airwalkrr
Adventurer
Today one of my characters fulfilled the prerequisites for becoming a member of the assassin prestige class. I imagine that it is due to the rather grim prerequisite of killing someone just to join the assassins guild and requirement of being evil that it is not something I have ever seen happen in any campaign I have ever been a part of before now. But it is a rather interesting prestige class prerequisite because few require such an intriguing and dangerous task, not every DM allows evil alignments, and not many players can play evil alignments without being "naughty." So here is my story. Please share yours if you have ever seen a character fulfill the prerequisites for becoming an assassin in character (off-scene doesn't count).
Belyren was just a half-elf rogue following around a priest of Orcus named Zariel (my other character in the campaign) when he decided to follow his own path. Perhaps it was the relic of Olidammara he discovered in a dungeon populated by skulks and other more nefarious creatures. Perhaps he just decided that the ways of Orcus held little appeal for him. Whatever the cause, he decided to pursue the path of trickery and deception and all that came with it. He began practicing his skill at sneaking up on opponents and began experimenting with various poisons he came across. He also discovered that he liked impersonating other people and that he possessed a natural talent for it, especially once he had sufficiently adapted his skills in the bardic traditions and learned to mask his appearance with simple illusion spells.
After an adventure spurred largely by the desires of his companion Zariel to purge an ancient temple of Orcus from "heretics" of Nerull who had taken up residence there, he returned to the city of Sumberton a wealthy man. He had also learned much in his journeys and sought out ways to enhance his abilities further. He had become intrigued by the ways of the assassins who worked under cover of darkness and deception and felt that his weapon, which he had named "Desperate Measures" encouraged him to pursue this path. So it was that he was asked by the Assassins' Guild of Sumberton to kill an elf named Napoleei who had left the guild and ratted out several members to the Sumberton town guard in the process.
Belyren made careful preparations before leaving on this mission. First, he acquired a dose of nitharit from unsavory sources in Sumberton whom he had met in previous encounters and purchased a glove treated with wax to prevent exposure of the poison to the skin. This would be a crucial measure in his plan for success. Second, he brought along his companion Zariel, convincing him that a short vacation would make for a worthwhile diversion from their previous dangerous expeditions. Having Zariel nearby would simply be insurance. After all, the death master had command of vast numbers of undead minions (wisely disguised and kept away from populated areas of course).
Belyren tracked down Napoleei to the village of Stump Flats, where horse racing was the big event of the town. An accomplished rider himself, Belyren made a visit to the stables to visit Napoleei after learning from the locals that he was a manager for various jockeys. Clearly Napoleei was expecting some sort of retribution for his recent betrayal of the guild, for he was surrounded at all times by heavily armed guards. A fine plan was called for. As a skilled rider, "Speedy Bel" expressed his interest to Napoleei in signing on as a jockey, and asked for a chance to prove himself. Napoleei reluctantly agreed to a trial the next day.
After this encounter, Belyren carefully observed Napoleei as discreetly as possible from the stands while Napoleei watched the races. He noted his contact and friendly relations with a noble whom he later learned was known to all in Stump Flats as Samm. This would be a crucial detail. Belyren needed a way to get close to Napoleei without arousing suspicion and this would prove the key. It was later that evening in a local tavern that Belyren learned another crucial piece of information. Rumor had it Samm's wife had been cheating on him with one of Samm's own jockeys! This information would prove to be Napoleei's undoing, not to mention Samm's.
The next day, Belyren brought his trusted steed, White Chaos, to the track to compete against one of Napoleei's jockeys in a trial. Although Belyren lost, his horsemanship was quite exceptional, and Napoleei was impressed. He believed that given the proper steed, "Speedy Bel" could compete with the best of them. "Speedy Bel" was slotted to take the place of an injured jockey that very day. The race was spectacular, and "Speedy Bel" earned his name, winning the race by a hair. The crowd roared at the surprise outcome of the race, but many said that it was mere beginner's luck.
Before his next race, Belyren disguised himself as Samm combining his own skill with a bit of magic and went to visit Napoleei in the stands to gather information and build camaraderie. When asked about his wife, "Samm" responded that he had hired a private investigator to look into his wife's activities and assured Napoleei that he wouldn't allow such indiscretions to occur again. In the next race, "Speedy Bel" stunned the crowd a second time, this time winning by an even larger margin. It was enough to get Napoleei to sign on "Speedy Bel" to a year-long contract in which he promised to give him a 50% cut of his track winnings. At this point there was no question that "Speedy Bel" and Napoleei had forged a mutually beneficial relationship.
