Post by Ankh on May 28, 2007 19:00:11 GMT -5
I was asked to do some research on free companions and the ceremony of companionship. I will list the quotes that I find and give each page of reference as a source for my research. If you have any questions please let me know!
Sources of my research:
www.worldofgor.com/ref/ref_fcomp.asp
goreanreference.50megs.com/basics/fc.html
Free Companioship on Gor is not marriage.
The institution of FCing is considered by some to almost be in the same catagory as contracted slavery.
Some Goreans think of the Free Companionship as being a form of contract slavery...
---Blood Brothers of Gor, 28:246
FCing is often used as a means of gaining political status & wealth.
FCing does not nessacarily equate to love. Many FC's do not love each other but may in time learn to love.
FC arrangements may be made by the woman's family or she may freely offer herself into the FCing. If the family has made arrangements her wishes are not always considered and she MAY be given to the man without her permission.
There is no marriage, as we know it, on Gor, but there is the institution of the Free Companionship, which is its nearest correspondent. Surprisingly enough, a woman who is bought from her parents, for tarns or gold, is regarded as a Free Companion, even though she may not have been consulted in the transaction. More commendably, a free woman may herself, of her own free will, agree to be such a companion. And it is not unusual for a master to free one of his slave girls in order that she may share the full privileges of a Free Companionship. One may have, at a given time, an indefinite number of slaves, but only one Free Companion. Such relationships are not entered into lightly, and they are normally sundered only by death. Occasionally the Gorean, like his brothers in our world, perhaps even more frequently, learns the meaning of love.
---Outlaw of Gor, 6:54
Free Companionship is usually contracted to be for the time of one year.
An FCing is not entered into lightly. It is said that a high political figure may dissolve an FCing if there are problems.....however....most FCings will be kept for the entire year with the understanding that the ONLY means to escape the contract is usually DEATH or SLAVERY.
The next to appear before Bila Huruma were two members of the nobility, a man and his companion. He complained of her that she had been unwilling to please him. By one word and a stroke of his hand between them Bila Huruma dissolved their companionship....
---Explorers of Gor, 18:231
"It is long since you have been the Free Companion of Talena, daughter of Marlenus," said Samos. "The Companionship, not renewed annually, is at an end. And you were once enslaved."
I looked at the board, angrily. It was true that the Companionship, not renewed, had been dissolved in the eyes of Gorean law. It was further true that, had it not been so, the Companionship would have been terminated abruptly when one or the other of the pledged companions fell slave.
---Hunters of Gor, 1:9
There are many different kinds of ceremonies of Fcing....
Private - in which the people that are present are only close personal friends or family of the "bride".
The bride will sometimes wear 8 veils that will be taken from her during different parts of the ceremony. The final veils and robes are stripped from her by her companion after they drink the wines of Free Companionship.
Public - There may be no unveiling of the "bride" until the couple is alone. This is to allow thier friends and visitors to enjoy the engagement party and give thier blessings to the couple in public.
...In certain cities, in connection with the free companionship, the betrothed or pledged beauty may wear eight veils, several of which are ritualistically removed during various phases of the ceremony of companionship; the final veils, and robes, of course, are removed in private by the male who, following their removal, arms interlocked with the girl, drinks with her the wine of the companionship, after which he completes the ceremony. This sort of thing, however, varies considerably from city to city. In some cities the girl is unveiled, though not disrobed, of course, during the public ceremony. The friends of the male may then express their pleasure and joy in her beauty, and their celebration of the good fortune of their friend....
---Slave Girl of Gor, 5:107
Kalana is usually the wine chosen for an FCing.
The bride to be normally wears a crown of talendars in her hair as a symbol of love.
..In their own quarters, unveiled Gorean women, with their family or lovers, might fix talenders in their hair. A crown of talender was often worn by the girl at the feast celebrating her Free Companionship.
---Outlaw of Gor, 15:131-132
"Would you consent," asked Relius, "to be the companion of a Warrior?"
"Companion?" she asked.
Relius nodded his head. He held her very gently. She looked at him, unable to comprehend his words.
"It is the hope of Relius," said he, "that the free woman, Virginia, might care for a simple Warrior, one who much loves her, and accept him as her companion."
She could not speak. There were tears bright in her eyes. She began to cry, to laugh.
"Drink with me the cup of the Free Companionship," said Relius, rather sternly.
"Yes, Master," said Virginia, "yes!"
"Relius," said he.
"I love you!" she cried. "I love you, Relius!"
"Bring the wine of Free Companionship!" decreed Marlenus.
The wine was brought and Relius and Virginia, lost in one another's eyes, arms interlocked, drank together.
He carried her from the court of the Ubar, she lying against him, weeping with happiness.
