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Using rank

Posted in Black Caste with tags , , , on December 21, 2009 by crow1971

Most know the lonely killer, lurking in the shadows. The one that doesn’t sit down for pleasant conversations about the weather or the new bought slave. They have this tendency to only be there, listening and observing while others seem to busy them selves with things of ordinary life.  This vision of a killer, might suit me when you encounter me in the streets of Salernum, Laura, Lydius or any other place a mark might take me.

However when I am in the comfort of the compound you might see a more relaxed man, one that might joke, tells stories. A man that feels the same amount of pride in his new bought slave, or accomplished task. The compound is a well organized place, where each knows his place, the slaves busy with the things that need to be done, candidates do their study or work on their progression. 

To keep this place organized we keep a very strict order on discipline and rank. The Master Assassin our general, that delegates and gives a final say in the decisions that need to be made. The captain that again delegates, works on several things to keep order in what at times seems chaos. He might be the one that knows of what goes on, sees to it that only the important matters reach the Master Assassin and is there to teach candidates or guides them to those killers that can.

A rank has it’s privileges, but also the heartship. The Master Assassin, lots of scrolls, political issues to deal with and me the one that sees a candidate overstep his lines or a killer behaving poorly. Things that will be addressed and not with velvet gloves.  The times a candidate was simply beaten to unconsciousness because he ordered paga, to many to count. The Killer beaten with sticks for falling in love and acting out on those feelings in an ill manner to large to even count on my fingers.

We are all human, making mistakes and those will not be covered by silk but will be exposed and dealt with in the same order and discipline.

I always strive to be fair, straight forward, perhaps harsh and demanding but nevertheless fair. I don’t try to be guided by my own feelings of anger, disappointment or disliking. Everyone that will cross lines that I have set will see the same treatment or so I hope.

Aware of my harsh reputation, aware of my mindplay, aware of my bad jokes, aware of what still has remained as this believe in honour and also aware of the burden of using a rank.

Gold and Steel

Crow

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Killing with respect

Posted in Black Caste with tags on November 26, 2009 by crow1971

Perhaps it is hard to understand that a man such as I is able to kill, even though the mark might be very well someone I admire or respect. It doesn’t bring me doubt, it doesn’t make me pause, however it does make me wish to go at perhaps a greater length to make it honourable and a worthy ending.

My last mark seemed to be the most cunning woman I have ever encountered. The fact I found her was merely luck as I happened to overhear a conversation which made me more curious about this lady. When she finally was in the corner I wished her to be in order of my client she trusted me completely with all the details of her life. She wasn’t scared but rather at peace, perhaps because she for the first time knew that whatever would come wasn’t something she could escape.

When I took her life by the will of another I could understand their wish and I could understand why she had become the woman she was. In this world there is no fairness, there is just Gold and Steel.

If there would be such a thing as a woman being an assassin, she might have made many killers go in her shadow as she was certainly cunning enough and had been escaping her fate more than once.

Why she allowed me to have this insight I will never know … but when she died by my blade … she died by someone who admired her for the woman she had been. Not in ways of justice or right or wrong, but simply for what she was : A woman with skill, cunningness, charm, spirit and most important a soul that truly tried to live.

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Fear

Posted in Black Caste, Mastery with tags , , , on November 8, 2009 by crow1971

Emotions are things we learn to control, to place somewhere deep where they won’t show or play a part in how we conduct ourselves.  I am sure many people wonder if Killers still feel since there is hardly anything showing. How little do they know of the constant battle that many killers fight when they truly wish to stay within their codes and wish to remain safe. Each sign of care could be used against one, any sign of fear could be exploited.

Being a killer and having endured pain, torture, loss but also love, joy and commitment will need to learn to stay cold to the outside world. If I let myself be guided by a single ihn of fear I might lose my life. A plain fact which is one that is a constant point of attention when lads follow the training to become of the caste.  A moment of anger, disappointment, impatience and your instantly punished severely.

