Lodge Layout

The Great Lodge is made up of one large room with other rooms or chambers branching off from it. When you enter thru the doors you will see a U shape made up of tables and benches. Free sit on benches in the Lodge not in furs; those are only for visiting slaves or bonds if they are instructed to kneel in the furs. It is very rare for a bondmaid to be found on the furs unless she is with a Jarl or sleeping.

The high table at the apex of the U is the place reserved for the Jarl of the Lodge, the First Sword, the Right Arm of the Lodge and other men of rank. It is the only place chairs are found in the Lodge except for the kaissa tables (a Gorean game that jarls of the north are very fond of.)

In The Great Lodge there is no servery nor is there a chillery. The Lodge has a kitchen accessed through a large open doorway (there are no doors) so that the Free may still enjoy the performance of serves. There is an ice shed (cold room) easily accessed by exiting through a door in the kitchen and following the path to the shed, which sits a short distance behind the Lodge. The ice shed is large enough to hold larger items such as sides of bosk, tarsk, tabuk and other meats as well as casks, kegs, jugs and etc.

Botas are used mainly for travel and within a hall such as The Great Lodge would NOT be used for serving. Most beverages will be found either in a cask, keg, jug or a bottle. Beverages that are warmed may be found in pitchers or in kettles on the warmers or suspended from hooks over the firepits.

Foods and beverages are not tested for toxins/poisons in The Great Lodge. The Lodge is a HOME and to think that a food or drink is unfit for consumption would cast doubt upon the Honor of the Lodge. There is no logic in thinking the food or drink may be poisoned.

The Free of The Great Lodge drink mostly from horns, made from the bosk which are polished, and waxed and remain in holders on the U shaped tables ready to be filled by eager bondmaids. Jarls drink mead, paga and ale the first 2 most often being served warm. Other vessels such as cups, tankards and goblets will be used to serve wines, blackwine, teas, milk and water. These vessels are all found in the kitchen. The Great Lodge does have a variety of foods but none of the southern type things such as larmas that will not grow in the short growing season of the north. Raiding and trade does allow for things such as chocolate and blackwine, spices, sugars and red salts but those items are rationed and not wasted.

Kalana, by the books, is a red wine. There is no white kalana so do not ask for it. If a slave is commanded to serve white kalana do not "correct" the Free, simply serve the white wine that is available. It is found in bottles in the racks of the icehouse.

The slaves of The Great Lodge do not "kennel". The bondmaids of The Great Lodge sleep in the Hall in furs on the floor, chained to a large log to prevent them from being carried off to become the appetizer for some Kur. A Kur could of course break the chains but the racket would definitely rouse a few Jarls even from the depths of sleep.

The bondmaids of Torvaldsland do not wear silks of any kind but kirtles of white wool. The bond maids of The Great Lodge are allowed more freedom to physically touch and caress the Jarls (the name by which all bonds are to address all free men in Torvaldsland) do not mistake this for permission to sexually use the slave. Some slaves can be restricted from sexual use by their owners ask before taking.

As mentioned the bondmaids will wear a kirtle of wool, not silks, as is the way of Torvaldsland. They will a heavier weight white wool kirtle, wear leather boots and be allowed a cape or cloak of brown verr wool in the winter months. In the spring the kirtles are of lighter weight white wool and the bonds go barefooted.

The bondmaids may only secure their hair when performing chores; otherwise they are to wear their hair long and loose. Some bonds may have pierced ears, but bondmaids do NOT wear bells unless dancing. It is a rare honour to be collared to the Lodge and Lodge slaves are held to a high standard.

The slaves of Torvaldsland are hard working in both the fields and the Lodge; there is little need for the "adornments " found on a slave of the southern regions.

The Jarl is the first and the last word.

-Written by feiqa{DS}