information, check out the Garden's section on Gor.

Note about this Glossary: items marked with a K are Kassar or Old Gorean, online-created languages used to augment Gorean. Kassar was not created or endorsed by John Norman and is not consistent within the Gorean language or universe. Kassar should be used cautiously and sparingly as many Goreans do not use or approve of the language.

Rabchi	Do, Make, Do One's Duty	K
Racing Forms	Like at horse-racing tracks on Earth, at the Tarn races, racing forms with statistics of the competing tarns, riders, etc. are sold to aid in choosing which team/bird to bet on.
Racing Harness	The apparatus by which reins are attached for controlling the tarn in a race.
Racing Saddle	A variation of the tarn saddle for use in races.
Racing Stadium	Stadium in which tarn races are held.
Racing Tarn	Smaller version of the common wild tarn of Gor.
Radish	Small root vegetable.
Raft Bridge	Bridges formed of rafts made of rence; used by rence growers in the Vosk Delta.
Rag Paper	A type of paper layered and glued, used in a silk-screen process for printing such things as billboard posters. Not much is said in reference to this paper.
Ragnar's Hamlet	One of the larger Vosk River townships.
Rain Canvas	Waterproof tarpaulin for use as a shelter or covering from rain.
Rainforest	The tropical woodland of the Ushindi region.
ram-berries	a succulent red fruit, also used for ramsberry juice
ram-ship	war galley, having up to 3 banks of oars as well as masts and sails; named for the battering rams on the prow
Ranga	Patience	K
rape	All sexual intercourse between Free and slave , either at the slave's request, or not. By definition, no slavery is consensual, so no intercourse is consensual.
Rape Test	A test of a newly collared slave girl to test her slave heat and response to slave rape.
Rape-Rack	Rack upon which a slave girl is bound and displayed for raping.
Rarir	Small village near the shores of the Thassa, south of the Vosk River.
Rarius	warrior. Pl. rarii Literal translation: "Warrior;" "of the Caste of Warriors."
Rask	Ass	K
Rask	One of the most notorious of Raiders of Treve. His peers may have considered him an ass, but the word does not translate to that. In the books of John Norman, Rask is simply, a man's name.
Rastar	Warrior	K
Raviri	a minor tribe of the Tahari; they are a vassal tribe of the Aretai
Reading Device	A metal frame with rollers at the top and bottom; used for ease of reading scrolls.
Readying Compound	The area tarn racers prepare their mounts.
Real-Name	Many Goreans, especially those of the lower castes, have two names, a "use-name" and a "real-name." It is thought that knowing the "real name" over a person gives one power, aiding one to uses magic against another.
Rebellion Command	A command issued to a slave girl by a master for his amusement; the girl displays mock rebellion of her slavery.
Record Scars	These are scars which are given muls if they displease the Priest-Kings for some reason, such as not properly cleansing themselves.
Red Domes	Found in the chambers in the Hall of the Priest-Kings, these devices are an electronic mechanism to keep slaves from leaving their assigned chambers without the use of doors and locks. An eye on the ceiling watches the room, while the six domes emit an electrical discharge should a slave attempt to flee.
Red Hunters	the peoples who inhabit the Gorean arctic; in appearance and culture, they are similar to the Eskimos of Earth
Red Olives	Olives red in color; a favorite staple.
Red Salt of Kasra	Named for its port of embarkation at the juncture of the Upper and Lower Fayeen, this famous salt comes from the salt mines in the Tahari desert city of Klima; the salt is red in color due to deposits of ferrous oxide.
Red Savages	the peoples who inhabit the Gorean arctic; in appearance and culture, they are similar to the Native Americans of Earth
Red-Fruit	This is another example of something that is placed on websites by those without access to the books, and cut-and-paste from other websites, from quotes and such, not understanding or fully knowing what is being placed on the pages. "Red fruit" was a term to describe the different red-fleshed fruits found on Gor, and is not a particular fruit named "red fruit." In fact, upon running a scan of all there is not one passage with either "red fruit" or "red-fruit" anywhere.	K
red-silk girl	A slave girl who is not a virgin, or, as is said on Gor, her body has been 'opened by men'. Book 17: Savages of Gor, page 205 Book 18: Blood Brothers of Gor, page 472 Book 22: Dancer of Gor, pages 128 and 204
Reed Pen	A writing utensil made from the reeds found in marshes, then filled with ink.
Reeds	Marsh plant.
Refusal Of Bread, Salt and Fire	This is a punishment of banishment inflicted on one, discharged by the Administrator or Ubar of a city.
rence	a reed plant, used for making paper, papyrus, the pith is edible, the root is used to make tool handles, the stem is used to make boat sails, mats, rope, and cloth
Rence Beer	Alcoholic beverage made from rence
Rence Cloth	Coarse material made from the pith of the rence plant; common material for clothing of the Rencers
Rence Drum	A drum, hollow, formed of rence root; used by rencers as both a message device and instrument.
Rence Growers / Rencers	Those that grow and harvest rence
Rence Hut	Huts made of the rence plant that serve as home to the rencers in the Vosk delta.
