Gorean Religion!

"It was common, of course, for Initiates to claim to speak for the Priest-Kings; indeed, it was presumably the calling of their caste to interpret the will of the Priest-Kings to men." — Outlaw of Gor, page 41.

 

First of the High Castes

The self-proclaimed highest caste of the High Castes (and almost universally accepted) is that of the Initiates. Initiate The caste color of the Initiates is white, denoting impartiality. The Initiates are the self-proclaimed representatives of the Priest Kings, responsible for guiding the spiritual life of Goreans though their rituals and prayers to the Priest Kings, although this is much disputed (refer to the Gorean Religion page). They wear white robes; their heads and faces are clean-shaven. They are not allowed to eat beans or meat and they abstain from alcohol. They converse with each other in an archaic Gorean no longer used by the common people and even conduct their religious services in this archaic tongue. They are trained in the mysteries of mathematics.1 Initiates consider themselves to be the highest caste and superior to all others on the planet.

"They regard themselves as the highest caste, and in many cities, are so regarded generally." — Marauders of Gor, page 28.

"The tier nearest the floor, which denoted some preferential status, the white tier, was occupied by Initiates, Interpreters of the Will of Priest-Kings." — Tarnsman of Gor, page 61.

"The cylinder was white, a color Goreans often associate with impartiality. More significant, it indicated that the justice dispensed therein was the justice of Initiates." — Tarnsman of Gor, page 194.

"Initiates commonly wear white and have their heads shaved, abstain from alcohol and food presumably. In some cities, they are quite powerful, and in others, largely peripheral to the life of a community. Their temples are lavishly and ornately decorated, though there are many that seem very austere, depending on the city or taste of the community. The Chief Initiate claims to be the chief of all Initiates, but there seems to be a Chief of Initiates in all cities, all purporting the same claim. The symbol of the Priest-Kings is a large golden circle, the symbol of eternity, placed on the high altar of each temple. The 'sign of the Priest-Kings' similarly is made with a closed, circular motion. The lower castes seem to take the teachings of the Initiates more seriously than those of the high castes." — Dancer of Gor, page 280.

"He was flanked by minor initiates, in their white robes, with shaven heads. Initiates do not eat meat, or beans. They are trained in the mysteries of mathematics. They converse among themselves in archaic Gorean, which is no longer spoken among the people. Their services, too, are conducted in this language. Portions of the services, however, are translated into contempory Gorean. When I had first come to Gor I had been forced to learn certain long prayers to the Priest-Kings, but I had never fully mastered them, and had, by now, long forgotten them." — Marauders of Gor, page 26.

 

Organization and Education

The Initiates are a universally well-organized and industrious caste. The caste is responsible to have built several monasteries, temples and other holy places. Often an Initiate will travel hundreds of pasangs, but will easily find a house of Initiates to retire when evening falls.

"The initiates are an almost universal, well-organized, industrious caste. They have many monasteries, holy places and temples. An initiate may often travel for hundreds of pasangs, and, each night, find himself in a house of initiates." — Marauders of Gor, page 28.

The education of the Initiates, in addition to mathematics, is of little practical value, generally spending time pouring over tedious texts and observing their own calendar (which differs from the common calendars), and learning their exhaustive rituals. This teaching does, however, bind them collectively, making them not only feel different from the common Gorean, but truly setting them apart from others, especially those of the lower castes. Those of the other four high castes tend not to regard the Initiates with seriousness. The lower castes, however, are far more superstitious, and though there may be doubts as to the claims of the Initiates, it is commonly and absolutely known that there are, in fact, Priest-Kings; evidence of such includes the Flame Death. Therefore, rather than risk incurring the wrath of these unknown creatures, the common man dutifully pays its fees to keep the temples wealthy and remain at least in soulful peace. Of course, with such a secretive caste, rumors abound of great magics and spells are kept in the archaic texts of the Intiates.

