Widely thought to just be a local legend of Arx without many grains of truth to it, rumors of an Assassins' Guild called the Smiling Shadows have persisted for centuries. Most rumors seem to originate in the Lower Boroughs of Arx, spinning tales of men and women able to mold themselves into living shadows invisible save for cheshire-grins that cast glints of white in the darkness. Most nobles are only too happy to take advantage of ludicrous legends by casting doubt on unusual deaths by natural causes and seed rumors that a non-existent organization was responsible, in an attempt to make commoners doubt that a new liege might be completely legitimate. While assassinations assuredly do occur in the ruthless intrigues of the court, most doubt it has anything to do with a fictitious guild of assassins.