Daggerhand
From Mizahar Lore
The Daggerhand are one of several syndicates that call Sunberth their home. Known for being honorless thieves and thugs, these men constantly fight over control of the city without rest. As lawless as the city they partially rule, this group is notorious for going on small campaigns of genocide and murder just for the sake of instilling fear and panic among the common folk of Sunberth, and so far their scare tactics have kept most potential enemies silent...
Contents |
History
The history of the Daggerhand Syndicate is quite short as the organization is as new as the other two primary factions in Sunberth. The story begins with the immigration of a man named Robern Dalagnar to Sunberth, from the city of Zeltiva with his wife and daughter. This man had a scheme in mind, and as educated as he was, he knew just the way to achieve his goals. Sunberth would listen to a voice claiming to ease the hardships of life. They ate up his words about a higher standard of living, and offered up his support in hungry fanaticism. People joined him to protect him, to further his goals, and before the people of Sunberth realized they were empowering the very thing they had fought against since before the Valterrian, they had another power-hungry tyrant that was next-to-impossible to take down.
It was in the Spring of AV 504 when Robern's Family was attacked, it was strange for the Night Eyes to retaliate in such an obvious manner, but in the attack, Robern's wife was killed. Robern's daughter too was harmed, though she would escape with only half of her face burned away by deadly poison, something that would scar her forever. Though this event meant little to Sunberth at first, it would completely alter Robern's personality. After this event, his hatred for the Night Eyes, which was only minor annoyance until then, was ignited and Dalagnar declared an all-out war. Sunberth was the Battlefield.
Today, Robern almost never goes outside. The man has his own home, which is next to impregnable thanks to his Daggerhand Soldiers and Spies. To reach Robern himself is considered impossible, though with each passing year, it seems his grasp over Sunberth grows and tightens.
Robern's Ruse Revealed
 |
Out of character note: This information is extremely difficult to come by IC and requires a specific lore to signify the knowledge is gained. This information is very hard to come by In character; almost impossible. |
Less well known is that Robern spent several of the past years, slowly feeling out the political climate of Sunberth; biding his time. After his family was attacked, when he lived under the pseudonym Rob "Rot Fingers", he orchestrated the Daggerhands rise to power from behind the scenes. Many business owners thought Robern was being played when in actuality he was the one playing them. With the Sun's Birth internal coup to overthrow Baron Berth, Robern felt it no longer necessary to keep the ruse active and ordered his Daggerhands, hidden within several elements, to formally come and band together. Furthermore, he played a direct role with his well-placed turncoats in Byron's Boys; giving the ship to Old Legs to work on to secure his loyalty after Byron was slain. All his actions so far have been calculated to bring more numbers into his side. uniting them all under one banner as 'Daggerhands.'
Politically shrewd, dangerously savvy, and extremely stealthy from his days as the "Rot Fingers," Robern hopes to continue to accrue the power he has been building from the shadows for years. He is the mastermind behind the Daggerhands and the counterpoint of calm cool action to their emotional brutality; one needs the other to rise, and he reminds them of that often.
Allies and Enemies
Being a syndicate with total domination as their primary goal, the Daggerhand of Sunberth have a large list of enemies, though most aren't worth mentioning.
- The Sun's Birth: The most open and obvious enemy of the Daggerhand. They are centered in the Gated Community, which almost acts as a small fortress for their mighty warriors.
- The Night Eyes: The most hated by Robern himself. The Night Eyes favor the shadows, so many are hesitant to believe in their existence at all.
- Dastana Nariette: Dastana, though definitely a nuisance to Robern, is hardly considered an enemy. She is a thorn in his side, but with the war against the other Syndicates, he chooses to ignore her when he can and manipulate her to his own ends when he can't.
- Old Legs: Ol' Legs of the Sunberth Wharf is known for being a powerful man in his own. He's one of Robern's longtime allies.
- Merv: He's an informant to Robern. If an interesting person enters his tavern, chances are Robern will know.
- Brega: She's an informant and great source of income. Brega is known for having eyes and ears all over the city thanks to her harlots.
Hierarchy of the Daggerhand
The following list is the existing official ranks within the Daggerhand Organization, and the approximate numbers in each rank.
- Thug: This group is the largest group, with roughly 300 men. They are the most common, and basic, warrior of the Daggerhand
- Warrior: This group holds roughly 100 men. They perform the same tasks as Thugs, except are generally trusted with more important tasks as well.
- Boss: Not to be mistaken with Robern himself, there are roughly 20 bosses in the Daggerhand at any time. These men prove to not only be skilled fighters, but talented leaders. They have the power to command Warriors and Thugs at any time, for any task. Failure to obey is death.
- Red Rats: Roughly 30 men. These men, who are not physically equipped to rise above (or sometimes to) the rank of Thug, find themselves valuable to Robern in other ways. These men are the rats that tell all they see to Robern. People like Brega, Merve, and Ol' Legs are considered to be this. Most of these people have their own underlings.
