“You shall learn to embrace death, lest it embrace you.” – Akaltarath, Assassin Guildmaster of Var Bandor
A killer, sometimes silent, sometimes swift and brutal, the assassin is always effective at the art of death. Assassins are proficient in a variety of weapons, but they are particularly adept in unarmed combat. The art of death is what binds the brotherhood of the assassin, thus allowing them flexibility in the beliefs to which they adhere.
Assassins are proficient in a variety of weapons, but they are particularly adept in unarmed combat. Focused on both hand and foot, the assassin is well versed in anatomy, able to strike precisely at nerve points or swiftly plant multiple kicks in succession. However, they are not limited to close combat; they are learned in archery, allowing them to strike foes from some distance, and expert with the dart, which they can use even while concealed. Their final, and perhaps deadliest, weapon is their own mind. With it, they can shroud the perception of others, leave ghastly wounds, or bolster their own physical prowess.
The art of death is what binds the brotherhood of the assassin, thus allowing them maximum flexibility in the beliefs to which they adhere. Assassins in general tend to venerate whatever deity suits their ends, often aligning with Arkhural the Darkheart or Calaera the Ishia. However, those of particularly lawful mind are most likely to venerate Jalassa, in whose name the assassin creed has flourished. Yet, no belief may be necessary at all, other than the will to efficiently take lives.
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Syntax: Automatic
Small, bladed weapons, daggers are one of the simplest melee weapons, often
favoured by scholars for this reason, most other professions in Avendar also
receiving training in them. Rogues are more intimately trained in their usage,
learning techniques both flashy and subtle. Typically thrusting or slashing
weapons, due to their length, they are poor at warding off blows though it is
likewise difficult to parry against a dagger. Someone wielding a dagger will
have a harder time getting around a shield, a stone phalanx, or a fighter's
fending.
Primary Attribute: Dexterity
See also: PARRY
Syntax: Automatic
One of the most commonly-produced and commonly-trained weapons in Avendar,
swords are simple to learn the basics of, but may take decades to master. The
only weapon with an entire profession dedicated solely to their usage, in the
hands of most others, swords are a particularly average weapon. Typically
slashing or piercing, they range from slender rapiers to massive two-handed
claymores.
Primary Attribute: Strength, Dexterity
See also: PARRY
Syntax: Automatic
A whip is usually composed of a flexible cord or a chain attached to a handle,
the lash typically dealing slashing damage, though they are often enchanted,
as well. Gladiators and Void templars are the only professions that receive
dedicated training in this weapon, though many others learn the basics of
using this weapon, and they are often used in the off hand. Because of their
flexibility, they are notoriously poor at parrying with, but they are
similarly difficult for opponents to use any defense save dodge or evade
against. The length of this weapon makes it throw off one's parrying if a whip
is offhanded, as well.
Primary Attribute: Dexterity
See also: PARRY
Syntax: Automatic
The art of fisticuffs is taught by several of Avendar's martial guilds.
Students will hit harder while unarmed than those who are untrained. If
someone who is trained in both fighting unarmed and dual wielding has even a
single free hand, he will use that as an off-hand attack. Having claws, both
srryn and kankoran will do more damage with this skill than other races.
However, this basic training only goes so far, and those who fight without a
weapon in hand will find themselves unable to parry.
Primary Attribute: Strength, Dexterity
See also: PARRY
Duration : Instantaneous Cost: 8 Mana Range : Single PC or Mob (special) Syntax: Unseenstrike <target> Ignite <arrow> While hidden, cloaked, or otherwise concealed from their target, an assassin may attempt to attack them while they are unprepared to defend themselves. This attack will deal substantially more damage than a normal attack, so long as the victim is relatively uninjured; if they are significantly hurt, its bonus damage will be massively reduced. In addition, should the target be at full health, if they are lacking armor to protect major portions of their body, this attack will deal even more damage than it would otherwise by exploiting their vulnerability. They might also use this skill to ignite arrows; these will set their targets on fire when used. This costs an additional 10 mana. Primary Attribute: Dexterity
Syntax: Automatic
Peek is an enhancement to the look command. Whenever someone with the skill
looks at a person, an attempt will be made to reveal their inventory and
money.
