Meeting Summary: The Fabric of Gorean Existence
Date: March 19, 2026
Location: En'Kara, Scribe Tent
Speaker: Lady Kati Evans
Core Theme: Living the Culture
The lecture emphasized that Gorean life is not found in law libraries or on battlefields alone, but in the daily habits, tastes, and textures of the city. To avoid being a "tourist" in one’s own Home Stone, a citizen must master the nuances of dress, diet, and social etiquette.
Key Discussion Points
Culinary Staples & Protocol:
Sa-Tarna: The "Life-Daughter" grain; the foundation of bread and Paga.
Paga vs. Ka-la-na: Paga is the fiery brew of the tavern; Ka-la-na is the sophisticated, dry wine of the High Castes and civilized study.
Meats: Discussion of the Tarsk (staple pork), Vulo (poultry/eggs), Tabuk (lean game), and Bosk (luxury steak).
Etiquette: Always eat with the right hand; the left is for hygiene tasks. Use finger-bowls for cleaning.
Slave Service: Slaves are "shadows." Do not thank them or engage in small talk; a simple nod acknowledges the service without "spoiling" the dynamic.
Dress & Identity:
The Tunic: Should be mid-thigh for men to ensure readiness and mobility.
Caste Colors: Strict adherence to the hierarchy (White for Initiates, Blue for Scribes, Yellow for Builders, Green for Physicians, Scarlet for Warriors).
The Caste Pin: A critical identifier (e.g., a quill for Scribes). Wearing a pin one has not earned is considered fraud and is punishable by the Magistrate.
Cloaks & Footwear: Cloaks offer protection and concealment; leather sandals/boots connect the Gorean to the ground.
The Intellectual Game: Kaissa
Played on a 10x10 board of Red and Yellow.
The Pieces: The Home Stone (vulnerable), the Ubar (most powerful), and specific moves for Scribes (diagonal) and Builders (straight).
The Lesson: It is a teaching tool for strategy and logic, played in disciplined silence.
Conclusion & Practical Application
Lady Kati Evans challenged the attendees to immerse themselves in roleplay by detailing their interactions with the world—smelling the spices, adjusting their pins, and feeling the weight of the culture rather than simply "standing around like a prop."
⚬────────────────────✧────────────────────⚬
[2026/03/19 11:09] Kati Evans: The Daily Life and Culture is not lived in a law library. Life is not lived on a battlefield, shield-to-shield with the enemy.
[2026/03/19 11:09]
Kati Evans: Life is lived at the dinner table. It is lived in the smoky
haze of the tavern. It is lived in the scratch of the wool tunic on your back
and the taste of the wine on your tongue.
[2026/03/19 11:09]
lovely little zsa-zsa (emeralina.lisa): So I can preserve my view of Gor
and our way of life while not dishonoring my home or causing conflict within it
[2026/03/19 11:10]
Avery Hamilton Bade (freyadragonborn): is offline.
[2026/03/19 11:10]
Kati Evans: To pass as a true Gorean—to stop being a tourist in your own
city—you must know more than just how to swing a sword or cite a statute.
[2026/03/19 11:11]
Kati Evans: If you walk into a tavern and order a "beer," the
room will go silent. You have marked yourself as an alien. If you wear your
tunic too long, you look like a woman. If you wear it too short, you look like
a fool.
[2026/03/19 11:11]
Avery Hamilton Bade (freyadragonborn): is online.
[2026/03/19 11:11]
Avery Hamilton Bade (FreyaDragonborn): entered chat range (19.83 m).
[2026/03/19 11:11]
Kati Evans: You must know what to order when you sit down for a meal.
You must know how to dress without looking like a beggar. You must know how to
gamble without losing your honor.
[2026/03/19 11:11]
Vougan (vougankar): is offline.
[2026/03/19 11:11]
Larl (Gwen Afterthought): entered chat range (12.54 m).
[2026/03/19 11:12]
Kati Evans: Today, we descend from the ivory tower of the Magistrate’s
Court and we walk the streets. We discuss the fabric of daily existence.
[2026/03/19 11:12]
Magnus Ravenwood: is offline.
[2026/03/19 11:12]
Olivia (oliviatruely): is online.
[2026/03/19 11:12]
Kati Evans: Food on Gor is hearty. We do not have the processed
chemicals of Earth. We do not have "preservatives" or "fast
food." We eat what we kill, and we eat what we grow.
[2026/03/19 11:12]
Kati Evans: If you are accustomed to the bland, sanitized diet of the
modern barbarian world, Gorean food will shock you. It is rich. It is spiced.
It is heavy.
