Dar'shada
#10 of Story of the Khajiit
Dar'shada
Whispers and Blades in the Dark
"It's sometimes harder to kill someone with a stab in the back than to fight them in front."
-Dar'shada
Dar'shada, a Suthay-breed (9) of Khajiit, the only one covered in this tome, is small and light, befitting his work as an assassin. Standing about 5'3", Dar'shada is not short, just small. And he prefers it that way.
With black fur, much like Dar'isa (11) and Midnight (12), Dar'shada has a very distinctive moon-like pattern on his fur, appearing as a crescent moon. Originally, when beginning his career as an assassin, he hated his facial mark and would cover it up with black fur paint, which Khajiit (Specifically Ohmes), use to paint marks on themselves. Now, he loves the crescent moon, adding white paint to it to make it more visible. Dar'shada loves it that he has an added challenge to avoid being discovered, and also praises the fact that he now gains recognition for every kill.
An assassin of considerable skill, Dar'shada is not as sneaky as some of us, but he excels in killing people. He doesn't work for the Renrijra Krin, as the other assassin on this list (7) does, instead working for the Dark Brotherhood. He grew up in the Brotherhood, the Elsweyrian division. When the Empire started cracking down on the Brotherhoods, Dar'shada's mentor betrayed the Brotherhood there to city guard, who slew everyone but Dar'shada and his mentor, Ra'kiri. Ra'kiri aided Dar'shada in his escape and, when they were in the clear, confessed what he had done and his motives for doing so. Dar'shada understood and actually let Ra'kiri live. I've heard rumours that Ra'kiri went to Morrowind and became a successful member of another assassin's guild, the Morag Tong, not outlawed under Imperial law to the degree of the Dark Brotherhood.
Dar'shada uses an Orcish sword in battle, loving it for its jagged appearance and lethal edge. He is a highly capable swordsman, though completely outclassed by Ma'jyrr. Good with a dagger, Dar'shada is also well skilled with a bow, though he uses throwing knives in closer ranged combat. Dar'shada would probably use a crossbow, if the Dawnguard didn't guard their weapons so religiously.
A firm follower of the Dark Brotherhood's motif, Dar'shada is likely not actually a follower of Sithis. In a conversation I held with him once, many years ago, he confessed that Sithis gave him the creeps. To quote, when I asked him on his thoughts on the Dark Brotherhood's work, he said, "The work's well enough this one supposes. Removing people who need removing. But Dar'shada has a problem with the whole business: Everybody's in love with Sithis! A figure of the void. Personally, this one hopes never to meet Sithis. And he never kills for Sithis. Khajiit would rather work for Molag Bal."
As that statement may indicate, Dar'shada, while still focusing with odd priorities, is not a cultist like those firmly in the Brotherhood. To him, it's a job, that's all. He kills with no particular vindication or anger, simply doing what he's told. Growing up in the life of an assassin, that's all he's ever known.
Dar'shada, as is likely expected, wears Dark Brotherhood armour. This light, form-fitting armour is heavily enchanted, by forces unknown, to give highly useful benefits to the wearer. Despite my extensive knowledge of enchanting, it took me a long time to discover the enchantment of the gauntlets in particular, which allow one's blades to hurt an opponent more when undetected. Truly unique.
Dar'shada is currently the Listener of the Dark Brotherhood, a prestigious position if I've been told correctly. A contact Ma'jyrr made amongst the clan/cult known as the Dark Brotherhood, a mad jester named Cicero, explained that the Listener heard the words of the long-dead Night Mother, a conduit for the orders of Sithis. Funny how the one individual who possibly doesn't believe, has to listen to the orders of the Dread Lord.
This one met Dar'shada at one time, and found him to be a very unique individual. This one would say "cold", but he has met Dar'mhirr (15) and Dar'shada seems like the tropics of Khenarthi's Roost compared to Jo'akora's first cousin twice removed.
No, compared to Dar'mhirr, Dar'shada is not cold. More, he is business-like, with his occupation as the foremost concern of his. Though J'zargo can relate by desiring to be Arch-mage, he realizes that even the capable Jo'akora didn't rise as quickly through the ranks as quickly as Dar'shada, who knew no other life.
I concur with what J'zargo (23) just wrote. Dar'shada is indeed very business-like, way less cold that Dar'mhirr. But Dar'mhirr has reason for being so cold, as does Dar'shada I suppose. But Dar'mhirr has a much different personality and one is not allowed the liberty of love and feeling if they are a vampire-hunter, for the vampires feel none either.
Dar'shada proves himself, time and time again, to be the most capable of assassins. Though, sadly for Ma'jyrr, Dar'shada stubbornly refuses to join the Renrijra Krin and, as a matter of fact, once called the guards upon her when she made an offer. That didn't please the Smiling Beheader, my sister. But that's a different story, maybe for a companion volume.
Dar'shada is a fierceful companion. Watch your interaction with others, for every contract in the Dark Brotherhood comes into Dar'shada's lap at sometime. You never know when he may appear.