Story 9: Merchant Canjellne

"The cynical, mercantile mind will never understand the mind of the soldier." (Explorers of Gor, p.229)

History can be a lens through which to view the future. The wise man never forgets the lessons of the past. All of the questions have already been answered. It is simply our task to sift for that knowledge through the sands of time.

I am Ambrose, a Merchant, a dealer in fine gems, jewelry and antiquities. I am quite wealthy but now I seek more. I desire to be the Ubar of Ar.

Only a High Caste may rule a Gorean city. The lies of the First Knowledge declare that a city is doomed if a Low Caste person ascends to the throne.

The example of Tharna also proves it false. Kron, a simple Metal Worker, rules as Administrator. And Tharna has never been stronger.

I will need to raise my Caste, especially if I seek to be Ubar. I must join the Warrior Caste.

Cernus lit the path. He showed that it could be done, that money can purchase anything on Gor, even the keys to the greatest empire on Gor.

But, I must avoid the mistakes of Cernus. First, he made a terrible alliance with dark beings. That is still shrouded in secrecy and I have no wish to learn more. Second, he was mad. His madness may have been his most fatal weakness. Lastly, he lacked manners and failed to understand proper etiquette. He was much too crude.

Ar had been liberated from its Cosian shackles. But, even though he had returned, Marlenus had to step down. His fragile condition was too much of a handicap. He might return one day but for now someone else must rule Ar.

Claudius had assumed the mantle of Ubar, to maintain a strong grip over the chaos within the city. Claudius bore a heavy burden and that was his potential weakness, one that could be exploited.

Ar required the infusion of much cash to help rebuild. Claudius was incurring much debt and I was one of his primary lenders. My rates were the lowest of all the lenders.

I was investing much in Ar, using most of my wealth to insinuate myself, to indebt Claudius to me. I even purchased the promissory notes of other Merchants to increase my hold over the new Ubar. I was becoming the most significant debt holder over Claudius.

I was also supporting and financing arena games and tarn races. I needed the love of the populace as well. Bread and circuses to sate the masses, something Cernus understood well. The Low Castes were easy to make appreciative. They would not look below the surface. Well fed vulos blind to the imminent slaughter.

I stood to lose much if I failed. I would be left near penniless. I might never recover from such a catastrophe. I risked it all on this single gamble.

The most difficult and intricate part of my plan involved plotting the downfall of Claudius. How could I discredit him, how could I ruin his reputation? How could I turn the people against him?

Claudius was a good man, an honorable Warrior, and a very capable Ubar. He was a natural leader, a man of uncommon intelligence and determination. He was not prone to excess. He had distinguished himself in the past, the hero of several important battles. Destroying him would not be easy.

First, the lies began to spread. Lies meant to cause tiny cracks, tiny doubts, in the credibility and honor of Claudius. The first sands placed onto the scales.

Only a few might be convinced at first. Most would ignore the lies. But each lie would have a cumulative effect. Over time, more and more people would start to doubt.

And as the lies spread, I started subtle pressures to collect on the debts owed to me by Claudius.

I knew Claudius did not possess the money to meet his obligations. But I was more than willing to obtain other concessions from him. I gained access to the chambers of power. My opinions now mattered.

And as the lies and doubts continued to amass, as Claudius first began to be concerned, I pressed for my elevation to the Warrior Caste.

The lies had taken on a life of their own and now spread without my efforts. In the paga taverns, the baths and palestrae, there were debates and discussions concerning Claudius.

It was visible in the graffiti on the walls but it had not yet hit the public boards or any official chambers.

The next phase of my plan had reached its time to begin. Now, I would corrupt someone close to Claudius. Someone who would possess credibility but someone who actually had a serious weakness.

Claudius favored young Callimachus, seeing the vast potential in him. Callimachus in return gave unswerving loyalty to the new Ubar. Calliamchus was a skilled swordsman and brave combatant.

I befriended him and was very generous in my friendship. I made him gifts of a slave, a new gladius and a silk tunic. As Claudius supported me, Callimachus trusted me implicitly. He was blind when it came to intrigue.

I then made subtle comments to Claudius and Callimachus, comments intended to drive a wedge between them. Very subtle at first. And over time, they were effective. And the more effective it was, the stronger the comments I made.

