Hands of the wind
A group of goblinoids who revere a voice they hear in the wind.
Public Agenda
The hands exist to serve the wind and keep the valley safe. Those in the know are aware that the exact nature of what the wind wants can be directed for a fee.
History
In the east of the Savage Lands is a valley carved by ice. The walls of the valley are pierced with holes and there are strange stone shapes on the valley floor as a result of a battle fought between spellcasters during the first age. As the wind sweeps through the valley it almost seems to be whispering in a multitude of voices. The valley is surprisingly warm and stays relatively free from frost for most of the year.
A hobgoblin named Mafack, who had been driven out of his warband, found the valley while fleeing his pursuers. After hiding in a cave for several days he became convinced that there were words in the wind and that the voice was telling him to kill the leader of his former warband, by any means necessary. Believing this to be a instruction from some unknown deity, Mafack snuck back to his former warband and assassinated his former commander. He then went back to the valley to hear what else the voice would say.
It seemed to him that the voice wanted him to build a settlement in the valley and build a small group of worshippers. Mafack carefully went out recruiting to achieve this goal, tempting those who were dissatisfied with their current lot with promises of easier living and a new deity who provided warmth and comfort. Mafack served as this deity's prophet, interpreting the whispers and leading the faithful.
At the start very few truly believed in the wind as many of it's commands seemed to just be what Mafack wanted to happen, but since he didn't abuse his authority no-one really minded. That changed when one of the warbands that had lost some soldiers to Mafack came to attack the valley. Mafack was talking with the other leaders of the group when the wind picked up and everyone could hear a faint whisper, congratulating Mafack on his success and offering a plan to defeat the approaching warband. When the plan worked, Mafack found his followers had become as convinced as he was of the truth of the wind.
Following their success the voice spoke again and told them what they must do to continue to keep it's favour. The group were to become killers in the shadows, and dedicate themselves to removing anyone the voice deemed a threat. If this was done the voice promised to protect them and would continue to ensure the valley stayed warm. It also cautioned them against damaging the valley or moving any of the stones on the valley floor.
The group took the name, The Hands of the Wind, and worked hard to perfect their craft. The voice spoke infrequently and in an effort to gain more practice in killing the leaders of the group found contacts throughout the hobgoblin domains who would pass them names of those who wished someone removed. The hands have proved useful to several aspiring warlords, and since the hands have made it clear that any attack on their value will invite reprisals at the highest levels they are generally left alone.
Only the wind knows
Type
Religious, Cult
Location
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