Trivia Time

[Thalia]

In what way did the Red Savages punish a man who refused to ride in war parties?

[Fishy!]

In most tribes, a man who refuses to go on the warpath must live as a woman. He will be placed into women's clothes and will be given a woman's name. He will be referred to as in the female gender as "she" and "her." He will not be permitted to mate either. He will be treated as a woman in all ways. He will have to do woman's chores. There are even a couple references that such a person must also "please" the warriors as well. This is possibly a veiled reference that such men must sexually please the warriors. It is not definite but it clearly refers to more than serving drinks.

[Thalia]

That was a wonderfully complete answer!  Your go!

[Fishy!]

what/who is a Haruspex? and what is their pourpouse?

[Thalia]

I know, but I'll let a Tuchuk answer this one. -grins-

[Fishy!]

*high fives*

I only asked becasue I'm currently reading 'nomads of gor'

[Thalia]

Okay, I gave it a couple days with no response... so here goes! -grins-

A Haruspex is a shaman or fortune teller of sorts.  He reads signs or omens in the flight of birds, the pecking of vulo at grain, the direction of the winds, the movement of stars, and the appearance of bosk livers. He also provides a superstition-based religious outlet for free women in the form of powdered kailiauk horn, knotted strings, spell papers, and such.  Finally, Haruspexes determine if the Omen Year is favorable for the picking of a Ubar San.  Since free women are not permitted to pray, and since Haruspexes do address the Endless Sky, Haruspexes are always male.

[Ayelen]

Shame on the English teacher -grins-

Here is something that people get confused on, and even John Norman uses "Haruspex" and "Soothsayer" interchangeably --- and they're not interchangeable.  The Haruspex divines the future with the entrails of sacrificial animals, and these are not deemed as "magical", while a soothsayer divines the future with magical objects.

Haruspex
A diviner. Not a soothsayer. At times John Norman uses them interchangeably, however, one quote he does speak of them as two separate things.

Plural - haruspices; Etymology: Latin, from haru- (akin to chordE gut, cord) + -spex, from specere to look; Date: 1584:
       "A diviner in ancient Rome basing his predictions on inspection of the entrails of sacrificial animals." — Merriam-Webster Dictionary ©2004-2006

Soothsayer
Person who predicts the future using various magical amulets, etc.

Date: 14th century:
       "A person who predicts the future by magical, intuitive, or more rational means." — Merriam-Webster Dictionary ©2004-2006

[Thalia]

Ooops! LOL Well, I cited all the things they were said to do, per Nomads... even if the two terms are NOT interchangeable, or at least shouldn't be, as you correctly say! -winks-  And yep, I remember that quote where he lists Haruspexes AND Soothsayers standing amidst a crowd!  That always made me go, hmmm...

[Fishy!]

Heather..... your go...... you were correct........


Ayelen........ I didnt know a Haruspex was a real word untill just now, thought it was something norman made up....... LOL

[Ayelen]

Ooops! LOL Well, I cited all the things they were said to do, per Nomads... even if the two terms are NOT interchangeable, or at least shouldn't be, as you correctly say! -winks-  And yep, I remember that quote where he lists Haruspexes AND Soothsayers standing amidst a crowd!  That always made me go, hmmm...

Actually my a-s John Norman does use Haruspex in the correct context with regards to the Haruspex of the Wagon Peoples ... well, for the most part that is.  -chuckles-  At least he got it right that they predict their omens with bosk livers (and sometimes of kajiri, though being they are lesser than a bosk, they're not so reliable.. oops, killed a kajirus for nothing!  -LOL-)    But yes, you were right in your answer my a-s, though I expected the English teacher in you to explain the errors of John Norman's ways.  -grins-

Shoko, indeed much of what's in the books can relate to a culture on Earth.  I've done extensive research on the books, and anything that CAN be traced back to earth, be it an item or word, I have placed it on my encyclopedia.  Feel free to peruse!   www.moonproductions.com/Fantasy/Gor

[Thalia]

Okay, I'm scraping the bottom of the mental barrel, here -- the holidays have quite taken my brain away...

What is the Death Squad?

[Thalia]

Okay, here's a hint:  Because of this Death Squad, Tarl Cabot made a journey into the Barrens to warn the squad's intended victim.

[Shadow duck]

doesn't this have somethin to do with One Ear?? (( can't remember what those big furry creatures are called..))

[Thalia]

close - Half-Ear! -grins-  Keep going, chanz, you're on the right track!