Caste System
Each city has its own Caste system in place and each Caste is tied to one's Home Stone. Unless you are an Assassin, you cannot have a Caste unless you belong to a Home Stone. There are no worldwide Castes on Gor. The Warrior Caste of Ar is separate from the Warrior Caste of Ko-ro-ba, the Scribe Caste of Turia is separate from the Scribe Caste of Treve. Each Caste in a city is governed by its own High Council, possesses its own Caste Code and has its own training and/or apprentice program. Though such matters are likely very similar from city to city, there will be some differences as well. Almost the only time that the Castes of different cities meet to discuss general Caste matters is at the four Sardar Fairs. At the Fairs, Caste members of different cities will often meet to share information. This is especially true of those Castes that invent items such as the Physician and Builder Castes. The Scribe Caste also meets at these Fairs and often try to pass rules of standardizations but they are mostly rejected.
The Caste system has a vital role in the proper functioning of a Gorean city. One's Caste is much more than simply one's profession. Your Caste provides certain privilieges as well sich as Caste Sanctuary or charity. Your social life often revolves around your Caste as well. Caste members become very close to each other and the welfare of the Caste takes priority over the individual ambitions of its members. This sense of loyalty is very strong, nearly as strong as one's loyalty to one's Home Stone.
Five Gorean High Castes
CASTE OF INITIATES: The Initiate Caste, also known as the Blessed Caste, is the highest of the five High Castes on Gor. Their Caste color is white, a color that is often associated with impartiality and justice, especially the justice of the Initiates. The Initiates are considered as possible intermediaries to the mysterious Priest Kings. The Initiates are a well-organized and industrious caste. They have many monasteries, holy places and temples throughout Gor. They are also a wealthy and powerful Caste. They regard themselves as the most important Caste on Gor and many cities seem to agree.
The Initiates claim to speak for the Priest-Kings and interpret their will. The Priest-Kings are their gods. The Initiates zealously guard their monopoly over religious matters. Other Castes are allowed limited roles, if at all, in religious ceremonies or rituals. All Goreans accept that the Priest-Kings actually exist but they disagree as to their true nature. Some believe the Priest-Kings are gods while others feel they are only powerful guardians. Initiates are feared and respected because they may be servants for the Priest-Kings. People worry that the Initiates might know some important matters about the Priest-Kings so they often take care not to offend the Initiates. They consider it better to be safe than sorry. The Low Castes are the ones most prone to believing and respecting the Initiates. In fact, Ubars have often employed Initiates as tools, some even contending that a primary function of the Initiates is to keep the Low Castes contented with their servile lot. Despite this fear, Initiates are still regarded as being a bit strange and often figure in derogatory jokes.
Initiates are bound by many Caste restrictions. They must wear white robes and be bald-headed. Being bald has been traditional for the Caste for centuries. It may have a distant connection to the practices of the Nest within the Sardar where Muls all have shaven heads. This is part of their hygiene program within the Nest. Initiates also cannot eat meat or beans. The basis for these restrictions is that they constitute part of a regimen to achieve immortality. This regimen also includes a study of mathematics. Initiates believe that only they can achieve eternal life. Most Goreans do not take this belief seriously. They do not believe in immortality at all.
Initiates are also forbidden to carry weapons, shed blood or kill anyone. Initiates are often the most timid of Goreans. They must hire others to perform their executions, torture or defense. They sometimes hire members of the Torturer's clan of the Wagon Peoples to work for them. Torturers engage in torture and executions though they are not Assassins. Their skills may also be used in interrogation. Initiates have the financial resources to hire whatever Warriors they generally need.
Most of their education and training is largely unpractical, mostly concerning archaic religious texts. Yet, this education serves to bind Caste members together. They learn matters that no other Caste has access to. This makes them feel important and privileged. They also have many secret tomes and scrolls, rumored to contain mighty magics. These spells are thought to be especially potent if read backward on certain feast days. The general public is aware that Initiates may have access to such powerful magics. Some Initiates even claim to be able to call down the Flame Death on someone. The Flame Death is a form of capital punishment imposed by the Priest-Kings and triggered from the Sardar. The victim seems to spontaneously erupt in blue flames. No Priest-Kings truly has the ability to call the Flame Death.
Females are forbidden from becoming Initiates, thus they are denied any chance of immortality. It is also forbidden for Initiates to even touch women or for women to touch them. This is far more expansive than just being unable to have sex with women. It includes even the slightest touch. This would mean that Initiates would not own female slaves as it would be too difficult to deal with them, not being allowed to even touch them. The only slaves possessed by Initiates in the novels were male slaves. Though it might be technically possible for an Initiate to have a female slave without touching her, it makes no sense in light of their restrictions for that to happen.
As there are no female Initiates, how do they get Caste members? Unlike the vast majority of other Castes, membership in the Initiates is not a matter of birth. All of its members had to petition for membership and meet all applicable entry criteria. The books though do not detail what that criteria entails. Though it is a powerful Caste, its various restrictions would serve to limit the number of interested applicants. The Caste is probably also choosy in selecting applicants as they are the highest Caste and must adhere to certain standards.
The Initiates perform most of their ceremonies and religious services in Old Gorean, an archaic language generally unspoken now. Only a portion of their services are in contemporary Gorean, those sections which most Goreans are meant to repeat during religious services. This would be similar to the use of Latin by the Catholic Church when all of their services were once in that language. Using this archaic language helps the Initiates maintain their control over religious matters. The Physician's Caste is one of the only other Castes that uses Old Gorean, and only to keep their records. Again, this is another similarity to Latin. Initiates are prominent at funerals but not at the Waiting Hand rituals so that is unlikely to be a religious holiday.
A High Initiate, also known as a Chief Initiate, rules the Initiate Caste of each city. The High Initiate is appointed by the High Council of the Initiates of each city. Each city may contain a Cylinder of Initiates where most of them reside and where there are also offices, a courtroom, prison and more. The High Initiate of Ar considers himself to be the Supreme Initiate of all Initiates on Gor though most of the other High Initiates of the other cities do not view him as so. He allegedly received his appointment directly from the Priest-Kings. Each High Initiate appears to jealously guard their position from other High Initiates, maintaining their independence and power. High Initiates may wear a tall hat as a badge of office.
There are two court systems on Gor, the city system that is under the jurisdiction of the Administrator or Ubar and the system of the Initiates. These are akin to civil and ecclesiastical courts. The areas of jurisdiction are vague but Initiates claim supreme authority in all matters. This sometimes causes jurisdictional problems with the civil authorities. In actuality, unless the matter directly affects them, they usually do not get involved. Any crime the Initiates wish to handle is done within their temples.
One matter that is very important to them revolves around Dar-kosis, the Holy Disease. This is horrible, wasting disease similar to leprosy. It is highly contagious as well. Those afflicted with the disease are considered to be holy to the Priest Kings. It is heresy to shed their blood though they can be safely stoned to death. The Initiates feel Dar-kosis is an instrument of the Priest-Kings to punish those who displease them. Initiates have arranged Dar-Kosis pits where the Afflicted may voluntarily imprison themselves, to be fed with food dropped by men on tarns. Once in a Pit, an Afflicted is not permitted to leave. The Initiate Caste will not let the Physician Caste search for a cure because it is a holy disease. Some Physicians in Ar once tried to seek a cure and Initiates hired some men to stop their research. These men broke into the Cylinder of Physicians, burned several floors, destroyed records, killed test animals and Physicians, and set fire to the place. The Physicians had been making good ground until this disaster.
