Beshaba
The Maid of Misfortune (a.k.a. Lady Doom / Black Bess)
Beshaba is as breathtakingly beautiful as she is unpredictable and insane.
Malice, pettiness and malice are her most prominent characteristics, she is consumed by envy due to the veneration shown to Tymora and claims at least as many tributes for herself. For this reason, it is often customary to mention her formally in speeches and to invite her to ceremonial occasions and celebrations. Such gestures are usually sufficient to satisfy their need for recognition and at least avert intervention or even a curse on their part. Beshaba comes from the same seed of Gaia as Tymora and is said to have received Tyche's beauty, while Tymora received all her love. Stories of her appearance tell that her beauty makes men want her, while she tends to infect women with her madness. Beshaba is worshipped largely out of fear and the job of her clergy is therefore to stoke that fear by talking about the power of Beshaba, her ultimate wickedness and instructing outsiders how to make offerings to her, or even how to become part of the clergy if they prefer to be protected from any misfortune.
Besides their duties, members of the clergy take great care to indulge their personal taste for cruelty and sadism. They enjoy appearing secretive in order to enlist the common people into their service, both small and large. From providing food, lavish lodging and companionship, to supplying them with weapons to turn against the rivals of the Church of Beshaba, or against the clergy of any other faith. Clerics of Beshaba pray at midnight, immediately before doing so they must, whenever possible, make an offering to the lady by setting fire to brandy, wine or spirits while calling the name of the goddess and dip antlerprongs into the black mixture. If the fingers become slightly singed, this is considered a good omen.
Followers hold special ceremonies upon the death of an important clergy member or when one of them rises in rank. This ceremony is called the Passing and is a rare time of dignity and tender piety. In a ceremony that transforms the body into an undead creature, the corpse is washed down the river, surrounded by floating candles and teleported to a random location in Gaia, where it will wreak havoc.
The ceremony of ascension is called the Marking and involves drumming, dancing over flames and either branding or tattooing. No spell or potion is permitted that would lessen the suffering.
Malice, pettiness and malice are her most prominent characteristics, she is consumed by envy due to the veneration shown to Tymora and claims at least as many tributes for herself. For this reason, it is often customary to mention her formally in speeches and to invite her to ceremonial occasions and celebrations. Such gestures are usually sufficient to satisfy their need for recognition and at least avert intervention or even a curse on their part. Beshaba comes from the same seed of Gaia as Tymora and is said to have received Tyche's beauty, while Tymora received all her love. Stories of her appearance tell that her beauty makes men want her, while she tends to infect women with her madness. Beshaba is worshipped largely out of fear and the job of her clergy is therefore to stoke that fear by talking about the power of Beshaba, her ultimate wickedness and instructing outsiders how to make offerings to her, or even how to become part of the clergy if they prefer to be protected from any misfortune.
Besides their duties, members of the clergy take great care to indulge their personal taste for cruelty and sadism. They enjoy appearing secretive in order to enlist the common people into their service, both small and large. From providing food, lavish lodging and companionship, to supplying them with weapons to turn against the rivals of the Church of Beshaba, or against the clergy of any other faith. Clerics of Beshaba pray at midnight, immediately before doing so they must, whenever possible, make an offering to the lady by setting fire to brandy, wine or spirits while calling the name of the goddess and dip antlerprongs into the black mixture. If the fingers become slightly singed, this is considered a good omen.
Followers hold special ceremonies upon the death of an important clergy member or when one of them rises in rank. This ceremony is called the Passing and is a rare time of dignity and tender piety. In a ceremony that transforms the body into an undead creature, the corpse is washed down the river, surrounded by floating candles and teleported to a random location in Gaia, where it will wreak havoc.
The ceremony of ascension is called the Marking and involves drumming, dancing over flames and either branding or tattooing. No spell or potion is permitted that would lessen the suffering.
Divine Domains
Trickery
Tenets of Faith
Bad things happen to everyone in life and only those who submit to Beshaba can keep the worst effects away from themselves.
Too much happiness is bad and the truly wise should therefore work to undermine it and restore balance.
Whatever happens, it can always get worse.
Fear and worship the Misfortune Maiden, spread her word throughout Gaia, and never forget to offer her gifts to satisfy her. If she is not satisfied, everyone will find out firsthand what the curse of Beshaba means!
If you cause others to worship her, they will be spared the gifts she brings.
Never teach falsely in the ways of Beshaba, or pay the price of outcast and eternal unhappiness.
Physical Description
General Physical Condition
Beshaba's avatar depicts an unnaturally thin yet seductively graceful woman with long, white hair and a beautiful face. The color of her skin constantly changes from deathly pale to purple.
When she manifests at the request of her clergy, she favors the form of a gigantic head similar to that of her avatar. The mere sight of this manifestation, no matter from what distance, causes a streak of bad luck that lasts for days to anyone who does not worship it as a patron.
Another manifestation is a grotesquely distorted shadow that appears where the natural order makes it impossible, accompanied by a quiet, maniacal laugh.
Bebiliths, bodaks and similar monsters, as well as rats and cockroaches, sometimes show their presence and are therefore often viewed as harbingers of bad luck.
When she manifests at the request of her clergy, she favors the form of a gigantic head similar to that of her avatar. The mere sight of this manifestation, no matter from what distance, causes a streak of bad luck that lasts for days to anyone who does not worship it as a patron.
Another manifestation is a grotesquely distorted shadow that appears where the natural order makes it impossible, accompanied by a quiet, maniacal laugh.
Bebiliths, bodaks and similar monsters, as well as rats and cockroaches, sometimes show their presence and are therefore often viewed as harbingers of bad luck.
Divine Classification
Goddess
Alignment
Chaotic Evil
Children
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