by Abraham Jacobson (abrahamjacobs2)
3CASTE CODES of Ethics OF THE SCRIBES
Revision 2 May 2025
Original work by the Scribes of Fina (February 2008)
Ashllee McBride, Kaellaed Rhode, Lyric Demina, Rockin Babii, Sahtalus
Sin, Yoda Winx
Revised by Yoda MacTavish in 2017 and now revised in 2025
Intro my Yoda,
Each caste has a set of "codes" which helps them maintain a series of beliefs and rules for its members. Members hold to these "codes" as they practice their profession. Each caste's code is different and deals mainly with matters of specific interest to that caste.
The ethical teachings of Gor, which are independent of the claims and propositions of the Initiates, amount to little more than the Caste Codes - collections of sayings whose origins are lost in antiquity.
{Tarnsman of Gor ~ 40}"
The Preamble of the Scribes’ Codes
“I am of the Caste of Scribes.
I shall guard the written word, for in it lies the memory of men.
I shall seek knowledge, for ignorance is the enemy of truth.
I shall act with integrity, for without it, learning is but vanity.
I shall judge with objectivity, for the law is greater than desire.
I shall discharge my duty with courage, for the truth often walks in peril.
Thus do I swear, by ink and by scroll, to be faithful to the Codes of the Scribes.”
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THE CORE VALUES OF THE SCRIBE : THE CODE OF SCRIBES
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Education : the scribes are well trained and value education
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Wagon Peoples, of all those on Gor that I know, are the only ones that have a
clan of torturers, trained as carefully as scribes or physicians, in the arts of
detaining life.
Nomads of Gor Chapter 2
Notice scribes are trained carefully like the Physicians
This account seemed strange to me, but I supposed she had no reason to lie to me. I had spent several years in the household of my teacher, who would accept no pay, because, for our caste, knowledge is priceless. One day he had said to me, "You may leave now," and I knew then that I was of the Scribes.Mariners of Gor-Page 569 Yoda and the jedi
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FAITH IN THE WRITTEN WORD
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"Tend to put more faith in the written word (presumably since it would usually be written by another scribe and therefore one following their same honour you." "And I," said the Older Tarl. "Well", said Torm, thoughtfully, for it did not behove!" he cried, "I do, I do!" I set him down. "But are you sure?" he asked. I reached for him a again, and he leaped backwards. "I was just curious," he said. "After all", he muttered, "it is not written down in a text." This time the Older Tarl lifted him up by the scruff of his robes and held him dangling, kicking, a foot from the ground. "I believe him!" cried Torm. "I believe him!" Once safely down, he had the pieties of his caste to observe." (Priest Kings of Gor)
“for he was a scribe and it is the way of scribes to love the written word and keep it from harm, “(Priest Kings of Gor)
With the decline in the libraries of Gor, it needs to recognized that Scribes protected the scrolls, even if the could not understand the words in the hope others would. We are the protectors of the written scrolls. Which is why scribes are being taught how to build libraries . "There will be many scrolls to examine and catalog when the city is rebuilt," observed the Older Tarl. "Of course," he added, "I might do the work myself!"
Torm shook with horror. "Never!" he cried. (Priest Kings of Gor)
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LOVE OF LEARNING
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A young scribe will be brought up to believe that knowledge is one’s most important possession. He will have been taught a love of learning, which is, of course, the process by which one acquires knowledge. He values not only his own knowledge, but that of others, living or dead.
Along with the above is a love of leaning. Scribes protect the law so must study them, they teach the castes with their scrolls and we hope study.
It was this love for his scrolls and for the men who had written them, centuries before, that most impressed me about Torm. In his way, he linked me, this moment, and himself with generations of men who had pondered on the world and its meaning. Incredible as it may seem, I did not doubt that he was the finest scholar in the City of Cylinders, as my father had said. (Tarnsman of Gor)
Torm, my friend of the Caste of Scribes, had been to such fairs to trade scrolls with scholars from other cities, men he would never have seen were it not for the fairs, men of hostile cities who yet loved ideas more than they hated their enemies, and men like Torm who so loved learning that they would risk the perilous journey to the Sardar Mountains for the chance to dispute a text or haggle over a coveted scroll. (Priest Kings)
Torm, the cheerful, grumbling little scribe who regarded even sleep and food as part of a conspiracy to separate him from the study of his beloved scrolls; (Outlaw of Gor)
“She did not then appear to be of the blue-robed, studious scribes. ” (Captives of Gor)
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INTELLIGENCE
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Scribes are readily identifiable by their intelligence and manner of speaking. They are uncommonly articulate, and possess a love of language (whether they understand it or not, as shown earlier).
*** My Chamber Slave's accent had been pure High Caste Gorean though I could not place the city. Probably her caste had been that of the Builders or Physicians, for had her people been Scribes I would have expected a greater subtlety of inflections, the use of less common grammatical cases; and had her people been of the Warriors I would have expected a blunter speech, rather belligerently simple, expressed in great reliance on the indicative mood and, habitually, a rather arrogant refusal to venture beyond the most straightforward of sentence structures.
Priest-Kings of Gor Book 3 Page 52
***"Were you truly of the scribes?" asked the man.
"Yes," said Inge, startled.
"The refinement of your accent," he said, "suggested the scribes."
"Thank you, Master," said Inge, lowering her head.
"She is excellent merchandise," said the man. "She has the intelligence, and education of the scribe, and yet she is obviously an exquisite and well-trained female slave."
Captive of Gor Book 7 Page 195
Being of the High Castes, scribes are instructed in the Double Knowledge.
***I was also instructed in the Double Knowledge - that is, I was instructed in what the people, on the whole, believed, and then I was instructed in what the intellectuals were expected to know. Sometimes there was a surprising discrepancy between the two. For example, the population as a whole, the castes below the High Castes, were encouraged to believe that their world was a broad, flat disk. Perhaps this was to discourage them from exploration or to develop in them a habit of relying on commonsense prejudices something of a social control device.
