Journal Entry after Lady Knox was granted freedom

 Gor was a constantly changing and unpredictable entity, with the lives of its inhabitants always on the edge of excitement and uncertainty. The ebb and flow of the tide brought forth an endless array of treasures from the depths of Thassa, each one a discovery waiting to be uncovered. From the thrill of adventure to the quiet contemplation of the mysteries of the universe, there was never a dull moment in the Gorean Drama. The air was charged with possibility, and every step was a journey into the unknown. Gor was a place where uncertainty and excitement mingled, making every day an adventure. The people of Gor lived in a world where the tango of man and woman never stopped as they navigated their way through life's challenges—each day brought new surprises as they explored their home's vast and dangerous landscape. From the bustling cities to the dense jungles or forests, the men of Gor continually sought new experiences. They pushed the boundaries of their limitations by the edge of a sword [or pen, whichever was deemed mightier at the time]. Despite the dangers that lurked around every corner, Goreans never seemed to lose their curiosity and wonder, making each day a new opportunity to learn, grow, and thrive.

On Gor, women had a vastly different experience compared to men. It was a known fact that Gor was a man's world, and the women living there were considered priceless treasures or had a price tag based on their desirability. This was evident in any Gorean novel you or I read in our everyday interactions. Regardless of this division, most women loved this world where they could feel the depths of beauty and surrender. It is romantic to think that a woman could be so beautiful and enticing that she could become property and lay herself bound to a man's will until he decided otherwise. Many of these women on Gor wished to be kept like those I loved when reading The Trevian Tarnsmen or The Trials of Tharna. But these tales never revealed the final tragedy when these passions came to a bitter end. It was often alluded to the fear of being released or sold, but eventually, the woman would find her true Master. What was to become of these men and women once they experienced the high of finding pleasure in the arms of one to whom they had revealed their darkest selves? Unlike the fantasy of Earth, where women could deny their inherent nature, here we are free to return to the beautiful cycle of understanding our deepest selves between the lines of our novels.

I am Lady Knox, an expert wordsmith, and at birth, I was destined to become a scribe. I hail from the picturesque coastal city of Rovere, a place of stunning natural beauty and rich cultural heritage. My mother and father are in law and administration for the City of Rovere. Although they are no longer companioned, they each saw it fit that I uphold their practice of law and follow the rigorous methods of their practice until I was sent to the great City of Ar with my closest companion, Lady Greer. As a scribe, my life's work is to focus on the laws and codes of the great cities, yet in private, I created written masterpieces that capture the essence of the human experience. But writing is not my only passion. I also have an insatiable curiosity for the world around me, and I experienced my darkest desires through the novels I read and write at night.

Having completed my schooling at Ar, I embarked on a journey that led me down a path of peculiar experiences and encounters. It is only after having lived through those moments that I find myself in the present moment, writing this very sentence. I lived a few lives before writing this tale. I was a Pirate's captive, an Assassin's Aveline, a Northern village's Teacup, and eventually, a Song to a swordsman. Dear reader, I treasured each moment. I finally felt immersed in our beautiful world. I was a bright-eyed youth, hopeful that my dedication to the story would be enough. But now, I sit aboard a ship sailing on behalf of the Red Sea Sleen Mercantile, where I must find my way again and hope that the wheel of fortune will spin in my favor.

I play a reckless game, I admit. I lead with my heart, which is not the best quality in a free woman. I dare say I put myself in situations to watch how the water will spill and how I may surrender to the world around me. It's like reading an endless novel with no end but only cycles of possibilities, and I want to see if I can survive and will do my best to continue as such. One had told me absolute obedience would see me through to the end, and I, Lady Knox, although a free woman, have the heart of a slave girl. Of that, I know. I have always known when reading my novels in the quiet of my bedroom. I may indeed belong to another or many others one day, but it does not take away the fact that I don't enjoy each story or feel the depth of the stamp they leave in Lady Knox's passport. I willingly accept that tragedy must occur to handle the high of pleasure. As a free woman, I will make the most of it until I can contain it no more. I shall divert myself and possibly enchant you with the story of my entanglement with many characters on Gor, including my employer, Lady Svajone of the Red Sea Sleen Mercantile. Now, where should this tale begin?

