Beshaba,goddess of misfortune (be-SHAH-ba)

Black Bess Lady Doom The Maid of Misfortune The Maid of Misrule
Domains:Trickery

Introduction

With great revulsion, I must recount the vile deeds of the deity of misfortune and chaos, Lady Doom. This vile being was known to bring accidents, bad luck, and random mischief to all who dared cross her path. Though her worshippers were filled with fear of her wrath, they still begged for her presence at events, hoping to appease her and avoid her wrath. Truly, this Lady Luck's counterpart was nothing but a scourge upon those unfortunate enough to encounter her.

"Beshaba, like Tymora, arose from the corrupted form of Tyche. Once Tymora came forth, all that was tainted by Moander coalesced and stepped out as the goddess of ill fortune, Beshaba. Beshaba was lovely to behold, but her heart was malicious and spiteful. Beshaba and Tymora hated one another instantly and tried to destroy each other. Fortunately other powerful gods were present at the time and helped separate the battling sisters. Beshaba fled to live on the dark planes, which were more suited to her spirit." — Selûne

Description

Ah, Beshaba, the Maid of Misfortune. Her appearance was as beguiling as it was unnerving. Her figure was tall and slender, her skin as pale as a corpse with a small waist that accentuated her voluptuous shape. Her wild mane of pure white hair was striking, but it was her yellow-rimmed eyes that were truly unsettling. They burned with a frenzied intensity, a sign of the madness that lurked within her. She was dressed in a tight gown of pitch-black fabric that clung to her every curve and a tiara of black pearls adorned her head. To gaze upon her was to feel a sense of unease, as if one's fate was already sealed by her presence alone.

Personality

Beshaba, the deity of misfortune, was a notoriously spiteful and petty goddess whose actions often left mortals and other divine beings perplexed. She was rumored to be insane and prone to fits of unpredictable behavior, leading many to fear her wrath. Despite her chaotic tendencies, Beshaba's motivations were clear: she was consumed by jealousy towards her sister Tymora, who received far more favorable attention from mortals and other gods alike. This jealousy drove Beshaba to demand equal lip service, if not outright worship, from her followers and anyone else who dared to show favoritism towards Tymora.
Unlike her sister, who was known for happily sharing her gifts with her worshippers and allies, Beshaba hoarded her divine powers, creating a reserve of misfortune that she could unleash at any moment. Her wrath was swift and merciless, and many who crossed her path found themselves at the mercy of her curses and ill fortune. Despite her erratic nature, Beshaba was feared and respected by those who recognized the power of her domain, and her influence was felt across the realms. To encounter her was to risk the ire of a being whose motivations and whims were impossible to predict.

Relationships

Beshaba, the Mistress of Misfortune, was a figure that struck fear into the hearts of many. Her beauty was undeniable, with a countenance that seemed to draw the eye, but it was said that those who looked too long into her yellow-rimmed eyes risked being driven to madness. Some whispered that she was cursed, others that she had always been that way, a goddess who reveled in causing chaos and destruction wherever she went. One of Beshaba's most notable traits was her intense jealousy towards her sister Tymora. It was said that Beshaba resented the fact that Tymora was more beloved by mortals and had more temples devoted to her. As a result, Beshaba demanded equal worship and attention, and woe to those who did not comply. Many a village that neglected to pay homage to the Mistress of Misfortune found themselves beset by plagues, famines, and other calamities.
Despite her jealous nature, Beshaba was not without her admirers. Many male deities were said to have been lured in by her seductive charms, and some were even devoured by her passions. Mortals who caught sight of her were often destroyed by their own lust or driven to fanatical loyalty.
One god who was particularly drawn to Beshaba was Tempus, with whom she had a tumultuous love affair. Talos, among others, also attempted to court her, but Beshaba rejected his advances.
Beshaba's demonic servants were known as alu-fiends, who wore silver breastplates emblazoned with the goddess' symbol - stag horns. Two of her most loyal followers were Okim and Airdna. Together, they worked to spread the misfortune and chaos that their mistress so relished.

