-T-

Tabor: One of the other "exchange islands," south of Teletus. Also governed according to merchant law. A free port allied to no city or Ubarate  also a small, hand drum: Explorers of Gor, page 133

the island in the Thassa south of Teletus Hunters of Gor, page 42

A skirl on a flute and a sudden pounding on twin tabors, small, hand drums, called my attention to the square of sand at the side of which sat the musicians.  Explorers of Gor, page 133 

tabuk: a kind of antelope, being yellow in color and having a single horn: Priest Kings of Gor, page 191 also (noun): northern tabuk are massive, tawny and swift is much larger than its smaller southern variety; standing ten hands at the shoulders: 

"They were northern tabuk, massive, tawny and swift; many of them ten hands at the shoulder, a quite different animal from the small, yellow-pelted antelope-like quadruped of the south. On the other hand, they too were distinguished by the single horn of the tabuk. On these animals, however, that object, in swirling ivory, was often, at its base, some two and one half inches in diameter, and better than a yard in length. A charging tabuk, because of the swiftness of its reflexes, is quite a dangerous animal." Beasts of Gor, page 152

"Gripped in the talons of the tarn was the dead body of an antelope, one of the one-horned, yellow antelopes called tabuks that frequent the bright Ka-la-na thickets of Gor." Tarnsman of Gor, page 145

"At the end of the wall, Inmak wept, seeing the strewn fields of slaughtered tabuk. The fur and hide of the tabuk provides the red hunters not only with clothing, but it can also be used for blankets, sleeping bags and other articles. Too, they may be used for buckets and tents, and for kayaks, the light narrow hunting canoes of skin from which sea mammals may besought. Lashings, harpoon lines, cords and threads can be fashioned from its sinews. Carved, the bone and horn of the animal can function as arrow points, needles, thimbles, chisels,wedges, and knives. It's fat and bone marrow can be used as fuel. Too, almost all of the animalis edible." Beasts of Gor, pages 169-170

"…my mouth watered for a tabuk steak…" Outlaw of Gor, page 76

Ta-grapes: Are purple grapes used to make wine and found in places such as Turia and Cos.

"…and others, from goblets, gave us of wines, Turian wines, thick and sweet, Ta wine, from the famed Ta grapes, from the terraces of Cos…" Tribesmen of Gor, page 213

"The grapes were purple and, I suppose, Ta-grapes from the lower vine-yards of the terraced island of Cos..." Priest-Kings of Gor, page 4

Tahari Desert: a large desert in the southern part of Gor

The area, in extent, east of Tor, was hundreds of pasangs in depth, and perhaps thousands in length. The Gorean expression for this area simply means the Wastes, or the Emptiness. It is a vast area, and generally rocky, and hilly, save in the dune country. It is almost constantly windblown and almost waterless. In areas it has been centuries between rains. Its oases are fed from underground rivers flowing southeast ward from the Voltai slopes. The water, seeping underground, eventually, in places, due to rock formations, erupts in oasis springs, or, more usually, is reached by deep wells, some of them more than two hundred feet deep. It takes more than a hundred and fifty years for some of this water to make the underground journey, seeping hundreds of feet at times beneath the dry surface, moving only a few miles a year, to reach the oases. Diurnal air temperatures in the, shade are commonly in the range of 120 degrees Fahrenheit. Surface temperature, diurnally, is, of course, much higher. In the dune country, by day, if one were so unwise as to go barefoot, the bright sand would quickly cripple a man, abrading and burning the flesh from his feet in a matter of hours. Tribesman of Gor, page 71

In the Tahari there is an almost constant wind. It is a hot wind, but the nomads and the men who ply the Tahari welcome it. Without it, the desert would be almost unbearable, even to those with water and whose bodies are shielded from the sun.
I listened to the caravan bells, which sound is pleasing. The kaiila moved slowly.
Prevailingly, the wind in the Tahari blows from the north or northwest. There is little to fear from it, except, in the spring, should it rise and shift to the east, or, in the fall, should it blow westward.
We were moving through hilly country, with much scrub brush. There were many large rocks strewn about. Underfoot there was much dust and gravel.
On the shaded sides of some rocks, and the shaded slopes of hills, here and there, grew stubborn, brownish patches of verr grass. Occasionally we passed a water hole, and the tents of nomads. About some of these water holes there were a dozen or so small trees, flahdah trees, like flat-topped umbrellas on crooked sticks, not more than twenty feet high; they are narrow branched, with lanceolate leaves. About the water, little more than muddy, shallow ponds, save for the flahdahs, nothing grew; only dried, cracked earth, whitish and buckled, for a radius of more than a quarter .of a pasang, could be found; what vegetation there might have been had been grazed off, even to the roots; one could place one’s hand in the cracks in the earth; each crack adjoins others to constitute an extensive reticulated pattern; each square in this pattern is shallowly concave. The nomads, when camping at a watering place, commonly pitch their tent near a tree; this affords them shade; also they place and hang goods in the branches of the tree, using it for storage. Tribesman of Gor, page 71

There was another reason I had brought Miss Blake-Allen, as we may perhaps speak of her for purposes of simplicity, to the Tahari districts. Cold, white skinned women are of interest to the men of the Tahari. They enjoy putting them in servitude. they enjoy, on their submission mats, turning them into helpless, yielding slaves. Too, blue eyed, blond women are, statistically, rare in the Tahari districts. Those that exist there have been imported as slaves. Tribesmen of Gor, page 44

Tajuks: a minor tribe of the Tahari; thou they are a not vassal tribe of the Aretai they do support them in the time of war

To my right were the lines of the Aretai. The Aretai themselves, of course, with black kaffiyeh and white agal cording, held their center. Their right flank was held by the Luraz and the Tashid. Their left flank was held by the Raviri, and four minor tribes, the Ti, the Zevar, the Arani and the Tajuks. The Tajuks are not actually a vassal tribe of the Aretai, though they ride with them. More than two hundred years ago a wandering Tajuk had been rescued in the desert by Aretai riders, who had treated him well, and had given him water and a kaiila. The man had found his way back to his own tents. Since that time the Tajuks had, whenever they heard the Aretai were gathering, and summoning tribes, come to ride with them. They had never been summoned by the Aretai, who had no right to do this, but they had never failed to come. Tribesman of Gor, page 301

Ta'Kara: a minor tribe of the Tahari; they are a vassal tribe of the Kavars

“Kavars,” he said. “Tribesmen. And men of their vassal tribe, the Ta’Kara.” He looked at me closely. “There may soon be war,” he said. “Caravans will be few. Merchants will not care to risk their goods  Tribesman of Gor, page 93

Tal: Gorean greeting.  the greetings often is accompanied with a salute performed by raising the right hand to shoulder level, palm inward - thou this is not practiced in the cyber world of Gor, this greetings can be used to greet by both slaves and Masters/Mistress as shown these quotation.

