Assassin

One of the oldest professions on Vyril, that takes many different forms and shapes depending on the culture the assassin is trained in. For some places, being an assassin is a mark of pride. For some cultures, they are necessary and common. For others, they are the monsters in the shadows and the poison in the cup that topples dynasties. Whatever form or shape they take, though, assassins on Vyril generally operate out of anonyminity and rely on that to prevent retaliation.

Yandelar

On Yandelar, the most prominent and feared assassins are trained and born in Veil Elf society. They operate entirely on secrecy, shadows, and merit. Espionage and murder-for-hire is a way of life for them and they offer their services to the highest bidder. Veil Elf assassins, culturally known as Designs, are second to none. Expensive, elite, and elusive, they evade nearly all law enforcement on the contintent. It's said that if anyone catches a Veil Elf, it's because they want to be caught. Given the dark skin and distinct coloration of the veil elves, they are rather easy to pick out in a crowd. To the ignorant and uneducated, most assume that all Veil Elves are capable asssassins. Even if this is hardly the case.
Second to the Veil Elves are the Wild Elves. Oath Bound Wild Elves are considered one of the most fearsome bounty hunters and assassins on Yandelar. Far more rare than the Veil Elf Design, a Wild Elf Oath Bound to a target or cause is a very driven, very dangerous elf. Their rarity is only because of how careful Wild Elves are in giving their oath to anyone or any cause unless it is something they feel strongly about. This is already built upon the fierce reputation the Wild Elves have established as raiders, pillagers, and slavers. Roaming nomads that not even the Dameskans have been able to purge from their lands, the Wild Elves consider all of Yandelar theirs to explore as they will. If someone wants them to leave, they best bring enough force to make them.
Rarer still than the Oath Bound Wild Elf is a Moon Elf Hunter. As isolationists, shorter lived races may go their entire lives without ever seeing a Moon Elf. When their people have been wronged or a cause important enough, a Hunter will be sent out to deal with a threat. This Hunter is usually meant to deliver a decisive, calculated wound to the enemy that will deter them from a course of action. Thus, Hunters have been used only a handful of times against army Generals, Captains of large raiding parties and bandits that decided to live in their woods, or any other group of elf that overstays their welcome. The Hunter isn't expected to survive the mission but, for Moon Elves, that is usually part of the danger for the one they are hunting.

Damesk

Standing apart from the majority of Yandelar, the Dameskans are notorious assassin killers. They hunt those that would strike from the shadows and view such combat and techniques as dishonorable and beneath them. Some mistake this and take it to mean that Damesk is incapable of subterfuge and spycraft, which is a grave mistake. Information is power and Damesk intends to be aptly armed in this as they are in anything else. But when the Dameskans attack, it will be with fire and steel, not poison or a dagger from the shadows.
Given that it is incredibly difficult to catch a Dameskan off guard, given their ability to catch surface thoughts of those around them, the concept of an assassin never really developed in their culture. They still guard against infiltration and attack, but they do not train their own assassins.

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Alternative Names

Design, Oath Bound, Hunter

Type

Illicit