Bane (deity)
- For the spell, see Bane.
 Bane (deity)
| |
|---|---|
| Alias(es): | The Black Lord, the Black Hand, the Lord of Darkness |
| Power: | Unknown |
| Pantheon: | Faerûnian pantheon |
| Symbol: | An upright black hand, palm out and fingers together, usually on a red field |
| Alignment: | Lawful evil |
| Cleric alignment: | LE, LN, NE |
| Portfolio: | Strife, hatred, tyranny, fear |
| Worshippers: | Conquerors, evil fighters and monks, tyrants, wizards |
| Domains: | Destruction |
| Favoured weapon: | Morningstar |
| Allies: | Bhaal (now dead), Loviatar, Talona, Myrkul (now dead), Malar, Mask |
| Enemies: | Chauntea, Eldath, Lathander, Mystra, Tyr, Helm, Deneir, Torm, Ilmater, Tymora, Lliira, Oghma |
Bane (BAIN), one of the Dark Gods, was the ultimate tyrant and a thoroughly evil and malicious being who reveled in hatred and strife and was worshiped by those who in turn enjoyed such wickedness. From his throne in the Black Bastion, he ruled over select parts of Faerûn through his clergy. In religious art, he was depicted as a looming, brooding black hand ready to crush the world in its palm, as an empty black throne, or as a shadowy, vaguely human-shaped figure garbed in garments of black streaked with red sitting on a throne of skulls. The one constant in these depictions was a jewel-encrusted gauntlet streaked with blood. While Bane hated most of the Faerûnian pantheon, in particular he hated Mystra and dreamed of torturing her and consuming her power. He devoted much research to trying to learn ways in which other gods have in the past subsumed the powers of rival gods whom they destroyed, for Bane desired above all to gain true supreme power by acquiring governance over all magic. The Black Lord was destroyed in conflict with Torm during the Time of Troubles, and his portfolio was given to the once-mortal Cyric by Ao, along with the portfolios of Myrkul and Bhaal. Loviatar and Talona served Bane indirectly by serving Bhaal. Much of Bane’s power was absorbed by Cyric, the Prince of Lies, when the Black Lord was destroyed by Torm, the Lord of Duty. As is the case with Myrkul, a small fraction of Bane’s essence remains in the Realms. Fragments of his personality were scattered among his 25 or more surviving Baneliches (clerical liches of Bane). In centuries past, the Black Lord had transformed over 35 living High Imperceptors at the end of their tenure into undead “Mouths of Bane” — Baneliches. In the wake of the Godswar, each Banelich now believes itself to be the reincarnated form of Bane, with the expected corresponding megalomaniacal plans for conquering Faerûn. They are also the only known beings in the Realms to either still receive spells from Bane and/or grant themselves clerical spell-like abilities without a living divine patron.
Bane preferred never to be seen in person and hence almost never sent a pure avatar to the Realms. He did possess mortals from time to time to serve as his ersatz avatars, preferring young and good-looking men of slim build, cultured tastes, wealth, and power — often bored young noblemen. Any person Bane possessed quickly assumed the appearance of a handsome, black-haired man of oily looks and a derisive, even cruel, manner. Bane’s control over a body was complete, though the owner retained awareness of the body’s deeds and surroundings. Often the person whose body Bane inhabited went mad watching Bane ruin the lives of those around him and all he held dear.
