Bane

Bane (pronounced BAIN) is the evil and malicious greater deity of fear, hatred and tyranny and ruler of Gehenna. Preferring to plot and scheme, Bane rarely appears to act in a direct manner; preferring to act through his worshipers and other various agents. His ultimate goal is to eventually control all of Abios. When summoned he has a dark and rather shadowy appearance with a resemblance of black armor and his tell-tale jeweled dark gauntlet. He emanates an aura of vast power and cruel intelligence.

Relationships

While Bane believes himself the rightful ruler of all the planes and can not tolerate subservience to anyone, the god is willing, unlike many evil deities, to work with others if it serves his interests. As a result, the god has formed an alliance with Mask by asserting Mask's fear of him.

Bane has many enemies as well. Bane's most hated foe is Cyric who stole from him many of his worshipers, and The Triad, particularly its senior member Torm. Bane is also enemies with Helm and Mystra.

Worshipers

Among the evil gods, Bane's church is among the most stable and powerful. While there was a time when the god encouraged sectarianism and violent disputes, that time has long since passed and today the god's Faithful are as likely to solve their disputes through reasonable debate as through show of force. That being said, Bane's church is no less ruthless than that of Cyric or Shar and it obeys a strict hierarchy extending from the god's most powerful worshipers to his weakest ones, with the god himself the lord of everything they do and, though worshipers of Bane come from every station in life, they all know to whom they owe their blessings, ready to turn it over to the Black Lord at any time.

Banite customs are often quite spartan in nature and the god's followers celebrate no holidays in honor of their god, instead showing their gratitude to him through service and the ritual torture and sacrifice of sentient beings offensive to the god. Priests of Bane pray for their spells at midnight, pledging their eternal loyalty and service to the Order of the Black Hand, knowing full well that the penalty for failure or disloyalty is death.

His clerics can be recognized by the black-enameled gauntlet worn on one fist. They are able to cast spells against undead, such as a flare of greenish phosphorescence which sears smaller undead or an even fiercer radiance that sears ghouls and phantoms.

Dogma

Serve no one but Bane. Fear him always and make others fear him even more than you do. The Black Hand always strikes down those who stand against it in the end. Defy Bane and die - or in death find loyalty to him, for he shall compel it. Submit to the word of Bane as uttered by his ranking clergy, since true power can only be gained through service to him. Spread the dark fear of Bane. It is the doom of those who do not follow him to let power slip through their hands. Those who cross the Black Hand meet their dooms earlier and more harshly than those who worship other deities.

— The Teachings of Bane

Divine Classification

Greater Deity

Species

Human

Church/Cult

Order of the Black Hand

Honorary & Occupational Titles

• The Black Lord
• Lord of Darkness
• The Black Hand
• The Dark One

Gender

Male

Alignment

Lawful Evil

Divine Domains

War, Evil, Destruction, Hatred, Law, Tyranny

Symbol

Upright black right hand, thumb and fingers together

Portfolio

Tyranny, ambition, control

Worshipers

Conquerors, dictators

Channel Divinity

Guided strike, War god's blessing

Favored Animals

Vultures, Green-eyed black cats, Bats, Black dogs

Favored Monsters

Baatezu, Beholders, Black dragons, Death tyrants, Banelar nagas, Beasts of Bane, Fang dragons, Green dragons, Hell hounds

Favored Minerals

Black sapphires (to show approval), Powdered red carnelian (to show disapproval), Hematite, emeralds, bloodstones

Favored Colors

Black, green, red