The next day, Belyren was slotted to star in another race. But this time, he was ready to make his move. He asked Zariel to do him a favor. He needed Zariel to be "Speedy Bel," just for a short period of time. One race was all. Zariel was not much of a rider, but he agreed, knowing his companion Belyren had some plan in motion. Just before the race, Belyren helped Zariel disguise himself. It didn't have to be perfect, after all, most people would be viewing "Speedy Bel" from far away in the stands. While Zariel, disguised as "Speedy Bel" saddled up, Belyren put the final workings of his plan into motion.
Belyren used his illusionary magic to disguise himself as Samm once again and then made sure his weapons were doused with greenblood oil in case the nitharit didn't do the job. Then he applied the nitharit to his waxed glove and approached Napoleei. Greeting the ungloved Napoleei with a hearty handshake, "Samm" requested seeing Napoleei immediately. The matter concerned one of his riders; the news was not good, and it was for Napoleei's ears only, indicating he ought to leave his guards aside for the moment. They hadn't traveled long when the nitharit struck Napoleei and struck him hard. They were far enough away from the crowds, but still within earshot. "You heard me!" the disguised Belyren cried, "I caught your wife with one of your jockeys last night! That new one Bel. He's trouble!"
Napoleei tried to protest, but the poison had made him weak. His guards began to rush to his side but it was too late. "Samm" had drawn his blades and plunged them into Napoleei's sides. As the blades drew back from the wounds, Napoleei fell to the ground lifeless. "Samm" looked shocked and cried, "What have I done? This crime of passion! I'll hang for this for sure!"
Napoleei's guards were equally stunned, giving "Samm" just enough time to slip away and dismiss the disguise spell once he had gotten out of sight. Meanwhile, "Speedy Bel" came in a close third and stomped off the field in disgust. He was heard to have claimed in a tavern in Stump Flats later that night, "I can't believe I lost my first race and my manager was murdered all in one day! It's an omen from the gods. I'll never race again!"
"Speedy Bel" hasn't been seen in Stump Flats since. But the legend of "Speedy Bel" and his short but exciting winning streak and brief rise to fame will never be forgotten.
Belyren was just a half-elf rogue following around a priest of Orcus named Zariel (my other character in the campaign) when he decided to follow his own path. Perhaps it was the relic of Olidammara he discovered in a dungeon populated by skulks and other more nefarious creatures. Perhaps he just decided that the ways of Orcus held little appeal for him. Whatever the cause, he decided to pursue the path of trickery and deception and all that came with it. He began practicing his skill at sneaking up on opponents and began experimenting with various poisons he came across. He also discovered that he liked impersonating other people and that he possessed a natural talent for it, especially once he had sufficiently adapted his skills in the bardic traditions and learned to mask his appearance with simple illusion spells.
After an adventure spurred largely by the desires of his companion Zariel to purge an ancient temple of Orcus from "heretics" of Nerull who had taken up residence there, he returned to the city of Sumberton a wealthy man. He had also learned much in his journeys and sought out ways to enhance his abilities further. He had become intrigued by the ways of the assassins who worked under cover of darkness and deception and felt that his weapon, which he had named "Desperate Measures" encouraged him to pursue this path. So it was that he was asked by the Assassins' Guild of Sumberton to kill an elf named Napoleei who had left the guild and ratted out several members to the Sumberton town guard in the process.
Belyren made careful preparations before leaving on this mission. First, he acquired a dose of nitharit from unsavory sources in Sumberton whom he had met in previous encounters and purchased a glove treated with wax to prevent exposure of the poison to the skin. This would be a crucial measure in his plan for success. Second, he brought along his companion Zariel, convincing him that a short vacation would make for a worthwhile diversion from their previous dangerous expeditions. Having Zariel nearby would simply be insurance. After all, the death master had command of vast numbers of undead minions (wisely disguised and kept away from populated areas of course).
