Death's Valentines (DnD Other)

The Guild Emblem of Death's Valentines.

Death's Valentines

An old and powerful group of thieves and assassins led by a mysterious thief and assassin.

Description

The details of this organization are shrouded in mystery to outsiders. Liaisons from factions, governments, other organizations, and armies are dealt with very secretively and carefully, only being contacted in special manners, such as a message disguised as an anonymous love letter sent to their house, or a two way scrying mirror with communication set up with an undead or simply no one on the other end.

Death's Valentines are hired for a multitude of reasons, from assassinations of government officials to petty disputes between commoners over property; the guild simply doesn't discriminate about where its money comes from. Sometimes the guild will act independently, killing a ruler thats threatening the infrastructre of their ogranization or dealing with a local threat to a small town for the favor of its residents, but such things occur only as often as necessary.

Relations

This guild treats all its members equally and is not prejudice when selecting candidates for membership, though some races are better suited to thievery and assassination, giving them an advantage to entering the guild.

As far as interest in their targets goes, they simply accept most of the missions they are offered. Money is, of course, required, and the guild his a chart for the minimum amount of money needed to perform ertian tasks, but beyond that almost every job is taken.

Interaction with the factions is commonplace and on good terms; if a particular faction becomes upset with the guild for dealing with any other faction, that faction is either left on its own for sometime or any liaison with the guild for that faction is killed and replaced, preferably with a more acceptable individual.

Representatives of entire factions are sometimes treated with greater deference than the leader of individual government, but because the representative holds greater power than the lone ruler, not because of any discrimination.

History

Death's Valentines is known within the guild to have been founded by Valentine Sunshadow, but outside the guild is only known for its unmistakable mark for their work. Some of the better history books record its existence, but the guild's own official history books record some of the major events and occurrances in the guild. Depending on the book, it may including everything from the actual founding of the guild on, or just all of the transitions of power, or assumptions about the life of Valentine before the guild's creation.

It is from this last version of history within the guild that has created a multitude of rumors about the Assassin Extraordinaire. Some say that he created the guild because of his religion. Others believe Valentine is actually Loethire himself. However, the most widespread and believed rumor that is even comfirmed by quite a few of the history books is that Valentine's lover, a fellow thief, was assassinated. Apparently, Valentine created the guild as a testament of his love for that woman. Beyond that there is even more dispute over the exact resoning for this, including whether it was to take vengeance upon her killer, just show his love, or to gain access to the most powerful of minds and magic to bring her back.

Other than that, the history books include details of one particularly bloody cleansing of the members of the guild, when infiltrators from many other organizations, especially rival assassins guilds, were exposed and slaughtered. No one knows specifically how each and every one of the operatives was discovered, simply that they were and that the Executioners of the time were personally responsible for killing them.

Rules

Rule #1: The orders of the Assassin Extraordinaire are to be followed immediately and without question. Should these actions directly require a member of the guild to break the rules of the guild, those subject to the orders are absolved of responsibility.

Rule #2: Crooks, Killers, Enforcers, and Executioners are never to engage in thievery or assassination amongst members of their own standing. Enforcers are never to engage in theivery or assassination of Executioners.

Rule #3: Advancement occurs when the proper conditions are met.

Rule #4: No one who approaches the guild may ever be accepted as a member upon their own request. All members must be oberved and solicited by a member of qualified rank, which are those of Enforcer and above.

Goals

The primary motivation of the guild is profit, and no job or payment is too small. It acts in their own self-interest, protecting itself from infiltration by other organizations and from the threats of optimistic and extremely influential governments, factions, and independent armies.

Headquarters and Locations

To be completed at a later date.