On the other hand, the High Castes, specifically the Warriors, Builders, Scribes, Initiates, and Physicians, were told the truth in such matters, perhaps because it was thought they would eventually determine it for themselves, from observations such as the shadow of their planet on one or another of Gor's three small moons during eclipses, the phenomenon of sighting the tops of distant objects first, and the fact that certain stars could not be seen from certain geographical positions; if the planet had been flat, precisely the same set of stars would have been observable from every position on its surface.
I wondered, however, if the Second Knowledge, that of the intellectuals, might not be as carefully tailored to preclude inquiry on their level as the First Knowledge apparently was to preclude inquiry on the level of the Lower Castes. I would guess that there is a Third Knowledge, that reserved to the Priest-Kings.
(Tarnsman of Gor, chapter 3, page 41)
Let’s think about that for a moment: The High Castes possess scientific knowledge regarding the truth of the world, and actively discourage the low castes from learning this truth. This separation of understanding is used as a means of control over the lower castes, a control which is at odds with the very freedom held up by Goreans as the ideal. Learned scribes are at the very heart of this by fostering the illiteracy which helps maintain low caste ignorance and superstition.
***My Chamber Slave's accent had been pure High Caste Gorean though I could not place the city. Probably her caste had been that of the Builders or Physicians, for had her people been Scribes I would have expected a greater subtlety of inflections, the use of less common grammatical cases; and had her people been of the Warriors I would have expected a blunter speech, rather belligerently simple, expressed in great reliance on the indicative mood and, habitually, a rather arrogant refusal to venture beyond the most straightforward of sentence structures.
(Priest-Kings of Gor Book 3 Page 52)
This may explain the Justification at the end of scribe training and the tests that are given in trainings esp the Magistrates. People that do not comprehend the laws , their application and how our Government works or for that matter our planet would not be hired in the caste of scribes.
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OBSERVANT
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An Adovocate who comes to a crime scene must be able to observe small details to solve a crime and defend their client. Same with a Magistrate. ***”Were there not eleven strings dangling from the ceiling?” he asked.
Msaliti quickly turned and looked. “I do not know,” he said. “Are there more now?”
I had not taken my eyes from Shaba. “There were twelve” I said.
“There are twelve now,” said Msaliti, counting.
“Then there are the same number now as before,” said Shaba.
“Yes,” I said, regarding him evenly.
“I must commend you,” said Shaba. “You have powers of observation worthy of a scribe—or of a warrior.” (Explorers of Gor, chapter 15, page 212-213)
These powers of observation are part and parcel of the scribe’s work, as they must quickly and accurately discern the meaning of any document. Having ascertained the source of a document as another scribe, even one long dead, a scribe will tend to put more faith in that document than in what is spoken in their presence for the simple reason that another scribe would have been following the proprieties of the Codes they share as scribes.
***My father, the Older Tarl and Torm listened amazed to my account of the truths of the Sardar.
When I had finished I looked at them, to see if they believed me.
"Yes," said my father, "I believe you."
"And I," said the Older Tarl.
"Well," said Torm, thoughtfully, for it did not behoove a member of his caste to volunteer an opinion too rapidly on any matter, "it does not contradict any text with which I am familiar."
(Priest-Kings of Gor, chapter 34,
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INTERGRITY
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INTEGRITY is simply thinking and acting in accordance with one’s personal values and beliefs. It is doing what one believes to be right, always, regardless of the cost or difficulty involved. It’s worth noting that doing what is “right” is not the same thing as doing what is “good”. “Doing the right thing” here means “acting in accordance with one’s own beliefs.” If one believes that, for example, warriors have no need to read or write, a scribe who steadfastly refuses to teach those things to any member of the Scarlet Caste would be acting with integrity.
A scribe will choose to act in accordance with what he knows to be correct. In the absence of direct knowledge or understanding, he will use deductive reasoning to arrive at the facts needed to make a decision about how to act. He will consider the options, including those which are difficult or unfavorable to the scribe himself. In the end, he will choose the action which is most congruent with what he believes to be true.
This is in direct contrast to the well-known Aphorisms of the Warriors, which must be memorized at an early age by young members of the Scarlet Caste. Integrity, it has been said, has no need of rules.
To a scribe, integrity is valued as dearly as honor is by the warrior. It is from integrity that the scribe derives his courage.
“Personal integrity, public integrity, not 'honor' but a personal wholeness allows others to draw on us as a resource. Honor is something to defend; integrity just IS. A scribe's integrity should never come into question; it just reveals itself in every action. A warrior's honor will be challenged daily.”
Lyric Demina 11/25/07
A scribe’s integrity is shown in their desire for accuracy:
***"Oh," I said, regarding his crude calendar. There were a very large number of scratches.
"Like any other day," he laughed.
I let him have another small swig at the paga bottle. "Somedays," he said, "I was not sure that I marked the wall, and then I would forget; sometimes I feared I had marked it twice."
"You were accurate," I said, regarding the carefully drawn scratches, the rows methodically laid out, the months, the five-day weeks, the passage hands.
I counted back the rows. Then I said, pointing to the first scratch, "This is the first day of En'Kara before the last En'Kara."
The toothless mouth twisted into a grin, the sunken eyes wrinkled with pleasure. "Yes," he said, "the first day of En'Kara, 10,118, more than a year ago."
"It was before I came to the House of Cernus," I said, my voice trembling.
I gave him another drink of the paga.
"Your calendar is well kept," I said. "Worthy of a Scribe."
"I am a Scribe," said the man. He reached under himself to hold forth for my inspection a shred of damp, rotted blue cloth, the remains of what had once been his robes.
