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Castes of Gor
"High Castes"
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.Initiates cannot touch a woman and vice versa. 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.
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 are known to 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. Color: Scarlet.
Other Castes
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: Gray
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: Gray 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 Assassin 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 Gray
**Foot Note** Free Women (FW) may belong to any of the High castes except the Initiate caste...and FW may also belong to any of the lower castes save the Assassin Caste.
That FW were not accepted as active participants in the caste of Players is also indicated in the books numerous times.
FW are mentioned in the books most frequently as Merchants and Scribes. Female Physicains are accepted But that caste requires the Female bear 2 children before she is allowed to practice medicine. There are mentions of active Female slavers and trainers in the books.
A FW who wishes to actively engage in her Caste art does have a more limited field to choose from as opposed to one who seeks to simply be identified with a certain caste.
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