Years have gone by and with each year it seemed to come more easy. Perhaps with each year the age helped me to become more distant to those feelings that so many Gorean men celebrate daily.

My emotions are deep ebbed within me, the fear of facing an enemy as the Kurri. The fear of losing my girl Sephi because some fellow wished to steal her. Those emotions are hidden, covered up by harshness and demands. They might play a role when I am alone with my thoughts but during any interaction in public they are lifeless almost non-existent.  

Writing down this I realize that I even though old, and perhaps  faced with numbers of difficult quests I still wish to better myself, learn more, so I will be able to keep on the side that wins. The side that kept his wits and coolness and defeats his demons, his battles based on skills.  

I might be the cold heartless killer in your eyes, but in my dreams I am still living with the same emotions as any other has. The only difference is the iron control and the realization that those same emotions can make the difference between life and death.

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Relationships

Posted in Black Caste with tags , , , on October 19, 2009 by crow1971

In my past there have been all kind of relationships, that were important to me. The first my parents, my brothers and sisters, of course. But later even a companion and my own children. I even had friends, people I felt a bond with and people who I trusted. When my companion and children were killed, I felt alone and without any ties with others. Perhaps the perfect moment to be recruited for the Black Caste.

When I had to redo my training in the hochburg mountains I was partnered with a man who became more friend, then I wanted or ever held possible. A brother, one that shared the stress of waiting, the pain of all the severe beatings, the thrill of passing an other task. We both knew that at one given moment one would have to kill the other, but somehow we managed to keep that as far from us both as possible. When the moment arrived I think we both fought with tears in our eyes.

Perhaps I may seem as the cold and merciless killer, that has lost any kind of feelings for an other. If that is so there is much truth in it, after giving my partner the final blow and claiming his life I never have felt so cold, so lifeless or all by myself.

The relationships I have now, aren’t based on this solemn trust, sharing of joy, pain or frustrations. They are based on respect and complete understanding that at any given moment it can turn and it will be his or hers against my own life.

This and only this, makes me wary to get to deep in relationships as they might be a danger to my own life in time. It doesn’t mean I don’t care, wouldn’t fight for those I care for now. But the depth of these relationships is as far as gold can reach it.

Gold and Steel … that is all there is.

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Ranks

Posted in Black Caste with tags , , , on October 13, 2009 by crow1971

Never have I felt that I needed to have some sort of rank, to know who I was or what I was about. When I was approached to be Lieutenant I was honoured, perhaps in a way felt acknowledged for what I did in training those that were in the guild. I have taken it and carried it as it was, a mere sign that some of the tasks were coming my way. The rank didn’t make me different, they didn’t show me that I was better it only showed others what they could expect from me.

When I received the rank of captain, it was in many ways the same way. The rank on itself only a position, with more demands and responsibility. Nothing more and nothing less, as far I am concerned.

However with the rank I understood that some might take me as an example and became therefor more aware that my knowledge and act should be flawless.

I know that the next rank might be Master Assassin, a rank many killers wish to achieve or even claim. In my humble opinion often to early and unaware that this rank is for those that will be judged severely when they act badly or breach the codes.  Nothing after that rank will come and only those that are the best in the caste should hold that position.

For now I don’t feel I can hold it in the same glory as Serpent or Sol do. I even feel that when they still breath, although the breath of Sol might be no longer, there is no reason for me to even consider the claim of that rank.

I serve the Cast, the gold and Steel, in the best of my abilities and as long as I am allowed and until the position become vacant, I won’t make my claim. If and I hope the time will be far in the future that this position becomes vacant I can only say that the caste would be served best if the spot would be filled with that killer that is the best for it at that time.

So when you see me … call me captain … as the rank is well earned and carried with its burdens and obligations, but don’t see me as a Master Assassin, since that moment has not yet arrived.