Assassin of Gor Book 5 Page 277
All of this comes back to the scribe’s integrity. The abiding love of learning and the scrolls that document and represent it yields a strong desire in the scribe to ensure the correctness of his or her own work. Because this is a shared trait among scribes, and unquestionably a point of propriety, the scribe will also treasure the work of other scribes.
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OBJECTIVITY
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To be objective is to take into account all available information, to avoid any form of prejudice, bias, or wishful thinking. Objectivity is, therefore, the strict adherence to truth.
The patience, in this case, to account for differences of opinion, and to weigh them with differences in language, and culture; to be a sound, solid repository of all knowledge, without judgment (as far as a human can be).
Lyric Demina 11/25/07
The officer pointed to a distant cylinder. "The Cylinder of Justice," he said. "The execution will take place as soon as the girl can be presented." The cylinder was white, a color Goreans often associate with impartiality. Tarnsman of Gor Book 1
Behind the wagon, in the white robes, trimmed with gold and purple, of merchant magistrates, came five men. I recognized them as judges.
Hunters of Gor Book 8 Page 49
Ancient Greece and Rome
In Ancient Greek and Roman societies, there are many early examples of purple being associated with justice and the legal system. Roman magistrates would wear specifically demarcated purple-striped togas to denote their prominence and authority. The purple stripes visually communicated that they had been granted powers by the Roman Emperor to adjudicate cases and dispense justice. https://www.colorwithleo.com/what-is-the-color-associated-with-justice/
Scribes are always described as wearing blue. With one exception, The Magistrates. They wore togas that were white the color of impartiality in Gor white and with purple stripes the color of Justice. The Merchant Magistrates added Gold to show they dealt with merchant law.
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DUTY
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DUTY - (from "due," that which is owing, O. Fr. deu, did, past participle of devoir; Lat. debere, debitum; cf. "debt") is a term that conveys a sense of moral commitment to someone or something. Moral commitment is the sort that results in action, and it is not a matter of passive feeling or mere recognition. When someone recognizes a duty, they commit themselves to the cause involved without considering the self-interested courses of actions that may have been relevant previously. From the root idea of obligation to serve or give something in return, involved in the conception of duty, have sprung various derivative uses of the word; thus it is used of the services performed ?
by a minister of a church, by a soldier, or by any employee or servant.
There is very little mention of the word “duty” in the books of John Norman, and yet the concept is there. There are examples of unscrupulous men insisting that they are merely living up to what is expected of them by their codes, as with the magistrates Tolnar and Venlisius as they deal with Talena of Ar in Magicians of Gor. There is also this exchange, as a girl faces sentencing after a trial:
***The girl turned in the chain and leather to face her judge, standing removed from her and above her, in his white robes, trimmed with two borders, one of gold, the other of purple.
"You have been tried, and convicted, of the crime of theft," intoned the judge.
"She stole two gold pieces from me!" cried a man standing in the crowd. "And I had witnesses!"
"It took an Ahn to catch her," said another man, laughing.
The judge paid no attention to these speakings.
"You have been tried and convicted of the crime of theft," said the judge, "for the second time."
The girl's eyes were terrified.
"It is now my duty, Lady Tina," said the judge, "to pass sentence upon you."
She looked up at him.
"Do you understand?" he asked.
"Yes," she said, "my judge."
"Are you prepared now, Lady Tina of Lydius," asked the judge, "to hear your sentence?"
"Yes," she said, regarding him, "my judge."
"I herewith sentence you, Lady Tina of Lydius," said the judge, "to slavery."
(Hunters of Gor Book 8 Pages 49 – 50)
And here, in reference to the High Council:
***"I am not touchy on such matters," said Hassan. "I am not a warrior. I am a businessman. I recognize the right of Claudius and the high council to assurances in these matters. Indeed, it is their duty, in so far as they can, to protect Argentum against deception and fraud.
(Kajira of Gor Book 19 Page 377)
It’s clear that Goreans are serious about their obligations and that they take a dim view of anyone who attempts to prevent them from living up to them. Or at least, they’re supposed to.
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PROPRIETY
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This is a subject that is not limited to the caste of scribes, but must be understood clearly in order to fully grasp the importance of the codes to any Gorean.
Merriam-Webster defines the word “propriety” as, “correctness in manners or behavior; the quality or state of being proper.” So, let’s look at what the books have to say about propriety:
First, they are not a set of laws.
***It should be noted that this does not place a legal obligation on the warrior. It has to do, rather, with the proprieties of the codes.
(Players of Gor Book 20 Page 21)
And in fact, are distinct from laws in ways that sometimes make them more important than mere laws.
***"Many in Venna," she said, "as I understand it, are alarmed at the killing, and the mysterious footprints. Some think it is an omen or warning. The archon is consulting augurs, to take the signs."
I stood in the sand, waiting for her.
"They will concern themselves, surely, too, with legalities, and such," she said. "For example, those in the black chain who are not criminals, and for whom Ionicus does not have prisoner papers, will presumably be at least temporarily removed from the vicinity. That would mean many of the masters on our chain."
I nodded. This seemed understandable. The archon in Venna would be interested in putting his house in order before the taking of the auspices. He would doubtless regard it as politic, at least from the point of view of soothing possible apprehensions in his constituency, to become a bit more scrupulous about proprieties, at least in so serious a situation.
(Dancer of Gor Book 22 Page 339)
And finally, this:
***Once safely down Torm came over to me and reached up and touched my shoulder.
"I believed you," he said.
"I know," I said, and gave his sandy-haired head a rough shake. He was, after all, a Scribe, and had the proprieties of his caste to observe.
