Training

What is said in the books

The Selection of Men

Free Women were not permitted, complete devotion to Caste

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

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~

Traits that were sought

Swiftness, Cunning, Strength, Skill, Selfishness and Greed

12.10

The assassins take in lads who are perhaps characterized by little but unusual swiftness, and cunning, and strength and skill, and perhaps a selfishness and greed, and, in time, transform this raw material into efficient, proud, merciless men, practitioners of a dark trade, men loyal to secret codes the content of which is something at which most men dare not guess.

~Beasts of Gor - Book 12 Chapter 30 Quote 10~

betray comrade - one in ten

12.9

He seemed slow. But I knew he did not come to his somber garb by any tardiness of action or hesitancy in deed. The training of the assassin is thorough and cruel. He who wears the black of that caste has not won it easily. Candidates for the caste are chosen with great care, and only one in ten, it is said, completes the course of instruction to the satisfaction of the caste masters. It is assumed that failed candidates are slain, if not in the training, for secrets they may have learned. Withdrawal from the caste is not permitted. Training proceeds in pairs, each pair against others. Friendship is encouraged. Then, in the final training, each member of the pair must hunt the other. When one has killed one's friend one is then likely to better understand the meaning of the black. When one has killed one's friend one is then unlikely to find mercy in his heart for another. One is then alone, with gold and steel.

~Beasts of Gor - Book 12 Chapter 30 Quote 9~

nine steps of blood

betray comrade - third step

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~

Nine Steps mentioned

33.7

    Tyrtaios, who, I feared, possessed the subtlety, training, and weaponry of the darkest of castes. I knew the black dagger was not easily attained; it is won in but one way, the ascent, as it is said, of the nine steps of blood.

~Rebels of Gor - Book 33 Page 295 Quote 7~
34.30

“I am a high Assassin,” said Tyrtaios, turning angrily toward Decius Albus. “I have trained for years. I have ascended the Nine Steps of Blood. I do not slaughter a tethered tarsk. I am not a butcher. Kill him yourself. Do not be afraid. A child, or slave, could manage the matter!”

~Plunder of Gor - Chapter 60 Quote 30~
34.9

    "Beware!" I said. "My master is not blind. The bandage he wore is a hoax! His sight is as keen as that of the tarn! He is as dangerous as the larl in rutting time. He hunts you. He is of the black caste!"

"I thought," said he, "the black caste might be involved. They prove to be excellent agents, well worth their pay.". . .

"He seeks you," I said. "He intends you harm, death. Do not loiter here! Run! He is of the dark caste! You are hunted! Neither dismiss nor ignore this threat! You are not dealing with an ordinary man! He is of the dark caste! He is one who has ascended the nine steps of blood."

~Plunder of Gor - Book 34 Pages 258-259 Quote 9~

Phantom's thoughts

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