From BarenTouhk

Serves performed by slaves for the pleasure of the free is a fundamental part of Gorean life, and Baren Touhk is certaily no exception in that regard. Here you will find the details of which serves are common practice in Baren Touhk and how they are done.

Note: This may not be what you are accustomed to in other places. This is how we do it here.

Contents 1 Silk Level Serves 1.1 Black Silk Serves 1.2 Yellow Silk Serves 1.3 Red Silk Serves 2 Common Procedure 2.1 Approach 2.1.1 Important Notes 2.2 Kneel 2.3 Offer 2.4 Acknowledge 2.5 Retreat 2.6 Prepare 2.7 Deliver 3 Vessels and Options 3.1 Important Notes 4 Footnotes

Silk Level Serves

These are the serves that are required for silked slaves of various levels in the city of Baren Touhk. Slaves of the given silk level are expected to perform these serves in the appropriate manner and at the appropriate times. Serves not required for a given silk level may be learned and practiced to demonstrate eagerness and service, but may not be required of slaves of that silk level.

Black Silk Serves

• Paga
• Kalana
• Blackwine

Yellow Silk Serves

• Ale
• Mead
• Juice (Larma, Ramberry, Ta-Grape, Tospit)

Red Silk Serves

• Bazi Tea

Common Procedure

“	This is the same as the coffee of Earth; on Gor, the beans are grown on the slopes of the Thentis Mountains and are smaller than the original beans brought long ago during the early voyages of acquisition. Blackwine is usually delivered with a small bowl of bosk cream and 2 small bowls of sugar, one of white sugar, and one of yellow sugar, though it may be prepared at the sideboard to the Master's desires.	”
—Explorers of Gor, p. 10

“	Plain blackwine can be had even in lower-class taverns. In the desert, it is served in small cups, very hot, thick and sweet with sugar. The term 'second slave' indicates a preference to drink it without sugar or milk. The phrase originated from the ancient tradition of having the sugar and milk placed in the cup by one slave, after which the beverage was poured into the cup by a second slave.	”
—Tribesman of Gor, pp. 88-89

“	She also brought a black, red-trimmed wine crater from the isle of Cos. She poured wine into the crater. Then he threw back his head and drained the crater.	”
—Nomads of Gor, pp. 150-151.

“	"Serve me wine," I said. She did so, kneeling before me, head down, handing me the black, red-trimmed wine crater, that of the master.	”
—Nomads of Gor, p 293

“	I took the vessel of black wine, removing it from its warmer, and put it on its tray, that already bearing the tiny cups, the creams and sugars, the spices, the napkins and spoons. I then carried the tray, with the black wine, hot and steaming, to the table and put it down there. Susan then, as 'first slave,' took the orders and did the measuring and mixing; I, as 'second slave,' did the pouring. Afterward I returned the tray to the serving table, and the vessel of black wine to its warmer I then joined Susan, kneeling beside her in the vicinity of the serving table.	”
—Kajira of Gor

“	With a tiny spoon, its tip no more than a tenth of a hort in diameter, she placed four measures of white sugar, and six of yellow in the cup.	”
—Tribesman of Gor, page 89

The following is the procedure common to all serves. Except where variances are listed further below, all serves are to be performed in this basic sequence and detail.

Naturally, all serves must be done in as fluid and beautiful a manner as the slave is able. Be creative with your language, and be beautiful and unique wherever possible. But do not be excessively verbose, and do not make the free person wait more than is necessary. Keep your poses to no more than a few lines each at most.

Most importantly, be sure that each of the following elements is present and accurate.

Approach

• Approach promptly a freeperson who:
  • Calls for you
  • Is not being served
• If more than one free person requires service, approach in the following order (or by first request):
  1. Your owner
  2. City officials, by rank
  3. High Caste members
  4. Remaining citizens
  5. Travelers

Important Notes

• Do not ask permission to approach. Just do so.
• Do not offer from afar, i.e. in tells.
• Do not offer from the slave furs.

Kneel

• Kneel at the feet of the free person you have approached before speaking.
• Kneel in Nadu, but use Tower instead if:
  • You are a Helper
  • You are a White Silk slave
  • You are serving a free person of the same gender

Offer

• Speak respectfully.
• Ask if service is desired.
• If service is not desired:
  • Thank the free person and proceed to the next free requiring service, or return to the serving furs if none remain.
• If service is desired:
  • Clarify any options. Do not ask "how would you like it", but instead actually list for the free person what the options are, and ask which is preferred.

Acknowledge

• Repeat the order respectfully.
• Thank the free person for permitting you to serve them.

Retreat

• Rise to your feet.
• Back away three steps.
• Make your way to the servery (or other preparation location).

Prepare

• Obtain drinking vessel.
• Inspect vessel for flaws using a fingertip.
• Shine with a repcloth.
• Obtain serving vessel.
• Fill the serving vessel from the storage vessel, if appropriate.
• If serving blackwine first slave, obtain a blackwine tray already waiting with prepared sugars and cream.

Deliver

• Return to the free person's feet and kneel as before.
• If blackwine first slave, add desired sugars and cream first.
• Pour their drink from the serving vessel into the drinking vessel.
• Perform a proper offer:
  • Hold the drinking vessel to your belly.
  • Hold the drinking vessel to your chest (most free expect a "three heartbeats" reference, but it is not strictly required).
  • Kiss the side of the drinking vessel. DO NOT kiss the rim.
  • Hold the drinking vessel up to the free person with outstretched arms.
  • Speak respectfully, confirming what you have brought, hoping it is to their liking, and hoping that you were pleasing.
• Wait for acceptance.
• Thank the free person for the privilege of serving them.
• Remain kneeling at that free person's feet with the serving vessel and any condiments for refills, dismissal, or further instructions.

Vessels and Options

Drink	Options	Drinking Vessel	Serving Vessel	Storage Vessel	Tray
Paga	Temperature (Warmed, Chilled, Room) Drinking Vessel (Crater, Bota[1])	Bota (if Bota)[1] Crater	Bota[1] Bottle	Kettle (Warmed) Bottle (Chilled) Bottle (Room)	N/A
Kalana	Chilled Room Temp	Goblet (not silver)	Bottle	N/A	N/A
Blackwine	First Slave (Sugars/Creams) Second Slave (Black)	Tiny Cup	Pot	Kettle	Blackwine tray (if first slave)
Ale	N/A	Tankard	N/A	Cask	N/A
Mead	N/A	Tankard Horn	N/A	Cask	N/A
Juice	Chilled Room Temp	Goblet	Bottle	N/A	N/A

Important Notes

• A crater is the classic three-footed bowl used for paga.
• Kalana goblets are never silver.
• Free persons may have their own personal horn for mead, so you might consider asking them whether they do.
• When obtaining a drink from a storage vessel, obviously do not bring the storage vessel to the free person's feet. Ladle the drink into the drinking vessel or serving vessel and bring just that/those.
• When uncorking a bottle or bota, pull the cork out with your teeth, but do not permit your lips to touch the rim. Then let the cork fall to the container's side, to hang there by its tether.
• For blackwine: Second slave means black with no additives. First slave comes with two small bowls of sugars, one of white sugar, one of yellow sugar and bosk milk.

Footnotes