Claudius began to suspect Calliamchus was a kanda addict and that it had adversely affect his duties. Claudius punished him by assigning him to the worst of the duties though he never told Callimachus why. Callimachus believed that the Ubar was becoming an irrational tyrant, that the power was corrupting him.

When Claudius heard the rumors, and learned that Callimachus was responsible, he had him arrested which served only to confirm the rumors for some.

Claudius accused Callimachus of being a kanda addict. Evidence was found in his residence despite his vehement denial. Calliamachus assumed he was being framed by the Ubar and he became more vociferous against Claudius.

The opposition to Claudius grew much stronger, and to quell the discontent Claudius got harsher. This was a natural reaction to what Claudius perceived as injustice. He knew the rumors about him were not true and felt the people were ungrateful.

Soon thereafter, Claudius stepped down. He could no longer handle the chaos and bitter resentment. He had little support remaining. Best to quit than be ousted he thought.

Out of all the contenders to be his replacement, I held a significant edge. My money had purchased the love and respect of the people. It had purchased me the love and respect of the Warrior Caste. I was seen as a man of honor, one loyal to the codes. I was seen as a man of honesty, a forthright man. I had gulled all of them within my intricate web of deception.

As my name was brought forward as the new successor, nearly all of the other contenders bowed out of the race. They deferred to me. All except one old Warrior, Martinius.

I did not worry. Martinius would be no real competition. He was an ancient man whose days were numbered.

Martinius was around six hundred years old. Either he received the Stabilization Serums when he was already old or the Serums had not worked too well. His face was very wrinkled and he possessed wispy white hair. He no longer possessed the strength to properly engage in battle and many thought he might soon die.

People did listen to him due to his wealth of knowledge but he would never again lead an army against an enemy. He would be better off retiring, maybe becoming a Scribe or just writing his memoirs.

I spoke with Martinius to learn why he opposed me. I wished to understand his motivations. He gladly answered my queries.

He told me that I was not a Warrior, that the Codes to me were nothing. He told me that I was dishonest, dishonorable and disreputable. He told me he knew I was responsible for the abdication of Claudius. He told me that I had the soul of a Merchant and would never possess the soul of a Warrior. He told me I worshipped money as if it was the panacea to all of the world's ills. He told me that though I had fooled so many people, I would ultimately be brought down.

He had no real proof. It was all theory and supposition. But we was respected and some might listen to him even though he possessed no evidence.

Hire an Assassin? I grinned at the idea. That would show Martinius the power of money, the ability to kill anyone.

A short time passed. I n two days, I would assume the mantle of Ubar. Martinius had far too little support to defeat me. I had hired an Assassin, contracting him to kill Martinius once I became Ubar. I wanted Martinius to feel defeat first, and then death.

For some reason, Martinius was not making accusations against me. He was simply trying to flaunt his own abilities, his qualifications to be Ubar. A bit strange but maybe it was some type of Warrior honor.

Everything was falling into place and I would soon rule the greatest city on Gor. I would possess such vast power. I would use that power in a frenzy of conquest.

Ar would become a mighty empire once again. I would have whatever I desired. I would be able to afford anything I wanted.

The next day I received a missive from Martinius. He felt that it would be prudent for him to concede. I asked if he would support me now as Ubar and he agreed.

Something was very wrong. I did not understand this sudden change of heart. His earlier vehemence could not have simply vanished.

I suggested a public concession, giving his support before the entire Warrior caste. He agreed and I though about a trap of my own. He would not beat me.

The next morning, I stood in front of the assembled Caste. I had brought my entourage of assistants and my favorite kajirae. My coronation would be this afternoon and I wanted to present a stunning image.

My Assassin waited nearby, crossbow ready. He had orders to kill Martinius if he tried to publicly denounce me. I had promised the Assassin aid in making good his escape.

Martinius showed up early, garbed in a fresh scarlet tunic and with his gladius at his side. I did not think he had used his sword in maybe fifty years. He did present a distinguished visage though.

Martinius came over to me and admired my seven slaves, some of the finest Passion slaves that money could buy. Each had a pedigreed lineage dating back at least twenty generations. Each was exquisitively skilled. They were the elite of their breed.

I displayed them to Martinius and he seemed quite interested in their abilities, skills and talents. I knew many of the Warriors present were envious of my kajirae. Most of them would never be able to afford such women. My ownership of them elevated my status.