[2026/03/19 11:13]
Kati Evans: The foundation of all Gorean life is Sa-Tarna. In the Gorean
tongue, it means "The Life-Daughter." It is a yellow grain, similar
to the wheat of Earth but hardier. It grows in the vast fields surrounding Ar
and the other great cities.
[2026/03/19 11:14]
Kati Evans: Sa-Tarna Bread: You will eat this every day. It is yellow,
dense, and nutritious. It is often baked in round loaves. When it is fresh, it
is sweet. When it is stale, it is hard enough to break a tooth—which is why we
dip it in gravies or wine.
[2026/03/19 11:14]
Sariel Malik Al-Mawt (sariel.seraphim): looks down at my tunic and
adjusts it
[2026/03/19 11:14]
Kati Evans: Paga: Sa-Tarna is also the mother of Paga.
[2026/03/19 11:15]
Kati Evans: Paga is the "fire-water" of Gor. It is a brewed
grain alcohol. It is not like Terran beer. It is served boiling hot in a bowl.
[2026/03/19 11:15]
River Rune: is online.
[2026/03/19 11:15]
Kati Evans: Paga is fiery. It warms the belly instantly and loosens the
tongue even faster. It is the drink of the tavern, the soldier, and the slave.
Be warned: Paga hits hard. If you are not used to it, two bowls will have you
sleeping under the table.
[2026/03/19 11:15]
zCS: /me # [Mod] Thormuth Resident [OOC] logged into the region.
[2026/03/19 11:15]
Kati Evans: We are a carnivorous society. The smell of roasting meat is
the smell of a Gorean city at dusk.
[2026/03/19 11:16]
Kati Evans: The Tarsk (The Staple) This is our pork. The Tarsk is a
porcine animal with a bristly mane and dangerous tusks. A roasted tarsk, basted
with honey and hot peppers, is a feast fit for a Ubar. It is fatty, savory, and
plentiful. Tarsk-meat is the fuel of the city. You will see whole tarsks
turning on spits in the market squares.
[2026/03/19 11:16]
Lilith Koskinen (LilithLLoxingly): entered chat range (16.93 m).
[2026/03/19 11:16]
Kati Evans: The Vulo: A tawny-colored bird, similar to a pigeon or a
chicken. We eat the meat, which is tender, and we eat the eggs. A "Vulo
stew" is common peasant food.
[2026/03/19 11:17]
Rαє-Ɛℓℓє (RaeElleStormbringer): entered chat range (16.42 m).
[2026/03/19 11:17]
Kati Evans: The Tabuk: The antelope of the plains. This is a leaner
meat, prized by hunters. It is often served rare, seasoned with the spices of
the Tahari. To serve Tabuk is to show that you have hunters in your service.
[2026/03/19 11:17]
Rαє-Ɛℓℓє (RaeElleStormbringer): entered chat range (19.59 m).
[2026/03/19 11:17]
zCS: /me # [Mod] BellaDelacroix Resident [Combat] detached their meter.
[2026/03/19 11:17]
Kati Evans: The Bosk: The great, shaggy cattle of the Wagon Peoples.
Bosk steak is rare in the northern cities because it must be imported from the
plains of Turia. It is a luxury.
[2026/03/19 11:18]
Şкully Şкäяşgåяd (chazhunter): is online.
[2026/03/19 11:18]
Kati Evans: And then, there is this. Ka-la-na.This is the wine of the
Ka-la-na tree. It is deep red, almost purple. It is very strong.
[2026/03/19 11:18]
Kati Evans: It is the drink of the civilized man. While the vulgar
crowds drink Paga in the tavern, the Magistrate, the Merchant, and the High
Caste Warrior drink Ka-la-na in the study.
[2026/03/19 11:18]
Kati Evans: It is dry, with a heavy tannic finish. It clears the mind
even as it warms the blood.
[2026/03/19 11:19]
Kati Evans: How do we eat?
[2026/03/19 11:19]
Gavin (gibsonblack): entered chat range (19.76 m).
[2026/03/19 11:19]
Kati Evans: On Gor, we often eat with our hands or a simple knife. We do
not use the elaborate, ridiculous array of silverware found on Earth.
[2026/03/19 11:19]
Kati Evans: However, "simple" does not mean "messy."
[2026/03/19 11:19]
Kati Evans: The Right Hand: You eat with your right hand. The left hand
is for... other tasks. To offer food to someone with your left hand is an
insult.
[2026/03/19 11:20]
Kati Evans: Hygiene: A Gorean washes his hands before and after the
meal. Finger-bowls with scented water (lemon or flower oil) are standard.
