Assassins, Bounty Hunters, and Sell-swords

[Philip Overby]

I've always been interested in these type of characters. Those who are paid for either killing, hunting, or fighting. Who have no allegiance really except to whoever gives them the most money. Who are some of your favorite characters such as these?

Including vampire hunters, witch hunters, and the like.

 

[Kelise]

Fitz, in Robin Hobb's 'The Farseer Trilogy' and 'The Tawny Man Trilogy'.

Oh, except I guess he has allegiance. Drat. Either way, he's still my favourite assassin.

 

[Reaver]

Jango & Boba Fett. Oh, wait...I guess technically they're one character.

 

[SlimShady]

Bronn and Geralt of Rivia.

 

[Elder the Dwarf]

Artemis Entreri and Jarlaxle are probably my favorite; they are from the Drizz't books by R.A. Salvatore, and Jarlaxle may be the most intriguing character I've ever read about. Everything about him is interesting. They went on to have their own series, entitled Sellswords.

Raistlin and Caramon Majere from Dragonlance were mercenaries, if only for one or two books.

Waylander from Gemmel's books Waylander and In the Realm of the Wolf (there's one more, but I can't remember it) is pretty badass as well.

 

[Reaver]

Elder the Dwarf is one of my favorite mercs. Did you see his guest appearance in that one movie? He's awesome!

 

[Janga]

Bronn from the ASoIaF series and of course Fitz from the Farseer trilogy.

 

[Phoenix]

Guts from the Berserk series, Bronn from A Game of Thrones, Boba and Jango Fett from Star Wars, Van Hellsing from Van Hellsing, and Predator from Predator. And my favorite duo bounty hunters Royce and Hardian from the Theft of Swords.

 

[trix]

Bronn from the ASoIaF series and of course Fitz from the Farseer trilogy.

I agree, Bronn is definitely the man.

 

[Philip Overby]

I love me some Bronn as well. I also love the casting of him in TV show. Pretty much perfect.

As for some of mine, I'll list them like so:

Assassin: Szeth-son-son-Vallano from a Way of Kings by Brandon Sanderson. An awesome character as far as I'm concerned. Has a great introduction as well.

Bounty Hunter: The Man with No Name as portrayed by Clint Eastwood. Also Boba Fett for piquing my curiosity on mysterious guys with jet-packs.

Vampire Hunter: Vampire Hunter D from the manga and books. The Buffy TV show was a favorite of mine for a while too.

Sell-swords: Probably Bronn from ASoFaI and Guts (Gatsu) from Berserk is also a favorite. Also Conan was a sort of sell-sword on some occasions and he's one of my favorite characters of all time. Pretty sure Fafrd and the Grey Mouser were mercs of some sort as well, and they're pretty cool too (from Fritz Lieber's series.)

I'll have to check out the Farseer Trilogy again. I've tried to read it several times and just couldn't get past the first part.

 

[Benjamin Clayborne]

Yeah, I'm gonna have to hop on the Bronn train. He's a little hairier in the show than I envisioned.

 

[Reaver]

Yeah, I'm gonna have to hop on the Bronn train. He's a little hairier in the show than I envisioned.

There's just so many things wrong with this statement that I don't even know where to begin...

On a different note, a few friends recommended a movie that apparently came out quite a while ago. It's called Sling Blade. I never saw it, but he sounds like a pretty wicked assassin to me.

 

[Legendary Sidekick]

You never saw "Sling Blade?"

Rever's Things-to-Do List

1. See "Sling Blade."
2. Fill the rest of this list later.

It's not what you think it is... it's better.

 

[Reaver]

You never saw "Sling Blade?"

Rever's Things-to-Do List

1. See "Sling Blade."
2. Fill the rest of this list later.

It's not what you think it is... it's better.

Umm...who in the name of THE ANDROID'S SHINING RED FEATHER is REVER?

 

[Elder the Dwarf]

Elder the Dwarf is one of my favorite mercs. Did you see his guest appearance in that one movie? He's awesome!

I'll kill anything for some coin! Except the durned elves. I kill them for free.

 

[Caged Maiden]

I have a question relating to this thread. I have never subscribed to the belief that a character; assassin, mercenary or otherwise, is only motivated by money. I always envisioned that they were men of talent, jacks-of-all-trades who found success in a field where competition was high and the stakes higher.

Could anyone elaborate on exactly what makes these men so memorable? I haven't read these particular books, though I have read Salvatore's Cleric Quintet, which I liked very much.

 

[Elder the Dwarf]

I'm not sure if you're asking about mercenaries in general or these specific characters. As far as mercenaries in genetal go, though, I think they are extremely interesting. When I read about them I constantly wonder whether this is jus a shallow, selfish man or whether there are deeper motives to every thing they do. Mercenaries run the gamut from nobles in debt to peasant trying to move up in society to power seekers looking to make major moves and shake the political structure up. The better question is what about them isn't interesting?

 

[Reaver]

I'm not sure if you're asking about mercenaries in general or these specific characters. As far as mercenaries in genetal...

Heh-heh...genetal.

You kick ass, Elder!

 

[Elder the Dwarf]

I would edit it, but its waaaaay too funny. Thanks for pointing that out.

 

[Caged Maiden]

Yeah, I have written several assassins, spies and mercenaries, and I sort of gave them each their own motivations, but they are deep characters with complicated histories and lives I was specifically asking what made the aforementioned characters so memorable, because I haven't read the books mentioned. Since so many people were in agreement over those particular characters' awesomeness, I just wondered why.