Rise and Fall

A friend read through my Gor Story in one sitting, quite a feat I thought given it’s length. When they finished their response was:

“Nicely done. But what are you doing now?”

Well to answer that I’ll have to talk about what happened in-between,since (at the time of writing, April 2019) it has been roughly 9 months since my final rp in SL Gor.

After leaving Gor I went back to Ava’s roots in SL, Bloodlines. Please those that roll your eyes and groan about bloodlines, do read on there’s a moral to this story.
I had been in a Bloodlines family called The Rainbow Princesses (name changed to protect the innocent and guilty alike) for a few years,but not particularly active in it. My SL time had mostly been taken up with my Gor rp. I decided it was time to take a more active role. So I started hanging out at the family sim regions a bit and being more active in the group chat. I’d been away for quite a while so there were lots of new people I didn’t know that I gradually got to know.

I had often not attended the weekly clan parties because of a schedule clash, but that had also changed so I started attending regularly. However these events had begun to become less frequent due to staff shortage and lack of attendance. I felt I wanted to help, so I enquired about hosing at one of the parties, for which I was accepted.
That was a great night,though I was a little nervous, I was alongside a great DJ (who is still a dear friend today) and it was a lot of fun. I only actually ever got to host one other set the whole time I was there. Any offers to host or organise extra events, bring in another DJ were met with a prompt “no”, as if the club manager actually wanted the place to fail.
At some point I heard of a promotion of a member of the group to the rank of Knight,which surprised me.
I knew this person was a new arrival to the clan,actually recalling their arrival. I thought “aren’t these higher ranks for long-standing family members”? It seemed not. So I decided that was what I wanted to achieve. I figured if they could do it,so could I. However I’d have to do it on real merits rather than friends,since I’d already managed to offend a well-liked member of the royalty more than once.
So I set myself the goal to become Knight by Christmas,New Year at the latest.
As well as hosting at the club I began to run regular help with certain Bloodlines Achievements. These are tasks you do using the game’s hud and vary considerably in difficulty. These were well attended to begin with, though I ended up having to space them out to suit people better. I also jointly did an Achievement challenge with one of the other family members. This is where things started to get trickier.

Shortly after that event the other person got promoted, I did not. I was not amused. This may sound childish to some, but not to others including my Leige at the time. They said my reaction was understandable,considering how hard I’d been working in the family. I was told the Council had actually voted to promote me at the same time as well.
When I eventually had my interview for the promotion to Knight which came after a considerably longer time than any apart the King & Queen felt reasonable, I mentioned this. They did take the view of it being childish,also claiming that they didn’t like to promote many people at the same time. In this case that would have been Two. While rummaging for notes to help me write this account I found a Group Notice announcement of Three people at once and reference to preferring to promote in groups,contrary to what I was told. So clearly despite words to the contrary, it’s definitely a popularity contest.

I’m not good at popular. I speak my mind too much for many people’s liking.
So on 13th November 2018 after my interview I was made Knight Prospect. Knight privileges but on a trial basis This could be a month or more, dependent on the whim of the King as I understood it. Mine did run into the “more” timeframe. However since then I’ve had people say that they’d never heard of interviews being held, or extended trial periods within that family.

Apparently things had been stacked against me from the start. The saying about grass being greener on the other side,definitely applies here.

The role of Knight is indeed a priveledge, the trust of all security related permissions covering multiple SL regions is not something to be taken lightly.

However the role can be dressed up and made to sound more prestigious, but you are basically a glorified greeter/security guard for the family land.
I had always felt proud to be in this particular family, but things often look better from a distance. Getting glimpses of the inner workings of things aren’t always a pretty sight.
I spent some months as Knight Prospect gradually becoming more disillusioned as time passed.

In the end it was a simple unnecessary comment that was the last straw and prompted my departure. I’d just had enough of the little comments and attitude from single person.
It hurt me greatly,but it was time to move on. So in February 2019 I used the bloodlines hud to create my own little “family” for a while and then briefly spent some time at a former leige’s clan before I joined the family of another ex-member of the Rainbow Princesses. Where I’m pleased to say I’m happy again.
So to answer the original question of what I’m doing now:
Now I am much happier member of the Twist of Fate family. Who are considerably more active in many ways.
Moral of the story for me: don’t pursue a goal for a goals sake.

For those readers that reacted “ugh,bloodlines”, maybe you can see that families/clans are just like any other social group in SL or elsewhere. They’re a mixture of fun, friendship and also unfortunately drama. We just have to find somewhere with the right balance for each of us.

Updated March 2021:

Twist of Fate was a lot of fun. I helped a lot of people there gain some tricky Achievements (Bloodlines merit badges) which I enjoyed for a while, because I like to help people. Then sadly (in my opinion) in March 2020 we merged with a much larger family. There were good (RL & SL) reasons for the merger, which I understand and accept. But to me it felt more like being swallowed up than merged.

Update December 2021

Twist of Fate is back on its own, out of the large family and back as a small group once again, which is great.

So some fresh faces to get to know since some others emigrated with us. Which means I’m back to doing my bit by running achievements again when people need my help.

Ava’s Gor Story – Part 7 – Au Revoir

Continued from Part 6 read from beginning here.

Will this placate Hazine enough to allow me to trade with the Veck En? We shall see..

In short..no.

So I wandered around the sims of sl gor for a time, trying to find some sustainable and fun rp. I didn’t have much luck. Either time differences or different interests(I.e. they just wanted to have pew-pew combat). That isn’t to say it’s not out there. In the process of writing this story I’ve encountered people that are working to increase rp in their community. An example of this was when I contacted the En of the (now-former) Veck ‘En, which became the Veck Jerag under the new leadership of Lico(Janine Braham).    She is creating things for them to do, to generate rp,which sounded very promising.

However at the time of my story, everything just seemed to have died. It began to feel like a chore visiting the sims searching for people or trying to resurrect old storylines. So I decided to adopt the philosophy of online casino advert warnings that had started appearing on tv: When the Fun stops. STOP.

I definitely wasn’t hooked on Gor. So I did.

Approximately the last week of June 2018 I decided enough was enough. I deleted all the Gor people on my friends list,apart from a select few and left all but a few of my Gor-related groups. Although I did file away all the “Calling cards” of those removed into a folder in my inventory,just in case, which did prove useful for writing this.

I did go back in a little while after, in July, to do a short rp with the girl,Lips. It had upset her that I had decided to leave, but it would have been worse (and unfair of me) to leave her ownerless. So I entrusted her care to a huntress of the Forest Moon tribe, by the name of Angel. It might surprise some that I chose someone in Forest Moon,but Angel had formerly been of Shekinah Arani before the merger.

RP Log Start

[13:28:27]  Ava: Tal all

[13:28:29]  ձռցεl : Tal Ava..very nice to see you…* smiles softly

[13:29:28]  Ava: greetings sav

[13:29:54]  Shameena(aka Lips) “Greetings my Mistress” I said as I saw Lady Ava entering the Tavern

[13:29:57]  Sav: tal ava

[13:30:01]  Ava: I’m glad you are here with the girl, Angel

 

[13:30:29]  ձռցεl : Thanks you yes…..nice you here now…

[13:31:25]  Ava: it is just a brief visit, I wanted to discuss the girl

[13:31:50]  Shameena sits there quietly listening to them

[13:32:21]  Ava: she has been mine for quite some time, however my trade and business are taking me further and further away

to the extent that I’m almost at risk of abandonment

[13:33:00]  ձռցεl : yes please..I gave her  a name …as she know now as Shameena …and yes ..therefore like to ask you to official  to open her collar for me

[13:33:01]  Ava: so I need someone to take her

[13:33:51]  Ragnar : taloha Ava

[13:33:52]  Ava nods and rummages in her pouch for a key

[13:34:02]  Ava: tal ragnar

[13:34:39]  ձռցεl : Thank you Ava ..and I am honored to accept her collar ..and her key of the collar

[13:34:45]  Sav: tal rags

[13:35:10]  Ragnar: seems, that half of ikarei have a bubble party

[13:35:22]  Ava bends over and unlocks the collar, straightens and holds out the key to angel

[13:35:24]  OpenCollar: Shameena’s collar has been unlocked.