(Priest-Kings of Gor Book 3 Page 304)
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* REVISOR’S NOTE made by Yoda: In the year 10,157, as it is reckoned in Ar, the scribes of Fina set out to quantify the codes of our caste. We had observed the ways in which the well-documented Codes of the Warriors guided and permeated the development of character in individual warriors, the ways in which the physicians were guided by their understanding of biology, but felt that there was little available to guide the daily conduct of the scribe. So began a series of discussions amongst ourselves to define what we held most dear about our role in the world, and a parallel journey through the pages of the books. With admiration and respect for the others with whom I was privileged to make this journey, I believe I can say that it was exhaustive. The canon of Gor has increased in the intervening years, and I have added a reference here and there to account for it; the core of the research still resonates.
The websites used for the original research have long since gone the way of the 404, but have been ably replaced by Fogaban’s excellent www.thegoreancave.com. I know of no other resource that is as valuable to a scribe than this one.
Yoda Mactavish (formerly Yoda Winx)
The 4th Day of the 7th Passage Hand
Year 10,165 Contasta Ar
(14 October 2015)
Latest Revision 2025
The SCOG felt the need for an update to this document. A team of four went to work looking at all the books up to that date and decided on a reformatting of the orginal work. There are more than three beliefs and rules for the scribes. For instance bravery is folded into integrity in the last revision. But they are not the same. Scribe are keeper of the laws and truth. Its takes bravery to not pervert both of those in the face of a world real life and second life that is changing in so many ways and in the face of opposition in some cases. So, with humility we submit this list with the hope it will inspire Scribes to live up to these lofty qualities we find in the Norman books
Caste Codes of the Scribes
Scribe Subcastes Code
SCRIBE SUBCASTE CODESSubcastes include Magistrates, Scholars, Record Keepers, Teachers, Clerks, Historians, Accountants, and Explorer/Mapmakers, and according to some, the Litigators.SCRIBES OF LAW SUBCASTEThere is a saying on Gor that the laws of a city extend no further than its walls. (Outlaw of Gor, chapter 6, page 50)Regarding concealed weapons:Where weapons may not be carried, it is well to carry weapons. (Marauders of Gor, chapter 3, page 41)Qualities:AccuracyIntelligenceExcellent Powers of ObservationFaith in the Written Word over spoken agreementsPossessive of their workShare their work, to examine, dispute, and discussA love of ideas greater than the hatred of enemiesA belief that while the sword may make the cuts that form the pages of Gor, it is the Law which binds them.Scribes of Law prepare Companionship Contracts, certify the transfer of property, and certify official documents.Magistrates interrogate captives for confessions, conduct investigations, take complaints of the citizenry, sentencing and enslaving Free Women who bare their legs, sentence those convicted of crimes, act as executioners.Preparing important Companionship ContractsThe Lady Sabina, I learned from Eta, was pledged by her father, Kleomenes, a pretentious, but powerful, upstart merchant of Fortress of Saphronicus, to Thandar of Ti, of the Warriors, youngest of the five sons of Ebullius Gaius Cassius, of the Warriors, Administrator of Ti, this done in a Companion Contract, arranged by both Ebullius Gaius Cassius and Kleomenes, to which had now been set the seals of both Ti and Fortress of Saphronicus. The pledged companions, the Lady Sabina of Fortress of Saphronicus and Thandar of Ti, of the Four Cities of Saleria, of the Salerian Confederation, had, as yet, according to Eta, never laid eyes on one another, the matter of their match having been arranged between their respective fathers, as is not uncommon in Gorean custom. The match had been initiated at the behest of Kleomenes, who was interested in negotiating a commercial and political alliance with the Salerian Confederation. These alliances, of interest to the expanding Salerian Confederation, were not unwelcome. Such alliances, naturally, might presage the entrance of Fortress of Saphronicus into the Confederation, which was becoming a growing power in the north. It seemed not unlikely that the match would ultimately prove profitable and politically expedient for both Fortress of Saphronicus and the Salerian Confederation. In the match, there was much to gain by both parties. The Companion Contract, thus, had been duly negotiated, with the attention of scribes of the law from both Fortress of Saphronicus and the Confederation of Saleria. (Slave Girl of Gor, chapter 5, page 118-119)Certifying legal transfer of property."Here are the most choice of the female slaves of the House of Cernus," said Marlenus, expansively gesturing to the two or three hundred girls.There was a cheer from the many partisans of Marlenus in the room."Pick your slave," said he.With great cheers the men hurried to the girls, to pick one that pleased them.There were shouts of pleasure, and screams, and protests, and cries and laughter, as the men clapped their hands on wenches who struck their fancy. When the men had taken their pick the girls were released from the common chain and the key, that which served to unlock collar, bracelets and anklet, was given to he who had chosen his prize. Scribes at nearby tables endorsed and updated papers of registration, that the ownership of the girls be legally transferred from the state to individual citizens. (Assassin of Gor, chapter 24, page 396)Certifying official documents as legalI did not know the business of the two men from Ar. They were Tenalion, and his man, Ronald. 'The fourth man was Brandon. He was from Vonda. He was a prefect in that city. His certifications on certain documents would be important. (Fighting Slave of Gor, chapter 22, page 277)“Do you have a witnessed, certified document attesting to the alleged contents of your purse?” I asked. “Too, was the purse closed with an imprinted seal, its number corresponding to the registration number of the certification document?”“Yes,” he said.“Oh,” I said.“Here,” he said. “I think you will find everything in order.”I had forgotten the fellow was from Tabor.“This document seems a bit old,” I said. “Doubtless it is no longer current, no longer an effective legal instrument. As you can see, it is dated two weeks ago. Where are you going?”“To fetch guardsmen,” he said.“It will do,” I said.