"Their education, generally, is of little obvious practical value, with its attention to authorized exegeses of dubious, difficult texts, purporting to be revelations of Priest-Kings, the details and observances of their own calendars, their interminable involved rituals and so on, but paradoxically, this sort of learning, impractical though it seems, has a subtle practical aspect. It tends to bind initiates together, making them interdependent, and muchly different from common men. It sets them apart, and makes them feel important and wise, and specially privileged. There are many texts, of course, which are secret to the caste, and not even available to scholars generally. In these it is rumored there are marvelous spells and mighty magic, particularly if read backwards on certain feast days. Whereas initiates tend not to be taken with great seriousness by the high castes, or the more intelligent members of the population, except in matters of political alliance, their teachings and purported ability to intercede with Priest-Kings, and further the welfare of their adherents, is taken with great seriousness by many of the lower castes. And many men, who suspect that the initiates, in their claims and pretensions, are frauds, will nonetheless avoid coming into conflict with the caste. This is particularly true of civil leaders who do not wish the power of the initiates to turn the lower castes against them. And, after all, who knows much of Priest-Kings, other than the obvious fact that they exist. The invisible barrier about the Sardar is evidence of that, and the policing, by flame death, of illegal weapons and inventions. The Gorean knows that there are Priest-Kings. He does not, of course, know their nature. That is where the role of the initiates becomes most powerful, The Gorean knows there are Priest-Kings, whoever or whatever they maybe. He is also confronted with a socially and economically powerful caste that pretends to be able to intermediate between Priest-Kings and common folk. What if some of the claims of Initiates should be correct? What if they do have influence with Priest-Kings? The common Gorean tends to play it safe and honor the Initiates. He will, however, commonly, have as little to do with them as possible. This does not mean that he will not contribute to their temples and fees for placating Priest-Kings." — Marauders of Gor, pages 28-29.
"Initiates, though often feared by lower castes, are also regarded as being a bit odd, and often figure in common, derisive jokes. … — Marauders of Gor, page 29.
"But the initiates, like many Gorean castes, were tradition bound. Besides, they were quite powerful as it was. Most Goreans took with some seriousness their claim to be able to placate and influence Priest-Kings. That was more than they needed for considerable power." — Marauders of Gor, page 30.

 

Women and the Initiates

Women can never become an Initiate. Bear in mind, this too sets precedence with regards to women and religion in other forms of cultures as well.

"No female, incidentally, may become an Initiate." — Marauders of Gor, page 30.

 

Religious Teachings

Religious teachings are carefully guarded by the Inititates. Little is extended to other castes as far as allowed participation in certain rituals and ceremonies. Prayers exist, but in the language of "Old Gorean" which is not the fake language created by roleplayers attempting to pass it off as "true." Incidentally, there was a degree of distrust held between the Caste of Scribes and the Caste of Initiates, and most likely between most of the High Castes and the Initiates as well.

"Oddly enough, there was little religious instruction, other than to encourage awe of the Priest-Kings, and what there was, Torm refused to administer, insisting it was the province of the Initiates. Religious matters on this world tend to be rather carefully guarded by the Caste of Initiates, who allow members of other castes little participation in their sacrifices and ceremonies. I was given some prayers to the Priest-Kings to memorize, but they were in Old Gorean, a language cultivated (pg.38) by the Initiates but not spoken generally on the planet, and I never bothered to learn them. To my delight, I learned that Torm, whose memory was phenomenal, had forgotten them years ago. I sensed that a certain distrust existed between the Caste of Scribes and the Caste of Initiates. " — Tarnsman of Gor, page 40.

 

Caste Government

The Initiates are governed by High Initiates scattered around the planet. With the planet of Gor so widespread, specific cities are assigned the official "seat" of these High Initiates. For example, the seat of the High Initiate of the north is Kassau, which governs an area of land hundreds of pasangs around it. The next nearest seat of the High Initiate of Kassau is several hundred miles south in Lydius.

"The High Initiate of Kassau, a town at the northern brink of the forest, sat still in his white robes, in his tall hat, on the throne to the right, within the white rail that separated the sanctuary of Initiates from the common ground of the hall, where those not anointed by the grease of Priest-Kings must stand." — Marauders of Gor, page 25.

"Kassau is the seat of the High Initiate of the north, who claims spiritual sovereignty over Torvaldsland, which is commonly taken to commence with the thinning of the trees northward. This claim, like many of those of the initiates, is disputed by few, and ignored by most." — Marauders of Gor, pages 25-26.

"The most important thing about Kassau, however, was that it was the seat of the High Initiate of the north. It was, accordingly, the spiritual center of a district extending for hundreds of pasangs around. The nearest High Initiate to Kassau was hundreds of pasangs south in Lydius." — Marauders of Gor, page 28.

"I looked at the cold, haughty, pale face of the High Initiate on his throne." — Marauders of Gor, page 26.

