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Weapons of Gor ... |
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Any Warrior knows
good steel in his hand when he feels it ... For his very
life depends on that very steel! A Gorean Warrior like all
Warriors is skilled in the use of any weapon that is likely
to be used against him in battle ... It is this very skill
that may save his life. |
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Spears & Lances |
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Spear
(Common
Gorean)
The typical Gorean spear is approximately seven
feet in length, with a fitted wooden handle up
to two inches thick, capped by a leaf-shaped,
tapering head eighteen inches in length. The
handle itself is usually made from ka-la-na
wood, and banded with metal near the juncture of
the spear-head socket to prevent the handle from
shearing when thrown. This weapon first appears
in Book #1, Tarnsman of Gor, and appears
regularly throughout the series thereafter. |
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Tharlarion
Lance
A
thick spear, approximately ten to fourteen feet
long. It has a lancelet sphere tip that attaches to
a thick shaft ... at the thickest part the shaft of
the lance is about four inches in width and is often
fluted to lighten it. Usually carried when on the
tharlarion, couched beneath the right arm of the
user, the lance itself crossing over and above the
neck of the mount, often supported by a lance-rest
which is either attached to the saddle or worn
strapped to the user's chest. Can also be thrown,
though not designed for it. First appears in book
#1, Tarnsman of Gor. |
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Kaiila Lance
(Wagon Peoples)
A long
slender spear, eight to ten feet long, designed to
be used from the saddle of a rider on kailla back.
These lances are carried in the right fist, and are
flexible and light. They are used primarily for
thrusting. Black in color, they are made from the
poles of young tem trees, and so flexible that they
may be bent almost double before they break. A loose
loop of bosk hide, wound twice about the right fist,
helps the user to retain the weapon in mounted
combat. It is seldom, if ever, thrown. First
described in book #4, Nomads of Gor. |
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Kailla Lance,
(Red
Savages Hunting Lance)
Similar to the kailla lance of the wagon peoples,
the hunting lance of the Red Savages is commonly
longer, heavier and thicker. The point of this lance
is longer and narrower than the war lance, designed
to pierce deeply into a kailiauk's heart. The shaft
is made from temwood. The tip can be metal, carved
bone or shaped stone, (depending upon what is
available) and made be lashed to the shaft with
boiled sinew or rawhide, or even attached with metal
trade rivets. (again using what is at hand) Leather
grips, hand loops, and decorations all made be
present also. Described in book #17, Savages of Gor. |
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Tarn Lance
(Red savages)
Similar to the war lance, except that it is longer
and more slender, easier use from tarn back.
Described in book #17, Savages of Gor. |
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Harpoon
A javelin-type spear, fitted with a barbed head and
used with an attached line for retrieval. A similar
weapon first appears in the brine pits of Klima in
book #10, Tribesmen of Gor, and the actual harpoon
itself is used extensively in book #12, Beasts of
Gor. |
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Trident
The three-pronged spearing fork used by fishermen
and sailors of the islands of Gor. Can be utilized
both as a thrusting weapon and as a throwing weapon.
It is also used, in conjunction with a hooked net,
in various gladiatorial arenas throughout Gor. (rentiri)
It is briefly described as being approximately seven
feet in overall length, with prongs of 10" inches or
more. Often used with a line attached, for retrieval
should it be thrown. This weapon is described in
book #6, Raiders of Gor. |
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Axes & Clubs |
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Battle
Axe
(Torvaldslander)
This weapon is described as
a single-bladed axe of steel, with a blade of anywhere
from 8 to 14 inches in width, and is mounted on a thick
wooden handle usually has a wrist thong attached to the
end the handle, which enables it to be more easily
retained during combat. This weapon first appears in the
series in book #8, Marauders of Gor. |
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Great Axe
(Torvaldslander)
This weapon is
similar to the Torvaldslander Battle Axe, except it is
much larger, with a handle up to four feet in length.