Initiate temples vary in style and extravagance. Some are quite lavish while others are austere. Temples generally do not have chairs, benches or pews except for worshipers. Only the Initiates are permitted such items. A white rail separates the sanctified area for the Initiates from the common room where all those who are not specially anointed must stand. Goreans do not kneel in the temples. They pray standing up and often hold their hands in the air as the Initiates often do. Weapons are forbidden within the temples. All temples are oriented to the Sardar. On the high altar is a large golden circle, the symbol of the Priest-Kings, a symbol of eternity. There are no depictions of the Priest-Kings as it is considered blasphemy to attempt to depict them. Initiates claim that Priest-Kings have no shape, form or size. Very few Initiates have any idea of the true form of the Priest-Kings. Choirs of young boys often sing in major temples, standing outside the white rail. Their heads are shaved and are most often young slaves who have been castrated by civil authorities. They are trained in song by the Initiates to sing with their beautiful soprano voices. Services may include the smells of burning incense, ringing bells rung, singing and chanting. Animal sacrifices are also common.
The Initiates use various types of thickened chrism, consecrated oil. It is commonly used by Initiates to make the sign of the Priest-Kings, the circle of eternity, on their foreheads. There is also a chrism of temporary permission that allows one not consecrated to the Priest-Kings to enter their sanctified area. This chrism allows laborers and other workers to enter the sanctified area to perform their work. This is considered an inferior anointing. Such anoinitings were first used at roadside shrines to permit civil authorities to enter and slay fugitives who had taken sanctuary within. It is also used for workmen and artists who work in the temple. Dead bodies do not require anointing so they may be freely placed within the Initiate sanctified area.
Some Initiates have prayer rings, a means to keep track of a cycle of prayers. It is worn on the first finger of the right hand. It has several tiny knobs which when turned keep track of the cycle of prayers. When you return to the circular knob, you have completed the entire prayer cycle.
Initiates claim that Gor was once the planet of a distant sun in the remote Blue Galaxies and has been moved several times to different stars. Gor eventually came to our solar system. Priest Kings are believed to be immortal and likely gods. Almost no one, including the Initiates, have ever seen them. Priest-Kings generally ignore most matters on Gor except for technology violations. They pay little attention to the Initiates, considering them both amusing and harmless. Initiates are considered as examples of the aberrations of humans. Prior to the Nest War in (Priest-Kings of Gor), some Initiates were implanted by the Priest-Kings with a fine webbing of gold wire into their heads. They might also have special eye implants. The Priest-Kings could use these Initiates as surveillance devices. In addition, they could kill these Initiates easily, causing their heads to burst and burn. After the Nest War, this practice was basically stopped.
Every Gorean is expected to at least once journey to the Sardar Mountains before they are twenty-five years old. The Initiates keep lists of who goes and who does not. Initiates teach that misfortunes hit a city if their people try to avoid this obligation. Sometimes the Initiates will ask individuals to go at a certain time. In some cities and islands, your family receives a gold tarn disk if you go when they ask. That is a vast sum for most Goreans so most people go when the Initiates ask you to. The Sardar journey subjects all Goreans to the bandits and slavers who haunt the trade roads to the Sardar. It is a dangerous journey and some do not return.
The sacred Sardar Mountains are the home of the Priest-Kings. The Sardar Mountains are dark and often crowned with ice. Nothing grows there. There is an invisible force shield that prevents all animals from entering the mountains. It may affect their inner ear and cause them to lose control of their bodies. A palisade of black logs encircles the Sardar, with a towering gate of black logs bound with wide bands of brass. An Initiate stands guard at the gate to the Sardar and he decides if the gates will be opened for someone who wishes to climb the Sardar. Generally, no one is refused. Often old men who are tired of life or brash young men make the attempt. None of them have ever returned. A huge, hollow metal bar tolls whenever someone passes through the gate. To open the massive gates, blind slaves must turn wooden windlasses.
The Sardar fairs are held four times each year in the shadow of the Sardar Mountains, on the plains below the western slopes. Though the Merchant Caste effectively arranges and administers the fairs they are nominally under the direction of a committee of Initiates. But they content themselves with doing just its ceremonies and sacrifices. They are more than happy to delegate the administrative details to the Merchants. The Initiates have decreed though that it is a crime against the Priest-Kings to engage in violence or bloodshed at the fairs. This prohibition though does not extend to slaves. In addition, no one may be enslaved at the fair though slaves can be purchased.
The Initiate Caste wields vast power on Gor, primarily based on the support of the Low Castes. It is the Low Castes that believe most fervently in the power of the Initiates and Priest-Kings. They truly believe the Initiates possess mystical powers and fear their wrath. The High Castes understand their effect on the Low Castes and thus often leave the Initiates alone. They do not wish the Initiates to turn the Low Castes against them. Some Initiates even rule cities as Administrators.
What is the purpose of the Initiate's Caste? Does the quote at the top of the scroll say it all? Are they more a burden than a benefit? Most members of the Initiates are simple believers. They accept the teachings of the Caste without question. A small number suspect the truth about the Priest-Kings. Of that group, some simply ignore it and pretend to be a complete believer. Others are tormented by their doubts. There is also a small, elite group of a few High Initiates who know much of the truth. These men believe in a greater purpose for the existence of the Initiate Caste. It is a noble purpose.
CASTE OF SCRIBES: This is a High Caste of Gor, the second most important Caste. Their Caste color is blue and they are the second most important Caste. There are various divisions and rankings, from simple copiers to savants. There are a number of sub-castes including Lawyers, Scholars, Record Keepers, Teachers, Clerks, Historians, Accountants, Geographers, and Cartographers. Much of the copy work, lower-order clerical work, trivial account keeping is done by slaves. The Scribes help render the Gorean language more uniform. They are accepted as arbiters of such matters and stipulate that certain pronunciations and grammatical formations are preferred over others. This is usually done at the Sardar Fairs when the Caste comes together in great numbers.
CASTE OF BUILDERS: This is one of the High Castes of Gor and third in line of importance. Their caste color is yellow and their symbol is a metal angle square. This caste includes such subcastes as Architects, Draftsmen, Stonemasons and others. In general, they are the builders and inventors of Gor. The Glass of the Builders, a telescope, is one of their inventions. They also created the energy bulb, a special type of light bulb, over a century ago. With help from the Physician's Caste, they also developed the slave goad. In general, only free men are allowed to build on Gor. Only the city of Port Kar was constructed by slaves. The Builder's Caste can also verify the authenticity of gold. Though this is an important Caste, little is told about it in the books.
CASTE OF PHYSICIANS: The Physician's Caste is one of the five High Castes on Gor, the fourth highest of those castes. Their Caste color is green so most Physicians wear green tunics. Though it is not explicit in the books, it seems logical that many medical specializations would form sub-castes of the Physician's Caste. Obstetrics, immunology, pediatrics, and such would make valid su-bcastes. Certain other specializations would not be necessary on Gor so would be unlikely to form sub-castes. Dentistry, psychiatry and geriatrics are fields where the need on Gor is low so they are unlikely to form full sub-castes. Major cities would have a Cylinder of Physicians as they do in Ar. Though this is not described in any great detail, it appears it would contain a hospital, research laboratories, a library and maybe even living quarters for some Physicians. Each city would also have their own High Council of Physicians to aid in the governance of that caste within the city. Each Physician's Caste, in every different city, is basically autonomous.
Physicians from different cities do find ways to interact with each other. The Sardar Fairs, the four major fairs held each year on the plains below the Sardar Mountains, are a spectacular place for the Physicians, and other Castes, to meet and share information. Caste conventions may be able to discuss general caste-wide issues. Research can be shared and compared. New discoveries spread across Gor at these fairs. These fairs are very important to the Physician's Caste.
The Physician's Caste is one of the Castes where many women actually engage in Caste work. But, in many cities, women cannot engage in the full practice of medicine until they have first bore two children. This is not a law in all cities though. Commonly, at age fifteen, a woman will don two bracelets on her left wrist. One bracelet is removed for each child born. The reason behind this prerequisite is that it is understood that professional women tend not to reproduce themselves. If this were permitted, it would serve over time to diminish the quality and size of the Caste. Thus, the rule helps to preserve the future of the Caste. The welfare of the Caste takes priority over the ambitions of specific individuals. The welfare of a larger number of individuals is more important than the welfare of a smaller number of individuals. This is an accepted given when dealing with the vast majority of Goreans. Until the woman bears two children, she will be restricted in her medical duties though the books do not detail what those specific restrictions might be. It is possible that the distinction might be what we would consider the difference between being a nurse and being a doctor.
