Beyond the wealth of the cities, within
a clearing in a dense forest on the Isle of Tarns, the woodsman Quercus Robur
sits beside a small campfire. He appears content and comfortable in the
surroundings, but there's a sense of restrained energy which emanates from him.
He is not a man who is accustomed to sitting still.
To the visitor, this lower caste
woodsman offers none of the formal hospitality one might expect from a higher
caste Gorean. Being allowed into his forest should serve as welcome enough. There
is no contract that secures his right to the land, nor any ego attached to his
attitude. His feelings of ownership stem from an ingrained sense of duty. This
forest shelters him and provides his livelihood. In return, it falls under his
protection and that's an obligation he takes quite seriously.
It's tempting to consider him a simple
man, but a more apt description would be "uncomplicated". Sincere and
unpretentious, Quercus exudes a refreshing combination of confidence and humility.
He's comfortable in his own skin and his love of the forest emerges as a robust
symbiotic relationship. He needs the forest and the forest needs him.
Although he is a member of a lower
caste, Quercus' honor is as fierce as a warrior's and his integrity could rival
any scribe. He is deeply proud of his caste and his work, as any true Gorean
man would be.
My OOC interview with the typist/creator
of Quercus Robur began with his offer to include real life photos. I hesitated
to accept in order to protect his privacy, but he assured me that he had
nothing to hide. It's an unusual response in SL, as the majority of role
players choose (often with good reason) to remain anonymous. Yet, I'm not
surprised at his candor. That ingenuousness
is exactly what makes Quercus Robur such a compelling role play character. The
typist brings the best of himself into the character and mingles it with his extensive
knowledge of Gor. It's advice he gives to all role players. "Do your
research. Warriors; learn your codes and aphorisms. Woodsman; know your trees
and their uses. Scribes; learn the laws. Merchants; learn how to
negotiate."
It's good advice, but how should a
player learn the codes of castes not detailed in the books? For Quercus, the answer
came in using his real life experience as a woodsman. He quotes from a poem he
wrote:
The
Woodsman's heart is in his trees
For
the giants of the forest do him please.
And
before he swings his axe to fell,
His
love for that tree he will tell.
He
tells the tree of the seeds he took,
Of
how it will be entered in his record
book.
And
reminds the tree, that in good time,
The
seeds and saplings shall continue its line.
He explains, "In RL, if I fell a
healthy tree, I do that. It stands to reason a Gorean would. Gor is the counter
Earth, so there has to be similarities."
When asked about his upcoming classes at
the Gorean Campus on the Caste of Woodsmen, he points out the truth of SL Gor
role play, "There is much glamour in the high castes, but it is the low
castes that keep Gor ticking." His purpose in teaching the class is to
promote the lower castes and encourage more players to take on those roles.
"I train apprentices at work in RL. I would like something like that for
Gorean Woodsmen." Quercus is willing to take on apprentices, but he is
careful to outline the demands of such role play. "It would be harsh. They
need to understand it would not be abuse, but character building."
Indeed, character building is foremost
in this creator's mind and his attention to detail is impressive. Even his
character's name was considered and carefully chosen-Quercus being the Latin
word for a European Oak. The typist is also careful to remember that a Gorean
woodsman would not be highly educated or cultured. While some players might
find that restrictive, Quercus' creator uses these traits to his advantage. Since
the character of Quercus is naive when it comes to innuendo, he doesn't
understand why slaves and Free Women giggle as he describes the benefits of his
"hard wood." It makes for riotous and outrageously funny RP that
other players are eager to join.
OOC, his roguish comments often take
other players by surprise, with equally humorous results.
Quercus:
My RP is fast and furious.
Abbie:
It must be hard to keep up with you.
Quercus:
Yeah, many a slave and FW have said that.
In
addition to his quick wit and adept role playing, Quercus is an award-winning poet.
His poems speak from the heart of a Gorean woodsman, yet shine with the wisdom
of the RL man. He has won the coveted Olni Golden Quill three times. An
experienced performer, he uses both comedy and poetry to entertain in SL. He'll
be doing a Poetry and Comedy show at the Gorean Campus on May 24th at 4pm SLT that is highly acclaimed and should not be
missed.
Quercus Robur will be teaching a series
of classes on The Caste of Woodsmen at The Gorean Campus beginning May 10, 2015
at 4pm SLT. All Free and slaves are encouraged to attend.
Congratulations!
Gray Jackson
