by Fogaban
Gorean Weapons - Shields
This is my narrative and relevant references from the Books about Shields.
It is not meant to be anything other than the facts of the matter. Arrive at your own conclusions.
I wish you well,
Fogaban
| Shield | To The Index |
A shield is the basic means of defense for a warrior. Normally it is large and round, behind which a warrior could even crouch down. [a1] a1 ". . .the large rounded shields common to Gorean infantry in the north, behind which a warrior might crouch. . ."
Blood Brothers of Gor, Page 416 They are built with seven concentric, [a2] a2 "The bronze head of the spear had cut through the brass loops on the shield and pierced the seven hardened concentric layers of bosk hide which formed it."
Outlaw of Gor, Page 237 overlapping layers of hardened leather riveted together with iron [a3] a3 ". . .and the rounded shield of layered boskhide, with its double sling, riveted with pegs of iron. . ."
Raiders of Gor, Page 68 and bound with hoops of brass. Another version has but four layers of bosk hide but these too are bound in brass. [a3-] a3- More than one mercenary had a crossbow bolt half through his brass-bound shield, formed of layers of bosk hide.
Mariners of Gor, Page 58
The thrust spear, of course, impelled by the force of a strong man, may penetrate a four-layered shield or a human body, but then the spear is lost until its retraction.
Mariners of Gor, Pages 352 - 353
The strike of the Tuchuk bow, short, of curved horn, requiring much strength to draw, is heavy, and, at close range, terrible, capable, like the thrust spear, of penetrating the typical four-layered shield.
Mariners of Gor, Page 357
They are also fitted with a double sling for carrying on the left arm in combat. [a4] a4 "The round shield, concentric overlapping layers of hardened leather riveted together and bound with hoops of brass, fitted with the double sling for carrying on the left arm. . ."
Outlaw of Gor, Page 21 These straps are tight enough that, if the shield is torn away in combat, the arm might be broken. [a5] a5 A shield was torn from a soldier breaking an arm.
Prize of Gor, Page 641 One is trained to use his shield to deflect a thrust or thrown spear. If one is unsuccessful, the shield is then rendered unwieldy and a handicap. [a6] a6 Sometimes the spear, thrust or cast, is used to penetrate a shield, rendering it unwieldy, and a handicap to its bearer.
. . .
One is trained to take the cast spear obliquely on the shield, that it may carom away.
Kur of Gor, Page 376 It is slung over the left shoulder when transported. [a7] a7 "I donned the helmet, and slung the shield and sword over my left shoulder."
Outlaw of Gor, Page 24 And it might also be carried by a shield bearer. [a8] a8 "Behind him there was a shield bearer."
Witness of Gor, Page 488
Goreans, being very proud of their home location, paint their shields boldly and have infixed in them a device for identifying the bearer's city. [a9] a9 "Normally the Gorean shield is painted boldly and has infixed in it some device for identifying the bearer's city."
Outlaw of Gor, Page 21 If the shield has no insignia one could easily be taken for an outlaw. [a10] a10 "You wear no insignia on your shield," he said. "You are outlaw."
Nomads of Gor, Page 18 While, obviously, the shield is light enough to be used in combat carried on one arm, it is also nearly too heavy for a female to lift. [a11] a11 "Vina, with a shield, whose weight she could hardly bear, was trying to cover the boy, Fish, as he fought."
Raiders of Gor, Page 297
"Do not slaves sometimes arm their masters?" she asked.
"Sometimes," he said.
"And do they not sometimes struggle beneath the weight of their masters’ shields?" she asked.
"Sometimes," he said.
Kur of Gor, Page 385 Yet even for the warrior to lift such a device for Ehn at a time, and receive blow after blow upon it, bearing up under them, in time makes the arm desperately tired and sore. [a12] a12 "To lift such a device for Ehn at a time, and receive blow after blow upon it, bearing up under them, in time makes the arm desperately tired and sore."
Renegades of Gor, Page 331
Working together with fellow infantrymen, shields can form a roof to protect against and missiles of tarn attack. However, the tarn attack is commonly coordinated with an enemy's infantry advance. [a13] a13 "The shield roof in an infantry is usually proof enough against even the arrows and missiles of tarn attack, but the tarn attack is commonly coordinated with an infantry advance. Clearly the shield cannot be used simultaneously to defend one both from the air and the ground."
Swordsmen of Gor, Page 535
There are differences to the norm in both construction and shape. Turian shields are also large enough to crouch [a14] a14 "They were not the large, oval shields of Turia, . . . behind which a warrior might crouch. . ."
Blood Brothers of Gor, Page 416 behind but are oval in shape. [a15] a15 "He wore a helmet and carried the Turian shield, which is oval."
Nomads of Gor, Page 123 Those of the Vosk delta, use rence in making their shields. [a16] a16 "Some of the men of the rencers, with their small shields of rence wicker, fought, but their marsh spears were no match for the steel swords and the war spears of Gor."
Raiders of Gor, Page 52 Other shields are made of wood [a17] a17 "The shields were round, and of wood, variously painted, some reinforced with iron bands, others with leather, some with small bronze plates."
Marauders of Gor, Page 32 or even wicker. [a18] a18 "I saw then that their action had been diversionary, to occupy us while other longboats, fixed with wicker shields, of the sort used for naval bowmen, lay along the chain."