Hierarchy

Death's Valentines follows a strict, regulated heirarchical system in which members of lower standing should never

The members of Death's Valentines are divided into 6 standings, which is their position relative to one another within the guild with 6th as the lowest and 1st as the highest. It is also divided into ranks, Pickpocket being new recruits of 6th standing, Crooks and Killers are 5th standing, Burglars and Hitmen are 4th standing, Enforcers are 3rd standing, Executioners as the highest commonly attainable rank is 2nd standing, and Assaasin Extraordinaire is the 1st standing and held by the leader of the guild, Valentine Sunshadow.

To become a member, an enforcer or an executioner must observe a thief or an assassin candidate of great reputation and skill; at this point, the candidate is known as a Pickpocket, and most candidates are never told when they become a Pickpocket. If the Pickpocket is deemed worthy of membership after six to nine months of observation, the Pickpoocket is informed that they may become a full member of the organization should they so choose. Few turn down the offer, many for fear that retribution will be swift should they decline; however, no punishment ever is exacted should a Pickpocket refuse the invitation to the guild, because Pickpockets never gain any information about the guild and are never directly approached by a member of the guild.

While suggestions for Pickpockets from 4th standing member and sometimes even 5th standing members are occassionally entertained, the final call on Pickpocket status and the subsequent offer or membership is up to enforcers, executioners, and ultimately the assassin extraordinaire, as he reviews all Pickpockets before they are offered membership.

Rank	Standing	Member	Description
Pickpocket	6th	This is the lowest rank. It is for new recruits.	Members of this rank do not have responsibilities or privileges within the guild. Many people aren't even told that they're a Pickpocket until they move to Crook or Killer status.
Crook	5th	Name of the current holder of that title	Crooks are required to folow the orders of their guild superiors and interact without violence should they need to co-operate on a mission. Many Crooks avoid each other when not required to be together by a mission, an order, or their assigned Hitman; however, Crooks that enter the guild and function in the guild as a team are not uncommon. They receive a small stipend and basic benefits from the guild. They perform Class 5P guild missions.
Killer	5th	There are thousands of Killers. They usually stay in the town they are recuited in unless they request otherwise.	Killers are required to folow the orders of their guild superiors and interact without violence should they need to co-operate on a mission. Most Killers avoid each other when not required to be together by a mission, an order, or their assigned Hitman. They receive a small stipend and basic benefits from the guild. They perform Class 5p guild missions.
Burglar	4th	There are hundreds of Burglars around the world, but only two to seven stationary Burglars are ever in one town at the same time.	Most Burglars are assigned to a town with a group of 2-5 Crooks. They perform Class 4P missions that are assigned them and assign Class 5P missions to one of their Crooks. They receive moderate guild benefits and a decent stipend. Some Burglars are not assigned, but instead move from town to town, picking up the slack where needed. They receive a slightly larger stipend and most travel expenses are paid.
Hitman	4th	There are hundreds of Hitmen around the world, but only two to seven stationary Hitmen are ever in one town at the same time.	Most Hitmen are assigned to a town with a group of 2-5 Killers. They perform Class 4D missions that are assigned them and assign Class 5D missions to one of their Killers. They receive moderate guild benefits and a decent stipend. Some Hitmen are not assigned, but instead move from town to town, picking up the slack where needed. They receive a lsightly larger stipend and most travel expenses are paid.
Enforcer	3rd	There are 30 Enforcers in the guild, all of whom are accessible to all Hitmen and Burglars for business. They recruit new members, acknowledge new hitmen and burglars, administer Class 4 and 5 guild missions, and report to the Executioner they are assigned to, whether for business or a Class 2 or 3 mission.	Description of the rank and what honors it entails
Executioner	2nd	There are currently only five Executioners, each with half a dozen Enforcers who report directly to them.	Besides being responsible for the conveyance of information to the Assassin Extraordinaire, they deal with everything from new recuits to Class 1 and 2 guild missions. They also have great advantages and benefits derived from being in the upper-most eschelons of the guild.
Assassin Extraordinaire	1st, this is the highest rank in the guild	Valentine Sunshadow, founder and leader of the guild.	Valentine runs the most important and delicate business of his guild personally, making the entire organization run as smoothly as any band of killers can.

