Nestled snugly in the northern arc of the Bay of
Kamba, sits the township of Baren-Touhk. It was founded two generations
ago out of necessity and pure defiance.
As with all cities, Baren Touhk too has its legends. Below is a description of the city and its founding, and the official legend behind the name of the port, Crimson Talender.
Also please sign our guestbook and record your thoughts on this joyous anniversary. Look here too for the schedule of events for this year's celebration.
Defended on the north by the cliffs and west by the thick jungles, it reaches up the river to trade and into the bay to greet new arrivals. It is little more than a few modest cylinders and structures encrusted on an old and crumbling fortress from long ago. The dock area supports a lively market of goods for pleasure and pain.This settlement was born out of the conflicts and trials a Guild of Merchants. They were incensed by tariffs and tribute to be paid to the Ubar in Schendi. After a night of looting and burning and the taking of women, both Free and slave, they moved here and started trading out of this bay under the protection of mercenaries their former dues and payments could now buy them.
As they fended off minor attacks and fortified themselves here, they attracted other like-minded persons and the town grew. Some caravans were attracted to the less precarious port as well as river pilots tired of the threat of boarding and lost cargo. Soon, as the settlement grew, there was a need for Builders to expand the spaces, Scribes to create order, Warriors to defend us, and all manner of folk to live here. For no matter how attractive or well run a place is, it is dead without the footfalls and laughter of those that live there.
In the early days of Baren Touhk, when it was merely a camp settlement, there was a slave girl named parisa that had been stolen from the Ubar of Schendi's chief Rarius. The girl was quite content in her sudden shift of ownership, and enjoyed life among these first citizens of Baren Touhk. She grew to admire these brave souls who dared to defy the Ubar of Schendi, and the Ubara showed great favor to the lovely slave girl for her pleasant nature and service.The builders built the fortress and the towers first. It was parisa's duty to take food to the watchmen of the towers, who watched day and night for raiders. One night as the girl climbed the steps of the tower she heard a scuffle. An enemy assassin had snuck into the tower and had just slit the throat of the warrior watchman. The girl silently carried the basket of food up the steps to the bell tower past the look-out roost. She then bravely tried to ring the bell as she spotted the enemy ships entering the Bay of Kamba.
The assassin, hearing the noise, raced in to seize the girl and stabbed her mortally in the side and fled the scene thinking her dead. Dazed and dying the girl struggled to her feet and rang the bell loudly summoning the warriors of Baren Touhk before she stumbled down the stairs and collapsed into a bed of talender flowers that grew outside the tower. Her blood colored the yellow blossoms bright crimson.
The battle was short-lived and victorious as the Baren Touhk warriors had made great defensive preparations. After the battle the healers found that there was still life in the girl, and nursed her slowly back to health. However the girl, was very frail after that. The Ubara took very good care of her. The Ubara's old gardener grew very fond of the girl and often brought her gifts and flowers. He would sit with the weak girl and tell her stories and sing for her.
The Ubara was so touched by the kindness of the old man to the brave girl that she declared a Crimson Talender festival commemorating the bravery of the little slave girl. On this day all slaves are treated kindly, and given gifts. For the Crimson Talender Festival the Ubara's gardener had prepared diligently to develop a breed of talenders that are bright crimson, and as a surprise scattered those seeds all around the city so they would be in full bloom by the festival date. To this day, there is no were else on Gor that the crimson talenders grow.
Obviously, the name 'crimson talender' came from the legend of the incredibly brave slave girl who single-handedly saved the city, sacrificing her life as she lay dying on the field, her blood stained the talenders red....which not only explains the name, but explains why slaves are held in such high regard and protected by everyone in the city.
The legend was one voted on by the city in a blind selection. The writer is aurora. Recently, caemlyn composed a poem for the legend, it has been posted in the city gazette. Read parisa's flowers
April 15
11 a.m. Eastern Time -- Parade
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1-3 p.m. Eastern Time -- Dance Contest
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6-7 p.m. Eastern Time -- Stories, Jokes, and Poetry readings
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9 p.m. Eastern Time -- Raffles are drawn (rafflees and winners are notified by .smail)
April 16
1-3 p.m. Eastern Time -- GamesAs you can see, there are several special events planned in addition to the always popular poetry, songs, dances, and stories. A parade at our new Parade Ground will get the celebrations under way. There will be a ceremony for members of the Crimson Guild given by the Ubar, and a historical presentation. There will be a new event for this festival brought to us by Domerth; a game based on that of the Wagon Peoples pitting Freepersons with bolos and slaves running to a goal. There is a marathon planned throughout the city, and of course the last night will cap off with a rousing auction!
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6-7 p.m. Eastern Time -- Historical Presentation and Awards
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9-11 p.m. Eastern Time -- Slave Auction
Visitors are welcome also, but understand that during festival time there will be no new-user orientations held, and therefore no promotions to Citizen. Unfortunately this means that while visitors cannot bid in the auctions or place wagers for the slave-capture game, they can still enjoy the other sights and sounds of our celebration. Visitors are expected to read the rules and are encouraged to enjoy themselves.
Check back here for more details as we get closer to festival time.
For details on raffles and auctions, look to the Festival Information Page from the March 31 Baren Touhk Gazette, or look to the Crimson Talender mailing list, the .show festival help file or the city boards for more updates.