RETURN TO CIVILIZATION

the harsh test of the Thahari desert

I kept my distance from that long caravan of slavers with their precious cargo of girls just arrived from Planet Earth.

I had waited for those men dressed in silver suits to leave the caves, and I approached the entrance to a large cavern. To my great surprise, I found everything, from food to water, clothes, and weapons. This was surely the slave traders' base, because nearby there were tables and chairs, and in the corner some beds that they might have used while they waited for their Earthly accomplices.

 I found a tarp and put as much food and water inside as possible. There were some botas, which I took, and some dried meats hanging on a wall. I also took a small sword, something that resembled a Raider's dagger. Finally, after resting for a few hours, I set off along the trail used by the caravan. I wasn't afraid of losing them, because they were dragging girls unaccustomed to the desert, and they would surely have made them lose many hours of walking.

The first day I passed, I stopped behind a small dune, while I saw the campfires in the distance, we were going towards the South-East, and as much as I remembered the first city you meet in that direction leaving the Shendi forest, it was the city of Kor, I didn't know it, I had never been there, because that was a city always at war with AR and with other cities of the Thahari desert, I was a cartographer and I know the desert, so if I go towards the North I will surely find the Cartius-subequatorial river, and following that river you arrive at the city of Kasra, I had been there other times, sir Balrough and Macha lived there,

sir Balrough  & Macha 

while if I continued to go down avoiding Kor I would have found the trail of the great oases, Stone of Silve, Oasis of Farad, Oasis Battle Red Rock, then the Oasis of Nine Wells, then the Kasbah of Salt Ubar, up to the city of Kurtzal on the Lower Fayeen river, while going further south I would surely have met the small city of Turma, and from there further east to the Oasis of Sadd Slreen, then the Four Palms and the Two Scimitars, then again to the Oasis of Lame Kailla, until finally arriving at the great city of Klima where I had lived for a few years, but to reach my Oasis of the Seven Palms, it was better to head west, reach the oasis of Stone Silver, from there again towards the great city of Turia, from there I would have reached the coast to get to the Island of Landa, the great city where I lived, and from there I would have rented a boat to reach the oasis which is a few miles from Landa.

landa isle

But I was still alone in that burning desert. That night was quite cold. I wrapped myself in the blanket I had with me. I couldn't light a fire; they would have discovered me and surely killed me. I knew the slave traders' methods; they left no witnesses. And while I thought about all this, I fell asleep. I dreamed of the cool stream flowing from the rocks of my Oasis, and of my slaves tending me and warming me with their naked bodies. Everything was in bloom in my gardens, and the palace with its golden friezes shone in the sun.

I woke early, the sun was just rising in the distance. The night had brought me no counsel. I still hadn't decided which path to take. The most important thing right now was to get away from those slave traders as soon as possible. I had already risked my life with the Panthers, and I wanted to stay safe. I spent a few minutes thinking about what to do, then decided to reach the river, then Kasra, and from there get to Cartassa or the oasis of Tashid. I would be safe. I knew the trails to reach the Wosk River. I didn't want to go west because there was a long way to go in the desert before reaching Turia. I didn't have enough water and I didn't have any food, so I slowly walked northeast. I would reach the river in a few days, and I would surely find some small boat that shuttles between the cities on the banks.

I walked for three days, resting at night, drinking as little as possible, not wanting to run out of water, and so, towards sunset, I glimpsed the ruins of an ancient city, and finally the river, finally, I was safe. I threw myself fully dressed into that river. I hadn't washed or drank enough for weeks. I rested in the shade of stone ruins, which must once have been houses, and waited quietly. The next morning I stopped on the riverbank until a small merchant ship passed by. I sent out signals, and they sent a boat to pick me up.

I would continue that journey to Kasra. Then I would decide.

I had finally uncovered the mystery of all those slaves who populate the cities of Gor, who were kidnapped from Planet Earth and brought to Gor...

For days I had been walking in the Tahari Desert. My caravan had been attacked by Panthers and rebellious Bedouins. We had no escape; there were so many of them, coming from every direction. I watched my men fall, one after another. I had no choice but to play dead. Perhaps it was the only way to escape that carnage. It was very strange that wild panthers had allied themselves with desert men, even those banished from their oases, earning a living by raiding passing caravans.

As I thought this, a sword flashed in the sun and struck me in the side. I fell into the burning sand that morning, pretending to be dead. I had indeed been hit by a scimitar, but my canteen hanging at my side had taken the hit, and I had fallen in the impact. After the howls of those panthers had subsided, some men were checking the fallen, making sure everyone was dead, leaving no witnesses in their path. When they reached me, as they bent down to check on my death, someone shouted to go away, and I was saved.

