Assassin

A Cenzai leaps at her opponent, slipping out of sight into the shadows at their feet as a sword whistles harmlessly over her head. Before they can recover from her sudden disappearance, she seems to spring up from the shadowed ground behind them to surprise them with a mighty kick. Her opponent whirls with a squawk of surprise as she gives a lazy wave and a wink before melting from sight once again. The unfortunate Orc is helpless to discern where she will strike next.
A Courser raises an arm to stop his traveling companions from moving on. They stop in confusion, looking in vain for a threat in the tunnels around them. Despite the thick darkness in the cavernous space ahead, he can see the beast lying in wait outside of the warm light of their torches. With a snarl, he lunges for the demon in a whirlwind of flashing silver daggers.
Arrows skitter and snap harmlessly into the wall behind a dark feathered Paradisian as a unit of guards closes in around him. He weaves and dances through the barrage of bolts as he dips and leaps over swords and axes, laughing all the while. No one can touch him.

The Deadliest Prey

Some might say that Assassins live on the rush and thrill of danger and mischief. They, for one reason or another, found no joy in a standard profession, wishing for additional challenges or danger. Why hunt an animal when you can hunt a person? Many of these Assassins survive by flying under the radar as pickpockets, burglars, and hired blades. Every kill has a price for a professional, and they take care to come out on top of every deal they make. As masters of their own fates with a strong trust in their instincts, Assassins can prove difficult to trap or ensnare. This is a skill that pays off for nearly every Assassin in their endeavors to move through places built to keep others out. They revel in disarming and avoiding deadly traps and toppling adversaries foolish enough to try to get the drop on them.
While some look down on Assassins for their willingness to kill for the highest bidder, they are aware of their place in the world. Those that take on high-stakes contracts often view themselves as a puppeteer or judge in their own right. After all, nothing shakes up the board of the world like a little bit of bloodshed, and nothing beats the rush of taking down a target just as intelligent as they are. Assassins are daredevils by nature and aren't shy about "taking the quick way down" from a high window or cutting across rooftops to avoid foot traffic.
Not all Assassins are contract killers. These highly independent individuals move to the beat of their own drum and hang the consequences of their choices. Many operate as solo operatives using their superior speed, precision, and eye for detail to work with groups or causes that strike their fancy. After all, they are not without their own moral compass. They just don't mind if their compass points a different direction than the world at large.

Life in the Shadows

In their day-to-day lives, most Assassins prefer to keep a low profile and blend in with the places they are visiting and living in. Tools of the trade are kept inconspicuously among their belongings and on their person. A common tactic for many is to keep lock picks in their hair, fur, and feathers where they are not readily discovered, easy to access, and out of the way. Many Assassins do just enough to be seen, but not enough to be remembered. Some keep an active public front of providing shelter for those in need or taking in orphaned children. Doing good for their communities by day, and commandeering funding by night is a juggling trick that some live for. For them, there is a certain rush to hiding in plain sight.
There are some that let their reputations do the talking. These Assassins are confident and sure of their abilities to avoid issues with the average guard or city dweller. Brute force, blackmail, owed favors, and implied threats are all tools of the trade that are used freely in the same way a butcher uses different blades to break down a carcass. For many, it's a “rule or be ruled” world, and they don't care for following. This strong-willed nature often draws the attention of other Assassins and people looking to find a place for themselves in the world. It's not uncommon for a well-known Assassin to gain a few followers loyal to them and their brand of living.
Assassins and their goals come in as wide an array as the people of Adia themselves. While some prefer to keep apart and away from society or other Assassins, there are others that seek the brotherhood and knowledge of others like them. For them, the thought of learning new tricks and competition among their peers is an enticing thought. These individuals typically seek to make a small name for themselves to gain access to and respect from the Assassin's Guild. Whether they do this on their own or by following a veteran with a reputation, they must earn their own respect and forge their own bonds to earn favors, services, and sometimes protection from within the Guild.

The Assassin’s Guild

The Assassin's Guild, while considered a rumor or urban legend by some, is a very real organization that watches and observes the movements of Assassins across Adia. It is an organization that will aid and assist those in good standing, or see to it that those that cause problems within their ranks are not seen again. This causes a certain amount of tension between those within the Guild and those outside of the Guild. There is, after all, a certain amount of security and danger to either choice. The Council of the Assassin’s Guild consists of ten members hand-picked for their unique skill-sets and mastery of their craft. The entire organization is presided over by a mysterious leader known only as “the Silence.” Nothing is known about this individual or what they look like, but every member knows the sole iron-bound law of the Guild. “When Silence speaks, you listen.”