ASSASSIN CASTE: This is a Low Caste. ..CASTE COLOR BLACK ...BAKERS CASTE: ....YELLOW /BROWN COLORS... 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 subcastes 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.
BLEACHERS 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 subcaste 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.
BREWERS 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.
BUTCHERS 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.
CASTE OF CARDERS : This is a Low Caste. The Carder's are a subcaste of the Weaver's Caste which is a subcaste of the Rug Maker's Caste. The Rug Maker's are a subcaste 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 subcaste.
CHARCOAL MAKERS 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 WORKERS 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 subcaste of the Rug Makers. The Carders and the Dyers are subcastes of the Weavers. Other subcastes 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.
DYERS 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 subcaste of the Weaver's Caste which is a subcaste of the Rug Maker's Caste. The Rug Maker's are a subcaste of the Cloth Maker's Caste. There are no Caste colors given in the books for this subcaste.
FISHERMENS CASTE : This is a Low Caste. The books do not state that there are any specific subcastes of this Caste. It is possible that there could be subcastes, differentiated by the location of the fishing, the type of fishing and the the type of fish sought. For example, there could be subcastes for Thassa, river and lake fishing. There could be subcastes for shellfish and whaling. But that is all just speculation. There are no Caste colors given in the books for this Caste.
GOAT KEEPERS 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.
HAIRDRESSERS 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 subcaste. 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.
LEATHER WORKERS 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.
MERCHANTS: ...WHITE /GOLD COLORS... 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.
METAL WORKERS:...GREY COLOR.... 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.
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.
MONEYLENDERS: 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.
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. "There is a saying to the effect that he who makes music must, like the tarn and the Vosk gull, be free." (Kajira of Gor, p.298) But, 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.
PEASANTS 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. A Peasant is seen as "?being little more than an ignoble brute, ignorant and superstitious, venal and vicious, a grubber in the dirt, a plodding animal, an ill-tempered beast, something at best cunning and treacherous;" (Raiders of Gor, p.3) This is not accurate though as 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.
PERFUMERS CASTE: .... WHITE/YELLOW CASTE COLORS ... 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 is a Low Caste.
POETS CASTE : 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. 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. "A handful of bread for a song" is a traditional invitation extended to Singers and Poets. (Outlaw of Gor, p.104) 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. "He has his role to play in the social structure, celebrating battles and histories, singing of heroes and cities, but also he is expected to sing of living, and of love and joy, not merely of arms and glory; and, too, it is his function to remind the Goreans from time to time of loneliness and death, lest they should forget that they are men." (Outlaw of Gor, p.104) 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 MAKERS CASTE : ...BROWN/GREEN COLORS... This caste is a sub caste of the Caste of Artisans. They produce vessels used to contain substances of all kinds.
RENCER CASTE: This is a Low Caste, also known as the Growers of Rence. Please see scroll #31, The Caste of Rencers, for more details.
RUG MAKERS CASTE This is a Low Caste that is obviously responsible for the making of rugs. It is a subcaste of the Cloth Worker's Caste though the Rug Makers like to consider themselves a separate Caste. The Weaver Caste is a subcaste of the Rug Maker's Caste. The Castes of the Carders and Dyers are subcastes 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 MAKERS CASTE: This is a Low Caste. It is likely a subcaste 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 subcaste of the Harness Maker's.
SINGERS CASTE : 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. 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. "A handful of bread for a song" is a traditional invitation extended to Singers and Poets. (Outlaw of Gor, p.104) 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. "He has his role to play in the social structure, celebrating battles and histories, singing of heroes and cities, but also he is expected to sing of living, and of love and joy, not merely of arms and glory; and, too, it is his function to remind the Goreans from time to time of loneliness and death, lest they should forget that they are men." (Outlaw of Gor, p.104) 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.
SLAVERS CASTE : ...BLUE/YELLOW COLORS ... This caste deals with the buying and selling of human merchandise. It is a sub caste of the Merchants.
SLEEN TRAINERS CASTE .... BROWN /BLACK CASTE COLORS ...: 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 KEEPERS 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.
THARLARION KEEPERS 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.
VINTNER'S CASTE... WHITE/GREEN CASTE COLORS...: 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.
WEAVERS CASTE : This is a Low Caste responsible for the weaving of different items, esepcially rugs. The Weaver's is a subcaste of the Rug Maker's Caste which is a subcaste 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.
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