Vektren's Services and Hiring

Contacting the Children of Darkness

Though the whispers that carry word of Vektren's services are commonly laced with loathe and worry, it is no doubt a common way for a wolf in need of them to hear of it. Despite all the scorn and shun, wolfkind is corrupted and honor and righteousness are often twisted, and eventually, one finds a thief, spy or assassin a quite handy specialist.

For Vektren, there is one ruling law on their connection with outsiders: contracts are met and agreements are kept.

"Sing us a song of Vektren, who smells fear and slays the unworthy.
Sing us a song of nobleman, who smells power and slay their own brethren."
^{Adapted from Thief II: The Metal Age}

Among many ways, the most common is to directly approach the borders and howl until met by a Vektreni, who will proceed to contact the Alphas or Warlord and request a meeting with a Viper. The exact location of the pack is sometimes uncertain, but wolves know: seek the marshlands buried deep in fog and look for the skulls and bones that adorn it, and you will be dealing with the Domain's assassins.

Word may spread and eventually fall into the ears of Vektren, and not known for ignoring opportunity, a Viper seeks the hirer even if not requested, offering Vektren's services. If dismissed peacefully, there is no further inquiry. If met with aggression, the attacker may surely expect a visit from assassins eager to pay blood with blood.

The exchange between Vipers and hirers is known as Official Envoy.

Official Envoy:
Performed by a Viper, it is the first and diplomatic approach. The ambassador meets the interested party and receives the request, where they carefully measure danger, difficulty and profit with their deep knowledge of the pack's works. They may then set the price and assign the proper service required, or seek out a conciliation between both business partners if the price is out of the hirer's reach. When a deal cannot be attained, and only then, the Alpha is involved and has the final word either they will take or not the job.

These meetings happen outside the borders of Vektren on a rendezvous point near the pack (often at the Silent Grove, their hunting grounds), or at any other location requested. A Viper is always body-guarded by an Enforcer, and is commonly the only vektreni faces hirers see, the secrecy being tied with Vektren's members safety.

---

SERVICES FOR HIRE

In short it seems obvious: you want someone dead, an assassin is what you need. Something should be stolen or you need information, then you require a thief/spy. However, there is more to those simple tasks, and the cultists of the Domain offer a very diversified amount of options - if you're willing to pay their prices.

Though it's rare these wolves have contact direct with a hirer, it may happen. In that case, proper judgment must be taken not to disrespect Vektren's customs, and if done by personal interest, it still must benefit the pack and not risk it by any means.

Missions:
Name given for the job when a thief/spy is hired, thus performed by a Shade. A wolf expecting to have something stolen, someone spied or information intercepted must pay equally to the difficulty of the task.

Shades are Vektren's finest prowlers, and may come and go as a whisper. Experienced on blending with the shadows, they're known for impressive feats such as kidnapping wolves to eavesdropping on Alpha meetings with little trouble.

Depending on the work requested, Shades might work in pairs or even parties, and sometimes their service is needed prior to an assassination.

Contract:
Name given for the job when an assassin is hired, thus performed by a Scythe. A wolf expecting to have a target killed must pay equally to the difficulty of the task.

Scythes are Vektren's seasoned masters in the arts of deathcraft, and tap into the power of the Void itself to send poor souls to their doom. Murder is not their only skill, however, and some find pleasure on coercion. When information can't be reached with subtlety, a Scythe will gladly take it from the target, some by verbal manipulation, others by physical persuasion.

While wolfslaughter is their main profession, sometimes a Scythe may be a simple mercenary and get rid of an unwanted beast that is threatening one's land.

Depending on the work requested, Scythes might work in pairs or even parties, sometimes bringing an Enforcer with them. Their service may depend on or/and be added to a Shade's.

Each and all contracts have the target's heart as main goal.

Even if a deal is greatly lucrative to the pack, if the heart is restricted of being taken for any reason during negotiations, then the deal is over.

---

PAYMENT

Simple yet complex, while what Vektren demands sounds easy enough, it is sometimes hard to be given. They are not known as a petty kind, however, and their list of acceptable rewards is quite flexible.

• Sometimes, they merely asks for supplies - mostly prey, but also herbs, seeds and saplings. Due to the scarce game inside the territory, they seek food outside the borders and make as less use possible of their own herds. Living in a specific ecosystem also leaves them tight on some variety of herbs, hence being listed as items for trade.
  
• When hired by a pack, paying service with food is simple: in exchange of work, Vektren is allowed to hunt the pack's herds for a designated period of time.
• Vektren also values information and contacts. Most times services are performed in exchange of useful material, arranged meetings and inside contacts (receiving knowledge assists Vektren's intelligence and allows to keep close track of events over the Domain - useful to take advantage of dire situations).
  
• Loners usually have a limited amount of resource to offer, but Vektren pays no less attention to them. A lone wolf willing to pay with information receives as much care a pack wolf does.
• Least but no less important, Vektren finds living newblood an acceptable offer, specially younglings. Wolves sold to Vektren are taken into their cult and fully embraced by the pack as servants, leaving whatever previous life behind them. Older wolves sometimes are treated less kindly however, and taken to the pack's reeducation pit.