CASTES

"Gold for the merchant, Iron upon the slave
Copper for the craftsman, cunning at his trade
'Aye,' said the Warrior, sitting in his hall;
'But Steel, cold Steel shall be Master of them all.' "
-a quote from the Warrior Term

Used with Permission of Marcus_ of_Ar. Much thanks, Master Marcus.

Gorean society is divided into "Castes". Each profession comprises its own caste, and each caste is ranked according to its particular place in the Gorean society. Castes are hereditary, meaning each person is born into the caste of his or her father. Although the caste system is rather rigid in its requirements, it is possible for a person to "raise" or "lower" his or her caste according to their ability and aptitude. There are three types of people on Gor that do not have a caste: Outlaws, Priest-Kings, and slaves. Each caste has a series of beliefs and rules that one must follow when practicing one's profession. These are called the Caste Codes. Each caste's codes are different. Many of the major castes of Gor have their own unique "Caste Color."

The Five High Castes of Gor
Caste of Initiates: First of the High Castes. The supposed representatives of the Priest-Kings. They are responsible for guiding the spiritual life of Goreans though their rituals and prayers to the Priest-Kings. Their white robes, their shaven heads and faces, and their refusal to eat meat or drink alcohol recognize them. Color: White.

Caste of Scribes: Second of the High Castes. They are the scholars, the writers and the historians. In their scrolls are almost all of the accounting, records keeping, and writing on Gor. They tend to be studious and serious, with an attention to detail and a passion for knowledge. Color: Blue.

Caste of Builders: Third of the High Castes. This caste includes architects, engineers, draftsmen, stonemasons, and many others, which concern themselves with the creations of the physical and engineering marvels of Gor. Color: Yellow.

Caste of Physicians:Fourth of the High Castes. This is the caste of those who concern themselves with the healing arts. Surgeons, apothecaries, medical researchers and health practitioners, are all member of this caste. Universally recognized as non-combatants during time of war. Color: Green.

Caste of Warriors: Fifth of the High Castes. This caste includes infantry, tharlarion cavalry, and tarnsmen. They have the strictest set of Caste Codes on Gor. Members of this caste comprise the military branch of Gorean Government. Although not strictly fitting into the caste system, the fiercely independent Warriors of the Wagon Peoples are generally acknowledged to be numbered among the Caste of Warriors. When a girl is born into the Warrior Caste, she does not become a Warrior, but will take a Warrior Free Companion most likely, and pass on the Codes of the Warriors to any children born to that union. Color: Scarlet.

The Low Castes of Gor Caste of Slavers: This Caste deals in human merchandise. Color: Blue and Yellow

Caste of Sailors: This caste includes several sub-castes, each with their own specialty. Color: Blue and Gold

Caste of Pot Makers: They are involved in the production of containment vessels. Color: Brown and Green.

Caste of Saddle Makers: They produce the saddlery, harness, and tack used to manage all of the various riding and draft beasts of Gor. Color: Tan.

Caste of Metal Workers: They are concerned with the production of most metal items fabricated upon Gor. There is also a subclass for the blacksmiths of Gor. Color: Steel Gray.

Caste of Woodsmen: This caste is concerned with protecting and managing the vast resources of various Gorean forests claimed by a particular city or village. They are experts in various forms of woodcrafts and are forest hunters, forest marshals, and forest trackers of Gor. Color: Brown and Black

Caste of Poets: Those who concern themselves with the creation of the poems of Gor. Color Aqua and Red.

Caste of Torturers (Wagon People): Not a common Gorean caste, found only among the Wagon People. Color: Black and Red

Caste of Players: This caste is made of those who have dedicated their lives to the furtherance of the Gorean game of Kaissa. A rare caste but found and supported in almost any city. Members of this caste are granted blanket immunity to prosecution and slavery, and are highly regarded based upon there level of skill. They wear distinctive hooded robes in their caste color. Color: Checkered, Red and Yellow

Municipal Servants: Concerned with providing various public services to a specific city or village. Color: Grey

Guardsmen: This caste is responsible for patrolling the city or village streets, arresting those that disobey the laws and assuring the general well being of the citizens. They have no specific color, as they were the color of the city or village they work in.

Caste of TarnKeepers: This caste concerns itself with the care, feeding, and training of the Gorean tarn, the fierce winged saddle-bird of Gor. Color: Grey and Green.

Caste of Merchants: Those who are of this caste are concerned with the sale and trade of merchandise for a profit. There are almost as many sub-castes of the Merchants caste as there are products to be sold. Includes the Slavers. Caste Color: White and Gold.

Caste of Singers: This caste concerns itself with the performance of verbal entertainment set to music. Colors: Aqua and Red

Caste of Assassins: This caste is comprised of those who kill strictly for pay. 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 homestone. Color: Black

Caste of Peasants: The lowest and most common on Gor, which is concerned with the maintenance, planting and harvesting of the vast lands surrounding most cities which have been divided into plots and set aside for agricultural use. They have rather strict caste codes, and are considered the masters of several forms of distinctive peasant weaponry, including the quarterstaff and the Great Bow, or "Peasant Bow." Color: Brown

Caste of Charcoal Makers:This caste concerns itself with the production of charcoal for use in Gorean forges and ovens. Color: Black and Grey

A WORD ABOUT TUCHUKS AND CASTES: Castes as such do not have a place among the Wagon Peoples. Instead, they are replaced by Clans. Thus, Clan of Leather Workers, Clan of Torturers, and so forth.

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