I don't remember how long I remained in that position, surrounded by the corpses of men who loved me and who had given their lives to defend me. I forced myself and stood up, looking around at that desolation, of fabrics thrown to the wind and open boxes thrown into the sand. There was nothing left to do but take something for my survival and head west. We had left Baku heading for As-Ar, the large city on the edge of the desert, then from there we would set off again for Isfahan. Lady Sabayna was waiting for me. She had returned from the Pani villages of the Sardar and had resumed her work as a herbalist and perfumer in the oasis (city).

That had been the mistake, crossing the Shendi forest. We didn't want to take the mountain trail, it was too tiring, but the result was only the death of my men and my caravan. I would have waited until the sun wasn't too high. I didn't have much water; my canteen was broken by the sword, but luckily, searching among the corpses, I found one. Full, it would have been my salvation in that hell of sand and sun.

I walked away from the sun; it was the only sensible thing to do. Sooner or later I would encounter some oasis or caravan. I walked until late evening, until the darkness covered everything. I had taken some cloths to cover myself, dug a small ditch, and fell asleep. I woke up in the morning, and the sun was already high. I still had a few biscuits in my bag. I ate one, then drank a little water, and I was ready for my journey into the unknown.

I don't know how many hours I had walked, I was dead tired, walking in the sand was an arduous task, but it was the only way to save myself, or die in that desert that had seen me born and grow up, I moved forward slowly, I scanned those sandy dunes in search of something, but everything was the same, sometimes it seemed like I had already been there, but I moved forward, I thought about my life, about my oasis of the seven palm trees, about my loves lived and lost, about my brother Orlando missing for so many years, about my adoptive mother Lady BB Arliss, and about everyone I had met on my travels, it was the only way to keep my brain busy before the scorching sun made me lose track of life. I rested at night, I had eaten another biscuit and drank a little water, my lips were chapped by the sun and thirst, my skin was red and burnt, I fell asleep, I dreamed of the great fountain in the central square of the oasis of the seven palms, I dived in together with the naked slaves who played with each other, and I drank that fresh water that flowed from the depths of the island, I woke up it was almost dawn and I was already sweating, I waited a little longer to regain a little strength and I set off.

After a few hours, something protruded from the sand in the distance, a strange shape like a large iron curtain. The closer I got, the bigger it got. I had seen something similar in old books where the Priest Kings had captured the crew of that strange shape they called a spaceship. It was said that the Goreans, with the help of those priests, had captured the crew that had arrived on Gor from the planet Earth, on the other side of the sun, and that the highly intelligent animal priests had discovered a way to make that machine work and organized an expedition to Earth to capture men and women to populate the Planet Gor. I approached with suspicion, but it didn't seem to be inhabited, there were no shadows or noises coming from inside when I climbed that iron walkway to the front door, I looked out and was amazed by the bright screens in front of the chairs surely used to drive that fantastic and shiny machine, what I was looking for was food, I found in a cupboard some brown substance tablets, my hunger was at its peak I didn't have

There were some anatomical chairs just right for me to rest in, and the inside of that big machine was quite cool. I fell asleep. I don't know how long I slept, but I woke up rested, and those tablets had eased my hunger. There were some cylinders with water inside, and I filled my canteen. Then I went outside and climbed up to the roof. It was quite high, I could see much further. When I reached the top, I looked around, scanning the horizon, and in the distance I saw something that looked like low hills, very high rocks. I decided to reach them. It was definitely a shelter for caravans, and I set off again towards those small hills. After some time, I came into sight of those rocks, and I was greatly astonished to see men dressed in silver robes with strange weapons escorting women towards a cave. There were also women with dark, almost black skin. I had seen some of them in some cities; even Sir Mingh in the city of Falswort had fallen in love with one of them. Others had golden and copper-red hair. I was hiding behind a small dune. I clearly saw slave traders talking to those silver warriors as they took over the chained women. There was definitely something fishy going on, men from Earth selling their women to the merchants of Gor.

When it was all over, the silver men disappeared towards their spaceship, while the slavers set off with those women towards a trail that could now be clearly distinguished. I waited a few hours and followed that trail, and finally I encountered a caravan of real traders heading for the Oasis of the Two Scimitars. They helped me with my now worn-out clothes, they treated my sun wounds, and they took me with them to the city of Ar, at war with Pot Kar, I stayed a few days and then left again.