(Mercenaries of Gor, chapter 6, page 86)--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------HISTORIAN AND SCHOLARS1. Historians and Scholars have a similar ethical bent, and both can benefit from striving to adhere to the same virtues.2. "The meaning of history lies not in the future. It is like a range of mountains with many summits. Great deeds are the meaning of history. There are many meanings and many summits. One may climb different mountains at different times, but each mountain glows in the same sun." (Beasts of Gor, chapter 2, page 33)Meaning: BE CURIOUS (keep looking, keep climbing, get to the top of things, get to the bottom of things)3. "Civilized men, the small and pale, the righteous, the learned, the smug, the supercilious, the weak-stomached and contemptuous, stand upon the shoulders of forgotten, bloody giants." (Beasts of Gor, chapter 2, page 31)Meaning: PRESERVE and TRANSMIT (never forget...)4. "Wisdom decrees that the tree of thought must not be planted where it cannot bear fruit. A man may starve trying to feed on the illusion of nourishment." (Tribesmen of Gor, chapter 17, page 258)Meaning: DISCRETION (select, balance, apportion, temper...)HistoriansAs rumor has it, Clearchus was a famous brigand of some two centuries ago who decided to legitimize and regularize his brigandage. He proclaimed his area of operations a ubarate, proclaimed himself its ubar, and then proceeded to impose taxes and levy tolls. Interestingly enough, in time, several cities accorded this ubarate diplomatic recognition, generally in return for concessions on the taxes and tolls. Finally a large force of mercenaries, in the hire of the merchant caste, in a campaign that lasted several months, put an end to the spurious reign of Clearchus, driving him from the forest and scattering his men. It is generally conceded, however, that had Clearchus had more men he might have turned out to be the founder of a state.It is not altogether clear what happened to Clearchus but some historians identify him with Clearchus of Turia, an immigrant, with followers, to Turia, now chiefly remembered as a patron of the arts and philanthropist. The woods of Clearchus, incidentally, to this day, remain a haunt of brigands.(Players, chapter 4, page 100)Military Historians“So is Dietrich of Tarnburg, of the high city of Tarnburg, some two hundred pasangs to the north and west of Hochburg, both substantially mountain fortresses, both in the more southern and civilized ranges of the Voltai, was well-known to the warriors of Gor. His name was almost a legend. It was he who had won the day on the fields of both Piedmont and Cardonicus, who had led the Forty Days’ March, relieving the siege of Talmont, who had effected the crossing of the Issus in 10,122 C.A., in the night evacuation of Keibel Hill, when I had been in Torvaldsland, and who had been the victor in the battles of Rovere, Kargash, Edgington, Teveh Pass, Gordon Heights, and the Plains of Sanchez. His campaigns were studied in all the war schools of the high cities. I knew him from scrolls I had studied years ago in Ko-ro-ba, and from volumes in my library in Port Kar, such as the commentaries of Minicius and the anonymous analyses of “The Diaries,” sometimes attributed to the military historian, Carl Commenius, of Argentum, rumored to have once been a mercenary himself.(Mercenaries, chapter 3, page 31-32)Accordingly, because of this commonality of the Home Stone, love of their city, the sharing of citizenship, and such, there is generally a harmonious set of economic compromises obtaining the labor force, in general. Happily, most of these compromises are unquestioned matters of cultural tradition. They are taken for granted, usually, by all the citizens, and their remote origins, sometimes doubtless the outcome of internecine strife, of class war, of street fighting and riots, of bloody, house-to-house determinations in the past, and such, are seldom investigated, save perhaps by historians, scribes of the past, some seeking, it seems, to know the truth, for its own sake, others seemingly seeking lessons in the rich labyrinths of history, in previous human experience, what is to be emulated, and what is to be avoided.(Dancer of Gor, chapter 20, page 329)SCHOLARSInterests and research of ScribesSuggesting changes to the gorean alphabetMany Gorean letters have a variety of pronunciations, depending on their linguistic context. Certain scribes have recommended adding to the Gorean alphabet new letters, to independently represent some of these sounds which, now, require alternative pronunciations, context-dependent, of given letters. Their recommendations, it seems, are unlikely to be incorporated into formal Gorean. (Explorers of Gor, chapter 1, pages 9-10)Proposing reform to a single chronologyThe fellow, incidentally, had given the year of the aforementioned battle as 10,127 C.A. It was natural that he, of Ar’s Station, would give the date in the chronology of Ar. Different cities, perhaps in their vanity, or perhaps simply in accord with their own traditions, often have their own chronologies, based on Administrator Lists, and such. A result of this is that there is little uniformity in Gorean chronology. The same year, in the chronology of Port Kar, if it is of interest, would have been Year 8 of the Sovereignty of the Council of Captains. The reform of chronology is proposed by a small party from among the castes of scribes almost ever year at the Fair of En’Kara, near the Sardar, but their proposals, sensible as they might seem, are seldom greeted with either interest or enthusiasm, even by the scribes. Perhaps that is because the reconciliation and coordination of chronologies, like the diction and convolutions of the law, are regarded as scribal prerogatives. (Renegades of Gor, chapter 20, page 347)Proclaiming proper pronunciation and grammar for standard gorean languageAlso, some of the dialects of Gorean itself are almost unintelligible. On the other hand, Gorean, in its varieties, serves as the lingua franca of civilized Gor. There are few Goreans who cannot speak it, though with some it is almost a second language. Gorean tends to be rendered more uniform through the minglings and transactions of the great fairs. Too, at certain of these fairs, the caste of scribes, accepted as the arbiters of such matters, stipulate that certain pronunciations and grammatical, formations, and such are to be preferred over others. The Fairs, in their diverse ways, tend to standardize the language, which might otherwise disintegrate into regional variations which, over centuries, might become mutually unintelligible linguistic modalities, in effect and practice, unfortunately, separate languages. The Fairs, and, I think, the will of Priest-Kings, prevents this. (Beasts of Gor, chapter 9, page 154)Studying the language"In Gorean, " said