Bane often manifested as eyes of red blazing flame surrounded by darkness, whether it was night or not. Another favored form was that of a black, taloned hand whose touch was like ice (and was, in fact, a chill touch) reaching out of a cloud of darkness. In either manifestation, Bane retained the mighty magical powers of his avatar form, including the ability to cause instant death by touch or glance at will. He delighted above all in manipulating mortals through their fear of him, and his every word and deed acted to further such influence. He lashed out without qualm when necessary — but only when absolutely necessary, preferring not to use brute force when he need not. Bane enforced his will, gave aid to his faithful, or showed his favor through a variety of servitor creatures as well, including baatezu (of all lesser and least varieties), beholders and their kin, black dragons, death tyrants (undead eye tyrants, the remains of, beholders who rebelled against Bane or failed him), imps, maelephants, banelar, simpathetics, and all manner of creature possessed by pride incarnates (a type of extraplanar creature). The Black Lord sometimes showed his presence through the imprint of a giant footprint from a mailed boot beneath which the very earth was charred. The discovery of a single black sapphire or the presence of red powder (often powdered carnelian) was said to indicate Bane's approval or disapproval, respectively.
In ages past there was but one god of strife, death, and the dead, and he was known as Jergal, Lord of the End of Everything. Jergal fomented and fed on the discord among mortals and powers alike. When beings slew each other in their quest for power or in their hatred, he welcomed them into his shadowy Knucklebones, Skull Bowling, and the Empty Throne kingdom of eternal gloom. As all things died, everything came to him eventually, and over time he built his power into a kingdom unchallenged by any other god. But he grew tired of his duties for he knew them too well, and without challenge there is nothing, and in nothingness there is only gloom. In such a state, the difference between absolute power and absolute powerlessness is undetectable. During this dark era, there arose three powerful mortals — Bane, Bhaal, and Myrkul — who lusted after the power Jergal wielded. The trio forged an unholy pact that they would dare to seek such ultimate power or die in the attempt. Over the length and breadth of the Realms they strode, seeking powerful magic and spells and defying death at every turn. No matter what monster they confronted or what spells they braved, the three mortals emerged unscathed at every turn. Eventually the trio destroyed one of the Seven Lost Gods, and they each seized a portion of his divine essence for themselves. The trio then journeyed into the Gray Waste and sought out the Castle of Bone. Through armies of skeletons, legions of zombies, hordes of non corporeal undead, and a gauntlet of liches they battled. Eventually they reached the object of their lifelong quest — the Bone Throne. “I claim this throne of evil,” shouted Bane the tyrant. “I’ll destroy you before you can raise a finger,” threatened Bhaal the assassin. “And I shall imprison your essence for eternity,” promised Myrkul the necromancer. Jergal arose from his throne with a weary expression and said, “The Throne is yours. I have grown weary of this empty power. Take it if you wish — l promise to serve and guide you as your seneschal until you grow comfortable with the position.” But before the stunned trio could react, the Lord of the Dead continued, “Who among you shall rule?” The trio immediately fell to fighting amongst themselves while Jergal looked on with indifference. When eventually it appeared that either they would all die of exhaustion or battle on for an eternity, the Lord of the End of Everything intervened. “After all you have sacrificed, would you come away with nothing? Why don’t you divide the portfolios of the office and engage in a game of skill for them?” asked Jergal. Bane, Bhaal, and Myrkul considered the god’s offer and agreed. So Jergal took the skulls of his three most powerful liches and gave them to the trio so they could compete by skull bowling. Each mortal rolled a skull across the Gray Waste, having agreed that the winner would be he who bowled the farthest. Malar the Beastlord arrived to visit Jergal at this moment. After quickly ascertaining that the winner of the contest would get all of Jergal’s power, he chased off after the three skulls to make sure that the contest would be halted until he had a chance to participate for part of the prize. Bane, Bhaal, and Myrkul again fell to fighting as it was obvious their sport was ruined, but again Jergal intervened. “Why don’t you allow Lady Luck to decide so you don’t have to share with the Beast?” The trio agreed, and Jergal broke off his skeletal finger bones and gave them to the players. When Malar returned from chasing the skulls, he found that the trio had just finished a game of knucklebones. Bane cried out triumphantly, “As winner, I choose to rule for all eternity as the ultimate tyrant. I can induce hatred and strife at my whim, and all will bow down before me while in my kingdom.” Myrkul, who had won second place, declared, “But I choose the dead, and by doing so I truly win, because all you are lord over, Bane, will eventually be mine. All things must die — even gods.” Bhaal, who finished third, demurred, “I choose death, and it is by my hand that all that you rule Lord Bane will eventually pass to Lord Myrkul. Both of you must pay honor to me and obey my wishes, since I can destroy your kingdom, Bane, by murdering your subjects, and I can starve your kingdom, Myrkul by staying my hand.” Malar growled in frustration, but could do nothing, and yet again only the beasts were left for him. And Jergal merely smiled, for he had been delivered.
