Bane,God of Tyranny (BAYN)

Introduction

Ah, my dear friend, Bane was not merely a god, he was the embodiment of all that is cruel and ruthless. He ruled over a realm of fear and terror, known as Banehold, where his loyal followers plotted to extend his iron grip over all of Faerûn. His followers, known as the Black Hand, were tasked with spreading his doctrine of tyranny and destruction throughout the land, as he sought to crush all who dared to defy his will. Bane was not a deity to be trifled with, for his power was matched only by his insatiable thirst for control and domination. One can only hope that his malevolent influence does not spread too far beyond the borders of his own foul realm.

"..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." — Bane

Description

Ahem, well... Bane, as many of you may know, was a rather... intimidating figure, to say the least. When summoned, his appearance was a sight to behold - a dark and shadowy figure, adorned in armor that seemed to blend in with the darkness that surrounded him. And, of course, there was the infamous jeweled, dark gauntlet that was a tell-tale sign of his presence. But it wasn't just his appearance that was fearsome, no. He emanated an aura of vast power and cruel intelligence, enough to make even the bravest hero tremble in their boots.

"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." - Zakrevim, priest of Bane to his troops

Personality

Oh, my dear friend, I must say, discussing Bane always makes me nervous. The mere mention of this malevolent deity sends shivers down my spine. Bane was an utterly ruthless and brutal god who kept his distance from mortals, preferring to exert his dominance over his followers from afar. He took pleasure in inspiring terror in others and inciting hatred in their hearts, using this strife to gain greater control over Faerûn. The Black Hand was not one to be trifled with, and his immense power and intelligence made him a force to be reckoned with.

Abilities

Fearfully, I must warn you of the immense power that Bane, the god of tyrannical oppression, possesses. When faced with a battle, Bane could possess the body of an individual, twisting it into a monstrous form with leathery black skin and powerful claws that could rend flesh and metal alike. In this form, he could also gain any powers held by his host in their life, and protect himself from psionic control. It is said that Bane's powers of manipulation and deception were unparalleled, as he could sow discord and chaos even among his own followers to achieve his ultimate goal of total domination.

Possessions

Tremblingly, let me tell you about Bane's possessions, or rather his singular possession. Unlike many other deities, Bane did not possess a divine weapon. Instead, he favored his own gauntleted right hand, which was adorned with a glittering, dark jewel. This gauntlet was both a symbol of his power and a tool for him to wield it. It was said to be able to manipulate and control magic, and could also emit bolts of deadly energy that could easily slay mortal beings. In the hands of Bane, the gauntlet was a fearsome and terrible weapon, a testament to his sheer power and domination over the mortal realm.

Divine realm

Tremblingly, allow me to elaborate on Bane's divine realm. In the Great Wheel cosmology, Bane's ominous divine realm, the Black Bastion, was located in Avalas, the first layer of Acheron. It was a place of pure malevolence, and the mere thought of it would send shivers down even the bravest adventurer's spine. In the World Axis cosmology, Bane's plane of existence was known as Banehold, or what was formerly referred to as the Barrens of Doom and Despair. This plane was said to be a desolate and hostile place, perpetually shrouded in darkness and misery. It was where Bane would plan his malevolent schemes and gather his dark forces, preparing to spread tyranny and oppression throughout the Realms.

Relationships

As I write about Bane's current relationships, I must tread carefully, for he is still alive and his wrath is not to be taken lightly. That being said, Bane believes himself to be the rightful ruler of all the planes, and he is willing to work with others if it serves his interests. He has formed multiple alliances, including one with Myrkul that dates back to when both were mortals, as well as working relationships with Loviatar, Talona, and Mask. Since his return to life in 1372 DR, Bane has been focused on reforging these alliances and reasserting their fears of him. Bane also has a number of servants, including Bhaal and his own son Iyachtu Xvim, as well as Abbathor, Maglubiyet, Hruggek, and Tiamat. Malar is also known to work with Bane at times.
However, Bane has just as many enemies as he does allies. He has a longstanding hatred for the goddess of magic, Mystra, whose power he coveted. Since his return, his greatest foes have been Cyric, who has stolen many of his worshipers, and the Zhentarim. He also harbors enmity toward the Triad, particularly its formerly junior but now senior member Torm, who was responsible for Bane's first death. Bane is also enemies with the gods Amaunator and Oghma and called Helm and Midnight enemies as well when both gods lived.

