Church of Bane

[ChurchofBane]

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. It is the doom of those who do not follow him to let power slip through their hands. Only the worship of Bane is acceptable. Defy Bane and die - or in death find loyalty to him, for he shall compel it.

[mungomunk]

A young cheerful half-elven girl can be seen in the streets of Baldur's Gate singing "Bane, Bane, Bane - Oh he is so lame".

[ChurchofBane]

The two clerics walked through the dank cave. Their footsteps echoed down the dark hallway. They had each just claimed the head of an orc chieftain and were searching for the chiefs guards who had fled.

One cleric of Bane. The other of Tempus.

The cave opened into a room with two open passage ways revealed by open doors.

The cleric in black armor looked about the room as if measuring its size. He examined the fire pit in its center, and the rubble strewn about.

"Cleric of Tempus." He called to his companion.

"Yes?", the warrior replied as he searched a heap for a greater weapon through which to further glorify his God in battle.

"You mentioned earlier that only the strongest God deserves worship." He moved a few steps to the side and slowly twisted his head sideways.

"Yes, I did say that." The worshiper of the God of War stood tall, facing the man in black armor.

"Come", the Banite said as he lifted his mace and pointed it toward the cleric of Tempus. "Let us discover whose God is more powerful."

The worshiper of the Lord of Battles gripped his sword and glared silently at the man he had just fought through a horde of orcs with. He seemed to be calculating him and measuring him up. "If we fight and weaken each other we will have a difficult time escaping these depths."

The Banite smiled. He calmly and slowly made his way across the chamber to one of the open doors. He closed it slowly. He then turned and walked toward door they had come through. It was the only other exit. "Perhaps only one of us should leave. Unless the other swears fealty to the others God." He closed the door, and turned to face the warrior of Tempus. "Shall we?"

The man of Tempus seemed disappointed. He had grown a respect for the man whom he had just discovered was a Banite a few hours earlier. They had fought together in goblin mines and through the orc caves. He knew through their experiences that the Banite was tough. Though he was confident that he could defeat him. "Your kind never learn, do they?" He said as he cracked his neck from side to side and loosened his shoulders. He hefted up his shield and squared off against the Banite.

"Kneel and worship Bane. Or perish." The black clad figure stood menacingly. His eyes had become filled with darkness as if he was possessed by some evil spirit.

"You know we do not kneel. Come on then. Let us see your dark power." The follower of Tempus realized the only way out of this was to kill the deranged Banite. Only one of them would walk out of the caves alive. He knew it would be him.

"Very well." Came the reply.

There was a sudden flash of darkness and the Banite sprang across the room with inhuman speed. The Tempurians shield was swatted aside, though he managed to parry the wicked mace with his sword. His swung his shield back around to bash his foe, though his shield was met by the shield of his enemy. They both fell back a few steps as their shields collided. There was no break in the conflict as the Banite viciously continued the assault. It was as if he was possessed. He was fighting much fiercer than the Tempurian had seen him fight against the goblins and orcs. A red and black smoke shot from the Banites mace. The smoke advanced like tendrils and wrapped around the Tempurians arm and snapped it in half. He screamed as the pain shot through his body and his sword clanged on the ground.

He was used to pain, though, and would not be defeated so easily. Just as quick as the pain had come he instinctively countered with a healing spell that immediately healed his broken appendage. The Banite had thought his victory near at hand and advanced to finish the job. In his haste to slay the Tempurian, his defenses were lowered as he swung his mace. The Tempurian swung his shield around, clipping the mace and throwing it off its path. His shield continued through the swing and smashed into the Banites face, sending him sprawling over backwards.

With his arm already healed, he quickly scooped up his sword. "My turn." He said under his breath as he advanced on the dazed Banite who was regaining his feat. As he advanced the Banite quickly cast another spell to keep his foe at bay while he regained his composure. The same smoking tendrils extended from the mace toward him. The Tempurian dove to the side to escape their grasp, but the tendrils follows him. They wrapped around his leg this time and snapped it in half. He cast another healing spell, grimacing through the pain. He barely managed to gain his feet as the Banite was upon him.

A melee onslaught took place as they parried, struck, and blocked each others blows. They moved back and forth across the room, kicking rubble and using anything and everything to their advantage. The Tempurian seemed to be getting the better of the melee. "Tempus!" He cried, and a surge of energy coursed through him. He slowly took steps forward, forcing the Banite against one of the cave walls. The Banite was aware of his dire circumstance. A smile crossed his face briefly as he cast another spell even in the midst of their combat.

The Tempurian became aware of a summons that had appeared immediately to his right. He had to quickly block against a new foe as a massive great sword came swinging down on him. He looked in to the eyes of a vampire. He quickly backed up, now squaring off against two foes. The Banite stepped forward.

The Tempurian had lost his advantage, and he knew it.

The Banite moved to one side of him and the vampire moved to the other.

"Kneel and worship Bane."

"You know we do not kneel."

