Eclipsed Hand

Within the central framework of the Tatharian Empire, a complex interplay of power and secrecy underpins the mechanisms of governance. Embedded within this structure is an organization known as the Eclipsed Hand, which operates covertly yet maintains a pervasive presence throughout the Empire. The Eclipsed Hand serves as the silent custodian of the Empire's most sensitive and clandestine information. Its emblem, recognized exclusively by its members, features the twin moons of Rolara illuminating a hand, symbolizing the organization's extensive reach and influence, all perpetually concealed within the metaphorical darkness.
The Eclipsed Hand functions as a subtle yet influential entity within the corridors of power, embodying an omnipresent yet intangible force. The organization is composed of individuals who have demonstrated unwavering loyalty to the Empress, effectively acting as the invisible strands that integrate and sustain the Empire's overarching narrative. Its membership includes spies, scholars, mages, and former nobility, each contributing specialized skills while maintaining anonymity even among their peers to preserve the integrity of their mission.
The primary objectives of the Eclipsed Hand are both significant and inherently risky. These include the collection of intelligence critical to the Empire’s interests, the rapid and discreet transmission of this information across extensive distances, and the imperative to remain undetected throughout these processes. This combination of intelligence gathering, efficient communication, and operational secrecy constitutes the foundational strength of the Empire’s hidden power structure. Should these elements be exposed, it could potentially destabilize the very fabric of Rolara.
Within the internal operations of the Eclipsed Hand, information is treated as a valuable commodity, and maintaining secrecy is paramount. The organization engages in activities such as manipulating records, eliminating evidence, and disseminating misinformation to ensure that the Empire’s secrets remain concealed. Their influence extends across all levels of the Empire, from the highest echelons of authority to the most modest communities.
Furthermore, the Eclipsed Hand’s activities are not limited to the Empire’s central institutions. They operate in distant courts and act as silent observers during nighttime operations. The organization employs strategies of illusion and deception to create a complex network designed to mislead and discourage inquisitive or ambitious entities. This includes guiding adventurers away from key locations like Moredge and redirecting their attention to alternative sites, thereby maintaining the secrecy of the Empire’s true objectives through a facade of intrigue and adventure.
In the broader context of Rolara’s history, the Eclipsed Hand represents a minor yet essential element. Despite their limited visibility in historical records, their contributions are crucial to the maintenance of the Empire’s concealed power. As the custodians of the Empire’s hidden strengths and protectors of its most guarded secrets, the Eclipsed Hand operates continuously under the symbolic twin moons of Rolara, ensuring that their critical functions remain both indispensable and obscured.

Structure

The Eclipsed Hand, notwithstanding its inherently clandestine operations, is governed by a meticulously structured hierarchical framework. This architecture ensures the seamless functionality of the organization, delineating clear roles and responsibilities while upholding the essential principles of secrecy and anonymity.
At the apex of this hierarchy resides the Shadowed Empress, a title exclusively designated for Empress Naram-Sin. The Shadowed Empress possesses comprehensive knowledge of the Eclipsed Hand's full scope and operational intricacies. She is entrusted with providing strategic direction and making pivotal decisions, typically conveyed through coded messages and intermediaries to preserve operational confidentiality.
Directly subordinate to the Shadowed Empress is the Veiled Council, a consortium of senior operatives tasked with overseeing the organization's diverse operations. Each member of the Veiled Council is assigned responsibility for a specific domain, such as intelligence, operations, Magic, or diplomacy. These council members receive directives solely from the Shadowed Empress and maintain awareness of each other's existence within the organization, thereby fostering coordinated and unified leadership.
The operational arm of the Eclipsed Hand comprises the Moonlight Operatives, who function as field agents executing missions as assigned by the Veiled Council. These operatives encompass spies, infiltrators, and enforcers, each operating independently and devoid of knowledge regarding the identities of their counterparts. Orders are transmitted through coded messages, and mission reports are deposited at designated dead drops, ensuring operational security and minimizing the risk of information compromise.
Supporting the operational efforts are the Star Scholars, consisting of mages and scholars responsible for maintaining the organization's magical defenses, conducting research on the Stars of Power, and providing magical support for various missions. Similar to the Moonlight Operatives, the Star Scholars operate in isolation, unaware of the identities of other members, thereby preserving the compartmentalized structure essential for maintaining secrecy.
Integral to the administrative functions of the Eclipsed Hand are the Silent Scribes, who serve as the record keepers and information managers. Their responsibilities include maintaining the organization's archives, managing the flow of information, and ensuring the security of all communications. Silent Scribes operate in complete isolation, with their identities and locations remaining concealed even from the Veiled Council, thereby safeguarding the integrity of the organization's informational assets.
The Hidden Hands constitute the civilian assets of the Eclipsed Hand, handling logistics, supplies, and other essential support functions. These individuals are typically unaware of their association with the Eclipsed Hand, operating under the misconception that they are serving the Empire through more conventional roles. This deliberate obfuscation further reinforces the organization's veil of secrecy and minimizes the risk of infiltration or exposure.
The structural design of the Eclipsed Hand is fundamentally oriented towards maintaining secrecy and anonymity. Members interact exclusively through coded messages, dead drops, and intermediaries, with no direct contact between individuals. Each member is privy only to information pertinent to their specific duties, ensuring that no single individual possesses comprehensive knowledge of the organization's entirety. This compartmentalization is a critical measure to secure the organization against potential compromises, as the exposure of one member does not jeopardize the security of the entire structure.
Despite the pervasive secrecy, the Eclipsed Hand fosters a profound sense of unity and purpose among its members. Each individual is cognizant of their role within a larger framework, contributing to the service of the Empire and the Empress in a unique capacity. This collective Consciousness, reinforced by rigorous training and stringent codes of conduct, engenders a robust bond of loyalty and camaraderie. Such cohesion persists even among members who have never met personally, underscoring the effectiveness of the organization's hierarchical and compartmentalized design in cultivating a dedicated and resilient operative base.

