Heriotza's Hand
Heriotza's Hand is an underground gang in Capital City, who act in the name of Heriotza, the ancient Lich King which helped emperor Eradin Rhufein control many lands. The Lich was weakened by Bondarion Ortharn using his sword Hemlock and then banished by the wizard Caleb of Halent. The members of Heriotza's Hand are looking for a way to resurrect Heriotza so they might take control once more of the powerful Lich.
The leader of Heriotza's Hand is former emperor Artvald I, the Flaming Breath. After he defeated Zoron, The Red Fury, he was banished in the underground regions of the city, completely crippled. He was able to attach himself to a machine which kept him alive. He has been plotting to come back to his full power and reclaim his place as Emperor.
The Heriotza's Hand is known to be involved in the drug activity in Capital City. The members of the guild are great alchemists and create many stimulants which can enhance the powers of people but also give them a high. They control the drug underworld from where they are situated.
The guild is located underneath the city, in the ruins of Olvathin. As time past away, the elven buildings were demolished or put underground. This created a whole network under the city. The underground is however a territory of conflict. The Eternal Sun is also has its base underground and the two guilds are continuously trying to get more territory for its guild. Since the Eternal Sun also has locations in Capital City itself, Heriotza's Hand has the most underground territory.
Structure
As with many guilds no one really knows who the master of the Guild really is. Artvald I, the Flaming Breath is the leader of this guild, also known as the Alchemist.
Since Artvald I needs a machine to survive, he doesn't have a lot of mobility. Because of this, he needs other people to lead for him as well. These are the Sanguines. This little group directly serve Artvald I. This group achieves the highest honour those in the Heriotza's Hand get: the power of the Vampire. The Vampire Lord Darius Von Hisen grants the members of the Sanguines the power of the night to those worthy. This way they achieve immortality. Artvald I himself cannot be transformed into a Vampire since his body was too broken to resurrect. Only the machine can keep him alive.
The Sanguines are protected by the Blood Warriors, led by Thuulminhir. These are the ancient Balaur who served Artvald I during his reign as Emperor and now serve him as vampiric minions, ready to do their masters bidding.
Underneath the Sanguines, we have the Beldam, which is led by Katrina Bloodsong. These are extremely capable alchemists who create most of the drugs, the Heriotza's Hand distribute. These have multiple workshop locations in Capital City and every workshop is lead by a Beldam. The workers of such a workshop are Alchemists. These are the producers of the Heriotza's Hand. They mass produce the product.
The product is then traded by the Cartel, which is led by Dromm Headstrong. These are members of society who sell the drugs of Heriotza's Hand to the common people. Members come from every level of society. Beggars to bourgeoisie can all become members of the Cartel. No one knows how many people are a part of this group.
The Heriotza's Hand also needs protection and for this they have the Initiates, which is led by Ren Redmoon. These are people who are in on the goal of the Heriotza's Hand. Their goal isn't the distribution of drugs and gold, but of finding the remains of the Lich King Heriotza. They also help out when there is a snitch in the organisation.
Culture
For most members of the Heriotza's Hand, they see Capital City as a cancer. The rich are benefiting of everyone and the poor have to scrape by. Emperor Elgast Rhufein II is seen as an incapable person and many members of Heriotza's Hand openly insult or denigrate the Emperor. Because of this, they don't like the presence of the Rhufein Empire and will never tell them anything if they ask.
Members will also protect those who are running away from the Empire, trying to get them to join their ranks. In this way, they function the same way as House Thefiel.
Public Agenda
The Heriotza's Hand is a shadow in Capital City. Many people know of the guild, but not many know how to contact them. In some way the Heriotza's Hand knows when you need a fix and confronts you with it. You can find members in shady taverns and clubs, dealing the merchandise. The soldiers of the Rhufein Empire are wary of these areas and thus avoid them as much as possible. Because of this some areas of Capital City are known for their crime and the inaction of the guards spark unlawfulness. The Empire however continues to try and reclaim these areas.
Most know the Heriotza's Hand as the drug fix. Many people are addicted to the product that the Heriotza's Hand makes. When people don't pay up, they can be stalked by the Cartel so that they pay up. What happens with the money is a mystery to everyone, except the Sanguines.
Assets
The guild has most of the underground ruins to itself. They have to share some spaces with the Eternal Sun, which can lead to conflict at times. But for the most part the Eternal Sun and the Heriotza's Hand contribute to each other.
They also have multiple areas in the city where their influence is strong. This is mostly near workshops where Alchemists are creating the product. These areas are known for their criminal activity. But you can find the product in nearly every club in the city. Some say even the guards have been seen doing it.
There are multiple drugs the Heriotza's Hand makes, all with their own capabilities. Runner is a drug known to make the user faster and increases its mobility. RTP is known as a great hallucinogen. Their greatest drug is Compound H, which is a drug that can give the user special abilities.
History
The Heriotza's Hand waas founded by Artvald I, the Flaming Breath. When he banished Zoron, The Red Fury, he himself was also banished. He found himself in the deep underground Elven ruins of Olvathin, where the Humans built over when the Empire was founded. His body was almost completely destroyed and under the great city he was left to die.
He was found however by the vampire Darius Von Hisen, who was able to save his life by creating a machine which continuously transfers his blood out of his body and transfers new blood in. Vampire blood in order fro Artvald I to stay alive forever, but continuously bound to the machine. Without it, he would die. Sometimes the blood needs to be changed and then a murder spree might be caused in the city. People would disappear.
For centuries Artvald I tried to regain his strength, continuously searching for a way to take away the machine, so he could rise again as Emperor like a phoenix from its ashes. His band of Balaur soldiers, who saw him as the Dragon King, joined him in the underground ruins, after looking for him. Together with them, he started the Heriotza's Hand, named after the Lich King which secured the place of the Empire in this world. Their quest was to find the remains of the Lich King and maybe they would be able to transfer that power to him. That way Artvald I could potentially live forever.
Slowly, but surely the Heriotza's Hand started to grow. Inner circles and hierarchies started to form. And the identity of Artvald I became obscure. No one knew who led the Heriotza's Hand. But that didn't matter because the product that they were able to put out, made a lot of people rich. That this is just a fraudulent set up for something greater, no one seems to notice.
Type
Illicit, Cartel
Location
Manufactured Items
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