Lady Knox carefully closed the journal, ensuring the leather-bound cover was securely fastened. She was satisfied as she looked at the page, pleased with her first entry. She couldn't resist tapping her fingers on the journal's surface, feeling the paper's texture under her fingertips.

After a moment, Lady Knox stood up and walked to the other side of the room, where she picked up the sea-sleen cloak that had been gifted to her by Lady Svajone. As she wrapped the cloak around her shoulders, she couldn't help but admire the intricate details and softness of the material. The cloak would keep her warm and protected on her upcoming journey. Lady Knox appeared destined for Thassa despite her body's resistance. She spent the first couple of hours the first day she boarded, leaning over the railing, retching until her stomach settled. It wasn't until late in the evening, when the stars glittered across the black velvet landscape above, and the tri-moons with their large and bountiful bodies swam above the night sky, that she realized she did enjoy being amongst the inky black water when all was calm and quiet. She had learned, however, never to trust the quiet. A chill enveloped the world around her, and she pulled the warm sea-sleeved cloak of midnight around the curves of her garmented figure. She breathed in the salty air, accepting its healing properties. Through the nostrils, she breathed it in, then into the pit of her lungs, and out through her glossed lips. Her arms crossed before her chest, and she bravely faced Thassa as though she was the figurehead of the ship she had boarded from the docks toward the extraordinary world before. Despite her gentle nature, she had developed a resilience, recognizing that as the Scribe of Rovere, who had gained knowledge and expertise at the prestigious Library of Ar, she would face challenges akin to a ship being tossed and turned by the unpredictable waves of Thassa. Her experiences had taught her to brace herself for the unforeseen circumstances that come with her position, yet she remained steadfast in carrying out her duties with determination. While the men around her called out the hour, and one even suggested in passing that she return to her quarters, she was dismissive of it. She wanted to watch the twinkling diamonds above her head as long as possible and think back on the night she had been first swept away by a pirate on a passionate and wild ride that this world so often demanded of women. Her arms stretched over the railing, and she watched the world swim with the ship above her.

The ship's hull glided through the crystal clear waves, creating a serene and peaceful atmosphere. Knox's memories flooded back as she reminisced about the day when the pirate ship had invaded the vessel she was aboard, which was en route to Port Cos. She had been sound asleep when the commotion started but was quickly thrust into action as she was assigned to row a lifeboat that would take several of the free women to safety. The intense fear she felt as they tried to escape from the clutches of the pirates was etched into her memory forever. She had never experienced hard labor before. However, during her captivity in the quarters of the infamous Pirate, she recovered from the event; her palms bore the evidence of her effort in the form of blisters that took a whole week to heal. Despite the harsh conditions of her confinement, the woman remained steadfast and dignified. She found solace in reading books in the quietness of the ship, where she was kept captive and dreamt of someone to save her. They did save her, but not in the way she expected. She was stolen from a life of boredom and misery held captive behind the heavy veils of concealment, and she had been dashed off toward the adventure of a lifetime. But, as all such tales, they were passionate and short-lived, and somehow Knox, the gentle soul, had been responsible for tangling emotions and desire. After deeply reflecting, she believed she had lost the most out of the situation. She had lost her caste, her family, and her heart. She had exchanged hands, but each time she did, it was another notch of her demise. And now, aboard the ship, as it nestled through the shiny water below, she considered why she felt this way. The next call of the hour alerted her to how late it was, and she would smile at the man who had warned her an hour prior that she should retire to her quarters. "I will go find my rest now," she said in gentle repose and pulled the book she had been reading earlier toward her bosom. She was ever hopeful that one day - just one day - her adventure would begin again.