Caste of Initiates

Caste Color : White - First in of rank. Members of this caste are supposed to be representatives of the Priest Kings in Gorean society. Their responsiblities include guiding the spiritual life of Goreans by use of rituals and prayers to the Priest Kings. There are rumors that some may even be able to call down the wrath of the Priest Kings upon those who have offended the Priest Kings. They wear white robes, shave their heads as well as their faces. They do not eat meat and do not indulge in alcohol. They lead a celebate life, are well learned and read. They are often feared and many times distrusted by members of the lower castes.

Caste of Scribes

Caste Color : Blue - Second in line of rank. Members of this caste are the scholars of Gor. They are the writers and historians of Gorean society. They are responsible for accounting, record-keeping, and writing. They are usually serious and studious, have an eye for detail and a passion for knowledge. There are several sub-castes in this caste which include Mapmakers - explorers, Magistrates, and Litigators.

Caste of Builders

Caste Color : Yellow - Third in line of rank. Included in this caste are architects, draftsmen, stonemasons, engineers, and other professions which are concerned with the physical creations and engineering works of Gor. Inventors and technicians who develop these types of physical creations are also included in this caste.

Caste of Physicians

Caste Color : Green - Forth in the line of rank. Those who are concerned with the healing arts belong to this caste. Members include, surgeons, apothecaries, medical researchers and health practicioners. They are recognized in all of Gor as non combatents during times of war.

Caste of Warriors

Caste Color : Scarlet - Fifth in the line of rank. Members of the military such as infantry, tharlarion calvary, and tarnsmen fill this caste. Their set of codes is known to be one of the strictest. This caste comprises the military branch of Gor government.

Caste of Merchants

Caste Color : White and Gold ~ Containing literally hundreds of sub-castes this group is a very large caste. Members of this caste deal with selling and trading of merchandise for a profit. For as many products as there are that are to be sold there are about that many sub castes.

Caste of Slavers

Caste Color : Blue and Yellow - This caste deals with the buying and selling of human merchandise. It is a sub caste of the Merchants.

Caste of Money Lenders

This caste is composed of the bankers of Gor. The members of this caste are those who trade and speculate with money for profit. The only product they handle is money.

Caste of Bakers

Caste Color : Orange and Brown - This caste consists of hundreds of sub castes. Generally they are members who prepare vegetarian food or sa-tarna in its many forms.

Caste of Butchers

This caste and its many sub-castes concern themselves with the acquisition and preparation of sa-tassna, all forms of edible Gorean meat. In conjunction with the caste of Bakers, this caste and its many sub castes are responsible for maintaining the majority of the Gorean industries involved with food service.

Caste of Sailors

There are several dozen sub-castes in this group. Each sub caste has its own specialty. An example would be the BARGEMEN who steer river barges on the freshwater waterways of Gor.

Caste of Fishermen

This caste is a sub caste of the caste of Sailors. They harvest the differing varieties of Gorean fishes and sea life for human consumption. Some sub castes include the CASTES OF RIVER FISHERMEN, THASSA FISHERMEN, and NET MAKERS.

Caste of Artisans

This caste is extremely broad. It includes many hundreds of sub castes. Any production of hand-made goods for any use, is considered to be a work of art.

Caste of Pot Makers

Caste Color : Brown and Green ~ This caste is a sub caste of the Caste of Artisans. They produce vessels used to contain substances of all kinds.

Caste of Saddle Makers

Caste Color : Tan

Caste of Metal Workers

Caste Color : Gray - . A sub caste of Artisans they are concerned with the production of most metal items made on Gor. Some of the sub castes under this one would include: SWORDMAKERS, ARMORERS, and those that work with blacksmithing or farrier work repairing wagon wheels and shoeing Gorean draft and riding animals.

Caste of Clothes Makers

Another large and expansive caste, this group contains many sub castes. They are concerned with the professional production of woven cloth and cloth products for use by the people of Gor.