If I had paid more attention to the Warrior Codes maybe I would have seen it coming. But what need did I have of those Codes?

That old warrior was much shrewder than I ever expected. I had to respect his skill in trapping me so. Now I had to discover a way to defeat him.

At first it failed to register on me. I had to search my memory for what he was actually referring to. It was part of the Warrior Code but I could not recall all of the specifics.

"I wish to challenge you for Tiana, your en girl. You may decline and cede her to me. Or you may accept the challenge and we shall duel for her."

The easy solution would seem to be to cede her to him. I did not wish to fight as I was barely proficient with the sword. Even as old as he was, he probably could still defeat me.

But if I ceded her, I could forsee his next action. He would challenge me for each one of my kajirae. If I ceded all of them to him, I would be seen as weak, afraid of one old warrior. That alone might suddenly crumble my chance to ascend to Ubar.

I looked around the hall and saw the throng waiting for my response. I had been expertly backed into a corner.

I accepted the challenge and the Warriors spaced out to provide us a large circular area for our duel. I had to pray that Martinius was too feeble to battle well. Maybe I should have spent more time practicing with my gladius.

If only I could have used a staff. I was very skilled with the staff and still spent time training with it. I liked it because it was not an obvious weapon. It could surprise an opponent. And it was better for a Merchant to carry a staff rather than a sword.

As the combat began, I maintained a defensive posture as I needed to assess the skill and ability of Martinius. He made a few tentative strikes that I was able to parry or avoid. But, it did not appear that his infirmities were that incapacitating.

His attacks eventually became stronger and more skilled. I failed to block a few of the strikes and received a few slight cuts.

At one point, we clinched together and he whispered to me, "Confess all and I will let you live." He then pulled away to give me a moment to consider his offer.

If I confessed, Martinius would most likely become Ubar and he would be the one to judge my fate. I trusted his word in this matter. And I desperately wanted to live.

I nodded to Martinius and he gestured with his sword to the floor, offering me quarter. I accepted and the duel ended.

There were many cheers for Martinius. His only care though was to get me to the dais to confess my sins.

Reluctantly, I confessed. And once I started, I simply told them everything, every little detail. There was great outrage in response, many calls for my execution.

There was then an acclaim for Martinius to be made Ubar and to handle this would-be usurper, this fraud, this mere Merchant.

Martinius gladly accepted the crown and as his first official act declared me guilty by my own confession. All of my wealth would be confiscated and I was to be exiled. Martinius was thus seen to be both just and merciful.

Why did it all come crashing down? Could I have avoided this ignominious fate? What was my mistake?

Before they ousted me from Ar, leaving me as an outlaw to fend for myself, Martinius spent a few Ehn with me. He wished to point out some salient facts to me.

He wanted to tell me how I could have defeated him in the duel, how I could have won rather easily.

He explained that it was my ignorance of the Warrior Codes that spelled my doom. He told me of an important detail of the kajira canjellne, a detail I was ignorant of.

In a kajira cajellne, the challengee gets to choose the type of weapon that will be used in the duel. I could have chosent the staff. And Martinius was very poor with the staff. My skill would have prevailed and I would have garnered and easy win. I could have killed Martinius and became Ubar.

Guards came and escorted me out of the city. I left with only the clothes on my back. I did not even have a tarsk bit.

I had never stopped thinking like a Merchant. I never believed I needed any more than money to see me past any obstacle.

Some men cannot be bought. They will not sell their honor, their dignity or loyalty for any amount of gold tarns. Their Codes guide their lives.


