# The Killers — The World Below character guide > The Killers in The World Below by S. Fowler Wright. **Role:** supporting **Also known as:** Killers **First appearance:** 0013-xiii-the-killers ## Snapshot Ferocious, whistling subterranean raiders who fight with living strangling-cords and thrown javelins, and who are already preparing an attack from beneath the narrator's feet. ## Who they are The smaller Killers are all greed and cunning, obeying archers who signal by whistling through their suckers and who are far more dangerous. Their tactics are intimate and horrible: a living cord that tightens in spasms, a javelin thrown the instant a door cracks open. They turn the narrator's shelter into a trap and force him to discover what he is willing to do to survive. ## Relationships ### [The Dwellers](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_world_below_se/characters/the_dwellers) _rivalry_ The Dwellers and Killers are hostile groups that clash over territory or ideology in the underworld. ### [The Dwellers](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_world_below_se/characters/the_dwellers) _rivalry_ The Dwellers and Killers are hostile groups that clash over territory or ideology in the underworld. ## In the story ### [Book I: The Amphibians](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_world_below_se/chapters/book-i-the-amphibians) Hostile entities encountered during the expedition. ### [VI: The Frog-Mouths](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_world_below_se/chapters/vi-the-frog-mouths) The frog-mouthed creatures are referred to as 'the Killers' in the context of the assault on the arsenal. ### [VII: Capture](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_world_below_se/chapters/vii-capture) The frog-like apes (Killers) are captured by the giant, who eats one alive; their severed head later attacks the narrator. ### [XI: The Problem](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_world_below_se/chapters/xi-the-problem) The Killers are ferocious surface creatures that captured an amphibian and plan to destroy her body at a feast. ### [XIII: The Killers](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_world_below_se/chapters/xiii-the-killers) Described in a vision as worm-pink, tube-mouthed creatures with a giant archer; they brutally hunt and capture a frog-mouthed ape. ### [The Halt](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_world_below_se/chapters/xiv-the-halt) Mentioned as a potential threat from the open country, but not directly encountered. ### [XV: The Plan of Attack](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_world_below_se/chapters/xv-the-plan-of-attack) The Killers are described as 'worm-pink horrors with sucking mouths' that kill continually and enjoy killing. They are the opponents of the expedition, guarding the enclosure where a Leader is held. ### [XVI: The Sentry](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_world_below_se/chapters/xvi-the-sentry) The spy is a member of the Killers, discovered observing the narrator and his companion. ### [XVIII: The Arsenal of the Killers](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_world_below_se/chapters/xviii-the-arsenal-of-the-killers) The Killers are the antagonists, sleeping in their stronghold with suckers protruding from doorways; their arsenal is the focus of the chapter. ### [XIX: The Duel in the Night](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_world_below_se/chapters/xix-the-duel-in-the-night) One Killer attacks the narrator with a living strangling cord and javelins; smaller Killers are described as without intellect, using whistling signals. ### [XX: The Bow](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_world_below_se/chapters/xx-the-bow) The Killers attack the barricaded room but are scattered after the narrator's arrow wounds one of their archers. ### [XXI: The Bat-Wings](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_world_below_se/chapters/xxi-the-bat-wings) Captured the companion's Leader using strangling-cords; keep such cords day and night. ### [XXIII: The Escape](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_world_below_se/chapters/xxiii-the-escape) Attack the arsenal with arrows and javelins; the narrator wounds one; they use ricochet tactics. ### [XXIV: The Fight in the Arsenal](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_world_below_se/chapters/xxiv-the-fight-in-the-arsenal) Preparing an attack from beneath the floor, they are heard moving and their yellow heads are seen overhead. ### [XXV: The Forbidden Thing](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_world_below_se/chapters/xxv-the-forbidden-thing) Observed as a silent pink crescent standing outside the inner wall, and lizards flee through the open gate as the fire spreads. ### [XXVI: The Trial](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_world_below_se/chapters/xxvi-the-trial) The Killers are present but appalled by the fire and seem too stunned to act; the narrator fears they may regain fury. ### [XXVIII: The Fate of the Killers](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_world_below_se/chapters/xxviii-the-fate-of-the-killers) Panic and scatter as the Dwellers arrive; most are captured, drained of blood, and thrown into a boiling tank; a few are selected for a new colony. ### [Book II: The World Below](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_world_below_se/chapters/book-ii-the-world-below) The killers are involved in the assault on the arsenal and the conflict in this world. ### [I: Counsel](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_world_below_se/chapters/i-counsel) The Killers are mentioned as victims whose juice was squeezed from their living bodies by the Bat-wings, a memory that haunts the narrator. ### [II: The Unknown Way](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_world_below_se/chapters/ii-the-unknown-way) The Killers' food is deemed unsuitable for the narrator, and their presence is referenced in the context of the earlier fight. ### [III: The Peril of the Lake](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_world_below_se/chapters/iii-the-peril-of-the-lake) Referenced in the context of the Forbidden Thing and the Dwellers' possible blame for using fire. ### [XIV: Love and War](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_world_below_se/chapters/xiv-love-and-war) The wounded woman reports bringing down eight of the Killers on the Grey Beaches. ## Links - HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_world_below_se/characters/the_killers - Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_world_below_se - All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_world_below_se/characters