Codes Of The Black Caste

There are many Black Caste Assassin websites on the internet that list in great detail the Codes of the Black Caste and it is mostly all invention. Garian Vidor, author of the Black Caste Guide, is correct in his statement that only two codes are mentioned in the books.

 

I am now going to add further to the two codes, not by inventing, but by what is presented in the books and that could be viewed as codes.

Code - Renouce all ties of friendship and family (except during training)
Code - Kill only for Gold
Code - Do not use poison
Code - Is loyal to no Homestone
Code - Wear the sign of the Dagger on his forehead when Hunting
Code - Non shall leave the Black Caste once they become a member
Code - Training proceeds in pairs
Code - Choose Candidates for training with Great Care
Code - In the final task, the pair must hunt each other to the death
Code - Keep the Black Caste Codes secret
Code - Wear the black Garb
Code - Mark Black Caste Territory with a Black Banner
Code - Stay loyal to the Black Caste Codes
Code - Black Caste Assassins do not take bribes to call off a mark
Code - Assassins must make their own kill

Code - Assassins can allow themselves to be hired for mercenary duties

Code - Once paid, Assassins will not call for reinforcements

 

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 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.
Tarnsman of Gor, page 175

 

"Assassins, as I recall," I said, "have no Home Stones. I suppose that is a drawback to caste membership, but if you did have Home Stones, it might be difficult to take fees on one whose Home Stone you shared."
Beasts of Gor, Chapter 30

 

Code - Renouce all ties of friendship and family (except during training)
Code - Kill only for Gold
Code - Do not use poison
Code - is loyal to no Homestone

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"The training of an Assassin is thorough and cruel. He who wears the Black of the Caste has not won it easily. Candidates for the caste are chosen with great care, and only 1 in 10, it is said, completes the course of instruction to the satisfaction of the Caste Masters. It is assumed that failed candidates are slain, if not in the training, for secrets they may have learned. Withdrawal from the Caste is not permitted. Training proceeds in pairs, each pair against others. Friendship is encouraged, then, in the final training, each member of the pair must hunt the other. When one has killed one's friend, one is then likely to better understand the meaning of the black. When one has killed one's friend, one is then unlikely to find mercy in his heart for another. One is then alone, with Gold and Steel. The Assassins take in lads who are perhaps characterized by little but unusual swiftness, and cunning, and strength and skill, and perhaps a selfishness and greed, and, in time, transform this raw material into efficient, proud, merciless men, practitioners of a dark trade, men loyal to secret codes the content of which is something at which most men dare not guess."
Beast of Gor, page 358

 

Code - Must wear the sign of the Black Dagger on his forehead when Hunting
Code - Non shall leave the Black Caste once they become a member
Code - Training proceeds in pairs
Code - Choose Candidates for training with Great Care
Code - In the final training, each member of the pair must hunt each other to the death

Code - Keep the Black Caste Codes secret

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Scarcely a quarter of an Ahn had passed and the men who drank in that room had forgotten, as is the way of men, that a dark one sat with them in that room, one who wore the black tunic of the Caste of Assassins, who silently drank with them.”
Assassin of Gor, Chapter 2

 

Code - Assassins Wear black Garb

 

Solomon Note:
The Black  uniform is worn with great honor it is not a fashion statement. Goreans would only
swear on something of great importance.

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“Where are the tents of Pa-Kur?” I asked.
“On the highest ground in camp,” said Mintar, “near the second ditch and across from the great gate of Ar. You will see the black banner of the Caste of Assassins.”

 

Code - Black Caste territory is marked with a Black Banner

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The assassins take in lads who are perhaps characterized by little but unusual swiftness, and cunning, and strength and skill, and perhaps a selfishness and greed, and, in time, transform this raw material into efficient, proud, merciless men, practitioners of a dark trade, men loyal to secret codes the content of which is something at which most men dare not guess.
Beasts of Gor, Chapter 30

 

Code - Stay loyal to the Black Caste Codes

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In Thentis, for example, sleen are used to smell out contraband, in the form of the unauthorized egress of the beans for black wine from the Thentian territories. They are sometimes, too, used by assassins, though the caste of assassins itself, by their caste codes, precludes their usage; the member of the caste of assassins must make his own kill; it is in their codes.
Slave Girl of Gor, Chapter 8

