The Flock

The Code

Before I introduce you to the all-important members of our little club, I need to tell you about some rules and consequences in the Assassins Code. There are a number of rules for every Assassin Order to follow, but some have extra rules of their own.

1) Half a cut for one mistake, twice as deep for two...

There are two chances here.
Occasionally, someone will leave the group without requesting it. Whether they're sick of being through the literally-painful training or just don't want to kill people, abandonment will result in being hunted by the loyal members of the order.
If they return of their own accord, it is up to the leader of the order to determine the fate of the abandoner. If the leader allows them to live, the traitor must allow one of the members –or the leader– to make an incision down their spine.
If they were to abandon the group for a second time and were caught, their punishment would be a very painful death. The scar from the previous abandonment would be reopened and deepened.
The traitor would be thrown onto the street with a very obvious symbolisation of their cowardice. Their disloyalty. Their spinelessness, if you will.

If they didn't die from the pain, they would definitely be dead from blood loss in mere minutes.

2) Double the pain for a kill untaken...

If an Order Member refuses to complete a job, they will have to undergo twice the amount of pain that the victim would've suffered if they had carried out the deed. This can be given in many ways: cutting, breaking of bones, melee (hitting), et cetera. If the member in question refuses to go through with the original punishment, they will be placed in an environment that the leader of the order will determine is best for the member to endure their punishment. Some examples include: tight spaces, high places, dark rooms, silent rooms, et cetera.

Mentally or physically, they will be punished.

3) The forge of an Order Woman must be snuffed...

After the first 'flowering' period –the transition from girl to woman– females of the order must undergo sterilisation. This means that Order Woman cannot become pregnant and will not have any further 'flowering' periods, thus increasing the amount of time the woman can work. If they have not been sterilised and have a child, that child belongs to the order of the mother because –for the first part of the child's life– the mother is essential to the child's survival. Many children in the past have been born under two Orders.  Occasionally, sons will be gifted to their father's order when it is time for them to become men. If the mother of the child dies and no other woman is available to care for it, the child will be killed in the most humane way possible.

Which brings us to our next rule.

4) Two losses in the murder of one...

If an Order Member kills another member without the permission of the Order Leader, that member will be punished by death. Other members of the order will take turns punishing the traitor; cutting, beating, or doing whatever they desire so long as all Order Members can participate after. Once all Order Members have participated, the leader of the order can then decide what punishment will seal the murderer's fate. Whatever that fate may be, the traitor's body must not be buried or have any significant burial/ceremony of life. They are often dumped on the streets like the abandoners.

If a loyal member must be killed for any reason, it must be done quickly and with the least amount of pain possible to honour that member and their loyalty.

5) A permanent mark for a permanent position...

Both members and leaders must be marked with their Order's symbol. The leader must have a slight differentiation to show a higher position. This mark is either burned, carved, or inked into the members' skin to create a permanent mark. It is usually placed on the wrist so the members can be easily checked by other Order's if they come across one another. Each Order has its distinct mark descending from ancient runes, and they each mean something different.
Members will get their marks on their twelfth birthday, showing that they are now working assassins.

Well, that the base of it, anyway.