Assassin

The term "assassin", derived from but not to be confused with asasiyyun, refers to anyone who can be hired to kill a specific target. Assassins are a general occupation with many variations.

Methods

As hired killers, assassins tend to be somewhat flexible in how they kill, depending on their contract. However, some do specialize in certain methods (poison, knives, esoterica, explosives, false accidents, etc.). Each individual assassin decides what they will or won't do. The commonest methods include but are not limited to

• Poisoning: poisons are often employed for a delayed effect or for subtle killings. Poisoners are specialists in using poison.
• Ranged attacks: archers, snipers, and others who used ranged attacks may be chosen for their ability to kill from a distance and thus avoid capture or detection. Snipers are the commonest known long-range assassin.
• Explosives: in modern settings, car and mail bombs are not uncommon tools. In older settings, explosives are less targeted.
• Melee attacks: some assassins prefer the up-close-and-personal approach, using melee weapons like knives, swords, and so on.
• Strangulation: many assassins use garottes or other ligatures to strangle targets to death, as it allows a quieter kill.
• Accidents: many assassins specialize in making deaths seem like accidents or otherwise not appear to be murders.

Targets

Most assassins have no rules about who they will kill, unless they are part of a group or faith of some kind. However, many assassins believe killing children or other relatively defenseless targets is beneath them. It varies from assassin to assassin. Usually, if a target is not someone they prefer to kill, they just up the price. Everyone has a price.

Contracts

Because of the illegality of their work, most assassins don't have actual paperwork involved, but arrangements are often made. How payment is handled, when and where, and other details are negotiated between assassin and client on a case-by-case basis. Because of this, many assassins have skills in negotiation or certain social connections.

Skills

The primary skill of an assassin is, of course, the ability to kill someone. Stealth, disguise, political acumen, and other skills often come in handy as well. Some common assassin skills include but are not limited to

• Poisons, drugs, and intoxicants or chemistry
• Politics
• Stealth
• Disguise
• Concealment
• Connections (social connections with clients)
• Negotiation
• Intimidation
• Anatomy
• First aid or medicine
• Languages
• Weapon care
• Cultural knowledge
• Firearms or archery
• Riding, driving, or other fast transportation
• Geography
• Location assessment (knowing where to stage yourself to strike)
• Culinary arts (for poisoning)
• Blackmail (usually a last resort)
• Law (at least enough to know their rights)
• Mimicry or acting
• Tracking, trapping, and hunting

Tools

Weapons, poisons, and clothing or armor suited to work that requires speed and stealth are important. Common inventory includes but is not limited to

• Weaponry that could range from knives and darts to swords, spears, and axes to bows or firearms
• Light armor made from flexible materials
• Dark clothing
• Masks, disguises, make up
• Lockpicks or other house-breaking tools
• Transportation for escapes

Esoterica

The most common esoterica found amongst assassins is poarta, the aether of death. However, there are assassins who use almost any esoteric energy out there. Other common energies used include but are not limited to ArcaneShadow, true shadow, vile energy, d'qiarsea, b'qar, gemtkhereg, thorn energy, quaestus, Peccatum, Drenante, uafas, dream energy, kor, infernum, kakraohy, Mollesse, Sterisi, and lunar aether.

Certain assassins who specialize in esoteric assassinations include but are not limited to (and might have overlap with other variations)

• Flayer: uses hollow energy.
• Interfector: uses infernal essences of all kinds.
• Maalgka: uses msawhat.
• Nullifier: uses void
• Poisoner: uses vile energy.
• Sakmal: uses nommos.
• Sender: a specific kind of assassin/psychopomp who targets phantasmal undead.
• Spiritkiller: uses blasphemy energy.

Variations

There are many different variations on assassins.

Cultural Variations

Some cultures have specific kinds of assassins with their own preferred methods, targets, and tools. Some of these include but are not limited to

• Asasiyyun: Mahadi assassins who take special oaths and have deep faith and loyalty to their rulers.
• Flayer: Malish assassins who sometimes do work for hollow mages.
• Maalgka: Raesian assassins sent to kill the enemies of their empire.
• Nullifier: Sodzulian assassins who use void to null the life in their targets.
• Shinobi: there are many kinds of shinobi in Tenzanai.

Political Variations

Political assassinations are the commonest and most famous kind. Often, governments will send their own agents, such as spies, to do the dirty work, but sometimes they hire outside help. Assassins who specialize in political work are usually called contractors as a euphemism. Other political assassinations are acts of terror against a population, country, or nation. These are often carried out not by for-hire killers, but members of terrorist groups.

Organized Crime

A hitman is an assassin who works for an organized crime group.

Groups

The most notable assassin groups are

• Knives Unerring: group devoted to knifing their targets in the back.
• Nightshade Coterie: elite group of poisoners.
• Shadows of Death: a cult-like group who wear black cloaks and wield true shadow and poarta in their work.

Stats

A typical assassin will have the following variations from the base stats of their nation/species:

PRO +3
ATH +4
STR +2
AWA +3
WIL +1
ROG +6