The axe blade is also much larger, and this weapon is
used two-handed. Occasionally these axes will be
double-headed. This weapon makes its first appearance in
the series in book #8, Marauders of Gor. |
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War Club
(Red savages)
A carved,
shaped club of wood or bone, often mounted with a stone
or metal head of some sort. This weapon is probably
approximately two to three feet in length. This weapon
is mentioned in book #18, Blood Brothers of Gor. |
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Shields & Helms |
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Gorean
Warrior's Shield
(noun)
A circular
shaped shield; made of several layers of bosk's hide
generally seven to nine layers thick stretched over a
lightweight framework of wood or horn, generally about
twenty-four to thirty-six inches in diameter. The shield
is often banded with strips of iron to further
strengthen it. The shield, thought seemingly small, is
sufficient in size to protect the areas where a fatal
blow may be struck, yet it may also be used as a
covering in sever weather. It is worn upon the user's
arm, usually the left one, and is carried slung across
the back while traveling. The shield is usually painted
and sometimes carries a design or device that denotes
the warriors city-state. |
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Turian Shield
The morning sun
flashed from their helmets, their long tharlarion
lances, the metal embossments on their oval shields,
unlike the rounded shields of most Gorean cities. Nomads
of Gor, page 113 |
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Common Helmets
Above the shield
was a suspended helmet, again reminiscent of a Greek
helmet, perhaps of the Homeric period. It had a somewhat
'Y'-shaped slot for the eyes, nose, and mouth in the
nearly solid metal. Tarnsman of Gor, page 22 ...and the
simple helmet, innocent of insignia, with empty crest
plate, of curved iron with its "Y"-like opening, and
cushioned with rolls of leather. Raiders of Gor, page 68 |
Northern Helmets
The helmets of
the north are commonly conical, with a nose-guard, that
can slip up and down. At the neck and sides, attached by
rings, usually hangs a mantle of linked chain. The
helmet of Thorgard him-self, however, covered his neck
and the sides of his face. It was horned. Marauders of
Gor, page 73 |
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Helmet of the Wagon Peoples
...he wore a
conical, fur-rimmed iron helmet, a net of colored chains
depending from the helmet protecting his face, leaving
only holes for the eyes. Nomads of Gor, page 10 |
Captain's
Helmet
To be
sure, carved in wood, high on the chair, was the helmet
with crest of sleen-fur, the mark of the captain, ...
Marauders of Gor, page 6 |
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Assassin's Helmet
All were silent.
I wore the garb of the Caste of Assassins, and on the
left temple of the black helmet was the golden slash of
the messenger. Tarnsman of Gor, page 192 |
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Misc. Weapons |
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Bolo
The favored
weapon of the Warriors of Wagon People. The bolo
consists of three long leather straps, each about 5 feet
in length, terminating in a leather sack which
contains, a heavy rounded
metal weight. Developed for hunting, it also can be used
as a weapon of war.
Thrown low the long straps, with their approximate
ten-foot sweep, strike the victim and the weighted
balls, whip about the victim's legs, entangling and
tightening the straps. Thrown high it can pin a man's
arms to his sides; thrown at the throat it can strangle
him; thrown at the head the whipping weights can crush
his skull. Once a victim is entangled with the bolo,
another weapon is then utilized to dispatch the victim.
This weapon first appears in book #4, Nomads of Gor. |
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Spiked Hand Wraps
heavy cloth or
leather strips bound about the hand, with projecting
spikes which cover the wearer's knuckles. Described in
book #14, Fighting Slave of Gor. |
Spiked Leather
A pair of
spiked leather balls which are worn upon the hands of
gladiatorial fighters; the spikes of these devices can
be very long. Mentioned in book
#14, Fighting Slave of Gor. |
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Knife Gauntlets
A pair of thick
leather gauntlets, upon which are mounted crescent
shaped knife blades. Sometimes used by gladiators in
arena combats. Mentioned in book #14, Fighting Slave of
Gor. |
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Swords |
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Gorean Short Sword
The basic weapon of all
Warriors of Gor. Approximately twenty to
twenty-two inches in length from hilt tip to blade
tip, the blade is doubled-edged, and leaf shaped
... narrower at the hilt base and then widening to
a width of three or four inches and then
descending to a curved and pointed tip. The grip
is generally either of polished wood or leather
covered wood, with an oval cross-guard. The Gorean
short sword is hand forged of light carbon steel.
The leaf shaped blade is ideal for thrusting ...
Perfect for close combat, its point giving it
excellent armor penetrating properties. It is
generally carried, in a sheath slung over the left
shoulder by means of a leather harness, but may
also be worn at the hip. This sword is mentioned
in all books relating to Gor, from Book #1
Tarnsman Of Gor and throughout the series. |
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Long sword
The
Long sword is commonly used by the warriors of
Torvaldsland. Approximately 36 inches in length,
the forging of these "long swords" follows the
pattern of the swords in the Damascus style. In
this method, many billets of steel, both hard
(high carbon) and soft or flexible (tool) steel
are beaten together under heat and folded back
upon itself and beaten flat again. This is
repeated many times. This folding creates a blade
with both a tremendous amount of flexibility and
also one that is virtually unbreakable. It also,
when treated with a mild acid solution, reveals
the pattern formed by the layers of the different
steels ... This pattern is different from blade to
blade and gives the sword it's unique appearance.