[13:35:51]  Shameena gasps as my Collar been removed

[13:36:04]  ձռցεl : smiles as I take the key from Ava* thank you really my pleasure to take care of her ..*

[13:36:59]  Ava: I know I can trust you with her

[13:37:50]  ձռցεl : Nods for sure will not disappoint you…* takes off her collar and  slowly slide my collar around her neck

[13:41:22]  Ava brushes the girls hair away from her face and looked down at her “you’re now angel’s, I’m sure you’ll serve her as well as you have me”

[13:42:26]  ձռցεl : smiles..as I see her collar removed and place my own collar round Shameena her neck..locks with a small key * Thank you Ava

[13:42:37]  Shameena “Yes huntress, I will” I managed to say as it was an emotional moment for me”

[13:43:02]  Shameena “I am now Lady Angel property”

[13:43:16]  Ava: good girl

[13:43:26]  ձռցεl : Nods you are Shameen ..and again Thank you Ava..was a pleasure

[13:44:37]  Shameena said to Lady Ava “It was a pleasure serving you Huntress”

[13:45:24]  Ava: You know well that I am no huntress, just Lady

[13:45:54]  Ava looks around the tavern “interesting new replacment building, seems a little darker”

[13:46:47]  ձռցεl : mods..well we not finished yet but we slowly progress

(I have edited out shouting and combat meter msgs here to make the rp readable)

[13:46:49]  Ava hearing the shouting and noises of combat she speaks to angel “Now, that, I have not missed”

[13:48:20]  ձռցεl : well makes more customers as seems they need a drink after the fight and finally all ends good

[13:49:20]  Ava: I see you’ve not changed the prices, I never did get around to writing them up on the wall

[13:49:42]  Ava: I found it was convenient to let them overpay and only comment if they underpaid

[13:49:59]  ձռցεl : we working on a new price list..but this one will do for now

[13:53:13]  Ava: I should be going I have shipment to check on. Take care all

[13:53:15] Sav: be safe ava

[13:53:26]  Shameena “Well wishes”

RP Log End

And that was my last in-character conversation in SL Gor.

Lots of things have happened since my departure from sl gor, sadly not for the better. I heard of several others deciding they’d had enough of gor, as if I’d started some kind of Exodus, but that is heresy and I have nothing to back it up.

Things that definitely did happen and related to people and places I have mentioned,included:

  • The departure of Mariko from Forest Moon, that she writes about in her Gazzette Editorial in October 2018. This caused a mix of emotions for me. Part of me thought “told you so” after the events nearly a year previous when she invited Forest Moon in, I saw and felt the lack of sisterhood she mentions right away. However a more rational part of me was sad for her, it was obviously a very hard choice to make. But is no surprise that such a strong leader and Gor player, that I have the greatest respect for, was able to move on to another tribe fairly quickly.
  • The disbanding of Forest Moon (1st February 2019) Was sad but inevitable I thought.
  • The closure of Elation and Three Moon Valley regions. (1st March 2019) Elation was where my tavern was located and where a lot of my story rp took place. This was a very sad day and a great loss to sl gor. As it says in the linked post: “a very big thank-you is owed to Anjel Goodnight” for keeping the sims going for so long. 
Stood with Bliss where you could once have viewed my tavern from above. (Image taken by Sweet Bliss)

And in the words of Forest Gump, “that’s all I have to say about that”. I hope you enjoyed reading my story despite it’s length. I may post other snippets of rp if I come across them.

Please feel free to leave a comment on this or any of the other parts.

Ava

Shekinah Arani huntress,Elation Tavern Keeper,Forest Moon Friend,Last of the Shekinah, Ikeri Tribe Friend, Dani’s Band Friend and Free Merchant.

Ava’s Gor Story – Part 6

Continued from Part 5  (Read from the beginning Here)

So Ava is now short on prospective customers she wracks her brain trying to recall others she could visit.

In the meantime she returns to the Veck’En tribe to pursue that avenue…

I had dealings with Mina one of the girls there, she had been loaned to me occasionally to help in my tavern so I knew her quite well. I left some samples with her for her superiors to try, there was mention of a tavern opening nearby and I could possibly supply it. However not everything was so smooth. She told me that while I was probably safe on the trade dock area there,anywhere else might be dangerous. 

Arrival dock
Arrival dock
Trade area
View of camp

Apparently at some point I had supposedly shot at Mina’s Mistress by the name of Hazine. This had led to her capture because she was injured (low hit points on her GM meter)  when a slaver attacked her. Now those of you that have read my story from the beginning will know I don’t  like combat in SL and that is why I play a non-combatant role. So this accusation was quite a surprise to me to say the least!

However the facts of the matter did seem to stack up against me. Being a non-combatant doesn’t mean I had no weapons though, it would have been stupid not to have something to protect myself in Gor. As mentioned in part 1,I kept hold of my sheath of throwing knives for when travelling far from my tavern. The description of the alleged shooter and the location of the incident did point at me.

 “A woman in Red near the Last of the Sa Sheku camp.”

My red dress had been extremely distinctive in green forest country, the Sheku camp was a 2 minute walk South-West of my tavern and I had to pass it frequently.

I vaguely recalled an incident there when I had been caught in crossfire between a raiding party and the Sheku,but didn’t realise any of my return throws as I left in haste had done any damage. So it appeared Hazine was justified in being out to get me if I was caught in the wrong place, since she had escaped the slavers after some time.

If I wanted to trade freely with the tribe, I needed to fix this. The apparent fix? Get Hazine’s name off the top of this slavers hit list! Not an easy challenge, given any woman of Gor having dealings with a slaver could quite easily end up as merchandise.

With the name of this slaver, Ricka, and roughly where he may be found, I went in search of him. Rather unwisely, on my own. On my first visit to the area I encountered local man and I asked him about the slaver. At first he appeared to be showing me the way,then it became evident his intentions weren’t so good for my health and I ran. I made it to a dock and jumped into a boat just ahead of him,making a very lucky escape!

I should clarify here about Docks in SL Gor. They are safe areas where people are safe from attack,allowing time for the surroundings to load or change any outfit or settings on arrival. This doesn’t apply in both directions though. If someone is leaving via a dock and there is already rp or combat in progress, like a raiding party being chased off or in my case being pursued, they are not safe. If my pursuer had shot at me, I’d have been fair game until my avatar was actually inside the boat and I rped pushing off from the dock. I frequently had to settle disputes over things like this, since my tavern was at the Elation dock and I was a sim moderator.

So I headed back to the Outpost to find myself an escort for my next visit, I didn’t want to risk a repeat of those events.

While I was able to find a willing volunteer to accompany me there next time,the Head Merchant of the Outpost, his busy trading schedule (real-life timezone issues)  put those plans on hold. So I’d have to think of something else. This is where spending time with panthers and customers loose tongues in taverns pay off.

In the Gor book series there are only a couple of panther girl tribes. They rarely had anything to do with each other, if they did it was usually hostile. In SL Gor there are approximately 29 panther tribes at the time of writing (March 2019). There are shared SL groups and other community links such as the Gazette of Gor blog. So it was fairly short work to find out which bands operated in that area, so I could go talk to them. In rp terms I could have got this information from asking around at tribes I was friends with, so isn’t too unrealistic.

However in this case not all the information came from panther gossip. I needed an alternative male bodyguard for my next trip so I inquired with my friend the Blacksmith, Olavi. He was based in Mirkwood (a few SL sims south of my tavern) but had often come and done work at my place. So Olavi escorted me to slavers trade area that I hadn’t been able to find safely on my own before. Here’s what transpired:

Start RP log
Olavi: “there is the current list..”