Bosk, "the most frequently occurring letter is Eta. We might then begin by supposing that the combination of blue and red signifies an Eta.""I see," said Samos"The next most frequently occurring letters in Gorean," said Bosk, "are Tau, Al-Ka, Omnioin and Nu. Following these in frequency of occurrence are Ar, Ina, Shu and Homan, and so on."""How is this known?" asked Samos."it is based upon letter counts," said Bosk, "over thousands of words in varieties of manuscripts.""These matters have been determined by scribes?" asked Samos."Yes," said Bosk."Why should they be interested in such things?""Such studies were conducted originally, at least publicly, as opposed to the presumed secret studies of cryptographers, in connection with the Sardar Fairs," said Bosk, "at meetings of Scribes concerned to standardize and simplify the cursive alphabet. Also, it was thought to have consequences for improved pedagogy, in teaching children to first recognize the most commonly occurring letter.""I was taught the alphabet beginning with Al-Ka," smiled Samos."As was I," said Bosk, "perhaps we should first have been taught Eta.""That is not tradition!" said Samos."True," admitted Bosk, "And these innovative scribes have had little success with their proposed reforms. Yet, from their labors, various interesting facts have emerged. For example, we have learned not only the offer of frequency of occurrence of letters but, as would be expected, rough percentages of occurrence as well. Eta, for expected, occurs two hundred times more frequently in the language than Altron. Over forty percent of the language consists of the first five letters I mentioned, Eta, Tau, Al-Ka, Onion and Nu."(Slave Girl of Gor, chapter 25, page 475)-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ACCOUNTANTS AND RECORD KEEPERSThese Scribes handle the majority of the money and other financial matters in Gor. Most are employed by Merchants, Cities, various businesses, and people of great wealth to manage the gold and assets of their employer. They study and know the flow of money and goods thru the enterprises they are involved in always seeking was to improve revenue or reduce costs.Their goal is to help their employer better manage and run their business.Characteristics:These men and women have an affinity for numbers.Sharp analytical mindsCodes:Keep clear and accurate records.Report the true results (no falsifying of figures).Scribes as AccountantsEmployed by wealthy and powerful men.It was Caprus of Ar, Chief Accountant to the House of Cernus (a Slaver). He lived in the house and seldom went abroad in the streets. (Assassin of Gor, chapter 4, page 40)It was Luma, the chief scribe of my house, in her blue robe and sandals. Her hair was blond and straight, tied behind her head with a ribbon of blue wool, from the bounding Hurt, died in the blood of the Vosk sorp. She was a scrawny girl, not attractive, but with deep eyes, blue; and she was a superb scribe, in her accounting swift, incisive, accurate, brilliant;(Marauders, chapter 1, page 1-2)Managing the wealth of the employerShe had much increased my fortunes. Freed, she took payment, but not as much as her services, I knew, warranted. Few scribes, I expected, were so skilled in the supervision and management of complex affairs as this light, unattractive, brilliant girl. Other captains, other merchants, seeing the waxing of my fortunes, and understanding the commercial complexities involved, had offered this scribe considerable emoluments to join their service. She, however, had refused to do so. I expect she was pleased at the authority, and trust and freedom, which I had accorded her. Too, perhaps, she had grown fond of the house of Bosk."I do not wish to see the accounts," I told her."The Venna and Tela have arrived from Scagnar," she said, "with full cargoes of the fur of sea sleen. My information indicates that highest prices currently for such products are being paid in Asperiche.""Very well," I said, "give the men time for their pleasure, eight days, and have the cargoes transferred to one of my round ships, whichever can be most swiftly fitted, and embark them for Asperiche, the Venna and Tela as convoy.""Yes, Captain," said Luma."Go now," I said. "I do not wish to see the accounts."(Marauders, chapter 1, page 2-3)Chief Scribes in larger houses may have assistants"When do you have to report to Caprus?" I asked."He is one of us," she said. "He holds me to no close schedule, and lets me leave the house when I wish. Yet I suppose I should report in upon occasion.""Are there other assistants to him?" I asked."He manages several Scribes," she said, "but they do not work closely with him.(Assassin of Gor, chapter 8, page 107)Keeping an accounting of treasures and fortunes"What of the treasures here," I asked, "and Susan, and the other slaves chained here?""Scribes from the treasure rooms will be along shortly," he said, "to gather in and account for the cloths and coins. The palace slave master will be along later, too, to release the girls and put them back about their more customary duties." (Kajira of Gor, chapter 5, page 95)Scribes as Record KeepersKeeping records of complaints & petitions made to a Leader“Hail, Gnieus Lelius!” I heard.Taurentians were about the regent, and, too, some scribes. Notes, it seemed, and names, were being taken. Doubtless a record of the claims, grievances, petitions, and such, was being kept.(Mercenaries, chapter 23, page 289)Recording decisions made by leadersAs I have mentioned, there were scribes on, or near, the dais with Talena. Lists were being kept, and referred to. One list, for example, had the names of the women upon it, in the order in which they ascended the platform. It was from this list that one of the scribes announced the names. Another list, presumably a duplicate list, was kept as a record of the results of Talena’s decisions.(Magicians of Gor, chapter 9, page 157)Recording the votes at a meeting of Captains in Port Kar"I now ask the table scribe," said Samos, "to call the roll of Captains.""Bejar," called the scribe."Bejar accepts the proposals of Samos," said a captain, a dark-skinned man with long, straight hair, who sat in the second row, some two chairs below me and to the right."Bosk," called the scribe."Bosk," I said, "abstains."Samos, and many of the others, looked at me, quickly."Abstention," recorded the scribe."