This blade is used as a slashing weapon ... often
it is used to batter an opponents shield to bits
... It is carried in a belt-scabbard or strapped
across its user's back over his right shoulder.
Most long swords are "named" blades... they carry
the name of their maker or are named by their
owner ... Names like 'Gramr' ('fierce') and 'Fotbitr'
('leg biter') are often used. The warriors of
Torvaldsland believe their swords, as with their
ships, possesses a 'soul'. This weapon makes its
first appearance in the series in book #8,
Marauders of Gor. |
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Scimitar (Tahari)
A long curved sword, used either one-handed or
with two-hands, depending upon the situation.
Forged in the Damascus manner, it has a wickedly
curved, single-edged blade, honed to
razor-sharpness. Even a light stroke of a Tahari
scimitar will pass effortlessly through the flesh,
leaving a carved mark 1/4" inch deep in the bone
beneath. The overall blade length is perhaps
thirty or more inches, with an eight inch long
"false-edge" across the back of the tip, for
backhanded slashes. Used one handed from kailla
back it is incredibly deadly; used two-handed upon
the ground it is equally terrifying. This weapon
is mentioned in book #4, Nomads of Gor, and
described further in book #10, Tribesmen of Gor. |
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Daggers & Knives |
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Daggers
Daggers take many forms,
depending upon the needs and whims of their users, and such
weapons are the most common form of side-arm used on Gor.
Daggers are worn openly in a belt-sheath or concealed beneath
one's clothing, often strapped to the wrist beneath the owner's
sleeve, tucked into the collar behind the neck, or hidden in a
boot. Used by many freewomen as a personal means of
self-defense. Examples of these weapons can be found in every
book of the series. |
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Quiva
A narrow double-edged
blade of between 9 and 12 inches in length mounted on a shaped
handle of wood, bone, or horn. It is honed to razor sharpness,
and its blade tapers to a needle point. Designed for use
primarily as a throwing knife, the quiva is also perfectly
functional as a hand weapon and general utility knife. It is
mostly used by the nomadic Wagon Peoples of the southern
hemisphere, who will carry matched sets of seven in special
sheaths attached to their kailla saddles. First described in
book #4, Nomads of Gor. |
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Killing Knife
A throwing knife, used by the Caste of Assassins. It is much
smaller than the quiva, approximately six to eight inches in
length, and its blade is tapered on only one side. Sometimes
used in conjunction with poison, though trained Assassins
typically disdain the use of poison. It is rarely used in
hand-to-hand combat, designed primarily to be thrown at the body
of an unsuspecting victim. Described in book #5, Assassin of
Gor. |
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Knife
Gauntlets
A pair of thick
leather gauntlets, upon which are mounted crescent shaped knife
blades. Sometimes used by gladiators in arena combats. Mentioned
in book #14, Fighting Slave of Gor. |
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Sleen
Knife
This
is a broad bladed, flat, double edged utility knife equipped
with a simple stubby cross guard and unadorned pommel. Much
favored by hunters and woodsmen, it is equally suited for use as
a camping and skinning knife, prying tool, and as a weapon in
single combat. This weapon is first mentioned in book #8,
Hunters of Gor. |
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Bows & Missiles |
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Great
(Peasant)
Bow
A
non - re-curved long bow made from the wood of
the ka-la-na tree or sometimes of temwood.