Ranks

Rank Descriptions

Pickpockets: Pickpockets are selected one at a time by Enforcers and Executioners. It is rumored within the guild that some prodigious guild members were even recuited by the Assassin Extraordinaire. While many are not informed of thie candidacy for membership in the guild, they are observed diligently by their recruiter for the potential and skill needed to become a member of Death's Valentines.

If and when they are selected as a member, they are offered their membership, informed of the situation, and expected to reply regardless of what their answer is. Pickpockets are not killed for declining the invitation, but those who accept it are advanced to Crook or Killer rank, as appropriate for their skills.

Crooks: The basic membership for thieves, this rank is full of Thief-Acrobats, Bards, and Rogues.

Crooks are assigned to a Burglar the instant they accept their membership.

Requiring great ability, they are never caught on the job because they are trained to never leave any trace they were ever on the job. The only evidence there ever is that a target was stolen from is that what was stolen is gone and in its absence is placed a small, pink, heart-shaped candy expertly engraved with the guild emblem.

Killers receive a weekly stipend of 100 gp, and they have small libraries and alchemy labs available for research. They may requisition up to 1,000 gp worth of guild equipment, no one item of which may cost more than 250 gp, for personal use for up to a month at a time. When performing a guild mission, this limit doubles, as does the maximum price of a single item and the time.

Crooks are assigned Class 5P Missions or assist their assigned Burglar on Class 4P Missions.

Killers: The basic membership for assassins, this rank if full of Thief-Acrobats, Bards, and Rogues.

Killers are assigned to a Hitman the instant they accept their membership.

Requiring great ability, they are never caught on the job because they are trained to never leave any trace they were ever on the job. The only evidence there ever is that a target was assassinated is that the target is dead with eyes closed in their bed holding an anonymous, unaddressed love letter with a small, pink candy in their mouth.

Killers receive a weekly stipend of 100 gp, and they have small libraries and alchemy labs available for research. They may requisition up to 1,000 gp worth of guild equipment, no one item of which may cost more than 250 gp, for personal use for up to a month at a time. When performing a guild mission, this limit doubles, as does the maximum price of a single item and the time.

Killers are assigned Class 5D Missions or assist their assigned Hitmen on Class 4D Missions.

Burglars: Burglars are advanced Crooks, sometimes with levels in Shadowdancer.

Burglars usually report to an Enforcer to which they are assigned, but Burglars that travel for the guild report directly to an Executioner.

These thieves are veritable experts of their craft, stealing so prodigiously the victim may not notice for some time. The only evidence there ever is that a target was stolen from is that what was stolen is gone and in its absence is placed a small, pink, heart-shaped candy expertly engraved with the guild emblem.

Burglars receive a weekly stipend of 500 gp, and they have access to the public guild libraries and alchemist's labs and some larger, more comprehensive libraries and labs. They may requisition up to 5,000 gp worth of guild equipment, no one item of which may cost more than 1,000 gp, for personal use for up to three months at a time. When performing a guild mission, this limit doubles, as does the maximum price of a single item and the time.

Burglars assign Class 5P Missions to their Crooks and are assigned Class 4P Missions by their Enforcer or Executioner.

Hitmen: Hitmen are advanced Killers, sometimes with levels in Assassin.

Hitmen usually report to an Enforcer to which they are assigned, but Hitmen that travel for the guild report directly to an Executioner.

These assassins are veritable experts of their craft, killing so prodigiously those around the victim may not notice for some time. The only evidence there ever is that a target was assassinated is that the target is dead with eyes closed in their bed holding an anonymous, unaddressed love letter with a small, pink candy in their mouth.

Hitmen receive a weekly stipend of 500 gp, and they have access to the public guild libraries and alchemist's labs and some larger, more comprehensive libraries and labs. They may requisition up to 5,000 gp worth of guild equipment, no one item of which may cost more than 1,000 gp, for personal use for up to three months at a time. When performing a guild mission, this limit doubles, as does the maximum price of a single item and the time.