I had finally uncovered the mystery of all those slaves who populate the cities of Gor, who were kidnapped from Planet Earth and brought to Gor...

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Darian(ulisse1) 
 A memory of our friend Kayla Kaminsky...

She left us prematurely and suddenly, leaving a deep sadness in the hearts of all of us who knew her for so many years....

We will always think of you, and may you find another life in heaven.

  A Letter to Kayla from all managers 

  

   

"Kayla…

It’s hard to put into words what you meant to us.

You weren’t just a friend — you were energy, laughter, chaos in the best way… and light in moments we didn’t even know we needed it.

You had this way of making everything feel more alive. Faster. Brighter. Real.

And somehow… we being around you made life feel lighter too.

We keep thinking about all the little moments — the laughs, the random conversations, the way you could turn anything into something unforgettable.

You didn’t just exist… you lived. Fully. Intensely. Beautifully.

And that’s something no one can ever take away.

We wish we had more time.

We wish we could hear your voice again.

We wish we could tell you one more time how much you mattered.

But even now… we feel you.

In the energy around us.

In the memories that refuse to fade.

In the light that still exists because of you.

This place… this space…

was made with love.

For you.

So that you are never just a memory…

but a presence.

Kayla… 

Thank you for being part of our life.

And wherever you are…

We hope you’re still shining the way you always did.

We love you. Always.”

Serena Estates Managers

 

            The Wine Archipelago

SELNAR CITY

 

            The Wine Archipelago

I set out from the city of Isfahan, in the Shendi region, a place I knew very well, when, as a child, my brother Orlando and I were taken to the city of Korat by a slave and rescued. I had been invited by Lady Sabayna, who had returned to Isfahan after a period of study in the Pani cities at the foot of the Sardar Mountains, for her usual Friday reading. It's an event I've followed with interest for several years, with various inhabitants of that great city, once an oasis, taking turns reading their stories. In truth, there weren't many participants, but just a large, interested group.

From Shendi, we would reach the coastal city of Baku. There, I would board my ship, the Argo. We would reach the Cos archipelago to buy wine and take the opportunity to meet Sir Balrough and his friend Macha, a slave dancer among the dancers of Tyros. During my journey through the Tahari Desert, I had also attended the meeting of the Gorean Merchants' Company. I was there representing my Oasis of the Seven Palms, even though mine is a small oasis lost in the Thassa Sea. We trade with our products and imports.

As soon as we arrived on the island of what was once the home of the Tyros dancers, everything had changed. The theater no longer existed, nor did Balrough and Macha's house. I asked some citizens, and they told me that the Dance Company had moved to the great city of Olni, up the Worsk River, then up the tributary Thentis River, and then the Olni River. The city had offered them the opportunity to exploit some vacant lands where the TucHucs had previously lived. I remember that place well. I was a suitor of the queen's daughter, but that was many years ago. I remember living in the large house near the Lighthouse outside the city walls. I have many beautiful memories of it, but also some negative ones, due to the murder of the Slave by the Commander of the city, Lady Lucy's son. But I put that past behind me after Lady Lucy's death; I no longer had the desire to return.

While I was in Tyros, I learned about the new renovation of the city of Selnar (Cos), so I decided to extend that trip to visit it. On the way back, we would load up the wine at Degalbi, from there we would sail down the Thassa Sea to the Oasis. We reached the island in a short time, a few days' sailing. I disembarked from the ship docked at the quay of the large port, introduced myself to the Commander of the guards at the port, and was escorted up the long stairs to the residence where the city's Ubara lived. lady Lilian, that was her name, welcomed me with respect and admiration. He had heard about my Gazette of Moons. When I proposed the possibility of writing an article on that modernized city, he was immediately very enthusiastic. While we talked, I drew a portrait of him, which I would hang on the wall of the Gorean Gallery.

SELNAF FROM SKY

Then he left me to his work, ordering a guard to escort me through the streets of the city so that I could capture the best views for my article.

During my stay, I had the opportunity to speak with high-ranking officials, the Captain of the Guard, some scribes I met in the Caste Palace, and other kind and welcoming citizens. Once my work as an editor and journalist was finished, I set off again for Degalbi, loaded up on wine, and finally set off for Oasi7palme. I reserve the right to add photos of the best places in that city called "Selnar."

(error correge: Ubara of Selnar is lady Lilian, Alice is slave)

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They announce the upcoming opening of a new theater in an area outside the walls of the great city of Olni. Sir Balrough sent me the announcement, hoping you'll like it. I'll also post a landmark to help you reach the theater when it opens and inaugurates.