Ava gasps as she sees who the person she’s come to bargain for is meant to be delivered to “I know her!”
Ava: This might be easier than I thought
Olavi: “well, the girl wont be taking any delivery.. her and my children have been missing for weeks. No, i think this is a handy mess”
Ava: So who do I need to speak to?
Ava: who’s in charge?
Olavi: “i believe her name is josie..  lets see what we can find out”
Ava: Josie?
Ava: this is getting eaiser by the minute
Olavi: “used to be a bell here someplace…”
Ava shouts: “Josie!”
Ava: no damn bell
Olavi: i dont see one either
Ava shouts: Josie! Are you here?
Josie Seubert shouts: YES be right there
Ava: Tal again Josie, wel met
Josie Seubert smiled  to her ” Tal Lady Ava, a pleasure as always”
Ava: I came to make a bargain with a slaver by the name of Rikki. But I understand you are now in charge?
Ava: I am glad it is you that I have to deal with now
Josie Seubert   nodded” That I am while the High Jarl is away. what kind of bargin?” she looked over at the man and then back
Ava sees here glance “he’s here just for my safety”
Ava: I came about a name on the list outside
Olavi watches the pair talk, smiling but stay a bit back
Ava: How tricky would it be to get a name removed?
Josie Seubert  nodded to him” Tal Jarl feel free to look about” she loooked back to Ava” which?”
Ava: What would it cost..a friend?
Josie Seubert  rocked on her heels a bit and then she rolled her lips as she thought”  I can answer that, it would be the price of the reward”
Ava: The name is Hazine
Olavi: “Greetings lady josie.”  he nods, turning to look about some, enjoying the changes since his visit when the port was new
Josie Seubert smiled to her” or she could if she wished take it out on Rickkas hide”
Ava: you mean as well as being removed from the list? Hazine could punish Rikki? Or her representives in her absence perhaps?
Ava: what would the cost of this be?
Josie Seubert  looked in deep thought” The cost to get her name removed is whatever the rewartd is.. however, if she wanted  she could save you  coin and simply come and take her pound of flesh”
Ava: Then this is good new indeed!
Ava: how about adding a name?
Ava: Replace one name with another
Josie Seubert  kind of smiled ” I fear I would be pressing my favor with Odin ”  she shook her head ” Ity is the  most distrubing thing. but it would take  a hand to go over everything., but that is the  price”
Ava: Let me get this straigh..to get her name off the list, Hazine has to come here and tan Rik’s hide? And to ge another name on the list, al I have to do is wait a week?
Ava: *hand
Josie Seubert drew in a breath” let me explain Lady Ava,, right now  the man you know as Rickka , sits collared in a cell at Fort Hope, so named because that rally is our hope to heal his mind, but  he only time he seems top think straight is when he is  being threatned, so  by ordfer fo those that know the mind, he is to be  .. well.. you know.. “
Ava: Beaten?
Ava: Makes sense
Josie Seubert: ” I am exhausted, I cannot  operate a Port and try to  heal him as well, and thus I conceded to those that are the experts, ” Lady Ava even a mere sight of a Panther sends him into fits”
Josie Seubert: ” so she would actually be  helping .. I guess, In a  way. I will removes her name , if she will come at some point  and ..” she moved her hand forward
Ava: Then since it was such that sent me on this task, I’m sure I can arrange someone to have him weeping
Josie Seubert nodded” he is clean in all blood tests,  his mind needs unlocked and any help you can afford to send our way it is appreciated
Ava: Then I shall send word of this
Josie Seubert: ” I am just not  to be able to do this”
Josie Seubert: ” Thank you Lady, greatly”
Ava: or perhaps..I could deliver him to them?
Ava: or did you want to keep him?
Josie Seubert pointed up to the Fort. He  is shackeled, chained to the bars and a hood placed over his head, his eyes look crazy, they will have privacy I will  make sure no one bothers  them..But yes he needs to stay here, he is  what they called Lunitical?”
Olavi smiles, glad to see things work smoothly between the two. “seems the boy got himself into far too much mess with the local wildlife. I myself welded a cuff on him some time ago… He is lucky to have survived them”
Josie Seubert nodded to him”  I can tell you I am not able to count all the brands he has on”
Ava turns to the smith “thankyou for your escort, if you need to be anywhere else, I am safe with this particular group of..wildlife
Ava: or can walk me back to the dock since business seems to be concluded
Josie Seubert: may I ask one thing of you please
Ava: If hazine can’t come herself, I’ll make sure someone comes from her band, is that satisfactory?
Ava: what is it?
Olavi: “I am happy to escortyou, I see you so rarely now.”  he nods before turning to josie  “Though I would like to return and discuss some possible trade and perhaps work, I am a smith nearby, and not opposed to doing a bit of extra work if you do not have a smith of your own yet”
Josie Seubert nodded”  it is, tell her to retain the word ” talender” and I will know for sure it is  from  hazine, so in case someone else hears of this .. but I ask you , be  careful in whom you speak to about this” she  looked to the Jarl” of course gates are always open , you are welcome here”
Ava: well I met with them for a trade before I came here, said I would be coming here
Ava: it would appear they were concerned for my welfare
Ava she adds as she sees Mina approach”
Josie Seubert: ” Ok Lady Ava, and thank you. ” wait” she   looked at her”  because of RIckka?”
Ava: Mina here is who asked me to come bargain
Mina smiles a bit cautiously and confused, “Tal.”
Josie Seubert nodded to her ” Tal”
Ava: When I set out to make this meeting, I didn’t know rikka wasn’t in charge
Mina: He isn’t in charge?
Josie Seubert nodded some and  her shoulders were relaxed” that is true”
Ava: Mina here is from Hazines group
Ava: it is her that sent me to make a bargain
Olavi: “I only informed her as i met her at the docks.. I may not visit here, but there isnt a rumor in the woods i dont hear or a tree-urt with a bow I dont know”
Mina shifts nervously now.
Josie Seubert looked to wards  him” that is well to know  Jarl, we  will have to establish a accord of somekind to be sure”
Ava: so I shall leave the two of you to discuss the situation of rikka and hte price of hazine, or rather the lack of preice
Mina: Is Rikka for sale?
Josie Seubert smiled” very well, she will be safe, on my honor”
Ava nods “I am sure of it”
Josie Seubert looks to Mina
Ava: come on olavi, lets leave them to their discussions
Olavi: Safe paths to you both, and I look forward to speaking with you again soon Lady Josie”
End RP log
Will this placate Hazine enough to allow me to trade with the Veck En? We shall see..

Ava’s Gor Story Part 5

Continued from Part 4  (Read from the beginning Here)

On my next trade venture I visited once again the land of the Zima tribe, which wasn’t a particularly eventful trip. Since despite having assisted Bodi with the running of the nearby tavern, I had not formed a particularly strong bond with them. Maybe some readers will see the irony of this when contrasted against the events in Part 1. Given that my supposed association with Zima resulted in me sadly having to leave Elation. (SL drama is a strange thing.)

However in sl gor (one incarnation of) the city of Tharna is on the neighboring sim, in the books obviously it is a great distance away.

I headed over to the city in search of the head merchant or some official I could ask about setting up shop or any required trading permits and was in luck.

Tavern on the Zima territory and Tharna sim border.
Start RP Log:
Ava]: Tal Adele
Adele D’Whitbuk]: Greetings.
Adele D’Whitbuk]: How are you?
Ava]: much better than I was thankyou
Adele D’Whitbuk]: Won’t you have a seat?
Ava]: thankyou
Adele D’Whitbuk]: i know how that goes.
Ava]: I had a bit of an accident, my tavern caught fire and I fell in the river
Adele D’Whitbuk]: Anyway, I am currently HoC of the merchant caste.
Adele D’Whitbuk]: for Tharna
Adele D’Whitbuk]: What can you tell me about your position?
Ava]: then you are exactly the person I need to talk to, how very fortunate!
Ava]: now I have no tavern, but a lot of contacts, so I have taken a shop at an outpost near that camp
Ava]: from which I intend to try and negotiate trade
Ava]: so..you being the head merchant..very useful!
Adele D’Whitbuk]: have you seen our new trading post?
Ava]: no, I haven’t . A lot has changed everywhere in the month I was sick
Ava]: pretty much every camp or civilized place I know has changed
Ava]: finding my acquaintances has not been as easy as I thought
Adele D’Whitbuk]: I am also Tavern keep for both the Soke and the Drinking Horn & Trading Post.
Ava]: You must be extremely busy
Adele D’Whitbuk]: yes!
Ava]: just the taverns would be enough
Adele D’Whitbuk]: The Taverns are coming around slowly, I need to get merchant/vendors for the Traading Post.
Adele D’Whitbuk]: and trade goods too.
Ava]: well I’m here to enquire what goods may be available and in exchange ofr what. So I can match up with others
Adele D’Whitbuk]: Well if you take one of the stalls you will be my first, therefore your stock can be of your choosing, with my approval, of course.

End RP Log

There were new vacant stalls that I could occupy with my drinks merchandise for only a small percentage of sales. So a very worthwhile trip, or so I thought.

Ava looks at her list and ponders “Yes, the Veck’En next I think.” and heads to the the docks..

Start RP Log

Veck ‘En Bell:   ▶ 
♫ ◠◡◠◡◠◡◠◡◠◡◠◡◠◡ ♪
TRADE: Someone seeks trade with the locals.
♫ ◠◡◠◡◠◡◠◡◠◡◠◡◠◡ ♪
Luna: greetings Mistress
Ava: Greetings girl
Luna: may this girl assist you?
Ava: I came a couple of days ago and met Mistress Mina to propose trade, I just came to inform her that I shall have the paga and ka-la-na she wanted very soon
Luna: Yes Mistress, I will leave a message for Her so she will know
Luna: right now she is away on a hunt
Ava: If you could tell her that her friend Ava came that would be useful.
Luna: I will, thank you Mistress
Luna: I wish you safe travels
Ava: thank you
End Log
Not such an eventful visit, but continues the story.

