Hand of Mahra

The Hand of Mahra is a deeply religious, psychotic and murderous cult based in New York City in the Crimes of Passion series. Though they appear in Chapter 1, they are not identified until Chapter 6.

History and Origins
The Hand of Mahra was founded by Mathus Blake in c. 1937, who took inspiration from a symbol he found on a shard of pottery in Germany. The symbol, which has three arrows, originates with a group of hunters, known as the Mahrenaen tribe, in pre-Roman Gaul, now part of modern-day France and Germany. Blake brought the ancient artefacts he found at the site back to New York with him and founded the cult shortly after. The symbol is believed to indicate possession.

It was originally formed as a spiritualist group using iconography from the Mahrenaen tribe, and the members worshipped a three-headed goddess called Mahra. The group petered out during the early 1950s, but was re-established by an unknown druid some time in the early 21st century, with ulterior motives. The cult has grown, and now features several dozen members.

Present Day
Members of the cult are deeply religious, worshipping a three-headed goddess called Mahra. The members believe the goddess bestows wealth and power upon them. The goddess has three masks, each of which has its own personality; which one she displays depends on what is sacrificed before her. Her favorites were said to be jewelry, fine weaponry and vital organs.


 * Maiden - she was kind but the most difficult to deceive.
 * Mother (also known as Huntress) - was fair and just.
 * Crone - a vicious god, who values human sacrifice.

Each member of the cult has a secret identity, often named after other Gaulish gods, whose identity is hidden from the other members.

Initiation
Those who are chosen to join the cult are instructed to wear black robes, blindfold themselves and wear a tight pair of handcuffs at a certain location, usually an abandoned factory or warehouse, before being drugged with chloroform and kidnapped. When they are awakened, they must face three trials, each one appealing to the three masks of the goddess. Not all who begin the first trial will make it through, and some are killed rather than allowed to return to their homes. Those who pass the first two tasks are injected with novogliterol and interrogated.

Current Activities
The cult in its present form is highly criminal, and some of its members are extremely dangerous. Their victims, who are often killed in a brutal way, have their vital organs sacrificed to Mahra, usually as a result of a cardioectomy (surgical removal of the heart). Their crimes include murder, kidnapping, assault, battery, drugging, and arson.

The latest victims of the cult are both upper class women, hinting at a possible 'target'. Both women were killed by the same person, a masked killer using an ornate sword made of Azure Iron and inscribed with ancient Gaul runes. Both women were drugged using a potent, expensive and rare drug known as novogliterol, often used by the group as a truth serum, before being brutally murdered by having their heart cut out of their chest as a sacrifice to Crone, hinting at a possible modus operandi. Analysis of the killer by the coroner's office indicates the killer is a highly skilled surgeon, for the precise manner in which the heart is removed would not be possible for any amateur.

They also use several associates to help them with their goals, notably Bird, who sells and ships them supply of novogliterol, and Tony Kowalski, who manufactures their masks and weaponry.

Appearance
Members of the cult have a variety of appearances, but all have dark black and gold robes when taking part in cult activities. All have masks to protect their identities, some of them animal shaped with horns. Some members and associates have a tattoo featuring the cult's emblem, the three arrows. Several members, such as Devona and Vosgesus, also use voice-changers to further mask their identities.

Associates

 * Bird
 * Tony Kowalski

Others suspected of their involvement with the cult are NYPD captain Maria Thompson and Rahim Madani, the latter having a small statue of Mahra in his bathroom.

Crimes of Passion

 * Chapter 1: Cross Your Heart
 * Chapter 3: Body Language (appears only via their symbol)
 * Chapter 5: Up In Flames
 * Chapter 6: Sleep When You're Dead (first named)
 * Chapter 8: Forging Ahead (mentioned)
 * Chapter 9: The Rite Track

Trivia

 * The cult has similarities to The Society, who were also psychotic and murderous, though with different aims.
 * The cultists' robes and masks are similar in appearance to those worn by the Via Imperii Circle members.