The Laughing Swords

Their origins are unclear, given that nobody has ever spoken to one. It is suspected that they have their base in Illegon, and they have been most active around there. Even their name is speculative, drawn from their behavior and swords, which have handguards shaped like grinning mouths. Their signature behavior is their laughter. They seem to be able to laugh indefinitely without drawing breath, and the sound of their hyena-like cackling is intensely disturbing.
The Laughing Swords are halfway between an organization of assassins and a death cult. They always attack in groups, usually between three and ten, and perform very high-profile killings, often of military or political officials, and always in broad daylight. They prefer to hit a target when he is best defended, rather than when he is at his weakest, and they do not seem to plan on surviving, most of the time. Sometimes they even ingest poison before launching their attack.
How one joins this diabolical organization is unknown, but the members are disparate, and often hold employment in various walks of life before becoming involved in a killing. Serving girls, monks, wealthy merchants, even minor nobles have all turned out to be Laughing Swords before. They can strike from anywhere, and they don't fear death. They are also exceptionally skilled swordsmen, though they prefer to fight with brutish two-handed cleavers that leave little room for their skill to show through.
Category:Military Units