Death is inevitable. For Edravel Mornwick, it arrived wearing the mask of justice.
There are those that think they can escape it, however that is not true in Aerathys. There are those that work in the shadows and take out the corrupt, the cruel and the evil.
Whether they are politicians, businessmen or royalty, the shadows consume all that go against the peace of the people.
In the free city of Vaelcross, the shadows converged on a target. His name was Arch-Justiciar Helmont Vey.
He was a publicly revered lawkeeper by the people in this trade nexus. However, this was all a façade to protect his real business.
He secretly orchestrated the massacring of mages and had a heavy hand in the beastkind slave trade.
He went about his business without a care in the world, but the shadows watched him and documented his every action.
Alric Fenlow, one of the shadows, collected this data. He was the mind behind the group and allowed it to operate seamlessly.
Alric was a middle-aged man with unkempt hair and perpetually tired eyes. He started to move his informants into areas around Helmont Vey to watch.
He had started to collect information on Helmont Vey after a string of random arrests all happened just before a major trade deal.
Once Alric had sent people to follow Helmont Vey, he found out that he was meeting with a black-market dealer who was part of the slave trade.
To win the man's favour Helmont was sabotaging the other merchants by arresting their head figures and blackmailing them.
One day Helmont, absorbed in his power, took it too far. He had grabbed one of the merchant leaders to send a message.
At a public execution stand, Helmont stood with the merchant leader, Edravel Mornwick, who was getting in his way.
"Here stands Edravel Mornwick. He has been tried for the crime of treason against this great kingdom", Helmont announced to the crowd.
"I didn't do anything", Edravel whimpered while tears ran down his face. The crowd that had gathered was shocked at Helmont's words.
Edravel was a kind gentleman who would go out of his way to help those in need with the money he had made.
He had also once been a poor orphan, but after working his way up the societal ladder, he had become a respectable merchant and person with an upright character.
"Please. You have to believe me", Edravel pleaded with Helmont. Helmont looked down at Edravel with a cynical smile.
"With the power, vested in me by the courts of the kingdom and with the authority of the crown. I sentence you to death. Executioner," Helmont said waving the executioner forward.
"No!" Edravel cried out. The people in the crowd could not bear to watch. Edravel's son had to be held back by the others in the merchant group.
The executioner raised his broad sword into the air. He took a deep breath through the black cloth covering his face and then lowered his sword with as much force as he could muster.
Edravel closed his eyes as the sword went through the back of his neck and severed his head clean off his body.
There were cries in the crowd as the blood sprayed from the corpse and the head rolled along the ground, landing at the son's feet.
"Let this be a warning to you all. Stay in line or you will end up in the same position as that fool," Helmont said as he walked off the execution platform.
At the back of the crowd stood a man, who was observing from the shadows. He wrote something on a piece of paper and then left the scene.
The shadows that had stood still began to move. People like Helmont never lasted long with so many eyes watching.
The group was feared across the world and known by many names—none spoken loudly, all spoken with caution.
Each carried its own meaning, invoking fear, reverence, or admiration.
They had many names, but only one warning—defy humanity and be removed.
Some still acted without fear. They never lasted long.
Those like Helmont were perfect examples, reminders to others of what awaited them.
Inside an undisclosed safehouse, Alric lay on an old couch, reading the report from his subordinate.
"So, what do we have?" a deep voice said while sitting in the darkness across from him. Alric looked over in the direction of the voice.
"It seems we have another mission to undertake," Alric said. "Arch-Justiciar Helmont Vey. He cannot seem to be satisfied with his life."
"Then we should end it for him," the voice said. A man stepped from the shadows. He was tall with broad shoulders.
He had long black hair that was tied behind his head, dark unreadable eyes, and perpetual stubble instead of a full beard.
"Understood Sir," said Alric. The man was the leader of the organization. He was cold, calculating and patient.
"Vaelith," Kael said. A woman emerged next to him. She had long white-blonde hair, ash-grey skin, and sharp violet eyes.
Her pointy ears were just visible under her hanging hair. "Yes Kael," she said in a seductive manner.
"I need you to go for a walk. See what you can find out for me," he said. Vaelith stepped back from Kael and started to walk to the door.
"Okie dokie," she said, with a sadistic smile curling her lips as she turned away to leave.
Two daggers rode openly across her back until she slipped on a cloak, its folds concealing the steel, and the poison vials at her waist.
"Brokk," Kael shouted. A short man kicked down the door open from the basement room. He was massively built, with burn-scarred arms and a braided beard.
"What do you want with me now!" Brokk shouted. He was a short-tempered dwarf that was the group's weaponsmith and demolitions expert.
He hated being interrupted when he was working in the smithy as he felt it would affect the quality of his workmanship and make him look bad.
"I need you and Alric to discuss about what we will need for the next job," Kael said. Brokk's eyes lit up at the sound of another job.
"We have another job. Why didn't you tell me sooner. Oi, Sparkbrains. Come with me, let's get the party started," Brokk said excitedly.
Alric stood up and sighed. He followed Brokk into the basement smithy to discuss plans and logistics.
Kael turned around to the chair in the corner of the room, "Come Nyssara, let's go scout out the target."
A female beastkind looked up at Kael and nodded. Nyssara, who had been sitting in the corner in silence, stood up.
She was a feline-blooded beastkind, and had tawny fur, slit pupils and retractable claws. She was the scout and ambusher for the group.
She always wore a white glove over her right hand, as that covered up the branding she was given as a child.
Kael and Nyssara left the safehouse and went to the Justiciar's court to scout the security.
As they arrived on the rooftop opposite the entrance they could see Vaelith entering the court in disguise.