The severed hand of a former judge, a man who sacrificed his own blood to uphold the law.
Several years ago there was a judge in the courts of Okada, universally feared for his harsh rulings. Harsh as the man was, he was respected for his ability to judge character and the rigor to which he adhered to the laws. One of the more influential Jixden 'famalies' did not appreciate having their illicit operations jeapordized and their men intimidated, and so concocted a plan.
Adjerie is a peculiar drug. Sometimes called Holy Touch after its use by shady priests, the drug is absorbed through the skin or ingestion and provides a mild euphoria for an hour or two without side effects. The second reason for the moniker, however, stems from its strange pattern of addiction. The drug has no side effects or withdrawl symphtoms unless used too frequently, though the allure of the euphoria it creates is resisted by only the most strong-willed, such as the devout. Once a certain bodily concentration has been achieved it is as though a switch has been triggered within the body, after the initial high has faded intense pain sets in to the bones of the afflicted. Withdrawl has been known to last decades, even lifetimes, and most victims either revert to constant drug usage or suicide.
The judge's son had never felt as good as he did the first few weeks the Family drugged his food and posessions- until they stopped. The judge emptied his savings trying to ease his son's pain, to no avail. Taking to the streets in agony and rage the son had a not-so-chanced meeting with a man in need of an errand runner. Handing off the package the son's pain faded, and he once more felt peace and harmony. Naturally the boy continued to work for the mysterious stranger, while the local authorities searched furiously for the source of the criminal currior.
Finally the net of crime the boy had unwittingly wound around himself closed in and he stood before his father in the courts. Looking at his son from his high bench the judge had one choice, show mercy to his only son and bring into question his earlier sentancings of the Jixden Family, or condemn his son to death. For the good of the public, he made his choice and watched his son hang.
Unable to live with his decision the judge soon drank himself to death, and the Family responsible for his end robbed his grave, taking his sentancing hand as a trophy. Finding it had unique properties, the group abused its powers for their own ends until it was traded to an Azuran mage in exchange for a favor. Tossed in the back of a storage area for later study the hand fell out of history.
The hand of the judge can discern up to three lies in a day, and detect the evil in a man's soul once in a day. Once per month the hand may place the Mark of Justice on one who has slipped through the clutches of the law regardless of their willingness.
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