"Yet I had little doubt that the strong, large-handed men of Laura, sturdy in their work tunics, who stopped to regard us, would not appreciate the body of a slave girl, provided she is vital, and loves, and leaps helplessly to their touch. Tal, Kajirae!" cried one of the men, waving. Ute pressed against the bars, waving back at him. The men cheered." Captive of Gor, page 87

"Sandal Thong looked at me. 'I am Sandal Thong,' she said. 'Tal,' I said to them. 'Tal,' they said to me." Slave Girl of Gor, page 199

"The girls stood straight, proud under the gaze of a warrior. `Tal, Master,' said many of them, as I rode slowly by." Tribesmen of Gor, page 344

"Tal, Master,' they said to me. 'Tal, Slave Girls,' I said to them." Tribesmen of Gor, page 345

"I am Radish,' said Radish. 'I am Turnip,' said Turnip. 'I am Verr Tail,' said Verr Tail. Sandal Thong looked at me. 'I am Sandal Thong,' she said. 'Tal,' I said to them. 'Tal,' they said to me." (two slaves greeting each other) Slave Girl of Gor, page 199 

"Tal,' I said, lifting my right arm, palm inward, in a common Gorean greeting." Outlaw of Gor, page 28 

talender: delicate, yellow meadow flower, symbolic of feminine love and beauty; a crown of talenders is often worn by a free woman during the Companionship ceremony; worn in a slavegirl's hair, it is a silently shows she cares for her Master.

The talender, fixed in her hair, is a slave girl's wordless confession, which, commonly, she dares not speak, that she cares for her Master. Hunters of Gor - page 65

"I saw of set of ridges, lofty and steep, rearing out of a broad, yellow meadow of talendars, a delicate, yellow-petaled flower, often woven into garlands by Gorean maidens. Outlaw of Gor, page 131

"The talendar is a flower which, in the Gorean mind, is associated with beauty and passion. Free Companions, on the Feast of their Free Companionship, commonly wear a garland of talendars. Sometimes slave girls, having been subdued, but fearing to speak, will fix talendars in their hair, that their master may know that they have at last surrendered themselves to him as helpless love slaves." Raiders of Gor, pages 216-217

talmit: headband:

"The talmit of skin of sea sleen is mine!" he laughed. The talmit is a headband. It is not unusual for the men of Torvaldsland to wear them, though none of Forkbeard's men did. They followed an outlaw. Some talmits have special significance. Special talmits sometime distinguish officers, and Jarls; or a district's lawmen, in the pay of the Jarl; the different districts, too, sometimes have different styles of talmit, varying in their material and design; talmits, too, can be awarded as prizes. Marauders of Gor, page 139 

talu: a unit a measuring liquid

A talu is approximately two gallons. Tribesmen of Gor, page 242

talu bag: small bag used to hold water, usually by nomads herding verr by foot or by scouts

A talu bag is a small bag. It is the sort carried by a nomad herding verr afoot in the vicinity of his camp. Bags that small are seldom carried in caravan, except at the saddles of scouts. . A talu bag is a small bag. It is the sort carried by a nomad herding verr afoot in the vicinity of his camp. Bags that small are seldom carried in caravan, except at the saddles of scouts. Tribesmen of Gor, page 242

Taluna - (lit. 'panther girl'): see Panther for more information

One does no learn to master a tarn, it is a matter of blood and spirit, of beast and man, of a relation between two beings which must be immediate, intuitive, spontaneous. It is said that a tarn knows who is tarnsman and who is not, and that those who are not die in this first meeting.

My first impression was that of a rush of wind and great snapping sound, as if a giant might be snapping an enormous towel or scarf; then I was cowering, awestricken, in a great winged shadow, and an immense tarn, his talons extended like gigantic steel hooks, his wings sputtering fiercely in the air, hung above me, motionless, except for the beating of his wings. ‘Stand clear of the wings,’ shouted the Older Tarl.

I needed no urging. I darted from under the bird. One of those wings would hurl me yards from the top of the cylinder.

The tarn dropped to the roof of the cylinder and regarding us with his bright black eyes.

Though the tarn, like most birds, is surprisingly light for its size, this primarily having to do with the comparative hollowness of the bones, it is an extremely powerful bird, powerful even beyond what one would expect from such a monster.``` the tarn, with its incredible musculature, aided undoubtedly by the some what lighter gravity of Gor, can with a spring and a sudden flurry of its giant wings lift both himself and his rider into the air.

The plumage of tarns is various, and they are bred for their colours as well as their strength and intelligence. Black tarns are used for night raids, white tarns in winter campaigns, and multi-coloured, resplendent tarns are bred for warriors who wish to ride proudly, regardless of the lack of camouflage. The most common tarn, however, is the greenish brown. Disregarding the disproportion in size, the Earth bird, which the tarn most closely resembles is the hawk, with the exception that it has a crest somewhat of the nature of a jay’s.

Tarns, who are vicious things, are seldom more than half tamed and, like their diminutive earthly counter parts, the hawks are carnivorous. It is not unknown for a tarn to attack and devour his rider. They fear nothing but a tarn goad. They are trained by men of the Caste of Tarn Keepers to respond to it while still young, when wires can fasten them to the training perches. Whenever a young bird soars away or refuses obedience in some fashion, he is dragged back to the perch and beaten with the tarn-goad. Rings, comparable to those, which are fastened on the legs of the young birds, are worn by the adult birds to reinforce the memory of the hobbling wire and the tarn goad. Later, of course, the adult birds are not fastened, but the conditioning given them in their youth usually holds, except when they become abnormally disturbed or have not been able to obtain food. The tarn is one of the two most common mounts of a Gorean warrior

The Older Tarl had mounted his tarn, climbing up the five-rung leather mounting ladder which hangs on the left side of the saddle and is pulled up in flight. He fastened himself in the saddle with a broad purple strap. He tossed me a small object which nearly fell from my fumbling hands. It was a tarn whistle, with its own note, which would summon one tarn, and one tarn only the mount which was intended for me.

