Hands of the Divine, The

Right hand of the Divine
The Right Hand of the Divine is the most powerful appointed position in the Chantry, second only to the Divine in authority and responsibility. The Right Hand is the Divine’s closest advisor and ally. It is usually a position given to someone implicitly trusted for they have the authorization to speak for the Divine and make decisions in her name.

Selecting their Right Hand is usually the first act a new Divine will make, often choosing from among the ranks of the Grand Clerics, who have proven their worth to the Maker and more importantly their loyalty to the new Divine. This can cause something of a competition between the more ambitious Grand Cleric’s in an effort to ascend to the esteemed position. Much like the Grand game that infects all levels of Orlesian society, the Grand Clerics seek to undermine their competitors with plots and schemes, while still remaining in the good graces of the Divine. Such machinations have even claimed the life of a Grand Cleric or two in the battle to become the Divine’s Right Hand.

Though anyone can indeed be chosen for the position, it is unprecedented for a Divine to select someone who is not an official member of either the Chantry or the Seekers.

During the reign of strong and able Divines, the Hand is the chief agent for coordinating and carrying out the Divine’s will. During the reign of feeble or senile Divines, the Hand is often the real power behind the sunburst throne, and is the head of the Chantry in all but name.

The Right Hand officially answers only to the Divine, and was beyond reproach by any other persons or parties. So it was that only the Divine could relieve a current Hand of their duties. However when the attempted coup against Divine Beatrix III occurred in 9:22, when the then Right Hand Grand Cleric Castilla tried to assassinate the Chantry leadership to become the next Divine. Since then, the Right Hand of the Divine is subject to the scrutiny of the Seekers of Truth. If the Seeker’s suspect the Right Hand of treason against the Divine or the Chantry and have proof of the fact, it is within the Lord Seeker's power to strip the Hand of all authority and privileges and will bring them before the Divine to face judgement. This power has yet to be exercised by the Seekers.

Previous known Right Hands of the Divine

 * Grand Cleric Castilla of Orlais
 * Seeker Cassandra Pentaghast, the Hero of Orlais

Left Hand of the Divine
If the Right Hand of the Divine is her blade in hand, then the Divine’s Left Hand is the one concealed in her sleeve. The Left Hand is the Divine’s shadow agent who enforces her will through methods that might otherwise blemish the Divine’s name. Be it through threats, blackmail or assassination the Left Hand will see it done. The Left hand also acts as the Divine’s personal bodyguard and is rarely far from the her side, save when undertaking righteous missions in the Chantry's name. Unlike the Right Hand, the Left’s identity is a secret to all but the highest ranking members of the Chantry. Also rather unlike the Right Hand, who is chosen by each new Divine, the Left is a position for Life. So it is that a single Left Hand can serve multiple Divines throughout their lifetime.

The Left Hand has the honour of carrying the Divine’s seal, this allows them to access restricted areas within the Grand Cathedral and the White Spire as well as granting them any and all resources the Chantry has at its disposal. Because of their similar roles the Left Hand often works very closely with the Seekers of Truth and is even given a special task force comprised of revered warriors. This allows the Left Hand to organize and undertake more clandestine operations in the Divine’s name.

The Left Hand chooses their own successor usually, though naturally the Divine may press her own will upon the selection process but usually will defer to the Left Hands wisdom. Once chosen the initiate will be trained in the ways of the bard, learn the arts of politics, manipulation and of course murder from the Left Hand. Training in the next Left Hand is as important a task as carrying out the Divine’s will.

Just as the lord Seeker has the power to remove the Divine's Right Hand from power with enough proof, the Left Hand keeps the Lord Seeker in check. The Left Hand is the one who watches the watchers. If they see the Seeker's or the Lord Seeker is overstepping the line, it is within the their authority to remove both the Lord Seeker and the Seeker General from office should enough evidence support the fact. The only ones who can over turn such a decision are naturally the Divine or the Divine's Right Hand. So it is that the Hands of the Divine and the Seeker's each act as counter balances to each other, in order to ensure that each is working for the good of the Chantry and the Divine, rather than their own ambitions.

Previous known Left Hands of the Divine

 * Leliana/Sister Nightingale