✦️ GROUP / FACTIONBlack Knife Assassins
Eternal Women · Instruments of Ranni's Conspiracy
Black Knife Assassins
"The assassins that carried out the deeds of the Night of the Black Knives were all women, and rumored to be Numen, kin of the queen herself. Scale armor forged to make no sound."
From the Black Knife Armor description
The Black Knife Assassins are an order of female warriors, described as "women of Eternal blood, hailing from the Eternal Cities", who carried out the Night of the Black Knives under Ranni's orchestration. Their defining characteristic is their attire: cloaks that deceive the eye and render them near-invisible in darkness, combined with silver plate armor. Their weapons, the Black Knives, were imbued with a stolen fragment of the Rune of Death and can siphon maximum HP from targets, inflicting a lingering death that was unique in the history of the Golden Order. Their origins in the Eternal Cities is significant: these pre-Erdtree civilizations already harbored resentment toward the Golden Order that supplanted them, and their warriors possessed techniques predating golden grace. After the Night of the Black Knives, the order apparently scattered. Individual assassins can be found at several locations including the Altus Plateau (where Rogier found the Black Knifeprint), the Sage's Cave, and the Consecrated Snowfield. Their moveset, acrobatic, dagger-based, with distinctive back-step and lunge patterns, is notably identical to Melina's combat style when she assists as a summon in Morgott's fight, which is one of the key pieces of evidence linking Melina to this order and potentially to the identity of the Gloam-Eyed Queen.
◆ Sources
Shabriri (Dialogue)My dear... Have you ever heard of black knifeprints? Dear Rogier likes to talk of them when abed. And the ancient plot, in which the first of the Demigods was slain. To dear Rogier, and myself, too. In truth I've heard tell from someone else, about the black knifeprints that fascinate dear Rogier so. But It wouldn't be right to give this to him, stuck as he is in the Roundtable Hold. Perhaps you could make use of it? Fia, Deathbed Companion Finally, it is returned to its rightful place.
Dung Eater (Dialogue)The world has grown crooked, and if you intend to put it to rights, You'd better understand what happened to make it this way, mm? This...is a black knifeprint! I can scarcely believe you managed to get your hands on this! You recall our conversation about the Night of the Black Knives, yes?
Black KnifeprintOn the Night of the Black Knives, someone stole a fragment of Death from Maliketh, the Black Blade, and imbued its power into the assassins' daggers. This mark is evidence of the ritual, and hides the truth of the conspiracy.
Black Knife HoodHood used by the Black Knife Assassins. The assassins that carried out the deeds of the Night of the Black Knives were all women, and rumored to be Numen who had close ties with Marika herself.
Black Knife ArmorScale armor used by the Black Knife Assassins, forged to make no sound. Traces of power yet remain in its concealing veil, which muffles the sound of footsteps. The assassins that carried out the deeds of the Night of the Black Knives were all women, and rumored to be Numen who had close ties with Marika herself.
Black Knife GauntletsGauntlets used by the Black Knife Assassins. Crafted with scale armor that makes no sound. The assassins that carried out the deeds of the Night of the Black Knives were all women, and rumored to be Numen who had close ties with Marika herself.
Black Knife GreavesGreaves used by the Black Knife Assassins. Crafted with scale armor that makes no sound. The assassins that carried out the deeds of the Night of the Black Knives were all women, and rumored to be Numen who had close ties with Marika herself.
Black Knife Armor (Altered)Armor used by the Black Knife Assassins. Crafted with scale armor that makes no sound. The assassins that carried out the deeds of the Night of the Black Knives were all women, and rumored to be Numen who had close ties with Marika herself.
