Aaaah, the Assassins' Guild. Quite possibly the most interesting, and certainly the "coolest," to use a Roundworld term, Guild in Ankh-Morpork. It is unsurprising that Lord Vetinari graduated from an academy which makes the School of Hard Knocks look like a sandpit (The Fifth Elephant)
Although Lord Vetinari never handled a weapon with dangerous intent in one of the Discworld books until The Truth, it has always been known that he was a remarkably dangerous man. He just preferred politics to physical violence. However, consider for a moment the degrees he holds. Lord Vetinari's listing in the Assassin's Guild Yearbook and Diary is: as follows:
Provost of Assassins: Havelock, Lord Vetinari, DMAP, DM, DGS, MA, MPE, MASc, MIDD, BScI, DiPE.
Those degrees are:
- Doctor of Medicine and Applied Pathology
- Doctor of Music
- Doctor of Gods' Studies
- Master Assassin
- Master of Political Expediency
- Master of Alchemical Science
- Member of the Institute of Dance and Deportment
- Pachelor of Political Expediency
- Diploma of Physical Education
The events in The Truth established his Lordship's speed and comfort in handling weapons once and for all. He is noted in the Assassins' Guild Yearbook and Diary as being "a formidable opponent" and most of the assassins who have tried to collect the AM$1m price of his commission have never been heard from since.
I sincerely hope that future books elaborate on these talents.