[2026/03/19 11:20]
lovely little zsa-zsa (emeralina.lisa): Like India
[2026/03/19 11:20]
Kati Evans: Slave Service: If you are served by a slave, observe the
protocol.
[2026/03/19 11:20]
Kati Evans: Do not say "Thank you."
[2026/03/19 11:21]
Kati Evans: Do not engage her in conversation.
[2026/03/19 11:21]
Stone Wulluf: entered chat range (19.19 m).
[2026/03/19 11:21]
Kati Evans: She is a shadow. She pours the wine; she places the meat.
You may nod to acknowledge the service. To thank a slave profusely for doing
her job is to spoil her. It suggests you are surprised that she obeyed.
[2026/03/19 11:21]
Shania Shiras: entered chat range (18.65 m).
[2026/03/19 11:21]
zCS: /me # [Mod] Cael711 Resident switched from [RP] to [Away].
[2026/03/19 11:21]
Kati Evans: Let me repeat that... "She is a shadow. She pours the
wine; she places the meat. You may nod to acknowledge the service. To thank a
slave profusely for doing her job is to spoil her. It suggests you are
surprised that she obeyed."
[2026/03/19 11:22]
Kati Evans: What you wear tells the world who you are before you speak a
single word.
[2026/03/19 11:22]
Judy Wunderland: entered chat range (19.83 m).
[2026/03/19 11:22]
Trygg Tyran (tryggtyran): /me smiels
[2026/03/19 11:22]
Trygg Tyran (tryggtyran): /me smiles
[2026/03/19 11:22]
Kati Evans: If I see a man in a long, dragging robe, I know he is an
Initiate or a fool. If I see a man in a crisp, short tunic, I know he is ready
for action.
[2026/03/19 11:23]
Kati Evans: The standard garment for men is the Tunic.
[2026/03/19 11:23]
Kati Evans: It falls to mid-thigh. It is belted at the waist.
[2026/03/19 11:23]
Kati Evans: Why short? Because a man must always be ready to run, to
jump, or to fight. Long pants—unless you are in the freezing North or riding a
kaiila—are restrictive. They bind the legs.
[2026/03/19 11:23]
Gareth of The Caer (gareth.hirano): /me thinks its a good thing he has
no desire to be standard
[2026/03/19 11:24]
Kati Evans: Gorean fashion values utility. The tunic allows for total
freedom of movement.
[2026/03/19 11:24]
Kati Evans: For Free Women: The robes are longer, flowing, and designed
to conceal the figure. They are often layered.
[2026/03/19 11:24]
Kati Evans: The Robes of Concealment: In many cities, a Free Woman
covers her face and body when in the street.
[2026/03/19 11:24]
Kallis (jinny.enyo): is online.
[2026/03/19 11:25]
zCS: /me # [Mod] Sylvia Hawks [Away] detached their meter.
[2026/03/19 11:25]
zCS: /me # [Mod] Eowyn Altarga [RP] detached their meter.
[2026/03/19 11:25]
Kati Evans: The House Robe: Inside the home, the outer veil comes off,
but the dignity remains.
[2026/03/19 11:25]
Kati Evans: If you are High Caste, you wear your colors proudly. It is
not a suggestion; it is a uniform.
[2026/03/19 11:26]
Kati Evans: White: Initiate. It signals: "I speak for the
Gods."
[2026/03/19 11:26]
Kati Evans: Blue: Scribe. My color. It signals: "I am
educated."
[2026/03/19 11:27]
Kati Evans: Yellow: Builder. It signals: "I build the walls."
[2026/03/19 11:27]
Kallis (jinny.enyo): is offline.
[2026/03/19 11:27]
Kati Evans: Green: Physician. It signals: "I can heal."
[2026/03/19 11:28]
Kati Evans: Red (Scarlet): Warrior. You will rarely see a Warrior
without a touch of red, even if it is just a scarf or a trim. It signals:
"I am armed."
[2026/03/19 11:28]
Kati Evans: Note the order as this is how they rank.
[2026/03/19 11:29]
Kati Evans: Low Caste / Mixed: If you are a Merchant, an Artisan, or at
leisure, you may wear brown, grey, or mixed colors. But you will never wear the
pure Scarlet of the Warrior unless you have earned it in the Academy. To do so
is stolen valor.
[2026/03/19 11:30]
Kati Evans: The Caste Pin
[2026/03/19 11:30]
Kati Evans: Somewhere on your tunic, usually over the heart or on the
collar, is a small metal pin.
[2026/03/19 11:31]
Kati Evans: A quill for the Scribe.
