Hand of Darkness

[Duraza]

"The words of the Cult have been scattered around the lands of humans. Our teachings of the four essential virtues of Shadow have been given to the populace. They now know of the Cult but such knowledge will not last.

A great seed of darkness was planted on those foreign soils, a seed that was Respectful and laid deeper than any other to avoid their wrath. That was tenacious and took whatever moisture and nutrients were left, feeding on the scraps to grow strong. That then sprouted and grew powerful, rising up from the ground as a black flower of void. And then, the flower mastered death itself, ascended it and joined the darkness.

Undoubtedly Light will see that Darkness, and where Light comes Darkness shatters. However, the ascended do not fear death, the shattered pieces still able to come together and fix a puzzle. Shadow will remain and it is shadow that they will come to fear.

Then, when the time comes, a time that we have already seen and foretold, there will not simply be words of the Cult, not merely the image of our likeness. When the time comes the Voice of the Cult will speak the words, will embody itself on their lands. And those scattered shadows will reunite as Light fades away and Darkness comes."



Hand of Darkness

It is the hand of the Forsaken that reaches forth, exceeding all boundaries and obstacles, seeking only its goal. This black hand extends forth and grabs greedily at all that it can. Sure enough, power is its only goal.

The Hand of Darkness seeks to strengthen the cause of the Forsaken and of all Undeath itself. Through the beliefs of the Cult of Forgotten Shadow it thrives and attempts to raise itself. Through ever persistent tenacity it advances. With the fall of humanity it will claim victory... And through the rule of death over all Azeroth shall it finally find reason to rest.

Cult and Rank

In the Hand of Darkness there is both Rank and Cult.

Rankings:

Rank represents where your character is within the actual hierarchy of the organization. It serves almost like an assigned role. Chances are your rank will not change once its been selected.

Lower Fiend: The lowest on the chain. Such members simply do as they are told and make up the main body of the guild. They are compromised of all races and classes.

Abyssal Warrior: These are the direct servants of the Four Horsemen. They belong to no other Cult than that of their chosen Lord's. They are compromised of only Forsaken of all classes and Death Knights of all races (no living Death Knights).

Shadow Priest: Forsaken who hail from Undercity and know how to recite the beliefs of the Forgotten Shadow fill this rank. They serve only the interests of the Forsaken as a whole and listen only to the commands of their Ascendant.

Dark Elite: Men and Women of this rank are often leaders of cults or powerful persons who operate on important missions and have some reason to demand respect. Humans of any class cannot reach this level of power within the organization. Practitioners of fel arts, because of their closeness to the Legion, are similarly barred.

Forsaken Horsemen: These are Four Horsemen themselves, the highest of Lords within the Hand. Each has a separate realm of rule and when in that realm they are the supreme commander to any other equal or below them. Outside of their realm they no longer garner influence.

Ascendant: Ruler of the Hand of Darkness. All bow before the might of an Ascendant and acknowledge such beings as the epitome of undeath.

Cults:

The Hand of Darkness itself is made up of several cults, each working towards different goals and with different purposes to bring the organization together as a whole. Some cults may leave and others may join in turn. Listed here are the main cults that are representative of the Hand's purpose.

Cult of the Horsemen: The Four Horsemen and their followers are contained within this cult. Their activities are mainly their own.

Cult of Sinners: This cult makes up a majority of the non-Forsaken population. Their activities are self-oriented. The self-centered fit here, pursing their own greatness and thus increasing the greatness of the Hand.

Cult of the New Gospel: This cult carries the prophecy believed in by the Hand of Darkness. The powerful religious beliefs they seek to instill in the Hand's faithful are their only concern.

Joining

All who desire it can find a place within the Hand of Darkness. There is little moderation of the lower rankings by the upper echelon of members. Characters can easily join and find themselves trying to help in the battle against the Light. Joining a Cult and finding yourself more involved means actually contacting one of the cult leaders.

Find yourself not interested in one of the current cults? The Hand is constantly looking to develop. Perhaps create a new one! With enough support and sway gained such groups could easily be acknowledged.

