The Sanctified Killer

The arch deacon entered the chapel with no fanfare. She was not clothed in her ceremonial regalia, but only in her simple robes, the badge of her office emblazoned over her breast. She gestured for her two guardians to stay behind. Kostar opened his mouth to object, and the arch deacon raised an eyebrow.

"You know who we come to meet with," she said in a quiet, patient voice. "And while I respect your dedication and talents, Kostar, do you truly believe you would be able to protect me from him?"

Kostar closed his mouth, but his expression looked like he'd just eaten a lemon. "He should not be counted among us."

"Yet he is," she said, smiling and patting her bodyguard's shoulder. "And that is my burden to carry."

The arch deacon strode toward the altar, where a man knelt before a burning stick of incense, his head bowed. He didn't react to her approach, nor did he look up when she stopped. His lips were murmuring in silent prayer, and they finished just as the last wisp rose from the incense and dispersed into the air.

"Who will it be?" the kneeling figure asked. There was no question of why the arch deacon was there; he served a single function within the church, and it was the only purpose he was ever disturbed for.

"The war against our faithful rages," she said softly. "Cold-blooded murders occur every day, preceded by false trials."

"I cannot kill hatred," the man said softly.

"But you can kill Daemoth Vall," the arch deacon said.

"I can," the man said as he pulled back his hood. His skin was bone white, and inked with an intricate pattern of strange sigils. A crown of thorns, borne by the one who had been deemed the sacrificial soul for such a burden. "Should his death send a message?"

"Yes," the arch deacon said, that one word heavy with the weight and implication of what she was ordering. "A price we must pay for peace."

The Sanctified Killer

Death is a constant in many RPGs, and there are some player characters who end up drenched in blood by the end of the campaign. There is a difference between battle and cold-blooded murder, however, and this is where the issue can get complex. After all, why is it noble to stand on a battlefield and slay dozens of enemies, but it is ignoble to sneak into the chamber of the lord who declared the war in the first place, and cut his throat if it ends the conflict? It is perfectly fair to defend oneself from highwaymen, but not to garotte the greedy mayor whose taxes forced honest people to turn to a life of banditry?

Questions of morality aside, however, assassins are typically figures of Evil, and they do not usually work on the side of good. The Sanctified Killer, however, sits in a very uncomfortable place... they willingly do the dirty work needed for good to flourish, even if they damn themselves for their actions.

The purpose of the Sanctified Killer is to give a greater motivation to an assassin-style character, allowing them to acknowledge that even if they and their actions are abhorrent, they are hoping to use their skills and abilities to lay the foundation for something better. In some cases they might even be a spiritual martyr, taking on the sins that stain their hands knowing that because of their actions there are people who will live better, happier lives. They don't revel in the fact that they must do evil things... but they have made peace with the fact that sometimes they are a Necessary Evil.

While the standard Assassin prestige class works fairly well for this concept, it is also possible to gain a death attack as a high-level Ninja. The Slayer is also a good base option for this character concept. For those who want to play into a religious aspect with actual magical associations, though, the Sanctified Slayer archetype for the Inquisitor, or the Red Mantis Assassin are also options worth considering.

The key aspect of this character, though, is that they must tie themselves to organizations they believe in, preferably which are good-aligned, such as the clergy of Good gods, knightly orders, or other such organizations who they trust will not unleash them without good cause.

And it may be possible for these characters to be given the promise of an atonement spell. It won't clear their conscience, but it will act as spiritual absolution for the things they've done in the name of the cause... after all, if the gods grant it, then they must also have considered the act a necessity.

Lastly, for those who want to bring this character concept into a setting without alignment, like my world Sundara: Dawn of a New Age, it could be argued it would work even better there. I would also recommend checking out Sellswords of Sundara (for Pathfinder and DND 5E) as well as Cults of Sundara (also for Pathfinder and DND 5E) if you're looking for additional inspiration for this kind of character!

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That's all for this week's Unusual Character Concepts post!

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