Hitmen assign Class 5D Missions to their Killers and are assigned Class 4D Missions by their Enforcer or Executioner.

Enforcers: Enforcers are the best of the Hitmen and Crooks, capable of stealing or killing as needed for a mission. They often have levels in Assassin, or both Assassin and Shadowdancer.

Enforcers report to their assigned Executioner. When necessary, they also receive direct orders from the Assassin Extraordinaire.

Virtuosos at the arts of thievery and assassination, the only evidence there ever is that a target was assassinated or stolen from is that the target is dead with eyes closed in their bed holding an anonymous, unaddressed love letter with a small, pink candy in their mouth or the property in question is missing and in its absence is placed a small, pink, heart-shaped candy expertly engraved with the guild emblem; though for an Enforcer, these may not be noticed until a full day to a full week after the actual crime.

Enforcers receive a weekly stipend of 1,000 gp, and they have access to some of the guild's most extensive and expansive libraries and alchemist's labs for research. They may requisition up to 15,000 gp worth of guild equipment, no one item of which may cost more than 5,000 gp, for personal use for up to six months at a time. When performing a guild mission, this limit doubles, as does the maximum price of a single item and the time.

Enforcers assign Class 5D Missions and Class 4D Missions to Hitmen and Class 5P Missions and Class 4P Missions to Burglars. They receive Class 3 Missions from Executioners or assist them on Class 2 Missions. They oversee disputes between lower members and acknowledge the ascension of members to Hitman or Burglar ranks. They are also authorized to recuit new members, naming a Pickpocket to observe. Enforcers may only actively observe a single Pickpocket at any given time.

Enforcers assassinate problem members in the ranks below them.

Executioners: Executioners are the best of the best, almost all having full levels in Assassin, or full levels in Shadowdancer and several in Assassin.

Pundits, prodigies, and masters of their craft, Executioners rarely leave anything but the reputable and traditional signs of the guild behind in their work. Their jobs are sometimes so amazing as to go unnoticed for years, though a month is more likely.

Executioners have full access to the guild's libraries, labs, and equipment, only having a cap on the maximum price of a single piece of equipment at 50,000 gp.

Reviewing enforcers, informing the Assassin Extraordinaire, performing Class 2 missions, and carrying out the direct orders of the Assassin Extraordinaire are the responsibilities of an executioner. However, they have a large stipend provided for them and access to powerful guild equipment, including everything from magical armor to expansive alchemy labs. They receive a stipend of 2,500 gp.

Executioners gather, review and assign all missions, taking Class 2 Missions upon themselves and proposing the rare Class 1 Mission to the Assassin Extraordinaire, sometimes assisting him on them.

They are also authorized to recuit new members, naming a Pickpocket to observe. Executioners may only actively observe two Pickpockets at any given time.

Executioners oversee and sometimes settle conflicts between Executioners under their command. Executioners are not allowed to engage in disputes with their fellows; conflicts must be resolved promptly and without violence.

The Assassin Extraordinaire: The leader and founder of the guild, Valentine Sunshadow. He runs the affairs of the guild through undead envoy, taking only the most dangerous and impossible of missions, Class 1. The Assassin Extraordinaire also elects Enforcers to become Executioners, who are then voted into the rank by a majority vote of the existing Executioners. The Assassin Executioner may override the result of this vote under special circumstances, but has never done so.

Rank Interactions

Because Pickpockets are unknown to any but those observaing them, they are not discriminated against. However, the Crooks and Killers often have their own very special rights of passage for new members. They are not disbanded for the guild for failing or not participating in such an activity, but they are sometimes less respected by their peers.

Killers consider themselves better than Crooks, which the Crooks resent for obvious reasons. A similar interaction occurs between the Hitmen and the Burglars, but to a much less of a degree. Hitmen and Burglars are respected by the Killers and Crooks as their superior and boss.