A couple of days later I returned and spoke with Adele of Tharna again, this time near one of the taverns

Start RP Log

Ava: Tal Adele and all
Ludmilla Lunasea is back: Greetings all
Ralph [Ralph1 Silversmith]: Tal Lady Ava
turvis85: Now then: May I buy a wee dram for m’self to braze for the jpourney?
turvis85: Tam Mistress Merchant
Adele: turvis, remember you are in Tharna, ruled by a woman and mind your manners to all Free.
turvis85: Yes Mistress
Ava: Tal both of you
Ava: Adele, I gather the Tatrix didn’t approve my suggestion of merchandise?
Adele: apparently not , last I heard she only wants G&S merchaqnts from Tharna… (( won’t work well))
Ralph [Ralph1 Silversmith]: It is the law of the land
Ava nods
turvis85: h.here comes the boat now.’bout time.. always late..You All be sae and well
Ava: very well, I shall have to find elsewhere to trade my wares
Adele: Do keep in touch with me.
Ava nods “I shall visit”

End RP Log

So Tharna becomes a dead end, seems cities are definitely not for Ava after all and Ava’s list of contacts is growing very short.

Click here for Part 6

Hangar Liquide

Once again Sweet Bliss has inspired me, another fantastic sci-fi sim called Hangar Liquide.

I couldn’t resist going for a bit of an explore and there’s a lot to explore!

Location: Hangar Liquide

Ava’s Gor story Part 4

Continued from Part 3  (Read from the beginning Here if you’ve missed the earlier parts)

So I was now a merchant, with a base in a remote outpost.

In Gor there is a very rigid caste hierarchy system, each with associated colours that are worn by people to identify them. In my case being born of a Tavern Keeper father, that made me of Merchant caste,which has the colours white & gold. I decided if I was going to do this,the red dress would have to go and I’d have to adopt my caste colours.

Merchant outfit

My first step would have to be re-establish contact with groups and individuals that had passed through the tavern and already knew (and so wouldn’t shoot me on sight). Gor is not a very safe place for a lone woman.

This would have to start with Dani’s camp nearby to see which of my tavern workers Bodi had been able to retrieve and deliver there, since doing this on my own would be far from practical and a Free woman without servants would be very unusual.

Camp of Dani’s band

Bodi had been able to find five people, four females (Dove,Lips,Mara,Shirin)and the single male (Nemo) I had acquired not long before the fire. However only four were present at the camp. Bodi found out that Mara,unbeknown to me, had been asleep upstairs in the tavern! Fortunately she had also made it out but lost her way in the dark and wandered for a time before finding her way to the Ikeri camp after I had been taken from there by bodi. I would have to collect her from the ikeri camp.

So I made a list of who I had to visit after Dani and packed up my trade samples.

I had prepared some sample barrels of drink as gifts for the groups I would be visiting, with my new trading symbol instead of the tarn bird of the tavern.

New trade barrels with my name and red Phoenix embelem

First I headed back to the Ikeri camp in my new Merchant clothing, including a hooded veil. Veils were not often worn in the North,despite being mandatory in the South, but I wanted to disguise my identity to some degree for the time being.

I arrived at the Ikeri camp and was let in by Mara, who did not recognize me in my current guise, but I was apparently a Free merchant wanting to trade. Inside the gates I removed my veil and Mara nearly fainted with surprise. First she was pleased to see me, it had been over a month since bodi took my prone body away in a boat, she did not know if I had survived. That quickly turned to fear which I was not expecting, it turned out she liked living with the Ikeri and didn’t want to be taken from there. So I spoke to Sky.

The feeling was apparently mutual, they liked having her there, she was a nice girl and a good worker, so it was agreed she would stay there under their care and protection.

I had decided it would be useful to have someone in these parts that could keep me updated on local affairs, for example I wouldn’t want to be bringing goods to trade into the area if there was a conflict between locals.

So my next visit would be to the Sheku to the south-west. I knew one of the former Shekinah Arani, Tara Freckleface, had gone there after the Forest Moon incident. So it would be safe for me to approach and would be welcomed.

Start RP log:

Tara: Tal, Ava *smiles

Kristin: yes tal again. you just missed Cally. she went comatose

Ava: Tara!

Ava: Tal indeed!

Ava: can I come in?

Ava smiles and hugs her friend

Tara hugs my old lovingly

Ava: good to see you in so long

Tara: If you have a weapon, just drop it near the gate inside, dear. But we welcome

Ava drops her whip to the foloor outside and steps in

Tara: Be seated my friend *smiles*

Ava: thankyou

Ava opens her backpack and takes out a container that was occupying most of it’s space and hands it to tara

Ava: I may no longer have a tavern, but my new role as a merchant will still involve drink..a sample

Tara smiles and pulls Ava close, half in her lap, but then she sees  a containerd offered to me…”For me? I’m surprised”

Ava smiles waiting for tara to recognize the embelem on the barrel

Ava: I chose that for my mark

Ava: in red instead of black

Ani: will you go trade Kristin?

Tara: Oh dear!! You’re spoiling me, or this tribe, Ava… paga… It’s very welcome, we’re running as bit short nowadays. Thank you very much

Tara looks sad “No tavern any more? how come?

Ava: it burned

Tara: You mean the tavern at Elation?

Ava: the tavern burned and i fell in the river, but I have other friends and was cared for while I was sick, so now I have gone from tavern keeper to merchant

Ava: you recognize the mark I presume?

Ava: I thought it apropriate

Tara: The white and gold matches beautiful with you sis *smiles

Ava smiles “thankyou”

Tara: Yes, I recognize the mark on the barrel, I will try not to notice it.

Tara: It has bad remembrances

Tara: But paga is unpolitic hehe

Ava: ah, but in red it is my symbol of defiance

Ava grins

Tara: In that case I apologize

Ava: it is fine

Ava: you all seem quite settled now

Tara: Yes, I am… I have found a home, an own hut sharing with my sis Jess *blushes*  and thanks to the Goddess no responsabilities, just an huntress… the only thing which worries me is that I might be expecting…

Ava gasps “Oh..my! That is not good!” Rumages in her bag “you want some slave wine to fix that?

Tara: Too late, I fear, but thanks… slave wine does not make undone a pregnancy, it only prevents it

Tara: I have been raped by a wild Tuchuk… it was awful

Ava: I used to give it to my girls regularly, never had to deal with the after

Ava looks over at footsteps “Tal Cally”

Cally: smiles Tal Ava

Cally: nice to see you here

Cally: tal tara

Tara: Tal, my En!  I suppose you know Ava?

Ava: I brought a small gift, a small barrel of my brand of paga

Cally: smiles……how nice …thank you

Cally: so what news from your travels Ava…..I see a massive outlaw fort is being built in Three Moon Valley? “

Ava: I would not know

Ava: I visited the ikeri recently but didn’t explore any further there

Cally: Nods…an unusual tribe

Tara: I saw that bunker too…

Ava: unfortunately on my first visit, forest moon raided them while I was there. So they now know I survived my fall into the river, which is unfortunate

Tara: Ikerei you visited? You know Prinven? She’s manufacturer of wonderful perfumes. A merchant should be interested!

Ava: I do know her, I did not have time to talk trade on my second visit, I was there to check up on some property that I hoped they had found.

Ava: My girl, mara, was still in the tavern

Ava: she ran from the fire and to the ikeri camp

Ava: they saw my collar on her and took her in

Tara: And sis you find her?

Ava: so she is well and making herself useful, so I have my own eyes and ears in that part of gor now

Ava: she was terrified when I arrived, thought I would take her away from there. But it serves my purposes beter that she stay

Tara looks at the tribe flag and shivers at the strong breeze from the west, then answers Ava: “Ikerei are good people generally…  “

Ava: Sky pulled me out of the river..so yes!

Tara nods  has it been clarified how the fire originated?

Ava: I am now setting up my merchant business in a northern outpost

Peyton shouts: arrows flying……..we’re being attacked

Ava blushes “errr..the fire was my fault”

Tara: Well, I certainly will visit you, buying some beads and mirrors *giggles

Ava groans at the sound of arrows “I haven’t missed that sound “

Tara shouts: ATTACK!!

End RP Log

As you can see the camp was attacked while I was there. So since I’m appalling at combat, I stayed out the way, but rather than sit idle, I played paramedic. The GM system allows for players to “bandage” each other, restore their hit points, so I ran back and forth along the wall bandaging people when they got critical. This was well appreciated, they said they’d probably have lost if I hadn’t been bandaging. Half an hours good deed would be remembered in the future no doubt.

I look at my list of contacts to visit and pondered where to go next .. Continued in Part 5

Click here for Part 5

Ava’s Gor Story – Part 3

Continued from part 2 (Read from the beginning Here)

Ava asks a little unsure having only been to the place once before “Is this Dani’s camp?”

