Golden Hand

**Founding**: 287 BC.

**Notoriety**: Somewhat. Mostly temples, churches, and more philanthropic nobles.

**Notable Members**: Dimitri Young, formerly the Earl of North Hollow in Albion, before his discovery and subsequent execution.

## Information

### History

The Golden Hand consists of five powerful families who suffered at the hands of the good. They were exiled, banished, punished, murdered for centuries because of their businesses. Then, these families found each other and formed an alliance. For decades, they have been raising the new generations, making sure that they are growing up with enough hatred and vengeance in their hearts.

The Elders of these five families decided to take revenge on those who hurt them. They found that the best way was to cause economic crises since they believed that the so-called “good” kingdoms would succumb to their dark sides during hard times. Since then, they move from one kingdom to another, causing economic problems, coup d’états, massive unemployment, and fluctuations in currency values. Many officials and nobles either commit suicide or are punished severely as a result of these crises.

The Golden Hand has no mercy when it comes to those who try to investigate or spy on the family. They generally torture such people, making them beg for death before they mercifully oblige. to date, even members of the Order have been victims of their ministrations.

### Goals & Activities

The goal of The Golden Hand is to gain more and more power while taking revenge on political figures. At first, they settle in a big city, preferably the capital or center. Then, they observe the political, financial, and social environment by joining clubs, and attending and giving parties. Finally, they determine the best ways to disrupt the economy. these ways may include the following: releasing large amounts of money to create fluctuations in the local economy; attacking banks, financiers, bankers to create a financially unstable environment; lending money to members of the royal family and asking for the loan quickly to weaken their financial stature; and suppressing the biggest employers to increase the unemployment rates. They've also been known to hold valuable cultural artifacts hostage or have anonymously released them to the public if harmful to the existing government. The Golden Hand tends to have ties to both the Spears of Vengeance and the Silhouettes, and usually run their outsourcing though the Nightshade Inn. while the Golden Hand is antagonistic to the Order, the Order is not one of their targets, due to the immense power and scope of the Order.

### Headquarters

The Golden Hand doesn’t have one single headquarters or mansion since they change their mansion each time they move to other kingdoms. However, they do not carry all their money with them, rather, they use a small pocket dimension to hide it. When they move to a new city, they generally purchase the biggest mansion available, both to impress the rich, and to provide enough space for all family members, who are as many as 110 people. The mansion of The Golden Hand is always full of artwork such as paintings, statues, and instruments.

### Initiation and Membership

Even if The Golden Hand is mostly a family-run business that is closed-off to strangers, they always hire some locals to work with them. In every city they settle in, they need a handful of guards, gardeners, servants, financiers, lawyers, cooks, drivers, housekeepers, and such, who assist them in their day to-day endeavors. While hiring, they choose from the best and brightest a place has to offer. Other than that, they also accept some as members if Vlad Amberhov finds the person in question to be beneficial to the family, even if he doesn't inform them who they work for. All members carry a symbol, a golden gauntlet inside a triangle, somewhere on their bodies. When they move to a city, they present the symbol as their family symbol. Members that have extended their stay, but proved their usefulness in the past, might be granted a merciful end.

### Leaders

Vlad Amberhov is the leader of all five families, namely Amberhov, Burningshield, Dominic, Lemot, and Aden. He was chosen by the family members twenty years ago. Under his rule, The Golden Hand has disrupted the economies of more than 10 kingdoms. This strong-looking, charismatic man is 72 years of age, even though he looks no more than 50. His deep black eyes radiate power and influence. He always wears dark, noble clothes, uses perfumes that smell of spices, and wears expensive pieces of jewelry. He is always charming, a trait that grants him the trust of other individuals with ease.

## Out of Character

### Player Benefits

Players that are members of the Golden Hand are safe from all criminal groups, save the Rockets. They tend to be paid well, enough to perform heinous acts. Members of the Golden Hand can stay at Nightshade Inn locations for free.

### Enemies

The Golden Hand is an enemy to all organized governments, as well as the Hand of Inarias and the Order. Anyone in Anax found to be a member of the Golden Hand is summarily executed, regardless of affiliation or citizenship.

### Associated Quests

Quests for the Golden Hand require you to be a member, or be approached by an agent of the Golden Hand, and usually involve acts of theft, sabotage, blackmail, and extortion.

### Associated Items

#### Arsenic

*Poison (ingested), rare*

Arsenic is a compound used in many experimental medical remedies. It is also, however, a signature poison that is widely used by the nobility and the rich to eliminate their rivals. Once ingested, it takes approximately 1 minute to take effect, killing most victims in under a minute. A creature subjected to this poison must make a DC 20 Constitution saving throw, becoming poisoned, and taking 7 (2d6) poison damage on a failed save; or taking half as much damage on a successful one. It must repeat its saving throw at the start of each of its turns for 1 minute, taking 7 (2d6) poison damage on each failed save and remaining poisoned. A creature that succeeds on its saving throw takes no damage, ending the effect of the poison on itself. However, it must still repeat its saving throws at the start of its turns until the duration ends. Arsenic can be neutralized by spells that neutralize poisons, and also by forcing the victim to drink a mixture of coal dust and water and to throw up the poison completely that takes three consecutive rounds.

#### Guardian Portrait

*Wonderous Item, Legendary*

Many people fancy the presence of portraits of themselves in their houses. Did you ever wonder why? It is not necessarily because they have a sense of grandeur about themselves; there is a slight chance that these people are mighty adventurers and that these portraits are guardian portraits. These portraits contain a sentient figure that looks exactly like you, who has the ability to move inside the frame of the painting. For example, if there is a house painted in the background of a portrait, your painted duplicate could hide in the house or move around its garden. These portraits are created by means of a captured soul and a wish spell. Therefore, your duplicate is able to speak any language you are proficient in. They are also able to cast one spell of 7th level or lower for up to three times if a specified condition occurs. For example, you could choose to make your duplicate cast fireball if someone breaks into your house and it obeys your orders by any means necessary. It is also known that some people order the portraits to look like monstrous versions of themselves, or even golems. The personalities of Guardian Portraits are the exact opposite of yours. They may love to argue with you, and constantly whine about being trapped in a painting. They may complain from time to time about how they are lonely and may even pressure you to hire an artist to paint some company for them. They obey your orders since they are bound with spells and cannot do otherwise. Despite their grumpiness, if you go along with them, it is very likely for you to be fond of one another, and maybe even have conversations about all sorts of things such as philosophy, art, or the very nature of magic. The Golden Hand is notorious for using these to guard their dwellings or replacing existing portraits in a victim's house with one of these.