Unfortunately, Gorean medicine is not depicted in great detail in the novels. In some ways, it is more primitive than Earth medicine. Goreans do not possess computers to help them in diagnosis or research. They do possess though many diagnostic machines that do not use computers. But, in many other ways, Gorean medicine is far more advanced than Earth. Gor has created potent drugs and serums that Earth only dreams about. And they created them without the aid of computers. Deciding what is permissible and not in Gorean medicine is not always easy due to the dearth of material in the novels on the subject.
Disease prevention is an area where Gorean medicine far surpasses Earth medicine. Disease is almost unknown on Gor except for a very few horrible diseases such as Dar-kosis and the Bazi plague. It is probably only a matter of time before even these diseases are cured.
Dar-kosis is a virulent, wasting disease and is similar in many ways to leprosy. "Dar-kosis" means "Holy Disease" and it is also known as the "Sacred Affliction" though its name is rarely mentioned. Those inflicted with the disease are commonly known as Afflicted Ones. It is highly contagious and the afflicted must wear yellow robes as a mark of their illness. Many victims also periodically clack a wooden device to warn people to stay away. Because of this, victims have much freedom of movement though if they approach a city, they risk being stoned. This has important legal ramifications. A Free Companionship would be ended. Any will would take effect. The Afflicted lose everything.
The Initiate Caste feels that Dar-kosis is an instrument of the Priest-Kings to punish those who displease them. The afflicted are thus holy to the Priest Kings and it is heresy to shed their blood. Interestingly though, stoning them is not considered heresy. Initiates have constructed Dar-Kosis pits where the Afflicted may voluntarily imprison themselves. They will be provided with food and drink by men on tarns, who will drop it into the pits. Once in a Pit, an Afflicted is not permitted to leave. Because it is considered a holy disease, the Initiates will not permit the Physician's Caste to research a cure. There is little love lost between the Physicians and Initiates.
A few years before the events of (Assassin of Gor), a group of Physicians in Ar tried to seek a cure. Flaminius, first in his Caste, led the research program. The Physicians had developed a strain of urts resistant to Dar-kosis. They then created a serum, cultured from the urt blood. When this was injected into other animals, they could not be infected by the disease. But at that time, someone betrayed them to the Initiates. The Initiates asked them to stop the research but they refused. The Initiates petitioned Marlenus but he refused to do anything. Soon after, a group of armed men stormed the Cylinder of Physicians. They damaged the Cylinder, burnt the research floors, killed some of the Physicians and ruined most of the research. That would stop their research for several years. Flaminius was burned over half his body and became somewhat of a drunk. After the events of (Assassin of Gor), Flaminius chooses to return to his research for a Dar-Kosis cure.
Bazi plague, also known as the pox, is a deadly, rapidly-spreading disease with no known cure. Its symptoms include pustules all over the body and a yellowing of the whites of the eyes. The pox is transmitted by lice. Some people are immune to it and for some it is only a temporary problem. Others die swiftly. Slaves that get the pox are usually killed. Bazi was struck by a plague some years ago and its port was closed by the Merchant's Caste for two years. The plague burnt itself out in about eighteen months. By the events of Explorers of Gor, Bazi has still not recovered from the economic tragedy of this closure. In Schendi, they still had Physicians checking incoming ships for signs of disease. Gieron and sajel are drugs that in combination can reproduce the physical effects of this disease without causing any real injury. Gieron is an allergen that causes a yellowing of the whites of the eyes. Sajel is a simple postulate.
Dental work on Gor is rarely done or needed. Due to its rarity, dentistry is probably not a subcaste. There would be insufficient work to support such a specialist. Cavities are rare because of the simple diet of Goreans and their absence of emotional stress, guilt, and worry. The mouths of slave girls are often checked by a buyer or slaver to see if she has fillings or not. That is normally a sign that the girl is from Earth due to the rarity of dental work on Gor.
Physicians have machines to examine blood, urine, tissue, hair and other samples. They have a machine like a microscope. Many of their tests and instruments are similar to what you would find in an Earth doctor's office. They would use energy bulbs, despite the expense, to have adequate light for their work. Physicians have numerous drugs available that are often administered through hypodermics. Numerous drugs may also be orally taken. Though some online feel that Gorean physicians are more like herbalists, they actually use very advanced drugs. Many of those drugs are derived from plants and herbs but it is rare for those plants and herbs to be applied directly to a patient. And as Earth doctors use Latin often, Gorean doctors keep their records in archaic Gor.
You must remember that we are talking about the Physician's Caste that exists in the civilized cities. In some of the more barbaric areas of Gor, such as the Barrens, the Plains of Turia and the jungles near Schendi, the Caste does not exist. In those areas, their medicine is much more primitive. They do not possess medical machines or advanced drugs. They rely more heavily on natural cures, using herbs and plants. Their healers would be more like herbalists.
The Physician's Caste has designed a few drugs that are commonly used by Slavers and others with similar objectives. Capture scent is similar to chloroform. It is a liquid that is soaked into a rag and held over a person's nose and mouth. It will render a woman unconscious in about five Ihn. She will only squirm wildly for an Ihn or two and then will get sluggish until she falls limp. It might take a bit longer against a man. Anesthetic darts, which may be either flung or used to stab, may also sometimes be used though they take longer to work, about forty Ihn. Tassa powder is a reddish powder that can render one unconscious. It is tasteless but meant to be mixed with something red wine as it would be visible in water. Free women are often advised not to drink red wine with strangers because who knows what might be in it.
Slave wine is a Gorean contraceptive, and much more effective than any Earth one. In liquid form, women drink it and are protected against conception. It works basically immediately. It is intentionally bitter when given to slaves though for free women it might be sweetened. The active ingredient in slave wine is sip root. In its raw form, sip root can be chewed and used as a contraceptive. The raw root is bitter and this is what comes through in the liquid. In root form, its effects will last for three to four moons. The Red Savages in the Barrens use sip root in its raw form. It is likely other barbaric cultures do the same. In its concentrated liquid form, the effects of slave wine now last indefinitely. This was not always the case. In the beginning of the Gor series, slave wine only lasted a month or so. In time medical technology advances and its effects are now indefinite. Despite this fact, many masters still administer slave wine to their kajirae once or twice a year. This is done out of tradition and to remind girls of their slavery. The effects of slave wine can be nullified by a special releaser, an antidote called breeding or second wine. This is a smooth and sweet drink. Its active ingredient is a derivative of the teslik plant.
There is no evidence in the books to suggest that slave wine can cause an abortion or miscarriage. There is also no evidence to show that it is harmful to a pregnant woman. Children are very important to Goreans and abortion would go against much of what they believe. Free women may sell their children after birth, but they would not abort a child if they were pregnant.
The zenith of Gorean medicine has to be the Stabilization Serums. This Serum is a life extending treatment. It was developed some five hundred years ago by the Physician's Castes of Koroba and Ar and transmitted to other Physicians at the Sardar Fairs. Aging was seen as a disease, not an inevitable fate. Centuries of research went into seeking a cure for aging. Unfortunately, this also meant that research into cures for other diseases was ignored. Many people, who were susceptible to those diseases, died during that time. As it was only the resistant that survived, this did tend to strengthen stock. Some diseases died out and others would be later cured once the Stabilization Serums were created.
The effect of the Serums is an eventual, gradual transformation of certain genetic structures, resulting in indefinite cell replacement without pattern deterioration. It affects all people differently and on some rare occasions doesn't work. In some rare people, it wears off after only a few hundred years and sometimes it even hastens aging. It is also capable of being transmitted to offspring. The initial Serums were crude but they have been carefully refined over the years. The Priest-Kings possess better Serums but they are for their use only. Goreans consider it the right of all people, free and slave, barbarian or civilized, to have the Serums. They do not deny the Serums to anyone. The Serums are given in a series of four shots, one shot a day for four days in a row. They are injected into the small of the back, over the left hip. On the fifth day, they can take a sample from you to ensure that the Serums have taken hold. Matthew Cabot is the only known person in the books to benefit from the Serums. He came to Gor over 600 years ago.
