High Table Decree

Lore & Background

The power of a Decree lies in its universality. Every assassin, from the lowliest marker-holder to the most elite bounty hunter, understands that defying a High Table Decree is tantamount to declaring war against the entire underworld. The history of the organization is punctuated by these moments where the Table intervenes directly, often resulting in the destruction of entire families or the erasure of legacy names from the record books. It serves as a reminder that while individual assassins may be powerful, they are ultimately subjects of the Table's ancient and unyielding law.

In Their Own Story

The air inside the New York Continental was usually thick with the scent of expensive cigars and quiet conversation, but tonight it was suffocatingly still. The Manager stood before a small gathering of the city's elite assassins, his face pale as he placed a heavy, sealed envelope on the polished mahogany table. No words were spoken; the seal alone carried the weight of the High Table Decree. As the wax broke and the paper was read, the room seemed to shrink. The man who had just been untouchable, protected by the sacred ground of the hotel, suddenly became a ghost in the eyes of everyone present. A single nod from the manager signaled the end of his sanctuary, and within seconds, the first gun clicked into place.

Reader's Guide

A High Table Decree is the highest form of legal action available to the ruling council. It functions as an immediate execution order or a mandate for total compliance that overrides all existing contracts and local customs. In practice, once a decree is issued, it is communicated through the Continental network instantly. The subject of the decree loses all protections; they can be hunted on sacred ground, their assets are frozen, and their allies are forced to choose between loyalty to them or survival under the Table's wrath. The Decree is wielded exclusively by the High Table itself, often delivered via a Marquis or a trusted intermediary. It cannot be negotiated with or appealed against once spoken. For an assassin, receiving notice of a decree means their time has come to end, either through death or total submission to the will of the council.

Did You Know?

• The High Table Decree is delivered via a Marquis or a trusted intermediary.
• Once a decree is issued, the subject loses all protections, including those of sacred ground.
• The decree cannot be negotiated with or appealed against once spoken.
• Defying a High Table Decree is considered tantamount to declaring war against the entire underworld.
• The decree is communicated through the Continental network instantly.