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Revenge

Posted in Black Caste with tags , on October 8, 2009 by crow1971

No Killer will admit it as it is one of those emotions that might trouble ones view on facts, still I can feel it at times. The sweetness of just settling the score, making someone pay for doing you harm.

It is one of those emotions that I hardly feel, but ever since I heard the news about one of my mentors I feel it running trough my veins. The one that guided me to become what I am now seems to be closer to me than perhaps the knowledge that a killer shouldn’t be guided by something as this.

It is all about containing it, being aware of the monster that lives within yourself … not to distract me from what I am but using it to make amends. Can a killer even with this emotion be cunning, sharp, calculated and most deadly ? I think he can and perhaps in the very near future I can be sure.

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Honor

Posted in Black Caste with tags , , , on October 5, 2009 by crow1971

Some might think that I am just a killer, having no claim on a homestone and therefor live a life without honor. I doubt it is true, that honor is based on a vow one makes to a home or even a caste. Much depends on how a man is, perhaps was raised and lives.

Crow was born and raised in Ar, a rarius as he followed the caste of his father. His mother of the caste of builders had taken much effort in raising her childeren in educated and well mannered young men. When he companioned and had four of his own, he had reached the rank of a ranked officer in the city and was often send out on missions of a more political nature.

He was aware that presence, conduct and manners were of high importance to keep standing and have the respect that was needed for those missions. When he lost his companion and his childeren he perhaps lost his passion in life but never he lost that act of galantness and awareness.

So eventhough he is a killer, he is still a man with pride in who he is and believes in values certainly of the caste he serves. Not a man that will call out a name in vain, use it’s blade simply because he can and not a man that will show less respect for any other that he encounters.

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Raven becomes a killer

Posted in Black Caste with tags , , , , on October 4, 2009 by crow1971

Eventhough I am aware that what I do isn’t for glory or fame, I feel this sense of pride. Certainly when one of the candidates that come have this promise and finaly when they reach the end you are sure that what you saw was true.

A note … that this lad is finaly a killer !

 

[2009/10/04 4:51]  Crow drapes his cloak around him and puts up his helmet.
[2009/10/04 4:52]  Crow looks at the lads “Come all of you … follow me.”

[2009/10/04 4:52]  Hawk nodded standing up..

[2009/10/04 4:52]   The Lad pulls himself to hsi feet then simply waits for the killer to speak to him again. so that he might return to his hunt and then to report back to his teacher the dasy events

[2009/10/04 4:53]   The Lad nods at the killers words and follows him

[2009/10/04 4:53]  Crow looks at his girl  “Come mine, heel.”

[2009/10/04 4:55]  Serpent ‘Raven.. I hear the priest kings were most gracious with you…

[2009/10/04 4:55]  Raven nods respectfully to teh Master Assassin

[2009/10/04 4:55]  Crow inclines his head respectful to his MA “Tal Killer.” he said

[2009/10/04 4:55]  Serpent inclines his head around the cirlce slightly

[2009/10/04 4:55]  Hawk nodded towards he master assassin..”Tal Killer..”

[2009/10/04 4:55]  Raven: More gracious than you can imagine.

[2009/10/04 4:55]  Serpent ‘Do you think you have earned the right to the helm and cloak of the black caste?’

[2009/10/04 4:56]   The Lad walking up the stairs he finly reachs the top, where he see’s another Killer. hearing the owrds, he simply listens to them. and watches closly. etching the events into his mind

[2009/10/04 4:56]   The Lad: Tal  killer

 [2009/10/04 4:57]  Raven: I deserve nothing. I have worked hard for this, and though I failed to kill my training partner, I am hopeful that the entire body of work I have shown thus far will be deemed worthy.

[2009/10/04 4:58]  Raven: I want this. I hope you all feel I am worthy to wear the helm and closk.
[2009/10/04 4:59]  Raven: and If you do, it will not be wasted on me.

