The Gilded Hand

The Gilded Hand is a cabal of powerful people of the noble class, including politicians, guild masters, generals, and mages. They are believed to have a small army of assassins and thieves to do their bidding, and have many other organizations such as the Almsmen in their back pocket. Together they operate clandestinely to sway the political scene of Galledall in their own and their member's favor, even if that ultimately means betraying the nations each member comes from.

Very little is known about the Gilded Hand, as their members diligently keep a low profile and cover their tracks to hide their activity. Some evidence suggest that the group initially formed some time during the 2000s P.C. However the group would go undetected for two more centuries until the betrayal of Count Bernard Claire, a Charmontine nobleman, in 2265. Claire had been stealing diplomatic and trade documents from the Hadaran Empire and leaking them. Though the Hadaran Empire initially though they were going back to Charmonte, further investigation lead them to the first confirmed reports of the Gilded Hand, as Claire had been writing notes to this group, simply signed with the sigil of a hand in golden paint. Interogation of Claire proved useless, and he was beheaded shortly after for treason.

The Gilded Hand would not make another appearance for another 82 years, after which a Dwarven Clan Leader, Millin Ambershade, was exposed by other members of his guild. Reportedly he had been embezzling funds from their hoard, as well as selling trade secrets away from both his own clan and his kinsmen's clans. After investigating, the hoard Clan Ambershade watched over in the city of Mal Thrandor was not only low on gold, but totally empty. Millin Ambershade was later found dead in his quarters, with an empty poison vial lying next to his dying body. Though it is not known why he betrayed his clan, it resulted in it being dismissed, and his descendants exiled. Once again, notes tying Ambershade to this mysterious organization were found scattered among his belongings. Since then, several more individuals have been tied back to the organization, with each one being more surprising than the last. Agents of the Gilded hand range all the way from being discovered as high ranking priests in Shiminore to some of the more powerful pirate captains of the Red Fleet

Perhaps the most concerning event is that of Grand Magistrate Luis Arand, who was elected Grand Magistrate for the Republic of Viltanor in 6 A.o.R. and had been reelected in 8 and 10 A.o.R. During that time, some of those who worked with Arand noticed some strange gaps in his schedule and habits, ones that he could not account for. Eventually one of the officers in the Republic guard took it upon themselves to snoop around and found the same types of letters, connecting him to the Gilded Hand. Charges were brought up against Arand, who denied the allegations stating he had been framed. However, all the evidence pointed to him being guilty. Before a full trial could be arranged though, the terms were dropped, with the accusing submitting a full apology letter before the individual disappeared. Arand would go on to fulfill his term, completing an accomplished political career by the end of 12. A.o.R. Should he have been a member, all the evidence was still not enough to bring him to justice. The extent of the damage he may have caused is unknown.

Many wonder how powerful and influential the Gilded Hand really is, as it has yet to do anything in the open that anyone knows of. Some think they actively worked to start the War of the Warlocks, the Zelyrian War, and other smaller scale conflicts. Among the group of people who are believed to have been members without a doubt is a mountain of unknowns, with other guild leaders, small time lords, and mages being among them. Little is known about their long term motive, where they are based, what their core nations are, and who their leader is.