[2026/03/19 11:31]
Kati Evans: A trowel for the Builder.
[2026/03/19 11:31]
Kati Evans: A tiny sword for the Warrior.
[2026/03/19 11:32]
Kati Evans: This is your identification. It denotes your station.
[2026/03/19 11:32]
Kati Evans: To lose your pin is a disgrace. To wear a pin you did not
earn is fraud, punishable by the Magistrate. If you claim to be a Warrior, but
you cannot fight, and you wear the pin? You will be stripped, beaten, and
branded a liar.
[2026/03/19 11:32]
zCS: /me # [Mod] hator Reyna switched from [RP] to [OOC].
[2026/03/19 11:32]
zCS: /me # [Mod] Alexposition Resident [Arena] logged into the region.
[2026/03/19 11:33]
Kati Evans: Gor is a world of weather. We do not have climate-controlled
cars.
[2026/03/19 11:33]
Kati Evans: We wear heavy wool cloaks. In Ar, the style is a high
collar. In Port Kar, it is oiled wool to repel the sea spray.
[2026/03/19 11:33]
Kati Evans: The cloak serves two purposes:
[2026/03/19 11:34]
Kati Evans: Protection: From the rain and the cold.
[2026/03/19 11:34]
Avery Hamilton Bade (freyadragonborn): is offline.
[2026/03/19 11:34]
Kati Evans: Concealment: A man can hide a sword, a dagger, or a purse of
gold under a good cloak. When a stranger approaches you on the road, wrapped in
a cloak, keep your hand on your hilt.
[2026/03/19 11:34]
Elphie Kiriko Kira (elphaba.jinxing): is offline.
[2026/03/19 11:34]
Kati Evans: Footwear: Sandals. In the summer, we wear sandals of
leather, strapped high on the calf. In the winter, or for war, we wear boots.
But never the clumsy, plastic shoes of Earth. Leather connects you to the
ground.
[2026/03/19 11:34]
Şкully Şкäяşgåяd (chazhunter): is offline.
[2026/03/19 11:35]
Bob (maxi.mathy): /me KISSES SHORT HAIRED SLAVE
[2026/03/19 11:35]
Kati Evans: When the work is done—when the law is written, the wall is
built, and the enemy is slain—the Gorean turns to leisure.
[2026/03/19 11:35]
Bob (maxi.mathy): shouts: KISSES BACK OF HER NECK
[2026/03/19 11:35]
Kati Evans: We wrestle in the gymnasiums. We gamble on tarn races. We
listen to the poets.
[2026/03/19 11:35]
zCS: /me # [Mod] BellaDelacroix Resident [Combat] re-attached their
meter.
[2026/03/19 11:35]
Kaelith (kylovincent): is offline.
[2026/03/19 11:35]
Kati Evans: But the supreme game of the intellect—the game that defines
the Gorean mind—is Kaissa.
[2026/03/19 11:36]
Bob (maxi.mathy): shouts: SLOWLY
SLIDE PANTS OFF
[2026/03/19 11:36]
Kati Evans: The word "Kaissa" roughly translates to "The
Hooded One" or "Fate." It is similar to the Earth game of Chess,
but it is to Chess what a Tharlarion is to a house cat.
[2026/03/19 11:36]
Kati Evans: The Board: It is played on a board of 100 squares (10x10).
The squares are usually Red and Yellow—the colors of blood and stone. It
represents war. It represents the city.
[2026/03/19 11:36]
Scarlet (scarlet.melodious): /me 'For the sake of the gods, keep the
pants on, runaway.'
[2026/03/19 11:37]
Kati Evans: The Pieces: The pieces represent the castes and the social
order.
[2026/03/19 11:37]
Kati Evans: The Home Stone: (The King). It is the heart of the game. It
moves poorly. It is vulnerable. If it is captured, the game is over. The city
has fallen.
[2026/03/19 11:37]
Kati Evans: The Ubar: (The War Master). This is the most powerful piece,
similar to the Queen in Chess, but stronger. It dominates the board.
[2026/03/19 11:37]
Kati Evans: The Tarnsman: Moves like a Knight (L-shape), but with
greater range. It leaps over lines.
[2026/03/19 11:38]
Kati Evans: The Scribe, The Initiate, The Builder: Each has a unique
movement based on their nature. The Scribe moves diagonally (the angle of the
pen). The Builder moves in straight lines (the wall).
[2026/03/19 11:38]
Kati Evans: The Spearman: The pawns. They form the line. They die first.
[2026/03/19 11:38]
Kati Evans: Kaissa is not just a game. It is a teaching tool.