At just that moment, the vampire and the Banite surged forward. The Tempurian quickly cast spells, calling out to Tempus.

There was a flash of light, followed by a flash of darkness as they all collided in one last flurry of combat.

A few moments later, the Tempurian lay bleeding on the ground, too mortally wounded to heal himself.

The Banite stood over him. The vampire was gone, already dismissed.

The man in dark armor knelt beside the mortally wounded Tempurian. He dug through his pack and produced a claw that had dried blood on the end. He proceeded to remove the armor from his foes torso, leaving his chest bare.

"This was your choice, Tempurian."

The worshiper of the God of War croaked out a final response. "You could not have defeated me alone."

"I have used the extent of the powers offered to me by Bane and I have defeated you. It is that simple." The Banite said as he slowly raised the claw above his head. He began to recite as the claw was fully raised above his head. "Those who cross the Black Hand meet their dooms early. Defy Bane and die - or in death find loyalty to him, for he shall compel it!"

With that he thrust the claw downward.

[Xanfyrst]

...

[ChurchofBane]

//This character has broken off from the Zhentarim and has created his own sect. He is a cleric of Bane and believes he has authority to do so.

[ChurchofBane]

The gloomy bar was dimly lit by by lantern and candlelight. Here and there scattered parties held quiet conversations.

In a far back corner, a particular conversation was being held in even quieter tones than the rest; between a man in a black hood and a dark skinned man.

"I have received a revelation from our Master." The dark skinned man said quietly. His eyes appeared empty, as if time had taken his soul.

The others eyes widened a little. "I have never heard of him speaking to anyone before. Are you sure?"

A smile curled upon the dark skinned mans lips, though his eyes showed no more emotion than they had before. "Let me tell you what he has revealed."

He leaned across the table and whispered in his counterparts ear.

After the instructions were given the black hooded man leaned back in his seat. He appeared awed "I understand. What must I do?"

After further instructions were given the two left the inn and went their separate ways.

[ChurchofBane]

The six of them ran through the trees to catch a murderer they had heard about attacking people in the Sharpteeth. They had all been at the Friendly Arm Inn when news of a murderous wizard attacking the living reached their ears. It was night time, which made dodging the trees and hurtling logs difficult for those that could not see easily in the dark.

They were all experienced adventurers. One of them, with a meticulously well kept mustache, was a renown arcanist and scholar of great report. Another of the group was the matron of a well known merchant House.

They came to a sudden clearing and stopped in their tracks.

Before them was a man standing alone. The moonlight glinted off of his wicked black armor and the skull mask on his face. His black beady eyes watched them carefully, one by one, as they entered the clearing.

"Greetings." He said calmly as their eyes watched him suspiciously, hands on weapons.

They began to fan out to prepare to flank the mysterious figure.

He only watched.

"Are you the murderous wizard?" Asked the arcanist with an almost perfectly shaped black mustache. He drew his blade and pointed it at the figure as if trying to force a response.

The black clad figure looked at each one of them individually as if calculating each of them.

"If you are you will die!" Declared one of the other adventurers bravely.

The menacing figure tilted his head slowly to the side as if the adventurers threat interested him. He then extended his mace toward the group, pointing it at them like it would determine their fate. "Kneel before Bane, or die." He declared.

There was a few moments of silence as the group stared incredulously at him. Surely this one man did not believe he could slay them all? The silence continued as he waited for their reply.

Diplomacy with a murderous Banite seemed out of the question. The spell of silence was eventually broken by a battle cry. "For Sehanine!" Declared the powerful arcane scholar as he began to work magic.

Birds watching the encounter in nearby trees bolted into the night sky as all of the adventurers and the black clad figure entered a frenzy of battle. They would not let this Banite stand.

A sudden storm of spells shot into the ranks of the adventurers from a patch of trees on their left flank. They look around confused as they realized there were more enemies about. But how many?

The merchant matron reached the Banite first. She was a skilled warrior and matched the Banite swing for swing. It was clear that she was the swifter of the two of them. She could hear the shouts and sounds of sword and steel behind her. The Banite smiled and whispered a summons as her blade bounced off of his shield. A vampire appeared just behind her.

She dived gracefully to the side and came up in a role to remove herself from standing between the two opponents at once. This vantage point gave her a clearer view of the battlefield. A second vampire had appeared in the midst of her companions and was viciously attacking many of them at the same time. Beyond them, a necromancer was casting powerful spells. He was locked in combat with the arcane scholar, though he was also managing to cast spells on the other adventurers as well.

Their situation had turned dire. She saw one of their group was already face down in the mud.

She didn't have much time to observe as the Banites vampire launched at her with overwhelming speed, strength, and ferocity.

Free from distraction, the Banite himself began to cast spells on the adventurers. He called down fire from above that blasted two of the adventurers that were standing close to each other. They screamed as the flame seared their flesh.

Everything was falling apart for the adventurers. A few crows still sat on the higher branches of some trees, watching the work of death.

The Banite howled in laughter. "Kneel or die!"

