Laira Darkhold
Well-Known Member
HAND OF THE DARK MASTER
OUT OF CHARACTER INFORMATION
Intent: To codify a group important to Orthus's internal powerbase
Image Credit: (x) | (x) | (x)
Role: Religious Cult
Links:
GENERAL INFORMATION
Group Name: Hand of the Dark Master
Classification: Religious Cult | Inner Court Followers
Headquarters: Nomad Fleet | Rishi Maze
Loyalties: Darth Orthus
Group Sigil:
The Hand, during this act as guards over the Dark Master's inner sanctum, where he recovers and sleeps, watching over his body as protectors. They help him prepare for rituals and act as caretakers, helping to heal him from injuries and recover from feats his body or mind struggle with. However their true purpose is to be his vessel, often known as the Voice of the Dark Master. These five are altered with alchemy and ritualistic preparation to prepare their Ascension. As they are taken and claimed by the Hand, a ritual is preformed that grants them unnatural longevity to increase the fortitude of the vessel which causes them to better resist the effects of aging upon them. Finally, Orthus implants them with a tiny fragment of his presence which binds them to his will and makes his thoughts and desires their own.
This essence is meant to act as an anchor for his spirit which will eventually allow him to possess their bodies, however it must first be cultivated and grown over the course of their life in order to ease the process of their Ascension. Without this anchor it is unlikely that the Dark Master would be able to transfer his essence to them, as it is taxing upon the soul and vessel alike. They believe that when one of them is claimed as the new Voice they are ascending and becoming part of Darth Orthus, that their bond is solidifying and the Voice achieves becoming one with him. Their understanding of the rituals is that they allow him to learn from their life, take control over their bodies, and merge their spirits back into his.
The bond causes them to suffer from several side effects, first that Orthus is able to telepathically direct them and that they can always pinpoint he and his Voice relative to their location at all times. When he is severely injured, enters into proximity of Ysalamiri or void stone, or his Voice dies the entire order suffers form painful migraines, sometimes phantom injuries where he was struck, and sometimes hearing echoes of telepathic messages he is sent. It also provides them with some instinctual aptitude with the Force related to Orthus's own knowledge and skills, though it does not provide them with his control or strength.
This is a well guarded secret, known only to the Five and the Master in order to protect his line of succession. Despite all the preparations, each Vessel's time is finite before their body deteriorates and can no longer act as his Voice. Though the Master lives on, his Voice only lasts so long. To protect this secret, the Hand wear masks and hide their identities with voice modulators so that no one knows who the Hand are. This way when one is taken as a Voice and the apprentice is elevated, it goes largely unnoticed. Very rarely do they speak with anyone outside the Dark Master's inner circle. Even then they are less considered guards as they are attendants and servants, silent and quick to serve the Master's needs.
SOCIAL INFORMATION
Hierarchy: All are equal under the Hand, the Five stand together as one brotherhood united in their service to the Dark Master. They use monikers such as "Brother" and "Sister" when referring to each other, using "Son" and "Daughter" to refer to their apprentice, the one who will eventually replace one of the Five as the cycle continues.
When one is chosen to become the next Voice the Dark Master will take, to carry his spirit within their mortal vessel, they are referred to with the prefix "Next" to indicate the honored position they have been chosen for. Even still, this is merely an honorific title and grants them no authority until the ritual is complete and the Dark Master takes their place in their body.
Membership: Chosen from the Order of Dark Acolytes, the Hand can consist of any species or age, selected sparingly based on an affinity to the Dark Master's essence, indicating a compatibility with him that allows their body to possess his essence.
They are normally taken as children and become an apprentice to the existing Five, all traces of their past erased and all records expunged quietly, and their wills bound to his completely. This apprentice to the Order serves as a squire of sorts, handling menial tasks while the Five split their duties between themselves.
Doctrines: The Hand of the Dark Master are devoted to the protection of Darth Orthus at all costs, even to their own destruction, bound to his will through the dark rituals they are subjected to upon joining the small Order. They keep the Dark Master's secrets, such as the key to his longevity and that they become his Voices, since these truths could endanger him if they were ever discovered.
Protect His secrets, that He might trust you;
Guard His form, that He might persist under your watch;
Strengthen your body, that He might become strong from you;
Enlighten your mind, that He might learn from you;
Develop His spirit within you, that you might become One;
You have been chosen to become Him and take your place in Eternity.
By nature they are very secretive, rarely speaking with others, and then only to the Dark Master's inner circle. They hide their faces at all times and do their best to keep their species a mystery to outsiders.
Curios: The Hand wear ceremonial black cloaks over simple cloth robes and tunics, wear identical masks that distort their voices, and carry War Blades made with echani compression technology on the rare occasion they are forced to fight.
The Order also keeps several Masks identical to the one Darth Orthus wears and a spare Lightsaber he crafted identical to the double bladed one he carries. These are taken up and bestowed upon the "Next" Brother or Sister if his originals are unable to be recovered before the ceremonial Ascension.
