The laws of city extends no further than its walls. (Outlaws of gor, page 50). Once you step outside the walls of your city, the city laws no longer apply and the city can not protect you. Many cities will claim sovereignty over the lands surrounding their city; they will try to enforce their will upon the surrounding terrain. But that is only as effective as the strength of the city. There are a few exceptions to this, such as a banner keep that is located outside the city. In those establishments the laws of the governing cities are in force.
There are two primary court systems in the cities of Gor. that of the civil government and that of the Initiate Caste. The areas of their jurisdiction are sometimes vague though the Initiates claim supreme authority in all matters. The amount of actual involvement of the Initiates in each city will vary depending on the Caste's power in that specific city. They obviously have a stronger hold in some areas than in others. For the most part, they will definitely claim jurisdiction in any religious related matter. They will ignore petty matters for they feel are beneath their worry. On Gor white is associated with impartiality and justice. That is part of the justification of the Caste colors of the Initiates.
Gorean Society Civil Law
"There is a saying on Gor that the laws of a city extends no further than its walls"
Outlaws of Gor page 50
Goeran Civil law, as above quote notes, is entirely up to the governing body of each city, village, territory or other social or political unit. There are of course many similarities between the laws of various cities, and it is more often in the finer nuances that they will differ. Certainly, one would expect that theft, murder, betrayal of one's homestone or destruction of other people's property, for example, are subject to one form or another of the most severe punishments that given area has determined appropriate. Beyond the obvious, though, there are numerous legal issues which are mentioned throughout the travels of Tarl Cabot, war times specifically identified as the law of a given city, and other times simply referred to as the law which is common to "many" cities or "most Gorean cities"
The laws of a a city of will state not only the rules it citizens must abide by, but also the treatment reserved to visitors, from setting times by which all visitors must exit the city to issuing a form of permit for visiting to simply letting folks move about freely. War and conflict naturally call for tighter control of a cities gates. while during peacefully times entry to a city might be more peacefully for trade.
all messengers of various types usually easily identified by wearing a golden slash on their helmets. Visiting dignitaries or ambassadors, even those of enemy cites are allowed to entry the cities with immunity. although there are certainly examples where this protection rule was dismissed without much scruple for to enter a city without permission or without satisfactory reason is tantamount to a capital crime, and the punishment is usually a swift and brutal implement. The Gorean suspicious of a stranger, particularly in the vicinity of his native wall. Pikes on the walls of a gorean cities are usually surmounted with the remains of unwelcome guests. The gorean word for stranger and enemy are the same
The Laws There is a saying on Gor that the laws of the city extend no further than its walls.
Outlaw of Gor page 50
BUILDING A CITY
Civil construction is something in which slaves my not take part. This law is mentioned as a reader witnesses the rebuilding of Ko-Ro-BA but stated to be universal enough that only one city is known to have made exception to it.
"I knew that only those who were free would be permitted to make a city. Doubtless there were many slaves in Ko-Ro_ba but they would be allowed only to serve those who raised the walls and towers. Not one stone could be placed in either way or tower by a man or woman who was not Free, the only city I know of on Gor which was built by the labor of slaves, beneath the lash of Masters, is Port Kar which lies in the delta of the Vosk.
Assassin of Gor Page 60
ACQUIRING AND MAINTAINING CITIZENSHIP
Goreans , although born into a caste are not born citizens of a city. The right to citizenship is accompanied by a pledge to the Homestone which is first taken in the course of the coming of age ceremony and then renewed annually. It is also mentioned that young Goreans must perform this ceremony upon reaching the age of majority or risk being expelled from the city.
"
"Young men and women of the city, when coming of age, participate in a ceremony which involves the swearing of oaths and the sharing of bread , fire and salt. In this ceremony the Home Stone of the icty is held by each young person and kissed. Only then are the laurel wreath and the mantle of citizenship conferred.
Slave girl of Gor. Page 394
" When ones does not have a Home Stone, it is possible to become citizen/citizend of a town/city by being permitted in a public ceremony to kiss the Home Stone of the town/city.:
Mercenaries of Gor Page 265
LEGAL REGISTRIES - THE RIGHT TO A NAME
"Some clue, then, as her origins, may be there," I said. Goreans are usually rather careful about such things as crests, signs, family emblems, and such. Sometimes such things are actually registered, and legally restricted in their use to given lines."
Mercenaries of Gor page 292
MAPS, KEYS, FORGERY AND FRAUD
"Lastly, it might be , mentioned that it is a capital offense for a locksmith, normally a member of the Metal Workers, to make an unauthorized copy of a key, either tot keep for himself or for another.
Assassin of Gor , chapter 5
It is illegal in many cities, incidentally to takes maps of the city out of the city. More than one fellow, too, has put himself in the quarries or on the bench of a galley for having been caught with such a map in his possession."
Magicians of Gor chapter 22
CAMPANIONSHIP CONTRACTION, RENEWAL AND DISSOLUTION
Although not always done in legal fashion, these provided for one way or another in most cities, the usual rule being that companionships are contracted for life and do require yearly renewal. Note that Gorean Women do not change their names when they become companioned..
" There is no marriage as we know it on Gor, but there is the institution of the Free Companionship, which is the nearest correspondent. Surprisingly enough, a woman who is brought 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 commendable, a Free Women 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 slaves 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 page 54
"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 fells slave.
Hunter of Gor page 19
ODDS AND ENDS
" A man who refuses to practice his livelihood or strove to the alter status without the consent of the Council of the High Castes was by definition, an Outlaw and subject to impalement."
Tarnsmen of Gor page 45-46
In most Gorean cities it is illegal to offer an unbranded woman in a public sale. This is presumably in deference to the delicacy and sensibilities of Free Women. The brand draws a cataclysmic gulf between the Gorean Free Woman, secure in her arrogance, beauty and caste rights, and the stripped, nameless, rightless slaves, suitably vended as a mere lovely beasts they are in the flesh markets of this primitive, gorgeous world. Unbranded women, of course may be sold privately, for example, as fresh captures to slavers or, say, to men who have speculated that they might find them of interest.
Savages of Gor, Chapter 7
The theft of a Home Stone is punishable by extreme torture followed by death in boiling oil. It may be the most heinous crime that exists on Gor. But, if it also considered the greatest of glories to steal an enemy's Home stone.
Assassins, bearing the mark of the black dagger on their forehead, are permitted entrance into a city without interference..
Thievery is illegal and harshly punished. The first offense is punished by an ear notching. For the second offense, the punishment depends on the sex of the offender. Males are punished by loss of their left hand and both feet. Females are punished by enslavement.
Shaving or slicing off metal from any coin is considered to be theft and fraud. This debases the value of the coin.
To claim land outside of a city for your own, you must place a yellow stake of clemency into the ground during the morning. You must wait and defend the land until sunset. At that time then, the land becomes Yours and you may lay your Home stone there.
Patents and copyrights are available in a city but their power extends only as far as the city walls.