Codes

What is a code?

"A code is a set of rules and standards adhered to by a society, class, or individual."

"The ethical teachings of Gor, which are independent of the claims and propositions of the Initiates,

amount to little more than the Caste Codes" ~ Tarnsman of Gor ~

what is said in the books

must make his own kill

11.1

    Aside from these common uses, sleen are put to other uses, too. In Thentis, for example, sleen are used to smell out contraband, in the form of the unauthorized egress of the beans for black wine from the Thentian territories. They are sometimes, too, used by assassins, though the caste of assassins itself, by their caste codes, precludes their usage; the member of the caste of assassins must make his own kill; it is in their codes.

~Slave Girl of Gor - Book 11 Chapter 7 Quote 1~32.5 "Let him go," said Tyrtaios. "The larls will find him. You could not improve upon their work.""But it would be their work, not mine," I said."Ah," said Tyrtaios. "You are of the dark caste.""No," I said. ~Smugglers of Gor - Book 32 Chapter 24 Quote 5~

companionship is forbidden

34.19 It may be useful to speak briefly of the nature of a black court.

As you have doubtless surmised, there is, and remains, much on this unusual, perilous, lovely world of which I am unaware, or, at least, too little informed.

...............

     As I suppose is clear, the caste of Assassins is not a typical caste. For example, there were no free women in the black court. Companionship is forbidden to members of the caste. Membership, as with the Warriors, with which caste the Assassins are often compared, is not earned by birth, but by deeds. In the case of the dark caste, however, there is no devotion to the codes of honor, which might spare a disabled foe, which might temper victory, say, with the recognition of opposed valor, no generous companionship of the blade, no brothers in arms. Friendship is frowned upon. Emotion is eschewed. Such things are alleged to weaken the will, to soften resolve, to stay the hand the fraction of an Ihn that might compromise the strike. The Assassin is to be much alone. Like the forest panther, he is commonly a solitary hunter. He is to have no associations, connections, interests, or entanglements that might distract, compromise, or impair his capacity to discharge the requirements of his office, the fulfillment of his commission. His life belongs to the caste. His allegiance is to be undivided. He is to devote himself to his skills, and to his tools, the dagger, the quarrel, the wire noose, the dart, the brewing of poisons, to deception, patience, disguise, and ruthlessness. One applies, one trains, one strives, and one is either accepted or rejected, and the rejected have commonly perished in trials of arms.

The black caste is generally feared, and loathed.Who then would seek admission to such a despised caste? Perhaps the feared, and loathed. ~Plunder of Gor - Book 34 Pages 232-240 Quote 19~

Use of Poison is forbidden

12.6

    "The bolts," said the man, indicating the missiles at rest in the guides of the weapons, "are tipped with kanda. The slightest scratch from them will finish you."

"I see you are not of the assassins," I said. It is a matter of pride for members of that caste to avoid the use of poisoned steel. Too, their codes forbid it.

~Beasts of Gor - Book 12 Chapter 7 Quote 6~12.11 "We have failed," said Drusus.

    I nodded in agreement. The strange common project of two men, of diverse and antagonistic, yet strangely similar castes, an Assassin and a Warrior, had failed.

"What is now to be done?" he asked."We must attempt to reach the chamber of Zarendargar," I said."It is hopeless," he said."Of course," I said. "But I must attempt it. Are you with me?""Of course," he said."But you are of the Assassins," I said."We are tenacious fellows," he smiled."I have heard that," I said."Do you think that only Warriors are men?" he asked."No," I said. "I have never been of that opinion.""Let us proceed," he said."I thought you were too weak to be an Assassin," I said.

"I was once strong enough to defy the dictates of my caste," he said. "I was once strong enough to spare my friend, though I feared that in     doing this I would myself be killed."

"Perhaps you are the strongest of the dark-caste," I said. He shrugged."Let us see who can fight better," I said."Our training is superior to yours," he said."I doubt that," I said. "But we do not get much training dropping poison into people's drinks.""Assassins are not permitted poison," he said proudly."I know," I said.

"The Assassin," he said, "is like a musician, a surgeon. The Warrior is like a butcher. He is a ravaging, bloodthirsty lout."

"There is much to what you say," I granted him. "But Assassins are such arid fellows. Warriors are more genial, more enthusiastic."

