Hoshar Lametil

[Hoar]

Zhentil Keep - The Tesh-Wave Inn. Three months ago.

-Lametil, you are commanded by the Deep Mystery Eaghen to report to the Temple, at once.

A bearded man, black haired, stout and tall as nature favor the men of the Moonsea, was sitting on a chair, drinking quietly a mug of warm ale, before the two emissaries of the Church entered the inn. As the first one finished his speech, the man raised, and without a look for the assembly, nor the unfinished pint, left the room.

The Foreign Quarters of the Keep hadn't suffered too much of the siege subsequent to Cyric's downfall, a few years ago, and in anyway, the citizens had viewed the ruination of a large portion of the city simply as an excuse to rebuild it. The streets were swarming with activity, merchants yelling at the potential customers, zhent troopers patrolling the streets, and slave merchants taking by surprise the few souls who were unfortunate -or silly- enough to drink a bit too much the last night, and found sleeping in the streets.

The distance between the Tesh-Wave inn and the temple was short, but highly enjoyable to Hoshar Lametil, Deadly Adept of the Black Hand. It was another concreet display of what the Dark Blessings of Bane could provide to the city of Zhentil Keep. As he was crossing the place of Punishments, in front of the church, he carelessly slapped the face of a man trapped in stocks.

He entered the large building of the church and made his way through the many doorways, corridors and rooms, to the office of the Deep Mystery Eaghen.

-Ah! Lametil. You must wonder why I honor you of this meeting.
-Indeed, Deep Mystery of the Black Hand.

Hoshar bowed, and stood at attention, awaiting for Eaghen to inform him about the reasons of his presence.

-I have here a notification coming from the High Imperceptor Fzoul Chembryl himself, to send an agent of the Black Will on a mission in a distant country. Are you interested ?
-Anything for His Dark Desires, Deep Mystery!
-I have assumed so, indeed. You are a promising adept, Lametil, this is why I believe I may rely on you to achieve this difficult and delicate task. Of course, would you come to fail in any point, you would meet your doom in a harsh and painful manner.
-It is the will of the Black Lord to strike upon those who stand against Him. I shall be his crushing fist, if you entrust me with this mission.
-Aye, aye. Let us get to the point. Have you ever heard of the Icewind Dales ?
-All I know is that this is a region located far away in the north-west.
-Exactly. There, west of the Spine of the Word, north of the city of Luskan, is a region called Sundren. Our Lord of Darkness, through our liege Fzoul Chembryl, have let us know that he shared some interest into that part of Faer?n. Actually, we know that there are already some men of the cult in place there. We want you to head to this region, and witness by your own eyes the progress of the cult.
-My Lord, Bane's will is my will.
-This might sound like an easy task, but you will soon understand that your mission in Sundren will not be as simple as it sounds. It appears, following our reports, that those of our order there in Sundren, have misjudged their role, and done mistakes after mistakes.
-If you allow me to ask, what do you mean, Deep Mystery ?
-They settled in the region as vulgar ruffians, and attempt to seize power by brutal force. This is in our ways to strike upon those who stand against His Will, but we dislike this course of action as it goes against the laws of the country. This will not serve our goals, as distrust will be in the heart of the Sundreners before even our cult may seize any influencial power, politic or religious. We, Banites, are not meant to hide in the shadows, strike and run. There are little hopes that our brothers in place in Sundren will achieve anything that way, fighting openly against the inhabitants of Sundren.
-Certainly, you are right.
-This is why you are sent there. Attempt to reason those men, and to make them understand. As you arrive in Sundren, all must know that the Black Hand is the One Who Strikes, the Hatred, and the Most Feared. Not just a band of brigands ransoming the countryside. As you progress and get more seasonned, we want you to seize power and influence in that region. As you understood, this will require of you more subtlety than brutal force. Be strong, tactful, and feared. Now prepare for your travel, and go as soon as you will be ready.

