Conlegium Sicariorum

            There is a fairly simple process to join the Guild. The entry test itself is easy to pass. The trick to it is similar to the Run, just look at everything. It is easy to join the Guild, and very easy to leave (the trick is to leave upright).

            But before you commit yourself to the Guild, please reconsider your decision. Joining the Guild now would mean committing yourself to PK life, for a start. It is a momentous decision, and weak Assassins tend to be picked on more than others. Be prepared for the fact that one day, someone WILL loot your stuff, someone WILL kill you for no reason, and someone WILL make your life hell. If you feel you cannot commit to that, then find another Guild. Although PK life does have some advantages, there are still some serious disadvantages you must consider first. But it will also make you stronger in more ways then one.

            Should you decide to join this Guild of many talented individuals, then I welcome you to the Guild, and hope you enjoy your time on the Disc as an Assassin.

            There are certain expectations of Guild members. Firstly, one must abide by the Charter and the charters of the other guilds when in their territory.

            Also, Assassins are expected to be upright members of society. I quote Professor Grissom, and at the time of writing, the Master of the Assassins Guild, and Professor of Master of Assassination, in the fourth lecture of his very  successful course;

            “Assassins have had a long tradition of being upstanding members of society. It is probably fair to say that more graduates of this guild than any other have gone on to be shopkeepers, magistrates, newspaper owners, playtesters or just fine upstanding pillars of the community.”...

           ... “Why is this the case though? What is it about this guild that enables people to make more of their lives than the simple pursuit of bigger and better numbers?”

            “Well, for one - it's not easy to join the guild. The entrance exam and the run might seem like a distant memory to many of you, but it might be surprising that members of the guild get asked for information on how to join at least once per week.

Of course, none of you ever give that information out, do you?”

            “Similarly, the statistics on the run are also quite impressive. It has been confirmed that the number of deaths on the run in one Roundworld year was 893. The number of graduated Assassins however was only 399. An impressive set of numbers, I think you'll agree.”

            “So, where does this all lead us? Well, there are many factors that we need to consider.”

            “It takes a thinker to graduate from the guild. For someone to pass all of the tests they have to at least have a working brain. Many people never make it past being a student, and if they do, PK life soon weeds out any final stragglers. This leaves us with a hard core of people who have already proven themselves to be somewhat above the crowd.”...

            ...“The ability to ask and answer questions without fear of ridicule cultivates a sense of independence as well as a reliance on your guild members.”

            “Of course - let's not forget the two reasons that motivate the greater majority of people... Money and power.”

            “Whist both might well corrupt, they can also serve as brilliant motivators. I'm sure that if asked for a reason they bought a shop, or stood in an election, most Assassins would mention one or other sooner or later.”

            “This is entirely as it should be. We don't train you to be aware of the exact value of a persons life without a very good reason.”

            In conclusion, Lord Downey once said,

"Any old Sicarian can hold up his or her head - or in some cases on unusual assignments someone else's head - in polite society, secure in the knowledge that they have been trained to deal with any situation that may arise..."”

            Well, eventually, in your life as an Assassin, you will have to face the Run sooner of later, unless you wish to remain a student forever, such as in the case of Eki Rhs. But before attempting the Run, remember that this would be the last of your NPK life. Be prepared for PK life BEFORE the Run. I suggest some perception, decent health and fighting skills, and maybe some grappling skills to prevent thieving. More on PK life will be covered in the graduates section, under Playerkilling.

            The Run is the ultimate test of your skills, and decides whether you will become a graduate or not. Fatalities on the Run are common, so here is all the advice we graduates can give you.

            Firstly, LOOK AT EVERYTHING. Yes, EVERYTHING. You will never know if anything can be a threat to your very valuable life. That is all we can say regarding this point. Should you be complacent, in any one little thing, you may find yourself talking to the guy who TALKS LIKE THIS.

            Secondly, don’t be afraid. Yes, the Run should be exciting, but it is also very intimidating. Don’t let that scare you away from doing the Run. It might seem impossible, but try to enjoy the Run. This IS a game, you know.