	Introduction \| Table of Contents \| Updates \| Stories \| Links \| Contact Luther "The cynical, mercantile mind will never understand the mind of the soldier." (Explorers of Gor, p.229) History can be a lens through which to view the future. The wise man never forgets the lessons of the past. All of the questions have already been answered. It is simply our task to sift for that knowledge through the sands of time. The story of Cernus the Mad contains the answers I seek. I am Ambrose, a Merchant, a dealer in fine gems, jewelry and antiquities. I am quite wealthy but now I seek more. I desire to be the Ubar of Ar. Only a High Caste may rule a Gorean city. The lies of the First Knowledge declare that a city is doomed if a Low Caste person ascends to the throne. I have learned the Second Knowledge and now know that is untrue. The example of Tharna also proves it false. Kron, a simple Metal Worker, rules as Administrator. And Tharna has never been stronger. Tradition though is a powerful barrier. I will need to raise my Caste, especially if I seek to be Ubar. I must join the Warrior Caste. Cernus lit the path. He showed that it could be done, that money can purchase anything on Gor, even the keys to the greatest empire on Gor. And I possess great wealth. But, I must avoid the mistakes of Cernus. First, he made a terrible alliance with dark beings. That is still shrouded in secrecy and I have no wish to learn more. Second, he was mad. His madness may have been his most fatal weakness. Lastly, he lacked manners and failed to understand proper etiquette. He was much too crude. The time was ripe for change. Ar had been liberated from its Cosian shackles. But, even though he had returned, Marlenus had to step down. His fragile condition was too much of a handicap. He might return one day but for now someone else must rule Ar. Claudius had assumed the mantle of Ubar, to maintain a strong grip over the chaos within the city. Claudius bore a heavy burden and that was his potential weakness, one that could be exploited. Ar required the infusion of much cash to help rebuild. Claudius was incurring much debt and I was one of his primary lenders. My rates were the lowest of all the lenders. I was investing much in Ar, using most of my wealth to insinuate myself, to indebt Claudius to me. I even purchased the promissory notes of other Merchants to increase my hold over the new Ubar. I was becoming the most significant debt holder over Claudius. I was also supporting and financing arena games and tarn races. I needed the love of the populace as well. Bread and circuses to sate the masses, something Cernus understood well. The Low Castes were easy to make appreciative. They would not look below the surface. Well fed vulos blind to the imminent slaughter. I stood to lose much if I failed. I would be left near penniless. I might never recover from such a catastrophe. I risked it all on this single gamble. I could not consider failure as a possible option. The most difficult and intricate part of my plan involved plotting the downfall of Claudius. How could I discredit him, how could I ruin his reputation? How could I turn the people against him? Claudius was a good man, an honorable Warrior, and a very capable Ubar. He was a natural leader, a man of uncommon intelligence and determination. He was not prone to excess. He had distinguished himself in the past, the hero of several important battles. Destroying him would not be easy. But it could be done. I trusted in the twin tools of money and deception. They could bring down any man. First, the lies began to spread. Lies meant to cause tiny cracks, tiny doubts, in the credibility and honor of Claudius. The first sands placed onto the scales. Only a few might be convinced at first. Most would ignore the lies. But each lie would have a cumulative effect. Over time, more and more people would start to doubt. Patience was required. And as the lies spread, I started subtle pressures to collect on the debts owed to me by Claudius. I knew Claudius did not possess the money to meet his obligations. But I was more than willing to obtain other concessions from him. I gained access to the chambers of power. My opinions now mattered. And as the lies and doubts continued to amass, as Claudius first began to be concerned, I pressed for my elevation to the Warrior Caste. Claudius accomodated my request and ensured I was elevated to a High Caste. So far, everything was going as planned. The lies had taken on a life of their own and now spread without my efforts. In the paga taverns, the baths and palestrae, there were debates and discussions concerning Claudius. It was visible in the graffiti on the walls but it had not yet hit the public boards or any official chambers. The next phase of my plan had reached its time to begin. Now, I would corrupt someone close to Claudius. Someone who would possess credibility but someone who actually had a serious weakness. I chose Callimachus, an earnest young Warrior, weak in his naitivity. Claudius favored young Callimachus, seeing the vast potential in him. Callimachus in return gave unswerving loyalty to the new Ubar. Calliamchus was a skilled swordsman and brave combatant. But he was not a Player. In the Kaissa of politics and men, he was a domesticated verr. He could not fail to lose the Game. I befriended him and was very generous in my friendship. I made him gifts of a slave, a new gladius and a silk tunic. As Claudius supported me, Callimachus trusted me implicitly. He was blind when it came to intrigue. I then made subtle comments to Claudius and Callimachus, comments intended to drive a wedge between them. Very