The five day period between the last month of the old year, and the first
month of the new year. There are twelve twenty-five day Gorean months, incidentally, in
most of the calendars of the various cities. Each month, containing five
five-day weeks, is separated by a five-day period, called the Passage Hand,
from every other month, there being one exception to this, which is that
the last month of the year is separated from the first month of the year,
which begins with the Vernal Equinox, not only by a Passage Hand, but by
another five-day period called the Waiting Hand,...
Assassins
Life during the Waiting Hand
Doorways are painted white ....five-day period called the Waiting Hand, during which doorways
are painted white,...
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On the first day of the Waiting Hand, the last five days of the old
year, the portals of Ar, including even that of the House of Cernus,
had been painted white,...
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Doors of low caste homes are also sealed with pitch, kept closed for the
period On the first day of the Waiting Hand, the last five days of the old
year, the portals of Ar, including even that of the House of Cernus,
had been painted white, and in many of the low-caste homes had been
sealed with pitch, not to be opened until the first day of En'Kara.
Assassins
Branches of the Brak Bush are nailed over the doors Almost all doors, including that of the House of Cernus, had nailed
to them some branches of the Brak Bush, the leaves of which, when
chewed, have a purgative effect. It is thought that the pitch and the
branches of the Brak Bush discourage the entry of bad luck into the
houses of the citizens.
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Goreans eat and drink very little
No singing or public rejoicing little food is eaten, little is drunk and there is
to be no singing or public rejoicing in the city;
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There is much fasting and little conversation, and no song
Rations are halved during the Waiting Hand
No paga or Ka-la-na is served
Slaves in pens of a slave house received almost nothing ...and in the Houses there is much fasting, and
little conversation, and no song. Rations even in the House of Cernus
were halved during this period. Paga and Ka-la-na were not served. The
slaves in the pens received almost nothing.
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Streets are almost deserted during the Waiting Hand During the days of the Waiting Hand the streets
are almost deserted,
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Most Goreans remain within their houses During this time most Goreans remain within their houses. It
is in this time that the doors of many homes are sealed with pitch and
have nailed to them branches of the brak bush, the leaves of which have
a purgative effect. These precautions, and others like them, are intended
to discourage the entry of ill luck into the houses.
In the houses there is little conversation and no song.
Players
Goreans go out as little as possible during this time
Goreans go out as little as possible;
Assassins
The Waiting Hand is a time of misery, silence, and fasting
A time of uneasiness and apprehension, particularly among lower castes The Waiting Hand is a time, in general, of misery, silence and fasting.
It is also, for many Goreans,
particularly those of the lower castes, a time of uneasiness, a time
of trepidation and apprehension. Who knows what things, visible or
invisible, might be abroad during that terrible time?
Players
A very solemn time for Goreans
Few ventures are embarked upon, little or no business is conducted The Waiting Hand, the five-day period preceding the vernal equinox,
the first day of spring, is a very solemn time for most Goreans. During
this time few ventures are embarked upon, and little or no business is
conducted.
Assassins
Then, at dawn, on the
first day of En'Kara, in the name of the city, the Administrator of
Ar, or a Ubar if it be Ubar, greets the sun, welcoming it to Ar on the
first day of the New Year.
Assassins
The Waiting Hand on Gor
