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 Hand meet their dooms earlier and more harshly than those who worship other deities.
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 Hand meet their dooms earlier and more harshly than those who worship other deities.
Age: 24 (born 12th Eleasias 1332 DR, Year of the Sword and Stars)
Race and Ethnicity: Human, Turami
Origin: Threskel; the city of Mourktar (Chessenta but also not-Chessenta)
Partner: Vadim Morozov - married Midsummer 1354 DR in Mourktar.
Deity: Bane
After their gods precipitated the fall of the Imaskari Empire in –2488 DR, the slave-race known as the Mulan migrated westward to the shores of the Alamber Sea. This migration in turn displaced the native Turami, who were driven westward along the southern coast of the Sea of Fallen Stars until they reached the coastal basin now known as Turmish. -Races of Faerûn
The people of Turmish are tall, mahogany-skinned, and comely. The men of the trading class wear long beards with the ends carefully squared off. The phrase "square as a Turmian beard" signifies any thing well or carefully done. -FRCS
The people of Turmish are tall, mahogany-skinned, and comely. The men of the trading class wear long beards with the ends carefully squared off. The phrase "square as a Turmian beard" signifies any thing well or carefully done. -FRCS
A group of cities considered a single nation by the rest of Faerûn, Chessenta is anything but united. The cities war against each other over old slights, philosophical differences, or economic leverage. [..] This near constant state of war has produced a nation of trained fighters and a reliance on external mercenary and adventuring groups to do dirty jobs. -FRCS
There is no nationalism. Chessentans pride themselves on being members of their city-states, not of Chessenta. -Old Empires
There is no nationalism. Chessentans pride themselves on being members of their city-states, not of Chessenta. -Old Empires
Appearance:
Yadira like most Turami is fairly tall and has soft mahogany skin. Her figure is feminine and lithe. She moves around gracefully, carrying her head high with unspoken determination yet she rarely gives the air of being in a hurry anywhere.
She has very long dark brown hair, nearly reaching to the floor, which is most often kept in a thick braid. Her eyes are brown and framed by dark lashes, a prideful glint can be caught in them. Unless there's a special occurrence her face is devoid of makeup. She has a distinct foreign accent when she speaks anything but her local tongue.
On the ringfinger of her left hand is a wedding ring, the main gemstone being a large red ruby paired with smaller diamonds. Yadira has a fondness for other adornments, often wearing jewellery in gold such as bracelets, anklets, necklaces and choker collars.
Unless illegal by local law, a symbol of Bane is on display at her neck hanging from a golden chain.
The ceremonial traditions of the church of Bane in Zhentil Keep are extremely strict and formal. They include bowing and kneeling to or kissing the hands (or boots) of a superior. It is unheard of for underpriests to contradict upperpriests, and members of the Inner Ring of Bane have unlimited control over their subordinates. -Ruins of Zhentil Keep
Hatred, strife and destruction were to be spread - but under clear duress and control, not unbridled chaos. -Faiths and Avatars
Hatred, strife and destruction were to be spread - but under clear duress and control, not unbridled chaos. -Faiths and Avatars
Personality:
Yadira can give off an air of being rather easy going and slow to anger. She's more patient in these foreign lands than she would be in Threskel. She will often look to her husband for cues, as the customs among her people differ much. Due to her family's customs and traditions along with the heavy emphasis on servitude in the faith of Bane, she can to some seem quite subservient, even in the role of wife to her husband who is a priest of Bane. Yadira cares little for such opinions from outsiders.
She's sensitive to cold and prefers to be close to burning fires or items which emit warmth, often placing a few stones at a hearth to wrap them in cloth once they've warmed up and keep in a pocket or between blankets in bed.
The city of Mourktar is a free city on the edge of the flat, sandy plains of Threskel. Mourktar claims to be independent of Chessenta, while the other cities claim that Mourktar is part of Chessenta. Since the other Chessentan cities are generally too far from Mourktar to threaten it, Mourktar is for all purposes an independent city.
Mourktar is a small but aggressive trading city. [...] In spite of its mercantile character, political power in Mourktar is held by the king, who is descended from the lords who led Mourktar's break from Unther. -Old Empires [Imperceptor Kabbarath Telthaug takes over the rule of the city as Regent after King Theris dies in 1358 DR with no heirs.]
Mourktar is a small but aggressive trading city. [...] In spite of its mercantile character, political power in Mourktar is held by the king, who is descended from the lords who led Mourktar's break from Unther. -Old Empires [Imperceptor Kabbarath Telthaug takes over the rule of the city as Regent after King Theris dies in 1358 DR with no heirs.]
The Largest temple of Bane in all of Faerûn is the Black Lord's Cloak in the city of Mourktar on the edge of the flat, sandy plains of Threskel. [...] Imperceptor Kabbarath Telhaug commands over 700 Banite priests of rank, another 1000 lesser clergy members, and a well-equipped, harshly disciplined army of loyal troops armed with many items of minor magic, and well practised in slaughter. This army has been force-marched west to ravage cities in Chessenta time and time again only to pull back when the exercises are over.