If one so chooses, one may cease peeking by toggling the autopeek command.
Primary Attribute: Intelligence
Syntax: Automatic Those trained in the art of blindfighting will find themselves less hindered in environments where they are unable to see. Their armor class and melee defenses will be unaffected, if they are successful, allowing them to defend with as much proficiency as normal. Possessing this skill also grants the ability to see in the dark. Primary Attribute: Wisdom, Dexterity See also: BLINDNESS, PARRY, DODGE, EVADE
Duration : Instantaneous Cost: 3 Mana Range : Current Enemy Syntax: Kick Many guilds teach this basic martial manuver, allowing them to slightly augment their damage in combat. Bandits receive further training in making well-placed kicks. Primary Attribute: Strength, Dexterity See also: KNEE SHATTER
Syntax: Automatic Dodge is a melee defense skill focused on the avoidance of blows. It is particularly difficult to dodge flails and polearms, and easier to dodge whips. Dodge is the favored defense of rogues, but it is taught in many other schools as well. All aelin receive a bonus to this skill. Primary Attribute: Dexterity
Syntax: Automatic A basic technique for focusing one's thoughts, meditation is a skill taught by all guilds that their students may recover mana more quickly. Primary Attribute: Intelligence, Wisdom See also: TRANCE, MANA
Syntax: Obscure Rogues may attempt to hide evidence of their kills, such that word does not get to any interested factions. However, if a member of the same faction is present to witness the death, there will be no way to conceal the act from the faction. Primary Attribute: Dexterity See also: FACTIONS
Range : Target Door or Container Cost: 3 mana Syntax: Pick <direction/container> Rogues may use this skill to break locks they encounter, either on doors or containers. Some locks, including but not restricted to those warded by runes of earth, cannot be picked. Primary Attribute: Intelligence, Dexterity See also: RUNE OF EARTH, RELOCK
Dual wielding is the ability to use an additional weapon in the character's offhand. Weapons being dual wielded will suffer a slight penalty in the amount of damage and have a lesser chance of iterative attacks. Weapon weight must be considered with this skill, as only weapons lighter then the one being wielded in the main hand are capable of being dual wielded. Swordmasters are exempt from this restriction, and can dual wield nearly any two swords they can hold. Certain unwieldy combinations of weapons will be more awkward to defend oneself with. Large-sized races, such as the chaja or alatharya, are able to hold certain kinds of two-handed weapons with one hand, and dual wield them. The balance of spears, staves, and polearms are such that this is not possible for these weapons. The ambidextrous trait, available upon creation and given to gladiators and swordmasters automatically, reduces but does not remove the weight restrictions (though swordmasters have none in either case). Primary Attribute: Dexterity See also: PARRY, AMBIDEXTROUS
Syntax: Automatic Most of the non-scholarly guilds offer their students training in heightening the force of their blows. A higher skill will see better results at these techniques, as will a better weapon. Primary Attribute: Strength See also: BRUTAL DAMAGE, PROWESS
Duration : 1.5-2 Hours Cost: 15 Mana Range : Single PC or Mob Syntax: Blinding <target> This skill is used to blind a foe by throwing a small cloud of dust into their eyes. Because of the nature of the blindness, it cannot be cured by normal means. Primary Attribute: Dexterity See also: BLINDNESS, BLINDING CLOUD
Syntax: Trip <Target> The trip command attempts to bring an opponent down by knocking their feet from under them. Tripping is most successfully practiced by the quick and nimble, and fails on opponents who are flying or otherwise not tied to the ground. Trip can either be used to start a fight, or in combat, where the argument is optional. Primary Attribute: Dexterity
Syntax: Automatic Assassins are highly trained in manuvers both dextrous and stealthy, and evade typifies both qualities. Highly skilled at deft acrobatic manuvers, they may evade both attacks and bashes. It is particularly easy to evade whips, though it is harder to evade in general with a boneshattered leg. Primary Attribute: Dexterity