[2009/10/04 4:59]  Serpent ‘you did your best to kill him.. no hesitation.. no remorse… even though I know you were both.. friends’ he said the last word cuttingly… ‘I have spoken to the Masters and the assassins.. you will no longer stand as you are.. on your knees.. ‘

[2009/10/04 4:59]  Crow steps closer unsheaths his blade

[2009/10/04 4:59]  Raven sinks to one knee

[2009/10/04 4:59]  Melchior Wardell draws his sword ‘ The Crow ‘ from his hip.
[2009/10/04 5:00]  Crow narrows his eyes as if he was making this choice what aim would be best. He was swift and skilled wen it came to just cut of a head. He swings his blade well aimed and looked rather content ….

[2009/10/04 5:00]  Crow saw the sash fall of his arm.

[2009/10/04 5:01]  Melchior Wardell sheaths his sword ‘ The Crow ‘ to his hip.

[2009/10/04 5:01]  Severus Koskinen: ‘Rise Killer Raven… ‘ he holds out the black sash.. one that marked a killer of the tented compound

[2009/10/04 5:01]  Raven watches as the sash falls, the cut quick and razor sharp. He looks up at Crow then to Severus.

[2009/10/04 5:02]  Randall Reich looks to Severus incredulously…”Killer?”

[2009/10/04 5:02]  Crow turns to Serpent and nods feeling pride in this candidate and now killer. He turns back his green eyes light up briefly before they dim down again. “Killer Raven.” he echo’s.

[2009/10/04 5:02]  Serpent motions the crate by his side.. ‘Take what is rightfully yours’

[2009/10/04 5:03]   The Lad watches the sash fall from the ravens arm, the swift sure slash by the killer slicing into peices, those landing upon the ground then hearing the Killers words to the raven he nods his head in respect to Killer raven.

[2009/10/04 5:03]  Hawk nods respectully..”Congratulations, Killer..”

[2009/10/04 5:03]   The Lad then looking at raven he simplay says * Tal Killer

[2009/10/04 5:04]  Crow “Glory to the Black Caste.” he exclaims “Welcome Killer in our midst.”

[2009/10/04 5:04]  Serpent from this day you will be adressed as Killer… ‘

[2009/10/04 5:04]  Serpent ‘place the helm and cloak upon your person.. let all know what you are’

[2009/10/04 5:05]  Raven grins eviolly at all “I’ll tell you what I am…I’m a KILLER>”

 [2009/10/04 5:06]  Serpent inclines his head respectfully.. ‘Indeed Killer.. yes you are’

[2009/10/04 5:06]  Randall Reich lets out a big sigh of relief
[2009/10/04 5:06]  Raven: May I say something?

[2009/10/04 5:07]  Serpent ‘Nods.. it is custom’

[2009/10/04 5:07]  Crow couldn’t help himself to have this scense of pride. While he regarded the new killer, still perhaps a little unused to the cloak and helmet.

[2009/10/04 5:07]  Hawk watches the killer Don the garb nodding to himself clapping once as he listens to the killer..”

[2009/10/04 5:08]  Raven: I want to simply say that this is by far the best training program in all of Second Life.

[2009/10/04 5:09]  Raven: I have been a part of SL Gor for three years..and this has helped me push myself to be better in all areas…and I want to thank Severus, Crow and Snow for their excellent instruction and tutelage.

[2009/10/04 5:09]  Serpent ‘Then I am honoured to have had a hand in your training.. all we ask is you use what you have learned to portray the caste as it deserves.. ‘

[2009/10/04 5:10]  Raven: Indeed I will. and I thank you for providing the roadmap and the example which we all can emulate,.

[2009/10/04 5:10]  Crow bows to his words … eventhough hard by life they hit him “Do as we … and serve the caste in best. Killer. No glory is needed only a better caste.”

[2009/10/04 5:10]  Serpent ‘Now.. you will need this.. ‘ he removes a small book from inside his cloak.. and placed it on top of the crate

 [2009/10/04 5:10]  Fallon Larimore feels chilling bumps along her skin, grateful she was allowed to witness such and proud of the Master who had worked so hard and long. Recalling what Master Crow had once said about nothing worth anything came easy she knew this new Killer knew those words more than most.

