The Hidden Hand (sect of Malek)

Steel Realms
The Hidden Hand – Malek as The Whispering Figure/Guardian of Secrets

The master of rumors and dealings in the shadows. Caretaker of hidden and forgotten lores. This role has mostly been forgotten in current times. Malek was not always the evil god of deceit. Once he was known as “the hidden hand”, “the hidden player”, “the spoiler” – he was the patron of trickery, subterfuge, cunning (gaming even), and the underdog (given sacrifice in order to remain underestimated and overlooked by one’s enemies) – not the decidedly negative “deceiver” and “betrayer” he has become through his association with the gods of darkness. There have been several events of great importance where only afterward was the subtle hand of Malek made known. The original High Temple of Secrets lies somewhere in the heartlands, originally away from the lands of dominion. It has been lost to time and purposeful obscuring. It is known as Dorma Ceflu, named after the head of the order of Malek, when his agents still were somewhat trusted, and Malek was not a faith synonymous with evil.

Chronicle of the Group

Knowledge is broken down by ease of discovery/availability & Meticulous Record Keeping may improve usability; Any attempt to know more than what's Pervasive will require a reference, source, knowledge, check, or access to someone who can get or provide either of these. Specific Lores may increase the chance of knowing specific elements.

Pervasive Knowledge / Very Easy Difficulty

Information Sources: Mundane Reference | Associated Phenomenology Only | Specific Lore

For those native to or long-dwelling in the region, ALL Common Knowledge may be Pervasive.

Common Knowledge / Easy Difficulty

For those native to or long-dwelling in the region, ALL Common Knowledge may be Pervasive.

Rare Knowledge / Very Hard Difficulty

Well Kept Secret: The Hidden Hand cult of Malek still has a shrine and sacred attendants in Silverstone Tower. The ritual performed cleanses the aura for a time, hides the aura of life and allows secret forays north Rangers and World Watchers. This is an extraordinary well kept secret known only to a few in the prison who maintain it, a few who use it, the Sisterhood of Dohar Jaideen and a few of the Order of the Black Gorgon.

  • Congregation of the Sightless: This congregation at the prison is an ancient congregation of the sect of The Hidden Hand of Malek at Silverstone Tower only. Their senior members enact a ritual in which they remove their eyes. This grants them access to a ceremony in which they can enact The Hidden Hand of Malek upon a target to hide them utterly from any divination or detection of their presence or aura. This is used to anonymize interactions in the facility as well as send special scouts and missions into the Lich Lord’s lands, hiding their aura of life. The lesser attendants see to the senior ones’ needs, though they seem to do fine without sight of the physical sort.
  • Some adherents are sent to infiltrate the ranks of the heralds in the north in order to gain information which might compromise the mystical prison.

Warning
Obscure/Hidden Knowledge is not generally available in known references; It is not necessarily Forbidden.
DO NOT READ BEYOND THIS POINT unless a character has the capability to gain such knowledge [through association, organization, or relation] if they do not possess it themselves or the reader intends to participate in scenarios using this material as a PLAYER! GM Narration will typically provide relevant information by check or story.

Realm's Aptitude Powers: Divine, Occult, and Psychic