Syntax: Automatic Fast healing is a skill taught by most guilds, that their students might apply their knowledge to quicker recovery of bodily injuries, increasing the rate at which they gain hit points. Primary Attribute: Constitution See also: HIT POINTS
Duration : Variable Cost: 12 Mana Range : Single Inventory Weapon Syntax: Envenom <target weapon/arrow> <poison> The most basic of poisoning skills taught to assassins, envenom may be used to poison a weapon carried by the assassin, so long as that item is not an instrument of blunt force or imbued with certain rare magical effects (such as being innately poisonous). The poison will wear off once the poison has been delivered to its target. This skill may indeed be used upon arrows. The poisons used by this skill are those created in advance via the prepare skill and no others. In general, there is a lessened chance of delivering the effect of a poison via envenom. Primary Attribute: Intelligence, Dexterity See also: PREPARE, TAINT, CRAFT DART, ASSASSIN POISONS
Duration : See text Cost: 12 Mana
Range : User Only
Syntax: Prepare <# of vials of catalyst> <type of poison>
In order to use darts, envenom weapons, or to taint food or water, a
specialized vial of poison is required. Preparing these vials of poison
requires the use of a catalyst, which will effect the duration of the taint,
venom, or the dart (the more catalyst used, the more powerful the poison).
Catalyst can typically be purchased by the vial from one's guildmaster. There
is no limit beyond the assassin's budget to how many vials of catalyst may be
used.
Please see help ASSASSIN POISONS for a complete list of poisons available to
assassins.
The detoxify skill and certain capabilities of Nightfall magi provide a
resistance to these poisons, and assassins themselves carry immunity to their
own works.
Primary Attribute: intelligence
See also: ENVENOM, TAINT, CRAFT DART, ASSASSIN POISONS
Syntax: Automatic Characters with proficiency in this skill will attempt a second attack each round with both their main and any offhanded weapons. Mastery of this skill does not guarantee the attack will be attempted every round, but it does make it very likely. Primary Attribute: dexterity, strength See also: DUAL WIELD
Duration : Instantaneous Range : See Text Syntax: Muffle <Target PC or mob> <Command> Special: Also automatic Assassins may attempt to prevent the victim of an assault from crying out. This will work on any offensive command-- simply prefix it with the muffle syntax. For example: Muffle Jolinn nerve Jolinn This will attempt to muffle Jolinn's cries at the nerve attempt. This skill obviously is purposeless against a target who has set their noyell toggle to on. In addition, an assassin will also attempt to muffle the death cry of his opponent. Primary Attribute: dexterity
Syntax: Automatic
A basic mercantile skill used to get a better price on items from merchants,
haggling is a skill that is widely taught but a talent applied with the most
success by the charismatic.
Primary Attribute: charisma
Range : Target PC or mob within range
Syntax : Nock <arrow>
Shoot <target> <optional direction>
In Combat: Shoot <arrow>
Archery is a ranged weapon skill, functioning similarly to melee weapons. To
use archery, a character must first nock an arrow, and then fire it with the
shoot command. Arrows may be purchased throughout Avendar, or created by
rangers using wildcraft. The distance an arrow can be fired is determined by
the range modifier on both the bow and arrow being used. Archery finds the
closest possible target that matches the argument you supply; it searches
for a matching target in your current room before any direction you supply.
Arrows can be imbued with magic spells or secondary effects, which take effect
when the arrow hits its target. Additionally, arrows may be branded with
elemental spells, such as lightning brand, in the same way a melee weapon can.
If used in combat, one specifies the arrow one is using; it is not possible
to fire at targets in other rooms while fighting. One may draw directly from a
quiver.