"An Assassin goes in and does his job, and comes out quietly," he said. "Warriors storm buildings and burn towers.""It is true that I would rather clean up after an Assassin than a Warrior," I said."You are not a bad fellow for a Warrior," he said."I have known worse Assassins than yourself," I said. ~Beasts of Gor - Book 12 Chapter 35 Quote 11~

make no kill, without escape

34.14

    “Too” said Lord Grendel “I need not abide by the code of the assassins, to make no kill from which I cannot slip away safety”

~Plunder of Gor - Book 34 Chapter 56 Quote 14~

what is evident from the books

Prosper the Black/Caste

35.2

    "On this world," said the man in the bow of the boat, "there is a quaint social artifact, taken seriously by some. Perhaps that is involved. It is called honor."

"Interesting," said the beast. "I trust you are not inhibited by such a pointless, mundane trammel.""It is overcome in the third of the Nine Steps of Blood," said the man in the boat. "One betrays a comrade.""I see," said the beast."It is done but once," said the man. "Else the sable caste could not prosper. To do it a second time means death.""Then you, too, have an honor," said the beast."Of a sort, to the caste," said the man."A narrower, darker honor?" said the beast."If you like," said the man. ~Quarry of Gor - Book 35 Page 294-295 Quote 2~

Affix dagger when hunting

30.2 "Did you see?" asked the taverner's man. "They wore the dagger.""Yes," said a fellow.

    That had been obvious only when the hoods had been disarranged in the stranger's attack. When hunting, it is common for members of the black caste, the Caste of Assassins, to paint a black dagger on their forehead.

~Mariners of Gor - Book 30 Chapter 1 Quote 2~30.8 "You think he is a spy, or an Assassin?" I said."Quite possibly," said Cabot."Why?" I asked."Perhaps I think he would look well in black," said Cabot. I did not respond."I examined his quarters," said Cabot. "I discovered a small brush, and a tiny vial of black paint.""To paint the dagger," I said."It would seem so," he said."Then," said I, "he is of the Assassins." ~Mariners of Gor - Book 30 Chapter 12 Quote 8~

Acknowledge No Home Stone

34.12

    On his right was Drusus Andronicus, long-armed, handsome, and stalwart, in suitable scarlet, betokening his caste, who stood high in the house, and, on his left, clad openly, brazenly, unapologetically, in the hues of the night, was Tyrtaios, of the caste whose members acknowledge no Home Stone, the caste of Assassins.

~Plunder of Gor - Book 34 Page 545 Quote 12~

Mark Territory with banners

1.6

    "On the highest ground in camp," said Mintar, "near the second ditch and across from the great gate of Ar. You will see the black banner of the Caste of Assassins."

~Tarnsman of Gor - Book 1 Chapter 15 Quote 6~1.8 Above them, at several places, flew the black banner of the Caste of Assassins. ~Tarnsman of Gor - Book 1 Chapter 16 Quote 8~

Fulfill a fee that has been paid

32.1

    Assassins are not blinded by dreams. They do not draw their weapons irresponsibly, in righteousness, in drunkenness, in rage. They consider matters, bide their time, and, when ready, paint the dagger. They do not kill for ideals, or dreams. They kill for coin.

~Smugglers of Gor - Book 32 Chapter 10 Quote 1~35.1 "I trust those of the sable caste do not betray their fees," said the thing."Did we do so," said the man, "fees would not be forthcoming." ~Quarry of Gor - Book 35 Page 293 Quote 14~

Kills must be clean

30.5 They are of the scarlet caste. Such men, at the least, like the Assassins, are likely to kill quickly, and cleanly. ~Mariners of Gor - Book 30 Chapter 5 Quote 5~32.3

    I leaped back, and the large body fell at our feet. The blow had been unhesitant, efficient, unwavering, swift, clean, firm, deep to the hilt, exact, powerful, a blow worthy of the dark caste itself.

~Smugglers of Gor - Book 32 Chapter 21 Quote 3~

Phantom's thoughts

To understand this idea, one must understand how Goreans compartmentalized knowledge, as described in Tarnsman. The First and Second Knowledge, for example. Understanding this, along with how the caste had to have been created before Pa-Kur, will clue us in to how what seems like contradiction, is actually a timeline issue. When we look at the codes of the assassins for example, there had to have been established codes in order for the High Council of any Gorean city to accept the black caste, into the caste system of Gor. Without acceptance, the men performing this work, would be by definition, Outlaws.

how to proceed

Each of the caste codes listed above, will be broken down, and explained in context. The goal, is to have a better understanding why things were said, the perspective in which they are being said, and why all of this matters.

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