subtle at first. And over time, they were effective. And the more effective it was, the stronger the comments I made. Claudius began to suspect Calliamchus was a kanda addict and that it had adversely affect his duties. Claudius punished him by assigning him to the worst of the duties though he never told Callimachus why. Callimachus believed that the Ubar was becoming an irrational tyrant, that the power was corrupting him. And Callimachus began to speak to others about his thoughts and the rumors spread. When Claudius heard the rumors, and learned that Callimachus was responsible, he had him arrested which served only to confirm the rumors for some. Claudius accused Callimachus of being a kanda addict. Evidence was found in his residence despite his vehement denial. Calliamachus assumed he was being framed by the Ubar and he became more vociferous against Claudius. It ended in the execution of Calliamachus as a traitor. That execution would be the catalyst in the downfall of Claudius. Claudius had destroyed a good man and there would be severe ramifications. The opposition to Claudius grew much stronger, and to quell the discontent Claudius got harsher. This was a natural reaction to what Claudius perceived as injustice. He knew the rumors about him were not true and felt the people were ungrateful. In the background, I continued to fuel the fire which was becoming an inferno. Soon thereafter, Claudius stepped down. He could no longer handle the chaos and bitter resentment. He had little support remaining. Best to quit than be ousted he thought. Out of all the contenders to be his replacement, I held a significant edge. My money had purchased the love and respect of the people. It had purchased me the love and respect of the Warrior Caste. I was seen as a man of honor, one loyal to the codes. I was seen as a man of honesty, a forthright man. I had gulled all of them within my intricate web of deception. As my name was brought forward as the new successor, nearly all of the other contenders bowed out of the race. They deferred to me. All except one old Warrior, Martinius. I did not worry. Martinius would be no real competition. He was an ancient man whose days were numbered. Martinius was around six hundred years old. Either he received the Stabilization Serums when he was already old or the Serums had not worked too well. His face was very wrinkled and he possessed wispy white hair. He no longer possessed the strength to properly engage in battle and many thought he might soon die. People did listen to him due to his wealth of knowledge but he would never again lead an army against an enemy. He would be better off retiring, maybe becoming a Scribe or just writing his memoirs. But he stated he would remain a Warrior until the day he died. I spoke with Martinius to learn why he opposed me. I wished to understand his motivations. He gladly answered my queries. Though his answers were not pleasing. He told me that I was not a Warrior, that the Codes to me were nothing. He told me that I was dishonest, dishonorable and disreputable. He told me he knew I was responsible for the abdication of Claudius. He told me that I had the soul of a Merchant and would never possess the soul of a Warrior. He told me I worshipped money as if it was the panacea to all of the world's ills. He told me that though I had fooled so many people, I would ultimately be brought down. He told me that he would oppose me with every fiber of his being. He had no real proof. It was all theory and supposition. But we was respected and some might listen to him even though he possessed no evidence. He had to be stopped, eliminated, terminated, slain. Hire an Assassin? I grinned at the idea. That would show Martinius the power of money, the ability to kill anyone. I sent out a contact to locate an available Assassin. A short time passed. I n two days, I would assume the mantle of Ubar. Martinius had far too little support to defeat me. I had hired an Assassin, contracting him to kill Martinius once I became Ubar. I wanted Martinius to feel defeat first, and then death. For some reason, Martinius was not making accusations against me. He was simply trying to flaunt his own abilities, his qualifications to be Ubar. A bit strange but maybe it was some type of Warrior honor. Everything was falling into place and I would soon rule the greatest city on Gor. I would possess such vast power. I would use that power in a frenzy of conquest. Ar would become a mighty empire once again. I would have whatever I desired. I would be able to afford anything I wanted. No obstacles stood in my path. The next day I received a missive from Martinius. He felt that it would be prudent for him to concede. I asked if he would support me now as Ubar and he agreed. Something was very wrong. I did not understand this sudden change of heart. His earlier vehemence could not have simply vanished. He had some ploy in the works. I suggested a public concession, giving his support before the entire Warrior caste. He agreed and I though about a trap of my own. He would not beat me. The next morning, I stood in front of the assembled Caste. I had brought my entourage of assistants and my favorite kajirae. My coronation would be this afternoon and I wanted to present a stunning image. My Assassin waited nearby, crossbow ready. He had orders to kill Martinius if he tried to publicly denounce me. I had promised the Assassin aid in making good his escape. Martinius showed up early, garbed in a fresh scarlet tunic and with his gladius at his side. I did not think he had used his sword in maybe fifty years. He did present a distinguished visage