(Raiders, chapter 11, page 159)Keeping Official City Records & DocumentsIt was Caprus of Ar, Chief Accountant to the House of Cernus. He lived in the house and seldom went abroad in the streets. It was with this man that Vella had been placed, her registration, papers and purchase having been arranged. In the House of Cernus, after the sheet, bracelets, leash and collar had been removed, agents of House of Cernus had checked her fingerprints against those on the papers. She had then been examined thoroughly the by Physicians of the House of Cernus. Then, found acceptable, she had knelt while agents of the House signed the receipt of her delivery and endorsed her papers, retaining one set, giving one set to the seller's agent, for forwarding to the Cylinder of Documents.(Assassin, chapter 4, page 40-41)The demands of Cernus for repayment of moneys owed to him by the Hinrabians became increasingly persistent and unavoidable. Claiming need, he was implacable. The citizens of Ar, generally, found it distasteful that the private fortunes of the Hinrabians should be in such poor state. Then, as I would have expected, within the month, there were rumors of speculation, and an accounting and investigation, theoretically to clear the name of the Hinrabian, was demanded by one of the High Council, a Physician whom I had seen upon occasion in the house. The Scribes of the Central Cylinder examined the records and, to their horror, discrepancies were revealed, in particular payments to members of the Hinrabian family for services it was not clear had ever been performed; most outstandingly there had been a considerable disbursement for the construction of four bastions and tarncots for the flying cavalry of Ar, her tarnsmen; the military men of Ar had waited patiently for these cylinders and were now outraged to discover that the moneys had actually been disbursed, and had apparently disappeared; the parties, presumably of the Builders, to which the disbursements had been made were found to be fictitious. Further, at this time, the Odds Merchants of the Stadium of Tarns made it known that the Administrator was heavily in debt, and they, not to be left out, demanded their dues.(Assassin, chapter 17, page 234)----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------TEACHERSScribes as TeachersTutoring the sons of rich menan intent, preoccupied scribe lean and clad in the scribe's blue, with a scroll, perhaps come north for high fees to tutor the sons of rich men;(Hunters of Gor, chapter 3, page 41)Teaching Tarl to read goreanWith annoyance, Torm poked through one of the enormous piles of scrolls and at last, on his hands and knees, fished out one skimpy scroll, set it in the reading device - a metal frame with rollers at the top and bottom - and, pushing a button, spun the scroll to its opening mark, a single sign.'Al-Ka!' said Torm, pointing one long, authoritative finger at the sign. 'Al-Ka,' he said.(Tarnsman, chapter 3, page 38)In the next few weeks I found myself immersed in intensive activity, interspersed with carefully calculated rest and feeding periods. At first only Torm and my father were my teachers,...(Tarnsman, chapter 3, page 38)Teaching others to readShe had been taught to read by another girl, also free, of the Scribes, a thin, brilliant girl, whose name was Luma, who handled much of the intricate business of the great house.(Captive of Gor, chapter 17, page 359)Teaching a Warrior history, geography, caste system and protocol'You must learn,' Torm had said matter-of-factly, 'the history and legends of Gor, its geography and economics, its social structures and customs, such as the caste system and clan groups, the right of placing the Home Stone, the Places of Sanctuary, when quarter is and is not permitted in war, and so on.'And I learned these things, or as much as I could in the time I was given. Occasionally Torm would cry out in horror as I made a mistake, incomprehension and disbelief written on his features, and he would then sadly take up a large scroll, containing the work of an author of whom he disapproved , and strike me smartly on the head with it. One way or another, he was determined that I should profit by his instruction.(Tarnsman, chapter 3, page 40)----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------GEOGROPHERS AND CARTOGRAPHERSScribes as Geographers and CartographersExploring and mapping unknown territory“Surely Shaba will have others of his caste with him, geographers of the scribes,” I said.(Explorers, chapter 19, page 237)The men with him, I suspected, or most of them, were members of his own caste, geographers of the scribes, perhaps, but men inured to hardships, perhaps men who had been with him in his explorations of Ushindi and Ngao, men he trusted and upon whom he could count in desperate situations, caste brothers.(Explorers, chapter 22, page 251)“Look there,” said Shaba, indicating a table to one side, on which there lay a cylindrical leather case, with a leather cap, and four notebooks, heavy and bound with leather.“I see,” I said.“There is a map case there,” he said, “and my notebooks. I have, in my journey, charted the Ua, and in the notebooks I have recorded my observations. Those things, though you, of the warriors, may not understand this, are priceless.”“Your records would doubtless be of value, to geographers,” I said.“They are,” said Shaba, “of inestimable value to all civilized men.”“Perhaps,” I said.“The maps, those records,” said Shaba, “open up a new world. Think not only in terms of crass profit, my friend, of the bounties there to hunters and trappers, to traders and settlers, to planters and physicians, but to all men who wish to understand, who wish to know, who wish to unveil hidden secrets and penetrate hitherto unsolved mysteries. In these maps and records, for those who can understand them, lie the first glimpses of new and vast countries. In these maps, and in these notes and drawings, there are treasures and wonders.”(Explorers, chapter 53, page 433)I thought of Bila Huruma, and the loneliness of the Ubar. I thought of Shaba, and his voyages of exploration, the circumnavigation of Lake Ushindi, the discovery and circumnavigation of Lake Ngao, and the discovery and exploration of the Ua, even to the discovery of its source in the placid waters of that vast lake he had called Lake Bila Huruma. But by the wish of Bila Huruma I had changed its name to Lake Shaba. He was surely one of the greatest, if not the greatest, of the explorers of Gor. I did not think his name would be forgotten.“I am grateful,” had said Ramani of Anango, who had once been the teacher of Shaba. I had delivered to him, and to two others of his caste, the maps and notebooks of Shaba. Ramani and his fellows had wept. I had then left them, returning to my lodgings. Copies would be made of the maps and notebooks. They would then be distributed by caste brothers throughout the cities of civilized Gor. The first copies that were made by anyone had already, however, been made, by the scribes of Bila Huruma in Ushindi.