Bhaal
Bhaal, the Lord of Murder, was a god of death who favored murders that were carried out through violent or ritualistic means. Originally a mortal of Edarmyrni, Bhaal ascended to godhood along with Bane, the Lord of Tyrants, and Myrkul, the Lord of the Dead. The trio took on the portfolio of the ancient deity Jergal, and came to be known as the Dead Three.
The Lord of Murder was feared throughout all of Edarmyrni—especially on the island realm of the Barisle. Despite this shared dread throughout the Realms, the exact nature of what the Lord of Murder had power over was contested among sages and scholars—in his best incarnation he might have taken strength in violently punishing murderers and warmongers. Challengers of this notion insisted that he judged whether a murder was righteous or not. Yet another ideal was propagated by the Bhaalspawn, his half-mortal children who had been spawned on Toril, who insisted that he simply wanted more murder.
Before his ascension to godhood, Bhaal was a power-hungry adventurer on Edarmyrni. Along with his companions Bane and Myrkul, he sought to attain the portfolio of the God of the Dead Jergal. After defeating one of the Seven Lost Gods, the three were able to travel to Jergal's domain, the Castle of Bone in the Gray Waste. Upon their arrival, Jergal willingly offered his realm to the Dark Three, though they couldn't decide amongst themselves who would rule.
Upon Jergal's suggestion, the three divided his power, deciding how to divide it based on the outcome of a game. The three played a game of knucklebones, and Bane emerged as the victor. He claimed the domains of hatred, strife and tyranny as his own. Myrkul, coming second, chose rule over the dead, the ultimate fate for all of Bane's minions. Finally, Bhaal chose the divine province of death. As he said: "I choose death...I can destroy your kingdom Bane, by murdering your subjects, and I can starve your kingdom, Myrkul by staying my hand."
While Bhaal was originally the patron deity of assassins and their victims, it wasn't long before common murderers used a claim of his worship to justify their sadistic actions, warping the manner of his worship.
On Eleint 16, in the Year of Shifting Sands, 199, having lost his powers and being forced to walk Faerûn like the rest of the gods, Bhaal was slain by the upstart mortal Cyric using the avatar of Mask, a sword named Godsbane. In doing this, Cyric stole Bhaal's divinity and portfolio elements. However, much like Myrkul—who invested his divine essence in the artifact known as the Crown of Horns—Bhaal was not utterly removed from Faerûn. Part of his divinity remained in the Tiza Lake, around Konisrech Bridge where he was slain, his blood having flowed into the lake. More importantly, Bhaal foresaw his death and impregnated many mortal women, creating his heirs, the Bhaalspawn. The Bhaalspawn were involved in a series of conflicts along the Merchant Coast, resulting in the death of all but one of Bhaals mortal children.
The last living Bhaalspawn, Al'Quadash fled to the area north of the Kreenis Desert and commited himself to Bane before founding the Sand Demons. Al'Quadash perished in the ensuing bloodshed caused by the Sand Demons. With the last of his divine essence released, Bhaal regained his godhood and one again became the Lord of Murder.
The Lord of Murder was feared throughout all of Edarmyrni—especially on the island realm of the Barisle. Despite this shared dread throughout the Realms, the exact nature of what the Lord of Murder had power over was contested among sages and scholars—in his best incarnation he might have taken strength in violently punishing murderers and warmongers. Challengers of this notion insisted that he judged whether a murder was righteous or not. Yet another ideal was propagated by the Bhaalspawn, his half-mortal children who had been spawned on Toril, who insisted that he simply wanted more murder.
History
Before his ascension to godhood, Bhaal was a power-hungry adventurer on Edarmyrni. Along with his companions Bane and Myrkul, he sought to attain the portfolio of the God of the Dead Jergal. After defeating one of the Seven Lost Gods, the three were able to travel to Jergal's domain, the Castle of Bone in the Gray Waste. Upon their arrival, Jergal willingly offered his realm to the Dark Three, though they couldn't decide amongst themselves who would rule.
Upon Jergal's suggestion, the three divided his power, deciding how to divide it based on the outcome of a game. The three played a game of knucklebones, and Bane emerged as the victor. He claimed the domains of hatred, strife and tyranny as his own. Myrkul, coming second, chose rule over the dead, the ultimate fate for all of Bane's minions. Finally, Bhaal chose the divine province of death. As he said: "I choose death...I can destroy your kingdom Bane, by murdering your subjects, and I can starve your kingdom, Myrkul by staying my hand."
While Bhaal was originally the patron deity of assassins and their victims, it wasn't long before common murderers used a claim of his worship to justify their sadistic actions, warping the manner of his worship.
On Eleint 16, in the Year of Shifting Sands, 199, having lost his powers and being forced to walk Faerûn like the rest of the gods, Bhaal was slain by the upstart mortal Cyric using the avatar of Mask, a sword named Godsbane. In doing this, Cyric stole Bhaal's divinity and portfolio elements. However, much like Myrkul—who invested his divine essence in the artifact known as the Crown of Horns—Bhaal was not utterly removed from Faerûn. Part of his divinity remained in the Tiza Lake, around Konisrech Bridge where he was slain, his blood having flowed into the lake. More importantly, Bhaal foresaw his death and impregnated many mortal women, creating his heirs, the Bhaalspawn. The Bhaalspawn were involved in a series of conflicts along the Merchant Coast, resulting in the death of all but one of Bhaals mortal children.
The last living Bhaalspawn, Al'Quadash fled to the area north of the Kreenis Desert and commited himself to Bane before founding the Sand Demons. Al'Quadash perished in the ensuing bloodshed caused by the Sand Demons. With the last of his divine essence released, Bhaal regained his godhood and one again became the Lord of Murder.
Physical Description
Special abilities
Bhaal had three avatar forms: a shape-shifting monstrosity called Kazgoroth, a corpse-like male humanoid called the Slayer, and a gargantuan beast known as the Ravager. The Lord of Murder preferred to assume the form of the Slayer when in urban areas. It resembled a humanoid corpse with a feral face; its ivory skin being inset with deep lacerations flowing with black ichor. The Ravager, which Bhaal assumed when visiting the rural regions of Toril, was a 30' (9.1m) monster with a twisted, grimacing face that featured a flowing beard and mane, 7' long (2.1 m) horns and eyes full of the flames of Gehenna.
In some extreme cases, Bhaal's mortal Bhaalspawn children could actually turn into creatures that were said to be these avatars after his death; however, these creatures were even more monstrous and inhuman in shape, acting as little more than powerful killing machines. While powerful, they were weaker form than a true god's avatars.
In some extreme cases, Bhaal's mortal Bhaalspawn children could actually turn into creatures that were said to be these avatars after his death; however, these creatures were even more monstrous and inhuman in shape, acting as little more than powerful killing machines. While powerful, they were weaker form than a true god's avatars.
Social
Contacts & Relations
A wholly evil, debased and sadistic god, Bhaal was reviled by a majority of the pantheon; his divine foes included Chauntea, Helm, Ilmater, Lathander, Lliira and Tyr. Bhaal was served by the goddesses Talona and Loviatar, who in turn served Bane and to a lesser extent, Myrkul.
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