 

A Supreme Initiate

Of course, even in and especially with, the Initiates, megalomania runs rampant. One such High Initiate in the early days of Ar, proclaimed himself to be the Supreme Initiate, the one chosen by the Priest-Kings to represent all Initiates of Gor. The High Initiates of other cities, of course, did not acknowledge this claim, as they regard themselves sovereign, the supreme repository of power, in their own cities. However, the general population was in awe of the man, perhaps due to the manipulative teachings of this world. The Priest-Kings, however, replied in their unique way to this claim.

"In a surprise move, which perhaps should have been anticipated, the High Initiate of the city of Ar appeared on the walls. This man claimed to be the Supreme Initiate of all Initiates on Gor and to take his appointment from the Priest-Kings themselves. Needless to say, his claim was not acknowledged by the Chief Initiates of Gor's free cities, who regarded themselves as sovereign in their own cities." — Tarnsman of Gor, page 187.

A great, solemn, hollow voice boomed. All eyes on the roof returned to the sound of that voice. The Supreme Initiate of Ar himself stood forth, separating himself disdainfully from the cowering knot of white-robed figures that cringed behind him. He strode majestically across the roof. Both the men of Ar and those of Pa-Kur fell back. The Supreme Initiate was an emaciated, incredibly tall man, with smooth-shaven, bluish, sunken cheeks and wild, prophetic eyes. He was ascetic, fervent, sinister, fanatic. One long, claw like hand was raised grandly to the heavens. "Who will challenge the will of the Priest-Kings?" he demanded. No one spoke. The men, of both sides, fell back even farther. Pa-Kur himself seemed awed. The spiritual power of the Supreme Initiate was almost sensible in the air. The religious conditioning of the men of Gor, based on superstition though it might be, was as powerful as a set of chains - more powerful than chains because they did not realize it existed. They feared the word, the curse, of this old man without weapons more than they would have feared the massed swords of a thousand foemen. — Tarnsman of Gor, page 206.

"If it is the will of the Priest-Kings," I said, "to bring about the death of an innocent girl, then I challenge their will." Such words had never before been spoken on Gor. Except for the wind, there was no sound on the great cylinder. The supreme Initiate turned and faced, pointing that long skeletal finger. "Die the Flame Death," he said.
I had heard of the Flame Death from my father and the Older Tarl — that legendary fate which overtook those who had transgressed the will of the Priest-Kings.
"Die the Flame Death," repeated the old man, once again jabbing that long finger in my direction. But this time the gesture was less grand; it seemed a bit hysterical; it seemed pathetic.
"Perhaps no man knows the will of the Priest-Kings," I said.
"I have decreed the death of the girl," cried the old man wildly, his robes fluttering around his bony knees. "Kill her!" he shouted to the men of Ar.
No one moved. Then, before anyone could stop him, he seized a sword from the scabbard of an Assassin and rushed to Talena, holding it over his head with both hands. He wobbled hysterically, his eyes mad, his mouth slobbering, his faith in the Priest-Kings shattered, and with it his mind. He wavered over the girl, ready to kill.
"No!" cried one of the Initiates. "It is forbidden!"
Heedlessly, the insane old man tensed for the blow that would end the life of the girl. But in that instant he seemed to be concealed in a bluish haze, and then, suddenly, to the horror of all, he seemed, like a living bomb, to explode with fire. Not even a scream came from that fierce blue combustive mass that had been a human being, and in a minute the flame had departed, almost as quickly as it had come, and a dust of ashes scattered from the top of the cylinder in the wind. — Tarnsman of Gor, pages 206-208.

 

Initiates and City Government

The Initiates, too, being the highest of the five High Castes, have historically become politically active, taking command of a city under seige. One such example was when Tarl Cabot had stolen the Home Stone of Ar, causing much dissent amongst the citizens, and causing the Ubar, Marlenus, to flee. During those unsteady times in Ar, the Initiates imposed martial law as well. There is often tension among the local civil authorities; the Initiates have their own separate laws and courts.

The Initiates have pronounced their sentence," said the officer. "They have decreed a sacrifice to the Priest-Kings to ask them to have mercy and to restore the Home Stone." In that moment I detested the Initiates of Ar, who, like other members of their caste throughout Gor, were only too eager to seize some particle of the political power they had supposedly renounced in choosing to wear the white robes of their calling. The real purpose of the "sacrifice to the Priest-Kings" was probably to remove possible claimants to the throne of Ar and thereby strengthen their own political position. — Tarnsman of Gor, pages 102-103.

"Marlenus has fled," said the officer. "The city is in chaos. The Initiates have assumed command and have ordered that Marlenus and all members of his household and family are to be publicly impaled on the walls of Ar." — Tarnsman of Gor, page 102.

