The Assassin's Guild is considered an organisation more valuable than the very throne of Tilea itself.[1a] Its members are renowned even outside Tilea as the guild's reach stretch through much of the Old World.[2a]
The services of the guild were recently slowed by the coming of Golgfag the Ogre, a mercenary captain in the employ of Lorenzo Lupo. During his stay he managed to offend most of the locals one way or another and when he awoke to find a horse's severed head upon his pillow he merely remarked that it was the best horse's head he had ever eaten. Several subsequent attempts on his life resulted in a dramatic reduction in the number of professional killers in Luccini. At one point there were so few murderers, assassins and poisoners remaining in his city that Lorenzo Lupo was concerned law and order would break down altogether.[3b]
Fortunately, the Prince of Luccini managed to drive the Ogres away towards the Border Princes, allowing the honest assassins to return to their useful duties.[3a]
The Guild[]
A member of the Assassin's Guild of Tilea
Hided within the twisted alleys of the city of Luccini, here can be hired the employers of the men (and dwarfs) considered the best assassins of all Tilea. Actually the most skilled assassin of the guild is the infamous The Black Crowe, a man shrouded under the false identity of Count Banquo Degusta, a noble of the city killed by the Crowe in the past.[1a]
Arriving at a dead end in the alleys of Luccini, a series of boxes and urns cooked in the fire leaning against a wall, cunningly obscuring a small door sunk in the terracotta.[1a]
A world lay beyond, subterranean and sworn into death-threatened secrecy. A clandestine knock: three raps, a pause, two more and then a sixth and the access to the Assassin's Guild is granted to their members.[1a]
A long, dank corridor carry to the entry guard evaporating into the blackness, of a stony stair. A hundred broad steps and a flame flare at the end of the tunnel. Weapon smiths, poison makers, engineers and more, here men and dwarfs convened in a hive of subdued and secretive activity that bustled below the few remaining steps to the hall.[1a]
Across the hall on a wooden board, a rat-faced man on a rope and a pulley updates the ranking of the best killers, this custom not only gives prestige but also an economic return, since the wealthiest clients will want the best killers.[1a]
Finally, outside the walls of the guild, its members gather to refresh themselves from fatigue and to gather information at the Drowned Man Inn.[1a]
Assassin's Code[]
The Assassin's Code, is the doctrine by which all assassins live by.[1a]
- Assassin's Code #2: In Tilea, somebody always wants somebody else dead.[1a]
- Assassin's Code #3: Unless it's personal, never kill someone without first agreeing a fee.[1a]
- Assassin's Code #6: If something goes wrong always destroy all evidence of a transaction. Any monies exchanged are fair trade for compensation.[1a]
- Assassin's Code #15: Never use another man's cutlery.[1a]
- Assassin's Code #18: Killing a man by mistake is fine, but a dog... many difficulties can arise from killing a dog...[1a]
- Assassin's Code #32: Always agree your fee beforehand and never waver from it. Unexpected 'difficulties' can arise from padding...[1a]
- Assassin's Code #46: The strongest resistance will always stand at the obvious entrance. Attack obliquely and catch your enemy where he expects you the least.[1a]
- Assassin's Code #62: Never extol the virtues of your own skill and undertakings. Weakness can be derived from such knowledge, particularly when said plaudits are embellished or false.[1a]
Known Members[]
- Faust Callini - Known simply as 'The Artist'. He kill his victims with a sharpened quill filled with poison ink before drawing their dead bodies with their own blood off the murder weapon. If business was slow he worked a sideline as a contract artist. He also takes care of marking the contracts completed by the guild.[1a]
- Krellen - Alias Sour-fingered, was a skilled assassin killed with his own poisoned spoon by The Crowe.[1a]
- Rannick - Alias, the Living Shade was the best assassin of the guild before the rapid escalation of the ranks of The Black Crowe, he became obsessed by the challenge, this led him to be inattentive and to death. He said he was handsome and very tall, but in life he was also an incurable hedonist, convinced of his own abilities. He was famous for his peculiarity of striding with the victims before killing them. His weapons included a blowgun that he loaded with Black Venom bullets or sedatives. He also received a telescope gifted to him by an Empire explorer for the retirement of a persistent necromancer.[1a]
- Remy - The lackey of Rannick, in addition to bearing his temper, takes care of the recovery of his sizes as well as updating him on possible news regarding the Guild.[1a]
- The Black Crowe - The most skilled assassin of the Assassin's Guild of Luccini is the infamous The Black Crowe, a man shrouded under the false identity of Count Banquo Degusta, a noble of the city killed by the Crowe in the past.[1a]
Known Victims[]
- Demitri Vallenheim - He was a tax-collector on the Rannick's book for weeks, but was stolen by The Black Crowe.[1a]
- Lucrenzza Frenzini - A rich merchant killed by Rannick. Her assassination hatched by business competitors to destabilize the market war.[1a]
- Manlect the Obese - Merchant Prince of Sartosa, killed by The Black Crowe.[1a]