- For the episode of the same name, see League of Assassins.
The League of Assassins is a secret organization of assassins led by Ra's al Ghul. They train their members out of Nanda Parbat. The leader of the League will always assume the title of "Ra's al Ghul" from their predecessor.[1]
Overview
The League was created to hunt down and kill people deemed a danger to society, and has done so for many years, resulting in thousands of people killed. All of its members go through a harsh and bitter training that leaves it's trainees either dead or at the peak of human physical condition, so much that they rarely feel pain itself. They are all trained in the arts of swordsmanship, archery, stealth and killing in both the quickest and most discreetest of methods or to make it painful and last for days. All of it's members also seem very devoted to Ra's as many of them have been seen killing themselves for the league, allowing Ra's to kill them simply for him to train himself and will carry out his orders without question.
The league also has a deep code of honor and those who violate the code are hunted down and killed by Ra's personally. The league also does not allow any of its members to leave unless they want to die and anyone who tries to run away from the league is hunted down and returned, alive or dead, or if they are unreachable and have families, the families are targeted instead. Despite this Ra's took pity on Malcolm Merlyn and allowed him to leave with the understanding that Malcolm would obey their code, suggesting Ra's had a certain fondness for Malcolm. If a killer that draws the league's attention, doesn't claim responsibility and face justice the league targets 50 people a day until that person confesses and faces justice. However those who commit crimes against the league or break it's principles are allowed a trial by combat in a fight against Ra's himself, though most of them seem to be afraid to fight him and choose death upfront. When the trial does take place it is upon a mountain that can only be reached by a long and rigorous climb that some do not even survive. Furthermore all members of the league are given a new name of their choosing to be addressed by. Their only known place of establishment is Nanda Parbat.
The league tends to be very old fashioned in a lot of things, including communication methods, such as invisible ink that is made visible when exposed to a flame and signal messages, and their sense of justice, which includes the aforementioned killing of 50 people a day in retribution for a crime until the person who truly committed the crime was routed out. They also prefer bows and arrow, staffs, and other weapons from medieval times. They do, however use cellphones as a form of communication. They also train their members so they can escape from any prison.
The League's members take new names in the Arabic language; it appears that learning that language may be a requirement of membership, as many League members (even those whose native language is not Arabic) have been shown speaking it.
Each member has his/her signature weapon. During the course of their training members train to master all kinds of weaponry but eventually specialize in one weapon, and that will be the one they will carry with them at all times during their missions. Malcolm's weapon of choice was a bow, along with Nyssa who also carried a bow, Sara a staff, Al-Owal a sword, unknown members a tomahawk, and a wooden stick.
Members are also sent out with a poison that kills the user quickly and painlessly for members to use in the event they are captured to prevent interrogation. They are also very efficient in finding information, even something as faint as rumors of Malcolm Merlyn fathering an illegitimate child, something Malcolm himself wasn't aware of until recently, even though they weren't able to confirm the rumors.
They also have very efficient and fast forms of transportation, having gone from and to Starling City from Asia multiple times in a relatively short period of time.
The League is stated to help people struggling with negative emotions such as anger and help them forge it into something new, meaning at least a few of their members came to the League because they couldn't cope with themselves.
According to Ra's al Ghul, the League adheres to the request of the current Ra's al Ghul, even renouncing killing, if he so chooses.
History
The League of Assassins was founded by the first Ra's al Ghul and has operated in secret for centuries.
Known members
- "Ra's al Ghul" (leader)
- Nyssa al Ghul (second-in-command; Ra's' former heir)
- Maseo Yamashiro (known as Sarab; meaning "Phantom")
- Mesi Natifah (known as Talibah; meaning "Seeker of Knowledge", or "Student")
Former members
- Ra's al Ghul's predecessor (leader; deceased)
- Al-Owal (translated as "The First"; deceased)
- Chase (deceased)
- Sara Lance (known as Ta-er al-Sahfer; meaning "The Canary"; deceased)
- Malcolm Merlyn (known as Al Sa-Her; meaning "The Magician")
- Unnamed (sentry)
Desired members
- Oliver Queen/The Arrow (the next Ra's al Ghul)
Appearances
Arrow
Season 2
- "City of Heroes" (Sara Lance only)
- "Broken Dolls"
- "Crucible" (Sara only)
- "League of Assassins"
- "Heir to the Demon"
- "Unthinkable"
Season 3
- "The Calm" (Sara only)
- "Corto Maltese" (Nyssa only)
- "The Magician"
- "The Climb"
- "Left Behind" (Maseo only)
- "Midnight City"
- "Uprising"
- "Canaries" (Chase only)
- "Nanda Parbat"
- "The Offer"
Trivia
- This is the second live-action adaptation of the League of Assassins, though the first time by its DC comic book name rather than the alternative name "League of Shadows".