Killing and the Hunt

The Hiring

The Justification

The Inquisition

The Hunt

The Kill

Phantoms Thoughts

What is said in the books

The Hiring

First and Second Killings

FIRST KILLING IS FOR VARIOUS REASONS

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~

SECOND KILLING IS TO AVENGE

payment must be arranged

JUSTICE - AS INTERNATIONAL POLICE

5.5"Justice must be done," said the man.

Kuurus said nothing, but only looked at the man. Often, though not always, they spoke of justice. It pleases them to speak of justice, he said to himself. And of right. It eases them and gives them peace.

There is no such thing as justice, said Kuurus, to himself. There is only gold and steel."Whom am I to kill?" asked Kuurus."I do not know," said the man.Kuurus looked at him angrily. Yet he had in the pockets of his belt twenty gold tarn disks, and of double weight. There must be more."All we know is this," said the man, handing him a greenish patch.Kuurus studied the patch. "It is a faction patch," said he. "It speaks to me of the tarn races of Ar." "It is true," said the man.The faction patches are worn in Ar by those who favor a given faction in the racing. There are severalsuch factions, who control the racing and compete among themselves, the greens, the reds, the golds, the yellows, the silvers."I shall go to Ar," said Kuurus."If you are successful," said the man, "return and you will receive a hundred such pieces of gold."Kuurus looked at him. "If it is not true," he said, "you will die."~Assassin of Gor - Book 5 Chapter 1 Quote 5~

PAYMENT CAN BE SEPARATED, BUT DOES INVOKE A LIFE DEBT

PATIENCE IS KEY

ARE NOT BLINDED BY DREAMS OR EMOTION

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~

WEAPONS ARE ONLY DRAWN TO PURPOSE

Deny bribes & fulfill the paid fee

NO SET FEE FOR SERVICES

5.12

He with the missing teeth laughed and looked about the crowd, his eyes bright, seeing that they waited with eagerness for his stroke.

But his laugh died in his throat as he looked into the eyes of Kuurus, he of the Caste of Assassins.Kuurus, with his left hand, pushed to one side his bowl of paga.

Hup opened his eyes, startled at not yet having felt the deep, cruel movement of the steel. He too looked into the eyes of Kuurus, who sat in the darkness, the wall behind him, cross-legged, looking at him, no emotion on his face.

"You are a beggar?" asked Kuurus."Yes, Master," said Hup."Was the begging good today?" asked Kuurus.Hup looked at him in fear. "Yes, Master," he said, "yes!"

"Then you have money," said Kuurus, and stood up behind the table, slinging the sheath of the short sword about his shoulder.

Hup wildly thrust a small, stubby, knobby hand into his pouch and hurled a coin, a copper tarn disk, to Kuurus, who caught it and placed it in one of the pockets of his belt.

"Do not interfere," snarled the man who held the hook knife."There are four of us," said another, putting his hand on his sword."I have taken money," said Kuurus.The men in the tavern, and the girls, began to move away from the tables."We are Warriors," said another.Then a coin of gold struck the table before the Assassin, ringing on the wood.

All eyes turned to face a paunchy man, in a robe of blue and yellow silk. "I am Portus," he said. "Do not interfere, Assassin."

Kuurus picked up the coin and fingered it, and then he looked at Portus. "I have already taken money," he said.Portus gasped.~Assassin of Gor - Book 5 Chapter 2 Quote 12~

EXAMPLE OF SHORT SWORD BEING USED

The Justification

Once paid - Investigation

JUSTICE - ONE OF MANY REASONS TO HIRE

5.5"Justice must be done," said the man.

Kuurus said nothing, but only looked at the man. Often, though not always, they spoke of justice. It pleases them to speak of justice, he said to himself. And of right. It eases them and gives them peace.

INVESTIGATION STARTS AS SOON AS FEE IS TAKEN

Justice beyond borders

JUSTICE - WHERE GOVERNMENT FAILS

34.16It may be useful to speak briefly of the nature of a black court............

