Of Shadows and Silent Blades – The Spy Orders of Elyndor

From the writings of Tarric Vethrin

I should really stop talking politics with people at night.
Yesterday, a merchant sat in my tavern and, after his third drink, confidently explained that Elyndor only works because of the nobility.

That was the moment I realized he was either very rich or surprisingly eager to die. Probably both.

The truly important things in Elyndor rarely happen where everyone is looking.
Of course, the noble houses like to pretend they are the ones running the world. Grand halls. Grand speeches. Grand family crests. Big egos.

And then trade routes suddenly disappear, names vanish from records, or someone unexpectedly falls down a staircase right in the middle of a political discussion. Several times.

Elyndor is full of such “coincidences.” Even children learn here:
“In Elyndor, the shadows whisper.”

I’ve never figured out who said it first. And honestly? Some questions are better left uninvestigated. It tends to improve your life expectancy.

Most people only know the Golden Dawn. Officially at least.
A polite, not-so-small espionage order with good connections, fine uniforms, and just the right amount of intimidation to make nobles feel important.

They work for anyone who can pay.
Though “pay” is a flexible term in Elyndor. Some pay in gold. Others in information.
And some pay with favors that come back years later. Those are usually the expensive ones.

The Golden Dawn is only what you are meant to see.
Beneath them sit the “Silent Needles.”
And no, I still don’t know who thought that was a subtle name.

The Needles work quieter. More dangerous.

The Golden Dawn removes problems. The Needles ensure that some problems never existed in the first place. It sounds similar, but it’s a massive difference.

I once saw a noble try to work against them.
A few weeks later he was suddenly convinced he had always been a winemaker.
As far as I know, he’s living happily somewhere in the south.
So… probably a good ending. For Elyndor at least.

And then there are the Shadow Blades. People usually only talk about them with those they trust. Or with those who already know too much.
Both tend to end poorly.

Some consider them a military order. Others a kind of emergency measure for things better left in the dark. I personally think they’re a very good reason not to ignore locked doors at night.

The espionage orders even have a public face.

Miriana. Charming. Intelligent. Dangerous enough that even experienced people get cautious when she smiles. I like her. Which probably says more about me than it should.

Most people believe Miriana controls the orders.
And maybe she does. Elyndor works surprisingly well on half-truths. Almost too well.

Maybe that’s the real reason someone is always whispering here.

— Tarric Vethrin