I blew a note on the whistle, and it was shrill and different, of a new pitch from that of the Old Tarl. Almost immediately from somewhere, perhaps from a ledge out of sight, rose a fantastic object, another giant tarn, even larger than the first, a glossy sable tarn which circled the cylinder once and then wheeled towards me, landing a few feet away, his talons striking on the roof with a sound like hurled gauntlets. His talons were shod with steel - - a war tarn. He raised his curved beak to the sky and screamed, lifting and shaking his wings. His enormous head turned towards his, and me round, wicked eyes blazed in my direction. The next thing I knew his beak was open; I caught a brief sight of his thin, sharp tongue, as long as a man’s arm, darting out and back, and then, snapping at me, he lunged forward, striking at me with that monstrous beak, and I heard the Older Tarl cry out in horror, ‘The goad! The goad!’ Tarnsman of Gor. page 48 – 51

The large, winged mounts of the Warrior Tarnsmen of Gor. The birds resemble hawks of Earth, only much larger. The birds are vicious and fierce. They are carnivorous, and sometimes turn on their own riders. War tarns commonly have armored talons and are trained to serve not only as a mount, but as a weapon in their own right. Racing tarns are lighter and trained for the racing arena. " Though the tarn, like most birds, is surprisingly light for its size, this primarily having to do with the comparative hollowness of the bones, it is an extremely powerful bird, powerful even beyond what one would expect from such a monster. Whereas large Earth birds, such as the eagle, must, when taking flight from the ground, begin with a running start, the tarn with its incredible musculature, aided undoubtedly by the somewhat lighter gravity of Gor, can with a spring and a sudden flurry of its giant wings lift both himself and hi rider into the air. In Gorean, these birds are sometimes spoken of as Brothers of the Wind.’ The plumage of tarns is various, and they are bred for their colors as well as their strength and intelligence. Black tarns are used for night raids, white tarns in winter campaigns, and multicolored, resplendent tarns are bred for warriors who wish to ride proudly, regardless of the lack of camouflage. The most common tarn, however is greenish brown. Disregarding the disproportion in size, the Earth bird, which the tarn most closely resembles, is the hawk, with the exception that it has a crest somewhat of the nature of a jay's. Tarns, who are vicious things, are seldom more than half tamed and, like their diminutive earthly counterparts, the hawks, are carnivorous. It is not unknown for a tarn to attack and devour his rider. They fear nothing but the tarn-goad.." Tarnsman of Gor, pages 51-52

The tarn is guided by virtue of a throat strap, to which are attached, normally, six leather streamers, or reins, which are fixed in a metal ring on the forward portion of the saddle. The reins are of different colours, but one learns them by ring position and not colour. Each of the reins attaches to a small ring on the throat strap, and the rings are spaced evenly. Accordingly, the mechanics are simple. One draws on the streamer, or rein, which is attached to the ring most nearly approximating the direction in which one wishes to go. For example, to land or lose altitude, one uses the four straps, which exerts pressure on the four-ring, which is located beneath the throat of the tarn. To rise into flight, or gain altitude, one draws on the one-strap, which exerts pressure on the one-ring, which is located on the back of the tarn’s neck.

The tarn-goad also is occasionally used in guiding the bird, one strikes the bird in the direction opposite to which one wishes to go, and the bird, withdrawing from the goad, moves in that direction. There is very little precision in this method, however, because the reactions of the bird are merely instinctive, and he may not withdraw in the exact tangent desired. Moreover, there is danger in using the goad excessively. It tends to become less effective if often used, and the rider is then at the mercy of the tarn The throat-strap rings, corresponding to the position of the reins on the main saddle ring, are numbered ina clockwise fashion." Tarnsman of Gor, page53

"During the day I freed my tarn, to allow him to feed as he would. They are diurnal hunters, and eat only what they catch themselves, usually one of the fleet Gorean antelopes of a wild bull, taken on the run and lifted in the monstrous talons to a high place, where it is torn to pieces and devoured. Needless to say, tarns are a threat to any living matter that is luckless enough to fall within the shadow of their wings, evens human beings. Tarnsman of Gor." Tarnsman of Gor, page 73

"The tarns were, of course, racing tarns, a bird in many ways quite different from the common tarns of Gor, or the war tarns. The differences among these tarns are not simply in the training, which does differ, but in size, strength, build and tendencies of the bird. Some tarns are bred primarily for strength and are used in transporting wares by carrying basket. Usually these birds fly more slowly and are less vicious than the war tarns or racing tarns. The war tarns, of course, are bred for both strength and speed, but also for agility, swiftness of reflex, and combative instincts. War tarns, whose talons are shod with steel, tend to be extremely dangerous birds, even more so than other tarns, none of whom could be regarded as fully domesticated. The racing tarn, interestingly, is and extremely light bird; two men can lift one; even its beak is narrower and lighter than the common tarn or war tarn; its wings are commonly broader and shorter than those of other tarns, permitting a swifter take off" Assassin of Gor, pages 143-144

The tarn whistle, as one might expect, is used to summon the bird. Usually, the most highly trained tarns will respond to only one note, which sounded by the whistle of their master. There is nothing surprising in this inasmuch as each bird is trained, by the Caste of Tarn Keepers, to respond to a different note. When the tarn is presented to a warrior, or sol to one, the whistle accompanies the bird. Needless to say, the whistle is important and carefully guarded, for, should it be lost or fall into the hands of an enemy, the warrior has, for all practical purposes, lost his mount. Outlaw of Gor. page 24