Goals: The only goal of the Hand is to ensure that the Master's survival, no matter the cost or sacrifice to themselves. Though bound to his will, they still consider the matter of Ascension to be an honor that indicates they are bonding with the being they have deified spiritually and permanently becoming one with his essence.
MEMBERS
The Hand consists of Five individuals, their former identities unknown, who act as the caretakers and guards of the Dark Master's inner most sanctum. With them is a single apprentice, training alongside them to take one of their places when that Hand ascends.
HISTORICAL INFORMATION
The Hand of the Dark Master's origins are bathed in secrecy and lies. Darth Orthus, the Voss who would eventually become the Dark Master, began his life as a Spy and a Mystic who used his gifts with the Force to subvert those in power in order to fulfill his belief that his actions served the greater good. That the Light could not lead, that those who held the tenants of the Jedi and the Light Side could not make the impossible decisions and sacrifices true leadership required. Instead only darkness and evil could shoulder the burden, and guide others into the light. Orthus took it upon himself to carry on the torch, but such a task couldn't be trusted to future generations. He had the will, the ability, and the knowledge, but could not trust that others would share in his ideals. Instead he set about taking steps to ensure his longevity.
Sith Rituals to provide himself with an unnaturally long life were not enough, such risk was too great. So instead, he took to possessing Voices to act through, to claim new identities with each generation but his spirit required preparations in order to allow him to fully possess a body.
This began the Hand, originally just attendants to help see to his needs, he began picking Force Sensitives he shared a small common bond with, rare to take to one so quickly. He would then implant them with a fragment of himself during their childhood through a ritual so that they would develop a strong anchor for Orthus's spirit to take root. It bound them to his will, made them extensions of himself.
The Voss, already willing to indoctrinate others to serve his purposes, did so with these close confidants as well to solidify their servitude to him through the ages. He convinced them that the act of possessing them would enlighten them, make them reach oneness with the Force through him, and that they would become one with him. That their spirits were fledgling pieces of his own, yearning to return from whence they came.
Now, the Hand acts as his caretakers, watching over his form in his advanced age and helping sustain him through science and wizardry. They guard his inner most sanctum, keep his closest secrets, and prepare his next Voice with each passing generation. To most outsiders, they are simply attendants or servants, cleaning his quarters, preparing his meals, tending his wounds. Few know of their importance to their Master or their link.
OUT OF CHARACTER INFORMATION
Intent: To codify a group important to Orthus's internal powerbase
Image Credit: (x) | (x) | (x)
Role: Religious Cult
Links:
GENERAL INFORMATION
Group Name: Hand of the Dark Master
Classification: Religious Cult | Inner Court Followers
Headquarters: Nomad Fleet | Rishi Maze
Loyalties: Darth Orthus
Group Sigil:
Description: Always Five fingers of the Hand, ensuring the continuation of their master and protecting his most closely guarded secrets. The Hand of the Dark Master consists of five Acolytes chosen by the Dark Master for a shared affinity with him that make them special, rare even among Force Sensitives. Each of these individuals are chosen from any species and as they are taken, their identities and history is purged from the Revenant's records, raised deep in the Inner Sanctum in secret. The Hand, during this act as guards over the Dark Master's inner sanctum, where he recovers and sleeps, watching over his body as protectors. They help him prepare for rituals and act as caretakers, helping to heal him from injuries and recover from feats his body or mind struggle with. However their true purpose is to be his vessel, often known as the Voice of the Dark Master. These five are altered with alchemy and ritualistic preparation to prepare their Ascension. As they are taken and claimed by the Hand, a ritual is preformed that grants them unnatural longevity to increase the fortitude of the vessel which causes them to better resist the effects of aging upon them. Finally, Orthus implants them with a tiny fragment of his presence which binds them to his will and makes his thoughts and desires their own.
This essence is meant to act as an anchor for his spirit which will eventually allow him to possess their bodies, however it must first be cultivated and grown over the course of their life in order to ease the process of their Ascension. Without this anchor it is unlikely that the Dark Master would be able to transfer his essence to them, as it is taxing upon the soul and vessel alike. They believe that when one of them is claimed as the new Voice they are ascending and becoming part of Darth Orthus, that their bond is solidifying and the Voice achieves becoming one with him. Their understanding of the rituals is that they allow him to learn from their life, take control over their bodies, and merge their spirits back into his.
The bond causes them to suffer from several side effects, first that Orthus is able to telepathically direct them and that they can always pinpoint he and his Voice relative to their location at all times. When he is severely injured, enters into proximity of Ysalamiri or void stone, or his Voice dies the entire order suffers form painful migraines, sometimes phantom injuries where he was struck, and sometimes hearing echoes of telepathic messages he is sent. It also provides them with some instinctual aptitude with the Force related to Orthus's own knowledge and skills, though it does not provide them with his control or strength.
