diff --git a/nkms/characters.py b/nkms/characters.py
index 067dbbc84..7e34cdb04 100644
--- a/nkms/characters.py
+++ b/nkms/characters.py
@@ -67,8 +67,6 @@ class Character(object):
             raise ValueError("Pass crypto_power or crypto_power_ups (or neither), but not both.")
 
         if is_me:
-            self._actor_mapping = {}
-
             self._stamp = SignatureStamp(self)
 
             if attach_server:
@@ -145,13 +143,6 @@ class Character(object):
     def name(self):
         return self.__class__.__name__
 
-    @staticmethod
-    def hash(message):
-        return keccak_digest(message)
-
-    def learn_about_actor(self, actor):
-        self._actor_mapping[actor.id()] = actor
-
     def encrypt_for(self,
                     recipient: "Character",
                     plaintext: bytes,
@@ -265,9 +256,6 @@ class Character(object):
     def sign(self, message):
         return self._crypto_power.power_ups(SigningPower).sign(message)
 
-    def id(self):
-        return hexlify(bytes(self.stamp))
-
     def public_key(self, power_up_class):
         power_up = self._crypto_power.power_ups(power_up_class)
         return power_up.public_key()
@@ -369,7 +357,6 @@ class Bob(Character):
 
     @alice.setter
     def alice(self, alice_object):
-        self.learn_about_actor(alice_object)
         self._alice = alice_object
 
     def follow_treasure_map(self, hrac):
@@ -559,7 +546,7 @@ class Ursula(Character):
             self.interface_hrac = interface_hrac
 
         def __bytes__(self):
-            return Ursula.hash(self.pubkey_sig_bytes + self.interface_hrac)
+            return keccak_digest(self.pubkey_sig_bytes + self.interface_hrac)
 
         def __add__(self, other):
             return bytes(self) + other
@@ -584,7 +571,7 @@ class Ursula(Character):
         )
 
     def interface_hrac(self):
-        return self.hash(msgpack.dumps(self.dht_interface_info()))
+        return keccak_digest(msgpack.dumps(self.dht_interface_info()))
 
     def publish_dht_information(self):
         if not self.dht_port and self.dht_interface:
@@ -645,7 +632,6 @@ class Ursula(Character):
         # policy_payload_splitter = BytestringSplitter((KFrag, KFRAG_LENGTH))
 
         alice = Alice.from_public_keys((SigningPower, policy_message_kit.alice_pubkey))
-        self.learn_about_actor(alice)
 
         verified, cleartext = self.verify_from(
             alice, policy_message_kit,
@@ -764,9 +750,3 @@ class StrangerStamp(SignatureStamp):
     def __call__(self, *args, **kwargs):
         raise TypeError(
             "This isn't your SignatureStamp; it belongs to {} (a Stranger).  You can't sign with it.".format(self.character))
-
-
-def congregate(*characters):
-    for character in characters:
-        for newcomer in characters:
-            character.learn_about_actor(newcomer)
diff --git a/tests/characters/test_crypto_characters_and_their_powers.py b/tests/characters/test_crypto_characters_and_their_powers.py
index 10c2b1b3b..a8dc09e72 100644
--- a/tests/characters/test_crypto_characters_and_their_powers.py
+++ b/tests/characters/test_crypto_characters_and_their_powers.py
@@ -65,7 +65,6 @@ def test_anybody_can_verify():
 
     # So, our story is fairly simple: an everyman meets Alice.
     somebody = Character()
-    somebody.learn_about_actor(alice)
 
     # Alice signs a message.
     message = b"A message for all my friends who can only verify and not sign."
@@ -87,7 +86,6 @@ def test_anybody_can_encrypt():
     """
     can_sign_and_encrypt = Character(crypto_power_ups=[SigningPower, EncryptingPower])
     ursula = Ursula()
-    can_sign_and_encrypt.learn_about_actor(ursula)
 
     cleartext = b"This is Officer Rod Farva. Come in, Ursula!  Come in Ursula!"
 
diff --git a/tests/fixtures.py b/tests/fixtures.py
index ec419238c..e2bcb8da7 100644
--- a/tests/fixtures.py
+++ b/tests/fixtures.py
@@ -2,7 +2,7 @@ import datetime
 
 import pytest
 
-from nkms.characters import congregate, Alice, Bob
+from nkms.characters import Alice, Bob
 from nkms.crypto.kits import MessageKit
 from nkms.crypto.powers import SigningPower, EncryptingPower
 from nkms.network import blockchain_client
@@ -63,7 +63,6 @@ def bob(alice, ursulas):
     BOB.attach_server()
     BOB.server.listen(8475)
     EVENT_LOOP.run_until_complete(BOB.server.bootstrap([("127.0.0.1", URSULA_PORT)]))
-    congregate(alice, BOB, *ursulas)
     return BOB
 
 
diff --git a/tests/network/test_network_actors.py b/tests/network/test_network_actors.py
index 579e2fe67..6bc0de2ea 100644
--- a/tests/network/test_network_actors.py
+++ b/tests/network/test_network_actors.py
@@ -50,28 +50,6 @@ def test_vladimir_illegal_interface_key_does_not_propagate(ursulas):
     assert digest(illegal_key) in ursula.server.protocol.illegal_keys_seen
 
 
-def test_trying_to_find_unknown_actor_raises_not_found(alice):
-    """
-    Tony the test character can't make reference to a character he doesn't know about yet.
-    """
-    tony_clifton = Character()
-
-    message = b"some_message"
-    signature = alice.stamp(message)
-
-    # Tony can't reference Alice...
-
-    # TODO: This may not actually be necessary anymore since we are mostly doing Character.from_public_keys()
-    # with pytest.raises(Character.NotFound):
-    #     verification = tony_clifton.verify_from(alice, message, signature)
-
-    # ...before learning about Alice.
-    tony_clifton.learn_about_actor(alice)
-    verification, NO_DECRYPTION_PERFORMED = tony_clifton.verify_from(alice, message, signature=signature)
-
-    assert verification is True
-
-
 def test_alice_finds_ursula(alice, ursulas):
     """
     With the help of any Ursula, Alice can find a specific Ursula.