Antivan Crows

The Antivan Crows, also known as House of Crows, are an elite organization of thieves, spies, and assassins which are renowned throughout Thedas.

Background

Through their deadly reputation and exotic poisons, the Crows practically rule their homeland. Though honor among such an organization is a strange concept, all members adhere to one standard: contracts are met and agreements are kept. Failure to eliminate a mark means the life of the assassin is forfeit. The Antivan Crows are the driving political force in Antiva, often hired to assassinate Antivan nobility or even the sitting king or queen. When the Crows are hired for a job, it is generally given to a master to handle. If need be, multiple masters can be contracted. In fact, the entire house can be contracted though it will be incredibly expensive.

History

Interestingly, rumors tell that this organization started as an arm of the Chantry. In the Antivan hillside, an order of monks used the herbs grown in the gardens of their abbey to oppose the rule of a ruthless tyrant. The Chantry supposedly paid them out during Antiva's Three Queens Era, hiring them to assassinate all three tyrant queens and instead institute a pro-Chantry leader.

Recruitment

The Crows usually employ only Drow because humans often find them strangely attractive. However, they also have a large number of human recruits. They train their recruits from a young age, and have no problem killing them if they make a mistake. It seems to be an effective method, though they would have everyone believe it takes some special skill to do what they do. The Antivan Crows buy orphaned or enslaved elves and humans when they are children and force them to live together in tight quarters. The only way they can survive the brutal process and prove themselves worthy is by surviving every test the Crows throw at them, including killing their peers.