The Church
All clerics, specialty priests, and crusaders of Bane received religion (Faer unian) as a bonus nonweapon proficiency. Bane was the most widely known and feared evil god of the Realms. Banites were generally cruel folk who enjoyed exercising power over others within the security of a rigid hierarchy and rules. While Bane is dead, his church lives on, though most of its members have now joined the churches of Cyric or even Gargauth, Talos, or Talona. The church of Bane was overrun with wizards, especially near Zhentil Keep. The presence of so many wizards as clergy members and the influence of the ambitious Fzoul Chembryl led to a schism in the church long before the Time of Troubles. This created a fierce internal rivalry within the church between the Orthodox (mostly clerical) and Transformed (more heavily wizardly) factions of the church. Bane's church underwent several rapid changes after the death of its deity during the Time of Troubles. In the immediate aftermath of the Time of Troubles, the rift between Orthodox and Transformed Banites worsened. Cyric assumed Bane's portfolio, continued to grant Banite priests spells, and tried to convert Bane's faithful to direct worship of him. Orthodox Banites held that Cyric was merely a new form of Bane, expanded to take in the powers of Myrkul and Bhaal to show the growing power of evil. Transformed Banites instead argued that Bane was dead and Cyric had taken his mantle and position as deity of strife. The office of Bane that Cyric held was the power they worshiped. Along with almost all former Bhaal-worshipers and the vast majority of former Myrkulytes, these Banite factions formed the strong base of Cyric's faith. There remained scattered sects of hardcore ultra-orthodox Bane worshipers, such as the Risen Cult of Bane in the Moonshaes, who believed that Bane was still alive and that Cyric, whom they referred to as the Pretender, was a usurper who would be punished in the future along with all his faithless followers. Little did these stubborn, misguided fools realize that the Prince of Lies was granting the spells and special abilities of all Banites, whether they recognized him as Bane or Cyric, because he could not resist the chance to prevaricate in such a broad way and because he hoped to eventually lure the stubborn holdouts to his cause. The High Imperceptor was in theory the supreme living servant of Bane (numerous former High Imperceptors survive as Baneliches) and was formerly directly recognized as such by Bane, but in practice this declared leadership was often not the actual case. Well before the Time of Troubles, Fzoul Chembryl of Zhentil Keep led a powerful faction of the church into schism. He then assumed complete authority of the splinter branch - an act whose temerity Bane rewarded by possessing Fzoul directly when the Fall of the Gods came down upon Faerun. There have been other rebel leaders in the church of Bane, such as the Risen Cult of Bane, the Orthodox Church of Bane, the True Church of Bane, the Old Church of Bane, and so on. Bane suffered such strife to continue down the years because it brought eager service beyond the call of duty and because he delighted in the strife itself. Specialty priests of Bane were known as Dreadmasters, a term used regardless of the gender of its owner. About 10% of the total priesthood of the church of Bane was comprised of Dreadmasters and most were kept in low-level positions. Some specialty priests of Bane operated outside the rigid church hierarchy; they were mainly adventurers and hermits seeking to create their own power base to eventually destroy the others. Novices of Bane's clergy were addressed as slave, but if named by Bane from a speaking altar or in a dream vision, they became full priests of the god and gained the title of Watchful Brother/Watchful Sister. From there, they ascended through the following rankings: Deadly Adept, Trusted Servant, Willing Whip, Hooded Menace, Black Fang, Striking Hand, Vigilant Talon, Masked Death, Dark Doom, Higher Doom, and Deep Mystery. This latter title was a general one held by all clergy members of 12th and greater level. A priest of this rank addressed fellow clergy members of higher ranks or levels as Deeper Mystery (not to do so was regarded as a deliberate insult). Known individual titles among the Banites of Deeper Mystery included Vigilator, Lord/Lady of Mysteries, Lord/Lady of the Hand, Imperceptor, Dark