Personality

What is said in the books

Assassins carry out their business covertly and professionally

21.1

One might think then in terms of the possible transmission of secret information, or, perhaps more likely, of the enterprise of the assassin, the covert business of unsheathed daggers.

~Mercenaries of Gor - Book 21 Chapter 25 Quote 1~
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~

assassins towards assassins

VENDETTA IS NOT THE WAY, A FAILED HUNTER IS DISGRACED

30.9

"My men," said the captain, "went to the Court of Assassins in Brundisium. Two had been hired, but they did not report back."

"Nor will they," said the stranger."That is known to me," said the captain. "Their bodies were washed ashore.""You are in danger," I said to the stranger. "The Assassins will come to avenge their own."

"No," said the captain, "at least not those of the Court of Brundisium, unless more coin is put forth. Vendetta is not their way. Their fellows took fee and failed to earn it. They are not to be avenged. They failed. They are disgraced. They are no longer of the Court."

"Cineas," said the stranger, "may not even know they failed.""He must know," I said.

"In any event," said the captain, "my men, amongst whom is Tatsu, perhaps known to Callias, for he was on the great ship, arranged certain matters with the Court of Assassins."

"I know him," said the stranger."What matters?" I asked the captain.

"Two of the black caste were hired to seek out Cineas, and slay him," said the captain. "I do not think they have yet found him."

"What was the fee?" asked the stranger."A silver tarsk, each," said the captain.~Mariners of Gor - Book 30 Chapter 36 Quote 9~
34.18It may be useful to speak briefly of the nature of a black court..................

It might be noted, in passing, that the black caste is jealous of what it regards as its prerogatives. It will seek out and kill other hired killers. It does not favor competition, and wishes to maintain, in effect, its monopoly in that area. It might also be noted, again in passing, that the black caste, as a matter of policy, does not concern itself with members who might be slain while about their work. There is no notion of vengeance or seeking retribution involved. It might be regretted that a fee is lost, but nothing else. One who is slain in his work is regarded as having failed, and, in virtue of this, is denied any further consideration. It will, on the other hand, hunt an individual who might, in its view, have gratuitously slain one of its members.

In my time in the black court I occasionally witnessed the admission of clients who sought the services of the "dark sword." Other clients, by means of messengers, may request a discreet interview with a representative of the caste, in which fees might be negotiated and arrangements made. As is understandable, certain individuals would not wish to be noticed entering the precincts of the court. Slaves were not privy to such interviews, either within or outside the court.

~Plunder of Gor - Book 34 Pages 232-240 Quote 18~

ASSASSINS WOULD NOT KILL EACH OTHER

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~

assassins towards others

AN ASSASSIN WILL NOT HESITATE TO KILL BEYOND A CONTRACT

26.2"We can kill every male prisoner in the depths," said one ofthe fellows in black, a lieutenant."You have no authorization for that," said the pit master."You know whom we seek," said the leader of the men inblack tunics. There were twenty-three in their party, theleader, a lieutenant, the fellow called 'Gito', and twenty men.Each of the twenty men carried a sword, a dagger, and acrossbow. Some had their bows set.~Witness of Gor - Book 26 Chapter 31 Quote 2~
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~

ARE USUALLY STOIC IN NATURE, LITTLE EMOTION, EVEN ANGER

1.5

I cleared my head as best I could, and into my uncertain field of vision moved a dark object, which became the black helmet of a member of the Caste of Assassins. Slowly, with a stylised movement, the helmet was lifted, and I found myself staring up into a grey, lean, cruel face, a face that might have

been made of metal. The eyes were inscrutable, as if they had been made of glass or stone and set artificially in that metallic masj of a countenance.

'I am Pa-Kur,' said the man.It was he, the Master Assassin of Ar, leader of the assembled horde.'We meet again,' I said. The eyes, like glass or stone, revealed nothing.'The cylinder at Ko-ro-ba,' I said. 'The crossbow.'He said nothing.

'You failed to kill me that time,' I taunted. 'Perhaps you would care to risk another shot now. Perhaps the mark would be more suited to your skills.'

The men behind Pa-Kur muttered at my impudence. He himselfshowed no impatience.

'My weapon,' he said, simply extending his hand. A crossbow was immediately placed in his grip. It was a large steel bow, wound and set, the iron quarrel placed in the guide.

I prepared to welcome the bolt flashing through my body. I was curious to know if I would be concious of its strike. Pa-Kur raised his hand with an imperious gesture. From somewhere I saw a small, round object sailing high into the air, out over the river. It was a tarn disc hurled by one of Pa-Kur's men. Just as the tiny object, black against the blue sky, reached its apogee, I heard the click of the trigger, the vibration of the string, and the swift hiss of the quarrel. Before the tarn disc could begin its fall, the quarrel pierced it, carrying it, I would judge, some two hundred and fifty yards out into the river. The men of Pa- Kur stamped their feet in the sand and clanged their

spears on their shields.'I spoke as a fool,' I said to Pa-Kur.'And you will die the death of a fool,' he said. He spoke with no trace of anger or emotion of any kind.He motioned to the men to thrust the frame out into the river, where it would be swept away.'Wait,' I said, 'I ask your favour.' The words came hard.Pa-Kur gestured to the men to desist. 'What have you done with the girl?''She is Talena, daughter of the Ubar Marlenus,' said Pa-Kur. 'She will rule in Ar, as my queen.''She would die first,' I said.