Tarnburg: a strong city of southern Gor

a city in the southern, more civilized, ranges of the Voltai, it is essentially a mountain fortress located two hundred pasangs to the north and east of Hochburg. This high city is the home of Dietrich of Tarnburg, a renowned military strategist, the victor in multiple engagements, and the innovator of several military techniques, defenses, formations, etc. Mercenaries of Gor, pages 31-33 

tarn cot: building in which domesticated tarns are housed: Tarnsman of Gor, page 165

tarn cot, faction: a tarn cot for use by numerous owners involved in a faction: Assassin of Gor, page 169

tarn death: each limb of a person is attached by rope or chain to different tarns and the person is flown aloft then torn apart; similar to Earth 'draw and quartered': Tarnsman of Gor, page 158

tarn disk, copper: a unit of currency: Assassin of Gor, page 160

"Hup wildly thrust a small, stubby, knobby hand into his pouch and hurled a coin, a copper tarn disk, to Kuurus who caught it" Assassin of Gor, page 13

tarn disk, gold: a unit of currency, of the highest value on Gor; also made in double- weight; many cities on Gor mint their own money, but the gold tarn disk of Ar is the standard for much of Gor: Tarnsman of Gor, page 191

"For example, a 'double tarn' is twice the weight of a 'tarn'. It seems there are usually eight tarsk bits in a copper tarsk, and that these are the result of cutting a circular coin in half, and then the halves in half, and then each of these halves in half. An analogy would be cutting the round, flat Gorean loaves of Sa-Tarna bread into eight pieces. There are approximately something like one hundred copper tarsks in a silver tarsk in many cities. Similarly, something like ten silver tarsks would apparently be equivalent, depending on weights, etc., to one gold piece, say, a single 'tarn'. Accordingly on this approach, the equivalencies, very approximately and probably only for certain cities, would be eight tarsk bits to the copper tarsk, one hundred copper tarsks to a silver tarsk, and ten silver tarsks to a gold piece, a single tarn. On this approach, there would be, literally, 8,000 tarsk bits in a single gold piece." Magicians of Gor, footnotes, page 469

"Without speaking, the man took twenty pieces of gold, tarn disks of Ar, of double weight, and gave them to Kuurus" Assassin of Gor, page 4

"A golden tarn disk was a small fortune. It would buy one of the great birds themselves, or as many as five slave girls." Tarnsman of Gor, page 19

tarn drums: drums used in a march during war; the signals are used to control flying tarn armies: 

The sound of the great tarn drums reached us, those huge drums whose signals control the complex war formations of Gor's flying cavalries. Tarnsman of Gor, page 130  

tarn goad: an electrical device, much like a cattle prod, used for controlling tarns; is c. 20 inches long: Tarnsman of Gor, page 50

tarn keeper: one that oversees tarn handling: Assassin of Gor, page 168

tarn knife : This is a short bladed, single edged utility knife typically used by tarnsmen and generally included among their saddle equipment. Some versions of such knives are designed so that the blade folds into the handle for safety when not in use. Often equipped with a lanyard so that it may be lashed to the tarnsman's saddle or belt, to prevent its loss while in flight. First appears in Book #1, Tarnsman of Gor.

“I saw that he had been given another knife, a tarn knife, of the sort carried by riders.”  Assassin of Gor, page 363 

“In Mip’s hand I saw a small dagger, a throwing knife, of a sort manufactured in Ar; it was smaller than the southern quiva; it was tapered on only one side.  “It is an interesting knife,” I said.  “All Tarn Keepers carry a knife,” said Mip, playing with the blade.  Assassin of Gor, page 174 

Tarn Keepers, Caste of: This caste concerns itself with the care, feeding and training of the Gorean tarn, the fierce winged saddle-bird of Gor. Tarnsman of Gor, page 52

"was purchased by a fat, odious fellow, of the Caste of Tarn Keepers." Tarnsman of Gor, page 132

tarn ship: a type of ram-ship, being long and narrow, with a shallow draft, a straight keel, a single lateen-rigged mast, and a single bank of oars; at the prow, below the waterline, is a ram shaped like a tarn's head; it also carries light catapults, shearing blades, and other weaponry: Raiders of Gor, page 192

Tarntauros: a mythological creature of Gor

"There is even the legend of the tarntauros, or creature, half man, and half tarn, which in Gorean myth, plays a similar, one might even say, equivalent, role to that of the centaur in the myths of Earth." Renegades of Gor page 138

tarn whistle: tarns on the planet Gor are trained to respond to the shrill piercing call of the tarn whistle or tarn call; a means of summoning: Tarnsman of Gor, page 50

tarn wire: razor wire strung between the walls of a city to protect it from aerial attack: Tarnsman of Gor, page 162

"I thought of the yellow Gorean bread, baked in the shape of round, flat loaves, fresh and hot; my mouth watered for a tabuk steak or, perhaps, if I were lucky, a slice of roast tarsk, the formidable six-tusked wild boar of Gor's temperate forests." Outlaw of Gor, page 76

"I heard the squealing of a domestic tarsk running nearby" Raiders of Gor, page 16

"…if I were lucky, a slice of roast tarsk, the formidable six tusked wild boar of Gor's temperate forests." Assassin of Gor, page 87

"Before the feast I had helped the women, cleaning fish and dressing marsh gants, and then, later, turning spits for the roasted tarsks, roasted over rence-root fires, kept on metal pans, elevated above the rence of the islands by metal racks, themselves resting on larger pans." Raiders of Gor, page 44

"I had carried about bowls of cut, fried fish, and wooden trays of roated tarsk meat, and roasted gants, threaded on sticks, and rence cakes and porridges, and gourd flagons, many times replenished, of rence beer." Raiders Gor, page 44

"The slave boy, Fish, had emerged from the kitchen, holding over his head on a large silver platter a whole roasted tarsk, steaming and crisped, basted, shining under the torch light, a larma in its mouth, garnished with suls and Tur-Pah." Raiders of Gor, page 219

tarsk bit: a large coin worth from 1/10 to 1/4 of a copper tarsk, depending on the city which mints the coin (see tarsk, copper): Explorers of Gor, page 54

tarsk, copper: a copper coin (see tarsk, silver and tarsk bit): Explorers of Gor, page 54

"In many paga taverns, one may have paga and food, and a girl for the alcove, if one wants for a single copper tarsk. Dancers, to be sure, sometimes cost two." Renegades of Gor, pages 51-52

tarsk, silver: a coin worth 100 copper tarsks in Kailiauk; its worth in some towns being 10 copper tarsks or in other worth 40 copper tarn disks: Savages of Gor, page 20

"Dumbfounded I reached in my pouch and handed her a coin, a silver Tarsk." Assassin of Gor, page 76

"The tarsk is a silver coin, worth forty copper tarn disks." Assassin of Gor, page 160