Rence Island	Small, man-made islands that serve as home to the rencers in the Vosk delta.
Rence Knife	A tool for cutting the rence grown in the marshes.
Rence Paper	Paper made from the stalks of the rence plant; comes in about eight (8) grades.
Rence Paste	Made from the edible center of the rence plant, a staple amongst the Rencers.
Rence Pith	The very useful center of the rence plant. The pith is eaten, and also is used to caulk boats seams.
Rence Root	The very useful root of the rence plant. The root is used to make a tools, utensils and when dried, makes a good fuel.
Rence Rope	Sturdy rope made from the rence plant.
Rence Rope Fastenings	Fastenings which are used for mooring a rence craft.
Rence Skiff	A raft of sorts made of rence and fastened together with marsh vine.
Rence Stem	The very useful stem of the rence plant. The stem is used to make boats, sails, mats and rence-cloth.
rennel	a crablike poisonous desert insect. Book 4: Nomads of Gor, page 27
Rent Slave	A girl rented out for her uses, be it domestic or intimate.
rep	a plant used for making light cloth, similar to cotton
rep-cloth	repcloth, a rough cloth
Reshaka	Starshine	K
Retain Gur	Part of the Gur Ceremony.
Retaining Collar	A heavy, thick collar used during the transfer of ownership of a slave.
Retaining Rings	These are steel rings which lock around the wrists or ankles of a slave to secure her.
Return to Turia	Migrational move of the Wagon Peoples as they return southward after the winter months; the last of phases of the Omen Year.
Revels, Master of	a city's Master of Entertainment. Book 20 Players of Gor, page 10
Ri	One of the four original towns that latter combined to form the city of Tetrapoli.
Ribbon, The	One of Port Kar's largest and main canals.
Ribbon's Alley	A small canal of Port Kar.
Rifle	Banned by the Priest-Kings, this common Earth weapon was often smuggled by the human agents of the Kur onto Gor. It was also known that a form of this weapon had, at least once, been created by a Gorean.
Right of Capture	The Gorean bounty law.
Rim	Gorean map direction.
ring lock	there are many varieties of these locks, one being the combination padlock with numbers of rotating disks which, when aligned properly, allow the lock to open. Book 13: Explorers of Gor, page 292
Rings (Race Track)	Rings which determine the flight course of a tarn race.
Rite of Knives	A death duel with knives; generally performed by women, specifically panther girls.
river shark; marsh shark	a narrow, vicious fish with a triangular fin.
Roach	The obnoxious insect is found on Gor, too.
Robes of Concealment	the mode of dress favored by free women in some of the larger city-states (i.e. Ar, Ko-ro-ba, Turia, etc.); it consists of one or more hooded robes of heavy brocade, or other opaque fabric, plus up to five face veils
Rock Spider	Found in the rainforests inland of Schendi, these spiders get their name as they tuck their legs beneath them, thus resembling a rock.
Rogue's Chain	Male slaves, criminals, and even some free men, made up this labor chain that worked the canals of the Ushindi under Bila Huruma.
Roh, Roha	Before	K
Room of Preparation / Room of Slave Girl Preparation	The room of a slaver's house or paga tavern or other similar establishment, in which slave girls prepare for the pleasures of masters. These rooms have vanity tables filled with slave perfumes and cosmetics, as well as slave jewelry, silks, etc.
Room of Slave Discipline	Room in a slaver's house, in which discipline of a slave is performed.
Rope-Makers	The makers of ropes for ships.
Ror	Gorean map direction.
Rorus	A small village on Gor.
Round Shield	Common shield used by most warriors. 'The round shield is formed from concentric, overlapping layers of hardened leather riveted together and bound with hoops of brass. It is fitted with the double sling for carrying on the left arm. Normally the Gorean shield is painted boldly and has infixed in it some device for identifying the bearer's city. Book 2: Outlaw of Gor, page 21 Book 6: Raiders of Gor, page 68
round ship	heavy cargo & passenger ships, having up to 3 banks of 10 oars to a side; not as swift or maneuverable as ram- ships, having a keel-to-beam ratio of 6:1; has 2 rudders, and 2 permanent, lateen-rigged masts; carries a crew of 20-25 free men, plus up to 200 oar-slaves
Rubies	Gemstone which is an export of Schendi.
Run Command	When this command is given, she runs toward her objective, taking short rapid steps, with her legs almost straight, her feet hardly leaving the floor. As she moves her back is straight, her head is turned to the left, and her arms are at her sides, her palms facing outward at a 45-degree angle to her body. Upon reaching her objective she drops gracefully to her knees and typically resumes the position of Nadu.
Run for Peasant Boys	A cruel sport of the young men of the peasant villages; similar to Girl Catch. Girls caught are taken to the circle of the torch and then raped.
Run for the City	A cruel sport of the young men of the wagon peoples in which they take Turian slaves girls to within sight of the walls of the city of Turia, loosen their bolas and thongs, and then have the girls run quickly for the city. If they make it to the city, they are then free.
Rush Craft	A raft made of rushes and marsh vine.
Rushes	Tall, tubular reeds found in marshes.