'She has accepted me,' said Pa-Kur, 'and will rule by my side.' The stone eyes regarded me, expressionless. 'It was her wish that you die the death of a villain,' he said, 'on the Frame of Humiliation, unworthy to stain our weapons.'

I closed my eyes. I should have known that the proud Talena, daughter of a Ubar, would leap at the first chance to return to power in Ar, even though it be at the head of a plundering host of brigands. And I, her protector, was now to be discarded. Indeed, the Frame of Humiliation would be ample vengeance to satisfy even Talena for the indignities she had suffered at my

hands. It, if anything, would wipe out forever from her mind the offensive memory that she had once needed my help and had pretended to love me. Then, each of the men of Pa-Kur, as is the custom before a frame is surrendered to the waters of the Vosk, spit on my body. Lastly, Pa-Kur spit on his hand and then placed his hand on my chest. 'Were it not for the daughter of Marlenus,' said Pa-Kur, his metallic face as placid as the quicksilver behind

a mirror, 'I would have slain you honourably. That I swear by the black helmet of my caste.' ~Tarnsman of Gor - Book 1 Chapter 12 Quote 5~

OR PERHAPS AND NECESSARY TO TIE UP LOOSE ENDS

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~

ARE NOT SOCIAL AND TEND TO BE MORE RESERVED

5.11

Scarcely a quarter of an Ahn had passed and the men who drank in that room had forgotten, as is the way of men, that a dark one sat with them in that room, one who wore the black tunic of the Caste of Assassins, who silently drank with them.

~Assassin of Gor - Book 5 Chapter 2 Quote 11~

NOT KNOWN FOR EXPRESSING EXCITEMENT, SMILE, OR LAUGH

5.17

"Aii!" I cried, though the outburst was scarcely in keeping with the somber black I wore, and an instant later the Tarn Keeper and the Saddle Maker cried out, and began to stamp their feet in the dust, and pound their fists against their left shoulders. Then others watching cried out with glee. I myself remove my sword from its sheath and with it struck my shield.

~Assassin of Gor - Book 5 Chapter 3 Quote 17~
26.15The leader of the strangers smiled. He lifted his hand.~Witness of Gor - Book 26 Chapter 31 Quote 15~
5.26Flaminius looked at me, curiously. "It is seldom," he said, "that those of the black caste laugh."~Assassin of Gor - Book 5 Chapter 18 Quote 26"

UNLESS IN A SARDONIC MANNER

26.7"Then it will not matter that he is killed," said the leader ofthe black-tunicked men.The lieutenant and several of the others with themlaughed. It was the only time I had heard them laugh.~Witness of Gor - Book 26 Chapter 31 Quote 7~

ARE VERY METHODICAL, CAUTIOUS, AND TAKE NO CHANCES

1.14Pa-Kur approached warily, confident in his superior swordsmanship, but, as I expected, determined to take no chances. ~Tarnsman of Gor - Book 1 Chapter 19 Quote 14~

WILL SEEK OUT AND KILL NOT OF CASTE KILLERS

34.18It may be useful to speak briefly of the nature of a black court..................

It might be noted, in passing, that the black caste is jealous of what it regards as its prerogatives. It will seek out and kill other hired killers. It does not favor competition, and wishes to maintain, in effect, its monopoly in that area. It might also be noted, again in passing, that the black caste, as a matter of policy, does not concern itself with members who might be slain while about their work. There is no notion of vengeance or seeking retribution involved. It might be regretted that a fee is lost, but nothing else. One who is slain in his work is regarded as having failed, and, in virtue of this, is denied any further consideration. It will, on the other hand, hunt an individual who might, in its view, have gratuitously slain one of its members.

In my time in the black court I occasionally witnessed the admission of clients who sought the services of the "dark sword." Other clients, by means of messengers, may request a discreet interview with a representative of the caste, in which fees might be negotiated and arrangements made. As is understandable, certain individuals would not wish to be noticed entering the precincts of the court. Slaves were not privy to such interviews, either within or outside the court.

~Plunder of Gor - Book 34 Pages 232-240 Quote 18~

others towards assassins

MANY FEAR ASSASSINS, DAGGER INCREASES FEAR, IT COULD BE THEM HE SEEKS

5.8A woman carrying a market basket moved to one side, watching him, that she might not touch him, holding a child to her.A peasant moved away that the shadow of the Assassin might not fall across his own~Assassin of Gor Book 5 Chapter 2 Quote 8~
5.20"He frightens me," she wept. "He is of the black caste.""Serve him wine," said he, "or you will be stripped and thrown into a pen of male slaves."~Assassin of Gor - Book 5 Chapter 6 Quote 20~
5.9

The men looked at the Assassin, who regarded them, one by one. Men turned white under that gaze. Some fled from the tables, lest, unknown to themselves, it be they for whom this man wore the mark of the black dagger.

