Descent into Avernus

(Nancy Kaufman) #1

CULTISTS OF THE DEAD THREE


The Dead Three are evil adventurers named Bane,


Bhaal, and Myrkul who long ago quested to become


gods. They succeeded but grew even more ambitious.


They tried to seize the Tablets of Fate from the overgod


Ao and use them to rule over FaerOn and its gods. They


failed and were slain during the Time of Troubles. Since


then, a variety of contingency plans they had in place


allowed them to be reborn.


While the Sundering saw the other gods of the


Forgotten Realms withdraw their direct influence from


the world, the Dead Three remained behind in mortal


form as quasi-divine beings. While their power has


diminished, they remain a formidable trio and play a


malevolent role in influencing events on Faerun.


BANE AND HIS FOLLOWERS


Bane is a god of tyranny, and both he and his worship-


ers seek to rule the world. Bane grants power to those


who strive to rule with an iron fist. By imposing order on


the world. Bane's followers ensure that those who are


clever, strong. and ambitious rise to the top while the


weak languish in slavery.


Regard less of the form he takes, Bane is always


marked by his jet-black right hand. He usually wears a


gauntlet or glove over this hand to conceal his identity,


revealing it only when the time has come to display his


true power. He is always well-dressed, donning the fine


clothing of a noble or wearing the armor and gear of a


successful mercenary general. His preferred weapon


isa mace.


Bane overpowers those who display any weakness,


bullying them into submission or crushing them with


his physical and magical power. His charisma is such


that he can sway the mighty to pledge their loyalty to


him in return for power over others. He finds the hunger


for power that exists in every mortal heart and awakens


it with carefully crafted promises and flattery. He is the


mastermind of the Dead Three, the one whose ambi-


tions drive the group's efforts.


Bane's devoted followers are warriors who seek to


ru le through martial strength and intimidation, cruel


tyrants who use threats and gifts as needed to ensure


loyalty. They enslave those too weak to resist them and


shower the strong with gifts and promises of power to


turn them into loyal vassals.


Cruel Tyrants. Whenever Bane's followers gain


power, they institute draconian measures to ensure that


their rule is unquestioned. They stamp out all opposition


while richly rewarding those who swear fealty.


Warrior Cult. Cultists of Bane are warriors who wear


heavy armor and wield maces, swords, spears. and


crossbows. They paint the right gauntlet of their armor


black in honor of their patron. Bane's clerics wield black


maces with heads shaped to look like a closed fist.


Cult Ranks. Bane's cultists operate according to strict


military hierarchies. The lowest rank consists of the


fists of Bane, foot soldiers who obey all orders without


hesitation. They are led by iron consuls. cunning field


officers who excel at coordinating the fists in combat.


The black gauntlets are the priests who command


the consuls.


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