Bearer of Life, Silent Alation

Alations are a faction of people who live mostly in South Ideitess. Simply put, they are assassins. The difference between an Alation and a regular assassin is that an Alation opposes The Empire and the emperor, whereas an assassin usually puts money first. Alations are a sort of secret anti-empire and their technique is often subtlety and stealth; they do not wish to be recognised by any authorities.

History

Several hundred years after the forging of The Empire, around , several factions of rebels rose and fell under the blades of the emperor's men. Most of these factions were quite brash and voiced their opinions with protests and violence. This approach only made it easier for the emperor to know who to have executed. A house of assassins known as the Taxinia family became closely involved in one of the groups and sided with them during one of their street protests. When the forces of The Empire came to stop the riot in 1196BD, fights broke out and the rioters began to diminish in numbers as they fled or were killed. As the emperor's soldiers began to push through the numbers, the leading High Warrior was struck down and killed by an unseen force. Confused, some of the soldiers tried to discover what killed him, only to find themselves felled in the same manner. Those who tried to continue cutting through the rioters began to fall apart from one another without a leader, and the rest of them were killed. The surviving rioters knew what had happened; one of the eldest brothers of the Taxinia family known as Alatian killed the emperor's soldiers using throwing knives from a hiding place nearby. The rioters worked with the Taxinia family and set up mock riots, which of course the soldiers would come to stop. The assassin family, while in hiding, would kill the stronger soldiers and the rioters would remove the rest. They managed to do this at least four times over a few years before word reached the emperor of this strange repeating event.

Common belief is that the emperor had the Imperial Keepers founded because he wanted to exercise his authority and give his soldiers something more to aspire to, but the timing is too much of a coincidence; the Imperial Keepers were founded by 1189BD by Pantiera Siribes, a Grand Ultimator, in the same year that the emperor heard of his soldiers being slaughtered repeatedly in a remote northeastern city. Considering Imperial Keepers wear concealed armour, carry hidden weapons, and are trained in detecting infiltrators and interrogation, it seems likely that this order is an anti-assassin order designed to protect the emperor and his sacred locations. Instead of ceasing, the Taxinia family joined two other assassin families and they used the name of Alatan to bring themselves under one title; Alations. They began to spread to other towns and cities, setting up subtle but effective methods of dispatching the emperor's most threatening men. Eventually the emperor began to send out his Imperial Keepers to stop the Alations. The Keepers discovered the Alation central hideout in the city of Nelvi in 911BD and were surprisingly effective at ending the lives of several assassins there. During this struggle, Alatan was killed by the Keepers but they were all avenged on that same day. The Alations became a lot more careful, yet they continued their work for several generations.

The recovering Alations who survived the Imperial Keeper attack were approached by an Odanon named Rakiunaw in 909BD. This strange figure told them that he agreed with their purpose and wanted to teach them his techniques in exchange for becoming their leader. After seeing how flawless his methods were, they agreed. Rakiunaw taught many generations thereafter and did not seem to age much at all, thanks to his Odanon blood. He moved their primary hideout three times over the next few hundred years: from an underground network of rooms in the northern end of Nelvi, to the basement of Nelvi Cathedral, to Trelaria nearby, and finally to somewhere hidden in the Gazouna Mountains. Never again did the Imperial Keepers make such a successful attack against the Alations. Rather, the Keepers were kept nearer to the emperor where the Alations did not go. It was a kind of mutual agreement which the emperor only agreed to because it meant he was a lot safer. There are strong rumours that Alations own the city of Nelvi, and that they blackmail the emperor with threats to hold the power there.

Beliefs

Alations are, in general, spiritual and religious people. They do not believe in the Order of Dualkedor, but instead believe in a small amount of gods who govern the world. They believe that Adrastatirok is the one true god, and that he created Ashmah, a being of light and energy, and Gulemn, a being of quietness and coolness, in the form of the sun and the moon respectively. Ashmah created Ashmin, a being of youth and mercy, and Gulemn created Gulana, a being of humility and combat. They believe that their leader, Rakiunaw, is a divine being sent to them from Gulana to lead them and teach them. Alations also believe in Shonadol, a woman who was once mortal and vain who is now bound to an eternal life of service and help to mortals.

Alations generally do not pick any one divine being to follow, but father follow all of them to varying degrees. Males tend to worship Ashmah or Gulana more, whereas females will prefer to worship Gulemn or Ashmin. All Alations are sworn to consider Adrastatirok in utmost regard, and that his will is never to be questioned in whatever form it may take.

Description and Ranks

When Rakiunaw was made the leader of the Alations, he also created several ranks to disginguish who was skilled in what. They are listed below and described briefly. Each rank has four levels. In lowest to highest, they are: Ber, Nel, Siul, and Xat. They are used as suffixes.

They can be combined to summarise an assassin's strengths. For example, an assassin can begin training as a Raox, ascend to Raox Xat, and then begin training in Sendir, wherein their title becomes Raox Sendir Ber. If they were to master both Raox and Sendir, their title becomes Raondir Xat. Therefore, the highest title an Alation can obtain is Raondiralatir Xat.

Top Ranks

Averan
A title held only by Rakiunaw himself. The Averan has only one level, and is referred to as Master, Father, or both.

Raondiralatir
A master assassin.

Tertiary Ranks

Raondirlas
A master of Raox, Sendir, and Nouralas.

Sendalatir
A master of Sendir, Nouralas, and Kafetir.

Noufeox
A master of Nouralas, Kafetir, and Raox.

Kafraondir
A master of Kafetir, Raox, and Sendir.

Secondary Ranks

Raondir
One who has mastered both Raox and Sendir.

Sendiralas
One who has mastered both Sendir and Nouralas.

Nouratir
One who has mastered both Nouralas and Kafetir.

Kafaox
One who has mastered both Kafetir and Raox.

Raoralas
One who has mastered both Raox and Nouralas.

Senetir
One who has mastered both Sendir and Kafetir.

Primary Ranks

Raox
An assassin who is skilled in ending lives quickly, discretely, and effectively. Raox are trained to use many kinds of weapons, but specialise more in killing than in fighting. They are also heavy users of poisins and pressure points.

Sendir
An assassin who is skilled in navigating obstacles, climbing defences, and remaining unseen. Sendir are taught to avoid detection, swim well, climb any surface, and infiltrate areas by any means necessary.

Nouralas
An assassin who is skilled in utilising many types of weapons in combat or for maneuvering. Nouralas are trained to use many kinds of swords, daggers, knives, axes, polearms, projectile weapons, bare hands and feet, and anything else nearby.

Kafetir
An assassin who is skilled in learning about people. They are taught to imitate others, act as decoys, recognise targets, and distinguish whether somebody is lying or not. They interrogate enemies and can withdraw information from most people.