The books briefly mention a number of other drugs and medicines used on Gor. Laxatives and emetics exist. For a more natural purgative, the leaves of the brak bush can be chewed. A Physician mixed several different powders, each in their own goblet of water, and gave them to a new slave from Earth. The reasons for this were not explained though it is possible he was trying to inoculate her from disease. He also gave her the Serums at this time as well. There is another drug, in liquid form, that is a type of hypnotic. It relaxes you, inducing an altered state of consciousness. You can then recall details hidden in your memory and are also responsive to suggestions. A Tuchuk once placed a dark, bluish powder in some amber fluid. He made a slave drink it and she went to sleep. Slave dip is a drug used much like a flea powder. Many ports require that all slaves coming off a ship must first be immersed in slave dip to destroy any parasites they might be carrying. There are even drugs used on animals such as tranquilizers or slow drugs.
The slave goad was an invention developed jointly by the Physician and Builder Castes. The Physician's Caste contributed their knowledge of the pain fibers of humans, the networks of nerve endings. The Builder's Caste contributed the principles and techniques that were first developed for energy bulbs. The slave goad is similar to the tarn goad but is has been modified to use on humans. It has a switch and a dial. The dial adjusts the intensity from unpleasant to instantly lethal. When it strikes a person, it emits a shower of yellow sparks. When the dial is at the lethal setting, the tip glows very hot and is even difficult to look at. Because it is very expensive, it is almost never used except by professional Slavers and is unknown in many cities.
A common function for Physicians is to tend to wounded Warriors. Physicians clean, chemically sterilize and dress wounds. For tending to a minor wound, a Physician received a tarsk bit for his services. This is the only time any fee or payment is mentioned for a Physician. Physician's tape is mentioned though not described. Stitches and sutures are likely to be common though they are not mentioned in the books. Though casts are never mentioned in the books, it seems that they would also exist. Casts are easy to make. Surgery is performed by Physicians though advanced computer monitoring is not available to them. For most purposes, Physicians on Gor would treat wounds like any doctor from Earth.
There is little cold storage on Gor. Ice is commonly a luxury, especially in the summer. Ice blocks would be cut from ponds in the winter and then stored in ice houses under sawdust. Physicians might require cold storage for certain medical supplies. It seems likely that a place like the Cylinder of Physicians would have a cold storage area. The storage of certain medical supplies would be important enough to pay the expense to do so. A small Physician's office on the other hand might not have the financial resources to have his own cold storage area.
Plastic exists on Gor. Though it is rarely mentioned in the books, it is available. Many Goreans would not use plastic as it is not quite a natural material. They generally prefer wood, stone and metal. Physicians may be more apt to use plastic though in their practice.
Physicians rarely encounter other problems that are common to Earth. Heart attacks and cholesterol problems would be very rare. Frequent exercise and low fat diets would help prevent this. Without the massive technology and pollutants of Earth, most forms of cancer would also be rare. Psychiatrists and psychologists may not exist on Gor as most people seem quite content with their lot in life. Physician's are sometimes asked certain psychological questions though it would not be the norm. For example, free women sometimes ask what they can do about being frigid. The standard advice given is often to learn slave dance. Goreans freely accept the Caste system and the institution of slavery. Most Goreans are happy and very well adjusted. Overall, Goreans lead healthier lives than Earth people.
Some slaves may possess medical skills. In general, these women will have once been of the Physician's Caste and were later enslaved. It would be unusual for a slave to learn medical skills after her enslavement. If she did learn any such skills, they would most likely be very basic matters. Goreans would not waste advanced medical training on a mere slave. If a former Physician had been enslaved, there is the question of whether she would be permitted to practice medicine or not. Remember that once enslaved they no longer have a Caste. They no longer belong to the Physician's Caste even though they have the requisite skills. Many Goreans would not want a slave tending to them. Some might even fear the slave, especially if surgery was needed. A slave's owner is the one most likely to allow that slave to practice her medical skills.
CASTE OF WARRIORS: The Warrior Caste is one of the five High Castes on Gor, though it is the least of the High Castes. Red , or scarlet, is the color of the Warrior Caste and Warriors often wear red tunics to denote their status. The usual garb of a Warrior is a scarlet tunic, sandals and cloak. The books do not explicitly state that there are any subcastes to the Warrior Caste but it seems reasonable that some do exist such as Tarnsmen and Tharlarion Cavalrymen. It can be difficult at times to differentiate between what would be considered an actual subcaste and what would simply be considered a different position. A City Guardsman may simply be a possible position and not an actual subcaste. It generally seems that subcastes possess certain skills that others may not. Being a City Guardsman does not really take special skills but obviously a Tarnsman would.
The Gorean term for a Warrior is "rarius" and the plural form is "rarii." A rarius denotes any type of Warrior and not just a member of the Warrior Caste. The warriors of the Wagon Peoples, Torvaldsland and other such cultures are rarii. This term was never used to refer to a woman in any of the novels. A pride consists of a hundred Warriors. It appears to be an older term that has fell out of use by the time frame of the novels. In Gor's past, there were once Pride Chiefs who ruled rather than the Ubars and Administrators of today. It is unknown if Pride Chiefs still exist.
General Gorean Caste Information
The Caste system is intended to provide some structure and stability to Gorean society.
"It is apparently one of the socially stabilizing forces on Gor. It tends to reduce the dislocations, disappointments and tragedies inherent in more mobile structures, in which men are taught that they are failures if they do not manage to make large amounts of money or excel in one of a small number of prestigious professions. The system also helps to keep men of energy and high intelligence in a wide variety of occupations, this preventing the drain of such men into a small number of often artificially desiderated occupations, this tending then to leave lesser men, or frustrated men, to practice other hundreds of arts the survival and maintenance of which are important to a superior civilization." (Dancer of Gor, p.186-7)
Gorean society has a firmly established Caste system, a very important aspect of their society. Almost every Free Person of the cities of Gor belongs to a Caste. Priest-Kings, slaves and outlaws are the three primary exceptions who stand outside of the Caste system. Priest-Kings are considered the gods of Gor and slaves are considered property and thus they have no status in the Caste system.
An outlaw is a man who chooses to rebel against the Caste system. He either refuses to follow the Caste he was born into or tries to change his Caste without going through the proper procedures. Such a man, if convicted of being an outlaw, is banished from his city, losing his connection to his Home Stone and losing any Caste status. If he dares to return to a city, he will typically be arrested and subject to impalement. The loss of a connection to your Home Stone and the Caste system is considered a terrible loss and thus there are few outlaws on Gor. Outlaws live a precarious existence on the outskirts of civilization, hiding in the wilds such as the Voltai Mountains or the Northern Forests. Only the Peasant might aid an outlaw as the Peasant feels he has little an outlaw would consider worth stealing. Thus, some outlaws and peasants have formed a tacit agreement to assist each other. The peasant will help to protect the outlaw and the outlaw will then share what he acquires.
There are other people who do not fall into one of these exceptions but are still outside of the Caste system. There are some whom have lost their Caste for various reasons. For example, a slave who is freed has no Caste upon manumission. They must petition to join a Caste, even if they had belonged to a Caste before they had been enslaved. A few people are born outside of the Caste system such as the children of an outlaw. A few occupations are not associated with a Caste such as gardening, domestic service and herding. Some of these people still have a connection to a Home Stone and thus are not in the same predicament as an outlaw though their lack of a Caste is detrimental in various ways. We must also consider the barbarian cultures outside of civilized Gor as they do not have a Caste system. These would include such cultures as the Wagon Peoples, Torvaldslanders, Red Savages, Red Hunters and the Tribesmen of the Tahari, Panther Girls and Talunas. It is the people of the cities who can afford to be specialists within a Caste system. For the barbarian cultures, survival is a primary concern and thus they must become generalists to increase their chances of survival.