(Explorers, chapter 57, page 454 )--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------*note: There are several printings and versions of the Gor novels. To clarify the page notations I am referencing the book versions used here.Tarnsman of Gor. Twentieth edition. New York: Balentine Books, 1984Outlaw of Gor. Nineteenth printing. New York: Balentine Books, 1984Assassin Of Gor. Sixth edition. New York: Balentine Books, 1974Raiders of Gor. Sixteenth edition. New York: Balentine Books, 1985Captive of Gor. Fifteenth edition. New York: Balentine Books, 1982Marauders of Gor. First edition. New York: DAW Books, 1975Tribesmen of Gor. First edition. New York: DAW Books, 1976*Slave Girl of Gor. an E-Reads edition. New York: e-reads.com, 2007Beasts of Gor. First edition. New York: DAW Books, 1978Explorers of Gor. First edition. New York: DAW Books, 1979Fighting Slave of Gor. First edition. New York: DAW Books, 1980Kajira of Gor. First edition. New York: DAW Books, 1983Players of Gor. First edition, New York: DAW Books, 1984Mercenaries of Gor. First edition. New York: DAW Books, 1985Dancer of Gor. an E-Reads edition. New York: e-reads.com, 2007Renegades of Gor. First edition. New York: DAW Books, 1986Magicians of Gor. an E-Reads edition. New York: e-reads.com, 2007
Scribe Code Aphorisms
SCRIBE CODE APHORISMSThere are three core values of a scribe: Integrity, Objectivity and Duty. All other values spring from these three core values.ON THE INTEGRITY OF A SCRIBE1. As rain falls upon the tree and only nourishes it, as water flows around the rock and never moves it, so the Scribe among words from above and surrounding: nourished, and unmoved.2. As the tree bends and never breaks, as the rock guides the flow around its base, so the Scribe stands true and guiding in any circumstance.3. A tree stands: though hot winds and cold rains pummel, it remains a tree; though lightning strikes, it does not change the tree to lesser things.4. The wind will blow, and the willow may weep, but the oak will stand, as solid as a keep.5. Do not fix your concentration upon a single object, action or goal. Be as expansive as the wind, as flexible as the reed, as fluid as Thassa. To be otherwise is to limit oneself to dire predictability.6. Only a sharp weapon can kill cleanly. Only a calm mind can act swiftly.7. To a Scribe, words are binding; the Codes of his caste are the most binding of all.8. Q. What are the Codes of a Scribe?A. They are the golden threads, binding the lore of the past with the actions of the present and weaving the pattern of the future.9. It is wisdom to know others; it is Mastery to know oneself. The Master of men is powerful; the Master of himself is greater. Endurance is to live long and die; Mastery is to die and not perish.10. The Scribe is always honest within himself, and in his dealings with others.11. Choose wisely the thoughts you express; it is all too easy for the owner of an open mouth to create the impression that his head is filled only with hot air.ON THE OBJECTIVITY OF A SCRIBE12. Seeing by daylight, the work reveals itself plainly; seeing by candlelight, the shadows cast new interest, a new work of art. The Scribe sees in many shades, in many lights, the whole and the parts, without awareness of one's own eyes that look.13. A dull quill will not write clearly. A torn parchment makes poor copy. A soft wit cannot discern. A slow mind does not argue well.14. A large scroll requires two hands to hold and read. A complex issue is best resolved with several minds, working to find a reasonable solution.15. The simplest solution is the best, it cuts like a razor, and leaves no trace of unrelated and unnecessary rationale.16. In matters of logic, let you be as clear as a mountain spring, as sharp as the cry of an osprey, and as firm as the bedrock.17. A careless mind betrays its weakness, in debate, observe your opponent's mind, and you shall prevail.18. To think without confusion, to write with clarity, to argue without anguish, to debate without interference of unneeded arguments, that is the goal of all goals, the inner clarity will bring out triumph.19. When your opponent thinks of an argument, then is the time to make you point. When he decides to retract, then you press the issue. There is no more powerful ally than to interrupt the flow of your opponent's argument, you tangle his wit and you gain the scales of triumph.20. What is the scribe's greatest enemy? The unrebuttted argument made by an opponent. Do not leave unanswered any claim made by an opponent.21. Within the compass of a person's own quill, that person is ubar of their own mind.22. To best understand your position, look at if from the view point of your opponent.23. To be objective, one must set aside prejudice and weak thoughts, and fairly judge competing sides of the argument.24. A wise person will concede a weak point, so that the points of strength will shine forth, unobscured by the cloud of weaker arguments.25. Know everything. Overlook nothing. See that which cannot be seen.26. If you find yourself awash in a sea of words, a short phrase will serve as the best raft.ON THE DUTY OF A SCRIBE27. As the natural way of flowers to the sun, as the natural way of tarns to true mastery, such is the Scribe in the service of truth.28. When you argue a point of law or practice, remember the owl. From on high he is silent, when the mouse appears, he strikes.29. The winds may blow in a new direction and the sun to move across the sky but it is the service of a scribe to consistently listen to the sounds of those around them.30. It is not with those we agree but those that we disagree that brings about new knowledge and insight.31. Watch. Observe. See. Know. Understand. Act.32. Those who know, speak not! Those who speak, know not.33. Thirty spokes will converge at the hub of a wheel... but the use of the cart depends upon the empty spaces between the spokes. A clay bowl is bounded by a wall all around... but the use of the bowl will depend upon the empty space within. Build a cylinder to the sky...walls 1000 feet high! But the use of the structure will depend upon the empty space within! So advantage is to be had from the solidity of things... but their usefulness must depend upon the spaces within, and what things they contain.34. Only a fool seeks fire with a lighted torch.35. As a warrior must train constantly with the blade and the spear and the bow, so must a scribe seek ever greater skill with his quill, his ink, and his wit, for these are the weapons of his Art.36. A scribe becomes familiar with every art he encounters, and learns the Codes of other Castes.37. The signpost knows the difference between divergent roads; the scribe knows the difference between right and wrong. Their purposes are similar.38. A day in which nothing is learned is a waste of both sunlight and candle wax.