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Lara is a walled northern city-state, allied with Ko-ro-ba, which occupies the strategic juncture of the Vosk and Olni rivers. A freshwater port, Lara is in many ways typical of the mighty walled settlements of central civilized Gor, renowned for its skilled Warriors, excellent sailors, and superbly trained slaves. To the Earthan, Lara may be likened to many of the walled city-states of ancient Earth Greece. Lara's citizens are noted for their toughness, and extreme independance even by Gorean standards. In Lara, the reward for declaring oneself Ubar is death, usually by slicing or some other creative, festive means.
In the Scrolls, most of what is known about Lara is from Book 15: Rogue of Gor.| 15:15 | "Lara!" she cried. "Lara!" This was a town in the Salerian Confederation at the confluence of Vosk and Olni. |
| 15:16 | His act, thus though perhaps one of dubious propriety, and accordingly not one he would care to publicize in the streets of Ar, was neither treasonous nor illegal. It did, however, Lara being a member of the Salerian Confederation, suggest some economic desperation. Being denied the markets of Vonda, and perhaps of Port Olni and Ti, it was natural I supposed for Oneander to turn to Lara. |
| 15:36 | I did not understand the meaning of his remark. It did not, I gathered, pertain to the women of Vonda. It would be difficult to get them to the river markets, which lay beyond Lara, down the Vosk, and higher prices, presumable, could be obtained for them in the markets of the south. |
| 15:38 | The Inn was that of Strobuis, in Lara, at the confluence of the Olni and Vosk. It was crowded with refugees from Bonda. Many hundreds had fled from Vonda and most had taken the river southward, paying highly for their fares on the varities of river craft, barges, skiffs, river galleys and even coracles, which had brought them to Lara. |
| 15:43 | In Lara there were many refugees from Vonda and its vicinity. |
| 15:60 | They had demonstrated that the could have destroyed Lara, but they had not seen fit to do so. This was taken as an expression of disinterest on the part of Ar in all-out warfare with the Salerian Confederation. Also, of course in the future, this action might tend to divide the confederation in its feelings toward Ar. When it had become clear, incidentally, that Ar had for most practical purposes, spared Lara, the troops of Lara, not bothering to join with those of Port Olni and Ti, had returned to their city. There would now be sentiment in Lara favoring Ar. This would give Ar political leverage at the confluence of the Olni and Vosk, a strtegic point if Cos should ever choose to move in force eastward along the Vosk. Lara was the pivot between the Salerian Confederation and the Vosk towns. |
| 15:62 | I had gone from Lara to White Water using the barge canal, to circumvent the rapids, and from thence to Tancred's Lansing. I had later voyaged down river to Iskander, Forestport, and Ar's Station. |
| 15:120 | "They fear that their post will be subject to attack?" "Yes," I said, drying my face with a towel. "and if Ar's Station should be destroyed, the eastern river, between Tafa and Lara would lie much as the mercy of the raiders." |
So we see from the Scrolls that Lara has a history of being a shelter for various refugees of the incessant Gorean wars, and that there are many Inns in the city, although (of course) few as fine as the Gor-famous tLi.
Lara and the city of Ar have a history of official non-belligerance, or lessened bellecosity (at least), and that the chief concern of the Arrans, indeed, of the Larans themselves, were raiding forces of Cos, and the river pirates who preyed on all alike.
One may speculate as to why the Arrans showed disinterest in attacking Lara, beyond strategic reasons. Larans are known for being eccentric (to say the least); could it be that the Arrans, who view their City as the Queen of Gor, were concerned lest they somehow "catch" whatever it is that makes the Larrans so... odd?
Surprisingly enough, Lara is the birthplace and home of Oryx, Mapmaker and Explorer of some note.