Tarn Manniocs

Based on Warpstone Issue 20

Whilst most Mannioc-quinsh activities are conducted overtly in Elfsgemeente situations can arise that require more drastic and covert solutions.
This is why the Mannikins boast an impressive undercover organisation even though they are rarely employed. The main reason they are so rarely used is that the elves and in particular the Exarch Tarmonagh is aware of the potential diplomatic backlash which could occur if the surrounding human governments became aware of covert elven operatives operating within their lands.

Structure

The Tarn Mannioc is divided into three sub-branches each with its own role and speciality.

Rion'Kosdar (The Star Gazers)

This branch is responsible for the gathering and collation of intelligence.  They are an assembly of deep undercover agents (most of them human), spies and paid informants.  However, this branch also employs a large number of elven magisters who specialise in navigation and tracking.  These magisters are kept secret from other races as the Sea Elves consider them crutial to the domination of trade by their species.  The Star Gazers use their magical senses to plot their position in the world relative to the network of ley-lines that were created by The Old Ones at the birth of the world and by locating their position relative to these lines of magical energy they can determine their exact location anywhere on the planet and thus pinpoint not only their location but that of any other point in the world of interest to their masters.  Star Gazers are frequently assigned to Sea Elven fleets and expeditions to provide not only navigation skills by also their tracking abilities.  
Rion'Kosdar tracking abilities are similar to those of a human hunter except that rather than looking for physical signs of their prey they track the targets aetheric aura.  This obviously has it's limitations and whilst it can pinpoint the approximate location of any object or being that is emitting an aetheric aura it is blind to anyone or anything that isn't.
It is said that it was this ability which was used by Lord Teclis and his followers to track down human magic users during the great purge after the Emperor agreed to impose the Imperial Magic Laws on the Empire and it is similar in both function and limitation to the concept used by warp entities to identify concentrations of aetheric energy in the mortal realm.  See The Beacon Principle   
However, it does give the Sea Elves an immense advantage when hunting magically attuned mortal beings or magical objects and when travelling over long distances, particularly at sea. 
This branch is commanded by a triumvirate of three senior Rion'Kosdar agents who are considered too old or incapable of further fieldwork, sometimes because they have been exposed.  This triumvirate reports directly to the Exarch and although Clan Lormorillian no longer has any formal rights over the Tarn Manniocs they usually contrive to have at least one operative from their clan on it.
Star Gazers are not permanently employed by the Tarn Mannioc and frequently act as pilots or navigators on elven trading ships pr even captain their own elven ships.

Tar Leomer (The Night Walkers)

The night walkers are highly trained field agnts.  Often old adventurers or explorers and are used for delicate operations outside the borders of Sith Rionnasc'namishathir.  Most of the agents used by this branch are not permanently enrolled in the ranks of the Tarn Manniocs and like The Star Gazers hold down normal roles within the sea community when not needed for undercover work.   Some of these agents will be human though most will display considerable martial prowess and survival skills.

Tar'il (The Shadows)

The third branch of the Tarn Manniocs is the Tar'il or Shadows.  These are the elite corps of undercover combat agents and assassins employed on the most dangerous or sensitive missions.  They are usually drawn from the most experienced members of the other two branches and maybe highly trained warriors or stargazers.  They are usually drawn from amongst the sea elf agents though occasionally a foreign agent might be accepted. 
The trials to gain a position in The Shadows are some of the most dangerous and strenuous employed by the elves including one referred to as 'The March of Solitude' where candidates are dropped into the sea approximately sixty-five miles offshore in the waters of the Manaanspoort and must return unnoticed and report to their trainer within two days carrying some evidence of their stealth skills such as a human watch captains sword.  The number of watch captains swords which are stolen in Marienburg remains a mystery to the Marienburg City Watch to this day and is a testament to the success of these candidates.
There are never more than seven Shadows, although there are rumours that other groups of shadows exist under the control of other clans.  The Shadows in Marienburg are organised into two groups.  One is always stationed in quarters under the Rosenbad Mansion, near the stairs leading to the old tunnels of Sith Rionnasc'namishathir, the other will be in training usually somewhere in The Wasteland.
A Captain heads each group, which usually consists of seven members.

• The Captain
• The Shadow Weaver (Usually a former Star Gazer)
• Up to five Shadows

When on a mission the Shadows will dress in dark blue high-quality leather unforms and dark cloaks and hoods.  All members are tattooed on their chest with four fire breathing dragons encircling the stylised image of the old fortress of Sith Rionnasc'namishathir.  The tattoo is made with special ink which glows with a bright silver light when struck by moonlight.  The ink and its ingredients are a closely guarded secret available to only certain Arch Mages of the Royal Court of Ulthuan and to the Shadow Weaver.

Type

Government, Secret Service

Alternative Names

The Moon Guardians

Parent Organization

Manniocs-Quinsh

Location

Sith Rionnasc'namishathir