Guardsman of Gor, Page 11 A Kur's shield is huge, wide, round and made of iron, some four feet in diameter. [a19] a19 "Behind the Kur, to one side, stood two other Kurii. They, like the first, were fearsome creatures. Each carried a wide, round shield, of iron, some four feet in diameter."
Marauders of Gor, Page 171 The askaris shields of the Ukungu area are made of leather [a20] a20 "The oval leather shields and the stabbing spears of the askaris. . ."
Explorers of Gor, Page 439 but are long, oval [a21] a21 "Lake Ngao, which was discovered by Shaba, and named by him, was named for a shield, because of its long, oval shape. The shields in this area tend to have that shape."
Explorers of Gor, Page 100 narrow, and tufted. [a22] a22 "The askaris were jubilant, resplendent in their skins and feathers, with their golden necklaces and armlets, their narrow, tufted shields. . ."
Explorers of Gor, Page 224
The Red Savages have a great affinity for their shields and believe that if they are unworthy, or do not speak the truth, their shield will not protect them. It will move aside or will not turn the arrows and lances of enemies. [a23] a23 "It is a belief of the red savages that if they are unworthy, or do not speak the truth, that their shield will not protect them. It will move aside or will not turn the arrows and lances of enemies."
Savages of Gor, Page 50 They make their shields with the aid of spells and to them the shield is holy and precious, [a24] a24 "I am speaking of the shields of the peoples of the Barrens and within the Barrens. These are not your ordinary shields. These are made with the aid of spells. The medicines of war are important in their construction and designs. They are not merely equipment, not merely contraptions of metal or leather. They are holy. They are precious. They are friends and allies."
Blood Brothers of Gor, Pages 175 - 176 even to the point where they speak to their shields, telling them what will be expected. [a25] a25 "Still others spoke to their shields and weapons, telling them what would be expected of them."
Blood Brothers of Gor, Page 239 Incidentally, Red Savages keep their shields in a case or cover when not fighting. [a26] a26 "It is not uncommon for a warrior to keep his shield in its case or cover when not fighting. It is removed from the case, or cover, also, of course, when it is sunned, set forth to draw in power and medicine from the yellow, life-giving, blazing star of two worlds, Sol or Tor-tu-Gor, Light Upon the Home Stone."
Blood Brothers of Gor, Page 302
There are then other uses for the shield. When expressing emotion, instead of slapping the left shoulder, a warrior smites his shield with his spear or sword. [a27] a27 ". . .the Tarn Keeper and the Saddle Maker cried out, and began to stamp their feet in the dust and pound their fists against their left shoulders. Then others watching cried out in glee. I myself removed my sword from its sheath and with it struck my shield."
Assassin of Gor, Page 36 Shields are used as signal devices on ships. [a28] a28 "And on its mast, round and of painted wood, had hung the white shield . . . that it came in peace."
Marauders of Gor, Pages 30 - 31
"What shield is at his mast?" called the Forkbeard. "The red shield," called the lookout."
Marauders of Gor, Page 70 Shields are also symbolic during a truce or surrender. This is signified by laying the shield at the feet of another for a truce or cutting the straps and laying it down when surrendering. [a29] a29 "He then raised a spear and set it, like the shield, at his feet. This gesture is a military convention employed by commanders on Gor when calling for a parley or conference. It signifies a truce, literally the temporary putting aside of weapons. In surrender, on the other hand, the shield straps and the shaft of the spear are broken, indicating that the vanquished has disarmed himself and places himself at the mercy of the conqueror."
Tarnsman of Gor, Page 187 And shields are sometimes used in swearing an oath. [a30] a30 "Swear, too," he suggested, "by the side of the ship, by the shield's rim, by the sword's edge.
"Marauders of Gor, Page 184
"He has sworn by his shield," said Akihoka."
Blood Brothers of Gor, Page 187
| Buckler | To The Index |
Bucklers are also used for defense, but are smaller than shields. For instance there are used with daggers or axes in arena combat, [a31] a31 ". . .buckler and dagger, ax and buckler, dagger and whip, ax and net, or the two daggers. . ."
Nomads of Gor Page 124
"The crowd is fond of seeing various types of weapons used against others, and styles of fighting. Buckler and short sword are perhaps most popular. . ."
Assassin of Gor, Page 189
"Ho-Tu, his hook knife dripping, a buckler on his left arm now stood beside us."
Assassin of Gor, Page 346 or from the backs of animals. [a32] a32 "The war kaiila, rearing on its hind legs. . . He thrust the jaws away with the buckler. . ."
Tribesmen of Gor, Page 59 In the Tahari, the primary defense is a small round buckler. [a33] a33 ". . .the primary defense is a small round buckler. . ."
Tribesmen of Gor, Page 302
There is also a studded buckler, a small, round, spiked shield. [a34] a34 A studded buckler, a small, round, spiked shield, was at the side of the saddle.
Prize of Gor, Page 284 And another which had a bladelike edge allowing it to be used to cut at an opponent's body. [a35] a35 as in some arena bucklers, it would have a bladelike edge, thus allowing it to be used to cut at an opponent's body, ideally the throat.
Swordsmen of Gor, Page 238

