Creed of Shadows: The Creed of Noctara
Name: The Silent Hand
Deity: Noctara, the Veiled Mistress of Shadows
Beliefs: The followers of Noctara, known as The Silent Hand, are thieves, rogues, and shadow-dwellers who operate outside the bounds of traditional society. Noctara, the Veiled Mistress of Shadows, is a goddess of darkness, secrecy, and subtlety. She represents the unseen forces of the world—those who work in the background, shaping events without being noticed. To her followers, shadows are not a place of fear but a sanctuary, a veil under which they can move unseen, listen unnoticed, and act unopposed.
Noctara is said to walk the edges of the world, between light and dark, life and death, truth and lies. Her followers believe she created the first shadow, and in that void, she placed all the secrets of the world. Those who are clever, quiet, and cunning can tap into her knowledge.
Teachings:
The Shadow’s Path: True power lies not in brute force but in subtlety. To follow Noctara is to master the art of influence, knowing when to strike and when to remain unseen.
The Silence Within: Silence is the greatest weapon.
Followers believe that to control one's emotions and thoughts is to control the outcome of any situation. Secrets Are Power: Knowledge is the currency of the shadows. No secret is too small or insignificant. The more you know, the more control you have over the world around you.
Practices:
The Dance of Lies: The world itself is an illusion, a game of deception. To win is to weave lies more skillfully than your enemies, to manipulate and guide others without ever being detected.
The Veiling: Initiates into the Silent Hand undergo a ritual known as The Veiling, where they are brought to a darkened chamber to meditate in total silence for several days. This is said to bring them closer to Noctara’s whispers and grant them insight into the art of secrecy and deception.
The Night’s Offering: Once a month, on the new moon when shadows are deepest, the Silent Hand gathers to make offerings to Noctara. These offerings are not of material wealth but of stolen secrets, whispered into the void. The greater the secret, the greater the favor Noctara grants.
The Silent Step: Followers of Noctara perform a sacred dance of shadows during their rituals. This dance is a form of meditation and a tribute to the goddess, representing the delicate balance of moving unseen and unheard in the world of light. Sacred Symbol: The followers of Noctara use the Ebon Mask as their sacred symbol, a mask that represents their hidden identities and lives in the shadows. Many of the highest-ranking members of the Silent Hand wear physical masks during their rituals, though these masks are always of a simple, featureless black.
Sacred Sites:
The Hall of Whispers: Hidden deep in the underbellies of cities and forgotten ruins, the Halls of Whispers serve as secret meeting places for Noctara’s followers. These halls are places of absolute silence, and those who break the silence within them risk invoking the goddess’s wrath. It is here that the most guarded secrets are shared, and plans are laid for future heists and plots.
The Black Vault: An ancient, lost temple dedicated to Noctara is rumored to lie in the darkest depths of the world. It is said that within this Black Vault lies the Shadow Codex, a book of forbidden knowledge that only the most skilled thieves have the chance of recovering. Many believe that whoever holds the Shadow Codex will become the greatest master of deception the world has ever seen.
Hierarchy:
The Silent Hand is led by the mysterious figure known only as The Whispered One. No one knows their true identity, and it is said they speak only through intermediaries, blending perfectly into the shadows. Below them are the Nightblades, elite rogues who carry out Noctara’s will through acts of stealth and subterfuge. The Shadowbinders are the spiritual leaders, serving as priests and mentors within the Silent Hand. They are tasked with teaching initiates the deeper mysteries of the Creed, helping them master the art of moving in silence and keeping secrets.
The lowest level of the Silent Hand are the Veiled, new initiates who are still proving themselves worthy of Noctara’s blessing. They must complete difficult trials of stealth, cunning, and deceit to rise in the ranks.
Core Tenets of the Creed:
- Move in Silence: Never reveal your intentions or desires. Let others act while you remain unseen.
- Knowledge Over Strength: Secrets hold more value than gold. Use what you know to your advantage.
- Master of Lies: Always wear a mask, both literal and figurative. Let no one see your true self.
- No Trace: Leave no evidence of your actions. A perfect heist is one where no one knows a crime has occurred.
Advantage: +1 Stealth and Deception
Disadvantage:
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