[Duraza]

Raven Hill
The Cities of God and Man

"...formed by two loves: the earthly by love of self, even to the contempt of God; the heavenly by the love of God... The former, in a word, glories in itself, the latter in the Lord. For one seeks glory from men; but the greatest glory of the other is God, the witness of conscience..."
-Saint Augustine of Hippo, City of God

Of the four lands claimed by the Horsemen for rule Duskwood is the most special to the Hand of Darkness' cause. Raven Hill, a city forsaken by Stormwind, by humanity, has become a precious site. She too is an outcast like the Forsaken themselves, she is lost but like the ruins of Lordaeron turned to Undercity, the Hand hopes to restore her to new glory.

There is a difference that is acknowledged by the members of the Hand in regards to both Undercity and Raven Hill. Undercity was built by Forsaken, undead but still mortal beings. In that way Undercity itself is mortal and, fate forbid it, can fall. It was created in the glory of the Forsaken themselves and so is a city that glorifies itself.

Raven Hill is a city to glorify the faith. Attempts to rebuild it would be to build the heart of the Forgotten Shadow. This would be a city that owes its glory to the masters and prophets of shadow, the Ascendants themselves. While its earthly links can fall the Cult itself is immortal and so the true 'City of God' cannot die. It owes its glory to everlasting beliefs.

Such an undertaking is complex and moving too quickly and anxiously would call down forces that such a young organization would not be able to withstand. Embracing respect, the Hand moves slowly and carefully, conducting meeting, sermon, and organizing strength on Raven Hill as a slowly forming stronghold. Undoubtedly enemies will show to fight against the order that tries to seize control but these minor foes are not feared.

The New Gospel
Man's Apocalypse

"Hear me! As declared by the Ascendant on high the time of mankind is up. No longer can the Church of Light stand in the path of the coming darkness. There is a simple choice, conversion to the shadow, giving in to the sinner's way. Those who do will be allowed to continue life under the mandate of darkness. Fail to give in and death will take you."

The New Gospel holds this as the ultimate law by which the City of God is founded. It is composed of four parts and carried to both followers of the Hand of Darkness as well as the other races by Shadow Priests of the Forgotten Shadow. Only Forsaken preach this New Gospel officially, given the words by the Ascendant himself. Any other version created or told is heresy.

The Lord of Deadwind
The first part of the gospel states that the Pale Horse, Death will rise up in Deadwind and take that land as his own as ordained by the Ascendant's will. With mighty runescythe at hand chaos will awaken and ready itself at the Pale Horse's command to break loose and ravage the world.

Release of Shadows
The second part of the gospel states that the Pale Horse and Sin will together meet and together traverse into the world with an army at their backs. This hellish following will come to unleash a final chaos on all who have sided with the Enemy, eternal foe of Darkness, the Light.

Fall of Man
Man is judged. Sin and Death together weave the apocalypse. All the shadows that were loosed become a mighty plague upon Azeroth, bringing humanity to its final breaths. Those who have chosen instead to stand against the Light are spared by the grace of the Ascendants but only if in their minds they truly find new life in Darkness. The final stand of man fails and all of Elwynn falls.

Rise of Kingdom of Darkness
The City of God rises to glorify Darkness. It unites with the lands seized by the other Horsemen. The Kingdom of Darkness comes into existence. Elwynn and the ruins of Stormwind forever remain forsaken, a reminder of the frailty of the Light and of cities built to glorify men.

[Duraza]

Fall'n cherub, to be weak is mis'rable,
Doing or suffering, but of this be sure:
To do aught good will never be our task
But ever to do ill our sole delight
As being the contrary to His high will
Whom we resist. If then His providence
Out of our evil seek to bring forth good
Our labor must be to pervert that end
And out of good still to find means of evil
-Milton, Paradise Lost

Cult of Sinners

Though the Hand of Darkness exists to promote the fall of humanity and then of all life there are certain men who are born sinners. They too are forever fallen because of their own misdeeds and actions. Whether they have belief in the shadow or still think of the Church of Light dogma as correct these men and woman cannot help but succumb to the temptation of satisfying their own darkest desires.

While they do not have the compassion of the Forsaken or the Forgotten Shadow, sinners are thought to be useful tools. They fight against their own people to establish the rule of the Hand without a care whether they live or die. Many know the greater plans of the Hand and just feel themselves above it, able to use the Cult for selfish needs and then eventually escape.

Forever this group searches after forbidden knowledge and self-oriented goals. Members of the Cult of Sinners compromise a wild card within the Hand as a whole. They don't have sure loyalties and so sometimes fight against each other or amongst the other members of the Hand. Some might even plot the downfall of the Hand from within, none can be sure where sinners are involved.

