The Visagistes is a criminal mercenary group, but unlike the rather ordinary and plentiful mercenary companies that scatter the Yludeli Continent, the Visagistes utilizes a large following of shapeshifters and doppelgangers, as well as spell-casters adept in the ways of illusion magic, to protect and punish. Upon initiation, members are put through rigorous training and interrogation, the Visagistes like to know everything about their members, as leverage. As one works up the ladder of the organization, they are slowly stripped of their identity, so that they may more easily assume alternate versions of themselves. Soon enough, these members forget who they were originally and become known only for their skill and prowess and the gold they can command.
The Visagistes are outlawed in several countries by Vigil due to their deceitful ways, but even that rarely prevents them from operating within those borders. Its members are incredibly adept in deception and stealth, and their pockets are deep to bribe guards if caught. The Visagistesoperates similarly to a thieves’ guild, but transcends cities and nations, although many members also belong to thieves’ guilds, and the two groups often operate in the same pace.
While known as criminals, the Visagistes is not necessarily evil; they offer their services to anyone who will pay. Paranoid kings and other villainous figures make use of the Visagistes’ services to avoid assassination and sniff out disloyalty within their corps. The doppelgangers might take the form of the court mage, top general, or even the ruler himself, in an attempt to gather information. On the other hand, noble ambassadors and good kings are oft the target of evil schemes and plots of assassinations, and employ the Visagistes to root out the traitors.
Because the entire existence of the Visagistes depends heavily on illusion magic and shapeshifting abilities, the Visagistes keeps their secrets under close guard. Lower initiates are taught to deceive using costumes and makeup, rather than magic, not only so that they will be able to disguise themselves if compromised without the means of casting, but also because trust is not something easily earned in the Visagistes, especially with secrets.