"Actually, fifty silver tarn disks was an extremely high price, and indicated the girl was probably of high caste as well as extremely beautiful. An ordinary girl, of low caste, comely but untrained, might, depending on the market, sell for as little as five or as many as thirty tarn disks." Outlaw of Gor, page 193

Ta-Sardar-Gor - (lit. 'To the Priest-Kings of Gor'): ritual phrase recited during the pre- banquet libation in which a few grains of meal, colored salt, and a few drops of wine are placed in a fire; the equivalent of saying grace: Outlaw of Gor, page 13

"To one side there was a small altar to the Priest Kings, where burned a small fire. On this fire, at the beginning of the feast the feast steward had scattered some grains of meal, some salt, some drops of wine. 'Ta-Sardar-Gor,' he had said, and this phrase had been repeated by the others in the room. 'To the Priest Kings of Gor.' It had been the general libation for the banquet.  Priest Kings of Gor, page unknown

Cabot lifted his Scotch again, holding it before him, not drinking. Then, ceremoniously, bitterly, he poured a bit of it onto the table, where it splattered, partly soaking into a napkin. As he performed this gesture, he uttered some formula in that strange tongue I had heard but once before - when I had nearly perished at his hands. Somehow I had the feeling that he was becoming dangerous. I was uneasy.  
'What are you doing?' I asked.
'I am offering a libation,' he said. 'Ta-Sardar-Gor.'
'What does that mean?' I asked, my words fumbling a bit, blurred by the liquor, made unsteady by my fear.
'It means,' laughed Cabot, a mithless laugh, ' - to the Priest-Kings of Gor!' Outlaw of Gor, page 13

Ta-Sardar-Var: directional division of a Gorean map: Nomads of Gor, page 3 (footnote)

Tashid: a minor tribe of the Tahari; they are a vassal tribe of the Aretai

To my right were the lines of the Aretai. The Aretai themselves, of course, with black kaffiyeh and white agal cording, held their center. Their right flank was held by the Luraz and the Tashid. Their left flank was held by the Raviri, and four minor tribes, the Ti, the Zevar, the Arani and the Tajuks. Tribesman of Gor, page 301

Tassa powder: a reddish powder, usually mixed with red wine, which renders the consumer unconscious:

 “It was done by Tassa powder,” she said.  “It was tasteless, and effective,” I said.  “It shows up, of course,” I said, “in water.”  “It is meant to be mixed with red wine,” she said.  Fighting Slave of Gor, page 223

 “Inside, in a previously prepared room, on a great table, were aligned two hundred goblets of wine. Each contained Tassa powder. When the pirates, unsuspecting, were within, and giving themselves to the wine, the door would be locked.”  Guardsman of Gor, page 113

“Throughout all that had transpired in the booth she had not regained consciousness. Tassa powder is efficient.”  Players of Gor, page 75 

“Sullius Maximus,” he said, “invented such a drug. He tested it, by pin pricks, on the limbs of a captured enemy, paralyzing him from the neck down.”  Marauders of Gor, page 19 

tassna: mother; as in Sa-Tassna 'Life-Mother': Tarnsman of Gor, page 43

tastas: sweet succulent candy on a stick; normally found in parks, promenades and popular events, aso known as stick candies

He yelled something raucous and rubald. It had to do with "tastas" or "stick candies." These are not candies, incidentally, like sticks, as for example, licorice or peppermint sticks, but soft, rounded, succulent candies, usually covered with a coating of syrup or fudge, rather in the nature of the caramel apple, but much smaller, and, like a caramel apple, mounted on sticks. the candy is prepared and the the stick, from the bottom, is thrust up, deeply, into it. It is then ready to be eaten." ... "These candies are usually sold at such places as parks, beaches, and promenades, at carnivals, expositions and fairs, and at various types of popular events, such as plays, song dramas, races, games, and kaissa matches. They are popular even with children." ... "The expression was sometimes used by men for women such as we."  Dancer of Gor, page 8

ta-teera: a one-piece, sleeveless, short slave garment; also called the slave rag: Slave Girl of Gor, page 81

"Eta pulled at the bit of rag she wore. 'Ta-Teera,' she said. I looked down at the scrap of rag, outrageously brief, so scandalous, so shameful, fit only for a slave girl, which I wore. I smiled. I had been placed in a Ta-Teera." Slave Girl of Gor, page 81

"It was with joy, later in the morning, that I felt, thrown against my body by my master, a bit of brown cloth. It was a few threads, fit for a bond girl. Joyfully I drew on the garment, slipping it over my head, and fastened it, more tightly about me by the two tiny hooks on the left. The slit made the garment a rather snug one, easier to slip into; the two hooks, when fastened, naturally increased the snugness of the garment, drawing it quite closely about the breasts and hips, deliciously then, from the point of view of a man, the girl's figure is betrayed and accentuated; also the two hooks do not close the slit on the left completely, but permit men to gaze upon the sweet slave flesh pent, held captive within." Slave Girl of Gor, pages 75-76

"One of the most exciting slave garments, if a slave is permitted clothing, is the Ta-Terra or, as it is sometimes called, the slave rag. This is analogous to the tunic, but it is little more, and intentionally so, than a rag or rags. In it the girl is in no doubt as the whether or not she is a slave. Some cities don not wish girls in Ta-Teeras to be seen publicly on the streets. Some masters put their girls in such garments only when they are camping, or in the wild. Others, of course, may prescribe the Ta-Teera for their girls when they are within their own compartments." Guardsmen of Gor, page 107

Ta-Thassa - (lit. 'to the sea'): ritual phrase invoked during a libation offering of wine, oil, and the salt is made to Thassa: Hunters of Gor, page 73

Ta-Thassa: a mountain range in the southern hemisphere of Gor: 

"and the mountains of Ta-Thassa to the... "Nomads of Gor, page 2

Tatri: title of a female ruler: Kajira of Gor, page 66

Tau: letter of the Gorean alphabet:

"The next most frequently occurring letters in Gorean," said Bosk, "are Tau, Al-Ka, Omnion and Nu. Following these in frequency of occurrence are Ar, Ina, Shu and Homan, and so on." Slave Girl of Gor, page 383

The punched copper disk, threaded on its thong, was not large. It was about an inch or so in diameter. On it was the letter "Tau" and a number. Mercenaries of Gor, page 63