- Red Hand: The Red Hand is a small group of eight, no more and no less, men who are very skilled and used only for the most important of missions. To become a Red Hand, one must only be a part of the Daggerhand, and to kill a Red Hand in a fair fight. If the man that kills a Red Hand, does not take the place of the slain, he is killed by anyone willing to make a nice amount of gold.
- Red Guard: These men tend to fluctuate between 3 and 15 men. They are the personal guard for Robern's daughter, and their title changes often.
- Others: There are a myriad of other positions that aren't large enough, or important enough to be mentioned. They range from petty thieves in Robern's pocket, to inside men of other organizations.
Traditions of the Daggerhand
The Daggerhand have few organization wide traditions, though they are known for, every first, thirty-first, and sixty-first of each season to have a massive brawl among themselves. This event is much like a competition, in that nearly 500 members will fight in the nude (to ensure no weapons are used/hidden) in one massive free-for-all match. Non-Daggerhand are allowed to fight, but most that do are beaten literally to death, just for being an outsider.
Besides the Big Brawls, the Daggerhand are known for initiating all their members (excluding those that are secretly affiliated with the Daggerhand) with a tattoo of a red dagger circled by a ring of thorns right on the upper left chest. This is a symbol that means two things. First, it is that person's allegiance to the Syndicate, and second, it tells everyone else where to drive the dagger, should the person be a traitor.
Lastly, all traitors, or captive enemies, of the Daggerhand are either hanged outside the Rotting mansion, or executed in a number of different ways. Sometimes, the captive is given to the lower ranks, who are allowed to do whatever they want to the victim before death follows. Other times, a simple stoning, drowning, or torturing-to-death will due.
Recruitment into the Daggerhand
Recruitment into the Daggerhand is simple, yet difficult. For just the entry level ranks (Thugs and Warriors) one must not only prove they have the strength and cunning to be Daggerhand, but they must acquire Robern's personal trust before they are tattooed with the Daggerhand Icon. If you aren't tattooed, you aren't officially a member, thus you have no respect within the group.
Typically, methods of application start by the applicant speaking with a Boss, who will typically force the applicant to fight a few thugs or warriors, typically in an unfair fight. If the applicant loses (which is more often than not), he or she may or may not be killed, depending on the Boss and how well the fight went. If the Boss thinks the Applicant proved himself or herself to be a good enough scrapper, he may recommend the applicant to Robern. Between the time of recommendation (which is a requirement to join if you don't get Robern's personal approval to start with) and the approval/denial of the applicant into Daggerhand ranks, he or she is allowed to stay with that Boss as a hang-around. They will perform tasks and grunt work just as a Thug would, but has no other benefits than he or she is considered a friend of the Syndicate.
If accepted by Robern, which can take a good deal of time or many tasks to be completed first, the initiate is immediately marked with the red-inked tattoo of the Dagger and Ring of Thorns over the heart. If denied, the applicant better pray he or she is on good terms with the boss they've been hanging around, else they might be killed.
Specific positions may vary in initiation methods.
Required Skills
Before being considered for membership into the Daggerhand, each candidate must acquire a certain level of combat prowess. Although some specific tasks, jobs, or positions require different skills, this list should provide the lowest position's requirements:
- Male: Although it's not impossible, being female makes joining the Daggerhand very difficult. In this case, exceptional strength, wit, and creativity is required to join the ranks.
- Weapon Skills: To be a basic soldier or "Thug" of the Daggerhand, one must first obtain a minimum of one skill based on a weapon to level 35. This includes, but is not restricted to: swords, knives or daggers, clubs, axes, bows or crossbows, throwing knives/spears/axes. Unarmed combat can be a substitute, but level must be much higher.
- Weaponless Skills: In combat, especially in Sunberth, combat often happens when you are least prepared, therefore all Daggerhand must be able to hold their own in a fight without their favored weapon at hand. A minimum of one skill of level 30 must be obtained. This includes unarmed combat, wrestling, brawling.
- Strength: Above all, the Daggerhand look at physical strength as true power. All members must have a minimum of one skill of physical fitness to level 30, or two at 20. Skills include Running, Swimming, Bodybuilding, Acrobatics, Climbing, Brawling, Smithing (any kind).
- Knowledge: Knowledge means little to a Daggerhand thug, but there are still some vital lore required before entry can be accepted, minimum of five of the following lore is required: Sunberth Geography (Fluent/Expert), Lore of the Daggerhand, Lore of Combat (weapons, unarmed, situational, etc), Lore of the Sun's Birth/Gated Community, Lore of Sunberth Business, Lore of Theft/Larceny/Pick Pocketing/Breaking and Entering, Lore of Intimidation/Obtaining Information/Torture/Investigation, Lore of Extortion/Swindling, Lore of Murder/Assassination, Lore of Escape/Methods of Escape, etc. Various other lore may also work. Message DS for questions
For advanced positions, requirements increase.