The Black Hand

Shrouded in rumor and fear, the Black Hand is whispered to be the hidden enforcers of the royal family’s will, operating in the shadows where the light of law cannot reach. Their existence is debated in taverns and courts alike, dismissed by skeptics as mere tales to frighten dissenters. Yet, those who vanish without a trace or are found silenced by methods too precise to be coincidence speak volumes to those who dare to believe. Whether myth or reality, the Black Hand remains an enigma—a phantom force that shapes the kingdom from the unseen edges.

No one knows when the Black Hand first emerged. Some claim they were formed alongside the kingdom itself, a secret blade wielded by monarchs for centuries to eliminate threats before they could fester. Others whisper that they are a relatively recent creation, born in response to growing unrest and the rising strength of The Crimson Rebirth. Whatever the truth, the Black Hand is far more than mere assassins—they are spies, infiltrators, and silencers of those who would endanger the stability of the realm.

While The Vigilant Order enforces the law in the open, the Black Hand ensures the kingdom's survival through any means necessary. They answer only to the highest authority—whether that be the king himself or an unseen force within the palace is a matter of speculation. Some nobles believe the Black Hand operates beyond even royal decree, a self-sustaining force with its own agenda, striking at those who challenge the kingdom’s foundations regardless of loyalty or rank.

There is no known hierarchy within the Black Hand, no titles or ranks publicly acknowledged. To those outside their shadowed world, their organization is unknowable. Yet, patterns can be discerned by those who observe carefully.

It is believed that the Black Hand operates in small, highly specialized cells, each responsible for a specific type of work—elimination, espionage, misinformation, and coercion. Some members are rumored to be deeply embedded in society, living false lives for years, if not decades, before striking when the time is right.