Over forty percent of the language consists of the first five letters I mentioned, Eta, Tau, Al-Ka, Omnion, and Nu. Slave Girl of Gor, page 384 

Ta-wine: a fine wine from Cos made from ta-grapes

"It was Ta wine, from the Ta grapes of the terraces of Cos...In the last year heavy import duties had been levied by the high council of Vonda again the wines of certain other cities, in particular against the Ka-la-na of Ar." Fighting Slave of Gor, page 306

"Ta wine, from the famed Ta grapes, from the terraces of Cos..." Tribesmen of Gor, page 213

technology: all technology advancements have been closely guarded by the Priest King and only those of medicine and let are allowed .. all things to do with weapons are limited to sword, spears, bows and crossbows

"Of special interest to me was the fact that this room, primitive though it might be, was lit by what, in Gorean, is called an energy bulb, an invention of the Builders. I could see neither cords nor battery cases. Yet the room was filled with a soft, gentle, white light, which the physician could regulate by rotating the base of the bulb. Further, certain peices of his instrumentation were clearly far from primitive. For example, there was a small machine with guages and dials. In this he would place slides, containing drops of blood and urine, flecks of tissue, a strand of hair. With a stylus he would note readings on the machine, and, on the small screen at the top of the machine, I saw, vastly enlarged, what reminded me of an image witnessed under a microscope."  Captive of Gor, page 93

“For example, incredibly enough, weapon technology is controlled to the point where the most powerful devices of war are the crossbow and lance.”  Tarnsman of Gor, page 31 

tef: a measurement of five handfuls with fingers closed, not open

"A handful with the five fingers closed, not open, is a tef. Six such handfuls constitute a tefa, which is a tiny basket. Five such baskets constitute a huda." Tribesmen of Gor, page 46

tefa: a measurement consisting of six tef which constitutes a tiny basket

"A handful with the five fingers closed, not open, is a tef. Six such handfuls constitute a tefa, which is a tiny basket. Five such baskets constitute a huda." Tribesmen of Gor, page 46

Teletus: The largest of the central "exchange islands," governed not by civil authorities but rather according to merchant law. A free port allied to no city or Ubarate.

telekint: a plant of the Tahari used to product a red dye

The rep-cloth veil was red; it had been soaked in a primitive dye, mixed from water and the mashed roots of the telekint; when he perspired, it had run; his face was stained. Tribesmen of Gor, page 83

tem: a tree which produces a black wood that is used in ship building.

A tree which produces a black wood, used in ship building. "Tem-wood for rudders and oars" Raiders of Gor, page 141

"there was also, at one side of the garden, against the far wall, a grove of tem-wood, linear, black, supple" Nomads of Gor, page 217

tenth ahn: tenth 'hour', the Gorean noon: Outlaw of Gor, page 26

teslik: a plant whose extract is the active ingredient in breeding wine: Blood Brothers of Gor, page 320

"The active ingredient in the breeding wine, or the "second wine," is a derivative of teslik." Blood Brothers of Gor, page 320

Tetrapoli: another town of Gor

 a town located on the Vosk River. Rogue of Gor, page 63

Tharlarions: one of several types of large reptiles, some of which have been domesticated; it's fat is rendered to provide lamp oil; see also mamba and Ul: also land dwelling tharlarion, used for towing. The land tharlarion can swim, though not as efficiently as the river tharlarion: also inhabitants of the marshes that comprise the delta of the Vosk; similar to crocodile:  also river tharlarions,  extremely large, herbivorous, web-footed lizards used by bargemen of the Cartius River to pull barges: also crocodile-type animal; implied to be carnivorous and very similar to the marsh tharlarion: also a rock tharlarion is  small six-toed reptile of the south: also the Ul; winged, monstrous, hissing predatory tharlarion, found flying over the delta's surrounding Port Kar: also agile tharlarion used as a mount for riding; like T. rex, they have very short, almost useless, forelegs; carnivorous: known as High Tharlarions 

A lizard like animal used in various ways. Thalarions inhabit many parts of Gor; there exist High Thalarions, used by Warriors, they are carnivorous; Broad Thalarions, used as draft animals are not carnivorous; River Thalarions, also used as draft animals to pull the barges on the rivers, though there is one type of river thalarion, called a Mamba, both of which are carnivorous; a predator; Rock Thalarions, a small reptile of the Tahari; and Water Thalarions, which inhabit the marshes, these, too, are carnivorous. Thalarion fat is rendered to make lamp oil. " The high thalarions, unlike their draft brethren, the slow-moving, four-footed broad thalarions, were carnivorous." Tarnsman of Gor, page 125

The ringing of the tharlarion’s shod claws on the road grew louder. In a minute the rider appeared in view - a fine bearded warrior with a golden helmet and a tharlarion lance. He drew the riding lizard to a halt a few paces from me. He rode the species of tharlarion called high tharlarion, which ran on its two back feet in bounding strides. Its cavernous mouth was lined with long, gleaming teeth. Its two small ridiculously disproportionate forelegs dangled absurdly in front of its body. Tarnsman of Gor. page 115

"When the high thalarion moves slowly, its stride is best described as a proud, stalking movement, each great clawed foot striking the earth with a measured rhythm. When urged to speed, however, the high thalarion bounds, in great leaping movements that carry it twenty paces at a time." Tarnsman of Gor, page 125

"Behind them, stretching into the distance, came a long line of broad thalarions, or the four-footed draft monsters of Gor. These beasts, yoked in braces, were drawing mighty wagons, filled with merchandise protected under the lashings of its red rain-canvas." Tarnsman of Gor, page 118

"To my right, some two or three feet under the water, I saw the sudden, rolling yellowish flash of the slatted belly of a water thalarion, turning as it made its swift strike" Raiders of Gor, page 1

"A huge thalarion, seeing the image on the water, half rose from the marsh, jaws clashing, and then dropped back into the water." Raiders of Gor, page 92

"A broad, low-sided barge began to back toward the pier. It had two large steering oars, manned by bargemen. It was draw by two gigantic, web-footed river thalarion. They were scaled, vast and long-necked. Yet in the water it seemed, for all their bulk, they moved delicately. One dipped its head under the surface and, moments later, the head emerged, dripping, the eyes blinking, a silverish fish struggling in the small, triangular-toothed jaws." Captive of Gor, pages 79-80

Scarcely had she broken into the clearing, splashing through the shallow greenish waters near us, than the fearsome head of a wild tharlarion poked through the reeds, its round, shining eyes gleaming with excitement, its vast arc of a mouth swung open. Almost too rapid to be visible, a long brown lash of a tongue darted from its mouth and curled around the slender, helpless figure of the girl. She screamed hysterically, trying to force the adhesive band from her waist. It began to withdraw towards the mouth of the beast.

