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The Thentis Mountains lie north
of the Vosk River. The books say little about the mountains or the cities that exist within and around them. Maybe a future
book will more fully address the matter. To the east of the mountains are the Barrens. To the west are numerous cities and
eventually Thassa. The city of Ko-ro-ba lies to the northwest of the these mountains. There are a couple types of flora indigenous
to this region. The needle tree, an evergreen, is common in the Thentis mountain region and also the northern forests. Its
oil is used as an ingredient in making perfume. Thentis Veminium is a bluish, softly petaled wildflower commonly found in
the lower ranges of the Thentis Mountains and also used as an ingredient in perfumes. These two items would tend to imply
that cities within the mountains may have numerous Perfumers.
 The high city of Thentis lies in
a remote area within these rugged mountains. It is most famed for its fine tarn flocks and skilled tarnsmen. The books do
not state who leads the city or even if an Administrator or Ubar rules. The city must import its grain so it is safe to assume
they engage in little agriculture. But, it is a wealthy city due to its large tarn flocks and a number of silver mines. Though
the mines provide them with a source of wealth, they are not as rich as the silver mines of Tharna. Though it is a mountain
city, it is still composed of cylinders like most Gorean cities.
Black wine is a coffee-like drink
made from beans grown in the mountain city of Thentis. It is very strong and bitter. Thentis does not trade the beans to make
this drink. They wish to maintain a monopoly on this product, further enhancing their wealth. But, it is a luxury even in
Thentis. It is commonly only served in High Caste Homes. It is also an expensive luxury outside Thentis, affordable only by
the wealthy. Few except for the most expensive of paga taverns would serve blackwine due to its rarity and expense. There
is one reference where a cup of blackwine outside of Thentis sold for sold for a silver eighty-piece.
Black wine is traditionally served
very hot, with sugars and powdered bosk milk, in tiny cups. Other spices or cream may also be served with it. The cups may
have small handles or not. In some ways, it is like expresso coffee. In the river cities and some northern cities, the phrase
"second slave" indicates that you do not want any creams or sugars with your black wine. This comes
from the custom in some areas for two kajirae to serve black wine. One kajira is responsible for putting down the cups, taking
the orders and seeing that the drink is prepared according to the customer's preferences. The second kajira only pours the
black wine.
In 10,110 C.A., the Master Assassin
Pa-Kur forcefully captured the City of Ar. But, he was soon after overthrown by Tarl Cabot, Marlenus and forces from Ko-ro-ba
and Thentis. After these events, Thentis and Ko-ro-ba became allies. It is only a one-day ride by tarn from Thentis to Ko-ro-ba
but by wagon it would take the better part of a month. Earlier that same year, Tarl was supposed to use a slave as a substitute
for the daughter of Marlenus when he went to steal the Home Stone of Ar. This slave would be killed. Instead, he freed the
girl, Sana of Thentis, and returned her to Thentis. When Tarl's friend, Kazrak, returns from going to seek aid from Thentis,
Sana accompanies him. After Pa-Kur is ousted, Kazrak becomes the Administrator of Ar and Sana becomes his consort. Years later,
Kazrak would be deposed and he and Sana would vanish, allegedly to found a colony on an island in Thassa, farther north than
Cos and Tyros.
Prior to 10,110 C.A., Thentis had
been occasionally attacked by Ar. Ar was known to raid its tarn flocks and outlying cylinders. Around 10112 C.A., Thentis
engaged in a war with Tharna. This was the year before Tatrix Lara ascended the throne. It seems that the outcome of the war
was indecisive as the final results were never described. Neither city appeared greatly affected by its effects. Treve has
never attacked Thentis though. It might be because the tarnsmen of Thentis are the equal to those of Treve.
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Clothing is rather simple, tunics and cloth pantaloons, with cloth boots, is the norm for the average Man, the average Woman
wears her cloth robes, a vanity veil and gloves cover the exposed flesh, with cloth slippers on her feet. The colors will
vary from Caste to Caste, usually involved with the House color sash, the Man/Woman is in debted to, or hold in allegance.
