Speakers of the Black Hand are second only to one - the Listener. In Oblivion, the Black Hand is compared to an actual hand, the four fingers including the Speakers and the thumb being the Listener -makes the biggest mark; the one who gives orders to Speakers who give orders to their Silencers.

In Skyrim, if the Dragonborn decides to join the Dark Brotherhood and becomes the Listener, he/she will also be performing duties of the Speaker.

Dead Drop OrdersEdit

Throughout the Dark Brotherhood questline, you advance in rank only to become Lucien Lachance's Silencer, to which you gain "Dead Drop" orders. However, only the first two orders are real, resulting in you killing Speakers and other Silencers. In later quests, you become the Listener (after meeting with the Night Mother).