The Hand of Seinac

The Hand of Seinac is a paramilitary force that exists in  Darincedonia. It's headquarters is in the Fortress of God within the city of  Caershire.

History
It was founded in FY 29 as the military arm of the  Church under the command of the Archbishop. The purpose of the Hand was to protect the churches and its people as well as to hunt down witches and warlocks. However, in FY 87, Archbishop Stefan Gradle used the Hand to rebel against King Welsnet Tormund, King Darince's grandson. King Welsnet was overthrown and the Archbishop was the King for a year. However, the exiled king gathered a rebel army and retook his throne a year later. He then had the Hand disbanded. The Lord Commander of the Hand, Lord Jakob Smyth, rebuilt the Hand and King Welsnet allowed the Hand to continue to function as a paramilitary force so long as it remained loyal to the crown. Over the centuries, the Hand was neither subject to the King, nor did it rebel against the King. The Hand continued to protect churches and hunt warlocks but overtime, the Hand became more and more zealous. The Hand developed a reputation for zealousness and ruthlessness. Oftentimes, they arrest men and women who can perform  magic (and even those who can't) at the slightest accusation or provocation. They are a troublesome lot. However, the King usually puts up with them as they are effective in oppressing warlocks and witches. The School of the Arcanites is an enemy of the Hand of Seinac as the Hand unjustly puts anyone who controls magic under suspicion. In FY 532, the Hand kidnapped and executed prominent members of the School of the Arcanites, including four of the Elder Council, inciting a war between the two organizations. The Arcanites besieged Caershire. King Tomas IV had to send an army to stop the fighting and restore peace. The Hand of Seinac was disbanded by  King Jame Brant III after the Second War under the pretext that magic was no longer a tool that mortal men could use, therefore there was no more threat from practitioners of dark magic and therefore, there was no need for the Hand.

Structure
The Hand has a typical military structure. Every armed member of the hand is a paladin. They are knighted by the order, but such knighthood is landless and not recognized by the crown, unlike royal knighthood. Theyare still afforded the same courtesy as royal knights but are often secretly held in contempt. The rank and file paladins make the the bottom rung. This rank is divided into squadrons of ten men, and is lead by a Lieutenant. Above the Lieutenant is a Captain who controls a Century (100 men) and above him, a Lord Captain controlling a legion (1000 men.) The Hand is typically some ten thousand strong. At the very top is the Lord Commander. Their sign is a blue fist on a white field.