Belyren tracked down Napoleei to the village of Stump Flats, where horse racing was the big event of the town. An accomplished rider himself, Belyren made a visit to the stables to visit Napoleei after learning from the locals that he was a manager for various jockeys. Clearly Napoleei was expecting some sort of retribution for his recent betrayal of the guild, for he was surrounded at all times by heavily armed guards. A fine plan was called for. As a skilled rider, "Speedy Bel" expressed his interest to Napoleei in signing on as a jockey, and asked for a chance to prove himself. Napoleei reluctantly agreed to a trial the next day.
After this encounter, Belyren carefully observed Napoleei as discreetly as possible from the stands while Napoleei watched the races. He noted his contact and friendly relations with a noble whom he later learned was known to all in Stump Flats as Samm. This would be a crucial detail. Belyren needed a way to get close to Napoleei without arousing suspicion and this would prove the key. It was later that evening in a local tavern that Belyren learned another crucial piece of information. Rumor had it Samm's wife had been cheating on him with one of Samm's own jockeys! This information would prove to be Napoleei's undoing, not to mention Samm's.
The next day, Belyren brought his trusted steed, White Chaos, to the track to compete against one of Napoleei's jockeys in a trial. Although Belyren lost, his horsemanship was quite exceptional, and Napoleei was impressed. He believed that given the proper steed, "Speedy Bel" could compete with the best of them. "Speedy Bel" was slotted to take the place of an injured jockey that very day. The race was spectacular, and "Speedy Bel" earned his name, winning the race by a hair. The crowd roared at the surprise outcome of the race, but many said that it was mere beginner's luck.
Before his next race, Belyren disguised himself as Samm combining his own skill with a bit of magic and went to visit Napoleei in the stands to gather information and build camaraderie. When asked about his wife, "Samm" responded that he had hired a private investigator to look into his wife's activities and assured Napoleei that he wouldn't allow such indiscretions to occur again. In the next race, "Speedy Bel" stunned the crowd a second time, this time winning by an even larger margin. It was enough to get Napoleei to sign on "Speedy Bel" to a year-long contract in which he promised to give him a 50% cut of his track winnings. At this point there was no question that "Speedy Bel" and Napoleei had forged a mutually beneficial relationship.
The next day, Belyren was slotted to star in another race. But this time, he was ready to make his move. He asked Zariel to do him a favor. He needed Zariel to be "Speedy Bel," just for a short period of time. One race was all. Zariel was not much of a rider, but he agreed, knowing his companion Belyren had some plan in motion. Just before the race, Belyren helped Zariel disguise himself. It didn't have to be perfect, after all, most people would be viewing "Speedy Bel" from far away in the stands. While Zariel, disguised as "Speedy Bel" saddled up, Belyren put the final workings of his plan into motion.
Belyren used his illusionary magic to disguise himself as Samm once again and then made sure his weapons were doused with greenblood oil in case the nitharit didn't do the job. Then he applied the nitharit to his waxed glove and approached Napoleei. Greeting the ungloved Napoleei with a hearty handshake, "Samm" requested seeing Napoleei immediately. The matter concerned one of his riders; the news was not good, and it was for Napoleei's ears only, indicating he ought to leave his guards aside for the moment. They hadn't traveled long when the nitharit struck Napoleei and struck him hard. They were far enough away from the crowds, but still within earshot. "You heard me!" the disguised Belyren cried, "I caught your wife with one of your jockeys last night! That new one Bel. He's trouble!"
Napoleei tried to protest, but the poison had made him weak. His guards began to rush to his side but it was too late. "Samm" had drawn his blades and plunged them into Napoleei's sides. As the blades drew back from the wounds, Napoleei fell to the ground lifeless. "Samm" looked shocked and cried, "What have I done? This crime of passion! I'll hang for this for sure!"
Napoleei's guards were equally stunned, giving "Samm" just enough time to slip away and dismiss the disguise spell once he had gotten out of sight. Meanwhile, "Speedy Bel" came in a close third and stomped off the field in disgust. He was heard to have claimed in a tavern in Stump Flats later that night, "I can't believe I lost my first race and my manager was murdered all in one day! It's an omen from the gods. I'll never race again!"
"Speedy Bel" hasn't been seen in Stump Flats since. But the legend of "Speedy Bel" and his short but exciting winning streak and brief rise to fame will never be forgotten.
