Ben-Hassrath

Ben-Hassrath means "the Heart of the Many" in the Qunari languge. The purpose of the Ben-Hassrath is protecting the faith and the innocents. Ben-Hassrath fall under the Ariqun and the Qunari consider them as priests. For Qunari, they are leaders who maintain unity, which Qunari believe to be a strength.

Structure

• Ariqun | Supreme Priest of Ben-Hassrath
  
  
• Viddasala | Magical Research and Foreign Conversion
  
  
• Hissrad | Spy
  
  
• Tallis | Assassin
  
  
• Salit | Function Unknown
  
  

History

Ben-Hassrath primarily act as enforcers of religious law in the Qunari society, who are responsible for policing the populace and re-educating both the Qunari who do not follow the established norms and new converts. They also act as spies and assassins for the Qunari as well as perform other clandestine missions.
The entire group is under the jurisdiction of the Ariqun and would therefore be considered priests. The Qunari divide all Ben-Hassrath actions into three distinct categories:

• Dangerous Purpose | Run by a priestess called the Viddasala, or "one who converts purpose," this branch handles the conversion of foreigners, the reeducation of Qunari dissidents, and the collection and quarantine of magic. Things that, by Qunari definition, are threats to themselves and others by nature.
  
  
• Dangerous Action | This branch appears to be the branch responsible for enforcement; their agents almost never leave Qunari-controlled territory except to hunt defectors.
  
  
• Dangerous Questions This branch handles the vast majority of the Qunari intelligence gathering and sabotage missions.
  
  

Three priests form a mini-triumvirate that manages all of their operations, which each priest presiding over actions in a single category.
Both genders can be Ben-Hassrath, but they're separated by specialization: female Ben-Hassrath watch and re-educate adult females and children, while male Ben-Hassrath deal with adult males. Male Qunari can join the Ben-Hassrath despite the fact that they fall under the priesthood. Female Ben-Hassrath learn how to fight - but in a different manner from a soldier, and unlike the soldiers, the Ben-Hassrath do not live by their blade. As a result, they do not possess a weapon that signifies their soul like the Antaam do, but are instead free to use whatever tools are most effective at their task. In fact, it seems the Ben-Hassrath prefer to use non-violent means to achieve their goals.

Type

Military, Intelligence

Alternative Names

The Heart of the Many

Parent Organization

Qunari