The worshiper of Sehanine turned his attention on the Banite and cast a few spells that blasted him backwards, though he managed to keep his footing. He shot back with a spell of his own. Smoking tendrils extended from his mace and attached to the scholars arm. It snapped in half just as the necromancer also cast a spell on him. The scholar crumpled to the ground.

The surviving adventurers had hardly had time to form an offensive. They had become disoriented early on as new foes had emerged.

The Banite looked and was pleased to see the vampire had dispatched of the merchant matron.

The Necromancer moved calmly into the clearing. A dark shroud encased him, making it difficult to see his personage. One of the adventurers shouted out, "Glory to Bane!"

The Banite and the Necromancer looked at each other and nodded, pleased at their work. They unsummoned the vampires and the two of them swiftly disappeared into the trees, leaving one lone adventurer fully conscious.

"Glory to Bane."

[ChurchofBane]

The Banite swung his mace at the skeleton and its bones exploded into several directions and landed spread out across the grass. He turned back to the warlock who was casting a spell in his direction. Flames roared forth from the warlocks hands and engulfed the Banite.

He roared with laughter as the flames surrounded him. He had cast a spell of resistance so that fire would have no effect on him. The result was a hellish looking figure. He stood erect in his black armor and skull mask. He walked toward the warlock calmly looking like some creature from the depths of the hells.

The two of them had been battling already for an exhausting amount of time.

The Banite cast a spell and a meteor fell from the sky, slamming into the ground where the warlock had been standing. An earthquake ripped the ground around the warlock apart, sending whole chunks of rock and debris flying. When the dust settled the warlock was nowhere to be found. The Banite laughed as it seemed he had buried his foe.

Suddenly from behind he heard a spell being cast. He dived to the side as tentacles sprang from the ground where he had just been standing. One of them grabbed his ankle as he made his escape and tried to drag him back to be torn to pieces by the rest. He managed to get free. As he looked around, it was apparent the warlock had gone invisible again to move to another tactical vantage point. Such had been the way of the entire fight; the Banite would attack, the warlock would evade and disappear, then try to strike from a distance.

"I do not wish to continue this fight. I believe we can come to an agreement." The warlock said breathing heavily, appearing a ways off to the side.

The Banite turned to face him. "What kind of agreement did you have in mind?" He listened as the warlock offered a deal that the Banite could not refuse.

[ChurchofBane]

A group of local Banite converts wielding spears and pitch forks destroyed the Shrine of Silvanus on the Tradeway south of Baldur's Gate. They set the shrine ablaze and posted the banner of Bane in the ground.

They also built a makeshift altar and laid on the ground a mace and a black gauntlet.

They stood by boldly, staring down any passersby as if daring them to speak against their actions.

[SeedsOfDoubt]

Nai, Mendel, Thedran and Ivan were seen heading to the shrine of Silvanus after being told of the destruction by Alyndra at the feast in Doron Amar. Nai shifted into water elemental shape putting out the fires first then repairing and replanting the flowers and plants and cleaning up the mess. Ivan then smashed the banner of bane to bits in Earth Elemental form while the others continued repairs. Mendel picked up the mace and black guantlet later throwing them in the trash bin.
After doing a few more things around the alter and praying and cleansing it they left thinking of thedran's words that they should move the shrine to a safer location.

[Celduil]

Celduil looking furious and his wolf begin tracking the spore of those who desecrated the shrine.

//If someone could tell me what he would find.

[ChurchofBane]

The worship of Bane seems to be increasing.

Word spreads of small mobs of commoners trying to force people to worship Bane as far north as Thundars Ride and as far south as the Lions Way.

[Tempist]

A group of local Banite converts wielding spears and pitch forks destroyed the Shrine of Silvanus on the Tradeway south of Baldur's Gate. They set the shrine ablaze and posted the banner of Bane in the ground.

They also built a makeshift altar and laid on the ground a mace and a black gauntlet.

They stood by boldly, staring down any passersby as if daring them to speak against their actions.

Tyn begins to track the defilers using any means he can muster.

[DMogorgon]

A farm boy runs home in a huff eager to join his father in the fields. He apologizes to his father and promises to work hard and not hang out with 'questionable' company any longer.

A drunk tells tale in a tavern of how druids with small forest dragons fell upon his old crew in the late hours of night. Banites... he smirks... They fought like little farm girls... He then goes on to boast about how he fought the forest denizens off with a stick as the banites fell to them.

Both of these two find themselves being shat on by birds frequently, and accosted by various dogs around the Baldur's Gate farmlands.


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Several bandits in the area whisper to avoid the pull of promises of power from banite priests. They decry that the Fist will hang you, or the very forest itself will devour you... best find yer daily bread elsewhere.

[ChurchofBane]

Ragar, an old Baldur's Gate war veteran, had been missing for days from the taverns he frequented in the city.

His body was found south of the Boarsekyr Bridge. His sword was found broken on the ground next to him. It was clear he had died defending himself. On his forehead the name of Bane was written in blood. His ring finger was also missing.