Difference between revisions of "Of the White Hand"

Revision as of 20:06, 24 April 2019

Of the White Hand is a book by Herod Tuson. It can be found in the Royal Library in Empo Sar.

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Of the White Hand
by Herod Tuson

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The Protectors of the Light and Followers of the 
White Hand 

The Protectors of the Light and Followers the White Hand, or commonly known as the White Hand, is an organization founded by Lothair de Payens, an Lionelian noble, in 30 CA. The White Hand was originally founded to aid the poor and helpless in a world that still remembered the touch of the Dark Lord and that was scorched by war and misery. The order's task was to aim those who still "walked in the light" and to secure the main roads between Lionel (a region which would later become known as the Lionel Plains), Cendian, Leithe Falum and Dal-Eran (the main human cities at the time). The White Hand had its main seat in Lionel, but that has changed several times throughout the years. Today the White Hand has their seat in Uluthiane, where they have effectively now taken over what there is to rule. 

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The Name 

During the War Against the Shadow the terms "the White Hand" and "the Black Hand" was often used for the Creators and the Dark Lord respectively. In the beginning they were tightly connected to the Holy Church of Ternarius which at the time had its High Seat in Dal-Eran and were often used as the Patriarch's private army. And as the Church of Ternarius often was thought of as a synonym for the Light the "Protectors of the Light and Followers of the White Hand" made much more sense during its founding than today. 

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Early History (30-117) 

The White Hand was founded by Lothair de Payens, Klaas de Payens and Haran Pan'draan in the city of Dal-Eran. Lothair and Klaas were brothers of noble heritage from Lionel, and Haran was a minor noble from Cendian. They were all veterans from the Shadow War, and after the defeat of Phobos they hadn't seen the changes they had hoped for. The world was still torn by war, but this time between men themselves. The world outside the city walls were dangerous, and borders and loyalties changed on a weekly basis. The three war veterans decided to do something about what they saw, and they formed the White Hand. The White Hand first started out as a simple hospital where they helped everyone who needed help, but quickly they began trying to secure the roads around Dal-Eran. Their ties to the Holy Church were also quickly tightened, and by the and of the 50's the White Hand was widely known, not only for their tight connections to the Holy Church, but also as the protectors of those in need. As their numbers grew it was decided to secure the main roads between the four major cities of Dal-Eran, Cendian, Leithe Falum and Erellor. And in 88 all major factions on Aerath had signed a treaty not to harm anyone travelling on the main roads. The White Hand also built small outposts along the roads with a small garrison of White Hand soldiers. Unfortunately Lothair died in 67, Haran in 69 and Klaas as late as 89. In the early 100's all of the original White Hands had died, and a new generation of

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White Hands was ready to take over the organization.

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110-490 

The Treaty of 88 was later broken in 95, and the White Hand suffered what was considered a great insult in this. As the wars reached new heights of terror, many members left the organization. Since its foundation the White Hand have moved their Head Quarters no less than 8 times: Dal-Eran (30), Cendian (54), Lionel (69), Abon (89), Faer'el'daran (94), Wirafal (98), Soralar (112) and Kraan (131) have all had the chance to house the White Hand. By the end of the 130s the last of the wars ended, and a period of peace emerged. The White Hand moved to Kraan in 131 as it was at the time the only gathering of people that could be called a city at the time after the fall of Soralar. And as many of the founders of Kraan had a background in the White Hand they were more than welcome to settle in the new city. The organization would thrive in Kraan and they mostly went away from being a militaristic organization to focus on helping those in need. Running mostly hospitals, orphanages and schools for the poor. In the 450's the focus changed once again, it was Garalan Tokura, one of the mightiest nobles in Kraan, who wanted to form his own little army. He's goal was to take over the Emposian throne from the weakened Baerin line from Empo Sar. He never got the throne himself, but in 490 his son, Tiratoris, was crowned king of Emposia. And as he moved to Empo Sar he brought his White Hands with him. 

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Emposia (490-957)

The White Hand survived the fall of the Tokuran line and thrived in Empo Sar. They were however expelled from Emposia in 957 after a long struggle with the monarchs of Emposia. 

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Uluthiane (957-) 

In 957 Uluthiane was once again in a struggle with its mighty neighbor, the Dwarven Empire. After three years of back and forth, it seemed that they would not be able to withstand the dwarven armies. The White Hand had been expelled from Empo Sar after some very nasty accusations. Spokesman Harold Chapler sent a messenger to Grand Master Lothan do Heryas with a proposition that said the White Hand could build up their new Head Quarters in Uluthiane if they were able to fend of the dwarves. And only two years later, in 959, a truce was made after a crushing victory for the White Hand. The White Hand started building the White Fortress outside Uluthiane in 960, and by 965 the city had grown up around the White Fortress. Slowly the White Hand managed to place their own men inside the Council of Merchants, the House of Nobles, and the Senate. Bit for bit the White Hand grasped all the power it could leaving only a few tiny tears of power in the hands of the Senate. The House of Nobles were by 985 practically stripped of all their powers, only having a ceremonial position, and the same happened to the Council of Merchants by 988 and the Senate by 996. Today the Grand Master of the White Hand has about the some position as a King in any other kingdom.