            Equipment-wise, we suggest a light load, such that it does not affect your climbing. Should you fall, SPLAT. Most of us suggest a throwing knife, a lockpick and a lightsource, best a yellow stone ring. Other people like to add other objects, it’s up to them.

            Skills-wise, try to guild-max your skills, especially fi.me.da and fi.de.do, and also have some acrobatics, like balancing, under the others section. Perception to sense traps, and enough health.

            Should you die, just pick yourself (mortal and dead) up, get a resurrection, maybe buy a few lives, replenish your equipment, and try again. Remember, you can leave the Run at any time.       

How on earth do I inhume someone? Well, this section will be explaining the various inhumation methods of the Assassins. For this job I will be using, at the time of writing, Grissom’s Lecture 7 of the Master of Assassination course.

NOTE: New developments by our beloved Kaylar now allow us to inhume with any weapon we wish. Yes, you can inhume the target with a spear, although that will not be very stealthy. I will try to cover the changes as soon as I can.
 

"This lecture will look at some of the more common weapons that the guild expects all graduates to have a knowledge of.”

“Obviously, you are perfectly welcome to make your own choices as to your default weapon, but the truly great graduates of this guild can use almost any implement to hand. In the past, Assassins have utilised a spoon, a grappling hook, a mole and a stuffed bear. This last method has sadly never been explained fully.”

“Perhaps the most common weapon used by members of the guild is the standard throwing knife. Currently available in sizes 5 through 12, with weights increasing with the number code, this range of weapons may be individually inflexible, but combined can give a wide range of options against many targets.”

“For example, the lighter a knife the harder it is for your target to dodge. Unfortunately though, the lighter knives do not have the stopping power of their heavier cousin and may be unable to penetrate the harder shields, or even skins, of your target.”

“On the other hand the weightier knives are often able to punch through most defenses, but will give your target more time to dodge or parry your throw.”

“For those Assassins who prefer the fired method, there is also a broad range of options. The more common version is the Burleigh & Stronginthearm "Viper" Mk 3 crossbow. This weapon fires an arrow at high speed and accuracy, allowing your target little time to avoid it.

However, it is a very weighty weapon and adds a significant proportion to your burden.

A lighter but less powerful alternative is the hand crossbow. However, this item does not have the stopping power of its larger cousin and requires its bolt to be coated in poison to achieve a lethal blow.”

“Finally for lovers of the fired method, there is the humble blowpipe. This weapon is available in most branches of the guild, and can also be made by some craftsmen. Whilst it may be a simple hollow tube, the blowpipe has been the favorite of many Assassins until recent times. The need to add poison to its darts has dampened people's enthusiasm for this item.”

“For the more stylish amongst us, the Kompt de Yoyo has developed a range of instruments for use in inhumation.”

“These range from a simple black violin with an enforced string to allow the use of a specially reinforced bow, to a more elaborate clarinet with special crossbow bolt attachment. These allow a client to be sent to his or her rest to the accompaniment of beautiful music, as of course only people with some skill with their chosen instrument should be using this method.

For those of you who like to get up close and personal with your clients; the poniard, stiletto and elegant stiletto are possibly more to your taste. These weapons allow you to stab your target in the back, causing enough damage for them to exanguinate rapidly.”

“This latter method is proving more popular, as there is no need to switch weapons before attempting to inhume your target, however research seems to indicate that it is several degrees harder to inhume in this way, meaning it is perhaps better suited to those more advanced in the ways of inhumation.”

“Only the thrown, fired and musical inhumation techniques give you a chance to remain anonymous when closing a contract. The stabbing method will always reveal your identity to the client. You may want to take this into account when choosing your method, as there are a few clients out there who may react violently to an inhumation attempt.”

“Whichever method you choose, please be aware that your target will, more often than not, come equipped with their own weapons. They also tend to be very attached to their life and may do pretty much anything to hold onto it. So, be careful out there.”