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@kate @r-m-archer @daues-lamb @ethryndal All of you did amazing at answering these questions, but I would like to try and give it a go.

And I’m definitely blaming you guys if I somehow am inspired to write an assassin type character. I’m becoming very much intrigued by what kind of person he/she would be. So good job, @daeus-lamb, at making us think deeply about this subject.

Okay, and the questions (forgive me if I repeat some of your answers):

What could make someone become an assassin?

• They were raised for the job since they were children, in a special school
• Revenge. If their job allowed them to kill people that were their sworn enemies, it would be very logical to take the job.
• They’re an outcast or an escaped criminal, and because of that, are both skilled in weaponry, and cannot get a normal job

 

What type of relationship would an assassin have with their employer?

• The assassin wouldn’t even know his employer. He’s a higher level, superior authority, who passes down orders through others, and the assassin despises him for tying him to such a wretched job.
• The two of them are best friends. They grew up together and became part of a close-knit group of other assassins who all work together.
• The assassin doesn’t have an employer. He works for himself, and doesn’t take orders.

What is the assassin’s favorite part about their job? Their least favorite part?

• Having the freedom to take off a lot of hours, and getting paid a lot.
• Their least favorite – the actual killing

How do they train for their job?

• There is a school they go to, where they are trained in weaponry, knife work, stealth, spying…etc.
• Only already expert thieves are hired to work as assassins
• A particular test they could do would be to live in the streets and target a particular person “of no consequence” like a commoner. They would be the guinea pigs, and the assassins would do their best to kill their target and not leave a trace.

Who are their best friends (if they have any at all)?

• Their fellow assassins
• People in power that they are forced to get to know for their jobs
• Commoners and those who can inform them of what’s going on
• Bartenders

What hobbies/obsessions/tastes might an assassin develop that would really round off their character?

• Becoming really, really good friends with the people they are going to murder.
• Obsessing over killing a person differently every time
• Taking on many different personalities to totally blend with the people around them
• Singing
• Becoming a poisons expert, and developing different blends
• Singing and performing as a distraction for people.

What weaknesses does an assassin have (emotionally/morally and tactically/politically)?

• Becoming really close to those they are trying to kill
• Breaking down and losing their nerve at the last minute when they need to kill someone
• Not knowing what their identity is
• Being ashamed of their profession

If an assassin faces guilt, how will they reasonably handle it?

• Ignore the feeling
• Justify themselves into believing it’s okay – just because everyone is wicked and deserves death.
• They aren’t the responsible ones. Their masters are the ones who are ultimately responsible. They’re just doing their job.
• Guilt is weakness
• By drinking or taking drugs to make themselves ignore the feeling.