13.12 ASSASSINS AND THE QUISALIS MARK

(See also: HELP CONTRACTS, HELP CHAMPIONS and HELP WRITS)

What is an Assassin?
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The Quisalis Mark is an organisation of assassins named in honour of Thoth's
chosen who died at Nishnatoba. Though their core denizen membership is
headquartered in the vicinity of New Thera, they also recognise a number of
adventurers as part of their ranks. An assassin accepts paid contracts from
adventurers to ruthlessly and efficiently take out a target.

Contracting an Assassin
----------------------
Assuming you have sufficient IC justification for slaying another adventurer
(See HELP PK), you may contract an assassin as such:

CONTRACT ASSASSIN FOR <target> [AT <amount> GOLD] <reason>

You may only do this in the presence of an established contractor for the
Quisalis. These cowled individuals can be found in the drinking establishments
of most cities, as well as the Brass Lantern Inn.

The price of any contract starts at 5000 gold, and may be modified based upon
any public positions they may have. Organisational leaders and other higher-
profile adventurers will require a higher fee. To impress upon the Assassin the
importance of the contract, you may specify an optional higher fee. A variable
portion of the fee will be taken by the Quisalis organisation, the rest will go to the Assassin.

Your reason must be a very clear, brief statement: it will be seen by the
target and is viewable by the administration in the event of a dispute. A good
reason might be "Attacking me in Jaru on the 24th of Sarapin". Using this to
make insults against the victim is forbidden, and will result in administrative
punishment regardless of the context.

You can have up to 10 contracts in the system at any one time.

Contract Assignments
--------------------
Once an Assassin is requested, the contract will be placed on the contract
board for the Quisalis Mark, and all assassins will be informed that a new
contract is available to be claimed.

A contract may be claimed with CONTRACT CLAIM <contract number> while standing
at the contract board, which is located in the Quisalis headquarters under New
Thera. An assassin can only claim one contract every 24 Achaean days, although
if they prove skilled and fulfill a contract, this cooldown is reset.

Order writs, when yielded to the system, will also be placed upon the board.
These writs will have an exclusivity window of 1 Achaean month (only visible to
members of that order) before they become available for all Assassins.

A few notes regarding Order contracts:
1. Assassins taking contracts for their own Order will not lose Mark ranking for
failing a contract.
2. Assassins completing contracts for their own Order will receive additional
Divine essence in their completion bonus.
3. Assassins completing contracts for Orders other than their own will receive
Mark ranking as normal.

If you are an Assassin and claim a contract, you must fulfill it within the
time frame of 30 months, or die trying. If the time expires or you are killed
by the target, the contract is failed and your standing in the mark will
decrease (see "Standing with the Quisalis Mark" below).

Joining the Quisalis Mark
-------------------------
In order to join the Mark, you must find Derillin of New Thera, and JOIN
QUISALIS MARK. Doing so costs 20000 gold. You must be at least level 60 and 21
years of age.

You will then be a registered Assassin. You may not quit the organisation until
approximately 12 Achaean months have elapsed since joining.

Members of The Quisalis or Ivory organisations earn 25% of their experience deficit back (provided they have one) per kill. This is not cumulative with other experience deficit bonuses.

While a member of the Quisalis Mark, you are open to being attacked by anyone
at any time; your membership is considered sufficient in-character
justification.

Quitting the Quisalis Mark
---------------------------
In order to quit the Mark, you must QUIT QUISALIS MARK.

Standing with the Quisalis Mark
-------------------------------
Completion or failure of a contract will influence your standing in the
Quisalis Mark. Higher rank brings with it many advantages, such as a higher
payout per contract completion and more prestige.

The Assassin with the highest reputation gains a unique HONOURS line and
deathsight for as long as he or she holds that position.

Negative reputation (due to repeatedly failing contracts) will result in the
Mark withholding more of the contract fee. Letting a contract lapse will result
in a far higher reputation loss than a failed attempt.

Additionally, if you fail to complete a contract for three consecutive Achaean
years, you will be discharged from the ranks of the Quisalis and be unable to
rejoin for the span of an Achaean year. If your reputation among the ranks of
the Quisalis falls to nothing, you will be discharged from the Mark and will be
unable to rejoin for five Achaean years.

(See also: HELP CONTRACTS, HELP CHAMPIONS and HELP WRITS)