Kyros

Back to Cabal of the Unseen Hand

Kyros “The Shadowed Fang” (Living, Drow)

Role in the Cabal:

Kyros, a ruthless and cunning Drow warlord, leads the *Web of Knives*, a mercenary company and assassins’ guild that dominates the underworld of multiple cities. Kyros is unaware of Durnstang’s larger goal, believing his operations serve only his own ambition to control the surface world and strengthen the influence of the Drow. However, his organisation is a crucial tool for Durnstang’s schemes, though Kyros remains in the dark about his true role.

Background:

Born into one of the powerful Drow houses, Kyros rose to prominence through treachery and lethal skill, leading a coup against his own matron mother and taking control of the house. Instead of remaining in the Underdark, he chose to bring his operations to the surface, founding the Web of Knives—a hybrid mercenary guild and assassins’ network that blends Drow cunning with deadly efficiency. While most surface-dwellers view the Web of Knives as a shadowy underworld force, Kyros envisions himself as a harbinger of Drow supremacy.

Kyros is a master of shadow magic and an expert in using webs—both literal and metaphorical—to entangle his enemies. His appearance is striking: stark white hair and red eyes contrasting with his inky black skin, often adorned with silken robes and a spider-shaped amulet. His voice is soft but commands attention, and few can guess his true intentions behind his calm, calculating demeanor.

Motivation:

Kyros believes the surface world is ripe for conquest and that through strategic assassinations, destabilisation of governments, and the manipulation of information, the Drow can finally re-emerge as a dominant force in the world. He sees himself as the architect of this grand plan, using the Web of Knives to weaken surface powers, further entrenching his house’s influence and laying the groundwork for the eventual resurgence of Drow power. Kyros is utterly oblivious to the fact that his actions—driven by personal ambition and Drow supremacy—are steering the world towards chaos, exactly as Durnstang desires.

Key Task:

The Web of Knives’ operations, including assassinations, sabotage, and espionage, are chipping away at the Weave by weakening societies, particularly those connected to the natural cycles of life and death. Kyros believes he is fulfilling his own desires and expanding Drow power, but in reality, he is a puppet in Durnstang’s grand design, unknowingly aiding in the destabilisation of life’s natural order.

The Web of Knives’ Key Operations:

1. The Assassination of “Life Anchors”: Kyros’ assassins are directed—often through shadowy intermediaries—to eliminate individuals tied to the Weave's preservation. These targets are known to Durnstang's agents as "Life Anchors," individuals whose mere presence in society stabilises the Weave. They include wise leaders, scholars of resurrection magic, druids protecting sacred groves, and clerics who oversee funeral rites. Kyros sees these as high-profile, politically motivated killings meant to create fear and distrust among surface-dwellers, but the true intent is to weaken the structures that bind the Weave.

2. Weaving Shadows of Civil War: The Web of Knives excels at planting the seeds of distrust, inflaming rivalries among noble houses, and igniting rebellion within kingdoms. Kyros focuses on creating internal strife in regions with strong ties to nature or life-based magic, such as verdant kingdoms or forested territories ruled by elves and druids. By subtly fueling civil wars or power struggles, he creates an atmosphere where life is diminished, and the Weave frays under the pressure of large-scale death and destruction. Durnstang benefits from the unraveling of life’s cycles through these conflicts.

3. Undermining Magical Sanctuaries: Kyros has been hired to strike at key magical sanctuaries—locations where the Weave is reinforced through ancient rites, usually led by druids or clerics tied to cycles of life, death, and rebirth. These places, hidden in ancient forests, mountains, or even deep within the Underdark, are safeguarded by magical wards. Kyros believes he’s simply eliminating valuable assets of his enemies or taking out ancient power centers that could threaten his rise, but Durnstang’s agents guide these attacks to strategically disrupt the Weave's anchors.

4. Dark Networks of Espionage and Influence: The Web of Knives runs a vast network of spies, infiltrators, and informants embedded within the courts, guilds, and temples of the surface world. Kyros uses this network to manipulate politics and blackmail influential leaders. While Kyros sees himself as weaving a complex web of influence to slowly destabilise surface kingdoms for the Drow’s eventual benefit, Durnstang's agents ensure that the information gathered by these spies is also used to identify weak points in the Weave. Durnstang’s other agents then exploit these vulnerabilities to further the erosion of life’s stabilising forces.

5. Trafficking of Soul-Bound Relics: The Web of Knives has recently begun acquiring and trafficking powerful magical items tied to the essence of life and death—relics that store souls, artifacts from ancient death cults, and enchanted weapons used by resurrection mages. Kyros believes these items are valuable for their monetary worth or their utility in assassinations, but they are far more dangerous. Many of these relics have been tainted by the necromantic energies of Durnstang’s agents and, when used, they corrupt the Weave itself, feeding more power into Durnstang’s grand plan to break the cycle of mortality.

Kyros’ Unwitting Role in Durnstang’s Plan:

Kyros’ manipulation of the surface world through the Web of Knives is crucial to Durnstang’s larger scheme. By destabilising regions with deep connections to the natural cycles of life and death, assassinating key figures tied to the Weave, and driving societies into civil war, Kyros is contributing to the conditions Durnstang needs to unravel the Weave without ever realising it.

The Web of Knives’ operations, driven by Kyros’ ambition, create chaos in pockets across the world, pushing societies into states of decay and death. This massive death toll and spiritual imbalance weakens the ties that bind life and death together, creating gaps in the Weave that Durnstang can exploit.

Though Kyros believes he is acting for the benefit of the Drow and his own personal gain, his every move is subtly guided by Durnstang’s unseen agents. The very networks of power Kyros builds in the shadows are the same threads that Durnstang is pulling to slowly unravel the fabric of reality.