There were cheers in the court of the Ubar.
---Assassin of Gor, 24:401-402
Sources of my research:
www.worldofgor.com/ref/ref_fcomp.asp
goreanreference.50megs.com/basics/fc.html
Free Companioship on Gor is not marriage.
The institution of FCing is considered by some to almost be in the same catagory as contracted slavery.
Some Goreans think of the Free Companionship as being a form of contract slavery...
---Blood Brothers of Gor, 28:246
FCing is often used as a means of gaining political status & wealth.
FCing does not nessacarily equate to love. Many FC's do not love each other but may in time learn to love.
FC arrangements may be made by the woman's family or she may freely offer herself into the FCing. If the family has made arrangements her wishes are not always considered and she MAY be given to the man without her permission.
There is no marriage, as we know it, on Gor, but there is the institution of the Free Companionship, which is its nearest correspondent. Surprisingly enough, a woman who is bought from her parents, for tarns or gold, is regarded as a Free Companion, even though she may not have been consulted in the transaction. More commendably, a free woman may herself, of her own free will, agree to be such a companion. And it is not unusual for a master to free one of his slave girls in order that she may share the full privileges of a Free Companionship. One may have, at a given time, an indefinite number of slaves, but only one Free Companion. Such relationships are not entered into lightly, and they are normally sundered only by death. Occasionally the Gorean, like his brothers in our world, perhaps even more frequently, learns the meaning of love.
---Outlaw of Gor, 6:54
Free Companionship is usually contracted to be for the time of one year.
An FCing is not entered into lightly. It is said that a high political figure may dissolve an FCing if there are problems.....however....most FCings will be kept for the entire year with the understanding that the ONLY means to escape the contract is usually DEATH or SLAVERY.
The next to appear before Bila Huruma were two members of the nobility, a man and his companion. He complained of her that she had been unwilling to please him. By one word and a stroke of his hand between them Bila Huruma dissolved their companionship....
---Explorers of Gor, 18:231
"It is long since you have been the Free Companion of Talena, daughter of Marlenus," said Samos. "The Companionship, not renewed annually, is at an end. And you were once enslaved."
I looked at the board, angrily. It was true that the Companionship, not renewed, had been dissolved in the eyes of Gorean law. It was further true that, had it not been so, the Companionship would have been terminated abruptly when one or the other of the pledged companions fell slave.
---Hunters of Gor, 1:9
There are many different kinds of ceremonies of Fcing....
Private - in which the people that are present are only close personal friends or family of the "bride".
The bride will sometimes wear 8 veils that will be taken from her during different parts of the ceremony. The final veils and robes are stripped from her by her companion after they drink the wines of Free Companionship.
Public - There may be no unveiling of the "bride" until the couple is alone. This is to allow thier friends and visitors to enjoy the engagement party and give thier blessings to the couple in public.
...In certain cities, in connection with the free companionship, the betrothed or pledged beauty may wear eight veils, several of which are ritualistically removed during various phases of the ceremony of companionship; the final veils, and robes, of course, are removed in private by the male who, following their removal, arms interlocked with the girl, drinks with her the wine of the companionship, after which he completes the ceremony. This sort of thing, however, varies considerably from city to city. In some cities the girl is unveiled, though not disrobed, of course, during the public ceremony. The friends of the male may then express their pleasure and joy in her beauty, and their celebration of the good fortune of their friend....
---Slave Girl of Gor, 5:107
Kalana is usually the wine chosen for an FCing.
The bride to be normally wears a crown of talendars in her hair as a symbol of love.
..In their own quarters, unveiled Gorean women, with their family or lovers, might fix talenders in their hair. A crown of talender was often worn by the girl at the feast celebrating her Free Companionship.
---Outlaw of Gor, 15:131-132
"Would you consent," asked Relius, "to be the companion of a Warrior?"
"Companion?" she asked.
Relius nodded his head. He held her very gently. She looked at him, unable to comprehend his words.
"It is the hope of Relius," said he, "that the free woman, Virginia, might care for a simple Warrior, one who much loves her, and accept him as her companion."
She could not speak. There were tears bright in her eyes. She began to cry, to laugh.
"Drink with me the cup of the Free Companionship," said Relius, rather sternly.
"Yes, Master," said Virginia, "yes!"
"Relius," said he.
"I love you!" she cried. "I love you, Relius!"
"Bring the wine of Free Companionship!" decreed Marlenus.
The wine was brought and Relius and Virginia, lost in one another's eyes, arms interlocked, drank together.
He carried her from the court of the Ubar, she lying against him, weeping with happiness.
There were cheers in the court of the Ubar.
---Assassin of Gor, 24:401-402