Imperceptor, Grand Bloodletter, High Inquisitor, and High Imperceptor. All except the last title were self-bestowed, but such self-given titles had to be confirmed and used upon the bestower by a higher ranking priest before they were formally recognized. Banites addressed each other only by title unless the mix of individuals present would cause confusion without the addition of a surname. Banite clergy bowed, knelt to, or kissed the boots of superiors, depending on the difference in their ranks and what they were ordered to do. When in the presence of non worshipers of Bane, Banite clergy addressed each other as Brother/Sister Faithful unless speaking to a superior of considerably greater rank, whereupon Dread Brother/Sister would be used. Priests of Bane prided themselves on cold, decisive thought, speech, and action. Sarcasm and cutting authority were valued over shouting, loss of temper, or uncontrolled behavior. Two priests arguing to the death may well have appeared as softly polite but insistent noblemen debating some minor point right up to the last moments of one (or both) of their lives.
Dogma
The clergy members of Bane's church believed that those who crossed the Dark One met their dooms earlier and more harshly than those who foolishly worshiped other deities than Bane and still inevitably fell before the church of Bane. All priests of Bane were ordered to submit to the word of Bane as uttered by Banite clergy members who outranked them and to spread the Dark Fear of Bane. Bane whispered to initiates in their dreams: "Serve no one but me. Fear me always and make others fear me even more than you do. The Black Hand always strikes down those who stand against it in the end. Defy me and die or in your death find loyalty, for I shall compel it. Submit to my will, since true power can only be gained through service to me. It is the doom of those unguided by me to let power spill through their hands."
Day-to-Day Activities
Bane desired to rule the world so that all Faerun would know his tyranny. His clergy members were charged with the task of rising to power in every realm and if necessary leading a band, city-state, or kingdom to war to conquer its neighbors in order to bring ever more territory under the sway of the Black Hand of Bane. Hatred, strife, and destruction were to be spread but under clear duress and control, not unbridled chaos. Domination was preferred to debauchery, and carefully limited discord to stability. Cruelty, torture, and mayhem were tacitly encouraged, but those caught at such activities had to pay the price unless they had served Bane so well by spreading fear that none dared speak or act against them. Superior Banite clergy members had to be obeyed at all times and in all things. The faithful were to work subtly and patiently but tirelessly to bring members of the faith to power in every guild, village, town, court, war band, fellowship, realm, and society. All rules of the church had to be followed to the utmost, but the rules of others were no rules at all.
Holy Days/Important Ceremonies
No rituals of Bane corresponded to calendar dates, seasons, or lunar progressions. Rituals were held whenever clergy leading a congregation declared they would be, and these ceremonies were called by a wide variety of names. Personal prayers to Bane were to be uttered before going into battle and before eating or drinking anything to thank Bane for allowing his worshiper to live to taste the fare. Rituals were held in a place of darkness (often simply outdoors at night) lit only by dim magical radiances, moonlight, and flickering torches or braziers. Usually dark chambers, caverns, and ruins were used. The worshipers gathered around the Black Altar, which was a plain stone block draped with black cloth or painted black, a block of obsidian, or anything over which a large, floating, black stone Hand of Bane hovered (levitated there by a wizard clergy member or a magical item used by a priest or through magic of its own). If no Hand of Bane was present, an empty black throne was always placed facing the Black Altar. Services in such evil churches involved rolling drums, chanting, and sometimes singing and the sacrifice of intelligent life. Sacrifices had to be humiliated, tortured, and made to show fear before dying to be acceptable to Bane, and they usually met their deaths through slashing, flogging, or being crushed by the floating Hand of Bane.