Infiltrators

When he once found the Devil giving a sermon in the guise of a priest in a church and recognized through the Spirit that this was the Devil, the holy man paid careful attention to his words... His judgement was that the Devil was beyond reproach, indeed a chastiser of crimes. Summoning the Devil... the saintly man asked the reason for this.

The Devil replied, "Well, I well the truth, because I know that when they listen to the Word but do not act on it, God is more offended and my profit increased."
-Hammer of Witches

Infiltrators are special members of the Cult of Sinners who have been chosen to remain in Stormwind and continue to preach the word of the Church of Holy Light. They do so in somewhat fanatical ways, trying to push people away from the faith with views that border on extremist.

Often times the infiltrators are racist zealots who try to speak only of the purity of humanity and its eventual rise above all other races through the Church of Light. Even dwarves who too worship in the Church are not accepted by these extremist followers.

Infiltrators do not keep contact with the Hand at all, nor do they attempt to aid those who fight against its functions. Instead they remain in Elwynn and if necessary even act oblivious to the Hand's work in Duskwood or refute claims that Forsaken and 'Cults of Shadow' could exist so close to the stronghold of the Light.

(OOC: I only search for one player to be an infiltrator but if it happens to be a popularly demanded role I would expand to accept others.)

[Kira13]

My Forsaken Death Knight Lathan would love to join.

[JVNemesis]

<3 Sozun.

[CharizardDylan]

Looks interesting. particularly interested in the cult of new gospel.

[Kirabo]

Gortael is so in.

[hiddengecko]

This is cool, but you do realize the church will just throw the crazies out, right? They're as much a business as anyone else; anyone bordering on fanatical and "pushing people away" will be removed.

[Kirabo]

It's a new church, not part of the light churchy.

At least as far as I know, as I'm mostly informed.

[Duraza]

Do forgive me for not being quick to comment!

My Forsaken Death Knight Lathan would love to join.

Your death Knight would be more than welcome.

Looks interesting. particularly interested in the cult of new gospel.

The Cult of the New Gospel is interested in you!

This is cool, but you do realize the church will just throw the crazies out, right? They're as much a business as anyone else; anyone bordering on fanatical and "pushing people away" will be removed.

If you're referring to the infiltrators they aren't necessarily -actual- Church of Light members. Sure, they claim to preach the word of the Light, etc etc. Doesn't mean the actual Church actually believes in what they say. Also, they will not be nearly as obvious as you think. They still need to sound legitimate. They still will preach what is -true-. But their personal attitudes and behaviors will help to lead people astray.

Example: The Undead were cast away from the Alliance because the Church felt the Light had forsaken them. They were no longer among the holy. Thus, Forsaken are the enemy. (This is normal Church dogma.)

And while we must accept Death Knights as allies remember that they too are the enemy. The Light has forsaken them as well. They can never return to the Church. Forever only will they be tools until they try to turn against their righteous wielders. When that day comes, Light will smite them too. (This would be the twisted version an infiltrator presents. What it leads to is promoting the idea that DKs should leave the Church cause they are unwelcome).

I thank you all for your comments thus far. If you have critiques/suggestions/comments/'omg this guild is great I want to join' posts please keep them coming!

[LostStranger]

I've recently received a number of requests for guild recruitment, Your Profanity.

I'd like to state that I'm decently active on my Shadow Priest, Encais Tremere.

I ask permission and procedure to begin formally inducting or turning aside these potentials.

[CharizardDylan]

Well then my Forsaken SP would like to join the gospel.

[Duraza]

I've recently received a number of requests for guild recruitment, Your Profanity.

I'd like to state that I'm decently active on my Shadow Priest, Encais Tremere.

I ask permission and procedure to begin formally inducting or turning aside these potentials.

Oh my. Well, in that case I need to give you guild permissions to invite. Secondly, for now leave up to the judgement of your character. I think later on there might be an actual formal procedure for joining but we are young and need people atm.

Well then my Forsaken SP would like to join the gospel.

You sir are allowed to join the gospel and actually Lost is the best person to talk to about it as he is the only one thus far that Sozun has mentioned parts of the gospel to...

As an additional note, there will soon be leaders that need to be picked for both Cult of Sinners and the New Gospel. At the moment, technically I lead them both but don't want to remain that way. Show your interest, and your activity and we will see. (I myself will be a bit more active once Wednesday of next week is over. I have midterms.)