[2026/03/19 11:38]
Kati Evans: A Warrior learns strategy: Sacrifice the Spearman to save
the Ubar. A Scribe learns logic: If I move here, he must move there.
[2026/03/19 11:39]
Kati Evans: There are players who travel from city to city, making a
living solely by betting on their Kaissa matches. It is played in silence, with
intense concentration.
[2026/03/19 11:39]
Kati Evans: Etiquette: You do not talk during the game.
You do not touch a
piece unless you intend to move it.
To flip the board in
anger is the mark of a child.
To accept defeat with
a nod and a "Tal" is the mark of a man.
[2026/03/19 11:39]
Kati Evans: I have seen fortunes lost on a game of Kaissa. I have seen
slaves wagered. I have seen men wager their own freedom. Treat the board with
respect.
[2026/03/19 11:40]
Kati Evans: You now know what to eat, what to wear, and how to play.
[2026/03/19 11:40]
Kati Evans: These details ground you in the reality of the
Counter-Earth. When you are in the city, do not just stand around like a prop.
Live the life.
[2026/03/19 11:40]
Kati Evans: Order the roasted tarsk, and complain if it is overcooked.
[2026/03/19 11:41]
Kati Evans: Adjust your caste pin to make sure it is straight.
[2026/03/19 11:41]
lovely little zsa-zsa (emeralina.lisa): be well (nice chatting)
[2026/03/19 11:41]
Kati Evans: Challenge a rival to a game of Kaissa in the tavern.
[2026/03/19 11:41]
Kati Evans: Do not be a ghost in your own story. Be a Gorean.
[2026/03/19 11:41]
Kati Evans: Visit a tavern or a dining hall in the city.
Role-play a full
meal.
Describe the food. Is
the tarsk spicy? Is the bread stale? Is the Paga boiling hot?
Describe the service.
Describe the
atmosphere.
Do not just type
"eats lunch." That is lazy. Type: "He tears a chunk of the
yellow Sa-Tarna bread, dipping it into the gravy of the roasted tarsk, wiping
the grease from his lip with the back of his hand."
[2026/03/19 11:42]
Vulcan Arian (lordmarshall): is online.
[2026/03/19 11:42]
Kati Evans: Immerse yourself
[2026/03/19 11:42]
Kati Evans: Enjoy being Gorean
[2026/03/19 11:43]
Kati Evans: Any questions on this class?
[2026/03/19 11:43]
Aldae Nagy: none here
[2026/03/19 11:44]
Charlotte Windsor: /me shakes head.
[2026/03/19 11:44]
Charlotte Windsor: Thank you for your time, Lady Kati.
[2026/03/19 11:44]
Shania Shiras: Thank you, Kati!
[2026/03/19 11:44]
Kati Evans: Thank you for coming.
Enjoy the fair!
[2026/03/19 11:44]
Gareth of The Caer (gareth.hirano): Well I do have to ask just
one.....is any of that supported by the books or is it just a developed set of
notions?
[2026/03/19 11:44]
Trygg Tyran (tryggtyran): (_.·`¯)(_.·`¯)(_.·`¯)(_.·`¯)(_.·`¯)
[2026/03/19 11:44]
Trygg Tyran (tryggtyran): 𝔸𝕡𝕡𝕝𝕒𝕦𝕤𝕖!!!
[2026/03/19 11:44]
Trygg Tyran (tryggtyran): 𝔸𝕡𝕡𝕝𝕒𝕦𝕤𝕖!!!
[2026/03/19 11:44]
Trygg Tyran (tryggtyran): 𝔸𝕡𝕡𝕝𝕒𝕦𝕤𝕖!!!
[2026/03/19 11:44]
Trygg Tyran (tryggtyran): 𝔸𝕡𝕡𝕝𝕒𝕦𝕤𝕖!!!
[2026/03/19 11:44]
Trygg Tyran (tryggtyran): 𝔸𝕡𝕡𝕝𝕒𝕦𝕤𝕖!!!
[2026/03/19 11:44]
Trygg Tyran (tryggtyran): 𝔸𝕡𝕡𝕝𝕒𝕦𝕤𝕖!!!
[2026/03/19 11:44]
Trygg Tyran (tryggtyran): 𝔸𝕡𝕡𝕝𝕒𝕦𝕤𝕖!!!
[2026/03/19 11:44]
Trygg Tyran (tryggtyran): (_.·`¯)(_.·`¯)(_.·`¯)(_.·`¯)(_.·`¯)
[2026/03/19 11:45]
Trygg Tyran (tryggtyran): Thank you Kati. That was a wonderful and
illuminating presentation.
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