Unstrung it is over six feet in length, and can
require a pull of up to 120 lbs. The bowstring
itself is usually made of hemp or sinew lashed
with silk thread. The arrows of the bow are
temwood, and fletched with the feathers of the
vosk gull. Each such arrow is approximately
three feet in length, and can be tipped with
several different types of arrowheads; of these,
the flight tip (a long narrow three-sided metal
spike designed for extreme penetration) and the
sheaf tip (a wide double or triple edged blade
designed to inflict maximum tissue damage upon
impact) are the most common. It is commonly
carried slung or strapped over the shoulder of
the archer when not in use, and is accompanied
by a belt or shoulder quiver containing forty
(or more) arrows. Its use requires the archer to
wear a bracer of thick leather upon the forearm
of his bow arm, and to use a archer's glove or
leather finger tab to protect his hands and arm
from the string when fired. This bow makes its
first appearance in book #1, Tarnsman of Gor,
and appears regularly thereafter. The bow is not
commonly favored by Gorean warriors, but all
must respect it. It is the height of a tall man;
its back, away from the bowman, is flat; its
belly, facing the bowman, is half-rounded; it is
something like an inch and a half wide and an
inch and a quarter thick at the center; it has
considerable force and requires considerable
strength to draw; many men, incidentally, even
some warriors, cannot draw the bow; nine of its
arrows can be fired aloft before the first falls
again to the earth; at point-blank range it can
be fired completely through a four-inch beam; at
two hundred yards it can pin a man to a wall; at
four hundred yards it can kill the huge,
shambling bosk; its rate of fire is nineteen
arrows in a Gorean Ehn, about eighty Earth
seconds; and a skilled bowman, but not an
extraordinary one, is expected to be able to
place these nineteen arrows in one Ehn into a
target, the size of a man, each a hit, at a
range of some two hundred and fifty yards. Yet,
as a weapon, it has serious disadvantages, and
on Gor the crossbow, inferior in accuracy, range
and rate of fire, with its heavy cable and its
leaves of steel, tends to be generally favored.
The long bow cannot well be used except in a
standing, or at least kneeling, position, thus
making more of a target of the archer; the long
bow is difficult to use from the saddle; it is
impractical in close quarters, as in defensive
warfare or in fighting from room to room; and it
cannot be kept set, loaded like a firearm, as
can the crossbow;... Raiders of Gor, page 2 |
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Short Bow
This re-curved bow is much
smaller in size than the great bow, and is
better suited for use in close spaces or from
the back of a kailla, tharlarion or tarn. It is
often carved from a single, flexible piece of
tem wood or ka-la-na wood, though such peoples
as the Wagon Peoples and the Red Savages craft
short bows of layered wood and horn, which gives
such bows much greater strength and durability.
The arrows used by the short bow are also much
shorter than those employed by the great bow.
First mentioned in book #1, Tarnsman of Gor,
further described in books #4 and #7, and seen
throughout the series afterward. |
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Horn Bow
I
learned as well the rope and bow. The bow, of
course, small, for use from the saddle, lacks
the range and power of the Gorean longbow or
crossbow; still, at close range, with
considerable force, firing rapidly, arrow after
arrow, it is a fearsome weapon. Nomads of Gor ,
page 66 His lance remained on his back, but he
carried in his right hand the small, powerful
horn bow of the Wagon Peoples and attached to
his saddle was a lacquered, narrow, rectangular
quiver containing as many as forty arrows.
Nomads of Gor, page 11 |
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Crossbow
A
standard infantry weapon of Gor. It consists of
a heavy, flexible bow of tempered steel, 18"
across (when drawn), mounted on a heavy wooden
stock about two feet long, with a trigger
mechanism built into the shaped handle. It can
use several types arrows (quarrels) of spiked,
smooth tipped or broad bladed quarrels, striking
with enough force to penetrate wooden walls,
doors or human bodies with relative ease. It has
an effective range of approximately 150 yards.
Slow to reload, it is commonly redrawn through
use of a "goat's-foot" hook or a cranequin (bow
crank). Quarrels, or "bolts," are carried by the
user in a belt-case or quiver. First appears in
book #1, Tarnsman of Gor, and is afterwards seen
often throughout the series. |
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Crossbow
(Cavalry)
Similar in most respects
to the larger crossbow, though instead of
possessing a heavy metal bow, it has a much
lighter bow of layered wood and horn. Slightly
smaller in overall size, it is equipped with a
metal stirrup at the firing end, enabling it to
be more quickly restrung. It is originally
mentioned quite early in the series as a "light
crossbow" or "sporting crossbow," it is
described in book #17, Savages of Gor. |
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Arrows, Sheaf and Flight
The
Gorean sheaf arrow is slightly over a yard long,
the flight arrow is about forty inches in
length. Both are metal piled and fletched with
three half-feathers, from the wings of the Vosk
gulls. Mixed in with the arrows were the leather
tab, with its two openings for the right
forefinger and the middle finger, and the
leather bracer, to shield the left forearm from
the flashing string." Raiders of Gor, page 68
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