Caste is primarily governed by birth and children always take on the Caste of their father. Though upward mobility in the Caste system is infrequent it is still possible. In general, few Goreans try to raise their Caste. It would be even rarer for a Gorean to willingly lower his Caste. One way to change Caste for a woman is through Free Companionship. Normally, mating remains within the same Caste. But, in a Free Companionship a woman is permitted to take the Caste of the man if she so desires. This can serve to raise her caste, even from a Low Caste to a High Caste. But, a man cannot take on the Caste of his Free Companion. A person's abilities can also serve to raise their Caste though on the same hand, a lack of ability can lead to a demotion in your Caste. To change one's caste, the High Council of the city must approve the change based upon your qualifications for the new Caste. The new Caste must also be willing to accept you. Proper bribes can make this process easier, even if your qualifications may be lacking. Men and women are generally promoted and demoted by the same criteria in the Caste system. In practice, few Goreans actually change their Caste because they are proud of their Caste, cognizant that each Caste performs a valuable service for the community. Even the Peasant, the lowest of all the Castes, realizes that without their efforts many people would not be fed.
Except for the Assassin Caste, you must belong to a Home Stone to have a Caste. Each city has their own Caste system and each specific Caste has its own hierarchy particular to that city. Almost the only time that people from the same Caste, but of different cities, might ever meet to discuss Caste issues is at the Sardar Fairs. The Sardar Fairs are a very important time for the different Castes to share information. You cannot belong to a Caste in a city unless you also belong to the Home Stone of that city. In addition, you may only belong to a single Caste. Dual Castes are not permitted on Gor. Caste loyalty is far too important on Gor for someone to have dual loyalties by belonging to multiple Castes. Now, if one changes their Caste they obviously do not lose any knowledge or skills they acquired from the first Caste. But there might be some restrictions on their use of those previously acquired skills. For example, a Physician who became a Warrior might not be permitted any longer to operate in hospitals owned by the Physician's Caste. But, that Physician would still retain his medical knowledge and skills.
Castes also do not have complete monopolies over some of their skills. For example, any person can buy and sell slaves, not just a member of the Slaver's Caste. Anyone can learn how to wield a sword, not just a member of the Warrior's Caste. Obviously such individuals will not know or follow the Caste Codes of those Castes. In addition, there would be some restrictions on their use of those skills. A Caste would not generally permit someone to try to usurp their Caste to a major degree. Goreans also realize that commonly someone cannot practice the work of their Caste until they have satisfactorily completed an apprenticeship. This serves in part as a guarantee to the quality of the product. This guarantee would not apply to a person practicing the skills who does not belong to the Caste. It would be a matter of caveat emptor.
The welfare of the caste is of the utmost of importance to the individual Gorean. They will subsume their own individual desires and ambitions for the greater good of the Caste. It is clearly that the needs of the many outweigh the needs of the few. This is a concept that is hard to accept for many people from Earth.
The Caste system is divided into High Castes and Low Castes. The High Castes are considered socially superior to the Low Castes. There are only five High Castes and include, in order of status and importance, the Initiates, Scribes, Builders, Physicians and Warriors. The Low Castes includes all of the other established castes. They are ranked in order of importance as well though this hierarchy is not clearly defined in the books. We do know that the Peasant Caste is the lowest
Caste in the system. Some of these Castes, High and Low, also contain a number of subcastes. The lines between Caste and subcaste is sometimes vague and the subcaste may consider itself to be a separate Caste though legally it is not. Each Caste has its own Caste colors and some subcastes also have their own Caste colors. These colors are often publicly worn as people are proud of their Caste. A person may own documents that certifies their Caste status which can be beneficial if the person is seeking Caste benefits.
Lower Castes of Gor
This is by no means a complete list of all the lower Castes of Gor. This is however a list made up to give an good example of how much of a role Castes play in the Society of Gor as a whole. There are a great many sub-castes on Gor as well as many other lower Castes. It's my hope that this list will give the broader and much more general idea of the roles Castes play.
Animal Handler's Caste: The books do not state such a general Caste exists. Specific Castes do exist for certain animals but the books do not support any connection between these separate Castes.
Artisan's Caste: The books do not state such a general Caste exists. An artisan is simply a manually skilled worker. That would apply for many different Castes. The term "artisan" was used in the books, in a general sense, but never in a context that would show it was an actual Caste.
Artist's Caste: The books do not state such a general Caste exists. Art is very important to Goreans. Logically, there might be an Artist's Caste with various sub-castes depending on the medium of the artist such as painting or sculpture. But, it is also true that many artists do not sign or identify their works because they feel that the art itself is important and not the creator. The artist to be pleased and thankful that that the art chose to speak through him. As the artist often chooses to focus attention on the art and not himself, then maybe such men would not choose to form an actual Caste. That might be contrary to their beliefs about the importance of the art and the unimportance of the artist.
Assassin Caste: This is a Low Caste. This caste is comprised of those who kill strictly for pay; once evident throughout Gor, their existence has long been suppressed, though they still appear occasionally. They refuse to use poison to dispatch their enemies (they consider it the mark of an amateur) and are required by their caste codes to renounce all ties of friendship and family. In addition, they claim no Home Stone. Almost universally despised and feared by other castes. Their caste color is Black.
Baker's Caste: This is a Low Caste which is responsible for making the varied baked goods of Gor, from breads to pastries. Their Caste colors are yellow and brown. The books do not indicate that there are definitely subcastes of this Caste. Potentially, there could be sub-castes that specialized in certain types of baked goods, such as Bread-Makers or Pie-Makers.
Bargemen Caste: Some of the bargemen of the Cartius River claim to be a Caste and this claim is accepted by some and rejected by others. These bargemen ferry people across the river for a fee. There are no Caste colors given in the books for this Caste.
Bleacher's Caste: This is a Low Caste responsible for bleaching fabrics to make them white. There are no Caste colors given in the books for this Caste.
Bounty Creditor: This position is identified as part of the Merchant Caste though it is unclear if it is a sub-caste or simply a type of position. Bounty Creditors wear white and gold, the Caste colors of a Merchant. These individuals purchase a person's debts from other merchants, at a discounted rate, and then attempt to collect the face value of the debts from the debtors. They are a form of debt collector, speculating on their ability to get someone to pay. They are very tenacious in their work.
Bounty Hunter: The books do not state if this is an actual Caste or subcaste. Bounty hunters hunt down men for a fee. As proof of their success, they often save the head of their target. If their targets are very general, they may not be too particular in the identity of the head they obtain. For example, if they receive a bounty for any citizen of a specific city, they might not be too careful in ensuring that all of their heads come from just citizens. The man who pays their bounty fees may have difficulty determining if a head does belong to the specific city and often will pay the bounty hunter despite this dilemma. It is possible that Bounty Hunters are similar to mercenaries, simply hired men who may or may not have a Caste. Some may have once belonged to the Warrior Caste and others may simply have found a talent in man hunting. There are no Caste colors given in the books for these men.
Brewer's Caste: This is a Low Caste that is responsible for the brewing of certain alcoholic beverages such as paga, ale and mead. There are no Caste colors given in the books for this Caste.
Butcher's Caste: This is not specifically stated to be a Caste in the books though it seems a logical choice. Such a Caste would be a Low Caste and be responsible for the preparation and cutting of varied meats for the consumption of Goreans. There are no Caste colors given in the books for this Caste.
Camp Singers: This is not a Gorean Caste. It is a clan of the Wagon Peoples. All male Wagon People are expected to be skilled in war, hunting and herding. Some also then specialize in an additional duty and these duties are grouped into clans. Please see Scroll #37, The Wagon Peoples, for more details.
Caste of Carders: This is a Low Caste. The Carder's are a sub-caste of the Weaver's Caste which is a sub-caste of the Rug Maker's Caste. The Rug Maker's are a sub-caste of the Cloth Maker's Caste. They are responsible for the memorization of rug patterns. There are no Caste colors given in the books for this sub-caste.