 

Code- Assassins must make their own kill

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"The bolts," said the man, indicating the missiles at rest in the guides of the weapons, "are tipped with kanda. The slightest scratch from them will finish you."
"I see you are not of the assassins," I said. It is a matter of pride for members of that caste to avoid the use of poisoned steel. Too, their codes forbid it.
Beasts of Gor, Chapter 7

    "But you are of the Assassins," I said.
    "We are tenacious fellows," he smiled.
    "I have heard that," I said.
    "Do you think that only Warriors are men?" he asked.
    "No," I said. "I have never been of that opinion."
    "Let us proceed," he said.
    "I thought you were too weak to be an Assassin," I said.
    "I was once strong enough to defy the dictates of my caste," he said. "I was once strong
enough to spare my friend, though I feared that in doing this I would myself be killed."
    "Perhaps you are the strongest of the dark caste," I said.
He shrugged.
    "Let us see who can fight better," I said.
    "Our training is superior to yours," he said.
    "I doubt that," I said. "But we do not get much training dropping poison into people's
drinks."
    "Assassins are not permitted poison," he said proudly.
    "I know," I said.
    "The Assassin," he said, "is like a musician, a surgeon. The Warrior is like a butcher. He
is a ravaging, bloodthirsty lout."
    "There is much to what you say," I granted him. "But Assassins are such arid fellows.
Warriors are more genial, more enthusiastic."
    "An Assassin goes in and does his job, and comes out quietly," he said. "Warriors storm buildings and burn towers."
    "It is true that I would rather clean up after an Assassin than a Warrior," I said.
    "You are not a bad fellow for a Warrior," he said.
    "I have known worse Assassins than yourself," I said.
Beasts of Gor, Chapter 35

 

Code - Assassins do not use poison

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Yes, Master," said Hup.
"Was the begging good today?" asked Kuurus.
Hup looked at him in fear. "Yes, Master," he said, "yes!"
"Then you have money," said Kuurus, and stood up behind the table, slinging the sheath of the short sword about his shoulder.
Hup wildly thrust a small, stubby, knobby hand into his pouch and hurled a coin, a copper tarn disk, to Kuurus, who caught it and placed it in one of the pockets of his belt.
"Do not interfere," snarled the man who held the hook knife.
"There are four of us," said another, putting his hand on his sword.
"I have taken money," said Kuurus.
The men in the tavern, and the girls, began to move away from the tables.
"We are Warriors," said another.
Then a coin of gold struck the table before the Assassin, ringing on the wood.
All eyes turned to face a paunchy man, in a robe of blue and yellow silk. "I am Portus," he said. "Do not interfere, Assassin."
 Kuurus picked up the coin and fingered it, and then he looked at Portus. "I have already taken money," he said.
Portus gasped.

Assassin of Gor, Chapter 2

 

Code -  Black Caste Assassins do not take bribes to call off a mark

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"I shall permit my sword to be hired," said Kuurus.
"Good!" cried Portus, his hands on the table, his eyes gleaming. "Good!"
"By the House of Cernus," said the assassin.
Assassin of Gor, Chapter 2
 
"Greetings, Flaminius," said Ho-Tu. "May I introduce Kuurus, of the black caste, but of our employ?"
Assassin of Gor, Chapter 11

 

Since the siege of Ar, when Pa-Kur, Master Assassin, had violated the limits of his caste and had presumed, in contradiction to the traditions of Gor, to lead a horde upon the city, intending to make himself Ubar, the Caste of Assassins had lived as hated, hunted men, no longer the esteemed mercenaries whose services were sought by cities and, as often by factions within cities. Now many assassins roamed Gor, fearing to wear the sombre black tunic of their caste, disguised as members of other castes, not infrequently as warriors.
Outlaw Of Gor – Page 71/72

 

Code - Black Caste Assassins can allow themselves to be hired for mercenary duties

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"Let us get more men," said Gito.
"We have taken fee," said the lieutenant, "as have you."
Witness Of Gor Chapter 37 Part 2

 

Code - Once paid, Assassins will not call for reinforcements