The officer continued: "Marlenus lost the Home Stone, the Luck of Ar. He, with fifty tarnsmen, disloyal to the city, seized what they could of the treasury and escaped. In the streets there is civil war, fighting between the factions that would master Ar. There is looting and pillaging. The city is under martial law." — Tarnsman of Gor, page 102.

"It was Ar's misfortune, at this most critical time in its long history, to be in the hands of the bleakest of all castes of men, the Initiates, skilled only in ritual, mythology and superstition." — Tarnsman of Gor, page 186.

"There is often a tension between them and the civil authorities, for each regards himself as supreme in matters of policy and law for their district. The initiates have their own laws, and courts, and certain of them are well versed in the laws of the initiates." — Marauders of Gor, page 28.

Politically, the Initiates serve as bargaining tools amongst Ubars and city administrators, for the slaughter of Initiates, even by the most vile of assassins, is considered ill omen. Assassin, by the way, are one of the low castes, and are therefore ignorant in Double Knowledge, specifically the First Knowledge, and like most low castes, they are quite superstitious.

"Pa-Kur willingly granted this condition. Any indiscriminate slaughter of Initiates would be regarded by his troops as an ill omen, and, besides, they would be useful in controlling the population. Ubars have always employed the Initiates as tools, some of the boldest even contending that the social function of the Initiates is to keep the lower castes contented with their servile lot." — Tarnsman of Gor, page 188.

The Initiates can politically make or break an Administrator, as evidenced by what happened with Kazrak, who became Administrator after Marlenus was banished.

"It has been hard in Ar," said the man, "since the deposition of Kazrak of Port Kar as Administrator of the City, and since the murder of Om, the High Initiate of the City." Kuurus had heard of these things. Kazrak, who had been Administrator of the City for several years, had finally been deposed, largely due to the agitations of certain factions among the Initiates and Merchants, who had had their various grievances against the Administrator. Kazrak had offended the Caste of Initiates primarily by levying taxes on their vast holdings throughout the city and upon occasion upholding the rulings of the administrative courts over the courts of the Initiates. The Initiates, in their interpretations of sacrifices and in their preachments, primarily to the low castes, had led many of the city to fear that Kazrak might not long enjoy the favor of the Priest-Kings. After the murder of Om, who had been on tolerable terms with the Administrator, the new High Initiate, Complicius Serenus, in studying the omens of the white bosk slain at the Harvest Feast had, to his apparent horror, discovered that they had stood against Kazrak. Other Initiates wished to examine these omens, being read in the state of the bosk's liver, but Complicius Serenus, as though in terror, had cast the liver into the fire, presumably that such dark portents might be immediately destroyed. He had then collapsed weeping on the pillar of sacrifice, for it was well known that he had been a beloved friend of the Administrator. It was from this time that Kazrak might clearly have been said, particularly among the lower castes, to have lost the confidence of the city. — Assassin of Gor, page 15.

However, in times of war and political duress, the Initiates are well known for seeking their own safety first. It is a common feeling amongst Goreans of the timidity and cowardice of the Initiates.

"The bargaining of the Initiates was largely to secure their own safety and, as much as possible, to prevent the utter ravaging of the city. The first condition for their surrender was that Pa-Kur grant a general amnesty for themselves and their temples. This was typical of the Initiates. Although they alone, of all the men on Gor claim to be immortal, in virtue of the mysteries, forbidden to the profane, which they practice, they are perhaps the most timid of Goreans." — Tarnsman of Gor, page 188.

Initiates and the Judicial Systems

One of the most important functions the Initiates serve amongst the councils of city beaurocracy is within the judicial system itself. Although the Initiates may decree an execution, their codes do not allow them to be the executionists themselves. Detailed information on the justice systems of Gor can be found on the Judicial pages.

"Where," I asked, "shall Pa-Kur take the daughter of the false Ubar to be executed?"
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. More significant, it indicated that the justice dispensed therein was the justice of Initiates.
There are two systems of courts on Gor — those of the City, under the jurisdiction of an Administrator or Ubar, and those of the Initiates, under the jurisdiction of the High Initiate of the given city; the division corresponds roughly to that between civil and what, for lack of a better word, might be called ecclesiastical courts. The areas of jurisdiction of these two types of courts are not well defined; the Initiates claim ultimate jurisdiction in all matters, in virtue of their supposed relation to the Priest-Kings, but this claim is challenged by civil jurists. There would, of course, in these days be no challenging the justice of the Initiates. — Tarnsman of Gor, pages 193-194.