Primary Attribute: dexterity
See also: PRECISION, APPLY BARBS, APPLY POISON, FLETCH, ARC SHOT, TRUESHOT
Duration : Variable Cost: 12 mana Range : Target Food Item Syntax: Taint <item> <poison type> This skill may be used to dose an item of food with a previously prepared poison. When someone ingests this food, the poison will take effect. This is typically the most effective vehicle of poison delivery. Primary Attributes: intelligence, dexterity See also: PREPARE, PROTECTION FROM POISON, CLEANSE FOOD, ASSASSIN POISONS
Range : Single PC or mob Cost: 6 mana Syntax: Plant <object> <target> <optional container> Plant attempts to surreptitiously give an object to another character. You cannot plant an object you could not ordinarily give someone (such as items that cannot be dropped, or if the target can carry no more weight). It is possible to plant items into containers carried or worn by the target, though it is harder to plant into worn containers. Primary Attribute: dexterity See also: PEEK, STEAL
Syntax: Automatic A further refinement upon the more widely taught basic technique of meditation, trance is taught by the spellworking guilds and those focused on more meditative studies, in order to better recover their mana. Primary Attribute: intelligence, wisdom See also: MEDITATION, mana
Duration : 1 Hour Cost: 30 mana Range : User's current room Syntax: Blindingcloud A less focused form of the blinding dust skill, an assassin may throw enough of that dust to form a localized cloud, attempting to blind all people in the room who are not a member of his group. This skill is somewhat more effective indoors than out. Primary Attribute: dexterity See also: BLINDNESS, BLINDING DUST, FLASH POWDER
Syntax: Automatic Relatively well-trained in the martial arts, assassins knowing the snap kick skill will firstly deal more damage when kicking, and will immediately attempt a second kick after the first. Primary Attribute: dexterity See also: KICK
Duration : Instantaneous Cost: 12 mana Range : Target PC or mob Syntax: Dart <target> <optional direction> Once they have crafted a poisoned dart, assassins may then throw it at a target to attempt to poison them. The dart may be tossed at a victim in the assassin's current room, or it can be tossed at a victim one room away, by specifying the direction. This skill is also used to craft darts; see that helpfile for directions on usage. Primary Attribute: dexterity See also: CRAFT DART, PREPARE, ASSASSIN POISONS
Duration : Instantaneous Range : User Only Syntax: Retreat <direction> With this skill, a watcher or thief may attempt to flee from combat in a specified direction. Primary Attribute: intelligence, dexterity
Duration : At least 3 hours Cost: 8 mana Range : Single PC or mob Syntax: Nerve <target> Skilled students of anatomy, assassins may attempt to find their target's pressure points and take advantage of them, causing the target to drop their weapon and/or shield to the ground, and additionally dealing a penalty to both strength and dexterity. Primary Attribute: dexterity See also: DISARM
Duration : Level/4 Hours Cost: 20 mana
Range : Single mobile
Syntax: Disguise <Target>
An assassin may attempt to diguise himself as a mobile. The disguise will
remain effective either until the duration expires, or until the assassin
becomes embroiled in a fight. The target must be either of the same race as
the assassin or human. Typing 'disguise' without an argument will remove an
existing disguise.
Primary Attributes: intelligence, wisdom
Duration : 2.5 Hours Cost: 8 mana Range : Single PC or mob Syntax: Vital <target> An assassin may attempt to make a precise strike at their opponent's vital organs. Each such wound inflicts little damage on its own, but, each strike causes the victim to feel slightly more lag on every command he inputs, for the duration of the wound. This effect is maximized after three such strikes. Primary Attribute: intelligence, dexterity See also: LAG
Duration : 1.5 Hours Cost: 25 mana Range : Single PC Syntax: Garrote <target> Assassins are able to sneak up on victims who are unable to see them, and slip a garrote wire around their neck. They will then attempt to hold their victim in this garrote for the next three ticks, draining their mana each tick; if they can hold the garrote for the full duration, the victim will die. The victim will make one attempt per round to free themself from the garrote; this is automatic. This skill is useless against a person affected by diamond skin. Wariness, sense danger, and the streetwise traits all offer varying degrees of protection against garrotes. Stronger and more dextrous characters are more likely to break free. If the assassin uses any command other than 'say', the garrote will slip, and the victim will go free. Should the victim manage to break free for any reason, they will be unable to speak for the next hour. Contrary to popular mythology, inputting additional commands while garroted creates no additional chances to break free. Furthermore, the strength and dexterity of the assassin are not relevant to the skill; srryn are no more skilled at garroting than nefortu. Primary Attribute: dexterity
Cost Per Tick: 5 mana
Range : Special Slots: 1
Syntax: Focus 'Mindshield' <target>
With this ability, a psionicist may form a protective shield around his
target's mind, providing a bonus to their ability to resist mental attacks,
magical fear effects, delusions, obfuscation, visions, and allowing them to
forcibly remove cloaks and beguilements. Assassins and watchers may only
shield their own minds.