The existence of a "black caste," on a world such as Gor, is not as surprising, inexplicable, or unconscionable, as it might seem. Indeed, it is highly likely that, long ago, in the beginning, the caste was formed to supply a need, or perform a role within society that was perceived as being not only fully justified, but desirable. On Gor there are no, or few, "nations" in the sense that one of my former world would be likely to think of as nations. Similarly there is no international law. Law for most practical purposes, reaches no further than the swords of a given polity. The common Gorean polity is the town, village, or city, and whatever territory about the polity to which it can extend its hegemony. In this sense, polities may appear on maps but not borders. The territory controlled by a polity is likely, historically, to wax and wane with the fortunes of the polity. The nearest things to nations would seem to be the large island Ubarates, such as Tyros and Cos, where the sea forms natural barriers, or borders, so to speak, but even there power seems centered in particular cities, such as Kasra and Jad. A saying I have heard seems germane here, "the laws of Cos march with the spears of Cos." Two further aspects of the Gorean way might also be considered, first, the suspicion and hostility obtaining amongst diverse polities, which militates against cooperation and assistance, and the limits of Gorean law, even within a polity as Goreans tend to be radically independent and likely to resent the intrusion of others, even a polity, into what are regarded as their own concerns or affairs. For example, vendettas occasionally take place amongst families, in which the polity and others, respecting the wishes of the participants, decline to intervene.

Given such considerations, and the consequent difficulty, frequently recognized, of obtaining justice, satisfaction, or vengeance, as the case may be, one can well understand the existence of an order of men, itinerant, independent, dedicated, armed, and skilled, for hire. Such men may, for example, pursue a fugitive from city to city with impunity regardless of caste, warfare, and Home Stone. Few will interfere with the hunting Assassin, sable-clad, dagger on brow, passing amongst them, going quietly about his work. Similarly, few would challenge the wind, or the dark sky from which lighting might strike.

~Plunder of Gor - Book 34 Pages 323-240 Quote 16~

The Inquisition

NOT TO BE TAKEN LIGHTLY

HIRING AN ASSASSIN - IS A BIG DEAL

30.3"Who are you," asked a man, "that those of the black caste would come secretly, silently, upon you?"~Mariners of Gor - Book 30 Chapter 1 Quote 3~

NOT WISE TO QUESTION A HUNTER

INFORMATION IS CLOSELY GUARDED

34.29

His gait was unhurried, measured. Something about him suggested an animal in human form, a panther. As he approached, he looked from side to side, as though with a feline intentness . .... “May I know his name?” asked the dealer. “Perhaps I might be of help”. “Who inherits your business?” asked the stranger. “My brother” said the dealer, uncertainly. “Do you care for him to do so soon, perhaps this evening?” inquired the tall, lean, sable-clad stranger “No” said the dealer “no, Master!”. “So do not inquire” said the stranger.

~Plunder of Gor - Book 34 Chapter 9 Quote 29~

Not wise to interfere

WILL TIE UP LOOSE ENDS WITHOUT HESITATION

34.1"How four men slain?" asked a man."He of the dark caste was displeased, muchly so," said the first man."His quarry eluded him?" said a fellow."Apparently," said the first man."Why four slain?" asked a fellow, apprehensively.

"He of the dark caste made inquiries," said the first man. "They proved fruitless. None knew the whereabouts of the quarry."

"And so four were slain?" said a man."He of the dark caste was displeased," said the first man."So four men were slain," said one of the men."Each with a thrust to the heart," said the first man."Where is he of the dark caste?" asked a fellow, his voice shaking."He is gone," said the first man. "We do not know where.""He of the dark caste simply withdrew?" said a man."Yes," said the first man."Undetained?" said a man."One does not interfere with one of the dark caste, when he is hunting," said the first man."Guardsmen?" inquired one of the men."Nor they," said the first man.~Plunder of Gor - Book 34 Pages 132-133 Quote 1~

DOES NOT LINGER - CONTINUES TO HUNT

professional killer

NOT AN EXECUTIONER - QUARRY MUST BE EARNED

30.12

The two fellows in shabby garments had now approached, the talmits no longer bound about their foreheads. I saw on each forehead the simple mark, the sign of the black dagger. One of them rolled the body over, and then looked to the stranger.

"You have killed him," said the man, straightening up.The stranger shrugged."Therefore," said the man, "the killing is yours."Each of the men then, from their purse, removed a silver tarsk, and placed it in the hand of the stranger."I want no money for his blood," said the stranger. "I would rather he had found the gate, and fled the city.""Still," said one of the fellows, "the killing is yours.""Consider it yours," said the stranger, "as you hurried him onto my sword."The two members of the Black Court of Brundisium regarded one another.