The Higher Caste Free People and those who Sit on Higher Councils will wear a silk Tunic and pantaloons, over which is
worn a woven silk surcoat, with the colors of their Caste and a silk cloth sash detailing the level of thier bueracracy. For
a Free Woman of the Higher Caste, her robes are silken, with a silk vanity veil, and silken slippers.
For the Warriors of the Higher Castes, they usually wear a leather pantaloon and tunic, over which is a scarlet surcoat
of thier Caste, with a silk sash of thier Wartroop color.
The Homestone within Thentis is much more important to a Thentian then His Caste, His House, even His Own life, since
the normal Thentian will put His City, His people ahead of Himself, it is all important. Unlike most Cities on Gor..the Free
Person can go 'above' His/Her caste by showing thier ability to better themselves and more importantly to better Thentis...a
Famous Tale in Thentian History follows:
"Many years ago..while under the seige of Ko-ro-ba..those within Thentis found themselves being starved out...morale
was low..the current Ubar..Chin'chen..was at dire straights. He looks over the Field of battle...and looked to his Minister
of War..'What food is left?'. His Minister said None...'Trees..leaves..grass?' the answer was None left...when a lone peasent
woman came to Chin'chen...she knelt to him with her crying babe in her arms...he look down to her..and she lifted her babe..and
said..'Mighty Ubar...take my babe to the cook fires..make our Warriors strong..and defeat our enemies' He saw this..and saw
a throng of women follow her example..and Chin'chen wept...the Warriors of Thentis wept...turning..without answering the Women..the
Rarius of Thentis swept out of the City..laying waste to the Ko-ro-bain warriors...and the day was won."
This old tale shows what is important to Thentis...NOT the Individual...but the Whole..Sacrifice and Pride in one's work.
The more difficult the sacrifice the more Honor..and Respect One is given. It is this way that a Thentian can gain in Higher
Councils..thus raising thier Personal Houses into an accendancy that is not precedented in other Gorean Cultures...it is also
How those of Low Caste may sit on the Higher Councils.
Though the Priest Kings on Gor is what the Normal Gorean prays to...it is not the only 'Gods' that Goreans revere...The
Trovaldslanders worship the ancient Norse Gods such as Odin the All Father and Thor the God of Lightning and Storms..and NOT
the Priest Kings...in that way thier different...Thentis is also different in this way...for Thentis Beuracracy is as important
as Individual Honor..it is in this way Thenatian Religion is based on a Celestial Beuracracy...Made up of Several important
Gods...Chou'chin the God of Winds and Storms..the Lord of Tarns...and Sha'ru..the God of War and Honor..though there are literaly
Six thousand..Four Hundred and Eight Five Gods in the Celestial Beauracracy...mostly made up of Gods of Individual Houses
and Families...These two are Universally Revered by All in Thentis.
In Earth History Chou'chin Sha'ru..is actually one God...but for the purposes of Thentis...tis two faces of One.
Economy
"Soon I smelled the frying of vulo eggs in a large, flat pan, and the unmistakable odor of coffee, or as the Goreans
express it, black wine. The beans grow largely on the slopes of the Thentis mountains. The original beans, I suppose, had
been brought, like certain other Gorean products, from Earth; it is not impossible, of course, that the opposite is the case,
that black wine is native to Gor and that the origin of Earth's coffee beans is Gorean; I regard this as unlikely, however,
because black wine is far more common on Earth than on Gor, where it is, except for the city of Thentis, a city famed for
her tarn flocks, and her surrounding villages, a somewhat rare and unusual luxury. Had I known more of Gor I would have speculated
that my masters might have sworn their swords to the defense of Thentis, that they were of that city, but, as I was later
to learn, they were of another city, one called Ar."
"Slave Girl of Gor" page 73
"What is that I smell?" I asked.
"Black wine," said she, "from the Mountains of Thentis."
I had heard of black wine, but had never had any. It is drunk in Thentis, but I had never heard of it being much drunk
in any of the other cities.
"Assassin of Gor" page 106
"I grinned, and washed down the eggs with a swig of hot black wine, prepared from the beans grown upon the slopes
of the Thentis mountains. This black wine is quite expensive. Men have been slain on Gor for attempting to smuggle the beans
out of the Thentian territories."
"Beasts of Gor" page 21
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