"The Initiates themselves do not execute their victims, as the shedding of blood is forbidden by those beliefs they regard as sacred." — Tarnsman of Gor, page 204.

 

Caste in Darkness

Within the games of politics, the Initiates did their best to speak of justice and peace, however, it seems that the Initiates, too, are capable of subterfuge, despite their own codes which prohibit such.

"He wore a black robe with a stripe of white down the front and back. Kuurus knew that it would be this man, who wore the black, but not the full black, of the Assassin, who would deal with him. Kuurus smiled bitterly to himself. He laughed at the stripe of white. Their tunic, said Kuurus to himself, is as black as mine. When the man near the smoking wood turned to face him, Kuurus descended the hill. He was now welcome. Kuurus smiled to himself. The man did not greet him, nor did Kuurus lift his hand to the man, palm inward, saying "Tal."
The man was a strange man, thought Kuurus. His head was totally devoid of hair, even to the lack of eyebrows. Perhaps he is some sort of Initiate, thought Kuurus. Without speaking the man took twenty pieces of gold, tarn disks of Ar, of double weight, and gave them to Kuurus, who placed them in the pockets of his belt. The Assassins, unlike most castes, do not carry pouches. Kuurus looked curiously down at the remains of the pyre. Only a bit of wood now, here and there, missed by the chilled wine, clung to flame; some of the logs, however, still smoked, and others held as though within themselves the redness of the fire they remembered; but most were simply charred, now dead, stained with the oil, wet from the wine. "Justice must be done," said the man.
Kuurus said nothing, but only looked at the man. Often, though not always, they spoke of justice. It pleases them to speak of justice, he said to himself. And of fight. It eases them and gives them peace. There is no such thing as justice, said Kuurus, to himself. There is only gold and steel. "Whom am I to kill?" asked Kuurus. — Assassin of Gor, page 4.

 

The Priest-Kings on the Intiates

On the flip side, the Priest-Kings do not have much to say about these "holy" men. The Priest-Kings do, however, consider them rather harmless, albeit, strange.

"The attitude of Priest-Kings toward Initiates, as I recalled, having once been in the Sardar, is generally one of disinterest. They are regarded as being harmless. They are taken by many Priest-Kings as an evidence of the aberrations of the human kind." — Marauders of Gor, page 29.

 

Caste Codes

Each caste has a set of ethical teachings, or Caste Codes, which constitute, in simplicity, a list of rules of conduct to which all caste members are held. Some of these teachings are in the form of sayings, profound or otherwise; some mere riddles. Though not stated as laws, in the Gorean world most of what is ethically correct is also legally correct. Naturally there would be those predicaments where the discussion of ethical and legal are quite diverse, as in the case (third quote) of the rape of two slave women. Often, caste codes have more to do with a man's personal honor and integrity. In simpler terms, each set of codes of a caste determine a behavior with a particular interest the specialty of its caste members.

"Their codes forbade them to kill but I knew that they hired men of other castes for this purpose." — Priest-Kings of Gor, page 297.
"Initiates, incidentally, are not permitted by their caste codes to bear arms; nor are they permitted to injure or kill; accordingly, they hire men for these purposes." — Assassin of Gor, page 267.

 

A Controlling Caste

The Initiates, vain, self-superior and controlling, not only meddle in affairs of the state to ensure the financial support of their caste, but also within the medical field. Dar-kosis, thought to be incurable, is an example. Physicians in the early years of Marlenus' rule, discovered an immunization to prevent Dar-kosis. However, the Initiates, citing Dar-kosis as a disease subjected to mankind by the Priest-Kings for dishonor against them, could not allow for this immunization to be made known, let alone become available to the general population, and therefore destroyed all evidence of the immunization, as well as the research papers. Justifiably, the High Initiate that ordered the destruction of this vaccine ended up dying of the disease himself.

