Clockwork Assassins
This terrifyingly effective weapon won Zhaliya an empire and marked it as a world power that others should fear. Despite its reputation, very little is actually known about the assassin or its abilities as its only been used once. No other clockwork like it is known to exist suggesting that the sovereign invented the assassin--or at least its design herself.
Half a year after the secret project was started, the royal family of Cadrial was assassinated by a humanoid figure made of bronze and soon after the same figure knelt before Sovereign Ilrina and laid the head of the slain sovereign at her feet--awaiting new orders. How the clockwork was able to sneak into the royal palace past all the guards is unknown but most suspect it is enchanted as it doesn't make any sound when it moves. Although it doesn't have any visible bladed weapondry, the wounds on several of the royal family's bodies suggest the assassin used them. It seems to be capable of understanding all spoken languages but not speaking.
Creation
Throughout the war, Sovereign Ilrina and the elven nobles of Zhaliya worked frantically on a variety of clockwork weapons to fight the Cadrial Empire. As the war dragged on and on without surrender from Cadrial even as Zhaliyan forces pushed further and further into their territory, the sovereign became convinced that a decisive blow had to be struck against the empire to force a surrender. She started working on a special project in addition to her usual clockwork creation and statecraft that only a select few particularly trusted and talented nobles knew about. The work took a harsh toll on the sovereign's health, she lost quite a bit of weight and collapsed in public multiple times from exhaustion.Half a year after the secret project was started, the royal family of Cadrial was assassinated by a humanoid figure made of bronze and soon after the same figure knelt before Sovereign Ilrina and laid the head of the slain sovereign at her feet--awaiting new orders. How the clockwork was able to sneak into the royal palace past all the guards is unknown but most suspect it is enchanted as it doesn't make any sound when it moves. Although it doesn't have any visible bladed weapondry, the wounds on several of the royal family's bodies suggest the assassin used them. It seems to be capable of understanding all spoken languages but not speaking.
Utility
Currently the clockwork assassin acts as a bodyguard for Sovereign Ilrina and it accompnies her everywhere. It also serves to remind others of Zhaliya's and Ilrina's power. Nulyran and New Cadrian leaders use the clockwork assassin as an example of the threat that Zhaliya poses and its often used in anti-Zhaliyan rhetoric.
Social Impact
The clockwork assassin successfully ended the War for Zhaliya causing the downfall of the Cadrial Empire and the eventual creation of New Cadrial. As word of the assassinations and how the clockwork assassin had seemingly effortlessly carried out its mission concerns about Zhaliya's power grew. Sovereigns around the world called for more extensive peace talks than what were currently occuring and the Agreement of the Lasting Peace was born out of these talks.
Access & Availability
Currently there's only one known to exsist
Complexity
extremly complex
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