Thank you all. inaugurates.

Thank you all.

http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Olni%20Cliffs/223/168/2510

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new way


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After the En-Kara fair I began the return journey with a stopover in Teletus. I wanted to meet Sir Abraham. He had told me that in the city of Teletus he was the head of the Scribe caste, and was very busy with his research work on the Gorean scripts, in his Scribe classes. 

city ​​of Teletus-port

When I arrived in Teletus I just had time to see him walking away with his faithful slave. I was told he had heard news of ancient writings in a village in the South and was leaving. I was lucky to meet Lady Eleonora, a Scribe, also a disciple of Abraham. She had her own large library on a small island not far away. I invited myself and followed her with interest and wrote an article about that large library.

oasis7palms

I made a portrait of that Scribe to add it to the Gorean gallery at the Oasis of the 7 Palms, I stayed there for a few more days hoping to meet L'Ubar or the Administrator, I only glimpsed the new Chief of the Scribes, he was hanging out in the Inn behind the fountain garden on the upper level, and honestly he didn't respond when I greeted him, at his Scribe school they don't teach greetings.

    

var-kor city

 

I left Teletus to stop in the city of Var-Kor. I had already been there for the Autumn Fair, and had even written an article about the city. Lady Kallis lived there and had become the Chief Scribe. I was very happy about this and stopped there, thinking of staying for a while.

 The city was always the same, perhaps too empty for how I remembered it with the fair crowded with traders and stalls, but I was there for Kallis and the rest didn't matter. 

Cartassa-oasis

(Kallis had been an old friend of mine from Cartassa, sister of Betty and Athena, and in Cartassa I fell in love with her, even though at that time, Sir Finthor was playing the cockerel with all the ladies, and in my opinion the reason for Kallis's refusal to become my companion was also determined by him, but as it happened, the slave Yi Yi was also his secret lover. Kallis, out of spite, told me that she wanted to become my companion, but Athena made her jealous by saying that I was meeting Yi Yi, and she ran away from Cartassa leaving me alone.)

  But then everything was cleared up and we went back to being best friends, but I continued to love her in silence, now after so many years we respect each other, I admire her for her tenacity in her work. 

She welcomed me with all the honors, inviting me to her office first and then showing me around the city, including the houses. She asked me if I wanted to stay with her at the Scribe Caste. She offered me a job as a Magistrate and would help me open a branch of my newspaper, "Gorean Moons."

I was tempted at first, but I had left the Oasis a long time ago and I had to update the ''Gorean's Gallery'' I had many portraits of famous people and slaves met in my last travels, so I left again assuring her that I would return to visit her soon.

Lady Selia-turmus

    I left Var-Kor, the next stop would be Turmus, Sir Nicholas Ell had promised to sell me a slave from my same time-zone, I was finally hoping to have someone to help me in the Palace and in the Gallery, maybe even for something else, I arrived in the city of Turmus, it was no longer what it used to be, when I lived there happily I was a Magistrate, I had the newspaper ''Turmus News'' and I had the house next to Sir Hember's Kennel, I was after him because he had a beautiful slave named Rose, I wanted to buy her, but one day I found no one in the Kennel anymore they had left, then Sir Nicholas arrived with his slaves and he had opened a new Kennel, I had met Sir Nick when we lived together in the city of Sais on the Olni river, then I lost track of him, I met him in a Court for a case, then in another city for a company ceremony, then I lost track of him again, until I found him again as a Slaver in Turmus.

Sir Noicholas Ell

I met him at the En-Kara fair, promising to visit him willingly, but as chance would have it, he was leaving while I was arriving. I stayed a few days, said goodbye to Lady Selia the administrator (Ubara), and left again.

city ​​of holnesk

  Next stop was the city of Honesk, on the other side of the river, to say goodbye to my friend Lady Babe the Ubara. I had spent some good times in that city, but I hate the winter with the cold and snow, and I left, but my friendship with Lady Babe remained over time. The city had changed a bit, they had built some new buildings and some flower beds in the large square. I didn't get off the ship, in fact I left again because there were some raids by the Panthers, and I'm staying away from the fighting after my beloved died in a fight in the black city.

    I wanted to stop in the city of Isfahan, but I decided to return to the Oasis of the Seven Palms. I had many things to do and to work on expanding the Gorean Gallery, the walls now full of characters. I would continue my travels as soon as possible....