Hoshar Lametil departed at once. There was of course no problem reaching Secomber, along the Black Road. He then headed to Luskan, and engaged the trails and uncivilized paths through the wild of the Spine of the World, eventually reaching Sundren after a three months long travel.

[Hoar]

Reporting for information, some lore about Bane



Bane



The Black Lord, the Black Hand, the Lord of Darkness
Symbol: Green rays squeezed forth from a black fist
Home Plane: The Barrens of Doom and Despair
Alignment: Lawful Evil
Portfolio: Strife Hatred, Tyranny, Fear
Worshipers: Conquerors, evil fighters and monks, tyrants, wizards
Cleric Alignments: LN, LE, NE
Domains: Evil, Destruction, Strength, War
Favored Weapon: "The Black Hand of Bane" [a black gauntlet] (Morningstar)

Bane (bain), the Lord of Darkness, has conquered death itself, returning to the world to give dark inspiration to a thousand intrigues, to foment fear and hatred in civilized lands, and to reassure the common mortal that tyranny, though it may suffer occasional defeat, will never die.

Bane seeks nothing short of the total domination of Haven. When his servants sit upon the throne of every land, when commoners server their masters in fear for their very lives, and when altruism and hope have been erased from the world, then will Bane rest.

Bane prefers to keep to the shadows, allowing his servants to carry out his intricate plans. He has no tolerance for failure and seldom thinks twice about submitting even a loyal servant to rigorous tortures to ensure complete obedience to his demanding, regimented doctrine. Though possessed of an unforgiving wrath when aroused, Bane is slow to anger, existing in a perpetual state of controlled burn.

Bane's tyranny is known throughout the world, and his is the image most seen as the face of evil. When news of Bane's destruction during the War of Ages made its way throughout Haven, nearly every nation declared national festivals of celebration and thanksgiving.

History/Relationships:
Even as a Human, Bane wanted nothing more than to become the most feared, respected tyrant the world had ever known. However, doing so would require an infusion of arcane power greater than that usually accorded to mortals. Hence, the calculating despot joined forces with two similarly driven Humans in a pact of mutual assistance that would end in the apotheosis of the entire trio.

Through the near apocalyptic events of the War of Ages, his villainous allies were lost, and the treacherous mortal Cyric ascended to godhood. By the end of the War, Bane had been slain by Torm the True in a furious battle in the harbor of a distant land. It seemed the Black Lord's ceaseless ambition had at last led to his destruction. Bane's church fragmented, with the most faithful defecting to the clergies of Cyric, who inherited Bane's portfolio, and Iyachtu Xvim, the progeny of Bane's coupling with a powerful fiend. Agents of weal and freedom breathed easier in those days, thinking that Haven was rid of perhaps its greatest menace.

Those who let down their guard, however, did so rashly, and far too soon. Only a few short years ago, the fiendish Xvim burst in a conflagration of diabolical green light. From the smoking husk of his remains emerged a newly reinvigorated Bane, his right hand ablaze with green fire. Xvim, it appeared, had been little more than a sentient cocoon, a shell in which grew a festering larva that would, in time, become Bane. Within days, the Xvimlar clergy had converted to the worship of Bane, and a great evil once again cast its calculating stare over the lands of Haven.

Bane hates virtually the entire Haven pantheon but holds special antipathy for Torm, Cyric, Mystra, Tempus, Helm, Lathander, Oghma, and Ilmater, in that order. He has established a working relationship with Loviatar, Mask, and Talona, but as these deities desperately fear him, the alliances are not strong.

The Church:
The commoner tends to see Bane's clerics as petty would-be dictators unafraid to use immoral tactics and unthinkable violence to spread their influence and agenda. The average adventurer sees the clergy as constant interlopers and enemies, agents of a rigid evil philosophy who side with monsters, devils, and savage humanoids to further their wicked ends. Canny nobles glimpse the truest threat, that some of their peers pay homage to the Black Lord to gain through guile and subterfuge what soldiers cannot conquer by force.