This is a well guarded secret, known only to the Five and the Master in order to protect his line of succession. Despite all the preparations, each Vessel's time is finite before their body deteriorates and can no longer act as his Voice. Though the Master lives on, his Voice only lasts so long. To protect this secret, the Hand wear masks and hide their identities with voice modulators so that no one knows who the Hand are. This way when one is taken as a Voice and the apprentice is elevated, it goes largely unnoticed. Very rarely do they speak with anyone outside the Dark Master's inner circle. Even then they are less considered guards as they are attendants and servants, silent and quick to serve the Master's needs.
SOCIAL INFORMATION
Hierarchy: All are equal under the Hand, the Five stand together as one brotherhood united in their service to the Dark Master. They use monikers such as "Brother" and "Sister" when referring to each other, using "Son" and "Daughter" to refer to their apprentice, the one who will eventually replace one of the Five as the cycle continues.
When one is chosen to become the next Voice the Dark Master will take, to carry his spirit within their mortal vessel, they are referred to with the prefix "Next" to indicate the honored position they have been chosen for. Even still, this is merely an honorific title and grants them no authority until the ritual is complete and the Dark Master takes their place in their body.
Membership: Chosen from the Order of Dark Acolytes, the Hand can consist of any species or age, selected sparingly based on an affinity to the Dark Master's essence, indicating a compatibility with him that allows their body to possess his essence.
They are normally taken as children and become an apprentice to the existing Five, all traces of their past erased and all records expunged quietly, and their wills bound to his completely. This apprentice to the Order serves as a squire of sorts, handling menial tasks while the Five split their duties between themselves.
Doctrines: The Hand of the Dark Master are devoted to the protection of Darth Orthus at all costs, even to their own destruction, bound to his will through the dark rituals they are subjected to upon joining the small Order. They keep the Dark Master's secrets, such as the key to his longevity and that they become his Voices, since these truths could endanger him if they were ever discovered.
Protect His secrets, that He might trust you;
Guard His form, that He might persist under your watch;
Strengthen your body, that He might become strong from you;
Enlighten your mind, that He might learn from you;
Develop His spirit within you, that you might become One;
You have been chosen to become Him and take your place in Eternity.
By nature they are very secretive, rarely speaking with others, and then only to the Dark Master's inner circle. They hide their faces at all times and do their best to keep their species a mystery to outsiders.
Curios: The Hand wear ceremonial black cloaks over simple cloth robes and tunics, wear identical masks that distort their voices, and carry War Blades made with echani compression technology on the rare occasion they are forced to fight.
The Order also keeps several Masks identical to the one Darth Orthus wears and a spare Lightsaber he crafted identical to the double bladed one he carries. These are taken up and bestowed upon the "Next" Brother or Sister if his originals are unable to be recovered before the ceremonial Ascension.
Goals: The only goal of the Hand is to ensure that the Master's survival, no matter the cost or sacrifice to themselves. Though bound to his will, they still consider the matter of Ascension to be an honor that indicates they are bonding with the being they have deified spiritually and permanently becoming one with his essence.
MEMBERS
The Hand consists of Five individuals, their former identities unknown, who act as the caretakers and guards of the Dark Master's inner most sanctum. With them is a single apprentice, training alongside them to take one of their places when that Hand ascends.
HISTORICAL INFORMATION
The Hand of the Dark Master's origins are bathed in secrecy and lies. Darth Orthus, the Voss who would eventually become the Dark Master, began his life as a Spy and a Mystic who used his gifts with the Force to subvert those in power in order to fulfill his belief that his actions served the greater good. That the Light could not lead, that those who held the tenants of the Jedi and the Light Side could not make the impossible decisions and sacrifices true leadership required. Instead only darkness and evil could shoulder the burden, and guide others into the light. Orthus took it upon himself to carry on the torch, but such a task couldn't be trusted to future generations. He had the will, the ability, and the knowledge, but could not trust that others would share in his ideals. Instead he set about taking steps to ensure his longevity.
Sith Rituals to provide himself with an unnaturally long life were not enough, such risk was too great. So instead, he took to possessing Voices to act through, to claim new identities with each generation but his spirit required preparations in order to allow him to fully possess a body.
This began the Hand, originally just attendants to help see to his needs, he began picking Force Sensitives he shared a small common bond with, rare to take to one so quickly. He would then implant them with a fragment of himself during their childhood through a ritual so that they would develop a strong anchor for Orthus's spirit to take root. It bound them to his will, made them extensions of himself.
The Voss, already willing to indoctrinate others to serve his purposes, did so with these close confidants as well to solidify their servitude to him through the ages. He convinced them that the act of possessing them would enlighten them, make them reach oneness with the Force through him, and that they would become one with him. That their spirits were fledgling pieces of his own, yearning to return from whence they came.
Now, the Hand acts as his caretakers, watching over his form in his advanced age and helping sustain him through science and wizardry. They guard his inner most sanctum, keep his closest secrets, and prepare his next Voice with each passing generation. To most outsiders, they are simply attendants or servants, cleaning his quarters, preparing his meals, tending his wounds. Few know of their importance to their Master or their link.
