COS

Welcome to the Cosian tourist, and merchant information center (web pages). The island cities of Cos are rich in history, dramatic in scope, and beautiful beyond compare. It was here, from the fantastic island chain of Cos, that the great war between Cos and the malignant, pompous city of Ar was launched. Needless to say, the city of Ar holds little love for Cosians, nor we for her. Cos is a mountainous island, rugged, never the less it is in this climate that the famed Ta Grape of Cos is grown.

The Island of Cos is home to four major cities Telnus, the capitol, Jad, home of our great and powerful leader, Ubar Lurius of Jad, "Long live Lurius," Selnar, and Temos. Cos "claims" strict control of the northern trade islands in the Cosian sea as well. and innumerable small villages. It is a rugged island, its climate and reddish volcanic soil, excellent water drainage, steep hillsides, constant air movement and eastern exposure make it suitable in the late growing season for the growing of grapes to produce wine and for Olives to produce Oils and other consumables. Although not commonly associated with it, one of Cos' largest exports is fish of all varieties, the Cosian wing fish being an infamous example. Though it is not generally known, Cosian fisherman also provide vast amounts of the worlds Tharlarion oil, harpooning the Thassa's massive water tharlarion and bleeding their oil sacks at sea before returning to Cos to distribute the many other valuable resources of the tharlarion carcass. Its secondary products are: ceramics, ceramic products of many kinds, numerous medical substances based on the plant life found among the tropical jungles on the western side, and exotic birds. Unfortunately many of the Cosian exotic fruits are too perishable to be faithfully transported to the mainland which lies four days away to the northeast and six days away to the southeast. The Vosk Passage is not generally considered a safe transport to the inner continent but it has been utilized in the past. Of course Port Kar, whose location is not generally known, is not considered safe harbor to any Cosian vessel.

Tharlarion, both the riding and the high tharlarion is the common mount on Cos. Bosk are rare though many do exist for their milk and meat. Verr are among the more common livestock and exist in numbers everywhere. There are no kaiila. The climate of Cos is wet and kaiila die quickly when held on Cos.

There are few Tarn in Cos due to the nature of the island setting. The tarn there are, are smaller then the continental version. Continental tarn rarely survive for very long on the island.

Cos was once a volcanic island. Though its fires have been dormant for eons. The volcano, known by many names among the cities and villages, is most commonly referred to as the crater. Its caldera is now the site of a lush and thickly forested lake very high above sea level. The crater dominates the landscape of Cos and its roaming hillsides and rugged ravines are cut with numerous rivers and streams. Aqueducts provide water from the lakes fingers to all the cities of Cos and due to its strategic position it is the sight of the armies largest standing garrison and the home of the Cosian military academy, simply known as La Acadamia. It is also the Home of Cos' only native tarn force, sometimes called the legion of 100. Cosians commonly make a pilgrimage to its heights once every En Var, during which, the legion of 100 perform aerial maneuvers.

Cos is a military dictatorship, thus the continued rulership of the Ubar, Lurius of Jad. His power is vested in the army who maintain all policing duties throughout the island and who control many parts of the island through garrisons located in strategically placed fortresses. Most families of high nobility maintain their own private armies, paying a tribute to do so. These private armies are sworn to the service of Cos and the regular army in any time of crisis.

The Cosian government is made up of two bodies underneath the Ubar. The Senate presided over by an executive chancellor, and the Circle of Scribes, a permanent bureaucracy responsible for the maintenance of the governmental infrastructure. Taxation on Cos, because of the dictatorship and the isolation of its citizenry is very high. Not counting tributes to the government to gain favor politically, some noble families can expect taxation up to a third or more of their income. Political power and status is nearly always established through a traditional method of tribute to the government. Even military rank is often sold to landed nobility who can afford it and can prove their lineage. This tradition creates a tangible nepotistic environment where entire branches of the military are led by officers related to one another. However this might appear, since Gorean castes are normally determined by birth this rarely leads to ineffectual leadership in any of the segments of the economy or military.

Because of this high level of taxation and because of the high population and relative wealth of the Cosian Ubarate, most services are provided free of charge to the Cosian citizenry. Health and welfare are all provided as well as numerous cost of living incentives. Sa Tarna bread, the grain of which is fairly expensive for bakers to purchase, most of it coming from the mainland, is nearly free to citizens, subsidized by the tribute of the nobility. Prices on many goods are fixed at minimal profits for citizens but are supported by extremely high tariffs for visitors and foreigners. This encourages merchants from Cos to increase exports to the mainland to make profits and insures a steady stream of trade goods.