"You seem to me, from what I have seen and heard," I said, "a skilled Physician."
"In the fourth and fifth year of the reign of Marlenus," said he, regarding me evenly, "I was first in my caste in Ar."
I took a swallow. "Then," said I, "you discovered paga?"
"No," said he.
"A girl?" I asked.
"No," said Flaminius, smiling. "No." He took another swallow. "I thought to find," said he, "an immunization against Dar-kosis."
"Dar-Kosis is incurable," I said.
"At one time," said he, "centuries ago, men of my caste claimed age was incurable. Others did not accept this and continued to work. The result was the Stabilization Serums."
Dar-Kosis, or the Holy Disease, or Sacred Affliction, is a virulent, wasting disease of Gor. Those afflicted with it, commonly spoken of simply as the Afflicted Ones, may not enter into normal society. They wander the countryside in shroudlike yellow rags, beating a wooden clapping device to warn men from their path; some of them volunteer to be placed in Dar-kosis pits, several of which lay within the vicinity of Ar, where they are fed and given drink, and are, of course, isolated; the disease is extremely contagious. Those who contract the disease are regarded by law as dead.
"Dar-kosis," I said, "is thought to be holy to the Priest-Kings, and those afflicted with it to be consecrated to Priest-Kings."
"A teaching of Initiates," said Flaminius bitterly. "There is nothing holy about disease, about pain, about death." He took another drink.
"Dar-kosis," I said, "is regarded as an instrument of Priest-Kings, used to smite those who displease them."
"Another myth of Initiates," said Flaminius, unpleasantly.
"But how do you know that?" I queried.
"I do not care," said Flaminius, "if it is true or not. I am a Physician."
"What happened?" I asked.
"For many years," said Flaminius, "and this was even before 10,110, the year of Pa-Kur and his horde, I and others worked secretly in the Cylinder of Physicians. We devoted our time, those Ahn in the day in which we could work, to study, research, test and experiment. Unfortunately, for spite and for gold, word of our work was brought to the High Initiate, by a minor Physician discharged from our staff for incompetence. The Cylinder of Initiates demanded that the High Council of the Caste of Physicians put an end to our work, not only that it be discontinued but that our results to that date be destroyed. The Physicians, I am pleased to say, stood with us. There is little love lost between Physicians and Initiates, even as is the case between Scribes and Initiates. The Cylinder of the High Initiate then petitioned the High Council of the City to stop our work, but they, on the recommendation of Marlenus, who was then Ubar, permitted our work to continue." Flaminius laughed. "I remember Marlenus speaking to the High Initiate. Marlenus told him that either the Priest-Kings approved of our work or they did not; that if they approved, it should continue; if they did not approve, they themselves, as the Masters of Gor, would be quite powerful enough to put an end to it."
"What happened then?" I asked.
Flaminius took another drink, and then he looked at me, bitterly. "Before the next passage hand," said he, "armed men broke into the Cylinder of Physicians; the floors we worked on were burned; the Cylinder itself was seriously damaged; our work, our records, the animals we used were all destroyed; several of my staff were slain, others driven away." He drew his tunic over his head. I saw that half of his body was scarred. "These I had from the flames," said he, "as I tried to rescue our work. But I was beaten away and our scrolls destroyed." He slipped the tunic back over his head. …
"I had," he said, "shortly before the fire developed a strain of urts resistant to the Dar-kosis organism; a serum cultured from their blood was injected in other animals, which subsequently we were unable to infect. It was tentative, only a beginning, but I had hoped I had hoped very much."
"The men who attacked the Cylinder," I said, "who were they?"
"Doubtless henchmen of Initiates," said Flaminius. Initiates, incidentally, are not permitted by their caste codes to bear arms; nor are they permitted to injure or kill; accordingly, they hire men for these purposes.
"Were the men not seized?" I asked.
"Most escaped," said Flaminius. "Two were seized. These following the laws of the city, were taken for their first questioning to the courts of the High Initiate." Flaminius smiled bitterly. "But they escaped," he said.
"Did you try to begin your work again?" I asked.
"Everything was gone," said Flaminius, "the records, our equipment, the animals; several of my staff had been slain; those who survived, in large part, did not wish to continue the work." He threw down another bolt of Paga. "Besides, said he, "the men of Initiates, did we begin again, would only need bring torches and steel once more."
"So what did you do?" I asked.
Flaminius laughed. "I thought how foolish was Flaminius," he said. "I returned one night to the floors on which we had worked. I stood there, amidst the ruined equipment, the burned walls. And I laughed. I realized then that I could not combat the Initiates. They would in the end conquer."
"I do not think so," I said.
"Superstition," said he, "proclaimed as truth, will always conquer truth, ridiculed as superstition." …
"One thing more to this little story," said Flaminius. lifted the bottle to me.
"What is that?" I asked.
"At the games on the second of En'Kara, in the of Blades," said he, "I saw the High Initiate, Complicius Serenus."
"So?" said I.
"He does not know it," said Flaminius, "nor will he learn for perhaps a year."
"Learn what?" I asked.
Flaminius laughed and poured himself another drink. "That he is dying of Dar-kosis," he said. — Assassin of Gor, pages 265-269.