Nordhagen Laws

The civic laws of Nordhagen are rooted in tradition. Disputes can be resolved by a Lawkeeper, a High Man, the assembly, or through challenge. Key laws include the right to duel, wergild, and inviolate oaths on Thor’s ring. Bondmaid circles are legal, but women can remain free to bear children. High Men can deem women unsuitable for childbirth. Merchant Law, Clan Right, Hall Right, Camp Right, and the Right of Capture are upheld, but the black court and assassins’ caste are not. Reaving and raiding are allowed as sport, with war declared only by the war arrow, and peace by the broken ax.

Nordhagen Laws

Let it be known that the civic laws of Nordhagen directly follow the traditions of our people. Let it be known that we hold our traditions strongly and thus they are our laws.

To disputes the advice of a Lawkeeper may be sought, the ruling of a High Man might be made, the judgment of the assembly might be appealed, or the right of challenge applied.

We recognize the law of the thing, the right to formal and free duel also known as sword right, the right of champions and wergild. We recognize that oaths spoken on the temple ring of Thor are inviolate.

We recognize the bondmaid circle as law while also acknowledging the right of Nordhagen women to remain free to bear children. We recognize companionship by either contract or witness.

It is the right of a high man to claim that a Nordhagen free woman has only slave fire in her belly and is thus not suitable to bear children. We recognize that an act of submission makes any free woman, even one of Nordhagen, bond.

We recognize Merchant Law on the Merchant Road, Clan Right, Hall Right, Camp Right, and the Right of Capture. We do not recognize the black court or the caste of assassins.

We hold our right to reave and raid as suits the sport of men, and say that only the war arrow may be used to make war of that which is otherwise sport. We recognize that the uplifted broken ax determines peace between those that gather.

Introduction

We have very little information about any actual civic law for Torvaldsland. Most of the “laws” mentioned in Marauders of Gor are more in the way of traditions then they are laws. Consequently, I am going to simply lean into the traditions mentioned in the books and make the civic law align with the tradition. This changes the nature of the civic laws from something that might be “rule lawyered” to something that embodies “the spirit of the law” - as Goreans tend to be traditionalist and don’t like their traditions flaunted. I think this suits the area best.

Definition

The following section defines what the various terms mean. These are presented to you the player out of character because as mentioned above, the civic laws of Nordhagen are based on tradition and right, thus based on how the books of Gor are written, it appears as if these points should be known to the character, and thus as tradition, be something all would uphold rather than rule lawyer.

Lawkeeper

A recognized lawkeeper can be consulted on the nature of the law in Nordhagen. Any free person may request a lawkeeper be consulted before a ruling is made by a man of rank.

High Men

The rank of Jarl, Chieftain and Captain, if accorded by the people of Nordhagen and recognized at one of the things (moot), have the right to make ruling on the laws of Nordhagen. The rank of Ubar is disallowed in Nordhagen.

Assembly of Law

An assembly of law can be called at any time to address a point of law or dispute. An assembly of Law must have at least three high men and a lawkeeper. Even if a ruling was made by a man of rank, a free person of Nordhagen has the right to demand an assembly be called.

Law of the thing

“The Forkbeard, too, and his men, were armed. Blows are not to be struck at the Thing, but not even the law of the Thing, with all its might, would have the temerity to advise the man of Torvaldsland to arrive or move about unarmed.”

The Temple Ring of Thor

Oaths made on the temple ring of thor can not be broken without risking outlawry. Keeping one’s word is important, but a formal oath is inviolate.

"The great ring of the temple of Thor, stained in the blood of the sacrificial ox, was brought. It was held in the hands of the high rune-priest of the Thing. Svein Blue Tooth grasped it in both hands. 'I swear upon you the peace of the Thing,' said he, 'and I make this oath of peace, for the time of the Thing, mine own as well'"

Duels and Sword Right

Any free man can demand to have a dispute settled by duel forgoing the ruling of a high man, the advice of a lawkeeper or the gathering of an assembly.