Akashana  looks  over the  fire  to  Ava.. “Dani is EN here”  she  states  simply  and  kicks  the  thigh of  Bay  a  little  annoyed  he  is  still kneeling and  not  serving the  visitors

Ava sighs with relief now knowing where she is and she is safe

While I slept bodi worked to find my tavern workers and have them brought to the camp, so that their service would help compensate the panthers for my residence in their camp. The one you will hear most of is a girl by the name of “Lips”, who proved to be the most loyal during this journey.

I woke occasionally during this time, one time of note was when a healer came to the camp and examined me.

I was unable to find an rp log for this, however I did find the healers prescription for treatment:

Lady Ava has an amoebic infection from being  submerged in the river  recently. There is not much  we can  do  except  build  her bodies  defences up and  help  her  purge the infection. Here is  what I want her  to have.

    1. She  needs plenty  of fresh clean water and or  tea. Cherry Bark and cinnamon  bark in particular.. Mint tea if her stomach get upset

    2. Feed her plenty  of  fruits and melons. Cherries in particular.

    3. Leaving  her a mild antibiotic to  take  twice a day..

    4. No cheese, but mildly spices suls and lean meats in small amounts.

Make  sure  everyone  follows this. I will check on her  as  well.

Thank you

Sigmond Jones, Physician

 

Physicians Seal

This “sickness” was deliberate story element that allowed me to take a break of about a month from sl Gor to consider what I would do next. It was a year to the day between placing my new tavern building and sending out the Tavern Fire rp notecard.

Towards the end of this period of sickness Dani’s band moved their camp (the SIM closed). I felt perhaps it was time to try life in a gorean city…

Start rp log:Ava stirs as she hears footsteps in the hut
Ava turns over and looks up “Lips?”

Lips greetings my Mistress
Ava: Is something wrong? I heard a lot of noise in the camp
Lips “Mistress, the panthers are moving their camp, we have to leave, your sister left a note”Ava sits up startled “they’re moving? We must leave! ” sways a little at the sudden movement and looks about her
Lips hold Mistress by her hand and helped her in getting up “Mistress is there anything you want to take with you”
Ava passes the blanket covering her to the girl “quickly bundle up my good clothes and things into this and the bottle of water”
Lips takes up the blanket and started bundling things up “Mistress where will we go?”
Ava takes the note from the girl as she picks things up and reads through it “Ah bodi says she has found somewhere for me to go and paid a months rent for me in advance! It appears to be a city,called Skargill, judging by the map.”
Ava pulls on her boots grateful they have had time to dry out and are in a better state than her red dress
Ava looks at the map again “I’ve not heard of it, but I’m sure a captain will have. Lets get to the dock”

Lips picks up the luggage and follows Mistress
Ava looks about the camp sad to be leaving the place that has sheltered her and heads to the gate and the dock
Ava: which way to the dock girl? I don’t remember my way in
Ava stumbles slightly on the log bridge, unsteady on her feet still after her sickness
Ava eventually finds her way to a dock and shows the captain the map of where she wants to go
End of rp log.

Ava steps off the boat followed by her girl,Lips, and heads to the town gate. She tries the door but it doesn’t budge so she rings the bell and a slavegirl appears and lets them in.

Start rp log:
Ava: Tal, my name is Ava.  My sister has rented a house here for me, I have a map of where it is

Janet [Janetstar]: Greetings Misstress

Ava: Ah there you are my girl

Lips: Greetings Sister

Janet [Janetstar]: Greetings Karijra

Ava: My name is Ava, this is my girl by the name of Lips. I have traveled far from the forests, I believe there is High Caste housing here? Could you show me the way?

Janet [Janetstar]: Yes Misstress we do have a few did you rent the House over by the Long Hall Mistress

Ava: I believe that’s what my sister said in her note yes

Janet [Janetstar]: this one that is open

Janet [Janetstar]: i can show you your sister home

Ava: I had to cross a bridge to get to it, further from here

Janet [Janetstar]: yes misstress

Janet [Janetstar]: i can show you your sister home

Janet [Janetstar]: this is your sister home

Ava pushes open the door and looks around

Ava: She seems to have found a nice place for me to finish my recovery

Lips follows Mistress inside the house

Ava: Well lips, looks like this will be home for a while

Lips: Yes, my Mistress

Ava: Looks awfully bare, but I’m sure we can make ot habitable

Lips “yes my Mistress

End rp log

 

However this turned out to be a complete waste of time. The very next day I logged back in to find an empty sim. It became apparent (after some rather strong words with one of the owners that was there),that while I’d been sleeping (in real-life, not the rp) the owners of this brand new sim had a major fall-out and were closing the place!

So evidently Ava wasn’t destined for city life and retraced her steps to follow Dani’s band to their new camp.

The next morning Ava awakes to a rumbling in the city then sudden eerie silence, something is clearly very wrong. She quickly dresses, glad that the slaves have been able to repair her favourite dress and won’t have to wear the scraps of clothing the panther girls had been kind enough to loan her.  She steps out the door of the house to a horrific scene of emptiness. Very few buildings remain standing and those that are,are mostly in ruins. She takes a final look around, glad she had sent Lips elsewhere the night before. She scoops up her few remaining possessions and runs toward the dock,hoping it intact and a ship is still there.

As she approaches she sees the ship that brought her just the day before preparing to cast off. She calls rp them “Tal! Wait! I need passage!” The captain looks at her for a moment seemingly not recognizing her in her much better attire then recognizes the fur cloak she had still draped over her shoulders and answers, “yes Lady where do you wish to go this time? Was this not your destination? ”

Ava takes a step into the boat to better address him “yes, this was the place I was given directions to,but as you can see,it’s not fit for anybody to occupy, let alone a Free woman. Since I have no alternative destination available to me I need you to return me to the dock where you collected me yesterday. Hopefully from there I can find  a tracker to help me find the camp the panthers moved to.” Ava holds up a silver tarn disk she had liberated from one of the houses on her way to the dock “I’m sure this will cover your inconvenience captain”,she places it on the rail next to him and without another word heads to the sheltered part of the deck, leaving the captain and crew to their jobs.

Arriving back at Dani’s old camp,Ava uses her rather rusty tracking skills learnt from the panthers to follow the departing band, who hadn’t made much attempt to hide their path. She follows it to another dock..

On arrival at the docks where Dani’s band had apparently landed,I see a stone building across a rope bridge,clearly some kind of outpost or trading station. Perhaps city life wasn’t for Ava, but such a place would definitely have more comfortable beds than furs on the floor in a tent or hut.

I approach the gate cautiously now dressed once again in her repaired red dress, that will probably need replacing at some point soon. I did not however make it as far as the bridge, I met a Free man and his slave on the path.

While I was exchanging simple pleasantries with him a huntress emerged from the trees leading a kajira, which was to my surprise my First girl from my old tavern! Knowing that the panther band would have taken my other tavern workers with them to their new camp, I decided that despite how it pained me, to let the huntress keep her.

I then went somewhat dejectedly to sit on the dock to consider my options. I resolved that I’d had enough of tavern life and that having been born into Merchant caste family, I could use the contacts I made while running the tavern, combined with the stash of coin I had hidden a short distance from the tavern, to take up the trading way of life. I looked at the nearby outpost and got to my feet and headed for the gate.

When I entered the outpost the only person in sight was a lone kajira. I enquired of her owner who was apparently the head slaver there. I then had the girl show me around housing she knew may be vacant that I could occupy for my trade business. The third property she showed me seemed suitable and vacant, so I decided I would ask the head merchant for this one. As the girl and I returned to the town square a man arrived and introduced himself as the Tavern Keeper. Being in official position in the village he was able to accept me as Merchant on behalf of the Head Merchant and allow me to move into the house I liked. It appeared I would now indeed become a merchant!

There’s a little more to come before the end of this tale in the next part:

Click here for Part 4

Ava’s Gor Story – part 2

Continued from Part 1..

She stands there a moment in shock, when another loud roar sounds from the tavern as the other barrels catch fire. She instinctively takes a step back and falls into the dark river and is carried away by the fast current. Before she loses consciousness from the cold she thanks the Priest-Kings she’d sent her girls to help at another tavern the night before and hopes an ikeri sentry from their vantage point above the tavern had seen her fall.

Only the Priest-Kings know where,when, or even if Lady Ava will wash up on a river bank somewhere.

I was overwhelmed by the responses to Ava’s plight, apparently I was more popular than I thought.

 I picked the most plausible ones and planned a storyline to incorporate two of them. The immediate next step was sensibly to the nearest neighboring band,the Ikeri.

Ikeri tribe flag courtesy of Sky Valerian

it was late in the night …all seem quiet in ikerei forest ..but the attention of Sky is attracted by a strong glow coming from the tavern of elation

Sky approach on the border of the camp et see the tavern in fire .