Culture

The cultural framework of the Eclipsed Hand is profoundly influenced by Tathar traditions, meticulously shaped and honed over Time to address the distinct requirements of their clandestine endeavors. This influence is particularly discernible in the organization’s methodologies pertaining to subterfuge, espionage, cryptography, secrecy, and obfuscation.

Subterfuge and Espionage

The Tathar populace is renowned for their resilience and adaptability, attributes that are highly esteemed within the spheres of subterfuge and espionage. Predominantly composed of individuals of Tathar lineage, the Eclipsed Hand cultivates members who are adept at assimilating seamlessly into diverse environments, responding adeptly to dynamic situations, and leveraging their surroundings to strategic advantage. Their training emphasizes the mastery of disguise, enabling them to adopt multiple identities with ease, and equips them with the skills necessary to navigate the intricate social and political terrains of Rolara. This cultural emphasis on flexibility and resourcefulness underpins their effectiveness in covert operations.

Cryptography

The Eclipsed Hand’s dedication to cryptography is a testament to the Tathar’s reverence for knowledge and scholarly pursuits. The organization has engineered a sophisticated system of codes and ciphers, deeply rooted in Tathar traditions of storytelling and symbolic representation. These cryptographic mechanisms facilitate secure communication of orders, the reporting of intelligence, and the preservation of operational secrecy. By integrating traditional Tathar narrative techniques with advanced cryptographic practices, the Eclipsed Hand ensures that their communications remain impervious to interception and decryption by adversarial forces.

Secrecy

The Tathar’s intrinsic sense of community and unwavering loyalty is mirrored in the Eclipsed Hand’s stringent adherence to secrecy. Members are indoctrinated to prioritize the collective welfare over individual recognition, comprehending that the efficacy of their missions is contingent upon their capacity to safeguard the organization’s confidential information. This ingrained collective responsibility, a cornerstone of Tathar societal values, fortifies the Eclipsed Hand’s culture of discretion. The organizational ethos discourages the dissemination of sensitive information beyond authorized channels, thereby maintaining the integrity and security of their covert operations.

Obfuscation

Obfuscation serves as a critical instrument for the Eclipsed Hand in protecting the Empire’s secrets and diverting potential threats. This strategic approach is influenced by the Tathar’s affinity for riddles and intricate puzzles, employing techniques of misdirection and ambiguity to confound and deceive adversaries. The organization implements obfuscation across various facets of their operations, including communication protocols and operational planning. By embedding layers of complexity and uncertainty, the Eclipsed Hand effectively masks their true intentions and activities, thereby enhancing their ability to operate undetected and safeguarding the Empire’s clandestine interests.

History

The Eclipsed Hand was born out of necessity during the early years of Naram-Sin's rule. As she consolidated power and dissolved the traditional councils, she realized the need for a covert organization that could operate outside the conventional structures of the Empire. The Eclipsed Hand was formed to protect the Empire's secrets, maintain the balance of power, and ensure the stability of her rule.

The Early Years

In its early years, the Eclipsed Hand was a small, tightly-knit group of loyalists handpicked by Naram-Sin herself. They were tasked with suppressing dissent, managing internal threats, and ensuring the loyalty of the nobility. Their operations were primarily within the capital and the court, where they worked from the shadows to maintain the Empress's grip on power.

The Discovery of the Star of Conjuration

The discovery of the Star of Conjuration and the subsequent construction of the Porta Ultima marked a turning point for the Eclipsed Hand. Their mission expanded beyond the court and into the realm of arcane secrets and interdimensional gateways. They were tasked with protecting the Star, the Porta Ultima, and the secret settlement of Moredge. This period saw the Eclipsed Hand grow in size and scope, recruiting mages, scholars, and spies to aid in their mission.

The Expansion Era

As the Tatharian Empire expanded, so did the reach of the Eclipsed Hand. They infiltrated the newly conquered territories, ensuring the loyalty of the local rulers and suppressing any information about the Empire's secrets. They also began to operate outside the Empire, gathering intelligence and influencing events to the Empire's advantage.

The Current Era

Today, the Eclipsed Hand is a vast, shadowy network that spans the entire Tatharian Empire and beyond. They are the unseen force that shapes the destiny of the Empire, protecting its secrets, ensuring its stability, and preserving the balance of power in Rolara. Despite the challenges and changes over the centuries, their mission remains the same: to serve the Empress and the Empire, from the shadows, under the twin moons of Rolara.

Table of Contents

Type

Secret, Governmental arm

Ruling Organization

Tatharian Empire

Founders

• Naram-Sin

Location

Tatharia Capitolina

Related Species

• Human

Related Ethnicities

• Tathar

Obsidian Veil

-85

Eclipsed Hand

-80

The Obsidian Veil and the Eclipsed Hand are locked in a shadowy struggle for dominance and influence within Tatharia Capitolina. Each organization views the other as a significant threat to their respective agendas— the Veil seeks to advance its mysterious, independent objectives, while the Eclipsed Hand aims to uphold and protect the interests of Empress Naram-Sin. This mutual distrust fuels a clandestine rivalry marked by espionage, counterintelligence, and strategic sabotage. Their interactions are characterized by indirect confrontations, such as intercepting each other's operations, recruiting rival assets, and disseminating misinformation to undermine one another. Despite their secretive nature, the tension between them subtly shapes the political and social landscape of the Empire, ensuring that neither side gains unchecked power. The rivalry remains hidden from the public eye, with both organizations taking extreme measures to conceal their involvement and intentions, thereby maintaining the delicate balance of power within the capital.