There are three types of duels recognized in Nordhagen. The free duel, the formal duel and Port Karian sword right. As the formal duel and Port Kar laws on sword right are essentially the same, there is no reason not to recognize them both. And as long as the proper traditions are performed, either to make sacrifice or permit a death of blood and sea, all of the loser's goods are transferred to the winner. As the Formal Duel does not require death and because we don’t need to permakill players, the Port Karian law around sword right will not require a character’s death either, but should be performed, like that of the Torvaldsland free duel, at water side for tradition to be acknowledged. Refusing a duel is the same as forfeiture.

Free Duel: “The free duel permits all weapons, with no restrictions on tactics or field. Combatants in a free duel can choose their field of battle, and these duels are commonly held on wave-struck skerries in Thassa. Two men are left alone to fight, and a skiff returns at nightfall to pick up the survivor. The free duel is one of the two general sorts of duels used to settle disputes in Torvaldsland.”

Formal Duel: “A man, incredibly enough, may be challenged by such a fellow for his farm, or his companion, or daughter; if the challenge is not accepted, the stake is forfeit; if the challenge is accepted, of course, he who is challenged risks his life among the hazel wands; he may be slain; then, too, of course, the stake, the farm, the companion, the daughter, is surrendered by law to the challenger. The motivation of this custom, I gather, is to enable strong, powerful men to obtain land and attractive women; and to encourage those who possess such to keep themselves in fighting condition. All in all I did not much approve of the custom. Commonly, of course, the formal duel is used for more reputable purposes, such as settling grievances over boundaries or permitting an opportunity where, in a case of insult, satisfaction might be obtained.”

“In Torvaldsland, formal duels are quite complex and involve specific rules and procedures. Two men meet in a formal duel, each permitted a shield bearer. The combatants strike at each other, with the blows ideally fended off by their shield bearers. Three shields are allowed for each combatant, and when these are rendered useless, the shield bearer retires, and the combatant must defend themselves with their own weapon alone. The duel takes place on a large, square cloak pegged down on the turf, with specific dimensions and marked squares. The match may be terminated when the first blood touches the cloak, and a price is paid to the victor by the loser. The winner often performs a sacrifice, which can vary based on the importance of the match.”

Sword Right: Laws of Port Kar:

“After the death of Surbus, the woman had been mine. I had won her from him by sword right. I had, of course, as she had expected, put her in my collar, and kept her slave. To my astonishment, however, by the laws of Port Kar, the ships, properties and chattels of Surbus, he having been vanquished in fair combat and permitted the death of blood and sea, became mine; his men stood ready to obey me; his ships became mine to command; his hall became my hall, his riches mine, his slaves mine. It was thus that I had become a captain in Port Kar, jewel of gleaming Thassa.”

Right of Champion

I then took both of the boys, by the scruff, and threw them, stumbling, more than twenty feet away to the grass. I stepped on the leather of the cloak. “I’m the champion,” said I, “of Hrolf of the Inlet of Green Cliffs.” I unsheathed the sword I wore at my belt.

The right of a man to stand as another’s champion is core to Torvaldsland.

Wergild

“There was not a man in the hall but knew that his kinsman, a distant cousin, Finn Broadbelt, whom the Forkbeard had slain, had fallen in fair duel, and that wergild should not have been levied; and there was not a man in that hall but knew that the Blue Tooth had decreed, even were such justified, a wergild to the deed of the Forkbeard whose conditions were outrageous, deliberately formulated to preclude their satisfaction, a wergild contrived to be extorted by open war.”

Bondmaid Circle

A Nordhagen bondmaid may be freed by her master by standing in the circle of bonding and claiming him as her master three times without contradiction.