Goods that are of special interest and extremely costly to Cosians are, wood, grain, salt, hematite and magnetite (iron ores), coal, silver, (the silver tarsk is thin in Cos worth 20 percent less then the mainland variety when used on the continent. It is not highly respected by continental merchants.) Gold, (the Cosian Gold tarn is a tiny fraction heavier then the Arian gold Tarn because of the history between the two cities. Cosians as a whole believe that the invasion of that mainland city was for the betterment of Gor, Ar having been ruled by a traitoress at the time. Needless to say, Cosians believe they are better then Arians and it is reflected in their coinage. An interesting side note, The Gold tarn is not the common high value exchange unit in Cos, the silver tarsk being much more common due to its more accurate value. All coinage is stamped with the profile of Lurius and on the back, the tarn and spiral vine around a spear insignia

More information about the island ubarates can be found at Ubar Luthers series of sites about Gor. No site however will substitute for reading the novels so we in Cos encourage everyone to get or share their copies. Education on The gorean novels is a high priority in Cos.


The following information is lifted entirely and without correction from Ubar Luther's education scrolls on Gor. Ubar Luther is perhaps the greatest authority on all things Gorean and though many dispute his interpretation of some of the ideological aspects of Gor, his knowledge of the facts and details of Gor are undisputed.

Ubar Luther Continues his work researching facts about Gor. His education site is always expanding. Recently, Ubar Luther has begun to include detailed information on the origins of Gorean traditions. In other words Ubar Luther shows us where Norman drew from Earth History for his writing about Gor. This sort of literary analyses is very important to the over all understanding of Gor. Those of us who care about the perceptions of Gor, both the role Play environment and the novels, wish Ubar Luther Luck in his endeavor.

Taken from ISLANDS OF THASSA (#42, Version 4.0) Ubar Luthers Gorean education Scrolls. http://members.aol.com/UbarLuther/

Cos

     Cos is a mountainous island, even loftier than Tyros, though it does have some level fields to the west. There are many terraced areas of Cos and Ta grapes are grown on many of them. Like Tyros, family is very important on Cos. The Cosian color is blue. There are a series of northern islands near Cos. They are numerous but small, extending in an archipelago like a scimitar northeastward from Cos. The islands are not united and their governments are usually no more than a village council. They commonly do possess any sea vessels larger than clinker-built skiffs and coasters.

     The seamen of Cos refer to the left side of a ship by its port of destination and the right side by its port of registration. This changes when both are the same. Then, the left side is considered the "harbor side." The exact expressions "port" and "starboard" do not exist in Gorean though there are equivalent expressions.

     The capital city of Cos is Telnus, a port city. The harbors of Telnus are vast and wall-encircled. There are two, high, round towers guarding the entrance to its harbor. The three other major cities on Cos are Selnar, Temos and Jad. The Ubar of Cos is Lurius of Jad. Lurius is corpulent, sagging man, like a great bag of meat. He is said to have a daughter from a long-dissolved free companionship. He was once to be companioned to Lady Vivina, the ward of Chenbar of Tyros, but she was captured by Tarl Cabot and enslaved.

   The famed Ta grape, is usually associated with Cos though it is also grown in various locales in similar latitudes. Some of these grapes can get as large as a small plum. If eaten, they may often be peeled. They can also be used to make Ta wine. There is no description in the books as to the color or taste of Ta wine. It is likely that like many other wines, it comes in a variety of colors and tastes. The best Ta wines probably come from Cos though some other areas make good Ta wine as well.

     The Cosian wingfish is found only in Cosian waters. It is a blue, delicate, four-spined fish. It is about the size of a tarn disk when curled in one's hand. There are larger varieties of wingfish found farther out to sea but this smaller variety is found only near Cos. It has three or four slender spines in its dorsal fin that are poisonous. It can hurl itself from water and glide through the air for brief distances on its stiff pectoral fins. It generally does this to evade sea-tharlarions who are immune to their poison. It is also sometimes called the songfish because of the whistling sound it makes in courting rituals. Both the male and females thrust their heads out of the water to whistle at that time. The wingfish is considered a great delicacy, especially its liver.

     One of the most famous people to come from Cos is Centius, a Master Kaissa Player. He is a gentle, soft-spoken man who looks old and gray haired. It is said that the stabilization serums did not work on him until he was fifty years old. Centius loves Kaissa for its beauty and he seeks the perfect game. He is one of the seven or eight top players on Gor though some believe him to be the best player of all time. In 10125 C.A., Centius beat the famed Scormus or Ar in a riveting match at the Sardar Fair. At the present time, he is likely still going from tournament to tournament.

