TYPES OF GOREAN BRANDS
"Eta smiled. She pointed to her brand. 'Kan-lara,' she said." (Book 11: Slave Girl of Gor, page 80)
‘Kan-lara’ means quite simply ‘brand.’
Every brand has a flowing beauty of its own, and, although used to mark the girl as slave to all men, also adds a certain beauty and grace to the girl.
There are also some brands, such as the brand found on the thieves in Port Kar, which are indicative of caste. Just as the Romans and Greeks used brands to identify thieves and other lawbreakers, there are also small penalty brands on Gor.
While it is not common for a girl to have more than one brand, there are instances where a personal or custom brand may be also added to a more common kef brand upon a girl’s flesh. S\slaves can also be branded with less desirable brands, or with penalty brands, if the girl is found displeasing
Branding locations Branded more commonly on the left thigh then the right. Sometimes on the lower left abdomen, which is the third most favored brand site. They can also be on the left side of the neck (mentioned as tiny behind left ear), on the left calf, interior of the left heel, inside of the forearms, left breast, or the high instep area of the left foot, buttocks. Although left side always favored, right possible.
KEF
The most common of brands. The kef is the first Gorean letter of the word ‘kajira’ or ‘slave girl’ and is, therefore, a most fitting of brands to be placed upon slave flesh. It is approximately one-and-one-half to two-inches in height and a half-inch wide. The vertical bar is straight and somewhat strict, possibly indicative of the male dominance, while the two curling, frond-like extensions are feminine in style and placed near its base, as if in submission to the dominant bar.
DINA
The dina flower is a small, many petaled flower found on slopes of hills in northern temperate areas of Gor. It is short-stemmed, blooms in a turf of green leaves and resembles in some manner the rose. The dina is often called the ‘slave flower.’ It is a prized brand in the southern parts of Gor beneath the equator, where the dina flower is a rarity.
BOND-MAID BRAND
Found frequently in the north, the brand used on bond-maids consists of a half circle with, at its right tip, a steep diagonal line adjoining the circle. The half circle is approximately an inch and a quarter in width; the diagonal line adjoining the half circle is about an inch and a quarter in height. Since a bond-maid in the north is sometimes referred to as a woman whose belly lies beneath the sword, this brand, like many others, is very symbolic.
BRANDS OF THE WAGON PEOPLE
TUCHUK The brand of the Tuchuk tribe is approximately an inch high. The sign of the four bosk horns, set in a manner which resembles an ‘H’ is used to mark both the Tuchuk slave girl and the bosk, although the brand for the bosk is much larger, being roughly six-inches square.
KASSARS
The bola, so efficiently utilized by the Kassars and a part of their standard, is used to mark both their slaves and bosk. The brand symbolizing the bola consists of three circles joined at the center by lines.
KATAII
The brand used by the Kataii on their animals and slaves is that of a bow, facing to the left.
PARAVACI
Symbolic of a bosk head, the Paravaci brand is a semicircle resting on an inverted isosceles triangle.
Paravaci
The Paravaci brand is a stylized representation of a bosk head: a semi-circle resting on an inverted isosceles triangle
Brand of Treve
A brand marking those of Treve. It is the first letter, in cursive script, of the name of the city of Treve.
Knife Brand
Rather like a tattoo, an appropriate design is cut into the thigh of a slave and a colored powder is rubbed into it.
COLLARS
Gorean collars come in a variety of styles and shapes, as fits the nature of the Gorean man. Goreans have a strong eye for beauty, and an appreciation for what is aesthetically pleasing, and in collaring their girls, as in dressing, they will commonly seek to do so in a form that will add to the attractiveness of the slave. Most Gorean collars are of the simple type, and are placed on the simple, common girl. Preferred slaves, celebrated Dancers, or likewise exceptional girls might find themselves in a collar of design more suited to their valued status, and their master's whim. Different regions also have different sorts of collars, which are considered the standard, with these common types usually being quite fitting to the nature of the people indigenous to the area. But even though many styles of collar do exist, they all stand for the same basic purposes, to mark the girl as a slave, to name her owner, to make her feel a slave, and to provide a place to attach a leash. And obviously, those it is put on cannot remove it.
"Ko - lar" The word "Collar" is pronounced "Ko - lar" by Goreans. This is not so much a different word as it is a different pronunciation of the same word, much like how certain words that are spelled the same on Earth, will be pronounced differently in various parts of a given country, being a result of regional accent. "Collar" is a word borrowed from the English language, with a Gorean accent changing pronunciation slightly.
The Common Gorean Slave Collar More a range of styles within a common theme than a set and specific type, the Common Gorean Slave Collar, or Lock Collar, is the form most often used on slave girls. It is based on a simple piece of plain, but well formed steel, made to fit snug on the girl, and often sized to accurately fit her neck. It can then be etched, inscribed, enameled, "sleeved," or likewise adorned as fits the master's liking
The Common Hammered Collar The Hammered Collar is simply a band of steel, which is hammered into a circle around the slave's neck, by a metal worker. Such is the skill of these men that they are able to join the two ends of the once straight piece with practiced ease, making a perfectly aligned ring. This hammering is usually done with the girl's neck pressed against an anvil. Collars of this type are put are low girls or girls who are to be sold or trained in anticipation of future removal and placement of a lock collar. They are also fairly common, with various regions having again, their own suitable versions.
Jeweled Collars Slaves, especially ones who have won the favor of their master, or are particularly striking, might well be collared in a band made not of steel, but some precious metal, perhaps even inlaid with rich gems. This is often done as a reflection upon the wealth of the owner, making the slave both in form and adornment, a testimony to the good fortune of her master.
The Turian Collar Contrary to the snug fitting band of the Common Slave Collar, the Turian Collar is a loose ring of steel. Enough space is allowed in the creation for a man's hand to grab hold of the steel and clench it in his fist. This type of collar is known to be harder to engrave though, owing to the metals round nature, but regardless is quite popular, especially amongst the Wagon Peoples and its namesake.
Coffle Collars Coffle Collars are of simple design, not unlike that of the Common Collar. They are made to fit snug and lock much the same as the other. The primary difference is that a Coffle Collar will have one or more rings directly attached to it, to which a chain my be connected or run through. In this manner, many girls are strung on a single chain, thus producing a coffle for transportation or collection and keeping.
The Cord Collar A Cord Collar is an article of a simple sort, usually employed by those with either little means, or not the intent to keep the girl, in the case of intended sale. It is simply a cord to which an identifying disk has been attached.
The Shipping Collar Shipping Collars are employed by Slavers and Merchants transporting slaves over long distances. They are used to mark what lot of good they are a part of, for easier accounting and identification. The collar itself will state not only the owner, but also shipping information and sometimes current destination. These notations are usually placed on an attachment made to be easily removed and replaced from the collar.
The Collar Common to the North As those of the central and southern lands have collars which are common to them, so too do those of the northern lands of Torvasland The common collar of Torvald is a band of black iron, set with an attached, multi-purpose ring. The collar itself is not locked or hammered onto the girl, but rather its two halves are joined together by the placement of a rivet, which is forced between three-interlocking loops and hammered in place.
The Collar Common to the Barrens Those of The Barrens also have a form of collar, which is fitting to their culture. The Red Savages use a Bead Collar, made of colored beads, placed in predetermined and symbolic sequence on rawhide string. The combinations of beads and knots used to tie the strings signify the owner of the girl, and the tribe he is from.
"'The collar,' I said, touching it, 'is put on from without, but what it encircles, the slave, comes from within.' 'Slavery,' I told her, 'true slavery, comes from within.'"
