The Black Hand
The black hand is a guild of thieves, assassins, and others whose livelihood is based on less than legal means. They are the largest Thieves Guild on Nor and span Eastern and Western Aranthar. The control most of the underground in Eroth and Condor and even Emic. Seaport and Syr they are contested with the Red Daggers.
Structure
The lowest rung of the ladder are known as agents. These are people who report to guild members, but have not quite proved themselves enough to be in the guild. Local Gang leaders, small time thugs, questionable Business owners may all be agents. Agents usually have the protection of the guild-member they are working for, but have no rights in the organization. They often ask favors from those they report to and pay off the debt by working for the guildmember.
Guild-members are a step up from agents, and make up the lowest membership. One an agent has been elevated to guildmember, there is no going back. He is also given a tattoo that most law authorities will recognize easily, tying him even more firmly to the organization's protection. There are several benefits of being a member. Members have access to resources and information that agents have to bargain for. They have some limited protection from the law in places where the Black Hand has influence over local law enforcement. They also have the protection of the guild. If a guildmember is killed by someone not in the guild, you can be sure there will be retaliation.
Over a guildmember is a captain. A captain is usually in charge of either a small area, in which case he is in charge of all that goes on there, or he is in charge or a larger area, but one aspect. An Example is that a captain can be in charge of the Docks section of Torf. Or he can be in charge of all the brothels on the east side of the city. Captains can name lieutenants, but these members are more of assistants then leaders in their own right. Lieutenants do not control any members, but act as enforcers, or advisors to captains. While regular guildmember do not report to them, they are usually respected, as they often have the full confidence of the captain they work for.
Over a captain is a Boss. The Boss is in charge of an entire city, or in some cases more than one city. He is usually assisted by an under-boss or "Second". He also usually has several "Bi-guards" or enforcers that do special jobs for him. Like lieutenants, they have no-one reporting to them, but they have great influence, as they work for the boss directly.
Over even the Bosses are chiefs. They are very few of these, and they usually control large areas. It is a chief who meets with the guild-master and helps make decision for the whole guild.
The highest rank is the Guild-master himself. The guild-master is often a former boss, who has taken the old guild-master out somehow. Rarely a chief will elevate to Guild-Master, but most prefer to remain where they are are as their position it not so covetous. The Guild-master often has members of the guild who are not ranked, called his retinue. These may include enforcers, advisors or secret assassins. These men are usually know by name rather than a rank, and are feared by all in the guild. Some say the strength of a guild-master is dependent largely on the skills and the loyalty of his retinue.
Guild-members are a step up from agents, and make up the lowest membership. One an agent has been elevated to guildmember, there is no going back. He is also given a tattoo that most law authorities will recognize easily, tying him even more firmly to the organization's protection. There are several benefits of being a member. Members have access to resources and information that agents have to bargain for. They have some limited protection from the law in places where the Black Hand has influence over local law enforcement. They also have the protection of the guild. If a guildmember is killed by someone not in the guild, you can be sure there will be retaliation.
Over a guildmember is a captain. A captain is usually in charge of either a small area, in which case he is in charge of all that goes on there, or he is in charge or a larger area, but one aspect. An Example is that a captain can be in charge of the Docks section of Torf. Or he can be in charge of all the brothels on the east side of the city. Captains can name lieutenants, but these members are more of assistants then leaders in their own right. Lieutenants do not control any members, but act as enforcers, or advisors to captains. While regular guildmember do not report to them, they are usually respected, as they often have the full confidence of the captain they work for.
Over a captain is a Boss. The Boss is in charge of an entire city, or in some cases more than one city. He is usually assisted by an under-boss or "Second". He also usually has several "Bi-guards" or enforcers that do special jobs for him. Like lieutenants, they have no-one reporting to them, but they have great influence, as they work for the boss directly.
Over even the Bosses are chiefs. They are very few of these, and they usually control large areas. It is a chief who meets with the guild-master and helps make decision for the whole guild.
The highest rank is the Guild-master himself. The guild-master is often a former boss, who has taken the old guild-master out somehow. Rarely a chief will elevate to Guild-Master, but most prefer to remain where they are are as their position it not so covetous. The Guild-master often has members of the guild who are not ranked, called his retinue. These may include enforcers, advisors or secret assassins. These men are usually know by name rather than a rank, and are feared by all in the guild. Some say the strength of a guild-master is dependent largely on the skills and the loyalty of his retinue.
We are not seen nor heard, but we are known.
Type
Guild, Thieves
Notable Members
The World of Nor
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