THE TEN TENETS OF A DARKSTALKER
“My dear friend Alexander, during my travels from Budapest to Bucharest I’ve been reflecting on what it means to be a Darkstalker. One may think that it is simple assassination work or the act of just snuffing out a life, but it is more than that. There is a simple grace and elegance a Darkstalker performs during their duty, whether it be killing or torturing someone. A dark and twisted beauty one may call it. And it is in this beauty that gives me joy and happiness. Reminiscent of the days when we both served in Rome’s Frumentarii. I wonder if you do miss those days. Anyways, during my mission in tracking down a Hungarian noble to Romania, I encountered a young lady, a mage. She was a Darkstalker like me, she said she was looking for her sister, Larissa Bloodmoon. Apparently, she was her contracted target and had no choice but to kill her. To kill your sister for profit, interesting. I then questioned this Laura Bloodmoon if she was doing it because she didn’t care or the money on her sister’s head was more worth it than her life. Laura then told me it was a matter of family issues and principal. That as Darkstalkers we must view our job as an art form, for that is what separates us from the other professions in this world of MBCs. Deathstalkers, Dark Mages, Society Elites, Dissidents and alike, none can do what we do. It as if Laura’s ideals ignited a flame inside me that I have long forgotten. I tell you this Alexander, when you told me that Vampiric immortally can get boring after a while you were right. But throughout my long life I have found none like her. And it is because of her that I have decided to form a Darkstalker group of my own. In honor of the Frumentarii we once served. Laura Bloodmoon will be my first apprentice and assistant in this organization. And together we have formulated a set of tenets that a Darkstalker must abide by, whether they are with me or against me, Frumentarii or not. But it is their choice to follow. I have listed these tenets below and I do hope you find good use for them in your own personal affairs. I wish you all the best Alexander Augustus, I will never forget the gift you gave me all those years ago. Your friend, Lucius D. Decanus.”
—A excerpt from a letter written by Lucius D. Decanus to Alexander Augustus in the year 1568.
-DEATH OF SELF
-DEATH OF LIGHT
-DEATH OF TARGET
-DEATH OF WITNESSES
-DEATH OF MERCY
-DEATH OF INNOCENCE
-DEATH OF LOYALTY
-DEATH OF TRUTH
-DEATH OF IDENTITY
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-DEATH OF FEAR
DEATH OF SELF
The first and greatest tenet of the Darkstalker is the Death of Self. One must realize that in order to be a true Darkstalker, one must be willing to let down their own life. In this profession there is no room for self-preservation. One must be willing to die in order for a mission to succeed.
DEATH OF TARGET
The death of your mission’s target is not merely an act of violence, it is the culmination of artistry. Darkstalkers must execute their mission with precision and finesse, ensuring that their mark meets their end swiftly and without unnecessary suffering. The target’s demise should be a testament to the Darkstalker’s skill and mastery of their craft, leaving no room for doubt or error. In this death, one finds purpose and fulfillment.
DEATH OF MERCY
Darkstalkers do not show mercy or compassion to their targets. They carry out their duties without hesitation or emotional attachment, understanding that their actions serve a greater purpose. One must be willing to kill and tortue their own family and friends if need be.
DEATH OF LOYALTY
Loyalty to anyone or anything outside a Darkstalker’s duties is forbidden. Darkstalkers must operate independently and prioritize their own mission and code above any external allegiances.
DEATH OF IDENTITY
Darkstalkers must be prepared to shed their old identities. They must be willing to forsake their own nationality, community and religion if need be. They must operate in the shadows, concealing their true selves and adopting various personas as a necessity to achieve their objectives.
DEATH OF LIGHT
A Darkstalker must embrace the darkness as their new home. Staying in the shadows and rejecting the light of the world. Avoiding contact with civilization as much as possible, and to shroud one’s self in secrecy. It is in this abyss that you will find your strength and resilience, becoming one with the unseen and harnessing the power of obscurity to your advantage. The light, whether physical or metaphorical, is the enemy of your craft, and you must strive to extinguish it wherever it threatens to expose your existence or intentions.
DEATH OF WITNESSES
Simple and straightforward. No witnesses. A Darkstalker must not leave any evidence or person alive who could bear witness to their actions. If anyone sees you, kill them. If you left something behind, return and destroy it. Anonymity must be prioritized in a Darkstalker’s life.
DEATH OF INNOCENCE
Darkstalkers must recognize that their innocence is fragile and futile in this line of work. The very concept of innocence must disgust a Darkstalker. They must be prepared to confront and extinguish this so-called “innocence” in order to stay in the shadows.
DEATH OF TRUTH
Darkstalkers must understand that the truth is often elusive and that deception is a powerful weapon. A Darkstalker must manipulate information, disguise their motives and obscure the reality of their actions. Even willing to fight dirty and unfairly if need be.
DEATH OF FEAR
A Darkstalker must kill any fear or anxiety they have before, during and after a mission. They must disregard all else in order to have a mindset without fear of the future or the unknown. Apart from being a master of one’s own emotions, Darkstalkers must also realize that fear is a weapon they can control. They must instill fear in their targets, making it a deadly and tangible force that can be used to manipulate and control.