     The Chatka and Curla is a large paga tavern in Telnus. It was built on four levels. It has a large open court with a wooden floor. There is an encircling dais, some twenty feet deep, and over the dais are two encircling balconies, each ten feet deep. The place is dimly lit by wagon lanterns, paneled with red glass. They hang on chains from the ceilings and balconies. Over one hundred slave girls work there and each is garbed as a slave of the Wagon People. They all wear the curla, chatka, kalmak and koora. The entire décor of the tavern suggests the lands of the Wagon Peoples. There are painted scenes of hunting, raiding, bosk herds, and the city of Turia. The girls are taught to say to patrons "A girl would rejoice if she were permitted to please you in an alcove." Some patrons bring their own whips or quirts to the tavern so the girls must ensure they do not offend the patrons. Free women may come here, if they are escorted. The tavern sometimes has dancers and they may be displayed in the center of the red wooden floor within the painted yellow ring of the slave circle. The tavern is not an open place though so the girls cannot just leave it. Double iron gates bar the entrance.

     The Vosk River has been long an area of contention between Cos and Tyros and their enemy Ar. All of them claim the southern shore of the river as their own. As Ar is landlocked, the Vosk River is very important. Most of the Arian ships were wharfed at Ar's Station. Cos and Tyros must transport their ships to the continent and then carry them overland to the river. Cos and Tyros used to support Vosk pirates against Ar. But, the formation of the Vosk League has ended much of the piracy on the Vosk.

     Port Cos, one of the primary cities on the Vosk River, was founded by settlers from Cos over a century ago. It is a colony whose ties to Cos are largely historical and cultural. It possesses its own Home Stone and is independent from Cos. Many officers of Port Cos were once native Cosians, mercenaries or veterans of the Cosian navy, on detached duty. During the events of the Jason Marshall trilogy, the Gorean books #14 to #16, Port Cos became a member of the Vosk League. Ar would not let Ar's Station become a member of the Vosk League because they did not want to lose their influence on the Vosk River.

     The events of Players of Gor begin to detail a grand war between the forces of Cos and Tyros against Ar. Once again, traitors within their intended victim, Ar, help Cos and Tyros in their efforts. Cos is the primary leader in this attacking force. The naval forces land at Brundiniusm and conquer that city. They then begin their movements toward Ar. Cos eventually attack's Ar's Station. Cos is repelled by elements of the Vosk League but Ar claims their Home Stone and takes it to Ar. It is claimed that Ar's Station collaborated with Cos and are traitors. About 50,000 troops of Ar are sent to the Vosk Delta seeking Cosians but this is an elaborate trap. About 45,000 of those men perish in the delta on a wild goose chase.

     At this time, Marlenus is in the Voltai on a punitive strike against Treve. The regent of Ar is now alleged to be a tyrant and he is subsequently deposed in a military coup. Cos is welcomed into Ar for helping to deliver them from the regent's tyranny. Again, the traitors within Ar aid Cos. Talena, one of the traitors, is now made Ubara of Ar. The military forces of Ar are disbanded and Cosians take their places, sometimes wearing Ar uniforms. The citizens of Ar are disarmed and even the walls surrounding Ar are destroyed. Cos effectively ends up in control of Cos though some rebellious elements remain in Ar. Marlenus is still missing and the future of Ar looks dim.

     Unfortunately, this is how the Gorean series ends. The next proposed book, Witness of Gor, allegedly deals with Marlenus and Treve. It is unknown if Marlenus will return to Ar or if the rebellion within Ar can oust Cos. Even the Priest Kings may wish to interfere at this point. The Priest Kings do not want any single city to control too much of Gor. They stopped Ar early in the series when it appeared Ar was getting too large. Another unknown matter is whether Cos has had support from the Kurii. The Kurii have been strangely silent in the later novels and may very well be behind this attack by Cos. We can only hope that new Gorean novels do get published and the ultimate fate of Cos and Ar becomes known.

Taken from ISLANDS OF THASSA (#42, Version 4.0) Ubar Luthers Gorean education Scrolls. http://members.aol.com/UbarLuther/

Much of the background of Cos will be revealed to you when you decide to join our nation. The Ubar's Commander, Alexander the second will inform you of certain... things that are going on in Cos. Cos will not simply lie dormant and fat on her haunches. We of Cos have never been ones to do nothing while Gor lays like a slut at our feet. But that is another matter.