An example of such sub-caste would be the Slaver caste which would be a caste of the Merchants. Slavers are in the business of buying and selling though their particular caste specializes in one item or product.
All Goreans (excluding Preist Kings, slaves and outlaws) belong to a particular Caste. Castes are hereditary although it is possible for a person to change his or her Caste if they possess an ability or aptitude that allows then to raise or lower their Caste.
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 codes are different and deals mainly with matters of specific interest to that Caste.
Most major Castes of Gor have their own colors called the "Caste Color". Colors are often worn by the member to display outwardly to others what castes they are associated with. Banners, flags, and sometimes colors of buildings will reflect the Caste color of the individual. Others can see at a glance by the clothing what caste another is affiliated with.
'Caste is important to Goreans in a way that is difficult for members if a non-caste society to understand. Though there are doubtless difficulties involved with a caste structure the caste situation lends an individual identity and pride, allies him with thousands of caste-brothers, and provides him with various opportunities and services. Recreation on Gor is often associated with caste, tournaments and entertainments. Simularly, most public charity on Gor is administered through caste struscture ....
---Slave girl of Gor 9:213
I seen few women, and knew that they, when free were promoted and demoted within the caste systems according to the same standards and criteria as the men, although this varied, I was told, considerably from city to city ...
---Tarnsman of Gor, 3:44
Whereas caste membership is commonly connected with the practive off an occupation, such as agriculture, or commerce, or war, there can be of course, caste members who are not engaged in caste work and individuals who do certain forms of work who are not memebers of that caste commonly associated with such work. Castes, commonly, though not invariably, is a matter of birth. One may, too, be recieved in a caste by investment. Normally mating takes place among caste members,but if the mating is of mixed caste, the woman may elect to retain caste, which is commonly done, or be received into the caste of the male companion. Caste membership of the children born of such a union is a funtion of the caste of the father..
---Slavegirl of Gor, 9:212,213
in rare cases, one might have been permitted by the Council of High Castes to raise caste. None of course, would accept a lower caste, and there were lower castes, the Caste of Pheasants, for example, the most basic caste of all Gor...
---Outlaws of Gor 3:27
I knew the Goreah caste lines, though largely following birth, were not inflexible, and that a man who did care for his caste might be allowed to change caste, if approved by the high council of his city, an approval ussually contingent on his qualifications for the work of another caste and willingness of the members of the new caste to accept him as a Caste Brother...
---Priest Kings of Gor, 9:71
Even a man of a caste as low as that of the Tarns-Keepers were intolerably proud of their calling, who else could raise and train thosemonstrous birds of prey? I suppose Zosk the Woodsman was proud in the knowlegde that he with his great broad-headed ax could fell a tree in one blow, and that perhaps not even a Ubar could do as much. Even the Caste of Pheasants regaurded itself as the "Ox on which the HomeStone Rests" and could seldom be encouraged to leave their narrow strip of land, whcih they and their fathers before them had owned and made fruitful...
---Outlaw of Gor, 8:66
"Assassins as I recall," I said, "have no Homestones. I suppose that is a drawback to Caste membership, but if you did have a homestone, it might be difficult to take fees on those who Homestone you shared."
---Beasts of Gor, 30:359
To learn more of the Castes click on one of the links below