ANIMUS—just the name strikes fear into the hearts of princes. Some think them no more than a group of thugs who extort money out of noble families with lurid tales of murder. Others have lost priceless artefacts and sensitive documents, only to have ANIMUS auction them to the highest bidder. A few have found friends and family members dead, despite thick walls and attentive guards, only to hear that ANIMUS claims responsibility.
In truth, ANIMUS is all of these things and none at the same time. Formed by an alliance of the thieves guilds in Venice, Florence, Turin, and Milan, ANIMUS soon started stealing secrets as well as riches. With a range of secrets, a network of runners and riders who can get information from one city to another faster than anyone else, and a tho...