Caste for Rug Makers

This group is a sub caste of the Caste of Cloth Workers. They produce woven rugs for general use. Members of this caste see themselves as independent from the Caste of Cloth Workers.

Caster of Weavers

Concerned with the professional production of textiles for the textile industry, this caste is a sub caste of the Rug Makers Caste.

Caste of Carders

Sub caste of the caste of Weavers. They produce woven cloth for the textile industry.

Caste of Dyers

This sub caste of Weavers deals with the staining and coloring of cloth for the textile industry.

Caste of Clothiers

Another sub caste of the Caste of Weavers, they produce articles of clothing for the Gorean people

Caste of Dress Makers

Sub caste of Weavers which makes feminine clothing.

Caste of Rope Makers

Sub caste of Artisans that produces rope, binding fiber, thread and cordage of all types.

Caste of Leather Workers

Sub caste of the Artisan Caste, deals with the fabrication of various leather goods from animal hides of all kinds. 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.

Caste of Thieves

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.

Caste of Assasins

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Caste of Bakers

Caste Colors : Yellow and Brown - Low caste responsible for producing various baked goods.

Caste of Bargement

Operators of a ferry crossing the rivers

Caste of Bleachers

Fabric bleacher

Caste of Brewers

Brewers of alcoholic beverages (mead, paga, ale etc)

Caste of Charcoal Makers

Maker of coal, which is one of the two common fuels in Gor (the other being wood)

Caster of Cosmeticians

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.

Caste of Verr keepers

Care, breeding and hearding of Verr

Caste of Hairdressers

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.

Caste of Harness Makers

Leather workers that create harnesses, and other items associated with hanesses such as saddles, bridles, reins, hobblings, and teathers. For animals and humans as well.

Caste of Millers

Responsible for milling grain

Caste of Musicians

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.

Caste of Peasants

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.

Caste of Perfumers

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.

Caste of Players

The Players Caste consists of those who earn their living playing Kaissa. They are not a real Caste or clan. They are made of men, of exceptional ability, of various castes who have only the game in common.

Caste of Poets

This is a Low Caste that appears very similar to the Singer's Caste. A Singer or Poets is considered "a craftsman who make strong sayings," (Outlaw of Gor, p.103) 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.

Caste of Pot-Makers

This is a Low Caste responsible for making pottery of different types, often using kilns to prepare the pottery.

Caste of Rencers

Their lives are difficult and survival is a constant battle. The Rencers do not seem to be based on any specific Earth culture. They are a caste and culture based upon the rence plant, a plant indigenous to Gor. This scroll shall examine the Rencer Caste including their evolution during the series, an evolution that Tarl Cabot may have inadvertently set into motion. Rencers fish, hunt and raise some domestic animals. Tarsks are a common domestic animal. Marsh gants, an aquatic fowl, are hunted with throwing sticks. Rencers do not live easy lives. The battle for survival is a constant task. . The only people who truly contest Port Kar's ownership of the Delta are the Rencers who live within the marshes. For many years, the Rencers lived in fear of Port Kar. But recently, the Rencers have begun to take back true control of the Delta from the predators of Port Kar.

Caste of Singers

This is a Low Caste that appears very similar to the Poet's Caste. A Singer or Poets is considered "a craftsman who make strong sayings," (Outlaw of Gor, p.103) 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

Caste of Sleen Trainers

Caste colors : brown and black - 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.

Caste of Tarn Keepers

Caste color is brown as they wear brown leather - 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. Their leather may be streaked with colors if they support one of the racing tarn factions.

Caste of Tharlarion Keepers

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

Caste of Vitners

Caste colors - white and green -This is a Low Caste responsible for making wine and wine-based products. The professional production of most fruit based Gorean alcohol is under the auspices of this caste. CASTE OF BREWERS ~ takes care of the production of the grain based alcohols.

Caste of Woodsmen

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.