"Suppose," said the stranger, "one in fear of you, dreading discovery each day, unwilling to accept such misery longer, or to frustrate you, put himself upon his own sword, or, in fleeing, drowned, or fell from some cliff, would the killing not be yours?"

"It would," said one of the fellows, "and the fee might be kept.""Keep it then," said the stranger, and returned the two coins, first one, and then the other.Each returned the coin to his own purse, and then wiped from his forehead the dagger.More than one man breathed then more easily, for those of the Black Court no longer wore the dagger.~Mariners of Gor - Book 30 Chapter 36 Quote 12~

DAGGER IS FEARED - ASSASSIN IS RESPECTED

dagger permits entrance

GOREANS ARE FEARFUL & RESPECTFUL

5.7Yet none would stand in the way of Kuurus for he wore on his forehead, small and fine, the sign of the black dagger.

When he of the Caste of Assassins has been paid his gold and has received his charge he affixes on his forehead that sign, that he may enter whatever city he pleases, that none may interfere with his work.

~Assassin of Gor - Book 5 Chapter 2 Quote 7~

Tool of Application

SMALL BRUSH & A TINY VIAL BLACK PAINT

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~

The Hunt

Disguises for a Purpose

NOT UNCOMMON TO DISGUISE ONESELF

34.3On the journey itself, my master wore nondescript garments, suggestive of no caste in particular.~Plunder of Gor - Book 34 Page 222 Quote 3~

BUT ALSO NOT THE NORM

Will follow law, NOT OUTLAW

26.3"Cut their throats," said the leader of the strangers.We cried out, and shrank back, and might have run, butthere was nowhere to run. Men were all about. One fellowtook me by the hair, to hold me in place."Hold!" said the pit master. "Know that these women arethe property of the state of Treve! You are within the walls ofTreve. You are sheltered by her Home Stone. You cannot dealwith the property of Treve with impunity.""You have delayed us long enough," snarled the leader ofthe black-tunicked men. "We came yesterday to the pits, andyou put us off with some absurd technicality.""We have our regulations, Master," said the pit master."That technicality was cleared this morning," said theleader of the strangers.~Witness of Gor - Book 26 Chapter 31 Quote 3~

iNTELLIGENCE BEYOND THE OBVIOUS

USES THE ENVIRONMENT TO THEIR ADVANTAGE

33.1No one was near the fire.

This bespoke wisdom, whether of an enemy or friend. Let others be illuminated in that tiny light if they were so unwary. Darkness is the friend of assassins, of arrows springing from the night, and it may form the shield and shelter of the fugitive who might, upon the arrival of unwelcome intruders, slip away unseen.

~Rebels of Gor - Book 33 Page 33 Quote 1~

ESCAPE IS ALWAYS A PART OF THE PLAN

DECEPTION IS A USEFUL TOOL

MAY HIRE SWORD TO PURPOSE

5.15"I shall permit my sword to be hired," said Kuurus."Good!" cried Portus, his hands on the table, his eyes gleaming. "Good!""By the House of Cernus," said the assassin.~Assassin of Gor - Book 5 Chapter 2 Quote 15~

EVEN IF ANOTHER FEE IS ACCEPTED

The Kill

SURE TO BE RESISTANCE

ONCE STRIKE INITIATED - ASSASSIN MUST ESCAPE

1.1

"Our discussion terminated abruptly. There was a rush of wings outside the window of my apartment, and the Older Tarl flung himself across the room and dragged me to the floor. At the same moment the iron bolt of a crossbow, fired through on e of the narrow windows, struck the wall behind my chair-stone and ricocheted viciously about the room. I caught a glimpse of a black helmet through the port as a warrior, still clutching a crossbow and mounted on his tarn, hauled up on the one-strap and flew from the window. There were shouts, and rushing to the window, I saw several answering bolts leave the cylinder and fly in the direction of the retreating assailant, who was now almost half a pasang away and making good his escape.

'A member of the Caste of Assassins,' said the Older Tarl, gazing at the retreating speck in the distance. 'Marlenus, who would be Ubar of all Gor, knows of your existence.' ”

~Tarnsman of Gor - Book 1 Chapter 4 Quote 1~

THE KILL MUST BE CLEAN

EXACT AND TO THE POINT

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~

Phantoms Thoughts

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