Charcoal Maker's Caste: This is a Low Caste that provides one of the two common fuels on Gor, the other being wood. There are no Caste colors given in the books for this Caste.
Cloth Worker's Caste: This is a Low Caste that produces and works on cloth and cloth products. The Rug Makers are a subcaste of this Caste. The Weavers are a sub-caste of the Rug Makers. The Carders and the Dyers are subcastes of the Weavers. Other sub-castes may exist of the Cloth Worker's Caste. There are no Caste colors given in the books for this Caste.
Cosmetician's Caste: This is a Low Caste that produces and sells cosmetics of various types to free women and slaves. Most free women rarely wear cosmetics except for the bold ones though there are certain cities, such as Ar, where free women do commonly use cosmetics. Many cosmeticians treat their free women clients almost like slaves. Cosmetics for slaves are much more common across Gor. For example, there are one hundred and eleven basic shades of slave lipstick and there are even flavored lipsticks. The toenails and fingernails of slaves are rarely painted though it does occur. There are no Caste colors given in the books for this Caste.
Craftsmen: There is a book reference that lists a number of craftsmen in a city but the passage does not specify if each of these craftsmen is a Caste or a sub-caste. Now, other passages make it clear that some of these craftsmen are part of a Caste or sub-caste. For example, the carders, dyers of cloth, weavers of rugs, potters, and weapon smiths are clearly part of a Caste or sub-caste. Thus, it seems likely that the other craftsmen would also be Castes or sub-castes. These craftsmen would include carvers, varnishers, table makers, gem cutters, jewelers, tanners, makers of slippers, toolers of leather, and glaziers. If they are Castes or sub-castes, we have no idea what their Caste colors would be.
Drover's Caste: The books do not state such a Caste exists. A drover simply transports herd animals back and forth between areas. As this is essentially only herding, then it may not be a Caste at all as herding is not generally considered to be a Caste.
Dyer's Caste: This is a Low Caste responsible for the creation of various colored dyes, especially for the use on cloth and other fabrics. The Dyer's are a sub-caste of the Weaver's Caste which is a sub-caste of the Rug Maker's Caste. The Rug Maker's are a sub-caste of the Cloth Maker's Caste. There are no Caste colors given in the books for this sub-caste.
Entertainer's Caste: This is not specifically stated to be a Caste in the books. Some have tried try to gather into this alleged Caste various other Castes and professions that do not belong to any Caste such as the Musicians, Artists, Poets, Sculptors, Singers, Magicians and more. This is not accurate. Musicians, Poets, and Singers have their own separate castes though they are similar in many ways. They are full Castes and not sub-castes. Other entertainers, such as those in carnivals like magicians, mimes, acrobats and such, are usually casteless. They are outcasts and rogues who band together in a traveling group. Such people are denied the any form of honorable burial. They must wander frequently, making a meager living, and trying to stay ahead of their creditors and possibly even the magistrates.
Fishermen Caste: This is a Low Caste. The books do not state that there are any specific sub-castes of this Caste. It is possible that there could be sub-castes, differentiated by the location of the fishing, the type of fishing and the type of fish sought. For example, there could be sub-castes for Thassa, river and lake fishing. There could be sub-castes for shellfish and whaling. But that is all just speculation. There are no Caste colors given in the books for this Caste.
Goat Keeper's Caste: This is a Low Caste that is responsible for the care and breeding of Gorean goats. There are no Caste colors given in the books for this Caste.
Guardsmen Caste: The books do not state that such a Caste exists. Any guardsmen in a city appear to be of the Warrior Caste. Being a guardsman is a position within the city government and is not an actual Caste.
Hairdresser's Caste: This is a Low Caste. Many hairdressers treat their free women clients almost like slaves. Upswept hairdos are reserved for free women or high slaves as it is a mark of status. Free women sometimes even buy wigs or falls, though they desire only the hair of other free women. Usually slave hair is worn long and loose, or confined in some simple way as with a ribbon or wooden fillet. They have little need for a hair dresser. Many masters even cut their own girls' hair. There are no Caste colors given in the books for this Caste.
Harness Maker's Caste: This is a part of the Leather Worker's Caste and is likely considered a sub-caste. Not only do they create harnesses but they also produce other items that would be associated with harnesses such as saddles, bridles, reins, hobblings, and tethers. They make such harnesses for animals of all types, including slaves. There are no Caste colors given in the books for this Caste.
Healers: This is not a Gorean Caste. It is a clan of the Wagon Peoples responsible for medical skills and knowledge. All male Wagon People are expected to be skilled in war, hunting and herding. Some also then specialize in an additional duty and these duties are grouped into clans.
Lamplighter's Caste: The books do not state such a Caste or sub-caste exists. At night, many men carry their own light source such as a torch or lamp as many city streets are dark and unlit. On those streets where there are tharlarion-oil lamps, the lights are tended by those who reside on that specific street. They are not maintained by city workers. On major city streets, the city may maintain the lamps but there is no indication this work is done by a specific Caste.
Leather Worker's Caste: This is a Low Caste. They work with leather, creating a variety of different products. Leather workers also responsible for the piercing of the ears and noses of slave girls. For ears, they use long needles with no anesthetic. They then fix two tiny steel rods, with threaded ends, through the holes. To each end of the rods, they thread a tiny steel disk to hold the rods in the holes. The rods can then be removed in four days. To pierce a nose, they use a small punch to create the hole. There are no Caste colors given in the books for this Caste.
Magistrates: There are numerous magistrates in the Gorean cities including aediles, archons, praetors, prefects and quaestors. The exact powers and abilities of these different magistrates is not explicitly stated within the books. These magistrate positions are taken from ancient Greek and Roman magistrates. There is also no indication whether Magistrates form their own Caste, are a sub-caste of another or are simply positions. The books do state that magistrates are an "office" and that they must wear the robes and fillets of that office. They also carry wands of their office. As an office, that might indicate they are only a position. But, as they are legal officials, it is possible that they might belong to the Scribes Caste. There are merchant magistrates mentioned in the books and they wear white robes trimmed with gold and purple. This would indicate that at least that type of magistrate is part of the Merchant's Caste.
Mercenaries: The books do not state such a Caste of Mercenaries exists. Mercenaries may be either men from the Warrior Caste or men from other Castes who are familiar with the use of weapons. Most mercenaries are loyal only to gold and thus cannot be fully trusted.
Merchants Caste: This is a very broad caste, and contains literally hundreds of sub-castes. Those who are of this caste are concerned with the sell and trade of merchandise for a profit. There are almost as many sub-castes of the Merchant caste as there are products to be sold; a few notable ones include the caste of Slavers and the caste of Spice Merchants. The caste colors of the caste of Merchants are White and Gold.
Metal Workers Caste: This is a Low Caste, primarily smiths of various sorts. They include simple blacksmiths up to craftsmen who work in gold and silver making jewelry. These smiths often form specific sub-castes such as the Goldsmith and Silversmith. Many Caste members cut their hair short and commonly wear a tunic, leather apron and cap. There are no Caste colors given in the books for this Caste.
Locksmiths also belong to this caste and likely form a subcaste. Most entry doors on Gor have locks, generally hand-crafted and highly ornate. They are usually set in the center of the door and control a long bolt. Most are pin-tumbler locks. There are other types of locks including the disk lock, cylinder locks, padlocks, ring locks and combination locks. Most locks on slave collars are cylinder locks, either pin or disk varieties. There are six pins or disks, one for each letter in the word Kajira. Most locks are metal but there are wooden ones. Combination locks are rare, the most common ones having a set of lettered rings. It is a capital offense for a locksmith to make an unauthorized copy of a key.
Some locks are protected against intruders. Knife locks release a blade, or even several, if tampered with but they are useless against someone who knows what to look for. Poison locks have tiny pins that jut out, usually coated with kanda paste. A pit lock opens a pit beneath the opener. The pit may be filled with dangerous animals, knives or such. Sleeve locks cannot be picked. The sleeve prevents the direct entry of a wire or pick. Within the sleeve is a plug, a rounded, metal cone, which must be unscrewed before the key can be inserted. A wire or pick could not turn the cone.