She quick think about her new friend Ava is in trouble

She hurries to cross the river to see more closely what is happening, she see big fire all the tavern burning …Sky try to look in and yell Ava…Ava!!!! are you here !!!…no answer to his call

Sadly she walk around and see a form on the ground in the deep night …she come closer and find Ava lifeless .

She take  her in  arms …give some slap to make her regain consciousness….but she cant ….

Ava !!! wake up !!! sigh

Sky do not know what to do … Prin the shaman is on a trip and he has to take a decision, she can’t leave Ava here.

If the Forest Moon find her she will be in danger …she wraps Ava in her coat  so she does not get cold….

She considers putting Ava in a boat to send her away from these lands but is uncertain if she would survive the cold, so decides to bring her into the camp.

She whistles to one of her sisters and together they move Ava inside and put her where she will be safe and warm.

She knows that Forest Moon might send people looking for her friend, after the tavern burning, so she instructs her sisters not to let any know that Ava is there except for Ava’s sister by blood, Bodi.

(Sky Valerian, En of the Ikeri)

In the Ikeri healers hut

Bodi retrieved my prone body from the ikeri camp having seen shreds of my distinctive red dress nearby and correctly summised where I had gone or been taken.

Bodi took me to the camp of Dani in the remote Northern forest.

I had become ill from my time in cold water so was barely conscious during the journey and arrival at the camp.

Start RP Log:

Bodi pulls Ava out of the boat

Bodi: drags Ava up the slope

[03:06:37]  Danis Band Camp Gate shouts: BodicaPagan Resident knocks loudly at the door ♫

Bodi shouts: can some one help me

Akashana  draws  her  bow  and sends an arrow  towarsd the strangers  to  pin it  in the wood  very close  to  them..”WHAT YOU WNAT  STRANGER!”

 GM 4.69 ~ Akashana Resident hit you with ArrowS1 X-Blood [by LR] Elite 5.03 (20%) – strike type: arrow~direct ~

((Yes, they shot at the sick woman…!!))

Bodi shouts:  i have my sister ava , she know dani , i was asked to bring her here

Bodi: my sister ava is ill she needs a healer ,she was in the river her tavern burnt down , ikeri said to bring her here

Akashana  walks  up  “how  sick?  is  it Bazi  Plague?

Bodi: no not contagious , she must have hit her head in the river ,Bodi: she coughs myust be the water in her lungs. Can you let us in , i need to get her warm by a fire. Please!

Akashana “very well  you can leave  her  there  and  go  back to the village”  looks  suspiciously  at the strangers  “I will have a  slave  warm her”

Bay [Bailey Kerang] looked passed his Mistress her legs seeing the two Mistresses. He didn’t speak as he didn’t wish to interrupt the free as they were talking knowing his Mistress would not be pleased if he did.

Bodi: please let me stay till she is well, dani had a trade deal, i can carry this on

Bodi: i will leave as soon as she regains conscious ,  my name is bodi ava sister by blood sobs

Akashana looks at the  unconscious woman..  “very well..” she  taps  Bay  on the backside.. “go  fetch me the  Mistresses  bow  mine”  directs  him towards  Bodi..  “you dont  object to  giving me  your  bow  then?”

Bodi sighs and hands her bow over

Bay [Bailey Kerang]: Yes my Mistress he said as he crawled towards the Mistresses

Bodi: be careful with that bow , boy i say it very valuble

Bay [Bailey Kerang] opened his hands to receive the bows so he could take them back to his Mistress. He nods to the Mistress as she told him to be careful “Yes Mistress i will be careful with it” he said and smiled at her as he crawled back to his Mistress to hand her the bows.

Bay [Bailey Kerang] crawled back to his Mistress and handed her the bow ” My Mistress , this is the bow the Mistress gave me ” he said and presented her the bow.

Akashana  now  walks  up  slips  her  drawn bow  on her shoulder  and  “be welcome at  our  fire  then.. “BAY! carefully  carry the hurt  Mistress inside  and  warm her  by the  fire  HAR  TA  dont  you she  she is  hurt!”  she  sanps  impatiently at  him as she  takes  the visitors  bow  from him

Bodi wipse ava face and looks toward the huntress,  she need help please

[03:18:07]  Danis Band Camp Gate opened by Akashana Resident Ⓜ

Bay [Bailey Kerang] nods his head to his Mistress as he stood up carefully laid the seemingly injured Mistress down on the floor letting her rest her back against a treestump

Ava groans slightly but does not wake

Bodi pulls ava towards the heat of the fire , she needs warm dry clothes , her is still wet from river , maybe a blanket,  some warm soup perhaps,  i will feed her

Akashana  Keeps  an eye  on the  Male  slave.. then walks  over  to  the hurt Ava..  “BAY! why are you still kneeling  get the blanket  and some soup!”

Liz: tal akashana

Liz: greetings travelers

Akashana  smiles as she looks at Liz.. “tal Liz  this  is Bodi  a friend  of  DAni and her  Sister  both are under the protection of  the camp

Bay [Bailey Kerang] nods his head to her ” Yes my Mistress ” he said and stood up greeting Mistress Liz “greetings Mistress’ he said and went over to the mainhut to get a blanket , some clothes and some soup

Liz: hi Bay

Bodi: Tal Huntresses, I am Bodi , sister to Ava Here ,

Liz: I always think travelers are trouble, you are lucky i did not greet you. But I am new here and i an glad to see you are friends

Bodi: i was working in the zima tavern as tavern keeper , i heard my sister was in trouble, so i came to the land elation , ignor the small one who spaeaks  of trouble,   the ikeri told me to bring her here,

Bay [Bailey Kerang] rushed back to the campfire and was slightly out of breath. He kneels down besides bodi and had some clothes and a blanket in his hands and offered it to the Mistress. “Mistress I brought you some dry clothes and a blanket as requested. The soup i will get after this Mistress”

Bodi: nods help me undress her and put her in warm blanket , then we get the soup in her

Akashana  turns  as Eyota comes  up   “greetings  Elderly Respected Eyota”  she  says  with a smirk

Bay [Bailey Kerang] nods as he came closer “Yes Mistress” he said as he placed the clothes on the log next to him and the blanket on top. He went close to Ava as he helped undressing her , she was actually quite pretty, He piled up the wet clothes on another log and tried to hide his manparts between his legs to avoid any natural reactions to be seen.

Bay [Bailey Kerang]: Greetings Mistress

Bodi takes the soup and helps ava feed , noting the watmth coming back in to her body, ” Tal There i am Bodi sister to Ava, rubbing her arms and legs to get more warmth

єуσтα [aileen Rang] stuck out her tongue at Akashana “You make me sound like a withered old hag.” she’d chuckle teasingly and shook her head. Nonetheless, she’d soon wave to the rest and waved a hand at everyone around, “Well a passed out woman by the fire being undressed. Sounds about the right way to start the morning.” she’d sigh, “What happened exactly? And who is..” she’d point to Bodi, “Ah Ava? Like the tavern owner who trades with us?”

Ava groans slightly as she is moved and feels something warm in her mouth. Vaguely registering the scent of bodi’s cheap perfume she guesses it’s safe and swallows

Bodi is happy to see some change in ava gives more soup , well she coming too food always did that for her

Bay [Bailey Kerang] watched closely as the Mistress covered Mistress Ava up and fed her some soup. She seemed to have it all under control so Bay went back to his Mistress to kneel at her side.

Bodi turns to the new comer , is there a healer here  who can check her over?

ʏᴀɴᴀ sʜᴇᴘᴀʀᴅ ᴛʜᴇ ᴜɴᴛᴏᴜᴄʜᴀʙʟᴇ [Johana Haystack] entered the firepit, saw the crowd and saluts to everyone “Tal there sister, slut, im looking for my daughter leona, ooh for those that doesnt know me, Im Leona’s evil Mom”  saluts again and continue shuffling her way to Leona’s hut, where she hides….

Akashana turns  to look as a huntress comes  to the fire.. “Tal”  she  says  and  smacks  Bay  upside the head  for  no particular reason

Bay [Bailey Kerang] grits his teeth as he was suddenly smacked on his head and looked at his Mistress to see what he did wrong this time

Bay [Bailey Kerang] looked at his Mistress ” Can i perhaps serve you anything my Mistress ? It was a long day for you after all ” he asked her.

