Noi-Guin

The Noi-Guin are a mysterious and secretive sect of assassins; reminiscent of Nizari Shia Muslim sect. They can be deployed to end wars (or to start them) for anyone with enough money to pay the fees that even many Sis nobles would find staggering. They are most renowned as assassins capable of insinuating themselves past any defence and taking lives with impunity. The assassins are proud, do not like to fail, and may patiently pursue their victim for years, like their pursuit of Nona Grey.

Tetragode
The Noi-Huin are based in a secret stronghold called the Tetragode which seldom remains in one place for long, never staying more than four years and erasing all evidence that it had ever existed when they leave. They take only their wealth, rumoured to be in diamonds of exceptional quality, their shipheart, and the Book of Shadows, the list of clients and targets dating back over six hundred years.

Structure
The headed of the Noi-Guin is called the Singular, and said only to leave the Tetragode when the Tetragode itself moves to some new stronghold. Beneath him are the full Noi-Guin, who are Shadow-Bonded in a network with all the other Noi-Guin. They seem to function in a similar fashion to the convent of Sweet Mercy, taking young children with Marjal traits and training them for years exclusively in combat and Shadow-Working. The final trial is to be Pushed into Shadow, a dangerous process that many do not survive. Those who fail the trial but survive become Lightless, servants of the Noi-Guin.