Milk Vendors: The cities have vendors of bosk milk, a milk man who makes his rounds with a two-wheeled cart and ringing a bell. It is unknown if they are an actual Caste or sub-caste. They may possibly be related to the Peasant's or Merchant's Caste. There are no Caste colors given in the books for this Caste.
Miller Caste: This is likely a Low Caste responsible for operating the mills that grind the grains of Gor. There are no Caste colors given in the books for this Caste.
Moneylender's Caste: This is a Low Caste, a subcaste of the Merchant's Caste. They are responsible for loaning money and credit. There are no Caste colors given in the books for this sub-caste.
Municipal Servant's Caste: The books do not state such a general Caste exists. Cities do provide a number of public services such as laundries, kitchens and nurseries but there is no indication that the employees at these places belong to any specific Castes.
Musician's Caste: This is a Low Caste that shares some similarities with the Singer's and Poet's Castes. A Musician is not required to be literate as there is no written music on Gor. Melodies are simply passed on down the generations through teachers and families. Musicians may travel freely across Gor and are welcomed into nearly any city. By tradition and custom, Musicians are commonly not enslaved though this does not have the power of law. Musicians may still be killed, tortured or exiled as that does not violate custom or tradition. There is no indication that the separate musical instruments form their own subcastes but there is a prestige ranking for the different instruments. Czehar musicians have the most prestige, and then come the flute, kalika, drums and miscellaneous instruments. One of the best czehar players on Gor is Lysander of Asperiche. Not everyone who can play a musical instrument belongs to this Caste. Even slaves can learn how to play these instruments. There are no Caste colors given in the books for this Caste.
Peasant's Caste: This is the lowest of all Low Castes. Yet, economically, the base of life is the peasant and they are often known as the "Ox on which the Home Stone Rests." They provide much of the food for the cities, towns and villages of Gor. The people of the cities have a very low opinion of Peasants. Peasants have their own sense of nobility and honor. They have pride in their position, their land and their freedom. A Peasant who is actively engaged in agricultural pursuits is said to be "one who makes fields fruitful." This appellation is sometimes used for Peasants not actively engaged in such as an honor.
Many Peasants wear clothing that is little more than coarse sacking and go around barefoot. It is not unusual for peasants to keep their livestock in their homes during the cold winter. Most farmhouses for livestock are painted yellow with blue trim, the same colors as the Slaver's Caste. In these buildings though, the yellow predominates and Slavers tend to more equally distribute the colors. Peasants are often quite skilled with the staff and longbow (also known as the Peasant bow). Despite this skill, Peasants are seldom used, except in emergencies, in the armed forces of a city. Peasants are known for being very strict with their slaves. They prefer slaves who are large and more muscular so that they can work hard. Such slaves possess rope collars rather than metal ones.
The Peasants have their own Caste Codes like any other Caste. The Code exists not to control the lives of the Peasants but to allow their community to operate effectively. One section of their Codes states: "Neither a plow, nor a bosk, nor a girl may one man take from another, saving with the owner's saying of it." The sexual use of another's slave, without their explicit permission, is not considered a violation of this Caste Code principle. Permission to sexually use the slaves of others is implicit in the customs of the Peasants. It is considered a brief use without any intent to injure or dishonor the slave's owner. A "taking" in the context of the Code means an action intended to cause harm to the owner's rights or honor. The intent of the offender is critical to this principle.
Peasants have begin to have some problems due to the growing institution of the "great farm." A great farm is either owned by a wealthy individual or a company. This company may often generate its capital from investors. The intent of the great farm is to organize agricultural pursuits on a grander scale and take away such pursuits from the independent Peasant. These great farms try to purchase farms from the Peasants and sometimes resort to strong arm tactics to convince recalcitrant Peasants to sell. If the Peasants do sell their land, they will seek out new land where they can start again. Their Caste Codes discourage them from moving to a city. In the city, their skills would be largely useless anyways. They would need to find an alternative occupation to support themselves.
Perfumer's Caste: This is a Low Caste and it is responsible for the production and sale of perfumes for free women and slaves. They are usually clean-shaven and their Caste colors are white and yellow. Slave perfumes, which come in hundreds of varieties, usually have a heavier scent and are more sensual than free women perfumes. Many Perfumers though treat their free women clients almost like slaves. This does not prevent free women from flocking to the more famous Perfumers.
Players Caste: This caste is made of of those who have dedicated their lives to the furtherance of the Gorean game of Kaissa. A rare caste, but one which is found and supported in almost any city. A sub-caste of the caste of Artisans, due to the fact that most Goreans consider the playing of Kaissa to be an art form. Members of this caste are granted blanket immunity to prosecution and slavery, and are highly regarded based upon their level of skill. They wear distinctive hooded robes in their caste colors. Caste colors: Checkered, Red and Yellow.
Poet's Caste: This is a Low Caste that appears very similar to the Singer's Caste. A Singer or Poet is not required to be literate and some great men in these Castes have been illiterate. Many Goreans have superb memories and receive mnemonic training. Music and poetry is often memorized, never written down, and passed down from teacher to student. Singers and Poets are thought to be happy individuals and their Castes have greater prestige than the Pot Maker's and Saddle Maker's Castes. The saying does not mean that a Singer or Poet will only receive bread or food for his performance. A Ubar may extend this invitation and then reward the Singer or Poet with a silver or gold. Overall, Singers and Poets do not live luxurious lives but they do will never starve or need to beg. Singers and Poets have their place in Gorean society, one that is considered quite important. Singers and Poets may travel freely across Gor and are welcomed into nearly any city. By tradition and custom, Singers and Poets are commonly not enslaved though this does not have the power of law. In addition, Singers and Poets may still be killed, tortured or exiled as that does not violate custom or tradition. There are no Caste colors given in the books for this Caste.
Pot-Maker's Caste: This is a Low Caste responsible for making pottery of different types, often using kilns to prepare the pottery. There are no Caste colors given in the books for this Caste.
Rug Maker's Caste: This is a Low Caste that is obviously responsible for the making of rugs. It is a sub-caste of the Cloth Worker's Caste though the Rug Makers like to consider themselves a separate Caste. The Weaver Caste is a sub-caste of the Rug Maker's Caste. The Castes of the Carders and Dyers are sub-castes of the Weaver's Caste. The rugs of Tor are quite famous, similar to the Persian rugs of Earth. It can take over a year for five years, working together, to complete some of these rugs. The Carders memorize rug patterns and some of the Carders are even blind. Patterns can be quite complex and are passed down through the generations. These rugs are made on simple looms and each knot is hand-tied by a free woman, not a slave. The more intricate rugs may have as many as 400 knots within a square hort. These rugs are also dyed many different colors and most of the dyes used are derived from natural plant or animal products. There are no Caste colors given in the books for this Caste.
Saddle Maker's Caste: This is a Low Caste. It is likely a sub-caste of the Leather Worker's Caste. They produce the saddlery, harness and tack used to manage all of the various riding and draft beasts of Gor. There are no Caste colors given in the books for this Caste. There is some confusion as the Harness Maker's Caste is said to also produce saddles. Thus, it is possible that the Saddle-Makers are a sub-caste of the Harness Maker's.
Sailor's Caste: The books do not indicate that this is definitely a Caste or sub-caste. It is logical to assume that this could be a Caste. Such a Caste might include sub-castes such as River Sailors and Thassa Sailors.
Salt Hunters: This is not a Gorean Caste. It is a clan of the Wagon Peoples obviously responsible for locating salt. All male Wagon People are expected to be skilled in war, hunting and herding. Some also then specialize in an additional duty and these duties are grouped into clans.