Worshipers

As I write this, I cannot help but glance over my shoulder, as if the very mention of Bane's worshippers could summon them to my doorstep. They are among the most fearsome and ruthless followers of any god, even among the other evil deities. Bane's church is stable and powerful, and his faithful have been known to solve disputes through both reasonable debate and shows of force. But make no mistake, the worshipers of Bane are no less ruthless than those of Cyric or Shar. They follow a strict hierarchy, with Bane himself at the top, and all of his followers know that their blessings can be taken away at any time, should they fail or show any sign of disloyalty.
Their customs are spartan, with no holidays in honor of their god. Instead, they show their gratitude through service and the ritual torture and sacrifice of sentient beings offensive to Bane. The midnight prayers of Bane's priests are chilling to even imagine, as they pledge their eternal loyalty and service to the Black Hand, knowing that the penalty for failure or disloyalty is death.
Bane's church has grown in recent times, with the return of their god. He has gained nearly all the worshipers of his half-demon son, Iyachtu Xvim, as well as some of Cyric's followers. His worshipers come from all stations in life, including fighters, monks, blackguards, and wizards.
One can recognize a Banite cleric by the black-enameled gauntlet worn on one fist. These clerics possess the ability to cast spells against undead, with their greenish phosphorescence flare able to sear smaller undead and their fiercer radiance able to sear ghouls and phantoms. It is best to avoid the followers of Bane at all costs, for their loyalty to their god and their willingness to do his bidding is unmatched.

Places of worship

As I recount the following, my fear of the worshippers of Bane only grows stronger. Although his followers can be found throughout Faerûn, the Moonsea region is where they are strongest. Their headquarters, the House of the Black Lord in Mulmaster, looms like a dark shadow over the city. The power of Bane's church is such that it is the only one allowed in Thay, a place where other gods are not even allowed to be spoken of. The temples of Bane are not places of comfort and solace, but rather sites of terror and dread.

• The Black Altar in Zhentil Keep,
• the Dark Shrine also in Zhentil Keep,
• the Dark God Reformed in Voonlar are all places of worship for Bane's followers. These places are filled with the stench of death and the sound of prayers muttered in a language that sounds like it is from beyond the grave.
• One of the most ominous places of worship is the Lyceum of the Black Lord in Phlan. Here, young acolytes are trained in the ways of Bane, and it is said that only the strongest and most ruthless are chosen to become full-fledged priests.
• the Temple of Bane in Snowmantle in Daggerdale, is a place of great evil where unspeakable rituals are performed to please the Black Hand.

The thought of these places and the horrors that occur within them fills me with a terror that is hard to describe. It is best to stay far away from any place associated with the worship of Bane and his followers.

Divine ascension

Volo's voice trembled as he recounted the mortal life of Bane, the feared Black Hand. Like many other young gods, Bane was once a mortal human, but little was known about his past except for his infamous alliance with two other mortals - Bhaal and Myrkul. Together, they formed the Dead Three, a pact of mutual aid and ambition that aimed to conquer not only the world but also the heavens, making themselves gods. Their primary target was Jergal, the powerful god of death, who was one of the mightiest deities of Toril at the time. However, the Dead Three overcame every obstacle in their way, even destroying a primordial in the Year of Sycophants. They served as generals to an army of savage gnolls and other races, ultimately slaying Maram of the Great Spear at the Monument of the Ancients in the Frozen Forest, taking the fallen primordial's essence, and dividing it up equally amongst themselves.
However, all of this was Jergal's doing, as the god had grown tired of his crown. He allowed powerful magic weapons to fall into the hands of the party, including the Jathiman Dagger, which was gifted to Bane. When it came time to confront Jergal, the god of death tricked the Dead Three into turning on one another, each desiring the others' power. Jergal then proposed to divide up his portfolio based on a game of knucklebones, which Bane won.
Bane claimed governance over the sphere of strife as his prize, believing he could rule over all of Toril in this way. However, he soon discovered that he would not only have to contend with Bhaal and Myrkul, who became powerful gods in their own right, but also with the rest of the divine, who would become his most hated foes. Volo's voice trembled as he spoke, for he knew the terror that the Black Hand and his followers could inflict upon those who crossed their path.

