The Assassin

Foreward

The Five Shadows of the Freelands are a great many things. They are a mercenary army of thieves, knights, assassins, soldiers, and lords. Their name comes from their own unique belief system. They believe their army is blessed by the Gods to be represent the five tenants outlined by their creed:

I am the Shadow of Darkness
Shrouded by the night
I am the Shadow of Blood
By blade and bow my deed is done
I am the Shadow of Glory
Sought upon the open field of war
I am the Shadow of Gold
He who pays us commands me
I am the Shadow of Doom
Our blades shall bring the End

While the true meanings of the five tenants are unknown to those outside of this mercenary band they are commonly believed to mean the following.

1. Darkness: This is a representation of thieves and assassins who do their work mostly in the night.
2. Blood: This represents the soldiers and assassins whom all Shadows are trained as.

3. Glory: The Five Shadows is a highly reputable band of Mercenaries who are often at the forefront of the most famous battles in all of Morelia. Doing whatever their employer requires.
4. Gold: This goes hand in hand with Glory, but is more specific. A shadow is not personally paid for his work by his employers, they have their own monetary and economic system within the army. But the Army itself is paid in gold, and to disobey a command by and employer is to disobey the Shadow. (So long as that command does not violate the rules outlined by commanding officers.)
5. This is the most scholarly debated tenant. By end it is uncertain whether they mean the end of their inteded target, or if it implies something far greater. Only the Highest ranking Shadow, known as the Reaper knows for certain.

Our story follows Vaccario Giantin, an assassin and thief born in Draconia, who was sold into slavery and bought by the Shadows at the age of three. He knows no other life, no other family, and is bound by blood and honor to serve them for the rest of his days.