Scarers: This is not a Gorean Caste. It is a clan of the Wagon Peoples responsible for creating the important scars that mark the men of the Wagon Peoples. All male People are expected to be skilled in war, hunting and herding. Some also then specialize in an additional duty and these duties are grouped into clans.
Ship Builders: Shipwrights may form their own Caste though it seems logical that they could be a sub-caste of the Builder's Caste. Other craftsmen that contribute to the building of a ship, such as sail-makers, rope-makers, pulley-makers, oar-makers, sawyers, and carpenters are all not their own Caste or sub-caste. In Port Kar, they basically form guilds and not Castes. This may apply to other port cities as well though that is not a given.
Singer's Caste: This is a Low Caste that appears very similar to the Poet's Caste. A Singer or Poet is not required to be literate and some great men in these Castes have been illiterate. Many Goreans have superb memories and receive mnemonic training. Music and poetry is often memorized, never written down, and passed down from teacher to student. Singers and Poets are thought to be happy individuals and their Castes have greater prestige than the Pot Maker's and Saddle Maker's Castes. The saying does not mean that a Singer or Poet will only receive bread or food for his performance. A Ubar may extend this invitation and then reward the Singer or Poet with a silver or gold. Overall, Singers and Poets do not live luxurious lives but they do will never starve or need to beg. Singers and Poets have their place in Gorean society, one that is considered quite important. Singers and Poets may travel freely across Gor and are welcomed into nearly any city. By tradition and custom, Singers and Poets are commonly not enslaved though this does not have the power of law. In addition, Singers and Poets may still be killed, tortured or exiled as that does not violate custom or tradition. There are no Caste colors given in the books for this Caste.
Slaver's Caste: This is a Low Caste.
Sleen Trainer's Caste: This is a Low Caste responsible for the care, breeding and training of sleens, a feline-like animal that can be trained for many various different functions such as herding, tracking and guarding. Their Caste colors are brown and black.
Tarn Keeper's Caste: This is a Low Caste that is responsible for the care, breeding and training of the tarns, the aerial mounts of Gor. Tarn Keepers often crop their hair short and it appears that their Caste color is brown as they wear brown leather. Their leather may be streaked with colors if they support one of the racing tarn factions. They also wear caps and the color of the tassel on that cap may also match the color of their tarn racing faction.
Tavern Owners: These individuals are part of the Merchant's Caste though it is unknown if they form an actual sub-caste or not. There are no Caste colors given in the books for these individuals. They may simply wear the colors of the Merchant Caste.
Tharlarion Keeper's Caste: This is a Low Caste that is responsible for the care, breeding and training of the mighty tharlarions, a common mount on Gor especially in those areas that have not yet mastered the tarn. There are no Caste colors given in the books for this Caste.
Thieves' Caste: There are few thieves on Gor and they are punished severely if caught. For a first offense, the penalty is commonly an ear notching. Such a notching would open be quite visible, unless covered by one's hair, and would mark one as a former thief. For a second offense, the penalty is determined by the sex of the thief. If the thief is a man, he will have his right hand severed. If the thief is a woman, she will be enslaved. Thus, only a man has a chance to commit a third offense as a free person. The penalty for that offense is the loss of the left hand and both feet.
But there is a Caste of Thieves in Port Kar, the only one known of its type on Gor. Not only are thieves allowed to exist, but it is even considered an honorable profession. Their skills are held in high repute. The thieves themselves are proud and sons often follow in the footsteps of their father. Even women may belong to this Caste and freely practice its skills. The Caste is very territorial and dole out specific territories to its members. They also will hunt down thieves who choose not to belong to the Caste. Caste members wear a brand on their right cheek, the infamous Thief's Scar. It is a tiny, three-pronged brand burned into the face in back of and below the right eye, over the cheekbone. It does seem strange that a thief who relies on not being caught should advertise their affiliation so openly. Maybe it is considered more of a challenge that way, a method of culling out the weak and foolish.
Ear notching and mutilation are not punishments in Port Kar for thievery. But, there are sanctions, some quite severe, for thieves who are caught. It is legally permitted for someone to kill a thief if you can catch that thief within one Ahn of the theft. It would obviously behoove a thief to make someone else aware of the theft so that third party could attest to the proper tolling of the Ahn. Otherwise, if only the thief knew when the theft occurred, and the victim killed the thief after the Ahn had passed, there would be no one to attest to the fact that the killing was not legal. After an Ahn has passed, then if a Thief is caught he must be turned over to the police of the city arsenal. A trial will be held on the charges. If a male thief is then found guilty, he would be sentenced to hard labor in the arsenal or on the wharves, for a time period of one week to one year. If a female thief is then found guilty, she would be sentenced to serve in a penal brothel for a time period of one week to one year.
Torturers: This is not a Gorean Caste. It is a clan of the Wagon Peoples and only they have such a clan. All male Wagon People are expected to be skilled in war, hunting and herding. Some also then specialize in an additional duty and these duties are grouped into clans. Torturers are very well trained in the arts of detaining life and interrogation. They wear hoods when engaged in their work unless their victim has been sentenced to death. Torturers do hire themselves out to non-Wagon People, especially to Ubars and Initiates though anyone could possibly hire one. The Torturers are not Assassins. They only perform their work on prisoners and captives.
Urt Hunters: The books do not specifically state that this is a Caste or sub-caste. The books only mention urt hunters in Port Kar and this might be because Port Kar is the only known port city that has numerous canals running through it. Urt hunters try to keep the urt population in the canals down. They usually use a pronged urt spear and some type of bait, often a slave girl. The hunters row out into the canals. The slave girl who will be used as bait has a long rope, maybe twenty feet long, around her neck and it is tied to the bow ring. The kajira will jump into the water and splash around to attract urts. It is cheaper to use slave girls than a side of tarsk. Live verr are sometimes used as bait but they are not as effective. Urts usually approach their intended prey with their snout and eyes above water. You can thus detect an approaching urt and that should give the slave girl sufficient time to return to the boat before she is attacked. Not all girls are so lucky though. The hunter will then try to spear the urt. Some men will turn their own girls over to a urt hunter for discipline. A few days of being used as bait for urts will almost assuredly make them much more obedient.
Vart Trainer's Caste: The books do not specifically state that such a Caste or sub-caste exists. It is clear that certain men on Tyros do train varts to be used as weapons. This would be a special skill and thus it seems logical that it could form a Caste.
Vintner's Caste: This is a Low Caste responsible for making wine and wine-based products. Their Caste colors are white and green and they commonly wear a white tunic with a representation in green cloth of leaves about the collar and down the sleeves.
Waste Collector's Caste: The books do not state such a Caste or subcaste exists. Male slaves, not free people, are commonly used to bring waste products from the cities to the carnariums outside the city walls.
Weaver's Caste: This is a Low Caste responsible for the weaving of different items, especially rugs. The Weaver's is a sub-caste of the Rug Maker's Caste which is a sub-caste of the Cloth Worker's Caste. There are no Caste colors given in the books for this Caste.
Woodsman's Caste: This is a Low Caste also known as the Carriers of Wood. They provide one of the essential fuels of Gor, the other being charcoal. They commonly wear a short, sleeveless robe with a leather region on the back and shoulders to protect them from their loads of wood. They also commonly wear leggings to protect their legs as they work in brush. They are responsible for chopping down trees and carrying the wood to market. Before they begin to chop down a tree, they will talk to the tree. They will tell the tree what the wood will be used for and then they will ask its forgiveness. It is a lonely Caste and they often do not see other people for long stretches of time. Woodsmen are usually very strong and can carry quite heavy loads of wood, strapped to their back and held in place by two straps held in their hands. A typical load might be six feet high and four feet wide. Such a load would be difficult even for many Warriors to carry. There are no Caste colors given in the books for this Caste.
Year Keepers: This is not a Gorean Caste. It is a clan of the Wagon Peoples responsible for memorizing the names of the Wagon People's years. Some are so skilled that they can recite several thousand consecutive years. All male Wagon People are expected to be skilled in war, hunting and herding. Some also then specialize in an additional duty and these duties are grouped into clans.