Time of Troubles

Ah, my dear readers, fear not, for I bring you another tale of the infamous Bane, god of strife and hatred. As I have previously shared, Bane was a mortal once, but he quickly rose to power and became a deity. And although he had many foes, he found allies in a few gods, particularly the other members of the Dead Three, with whom he plotted against his enemies, even the powerful goddess Mystra herself! It was during this time that Bane became a father to a son, Iyachtu Xvim, whose origins were shrouded in mystery. Some say he was born of a tanar'ri, others by a fallen paladin of good. Nonetheless, Xvim served as his father's compliant servant alongside other followers of the Black Hand such as Bhaal, even though he secretly resented his father's control over him.
But Bane's ambitious plots ultimately led to his downfall. Along with Myrkul, he attempted to steal the Tablets of Fate from Ao the Overgod himself, resulting in a banishment of all the gods from their astral domains and the Time of Troubles. Bane and Myrkul were among the deities who tried to regain their power quickly, but Torm, a young god, slew Bane on Eleasias 13, 1358 DR near Tantras.
However, Bane had anticipated his demise and planned accordingly. When he died, the majority of his power fell to the mortal Cyric, who temporarily claimed the powers of all the Dead Three, all of whom perished in the Time of Troubles. A smaller portion fell to his son, Iyachtu Xvim, whose true purpose would not be revealed until many years later.
When news of Bane's death spread across the Realms, at least a score of Faerûnian nations marked the occasion with widespread festivals of thanks and celebration. It was a day of great triumph for those who had opposed him, and a day of mourning for those who had worshipped him. Oh, the tales of the gods are never-ending and always fascinating!

Resurrection and return to power

Oh, it sends shivers down my spine to even speak of Bane, the god of tyranny. You see, my dear reader, Bane had a way of cheating death that made even the bravest warrior tremble with fear. He had created a scion for himself, much like his companion Bhaal, to ensure his own regeneration. And when the time came, Bane's essence burst forth from Xvim, who was nothing more than a cocoon for the god's rebirth, destroying the younger god entirely. It is said that the lich Szass Tam may have had a hand in this event as well, performing a summoning on the same night. Overnight, Bane's faithful, led by the god's chosen Fzoul Chembryl, converted to the worship of their returned master. And many of Cyric's own followers also fell under Bane's sway. It was a fearful time, my friend, as Bane set about reestablishing his power base, regaining his followers from Xvim and Cyric. He reformed his church hierarchy, putting an end to the infighting that he had once encouraged to separate the weak from the strong.
But Bane's reign of terror did not end there. He went on to conquer the goblinoid pantheon, bringing Maglubiyet and Hruggek to heel before him. And the Spellplague only served to benefit Bane, removing two of his chief rivals, Mystra and Cyric, all at once. As the centuries passed, Bane's power only grew stronger, and he became as powerful and as dangerous as he had ever been.
But even the mighty Bane could not escape the events of the Second Sundering. Along with the returned Myrkul and Bhaal, Bane remained behind as a quasi-deity, still able to influence events over Faerûn. But he was trapped in a mortal form, and his power was greatly diminished. Oh, my dear reader, even now, Bane's reign of terror fills me with dread.