єуσтα [aileen Rang] shook her head in the negative as the woman asked her about a healer, “Unfortunately, our healer Julie has been out for some time. I would say the alternative would be to bring her to the healer, Ethan, in the outpost. However, were not on good terms right now. But a panther camp really isn’t the best place for proper medical care.” her chest fell as she’d sigh and she’d move to sit on the log beside Ava. In a cursory glance, she’d peruse her features and tried to determine her ailment, “I would say your best bet is to sail her off to Mirkwood. There’s a healer’s house gsAkashana nods.. “some Larma  Bay  and  warmed  Wine  Bay”

Bodi cringe at these words, ” there is more to the tail , she is also fugitive  from some lands and  is wanted by ermm some , they blame her for burning down the tavern,  is is needed a safe place to stay  , too

Bay [Bailey Kerang] gave his Mistress a warm smile ” Yes my Mistress, Larma and warmed wine it is my Mistress ” he said and stood up to go to the kitchen area so he could prepare her food and drink

Ava lifts her head groggily, looks up and sees the legs of panther girls

Ava murmurs “where am I?”

Akashana: ?me  Slave  Outpost  5  she  syas  as the  woman asks

Bodi drys her dress next to the fire , ” AVA i say loud ,  i brought you here with the map i was given , do you remember  what happened

єуσтα [aileen Rang] rose a brow at Bodi and shook her head as she’d whisper a soft laugh, “You shouldn’t go around telling us that she’s a wanted woman. If there’s a bounty on her head, I am sure some of my Sisters would want to sell her off to the highest bidder.” she’d look at Akashana and just grinned widely. But her expression sobered soon and she’d look back to Bodi. “She may stay here under the understanding that I am not responsible for her life. And, like I said, I don’t have a medic who can tend to her now. So it’s hard to say whether or not she’ll pull through.”

Ava gasps” *slave* outpost?” and drops her head as the weariness overcomes her again

Akashana  began  to  look over the  pretty  bow  that  Bodi  had  gieven her..  “this is a nice  Bow  i will swap  it  with you!”  she  declares  to  Bodi

Bay [Bailey Kerang] finally made it to the kitchen area and looked around to see what he needed. His Mistress asked for some larma and warmed wine and looked around for a plate. He found a perfect bowl instead and knew it would be better suitable for the larma and made sure it was clean and in perfect condition. Then taking a goblet from the shelves he inspected it for cracks or possible chips that came off. Bay smiled pleased as he so none and carefully polished it clean with a repcloth. Then as he looked in the kitchen he found some Sa – Tarna wine which was perfect for warmed wine and poored some in the kettle he had found and started to warm it over the fire. Bay had to be careful with the fire as he was naked and didn’t wish to turn his manpart into a hotdog so he maneuvered in a bit of a strange way but it would get the job done.

Bodi listens to the words of the Huntress, and is relieved she offer  to give safety to her sister,     turning to the huntress she first met,  No  it is very valuable, and has new gut on it and i am used to it,  but i have  and ava have  coin   let me check her her purse , i look in her clothes

Akashana  would  lift her chin in agreement. “coin will do  fine, payment includes the warmth of the fire  the protection of the camp and  complimentary use and obedience  of  camp  slaves”

Bay [Bailey Kerang] softly sang a song to himself , an old sailors song he had learned a long time ago as he did his very best for his beautiful Mistress. While the wine was warming he peeled some fresh larma’s and pulled it apart. He then carefully aranged the larma pieces in the bowl and smiled pleased at his work before placing the bowl on the serving tray. Bay then looked at the wine and made sure it was the perfect temperature as he only wanted the best for his Mistress. Bay was pleased and filled up the goblet with the warmed Sa-tarna wine and filled it up till just below the rim. Then placing the goblet on the serving tray as well and make his way back to his Mistress. He had to lift the tray a bit higher as usual to not hang his man part on the tray as that would be a big no no to his Mistress. So carefully he walked back to his Mistress so he could serve her.

Ava half registering the conversation she hears the word “protection” and relaxes presuming bodi has taken her someone safe

Bodi looks in the clothes of ava, finding a purse, takes  1 silvercoin , and holds up ,  when she able i will leave i found canoe i left on the bank ,  feeds ava  more  soup,  i thinks she is waking up,  when she does i will go , and leave her to your safe  place  , i  have   trade  if you need things like metal

Bay [Bailey Kerang] finally made it back safely and placed the serving tray on the floor as he kneels down in front of his Mistress. Bay picked up the bowl with the larma up first and offered it to his Mistress with his head and eyes lowered respectfully. ” My Mistress may i offer you some of the finest larma i could find for you. I already peeled it and prepared it for your convenience my Mistress. I hope you will enjoy it my Mistress” he said and waited for her to take the bowl so he could serve her the warmed Sa-Tarna wine as well

Ava feels the spoon again at her mouth and takes some more

Ava rolls over and leans against the log and looks about her still very daze

Akashana  “nods” and  lifts  her  hand  for  the  Silver  coin  “toss  the  coin over  Lady”  Reached  to  takes  some  Larma  and  sucks  on one  slice..  then  place the sucked  out  skin back on the tray and reached  for  the warm wine.. “If  you wish  a  slave  to  refresh  you before  you  travel  back Bodi..  the  man here  will  do as  you command”  she  lifts  away  the  drink and  directs  Bay  to  offer  service

Ava takes in her surrroundings through blurry eyes

Bodi nods i will have some warm wine and perhaps ava will too,   , i hope to be on my way , hides my feather in my hair  ,

Ava asks a little unsure having only been to the place once before “Is this Dani’s camp?”

Akashana  looks  over the  fire  to  Ava.. “Dani is EN here”  she  states  simply  and  kicks  the  thigh of  Bay  a  little  annoyed  he  is  still kneeling and  not  serving the  visitors

Ava sighs with relief now knowing where she is and she is safe

End of RP Log.

My distinctive red dress was ruined from the water and the rough  journey and I was given some spare clothing that the panthers had acquired from somewhere and moved into a hut to recuperate.

Sleeping off my sickness in a hut.

Wait and see what is in store for Ava when she wakes..in part 3

Ava’s Gor Story – Part 1

In August 2016 a friend by the name of Empathy persuaded me to come visit a Gorean sim with her. I was extremely hesitant and wary, the little I had heard of “Gor” wasn’t very positive. So I grabbed some cheap suitable attire (cringeworthy on reflection) and went along. I was introduced to a group of “Panthers”, which I am later to understand as a shortening of “panther girls”. Women that have fled the male dominated society of Gor in favour of a life in the forests, called so because they often wear skins of the forest panthers.

They seemed very friendly and welcoming (despite the bows and knives they all carried) inviting me into their camp. This was the band known as the Sha’Kar Arani tribe, led by a woman named Mari.

Sha’Kar Arani tribe flag

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I visited a few times over the following weeks and was made a junior member of the tribe.

Junior panther
Inside the camp gates

I spent a bit of time there, learning how things ran, until I got in my first fight. I was with another member of the band not far from the camp when a guy turns up, she exchanged some minor insults with him but he appeared to have been leaving. Somehow an arrow was fired and things escalated rapidly, ending up with both of us bound and being led to his home.

I should clarify here that these sims use a combat system called Gor Meter,or GM for short. Once you have received a number of hits from compatible weapons you’re “unconscious” and your avatar drops to the floor and you are unable to move. You can then be bound and led on a leash. So when I say “being led” it was exactly that, no choice in the matter.

An example of someone “unconscious” in bubble, however this was in a griefing incident (hence the starwars character)

This was a real potential deal breaker for me, I found it a very unpleasant experience. So I started spending less time in the camp and more in the dock safe zone.

After being in sl gor a few months (approximately November 2016) Mari could see I wasn’t enjoying being a Panther, so she came to me with a proposal. She asked me if I would like to take over running of the tavern, since it was currently without a Keeper, I jumped at the chance.

At this point in writing this post I had a major case of de-ja-vu and realised I’d written a very similar piece in 2017 for the Gazzette of Gor blog and used that to revise some of this account.

I then wrote up the beginnings of a backstory for Ava’s presence in the forest:

Raised as a tavern keepers daughter in the city, I fled a unsuitable match and was found by a tribe of panthers as a teenager. I learned their ways but when the chance presented itself to take on a disused tavern I seized it with both hands, abandoning the primitive Panther life. Opting for a safer and more comfortable life than a panther camp.

A couple of months went by after taking the position the En(Mari) and Tor (like a tribe tutor) came by and said they had a gift for me. The En gave me a Huna  feather, making me full member of the tribe, not for the usual reason however. Normally a cub is made a panther after demonstrating skill in combat or such like during a raid, which in my role as tavern keeper I didn’t participate. I was bestowed the feather for showing dedication and enhancing the general roleplay (rp) experience for everyone. It deeply warmed my heart, I had not expected it, I had just taken on the role with sincerity and enthusiasm. For the most important of reason in SL, it was fun!

Around February 2017 the Sha ‘Kar Arani disbanded. This wasn’t such a disaster as it might have been. If I recall correcry it took just a few days for a new tribe to rise from the ashes; The Shekinah Arani.