The temple is named for its only relic, an animated black cloak once worn by Bane himself that became a sentient monster that envelops people from time to time and sucks them dry of all blood. -Faiths and Avatars
The temple is named for its only relic, an animated black cloak once worn by Bane himself that became a sentient monster that envelops people from time to time and sucks them dry of all blood. -Faiths and Avatars
Background:
Yadira's father left Turmish with the family a few years before she was born. They moved to Mourktar in Threskel, joining the Turami community there. Already a shrewd merchant, he found success in Mourktar setting up the family business there. The family were quite well off, with several serfs and slaves serving them. To further his own needs, Yadira's father soon after the move had his family convert to the worship of Bane - a faith that Yadira has been brought up in. Everyone in her family are layworshippers.
When Yadira was twenty-one her father was murdered as the result of a trade deal gone wrong. The family business passed on to the oldest brother with every child having a share of inheritance. During the same time Yadira had grown closer to a priest of Bane - not one of the local ones serving the temple in the city but a foreigner from Zhentil Keep. A Damaran man with captivating blue eyes. With their escapades becoming more known, the subject of marriage was brought up. Thus, Vadim Morozov wed Yadira in Mourktar on Midsummer 1354 DR. Her husband brought Yadira, already a follower of Bane, closer to the faith. The couple remained in Mourktar for a while before commitments called Vadim back to Zhentil Keep and he brought his wife with him. Much to the surprise of his family.
Visitors often try to visit the infamous fur-cloaked, silken-robed pleasure queens of the city, in their upstairs rooms, but the streets are not safe at night, roamed by thieves, monsters -- and even worse, by the authorities! -Forgotten Realms Adventures
Zhentil Keep was cold, a depraved place. Yadira was constantly questioned by the guards who watched every gate, every foreigner. It didn't help that she felt that her husband was under the thumb of his family. Bane's faith implied servitude of course but if there were some chains which could be severed... The couple looked at other opportunities. They had little interest in investing in a pretty house in Sembia, as seemed to be the fashion, and instead looked towards the western end of the Yellow Snake pass, Darkhold, and the lands of the Sword Coast. A land of opportunity, and some danger, but a land where Bane's faith was returning after it had been frustrated by meddlers and anarchists years before. A land where they could make their mark.
Slavery in Chessenta is less widespread than in Mulhorand or Unther; farm workers are typically serfs, not slaves, though the differences are minimal. Slaves are often criminals who are forced into service in dangerous places, such as the mines, or serfs purchased from slave traders (some are Thayvian in origin). Slavery is considered part of the natural order; philosophers claim that some men are naturally servile, and many of these servile men are slaves. Work conditions among slaves vary greatly.
Slaves are not branded as in Unther, but they are forced to wear a thread around their wrists to identify them as slaves. The threads are easily broken, but escapes are for the most part a very rare occurrence. -Old Empires
Slaves are not branded as in Unther, but they are forced to wear a thread around their wrists to identify them as slaves. The threads are easily broken, but escapes are for the most part a very rare occurrence. -Old Empires
Habits and Quirks:
"There is a correct and traditional way to serve coffee, fold a dress, cut chicken and greet people."
The Turami people have many customs that would be foreign to the people of the Sword Coast. Yadira also has many personal quirks. These are just a few.
- When visiting someone a gift should be brought with, usually a dish.
- Burying gemstones as a sacrifice with the belief that by seeding the earth with one's own wealth the bounty will be returned tenfold.
- As is customary for Banites, giving thanks to Bane before each meal.
- Enjoys spicy food, especially dishes with chili peppers.
- Eats invertebrates in both sweet or savoury dishes, per Turami traditional food.
- Is an avid coffee drinker and also enjoys heavily sweetened mint tea.
- When it comes to alcoholic beverages, prefers honey wine and various berry and fruit wines.
- Sometimes clicks her tongue, either in quiet favour or displeasure but which is which can be hard to tell.
- Holding eye-contact; avoiding eye-contact entirely means that someone has something to hide.
- Avoids addressing people by their first name unless invited to (as it is rude). Generally formal unless closer bonds form.
- Punctuality is not strictly adhered to although considerable lateness is also unacceptable.
- Pointing fingers at someone or speaking in a loud and angry manner is considered very rude. For example, others are beckoned closer by placing her palm downward and sweeping her hand towards herself.
- Gifts are given for both good and bad circumstances. A gift is also seen as a debt that one will have to repay.
- The concept of honour is important; shared and carried by all members of the family.
Hobbies:
- Yadira values and appreciates art. She has little artistic talents herself but likes to support those who do.
- Spectating athletic endeavours. People outside Chessenta consider it quite strange that athletes compete in the nude there.
- Enjoying 'exotic' cuisine. This means sampling dishes outside Chessenta and Threskel.
- Prefers a more casual cultural dance heavily involving the shoulders, with little movement of the feet, to formal ballroom dancing and the like.