iNFORMATION SCROLLS #1: On Pani Free Men (The Shogun)

The Shôgun The Shogun or Daimyo were the provincial rulers of the Pani, similar to Adminstrator, High Jarl, or Ubar. His is Word is Law and All answer to him. He appoints Daimyos, Daishoyas, Daikan, Senseis, Warriors and with the advice of His Wife the Kotei that help him govern his land and enforce his will under his leadership.

Like their Daimyos the duty of a Shogun was to govern an area, but they also has rulership of all of World's End and the Pani People as whole, provide justice, and handle the sentencing of prisoners. They came in many different ranks and served under the shogun. They paid Swordsmen underlings with rice or land, to fight for them. Hos Wife the Kotei is the Highest Ranking Pani Free Woman in the Land who even has to bow down to the Shogun.

“Rice fields, or paddies, are associated with each village. A daimyo or shogun will have suzerainty over various villages, which he protects, and from which he obtains the means to maintain his men. He who controls the rice, it is said, controls the islands.”
– Mariners of Gor
​
Lord Nishida was garbed in white robes. He sat crosslegged, within his pavilion, on a low, flat platform of lacquered wood, some twelve feet square. Beside him, one on each side, lay two swords, one short, one long, each with a large, slightly curved hilt, wrapped in silk, and a curved blade. The longer of the two swords was not unlike that carried by Tajima, thrust in his belt, edge uppermost. Lord Nishida's countenance was refined, even delicate, but refined and delicate in the way a light, carefully edged weapon is refined and delicate, as, for example, the shorter of the two blades beside him.
-Swordsmen of Gor pg 271

One of the long, curved swords, with the large hilt, was placed in the hands of Pertinax, at which he looked, apprehensively. A colored cord dangled from the hilt, which terminated in a tufted blue tassel. Tajima then backed away from him, and, smoothly, drew forth his own weapon, which
he gripped with two hands, and assumed what, for such a weapon, was apparently an on-guard position. The position seemed formal, and quite stylized, but there was no mistaking the readiness, or menace, of his attitude.

"You will fight," said Lord Nishida. "One of you is to die. Prepare to fight."

Pertinax cast me a look of bewilderment, and misery. But he did not turn about, and run. I was proud of him. Too, I did not think he would have
made it to the exit of the pavilion. Four fellows now stood there, two armed with glaives, two with swords. Tajima moved toward Pertinax, and, twice, feinted toward him. Pertinax lifted the blade, weakly, and then, putting down his head, in defeat, lowered it.

"You will now kill him," said Lord Nishida to Tajima.

I recalled Tajima was in training.
Tajima turned away from Pertinax, and faced Lord Nishida.

"Lord," said he, "set me rather the slaughter of a tethered verr."

Tajima had his back to Pertinax. But, from my training, I knew his every sense was alert, on a knife's edge of cold fire. I trusted that Pertinax would not act. Tajima seemed wholly at ease, even disgusted, certainly indolent. There was insult emblazoned in his very posture. I trusted that Pertinax would not act. In a moment it became clear to me that Pertinax would not seize his apparent opportunity. I smiled to myself, and, suddenly, almost inaudibly, I
moved my foot, quickly, in the dirt. Instantly Tajima had whirled about, his sword ready to fend a blow. His action was so quick that I, familiar with the reflexes of warriors, which often spell the difference between life and death, must admire it, and Pertinax, startled, gasped, his blade still haplessly lowered.

"He may be permitted to live," said Lord Nishida, "for the time."
One of the guards relieved Pertinax of the weapon.
"Well done!" I said to Pertinax.
"I did nothing," he said.
"That is why you are still alive," I said.
-Swordsmen of Gor Pg 280-281

At the edges of the lacquered platform, one on each side, crouched two larls. Behind Lord Nishida, at the back of the platform, stood six of the "strange men," each armed with a glaive, the blade of which, socketed in its stout pole, was some two-and-a-half feet in length, and curved. It was presumably an infantry weapon. It could be used for either thrusting or slashing. It would not be thrown. Whereas I would not have anticipated difficulty in getting behind one such weapon, it would be exceedingly dangerous if there were two such weapons, as an aggressor would be likely to be vulnerable to the blow of the second weapon. As the glaive is used most effectively forward or to the soldier's left, if the wielder is right-handed, one would try to keep to the wielder's right.
-Swordsmen of Gor pg 273

“An interesting exception to this sort of thing is that a prisoner, or one on the verge of capture, may be accorded the right to accept a new daimyo or shogun. Once he does this he is then honor bound to serve the new leader, as he did his old, and, it seems, he may be depended on to do so. He is not a mercenary, but he is a loyal follower, whomsoever he follows."
–Swordsmen of Gor


“On Continental Gor, green is the caste color of the Physicians. I did not know its meaning here.”
– Mariners of Gor

“The green column,” said Lord Nishida, “might indicate that an area is safe to approach, even though it might lie in the the territory of Lord Yamada, no enemy being about, or that a passage has been cleared, or a castle may be approached, or such, and thus one might have green without red, but it would be unusual to have both green and red.”
– Mariners of Gor

“Yellow,” said Lord Nishida to Cabot, “indicates that the holding of Lord Temmu stands.”
– Mariners of Gor

“At the edge of the lacquered platform, one on each side, crouched two larls. Behind Lord Nishida, at the back of the platform, stood six of the “strange men” each armed with a glaive, the blade of which, socketed in its stout pole, was some two- and- a- half feet in length, and curved. “
— Swordsmen of Gor

“We are a formal, traditional people,” said Tajima. “The old ways are important to us. But we are also an intelligent, adaptive people, and always ready and eager to adopt useful devices, pleasant customs, and such”
– Swordsmen of Gor

“Lord Nishida bowed first. There is apparently a certain order to such things, who bows first, how deeply one bows, and such.”
— Mariners of Gor