The Horned Hand
The extended covey known as the Horned Hand was born in the forested hills of Bavaria shortly after the turn of the 16th century. At that time, the cult was a Circle of The Crone coterie dedicated to a goat-headed folk god who had allegedly guarded the people of the region since the pre-conversion times of the eighth century. Some hints concerning the original cult can be found in Indiculus Superstitionum Et Paganarium, a document fragment dated from around AD 740 in Bavaria. It is also believed that the historical accounts of the Hartz Mountain Witches are related to this circle. During their days as Acolytes, members of the cult was discreet, though often the subject of superstition and tall tales in the nearby village of Teufelziege — a town that has barely changed to this very night. When a town elder by name of Leopold Von Metzger was Embraced by the coven’s Hierophant, however, everything changed. This Hierophant of the Horned Hand (a Nosferatu known only as “Frau Uli”) had taken to the earth for the long sleep, and her subordinates lacked direction in her absence. Suspicious of Von Metzger’s intent, the coterie prohibited him from attending Winnowings and kept him distanced from other major rituals. Von Metzger, who actually was plotting to take control of the cult, was still profoundly insulted by the presumption. So he rallied the town’s populace with the help of his three mortal sons, and had the old Horned Hand (as well as its elder) destroyed while the Acolytes slept, helpless.
Since that time, the cult has assumed almost total control of the isolated village of Teufelziege, making Ghouls of some and holding the rest captive with terror, violence and nightmares (for which the cult members were given their nickname). The covey now consists entirely of Forsworn claiming to be Von Metzger’s sons and grandchildren, all of whom maintain the patriarchal tenets of their father in his absence. Leopold Von Metzger himself is believed to be resting somewhere in the forest, sleeping the sleep of ages as his covey waits for his return.
Most rites of the Horned Hand take place on the same holy days recognized by The Circle of the Crone, with the primary exception being the elimination of The Crone’s Liturgy and the addition of a feast celebrating the birth of their beast-god — celebrated on the day of Von Metzger’s Embrace. The similarities end there, however, as the Forsworn of the Horned Hand believe that empowerment and enlightenment have but one price and one price alone . . . and that price is paid with a steady flow of living blood. Offered upon shrines hidden deep in the thicket of the Bavarian Forest, the Alpdrücke use the blood and pain of their sacrifices to summon up their own Beasts. Once the frenzied rite is in full motion, the members of the cult descend like jackals on the living sacrifices, ripping them to shreds and endeavoring to lap up every drop of blood. Woe be unto the unwary traveler who should happen upon the blighted town of Teufelziege.
Since that time, the cult has assumed almost total control of the isolated village of Teufelziege, making Ghouls of some and holding the rest captive with terror, violence and nightmares (for which the cult members were given their nickname). The covey now consists entirely of Forsworn claiming to be Von Metzger’s sons and grandchildren, all of whom maintain the patriarchal tenets of their father in his absence. Leopold Von Metzger himself is believed to be resting somewhere in the forest, sleeping the sleep of ages as his covey waits for his return.
Most rites of the Horned Hand take place on the same holy days recognized by The Circle of the Crone, with the primary exception being the elimination of The Crone’s Liturgy and the addition of a feast celebrating the birth of their beast-god — celebrated on the day of Von Metzger’s Embrace. The similarities end there, however, as the Forsworn of the Horned Hand believe that empowerment and enlightenment have but one price and one price alone . . . and that price is paid with a steady flow of living blood. Offered upon shrines hidden deep in the thicket of the Bavarian Forest, the Alpdrücke use the blood and pain of their sacrifices to summon up their own Beasts. Once the frenzied rite is in full motion, the members of the cult descend like jackals on the living sacrifices, ripping them to shreds and endeavoring to lap up every drop of blood. Woe be unto the unwary traveler who should happen upon the blighted town of Teufelziege.
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