In an instant I had splashed into the marsh at the foot of the tree and raced towards the tharlarion, my sword raised. I rushed between its mouth and the girl, and with a swift downward slash of my blade severed that foul brown tongue.

A shattering squeal of pain rent the heavy air of the swamp forest, and the tharlarion actually reared on its hind legs and spun about in pain, sucking the brown stump of its tongue back into its mouth with an ugly popping noise. Then it splashed on its back in the water, rolled quickly on to its legs, and began to move its head in rapid scanning motions. Almost immediately its eyes fixed on me; its mouth, now filled with a colorless scum, opened, revealing its teeth ridges.

It charged, its great webbed feet striking the marsh water like explosions. In an instant the mouth had snapped for me, and I had left the mark of my blade deep in the teeth ridges of its lower jaw. It snapped again, and I knelt, the jaws passing over me as I thrust upward with the sword, piercing the neck. It backed away to about four or five paces, slowly, unsteadily. The tongue, or rather its stump, flitted in and out of its mouth two or three times, as if the creature could not understand that it was no longer at its disposal. Tarnsman of Gor. page 83-84

tharlarion boots: high boots of soft leather worn by riders of high tharlarion to protect their legs from the abrasive hides of their mounts: Tarnsman of Gor, page 125

tharlarion lance: lance used by those astride a tharlarion; used at times for death by impalement: Tarnsman of Gor, page 157

In a minute the rider appeared in view - a fine, bearded warrior with a golden helmet and a tharlarion lance. Tarnsmans of Gor, Page 115

tharlarion saddle: constructed with the leather seat mounted on a hydraulic fitting which floats in a thick lubricant, this saddle is made to absorb shock with the added ability of the seat always being parallel to the ground: Tarnsman of Gor, page 125

Tharna: Once controlled by a a total gynocracy, it is still governed by a female ruler, or "Tatrix." The male portion of the population has long since regained control over the city, and with the exception of the Tatrix, men rule Tharna almost entirely. There are only very few freewomen in the city of Tharna, the entire female population consisting almost completely of female slaves. Tharna, and its sister city of Argentum to the south, are known for their silver mines and production of that metal. Their blue helmets can distinguish Tharnan Warriors from warriors of other cities. Tharnan males are recognized by the two yellow cords they wear tucked in their belts. This is used to bind slaves. It is similar in some ways to the ancient Earth City of Carthage.

Tharna tie: ankles crossed and bound, the head tied down, fastened by a short tether running back to ankles, hands tied behind the back; can be used with chains, collar, etc: Vagabonds of Gor, page 375

Thassa: the sea: Kajira of Gor, page 40

"…, called the Passing of Turia, which takes place in the fall; the Wintering, which takes place north of Turia and commonly south of Cartius, the equator of course lying to the north in this hemisphere; and the Return to Turia, in the spring, or as the Wagon Peoples say, in the Season of Little Grass. ..." Nomads of Gor, pages 11-12

"The games of the Love War are celebrated every spring where as the Omen Year occurs only every tenth year." Nomads of Gor, page 115

" 'It is the Omen Year,' had said Kamchak of the Tuchuks.It is in the spring that the omens are taken, regarding the possible election of the Ubar San, the One Ubar, he who would be Ubar of all the Wagons, of all the Peoples." Nomads of Gor, page 55

"The animals sacrificed, incidentally, are later used for food, so the Omen taking, far from being a waste of animals, is actually a time of feasting and plenty for the Wagon Peoples, who regard the Omen taking, provided it results that no Ubar San is to be chosen, as an occasion for gaiety and festival. As I may have mentioned, no Ubar San had been chosen for more than a hundred years." Nomads of Gor, page 171

"In the thinking of the Wagon Peoples it is called the Omen Year, though the Omen Year is actually a season, rather than a year, which occupies a part of two of their regular years, for the Wagon Peoples calculate the year from the Season of Snows to the Season of Snows the Omen Year, or season, lasts several months, and consists of three phases, called the Passing of Turia, which takes place in the fall; the Wintering, which takes place north of Turia and commonly south of Cartius, the equator of course lying to the north in this hemisphere; and the Return to Turia, in the spring, or as the Wagon Peoples say, in the Season of Little Grass. It is near Turia, in the spring, that the Omen Year is completed, when the Omens are taken, usually over several days by hundreds of haruspexes, mostly readers of bosk blood and verr livers, to determine if they are favorable for a choosing of a Ubar San, a One Ubar, a Ubar who would be High Ubar, a Ubar of all the Wagon Peoples, a Ubar of all the Peoples, one who could lead them as one people. The omens, I understood, had not been favorable in more than a hundred years." Nomads of Gor, pages 11-12

" ' This is the first Omen, said Kamchak, '--the Omen to see if the Omens are propitious to take the Omens.' " Nomads of Gor, page 172

"Conrad spoke. 'The Omens have been taken, ' he said. 'They have been read well, ' said Hakimba. 'For the first time in more than a hundred years,' said the Paravaci, 'there is a Ubar San, a One Ubar, Master of the Wagons!' 'Kamchak,' they cried, 'Ubar San!' "Nomads of Gor, page 334

Thentis: A fortress city in the Mountains of Thentis. Possessed of some agriculture, particularly the export of wool from its goat-like mountain hurts and its export of beans used to make "Black Wine" (coffee). Also famed for its great Tarn flocks, which are indigenous to the Mountains of Thentis. Most of the tarns on Gor are bred here. This city is not currently at war with anyone, except perhaps the city of Treve. It is similar to several Tyrolean mountain cities found in the Southern Alps in ancient Earth. Tarnsman of Gor, page 69

Theory of the Sun Shield: the theory that Gor has existed for thousands of years, orbiting directly opposite Earth on the far side of the Sun: Tarnsman of Gor, page 33

Third Knowledge: that which, if it exists, is reserved for the Priest-Kings: Tarnsman of Gor, page 41

Thieves, Caste of: This is not a true caste but is comprised of those who make their living by stealing, robbery, picking pockets, etc.; the Thieves is exclusive to the city of Port Kari. They have no recognizable caste colors, but can be identified by a tiny, three-pronged black tattoo on their cheekbone, which is their caste marking.