“The men of Torvaldsland, like many of the men of the north, use the bond-maid circle in the freeing of bond-maids. The circle is a wide circle, some twenty feet in diameter, drawn in the dirt, with the branch of a tree. It is drawn about the manumitted girl. When a man steps into the circle, she cannot leave it, save at his permission. It is a common practice, after the circle is drawn, for the man freeing the girl to command her to step from the circle, which she may not do. She is then commanded to call him her master and beg his permission to leave the circle. He then, pretending to ignore her, leaves the circle. She stands alone in the circle, naked and in tears, sometimes for an Ahn or two. She then usually falls to her knees and weeps, calling after him to have pity on her, to return and take her as his slave. He continues to ignore her. Then, at last, on her belly, weeping, she begs to be permitted to step from the circle, not as a freed woman but as a slave, his slave. He then, after a time, returns to the circle, and she must say, 'I am your slave,' and reach out her hand to him, to be led from the circle on her belly. Only after this, and another Ahn of silence, during which she kneels, head down, at his feet, is she freed. This cruel ceremony is seldom enacted but its consequences are well known to the bond-maids of the north. It is usually done in jest, if it is done at all. Commonly the girl, naked, is freed in the furs, with much laughter. If she is freed, however, one of the first things done is to take her south immediately, and find her suitable companionship.”

Companionship

Companionship is the Gorean equivalent of marriage and may be recognized either by contract or witness. It is a celebrated event and considered a major part of Gorean society.

“Companionship is a solemn and joyful institution among the people of Gor. It is a contract between a man and a woman, renewed each year, and marked by a ceremony in which the woman, in the presence of witnesses, removes her veil, and, commonly, her robe, and places herself naked in the arms of the man. Companionship is not binding in perpetuity, but must be reaffirmed each year. Either the man or the woman may release the other from the contract, and, in the case of such release, each is free to seek another partner.”

Claiming and Slave Fire

The right of a high man to claim that a Nordhagen free woman has only slave fire in her belly and is thus not suitable to bear children.

“I claim that the belly of this woman, this free woman, is not fit to bear children, that she is, in her belly, only a slave.” “Prove it,” said Svein Blue Tooth. “Put her in a collar,” said Ivar Forkbeard. “Very well,” said Svein Blue Tooth.”

Submission

An act of submission makes any free woman, even one of Nordhagen, bond.

“Any woman who submits to a man, in the presence of witnesses, is instantly made bond. This is considered one of the most ancient rights of men over women.”

Merchant Law

Merchant Law applies on the Merchant Road. This law covers trade, and its jurisdiction extends wherever merchants conduct their business.

“Merchant Law is the law governing the activities and behaviors of the caste of merchants. It is an international law, recognized in most of the major cities of Gor, and serves to regulate trade and commercial interactions. The Merchant Law provides for standardized weights and measures, uniform codes of conduct, and the regulation of transactions. It is considered a very prestigious law and is often consulted in matters of trade disputes.”

Clan Right, Hall Right, Camp Right

These rights govern the internal affairs of clans, halls, and camps.

“The clan right, hall right, and camp right are traditional laws governing the internal affairs and disputes within clans, halls, and camps. They cover matters such as inheritance, leadership succession, and the resolution of conflicts. These rights are deeply respected and are considered the foundation of social order within these groups.”

Right of Capture

The right to capture and claim property or people during raids or conflicts.

“The right of capture is a recognized practice in the Gorean world. It allows individuals to capture and claim property, including people, during raids or conflicts. This practice is deeply ingrained in the warrior culture and is seen as a legitimate means of gaining wealth and power.”

Reaving and Raiding

The right to engage in reaving and raiding as suits the sport of men.

“Reaving and raiding are considered traditional activities in Torvaldsland. These acts are not seen as acts of war but as sports and challenges for men. Only the war arrow may be used to declare war, distinguishing it from the sport of reaving and raiding.”

Peace and the Uplifted Broken Ax

The uplifted broken ax determines peace between those that gather.

“In Torvaldsland, the uplifted broken ax is a symbol of peace. When men gather and the broken ax is lifted, it signifies the end of hostilities and the establishment of peace. This tradition is highly respected and is an important part of maintaining order and harmony within the community.”

Conclusion

The civic laws of Nordhagen, based on the traditions and rights of Torvaldsland, provide a framework for maintaining order and resolving disputes. These laws reflect the values and customs of the people, emphasizing honor, strength, and respect for tradition. By upholding these laws, the people of Nordhagen ensure the continuation of their way of life and the preservation of their cultural heritage.