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The Royal Spy Service, also called the Shadow Service, was founded by Myles of Olau, George of Pirate's Swoop, and Evin Larse after the accession of Jonathan IV of Conté to the throne of Tortall.

Stratification[]

The Shadow Service is headed by the Chancellor of Information and his second-in-command, the Deputy. Directly below the Deputy Chancellor are the chiefs of the Shadow Service: Chief Falcon, Chief Harvester, Chief of Nursemaids, and Chief of Hostlers. Directly below the chiefs are the Deputies to the Chief Falcon, Chief of Nursemaids, and Chief of Hostlers. Below the Deputy Chiefs are the Harvesters outside of Tortall. Next are the Nursemaids, who oversee Sparrows and Hostlers (Hostlers oversee their own trainees). At the bottom of the organization are the Nurselings.[1]

Members[]

Command[]

Stationed in Tortall[]

  • Nurseling Birdsong - codename of Alianne of Pirate's Swoop, age 12
  • Hostler Low Tide - collected report on Musenda Ogunsanwo in 443 HE
  • Hostler Onua - Onua Chamtong, horse-mistress for the Queen's Riders, no known codename
  • Sparrow Ghost - contributed to report on Kuni Yoro in 457 HE
  • Hostler Spear - assigned to the Royal Grand Progress
  • Singing Man - a recipient of the Kuni Yoro report
  • Hostler Veery - handler of Nurseling "Capriole"
  • Trainee Capriole - codename of Uline of Hannalof
  • Agent Bluebird - unknown Shadow rank
  • Sparrow Hearth - collected report on Hobart Cusyner in 441 HE
  • Nursemaid Beehive - Harvester of Sparrow "Hearth"
  • Harvester Scalzin - stationed at Fort Mastiff in 459 HE
  • Hostler Irhad - assigned to the Drell Hills centaurs in 450 HE
  • Hostler Slowbrook - stationed in the Royal Forest in 450 HE
  • Harvester Crossways - stationed in the Royal Forest in 450 HE
  • Sparrow Fetlock - intercepted letter from Alan of Pirate's Swoop to Lord Imrah
  • Nursemaid Sweetening - handler of Sparrow "Fetlock"

Stationed Elsewhere[]

  • Rushpipe - formerly stationed in Tusaine, killed by George and Alianne in Pearlmouth, on April 21, 459 HE
  • Harvest Spider - stationed in Rachia, Sarain in 439 HE
  • Hostler Bifu - stationed in the Yamani Islands in 457 HE
  • Sparrow Mus - stationed in Kaaber, Scanra in 459 HE

Known Owls[]

Known Magpies[]

Service Ranks[]

  • Nurselings - future Sparrows and Hostlers who are still in training with Nursemaids[2]
  • Sparrows - Nurselings who have passed their testing, and are set to gathering intelligence, writing reports, passing on coded messages, and dealing with Magpies[3]
  • Hostlers - agents who tack people, cultivate Magpies and Defectors,[3] travel covertly and conduct interrogations. Hostlers, when necessary to perform their jobs, may pick pockets, commit robbery, sabotage, assault, or murder. There are very few hostlers in the Shadow Service.[4]
  • Nursemaids - former Sparrows or Hostlers who train Nurselings, gather reports from and pass on orders to Sparrows and Hostlers under them, and develop and compile intelligence. Nursemaids and their Nurselings are stationed in Corus at the Nursery until their Nurselings are ready to train in the field.[4][5]
  • Harvesters - senior Sparrows, Hostlers, or Nursemaids who are charged with gathering information from other Nursemaids and ensuring it is safely delivered to Corus. Harvesters also pass on information to Nursemaids and are often diplomats (e.g. ambassadors), parts of caravans or ships' crews, traveling priests, or Players. Harvesters do not develop intelligences, they only appraise and rate it and deliver it to Corus.[5][6]
  • Falcons - in charge of Shadow Service operations and intelligence in a territory, inside and outside of Tortall. Falcons collect all reports from Harvesters, arrange meetings with Sparrows and Hostlers, have lawful covers, and pass on orders and information to others in the Service.[6]
  • Owls - civilians with magic, special knowledge, or research not available in libraries, who are happy to lend a hand to agents in the Shadow Service. Owls can be mages, traveling merchants, Players, immortals, or Gifted animals.[7]
  • Magpies - informants[3]
  • Defectors - traitors to other nations[3]

Notes and references[]

  1. Tortall: A Spy's Guide, pg. 41
  2. Tortall: A Spy's Guide, pg. 42
  3. 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 Tortall: A Spy's Guide, pg. 43
  4. 4.0 4.1 Tortall: A Spy's Guide, pg. 44
  5. 5.0 5.1 Tortall: A Spy's Guide, pg. 45
  6. 6.0 6.1 Tortall: A Spy's Guide, pg. 46
  7. Tortall: A Spy's Guide, pg. 47
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