Worshipers

Beshaba was a deity whose worship was often shrouded in mystery and superstition. It was said that bad luck could befall anyone at any moment, and that the only way to avoid it was to appease the fickle goddess. Her clerics played on these fears and manipulated common folk into providing for them through offerings and sacrifices. Their entreaties for spells often involved burning alcoholic beverages like brandy or wine, which they believed pleased the deity. Despite her reputation for malevolence and spite, Beshaba was revered more out of fear than out of religious faith. Her doctrine maintained that misfortune was a constant in life and that only by worshiping her could one hope to avoid the worst of it. Her priests would often encourage excessive indulgence in food and drink during the two festivals dedicated to her: Midsummer and Shieldmeet. These revelries were seen as a way to appease the goddess and avoid her wrath.
Interestingly, even the powerful Red Wizards of Thay would erect shrines to Beshaba near their ritual chambers in order to ward off bad luck. It was believed that the goddess could strike at anyone, regardless of their power or station.
The Blood Tor, a place considered holy to Beshaba's followers, was inhabited by giant black stags with red eyes. These powerful creatures were said to be capable of goring an elephant with ease, and were considered to be living manifestations of the goddess's power. It was said that those who ventured into the Blood Tor without the proper reverence and offerings would be struck down by the stags, ensuring that the goddess's power was respected and feared by all who came across it.

UnHoly Orders

Beshaba's orders were as infamous as the goddess herself, and they were often shrouded in secrecy and whispered about in fearful tones.

• The most well-known of these were the Doommasters, a group of specialty priests who reveled in the infliction of misfortune on others. They were universally feared and despised, with many common folk believing that a single glance from a Doommaster could bring down bad luck upon their heads.
• Another notorious order was the Black Fingers, a secret society that only accepted evil male clerics, thieves, and fighters who were favored by Beshaba herself. These devotees acted as assassins dedicated to their goddess's name, striking down those who had been marked for misfortune.
• To counter the influence of Tymora's church, the Wormlucks (or Priests of Bad Fortune) were created. These clerics served as a focus for the calamities that occurred wherever they went, often affecting them as well. Their style of dress was distinctive, designed to avoid confusion with the orthodox clergy and for high visibility. They wore bright red robes over armor and white hair wigs that had to be obvious and usually ill-fitting to honor Beshaba's own locks.

Despite their differences, all of Beshaba's orders shared a common belief that bad luck was an ever-present force in the world, and that the only way to avoid it was by revering the goddess of misfortune. They held two festivals in the calendar of Beshaba, at Midsummer and Shieldmeet, where they celebrated by indulging in food and drink and offering sacrifices of alcoholic beverages such as burning brandy or wine. Even the Red Wizards of Thay erected shrines to Beshaba near their ritual chambers to ward off bad luck, such was the power of the goddess and her orders.

History

Ah, Beshaba, the goddess of ill-luck, a deity feared by many and worshipped by few. It is said that she came into being when the goddess Tyche split during the Dawn Cataclysm, a terrible event that was related to the manipulations of Lathander, the deity of dawn and renewal. Tyche had been infected with the dark influence of Moander, the god of rot and decay, and as a result, she was forced to split into two separate entities by her friend Selûne. From that split emerged two goddesses, Tymora and Beshaba, who immediately engaged in a fierce battle that would shape their relationship forever. In the year 1368 DR, Beshaba's wrath was focused on a certain nobleman by the name of Doljust. The aging man had somehow earned the goddess's displeasure, and she decided to use her divine powers to twist his luck in the most horrendous way possible. Doljust found himself facing off against a fierce werebat, a creature that had already claimed the lives of two innocent toddlers. It was a grim omen of what was to come.
Beshaba watched the battle from the shadows, her eyes glittering with cruel glee as she manipulated the situation. She swayed the noble's hound, causing it to attack the lycanthrope just as Doljust swung his sword. The man's faithful companion fought bravely but ultimately fell to the werebat's deadly claws. As Doljust mourned his dog's passing, Beshaba's vengeance became apparent.
Doljust swung his sword once again, determined to avenge his beloved pet. But as he did so, he heard a sound behind him. Whirling around, he saw another, smaller werebat lunge at him. Without hesitation, he swung his blade and cleaved the creature in two. It was only then that he realized the true horror of what had just occurred.
The werebat had transformed back into its humanoid form upon death, revealing itself to be an adolescent child. The young werebeast gasped for breath and whispered a single word - "grandfather" - before succumbing to its injuries in the old man's arms. Doljust was left to grieve over the tragic loss of an innocent life, a victim of Beshaba's dark power and twisted sense of justice.

Trivia

Ah, yes, the saying "Beshaba's bad breath!" is indeed a common expression among those who find themselves suffering from misfortune or ill luck. Beshaba, the deity of misfortune, is often blamed for bringing about calamity and disaster in the lives of mortals. Those who invoke her name in such a way might be hoping to ward off any further bad luck or curse from her, or perhaps it is simply a way to express their frustration and anger towards their circumstances.