"There is even, in Port Kar, a recognized Caste of Thieves, the only such I know of on Gor. They are recognized by the Thieves Scar, which they wear as a caste mark, a tiny, three-pronged brand burned into the face, in back of and below the eye, over the right cheekbone." Raiders of Gor, page 104

"On his right cheek, over the cheekbone was the Thief brand of the Caste of Thieves of Port Kar, who use the small brand to identify their members." Assassin of Gor, page 96

thief's scar: a tiny, three-pronged brand burned onto the upper right cheekbone of the Caste of Thieves in Port Kar, the only City to recognize this Caste: Mercenaries of Gor, page 239

thrall: a male slave in Torvaldsland

"if you are washed and readied" said a young thrall, collared in a kirtle of white wool, "it is permissible to present yourself before the high seat of the house, before my master,  Svein Blue Tooth, Jarl of Torvaldsland." Marauders of Gor page 194 

"…..among them stood, too, thralls. Their heads were not lower than those  with whom they stood. Among them was the lad called Tarsk, formerly  Wulfstan of Kassau, to whom Thyri had once been given for the night. In the  night of the attack he, at the Forkbeard's encampment near the thing field,  with an ax, had slain a Kur. I remembered finding the carcass of the animal  beneath the fallen, half-burned canvas of the Forkbeard's tent. Thralls are  not permitted to touch the war arrow, but they are permitted to kneel to  those who have. Wulfstan had handed the Forkbeard the ax, disarming  himself, and had then knelt before him, putting his head to his feet. Thralls  may be slain for so much as touching a weapon. He had taken dirt from  beneath the feet of the Forkbeard and, kneeling, had poured it on his head.  "Rise, Thrall," had said the Forkbeard. The young man had then stood, and  straightly, head high, before the Forkbeard. The Forkbeard threw him back  the ax. "Carry it," said the Forkbeard." Marauders of Gor page 238. 

It was a large Kur, brownish, with blazing eyes, rings its ears. In its right hand it dragged a human female. It was Thyri. Ivar motioned me back.  Blocking the path of the Kur was a man, in a kirtle of white wool, a collar of  black iron at his throat. He held his ax lifted. The Kur snarled, but the man,  Tarsk, Thrall of the Forkbeard, once Wulfstan of Kassau, did not move.  More than once today had I seen the fellow Tarsk at work in the fighting. In  the lines of Svein Blue Tooth, once he had fought not more than six men  from my right. His ax, and his kirtle, were much bloodied. Many times had  his ax in the ferocities of combat drunk the blood of Kurii.  Marauders of Gor page 258 

throat strap: the throat strap is used to guide the tarn in flight via six leather streamers, or reins, attached to it and strung through a metal ring on the forward part of the saddle; these straps, when pulled by the tarnsman, will exert pressure on its corresponding ring on the throat strap hence communicating to the tarn which way to move: Tarnsman of Gor, page 55

Ti: Walled river city situated on the Olni River north of Tharna. It is the seat of the Salerian Confederation, an alliance of four cities dedicated to the restriction of imperialism and piracy on the Olni River. Known for its superb Warriors. It is similar to any of the walled city-states of ancient Earth Greece

Ti: a minor tribe of the Tahari; they are a vassal tribe of the Aretai

To my right were the lines of the Aretai. The Aretai themselves, of course, with black kaffiyeh and white agal cording, held their center. Their right flank was held by the Luraz and the Tashid. Their left flank was held by the Raviri, and four minor tribes, the Ti, the Zevar, the Arani and the Tajuks. Tribesman of Gor, page 301

tibit: a small, thin-legged bird which lives on tiny mollusks found on the shores of Thassa: 

...heard the cry of sea birds, broad-winged gulls and the small, stick-legged tibits, pecking in the sand for tiny mollusks. Hunters of Gor, page 247 

Time, Gorean: Goreans it seems, for the most part, not too particular about the manner in which they tell time. Oddly enough, Gorean chronometer run backwards, their spinning hands rotating in a counter-clockwise direction. I suppose this sort of thing is to be expected, it being "counter-earth" and all. Here, then, are the standard Gorean measurements for time, along with their Earth equivalents:

Ihn: Gorean Second; equals 1.35 Earth seconds
Ehn: Gorean Minute (80 Ihn); equals 108 Earth seconds
Ahn: Gorean Hour (40 Ehn); equals 72 Earth minutes
Day: 20 Ahn; equals 24 Earth hours

"It was past the fourteenth Gorean Ahn, or hour, the Gorean Day is divided into twenty Ahn, which are numbered consecutively, the tenth Ahn is noon, the twentieth, midnight. Each Ahn consists of 40 Ehn, or minutes, and each Ehn of eighty Ihn, or seconds." Outlaw of Gor, page 26

tindel, fruit: brightly plumaged bird living in the second level of the rainforest near Schendi: Explorers of Gor, page 236 and 311

Tola, Feast of: the Priest-King festival celebrating the anniversary of the Nuptial Flight of the Mother: Priest-Kings of Gor, page 87

Tolam, Feast of: the Priest-King festival celebrating the anniversary of the Deposition of the First Egg: Priest-Kings of Gor, page 87

Tolama, Feast of : the Priest-King festival celebrating the anniversary of the Hatching of the First Egg: Priest-Kings of Gor, page 87

toos: a crab-like organism with overlapping plating; inhabits the Nest and scavenges on discarded fungus spores: 

I swung the transportation disk in a graceful arc to one side of the tunnel to avoid running into a crablike organism covered with overlapping plating and then swung the disk back in another sweeping arc to avoid slicing into a stalking Priest-King who lifted his antennae quizzically as we shot past. "The one who was not a Priest-King," quickly said Mul-Al-Ka, "was a Matok and is called a Toos and lives on discarded fungus spores." Priest-Kings of Gor, page 142 

top blanket: the blanket, cloak or covering throw over a girl when laying prone, an unspoken command to be still and quiet: Explorers of Gor, page 94