Bane orders his clerics and followers to achieve positions of power within their society, either through force or trickery, and to use that power to further the cause of hate, fear, destruction, and strife. The Black Hand much prefers that his clerics subvert governments and carry out their agendas under cover of the rule of law, but he tolerates a limited amount of discord and debauchery. Torture, beatings, and calculated assassinations frequently come into play in such operations, and rare indeed is the initiate of the Lord of Darkness who does not possess at least rudimentary knowledge of such enterprises. The church operates under a strict hierarchy-questioning or disobeying the orders of a superior is an insult to Bane's supremacy, and is punishable by torture, disfigurement, or death.

The High Imperceptor is, in theory, the supreme living servant of Bane and is directly recognized as such by Bane. Novices of Bane's clergy are addressed as "slave," but if named by Bane directly, they become full priests of the god and gain the title of Watchful Brother/Sister. From there, they ascend through the following rankings: Deadly Adept, Trusted Servant, Willing Whip, Hooded Menace, Black Fang, Striking Hand, Vigilant Talon, Masked Death, Dark Doom, Higher Doom, and Deep Mystery. This latter title is a general one held by all clergy members of 12th level and greater. A Priest of this rank addresses fellow clergy members of igher ranks or levels as "Deeper Mystery" (not to do so is regarded as a deliberate insult). Known individual titles among the Banites of Deeper Mystery include Vigilator, Lord/Lady of Mysteries, Lord/Lady of the Hand, Imperceptor, Dark Imperceptor, Grand Bloodletter, High Inquisitor, and High Imperceptor. All except the last title are self-bestowed, but such self-given titles have to be confirmed and used upon the bestower by a higher ranking priest before they are formally recognized.

Banites address each other only by title, unless the mix of individuals present would cause confusion without the addition of a surname. Banite clergy bow, kneel, or kiss the boots of superiors, depending on the difference in their ranks-and what they were ordered to do. When in the presence of nonworshipers of Bane, Banite clergy address each other as "Brother/Sister Faithful" unless speaking to a superior of considerably greater rank, whereupon "Dread Brother/Sister" would be used.

Priests of Bane pride themselves on cold, decisive, thought, speech, and action. Sarcasm and cutting authority are valued over shouting, loss of temper, or uncontrolled behavior. Two priests arguing to the death may well have appeared as softly polite but insistent noblemen debating some minor point right up to the last moments of one (or both) of their lives.

Priestly Vestments:
Banite clergy members always go armed and are required to always wear something black. Ceremonial dress for Banite priests is black armor with a blood-red cape.

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 Hnd meet their dooms earlier and more harshly than those who worship other deities.

Holy Days/Important Ceremonies:
No rituals of Bane corresponded to calendar dates, seasons, or lunar progressions. Rituals are held whenever clergy declared they should be. Personal prayers to Bane are to be uttered before going into battle and before eating or drinking anything to thank Bane for allowing his worshiper to live to taste the fare.

Rituals are held in a place of darkness (often simply outdoors at night) lit only by dim magical radiances, moonlight, and flickering torches or braziers. The worshippers gather around the Black Altar, a plain stone block draped with black cloth or painted black, a block of obsidian, or anything over which a large, floating, black stone Hand of Bane hovered (levitated there by a wizard clergy member or a magic item used by a priest or through magic of its own). If no Hand of Bane was present, an empty black throne was always placed facing the Black Altar. Services often include rolling drums, changing, and sometimes singing-and the sacrifice of intelligent life. Sacrifices has to be humiliated, tortured, and made to show fear before dying to be acceptable to Bane, and they usually met their deaths through slashing, flogging, or being crushed by the floating Hand of Bane.

Of late, clerics of Cyric have become a preferred sacrifice, though old favorites such as paladins, unicorns, children, and celestials remain popular with traditionalists.

[Cha0ticGoblin]

Nice background story you got there...this will prove..most interesting