Primary Attribute: Wisdom
See also: CLOAK
Cost Per Tick: 5 mana Range : Self only Slots: 1 Syntax: Focus 'Acuity' While maintaining this ability, an assassin will be able to scan further, and detect both the invisible and things that are hidden from view. It is not effective against camouflage. Primary Attribute: Wisdom See also: DETECT HIDDEN, DETECT INVISIBLE, SCAN
Cost Per Tick: 10 mana Range : Self only Slots: 1 Syntax: Focus 'Celerity' While maintaining this ability, an assassin will move with great ease over any terrain. While not a form of flight, someone moving with celerity will be much harder to trip. While maintaining this focus, an assassin will also attempt a third attack each round. Primary Attribute: Wisdom See also: SMOOTH TERRAIN, THIRD ATTACK
Cost Per Tick: 10 Mana
Range : Self only Slots: 1
Syntax: Focus 'Shadow Fist'
While maintaining this ability, all unarmed attacks made by the assassin will
be treated as dealing direct illusion damage. This includes kicks and snap
kicks, but does not include attacks made while wearing glove weapons. They
will also gain a bonus to their hitroll.
Primary Attribute: Wisdom
See also: KICK, SNAP KICK, HAND TO HAND
Cost Per Tick: 25 Mana Range : Self Only Slots: 1 Syntax: Focus 'Seeping Wounds' When an assassin maintains this focus, they gain the ability to leave lasting injuries on their opponents with their attacks. This applies to arrows they may fire, melee attacks they may perform, or special combat skills such as kick or vital strike. The type of damage dealt does not affect one's ability to produce these wounds, and the amount of bleeding damage caused increases as the victim incurs more of them. Primary Attributes: Wisdom, Dexterity
Cost Per Tick: 15 Mana Range : Any PC or Mob Slots: 1 Syntax: Focus 'Beguile' <target> An assassin activates this focus by choosing a target they can see (anywhere in the world). Once this focus is in place, the assassin will be prepared to beguile the target into missing melee attacks. Primary Attributes: Intelligence, Wisdom See also: DODGE, EVADE
Cost Per Tick: 25 mana Range : Single PC or Mob Slots: 1 Syntax: Focus 'Prowess' <target> This psychometabolic ability allows a psionicist to enhance their target's combat ability, granting a bonus to their hitroll, and increasing the amount of damage dealt by each successful blow in combat. This ability is less effective on targets who possess the enhanced damage skill. Assassins may only use this focus on themselves. Primary Attribute: Wisdom, Dexterity See also: ENHANCED DAMAGE
Cost Per Tick: 50 mana Range : Single Connected PC Slots: 2 Syntax: Cloak <Target> While maintaining this focus, the assassin completely shrouds himself from his victim's senses. The cloak will remain in place until the assassin engages in combat by any means, or dispelled by clarity, mindshield, or other means of disrupting psionic focus. This focus cannot be maintained while the assassin feels any of the effects of adrenaline. Primary Attributes: Wisdom
Duration : Instantaneous Cost: 80 mana Range : User Only Syntax: Focus 'Vanish' With this focus, an assassin may blur the perceptions of anyone around them and use the confusion to make a quick getaway. Vanish takes the assassin quickly to a random location in their current area, and may also be used to escape from a combat situation. Primary Attribute: Wisdom, Dexterity See also: BLINK
Each character in Avendar has an adventuring class. The class determines the character’s abilities. Guilds are established throughout the land to help train characters in their class’s abilities. Click the class name below to view the details about the class’s abilities. The…