Shekinah Arani flag, a Phoenix representing a new tribe rising from the ashes of last

I was proud to be one of the 6 founding members of this new tribe. So much so that I wanted to celebrate it by making a tribe tattoo for the members. I took the Phoenix emblem and made it into such. There were discussions of size and location on the body, but the final decision was on the thigh:

 

The Shekinah Arani tribe tattoo

The next month, on 17th March 2017 I replaced the small simple tavern with new larger two-story building. This allowed a lot more people to fit inside improving roleplay considerably. The number of visitors inside the tavern went from occasionally double figures to 30-40 visitors a day.

The new Tavern

Having invested in this new building and settled into the role,some more appropriate clothing was in order. In my former attire of leathers and cloaks I had been mistaken for a panther on a couple of occasions in the old tavern. I needed something distinctive that set me apart and made it quite clear who was in charge there.

Old panther-style keeper
New Tavern Keeper look

The quiver of throwing knives I had worn before was stowed under the bar for when traveling afar. A coiled whip hung from a thong on my hip instead,the simple presence of which was sufficient deterrent for most would be troublemakers. For those that it wasn’t..I had a set of stocks.

There had always been other buildings around the tavern location. A blacksmith’s forge, a healers hut and similar. Some extra buildings that people could use for accommodation were added and the area became a small village outpost.

The docks of sl gor sims are always safe-zones, allowing for people to arrive safely if their intention was only rp. This safe zone was extended to encompass this outpost village, making the area roleplay only.

There was an article written about this significant change published on the gazzette of gor blog,which you can read HERE and I recommend you do. It is a great example of rp in the tavern and I really wish I had more examples.

Since the tavern was going so well I wanted to add something  to the RP, a little realism when buying food,drinks and accommodation in the tavern for example. I came up with the idea of a coin system. There are existing trade and bartering systems such as G&S, but these seemed over complicated for what I wanted to achieve. So I made some coins with the tavern name on one side and my name on the other.

Elation Tavern coin samples, front and rear

I distributed some of these among the locals to try out the principle, as well as leaving some scattered across the sim, but there wasn’t sufficient interest and I didn’t have an infrastructure to back it up.

Also as part of this same idea for increasing RP, I made my own Elation Tavern branded barrels and casks of drinks to trade. These containers were scripted for realism with different ones containing different numbers of drinks. They would also notify me when they were empty so I could RP another visit. These clearly didn’t catch on either, since I never received any “container empty ” type messages from the samples I gave out.

Elation tavern barrels

Given the number of storylines running through this time period I did consider posting the rp’s. However given just 5 minutes of chat could generate several pages of text, a morning of rp would be a tedious read!

However I’m now regretting that choice, since it leaves large gaps in this tale for the time period in which I was most active. Perhaps I shall post those later if I can find records.

In the first weeks of December 2017 it was agreed rather quickly(in an hour according to this post , but I’m unsure of the exact timescale), that Shekinah Arani would be merging with a tribe called Forest Moon.

Forest Moon flag

Rather than recounting all the events here, I will just say that I wasn’t too happy about the situation and made me feelings well known,perhaps excessively so. Bodi wrote an article about the merger which you can read here.

Several of the founding members of the Shekinah Arani tribe moved on to different places in the following weeks. I remained as the tavern keeper, however I created a tribe flag with the name Last of the Shekinah and adopted that title occasionally. It was meant mostly humorously while conveying how I felt, not everyone found it amusing.

This was a play on words the fact there was a nearby tribe called “Last of the Sa’ Sheku” and the movie name “Last of the Mohicans”.

I felt that summed up the situation, I was one of the last of the founding members. Others just left quietly, but when I’m upset, that is not me. Perhaps I over reacted, having invested too much emotional attachment into this tribe that had been going about a year.

Having recently re-read the chat logs of this time, I think I have some answers for questions raised at the time. I was asked several times, how come despite not living in the tribe camp, but in the tavern for at least a year, why was I so hung-up on the Shekinah Arani name, when others were not?

  I didn’t have an answer at the time, but now I think the answer is actually in the question. It was exactly because I hadn’t lived there that I held it so preciously. I still had the proud glow of being a member of a tribe I’d been a founder of. Despite being just across a sim from the camp, I wasn’t close enough to be aware of possible discontent or other negative issues. So I was as proud of the tribe as I was at the time of founding, naive to any issues that may have existed prior to the merger with Forest Moon.

Despite this change of the tribe, in the larger scheme of things it really didn’t change too much. I remained as the tavern keeper of Elation,rp continued at the tavern, but numbers began to dwindle.

Life in Gor drifted along, locals came and went. I helped out my friend and former tribe sister,Bodi,who had left and was trying to run a tavern elsewhere, since custom had slowed down at my own.

This became known to my tribe and was considered a betrayal,rather than just helping Bodi out, because the place was near the Zima panther camp. This actually made me consider moving there, since I don’t appreciate being thought of as a traitor, but I stayed out of loyalty. At least I would have, but the decision was taken out of my hands, I was removed from the group.

I had already written the beginning of a roleplay storyline for this situation if it arose and here it is:

Ava sits at a table in the darkened empty tavern. Nursing a bowl of paga, having long lost track of how many it was, as she tries to drown the accumulation of recent and past hurts, betrayals, accusations, insults and slights from all corners of her life. She puts it to the side, or tries to, not noticing the bowl fall from table and spill it’s nearly full contents across the floor. The trickling liquid reaches the base of a full barrel of the potent drink.

Ava picks up a candelabra of three candles and heads to the back stairs up to her room. As she bumps into the door frame on her way out, one of the candles falls loose and lands on the wooden floor amongst the liquid. It doesn’t register what is happening to Ava until she hears a roar and a flash of heat and light and she is thrown from the building out the back door.

Ava staggers across to the safety of the river bank. She stands there a moment in shock, when another loud roar sounds from the tavern as the other barrels catch fire. She instinctively takes a step back and falls into the dark river and is carried away by the fast current. Before she loses consciousness from the cold she thanks the Priest-Kings she’d sent her girls to help at another tavern the night before and hopes an ikeri sentry from their vantage point above the tavern had seen her fall.

Only the Priest-Kings know where,when, or even if Lady Ava will wash up on a river bank somewhere.

The tavern burns in the nigh

I sent this in a notecard to every En,band leader or significantly active player that I knew in SL Gor. In the hope that someone would show interest in continuing the story. I was overwhelmed by the response.

To be continued…

Click here for Part 2

 

Araxes Sci-Fi Roleplay 

 Update note: This location is no longer as described. I don’t know how long ago that happened.

Having been reading a few SL blogs lately I was inspired to write something. After seeing this post by SL Bliss I decided to go and check out the sim she used for her background. I arrived at the photo location in the middle of the desert and began to explore. Having come across several “Danger” signs that I found myself approaching from the wrong side, I went in search of some kind of intended arrival point. After a rather long run through the desert (flying is disabled and there are four sims), I found what appeared to be a main inhabited area. A building on one side contained a vendor for a “Spice Scanner” and a machine for apparently trading in what you found for medical packs and such. Combined with the Danger signs it became clear there was some kind of damage system in place on the sims. Across from this was what appeared to be residential or commercial buildings, but I decided to try out the shuttle parked outside before exploring it. The shuttle took me on a rather bumpy ride (standard sl automated transport style) up to a space station. There are a number of different landing decks, a control room and a lounge bar up there.

Back on the ground I acquired myself a Spice Scanner from the vendor and after finding a couple of pieces of “Araxes Ore” a local inhabitant arrived and offered me a tour of the adjacent buildings. The large collection of buildings I had seen make up the “Two Cities”, Old and New. The Old city is located in a collection of caves in the sandstone cliffs with a small market and some shops, a ramp leads up to the New city. This New city is much larger and on multiple levels which may take some time to explore properly.

The tall curved building contains the welcome area.

Old Town

New City

In the opposite direction to the cities is the entrance into the sand dunes From the vendor in the entrance I got a notecard, giving me various bits of information including:

If you stay on this path, you will arrive at the Araxes Desert FreePort in several days. At the FreePort you will find: Landing Docks for people wishing to engage in duty-free trade Local Merchants at the docks and on the path to Haven Haven Bar – a place of rest and respite Companion House – a place of rest, respite and companioning The Enclave – a village with housing available Entry to the Path to / thru the Deep Desert

So I followed the path which was not entirely empty …

Get used to seeing these!

Arriving at the FreePort there’s plenty to explore As you can see from the last snapshot, the desert is extensive,you can enter it by walking to the rear of the Haven club, be wary on your explorations!

Location: http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Bourbon/131/217/21 Note: You’ll want your draw distance at least 192 due to the spread of the buildings.

Outfit Credits: