History & Reputation

History of the Black Caste of Gor

In the beginning, when gorean society was forming, walls were being built, to form the first cities. The black/sable caste, was formed later in gorean society, and was not original an original caste. It's inception sprang from the people's need to solve issues, outside of government. It was accepted because of it's use in gorean society, and admired for a time. At the time of it's inception, it was developed as a paramilitary force to (Warriors). (Warriors) Individuals being a formal part of a cities armed forces.

It's acceptance into the caste system, was dependent on it's initial structure. Titles and ranks were formed, from existing models of ranks and titles available. Hunting was a skill, and trait developed at the caste's inception and acceptance. After it's creation, it transformed from within, to become less honorable. After the siege of Ar, much of the esteem the caste had built, was ruined.

Before the Siege at Ar

Understanding the importance of the Siege at Ar, is crucial to understanding much of what has transpired with regard to the black caste. Before the Siege at Ar, those of the black caste, were sought out for their esteemed mercenary services, and were not only seen as Killers.

If you pay attention to Pa-Kur and his mannerism, the things he does, or does not do, says, or chooses not to say, you can see that there is a darker honor to one of the caste of assassins.

From these examples, before the Siege, the caste would have been viewed as more honorable. Loyalties be what they are, but those of the black caste were seen as the common goreans way of righting an injustice that government would fail to act in.

After the Siege at Ar

After the Siege at Ar, the castes reputation was in shambles, because of the actions of Pa-Kur, Master of the Assassins. It is not known if the Siege at Ar, was limited to the Black Court of Ar. But what is clear from the story of Tarl Cabot, in Tarnsman of Gor, the black court of Ar was within the walls of the city and could not be made use of, because it is not mentioned at all.

What is mentioned is the building of massive tented compounds outside of the city. It is logical to conclude then, that in the wake of the Siege at Ar, and Pa-Kur's actions, those of the Black Court of Ar, might have went into the wilderness, to build these tented compounds away from the cities of Gor, and would have marked their territory with black banners, as was done at the Siege at Ar. Perhaps, they simply moved to other black courts as well.

BLACK COURTS ON GOR

At the time of the castes inception, it would need to be decided how the caste would quarter themselves. Being independent of the city and it's Home Stone, the design of them would have varied some, depending on how the city was built already. However, there would have been an overall idea that each would have had, considering the example here in Brundisium.

34.23It may be useful to speak briefly of the nature of a black court................

I will recount an anecdote, or two, which, in their way, might shed some light on the nature of a black court. First, let it be understood that the edifice that houses the black court is not large, but it does have a formidable, menacing aspect. It is like a small fortress in the city with high, dark walls, with a moat, a drawbridge, and a portcullis, a heavy, vertically barred, reinforced gate that may be raised or lowered by means of a windlass. The court's position is isolated, in a sense, as, even within the city, it occupies an area of unplanted ground on all sides. This area is several yards in width, and, as it is open, it affords no cover to any who might approach the court, and its moat.

~Plunder of Gor - Book 34 Pages 232-240 Quote 23~

EITHER OPENLY OR IN SECRET

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

    A black court, I gather, is named for the color of the caste of Assassins, which is black. The caste is sometimes spoken of, when men dare to speak of it, as the black caste, or the sable caste. In many Gorean cities it is unwelcome, even outlawed. For example, it is outlawed in Ar and in Market of Semris. Its outlawry in Ar, I gather, followed an unsuccessful attempt by an army led by Pa-Kur, a high Assassin, to seize that great city, the largest, richest, and most populous in Gor's northern hemisphere. The city it seems, was in disarray, and its Ubar challenged, following the temporary loss of its Home Stone, purloined by an unidentified tarnsman during the revels of the Planting Feast. Supposedly instrumental in the defeat of Pa-Kur and the restoration of the Ubar of the city to power was a figure known in the songs as Tarl of Bristol, which figure, as many such figures recounted in such songs, is presumably legendary. The hostile army, in some of the scrolls, is spoken of as the Horde of Pa-Kur, which disparaging epithet occurs in common parlance, doubtless reflecting the truism that history is likely to reflect the views of the victors. The outlawry of the caste of Assassins in Market of Semris may have been an independent act, or may have followed the example of Ar. In any event, it seems that "black courts" exist in a number of cities, though surely not all, either openly, as in Brundisium, or, one supposes, sometimes, where outlawed, secretly.

~Plunder of Gor - Book 34 Pages 232-240 Quote 15~

A TENTED COMPOUND

1.18

In a few minutes I gathered together my own gear and put on the heavy black helmet of the Assassin, left the tent, and turned my steps in the direction of the tents of Pa-Kur. I made my way to the interior perimeter of the second ditch, opposite the great gate of Ar in the distance. There, on a hillock overlooking the palisades that rimmed the rampart to the ditch, I saw the wall of black silk that surrounded the compound of Pa-Kur. Inside were the dozens of tents that formed the quarters for his personal retinue and bodyguard. Above them, at several places, flew the black banner of the Caste of Assassins.

I had neared the compound a hundred times before, but this time I was determined to enter. I began to walk with a quickened pace, my heart began to beat powerfully, and I felt the elation of decision. I would act. It would be suicide to attempt to cut my way in, but PaKur was in the environs of Ar, directing the siege operations, and I might, with luck, pass myself off as his messenger; who would be bold enough to deny entrance to one whose helmet bore the golden slash of the courier?

Without hesitation I climbed the hillock and presented myself impatiently to the guards."A message from Pa-Kur," I said, "for the ears of Talena, his Ubara-tobe."

"I will carry the message," said one of the guards, a large man, his eyes suspicious. He regarded me closely. Obviously, I was not anyone he knew.

"The message is for the Ubara to-be, and for her alone," I said angrily. "Do you deny admittance to the messenger of Pa-Kur?"

"I do not know you," he growled."Give me your name," I demanded, "so that I may report to Pa-Kur who it is that denies his message to his future Ubara.

There was an agonized silence, and then the guard stepped aside. I entered the compound, not having a settled plan, but feeling that I must contact Talena. Perhaps together we could arrange an escape at some later time. For the moment I did not even know where in the compound she might be kept.

Within the first wall of black silk, there was a second wall, but this time of iron bars. Pa-Kur was not as careless about his own safety as I had conjectured. Additionally, overhead I could see lines of tarp wire. I walked about the second wall until I came to a gate, where I repeated my story. Here I was admitted without question, as though my helmet were sufficient, guarantee in itself of my right to be there. Inside the second wall, I was escorted among the tents by a tower slave, a black girl whose livery was golden and who wore large golden earrings that matched a golden collar. Behind me, two guards fell into line.

We stopped before a resplendent tent of yellow-and red silk, some forty feet in diameter and twenty feet high at the dome. I turned to my escort and the guards. "Wait here," I said. "My message is for the ears of she who is pledged to Pa-Kur, and for her ears alone." My heart was beating so loudly I wondered that they didn't hear it. I was amazed that my voice sounded so calm.

The guards looked at one another, not having anticipated my request. The tower slave regarded me gravely, as though I had chosen to exercise some long-neglected or obsolescent privilege.

"Wait here," I commanded, and stepped inside the tent. In the tent was a cage.

It was perhaps a ten-foot cube, entirely enclosed. The heavy metal bars were coated with silver and set with precious stones. I noted with dismay that the cage had no door. It had literally been constructed about its prisoner. A girl sat within the cage, proudly, on a throne. She wore the concealing robes and veils, the full regalia of a Ubara.

Something seemed to tell me to be careful. I don't know what it was. Something seemed to be wrong. I suppressed an impulse to call her name; I restrained an impulse to leap to the bars, to seize her and to crush her to them and to my lips. This must be Talena whom I loved, to whom my life belonged. Yet I approached slowly, almost cautiously. Perhaps it was something in the carriage of the muffled figure, something in the way the head was held. It was much like Talena, but not as she had been. Had she been injured or drugged? Did she not recognize me? I stood before the cage and lifted my helmet from my head. She gave no sign of recognition. I sought for some glimmer of awareness in those green eyes, for the slightest sign of affection or welcome.

My voice sounded faraway. "I am the messenger of Pa-Kur," I said. "He wishes me to say that the city will soon fall and that you shall soon sit beside him on the throne of Ar."

"Pa-Kur is kind," said the girl.

I was stunned, but I revealed not the slightest surprise. Indeed, I was momentarily overwhelmed with the cunning of Pa-Kur and rejoiced that I had followed something of Kazrak's counsels of patience and caution, that I had not disclosed my identity, that I had not attempted to cut my way to her side and bring her out by the blade of the sword. Yes, that would have been a mistake. The voice of the girl in the cage was not the voice of the girl I loved. The girl in the cage was not Talena.

~Tarnsman of Gor - Book 1 Chapter 16 Quote 18~

Reputation of the Black Caste of Gor

Professional Killers and Elite Mercenaries

2.2

Since the siege of Ar, when Pa-Kur, Master Assassin, had violated the limits of his caste and had presumed, in contradiction to the traditions of Gor, to lead a horde upon the city, intending to make himself Ubar, the Caste of Assassins had lived as hated, hunted men, no longer esteemed mercenaries whose services were sought by cities, and, as often by factions within cities. Now many assassins roamed Gor, fearing to wear the somber black tunic of their caste, disguised as members of other castes, not infrequently as warriors.

~Outlaw of Gor - Book 2 Chapter 8 Quote 2~

Are not known for failing, should not be trifled with

29.8

I thought of the assassins of the medieval Middle East. The caste of assassins was quite different. They were not dupes, fools, madmen, too stupid to understand how they had been manipulated by others, young men drunk with the wine of death, who think they will somehow thrive in the cities of dust. Against such mindless puppets, such naive fools, such lunatics, manipulated by those who send them forth, sitting safe in their mountain fastness, safe in their lair of prevarication and deceit, it is difficult to defend oneself. But the Gorean Assassin, he of the Black Caste, is not a naive, twisted, deluded, managed beast serving the purposes of others, but a professional killer. He wishes to kill and vanish, to live, to kill again. Otherwise he is no more than a clumsy oaf, a failure, having accomplished no more than might have a desperate, simple, misguided fool. If he himself dies, he has botched his work, he has failed, he has shamed his caste.

~Swordsmen of Gor - Book 29 Chapter 25 Quote 8~
26.5"You have misled us again, have you not?" inquired the leader of the strangers."I do not understand," said the pit master."You are a brave man," said he, "to trifle with those of the black caste."~Witness of Gor - Book 26 Chapter 31 Quote 5~

Extremely well-disciplined. Unrelenting hunting skills

26.9I expected the two men to turn about then, and run.But they did not.Rather they stood where they were. I then gathered something of the discipline of the black caste.~Witness of Gor - Book 26 Chapter 31 Quote 9~
26.10"Those of the black caste are famed for their prowess in hunting," said the officer of Treve.~Witness of Gor - Book 26 Chapter 31 Quote 10~
30..11"When one learns that," said the stranger, "that one is sought, by the black caste, it is often too late."~Mariners of Gor - Book 30 Chapter 36 Quote 11~

Without mercy, compassion, or distraction, when a killer hunts

26.13

The blacktunicked men are trained to kill for a purpose, and to think as little of it as others might of the cutting of wood.

~Witness of Gor - Chapter 40 Quote 13~
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~

Is expected to move with silence, stealth, swiftness, and depart

33.2

When summoned by Lord Temmu, several days ago I had arrived at his holding on tarnback. I did not know what had become of that tarn. I had little doubt that Tyrtaios, into whose hands I had been given, to be later delivered to Lord Yamada, was familiar with the reins and saddle of a tarn. If he were of the black caste, as I suspected, that would almost be taken for granted.

The Assassin is expected to move with silence, stealth, and swiftness, and depart similarly.~Rebels of Gor - Book 33 Page 164 Quote 2~

Are known to be efficient and ensure anonymity

26.11"He was an excellent officer," said the pit master."Of his caste," said the officer of Treve.

"It is strange," said the pit master. "Had he chosen to save his man, by firing on what we took to be the beast, he would have killed the prisoner.

"Yes," mused the officer of Treve."What would you have done?" asked the pit master."I would have tried to save the man.""Even at the risk of losing the quarrel, and not having time to reload before a putative attack?""Yes," said the officer of Treve."But he did not do so.""No," said the officer of Treve."Why?"

"Castes differ," said the officer. He then, with his thumb, wiped away the dagger on the lieutenant's forehead. "He is no longer hunting," he said.

~Witness of Gor - Book 26 Chapter 36 Quote 11~

Assassins are not the lowest caste

Assassins may be the most despised caste, but not everyone hates them

Were hated after the siege at Ar

2.2

Since the siege of Ar, when Pa-Kur, Master Assassin, had violated the limits of his caste and had presumed, in contradiction to the traditions of Gor, to lead a horde upon the city, intending to make himself Ubar, the Caste of Assassins had lived as hated, hunted men, no longer esteemed mercenaries whose services were sought by cities, and, as often by factions within cities. Now many assassins roamed Gor, fearing to wear the somber black tunic of their caste, disguised as members of other castes, not infrequently as warriors.

~Outlaw of Gor - Book 2 Chapter 8 Quote 2~
5.6Kuruus, of the Caste of Assassins, entered the great gate of Ar. Guardsman did not detain him, for he wore on his forehead the mark of the black dagger.

Not for many years had the black tunic of the Assassins been seen within the walls of Ar, not since the siege of that city in 10,110 from its founding, in the days of Marlenus, who had been Ubar; of Pa-Kur, who had been Master of the Assassins; and of the Ko-ro-ban Warrior, in the songs called Tarl of Bristol.

For years the black of the Assassins had been outlawed in the city. Pa-Kur, who had been Master of the Assassins, had led a league of tributary cities to attack Imperial Ar in the time when its Home Stone had been stolen and its Ubar forced to flee. The city had fallen and Pa-Kur, though of low caste, had aspired to inherit the imperial mantle of Marlenus, had dared to lift his eyes to the throne of Empire and place about his neck the golden medallion of a Ubar, a thing forbidden to such as he in the myths of the Counter-Earth. Pa-Kur's horde had been defeated by an alliance of free cities, led by Ko-ro-ba and Thentis, under the command of Matthew Cabot of Ko-ro-ba, the father of Tarl of Bristol, and Kazrak of Port Kar, sword brother of the same Warrior. Tarl of Bristol himself on the windy height of Ar's Cylinder of Justice had defeated Pa-Kur, Master of the Assassins. From that time the black of the Assassins had not been seen in the streets of Glorious Ar.

~Assassin of Gor - Book 5 Chapter 2 Quote 6~

Still outlawed in some places, ACCEPTANCE could be in question

34.15It may be useful to speak briefly of the nature of a black court................

A black court, I gather, is named for the color of the caste of Assassins, which is black. The caste is sometimes spoken of, when men dare to speak of it, as the black caste, or the sable caste. In many Gorean cities it is unwelcome, even outlawed. For example, it is outlawed in Ar and in Market of Semris. Its outlawry in Ar, I gather, followed an unsuccessful attempt by an army led by Pa-Kur, a high Assassin, to seize that great city, the largest, richest, and most populous in Gor's northern hemisphere. The city it seems, was in disarray, and its Ubar challenged, following the temporary loss of its Home Stone, purloined by an unidentified tarnsman during the revels of the Planting Feast. Supposedly instrumental in the defeat of Pa-Kur and the restoration of the Ubar of the city to power was a figure known in the songs as Tarl of Bristol, which figure, as many such figures recounted in such songs, is presumably legendary. The hostile army, in some of the scrolls, is spoken of as the Horde of Pa-Kur, which disparaging epithet occurs in common parlance, doubtless reflecting the truism that history is likely to reflect the views of the victors. The outlawry of the caste of Assassins in Market of Semris may have been an independent act, or may have followed the example of Ar. In any event, it seems that "black courts" exist in a number of cities, though surely not all, either openly, as in Brundisium, or, one supposes, sometimes, where outlawed, secretly.

~Plunder of Gor - Book 34 Pages 232-240 Quote 15~

But since regained some status

5.14"May I ask, Killer," asked Portus, "if you come to make the first killing or the second?""The second," said Kuurus."Ah!" said Portus."I hunt," said Kuurus."Of course," said Portus."I come to avenge," said Kuurus.

Portus smiled. "That is what I meant," he said, "that it is good those in the black tunic are once again amongst us, that justice can be done, order restored, right upheld."

~Assassin of Gor - Book 5 Chapter 2 Quote 14~

Require recognition as a caste, to avoid being "Outlaw"

1.16

The caste system was socially efficient, given its openness with respect to merit, but I regarded it as somehow ethically objectionable. It was still too rigid, in my opinion, particularly with respect to the selection of rulers from the High Castes and with respect to the Double Knowledge. But far more deplorable than the caste system was the institution of slavery. There were only three statuses conceivable to the Gorean mind outside of the caste system: slave, outlaw, and Priest-King. A man who refused to practice his livelihood or strove to alter status without the consent of the Council of High Castes was, by definition, an outlaw and subject to impalement.

~Tarnsman of Gor - Book 1 Chapter 2 Quote 16~

Most goreans believe peasants to be the Lowest Caste

6.2

the peasants themselves, though regarded as the lowest caste on all Gor by most Goreans, call themselves proudly the ox on which the Home Stone rests, and I think their saying is true.

~Raiders of Gor - Book 6 Chapter 1 Quote 2~

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