The Station Academy

   Today the Academy went from a wearhouse look to this...

   ... looks so much better!

The Station Academy (Sim has a landing zone so click again after the sim loads.)

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The Home Stone of Ar's Station

February Event.

Citizens of Ar’s Station recently walked the Viktel Aria to the fallen city of Ar. They passed through dust and silence, and stood where the City once lived.

The Home Stone of Ar’s Station was found and secured. It now travels under guard upon a wagon, transported carefully toward the Station.

Preparations are underway for its formal return to the Station, and for the rites by which a people are bound once more to place, duty, and Home.

Braille

While there are no mass-market "Gorean" books (the Gor series by John Norman) widely available for purchase in Braille, they can be found through specialized library services for the blind or through custom transcription.

1. The NLS Catalog (National Library Service)

The primary way to find these books in an accessible format is through the National Library Service for the Blind and Print Disabled (NLS).

• Search the Catalog: You can search the NLS Union Catalog for "John Norman."

• Availability: While many niche or vintage science fiction series were recorded as Talking Books (audio), some have been transcribed into Braille or BRF (Braille Ready Format) for use with refreshable Braille displays.

• BARD: If you are a registered NLS patron, you can check the BARD (Braille and Audio Reading Download) website to see if digital Braille copies of the early Gor novels (like Tarnsman of Gor or Outlaw of Gor) are available for instant download.

2. Custom Transcription Services

If a specific title is not in the NLS library, you can have a print or digital copy converted to Braille through private organizations. These services are often used by students or collectors:

• Braille Works: They specialize in custom transcriptions and can provide quotes for converting existing text into Braille.

• Clovernook Center: They offer professional transcription, proofreading, and embossing for any print material.

• The Braille Bookstore: While they primarily stock popular titles (like Ranger's Apprentice), they sometimes handle special requests or can point you toward niche distributors.

3. Digital Braille (BRF Files)

Many readers now prefer eBraille. If you can find a digital text version of the books (which are widely available as E-books), you can use software like BrailleBlaster or Duxbury to convert the text into a .brf file. This file can then be read on a Refreshable Braille Display without the need for bulky physical paper volumes.

Books with Ar's Station

In the Gorean Saga by John Norman, Ar’s Station is a critical military and agricultural outpost located in the Vosk River basin. It serves as a northern bastion for the city of Ar and is central to the plot of the later "middle" books of the series.

The primary books featuring Ar's Station are:

• Renegades of Gor (Book 23): Focuses on the siege of Ar's Station by the forces of Cos and her allies.

• Vagabonds of Gor (Book 24): Continues the narrative of the war and the fallout of the siege.

• Magicians of Gor (Book 25): Deals with the aftermath of the city's betrayal and the status of the Ar's Station Home Stone.

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Quotes & Descriptions

While specific dialogue often varies by edition, the following passages capture the essence and descriptive atmosphere of Ar's Station as presented in the novels:

On its Strategic Importance

"Ar's Station... Ar's base of power in the vast arable basin of Gor's mightiest river, the Vosk." — Renegades of Gor (Blurb/Introductory context)

On the Hardship of the Siege

"Tarl escapes his imprisonment and ponders whether he should then flee Ar's Station, making his way to freedom through its miseries and desolations, its ruins and flames, or shall he remain, to defend her weakened, betrayed, starving defenders..." — Renegades of Gor

On the Betrayal by Ar

"Ar's Station, which held out so valiantly against superior forces in the north, is denounced as traitorous... The Home Stone of Ar's Station is displayed in Ar as an object of contempt." — Magicians of Gor

On the Value of the Home Stone

"Marcus, of Ar's Station, wishes to regain the Home Stone of his beloved city, for no city can die whose Home Stone survives." — Magicians of Gor

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Key Characteristics of Ar's Station

• Location: Situated in the north, near the Vosk River, it is the "breadbasket" and military shield for the imperial city of Ar.

• The Siege: The station is famous for its "valiant" defense against the Ubarate of Cos. Unlike the city of Ar itself, which largely fell due to internal treason and political rot, Ar's Station remained loyal and fought until the end.

• The Home Stone: In the Gorean world, a Home Stone represents the soul and sovereignty of a location. The fact that Ar's Station had its own Home Stone (distinct from Ar's) signifies its importance as a semi-autonomous and vital entity.

Biography of Kati Evans

Governor’s Scribe of Ar’s Station

Kati Evans is a distinguished professional of the Blue Caste with over fifteen years of dedicated service to the cities and Home Stones of Gor. Born the daughter of a noble Ubar of Rarn, her life has been defined by the intellectual rigance of her caste and an unwavering commitment to the pursuit of justice.

A Career of Judicial Excellence

Kati’s extensive career is marked by her transition through the highest levels of the Gorean legal system. Having served as High Magistrate in both Fina and Rarn, and later as Chief Magistrate in Abydos, she earned a reputation for her "Priest-King-blessed" ability to de-escalate volatile conflicts. Her tenure as AHOC Magistrate in Teletus further solidified her standing as a knowledgeable advocate and a steady hand in times of civic transition.

Today, she serves as the Governor’s Scribe for the risen city of Ar’s Station. In this capacity, she utilizes her vast legal and administrative experience to manage the city’s official records and executive correspondence, providing a bridge between judicial history and future governance.

Resilience Through Adversity

Kati’s journey has been one of profound resilience. She has navigated the falls of great cities and endured significant personal loss, including the displacement caused by the violent storms of Selnar and the destruction of her previous residence in Port Victoria. Following a period of recovery from injuries sustained in Teletus, she has sought the stability of family and the familiarity of the scribe’s scrolls.

Personal Life and Protection

A woman of quiet and thoughtful demeanor, Kati is known for her deliberate and thorough approach to her work. She currently resides in Ar’s Station to be near her three sons—Asher, Tyrian, and Magnus—who have played vital roles in the city's reconstruction and commerce.

Her safety and interests are secured by The Silver Blades and the warriors of Ar's Station, led by her father, Captain Wind. Though she prefers the focus of her office to the clamor of large assemblies, her voice remains a powerful instrument of reason and law within the city.