Major Centers of Worship
The largest and most powerful temple of Bane was not located in Zhentil Keep, nor was it the court of the High Imperceptor at the Black Lord's Altar in Mulmaster (though that is usually considered the center of the faith). The largest temple of Bane in all Faerun is the Black Lord's Cloak in the city of Mourktar on the edge of the flat, sandy plains of Threskel. It has been said (accurately) that only the presence of this temple, which grew to rule the entire city following the death of King Theris and the subsequent assassination of his successor, prevented the more ambitious Red Wizards of Thay from abandoning all plans to assault Rashemen and instead establishing a beachhead in Threskel from which to attack decadent Unther and fractious Chessenta. Imperceptor Kabarrath Telthaug styled himself Dread Imperceptor in the days before the Time of Troubles, asserting his own independence of the standard Banite hierarchy. It is not hard to understand why: He commands over 700 Banite priests of rank, another 1,000 lesser clergy members, and a well-equipped, harshly disciplined army of loyal troops armed with many items of minor magic, and well practiced in slaughter. This army has been force-marched west to ravage cities in Chessenta time and time again only to pull back when the exercises are over. The temple is named for its only relic, an animated black cloak once worn by Bane himself that became a sentient monster that envelops people from time to time and sucks them dry of all blood. The Black Lord's Cloak temple complex has grown into a vast palace where Kabarrath keeps the wealth of subject Threskel and its fleet of merchant and fishing vessels. The widely feared pirate fleet of Alkoth is said to have secretly served the priest sof the Cloak, and it is certain that the adventuring bands the Six Black Blades and the Crow Banners (active in Murghom, Mulhorand, and Var) and probably other tomb-robbing organizations as well were agents sent forth from Threskel to gather magic, wealth, and less glamorous supplies for Kabarrath's temple and the greater glory of Bane. With the destruction of the Untheric pantheon, Imperceptor Kabarrath perceives a power vacuum in which he can seize control of that ancient nation. It is unclear which deity supports this powerful temple that still maintains its nominal dedication to Bane in the aftermath of the Time of Troubles.
Priestly Vestments
Banite clergy members always went armed and were required to always wear something black. Ceremonial dress for Banite priests was black armor with blood-red capes, The more prosperous the priest, the finer the workmanship of the armor was. The ceremonial robes of wizards of the clergy were always black; wizard clergy members of the highest ranks enspelled these robes to swirl with ever-present illusions of glittering black stars and splashes of spilling blood. Facial tattoos were common among Banites. After the Time of Troubles, these unfortunately made them stand out among clear-faced new Cyricists within the ranks of Cyric's faithful. High-level Banites wore gems on their foreheads. When adventuring, priests of Bane retained their black armor, though their battle armor usually sported cruel spurs, hooks, and horns. Wizardly clergy members preferred long, flowing, black-and-red robes. Neither group would wear such gear in public if it would expose them to persecution or hamper their service to their deity. Usually, the facial tattoos of Banites were enough to identify them.
Server Lore
During the Time of Troubles, hundreds of the clergy of the now dead god Bane were murdered overnight in Zhentarim controlled areas. A few managed to escape, fleeing far away. In Zhentil Keep, it is said Fzoul Chembryl himself has fled, but no one knows where. In the morning, Manshoon leading a large group of Blackcloaks proclaimed to have liberated Zhentil Keep and all its holdings from Fzoul and his zealots, marking the end of the war with Cormyr. He immediately took control over the Black Network, having purged it of its Banite element. To the west, in Darkhold, blackcloaks bearing Manshoon's seal captured and shackled Imperceptor Vyshasa before placing him in the dungeon. Imperceptor Vyshasa was shortly after handed to the orcs of Uruk Lurra in payment for their aid in the war against the Lord's Alliance.