Enforcers are respected by those below them and by their peers in the guild. They respect and obey the Executioners, who are respected by everyone in the guild and obeyed by all their inferiors. [#The Assassin Extraordinaire|The Assassin Extraordinaire]] is, of course respected even by the Executioners and obeyed by all.

Rank Advancement

Pickpockets advance by accepting the invitation into the guild. That is the simplest advancement.

Crooks and Burglars are given an emerald-cut ruby set into an amulet. While this serves no magical purpose (the neck body slot is still available), the metal it is set into indicates rank. Silver is for Crooks and gold is for Burglars. A Crook who wishes to become a Burglar must steal an existing Burglar's ruby and gold amulet.

A Killer who wants to advance in rank must prove his capability of killing (usually by actually doing so) a Hitman.

A Hitman or Burglar who wants to advance in rank must prove his capability of killing (usually by actually doing so) an Enforcer.

An Enforcer who wants to advance in rank must register as a candidate for Executioner with an existing Executioner. The Assassin Extraordinaire may then elect him for the rank, and he is subsequently voted into office by a majority vote of the existing Executioners. The Assassin Extraordinaire may override this vote and force the Enforcer into office regardless, but has never done so.

Adventures

Adventures are easy to come by in the guild. Being a member means you have to perform missions for the guild, the difficulty of which and the kind of venture is related to the standing you have within the guild. A list of the different kinds of missions and the ranks that perform them are below.

Missions

Class 1 Missions: The most dangerous and delicate of all missions, involving any sort of job that falls under thievery and assassination. These missions are only ever performed by the Assassin Extraordinaire, who is very occassionally assisted on them by one or two Executioners.

Class 2 Missions: Amazingly difficult and/or dangerous missions involving thievery, assassination, and sometime both are performed by the Executioners, who sometimes enlist the help of their Enforcer, or even other Executioners on rare occassions.

Class 3 Missions: Missions of extreme delicacy or danger, these missions can include anything from stealing an entire shipment of goods from a well-known and respected merchant to assassinating the ruler of a sizable nation. These missions are done by Enforcers either indepedently or co-operatively, and Burglars and Hitmen are never used to assist.

Class 4D Missions: Missions of necessity, but not necessarily a great amount of danger or difficulty. The "D" stand for "Death" indicating the mission involves taking a life rather than stealing property. These missions are performed by a Hitman and any other Hitmen or Killers he or she needs. Class 4 missions never involve both thievery and assassination.

Class 4P Missions: Missions of necessity, but not necessarily a great amount of danger or difficulty. The "P" stand for "Property" indicating the mission involves taking some property or something otherwise both physical and valuable rather than taking a life. These missions are performed by a Burglar and any other Burglars or Crooks he or she needs. Class 4 missions never involve both thievery and assassination.

Class 5D Missions: The most basic of tasks involving assassination. The "D" stand for "Death" indicating the mission involves taking a life rather than stealing property. These missions are performed by a Killer and any other Killers he or she can convince to help. Class 5 missions never involve both thievery and assassination.

Class 5P Missions: The most basic of tasks involving thievery. The "P" stand for "Property" indicating the mission involves taking some property or something otherwise both physical and valuable rather than taking a life. These missions are performed by a Crook and any other Crooks he or she can convince to help. Class 5 missions never involve both thievery and assassination.

Training

Pickpockets are not trained by the guild, just selected. All ranks but Executioners, who keep themselves at the peak of their performance through individual or co-operative training, may request personal training from any other guild member.

This may involve stealth training, physical endurance training, strength and nimbleness training, mechanical skills training, or help with research and development of anything from poisons to spells.

Resources

The guild has astounding amount of resources. Most any piece of equipment a thief or assassin might need for a job is available. Extensive libraries and research and alchemy facilites are available. The guild makes a total profit of nearly one and a half million gold every month, so their resources are comparable in size.