~Assassin of Gor - Book 5 Chapter 2 Quote 9~

A WOMAN MOVED TO THE OTHER SIDE OF A STREET, TO AVOID HIS SHADOW

AN ASSASSIN WOULD NOT EXPECT A SPECIAL SERVE FROM A SLAVE

5.10At a gesture from the proprietor, the grimy man in thetunic of white and gold, one of the serving slaves, with a flashof her ankle bells, hurried to the Assassin and set before hima bowl, which she trembling filled from the flask held over herright forearm. Then, with a furtive glance at the girl chainedat the side of the room, the serving slave hurried away.Kuurus took the paga bowl in both hands and put his head down, looking into it. Then, somberly, he lifted it to his lips and drank.~Assassin of Gor - Book 5 Chapter 2 Quote 10~

SOME WILL NOT ACCEPT GOLD OF ASSASSINS, CALLING IT "BLACK GOLD"

5.16"You are of the Assassins?" he asked."Yes," I said, "it is my caste."

He pressed the piece of gold into my hand and turned away, stumbling from me, reaching out with his right hand to guide himself along the wall.

"Wait!" I cried. "You have won this! Take it!" I ran to him.

"No!" he cried, striking out wildly with a hand, trying to force me away. I stepped back. He stood there, panting, not seeing me, his body bent over, angry. "It is black gold," he said. "It is black gold." He then turned away, and began to grope his way from the place of the game.

I stood there in the street and watched him go, in my hand holding the piece of gold which I had meant to be his.~Assassin of Gor - Book 5 Chapter 3 Quote 16~
5.22"I see you now wear the red of the Warrior," said he, "rather than the black of the Assassin."I said nothing."I know disguises are useful," said he, "in hunting." He grinned at me. "I liked what you did at the game, when you gave the double tarn to the Player.""He did not accept it," I said. "To him it was black gold.""And so it was," said the Tarn Keeper, "so it was.""It will buy as much as yellow gold," said I."True," said the Tarn Keeper, "and that is what must be kept in mind."~Assassin of Gor - Book 5 Chapter 13 Quote 22~

NOT UNKNOWN FOR MERCHANTS & OTHERS, TO FORCE GOODS ON KILLERS IN DARK HABILIMENTS, AS GIFTS

34.28"The first girl will be pleased," said my companion. "Her switching cost him four tarsk-bits.""She was not recognized as being of the court," I said."Of course not," she said. "Even free women are unlikely to strike a girl in the black tunic.""Surely," I said, "those of the black caste, as others, purchase goods."

"Commonly," she said, "but when they are in the dark habiliments, it is not unknown for merchants, and others, unrequested, to force goods upon them, as gifts."

~Plunder Of Gor - Book 34 Pages 232-240 Quote 28~

assassins & warriors

TARL & DRUSUS - WARRIOR & ASSASSIN

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~

CLEARLY A RIVALRY OF IDEOLOGY AND PRACTICE

12.5

I hoped to renew my acquaintance with the fellow. Little love is lost betwixt the castes of warriors and assassins. Each deems himself the superior of, and the natural foe, of the other. The sword of the warrior, commonly, is pledged to a Home Stone, that of the assassin to gold and the knife.

~Beasts of Gor - Book 12 Chapter 7 Quote 5~
26.8"I am not fond of those of the black caste," said the officer."Nor we of those of the scarlet caste," said the leader.~Witness of Gor - Book 26 Chapter 31 Quote 8~

assassins and initiates

INITIATES USE ASSASSINS AS POLITICAL WEAPONS

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~

BLACK TUNIC WITH WHITE STRIPE

5.3

He wore a black robe with a stripe of white down the front and back. Kuurus knew that it would be this man, who wore the black, but not the full black, of the Assassin, who would deal with him. Kuurus smiled bitterly to himself. He laughed at the stripe of white. Their tunic, said Kuurus to himself, is as black as mine.

When the man near the smoking wood turned to face him, Kuurus descended the hill. He was now welcome. Kuurus smiled to himself.

The man did not greet him, nor did Kuurus lift his hand to the man, palm inward, saying "Tal."

The man was a strange man, thought Kuurus. His head was totally devoid of hair, even to the lack of eyebrows. Perhaps he is some sort of Initiate, thought Kuurus

~Assassin of Gor - Chapter 1 Book 5 Quote 3~

ASSASSINS SOUGHT THEIR BLESSINGS

30.4Initiates,. . .Assassins sought their blessing.~Mariners of Gor - Book 30 Chapter 2 Quote 4~

phantoms thoughts

Page updated

Google Sites

Report abuse