 [2009/10/04 5:12]  Serpent ‘Would anyone else like to say a few words?’

[2009/10/04 5:12]  Raven: 6 months of hard work…
[2009/10/04 5:12]  Raven: Im actually speechless for once

[2009/10/04 5:12]   The Lad stunned by all he is seeing, and a surness of conviction he has never before felt, he knew now that this path was the correct one. still.. a man, granted the helm and cloak before his vary eyes, and now his book.

[2009/10/04 5:12]  Crow grins “Perhaps he should have a paga since that isn’t allowed in training.” giving the lad a stern look.

[2009/10/04 5:13]  Serpent ‘And a Slave… perhaps the blonde one.. ‘

[2009/10/04 5:13]  Raven grins

[2009/10/04 5:13]   The Lad gulps seeing the look and then grabbing his scross and scanning though them, not seeing those commands, though he quicky adds them with the quill he has in his belt

[2009/10/04 5:13]  Raven: Woe betide the next woman I get my hands on

[2009/10/04 5:14]  Crow laughs “Raven there is one girl in the compound … needs a bit of work … she is yours. I owned her once and she has promise.”

[2009/10/04 5:14]  Randall Reich: Whats her name?

[2009/10/04 5:15]  Fallon Larimore bit back a small whimper , forest green orns remain fixed on the stones

[2009/10/04 5:15]  Crow “She is nameless, and not one to take to lightly.”

[2009/10/04 5:15]  Serpent ‘Six months without a slave.. remember if you do take a slave… you are responsible for what she hears… do not sell an assassin slave except to others of the caste. simply kill swiftly..if you tire of them’

[2009/10/04 5:16]  Hawk smirked slightly hearing this…

[2009/10/04 5:17]  Crow “I am not often this generous.” he smirks

[2009/10/04 5:18]  Crow turns to Serpent “I do however … have a silver … since I predicted this outcome.”

[2009/10/04 5:18]  Serpent ‘go.. eat fur and be deadly… ‘

[2009/10/04 5:19]  Serpent ‘I do believe I made a bet in Ravens favour… ‘ he said to his captain..

[2009/10/04 5:19]  Serpent ‘so yes… I owe you a.. silver’ he says in a venomous whisper

[2009/10/04 5:19]  Randall Reich: what?

[2009/10/04 5:19]  Raven: what bet?

 [2009/10/04 5:19]  Serpent ‘who would be slain of course… we always make bets…

[2009/10/04 5:20]  Serpent and V did best you.. which means I owe Crow a silver… ‘

[2009/10/04 5:20]  Crow shakes his head “If I remember correctly you told me you believed he would make it to blue sash … while I wager for him to finish.”

[2009/10/04 5:20]  Raven: so Crow bet agaiinst me?

[2009/10/04 5:20]  Serpent nods

[2009/10/04 5:20]  Crow “Bastard.”

[2009/10/04 5:21]  Raven: OMG you two

[2009/10/04 5:21]  Serpent tossed a coin from his belt..  ‘My parents were actually Fc’d at my conception..’  he says blandly

[2009/10/04 5:21]  Raven: almost as bad as when Crow bet me I couldnt make Fallon Cry

[2009/10/04 5:21]  Raven: he lost a silver on that one

[2009/10/04 5:21]  Crow laughs darkly “You win some and you lose some.” he said catching the silver in mid air.

[2009/10/04 5:22]  Serpent ‘now perhaps we should head for the Taverm… Killers. and candidate..

[2009/10/04 5:22]  Fallon Larimore lifts her head up hearing the new KIller, her face remained expressionless

[2009/10/04 5:22]  Crow nods and takes of his helmet. “That would be a good idea.”

[2009/10/04 5:23]  Raven: im gonna sleep with this helmet on

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