though. Martinius came over to me and admired my seven slaves, some of the finest Passion slaves that money could buy. Each had a pedigreed lineage dating back at least twenty generations. Each was exquisitively skilled. They were the elite of their breed. I displayed them to Martinius and he seemed quite interested in their abilities, skills and talents. I knew many of the Warriors present were envious of my kajirae. Most of them would never be able to afford such women. My ownership of them elevated my status. Then Martinius sprang his trap. If I had paid more attention to the Warrior Codes maybe I would have seen it coming. But what need did I have of those Codes? I could not buy myself out of this dilemma. I had to face it head on or lose everything. That old warrior was much shrewder than I ever expected. I had to respect his skill in trapping me so. Now I had to discover a way to defeat him. "Kajira Canjellne." At first it failed to register on me. I had to search my memory for what he was actually referring to. It was part of the Warrior Code but I could not recall all of the specifics. Martinius obviously understood my lack of comprehension and he gleefully helped me out. "I wish to challenge you for Tiana, your en girl. You may decline and cede her to me. Or you may accept the challenge and we shall duel for her." The easy solution would seem to be to cede her to him. I did not wish to fight as I was barely proficient with the sword. Even as old as he was, he probably could still defeat me. But if I ceded her, I could forsee his next action. He would challenge me for each one of my kajirae. If I ceded all of them to him, I would be seen as weak, afraid of one old warrior. That alone might suddenly crumble my chance to ascend to Ubar. I could not be been as weak. I looked around the hall and saw the throng waiting for my response. I had been expertly backed into a corner. If I wished to be Ubar, I had to accept the challenge. Damn you Martinius. I accepted the challenge and the Warriors spaced out to provide us a large circular area for our duel. I had to pray that Martinius was too feeble to battle well. Maybe I should have spent more time practicing with my gladius. If only I could have used a staff. I was very skilled with the staff and still spent time training with it. I liked it because it was not an obvious weapon. It could surprise an opponent. And it was better for a Merchant to carry a staff rather than a sword. But the gladius was the weapon of choice of the Warrior. I had to do the best that I could. What a fool I was! Just before the duel began, I made a silent whisper to the Priest-Kings for their aid. As the combat began, I maintained a defensive posture as I needed to assess the skill and ability of Martinius. He made a few tentative strikes that I was able to parry or avoid. But, it did not appear that his infirmities were that incapacitating. His attacks eventually became stronger and more skilled. I failed to block a few of the strikes and received a few slight cuts. I was outclassed. He could defeat me and he knew it. I would lose it all. At one point, we clinched together and he whispered to me, "Confess all and I will let you live." He then pulled away to give me a moment to consider his offer. I did not want to die and I knew he could and would slay me if I refused. If I confessed, Martinius would most likely become Ubar and he would be the one to judge my fate. I trusted his word in this matter. And I desperately wanted to live. I nodded to Martinius and he gestured with his sword to the floor, offering me quarter. I accepted and the duel ended. There were many cheers for Martinius. His only care though was to get me to the dais to confess my sins. Reluctantly, I confessed. And once I started, I simply told them everything, every little detail. There was great outrage in response, many calls for my execution. There was then an acclaim for Martinius to be made Ubar and to handle this would-be usurper, this fraud, this mere Merchant. Martinius gladly accepted the crown and as his first official act declared me guilty by my own confession. All of my wealth would be confiscated and I was to be exiled. Martinius was thus seen to be both just and merciful. Why did it all come crashing down? Could I have avoided this ignominious fate? What was my mistake? The fact was that I could have won. Before they ousted me from Ar, leaving me as an outlaw to fend for myself, Martinius spent a few Ehn with me. He wished to point out some salient facts to me. He wanted to tell me how I could have defeated him in the duel, how I could have won rather easily. I was quite puzzled and he enlightened me. He explained that it was my ignorance of the Warrior Codes that spelled my doom. He told me of an important detail of the kajira canjellne, a detail I was ignorant of. In a kajira cajellne, the challengee gets to choose the type of weapon that will be used in the duel. I could have chosent the staff. And Martinius was very poor with the staff. My skill would have prevailed and I would have garnered and easy win. I could have killed Martinius and became Ubar. And now I could not change any of it. Guards came and escorted me out of the city. I left with only the clothes on my back. I did not even have a tarsk bit. If I returned to the city, I would be impaled. I had never stopped thinking like a Merchant. I never believed I needed any more than money to see me past any obstacle. Some men cannot be bought. They will not sell their honor, their dignity or loyalty for any amount of gold tarns. Their Codes guide their lives. In the end, those are the men who will prevail.