Page 28 - D&D - Player's Handbook

speech, and cramped, ink-stained fingers. Wizards BESHABA
invoke Azuth when they scribe scrolls, inscribe magic
The Maid of Misfortune, Lady Doom, Black Bess
circles, attempt to memorize spells, and even when they
cast spells. Often this acknowledgment comes in the Beshaba is the counterpoint to Tymora and is just as
form of silently forming Azuth's holy symbol, pointing frequently acknowledged in daily life as is her more be-
the index finger of the left hand to the sky. For many wiz- nevolent "sister." She is seen as a cruel and capricious
ards, the gesture is so commonplace in their lives that it goddess who must be propitiated to avoid attracting her
becomes an unconscious habit. attention and interest in a negative way.
Temples dedicated to Azuth are scarce, and clerics of Beshaba's name is invoked when someone is beset by
the deity are extremely rare. Even in magic-saturated bad luck-which could be as minor as stubbing a toe or
Halruaa, only a handful of holy places are dedicated to breaking a wagon wheel, or as catastrophic as slipping
Azuth. Sometimes a statue or a shrine dedicated to him and accidentally falling off a cliff. It is also invoked to
stands in a corner of a temple to Mystra or another deity. ward off her attentions when someone is doing some-
More often, a wizard has a personal shrine at home. thing in which good luck wouldn't play a part but bad
Azuth is represented at such sites as a hooded and luck might. For example, someone rolling dice would
bearded figure with left hand held high, finger pointed invoke Tymora because they want random chance to
up. Sometimes he is represented by merely the hand. In fall in their favor, but someone about to cross a rickety
either case, the finger often serves as a candleholder or bridge would ask Beshaba to keep the bridge intact.
as the point of origin for a light spell. Folk make the symbol of Beshaba by folding in their
thumbs and extending their fingers on one or both
BANE hands (mimicking the horns of her holy symbol) to ward
off misfortune. The same gesture raised to the head
The Black Hand, the Lord of Darkness
signifies a salute; when pointed at someone, the "horns"
Bane has a simple ethos: the strong have not just the
indicate ill favor directed toward that individual.
right but the duty to rule over the weak. A tyrant who
Many druids worship Beshaba as one of the First
is able to seize power must do so, for not only does the Circle. They propitiate her with dances while wearing
tyrant benefit, but so do those under the tyrant's rule. fire-blackened antlers dipped in blood. According to
When a ruler succumbs to decadence, corruption, or de- these druids, her holy symbol is the horns of a stag be-
crepitude, a stronger and more suitable ruler will rise. cause when Beshaba was first worshiped, humans were
Bane is vilified in many legends. Throughout history,
simple hunter-gatherers and she was believed to bring
those who favor him have committed dark deeds in his
misfortune to hunters, such as being gored by a stag.
name, but most people don't worship Bane out of mal- Although most people tremble in fear at the prospect
ice. Bane represents ambition and control, and those of Beshaba's attendance at any event (even in spirit),
who have the former but lack the latter pray to him to
Beshaba is almost always invoked and welcomed
give them strength. It is said that Bane favors those who formally in the opening speeches or ceremonies of
exhibit drive and courage, and that he aids those who
formal functions such as marriages and coronations,
seek to become conquerors, carving kingdoms from the
contests of sport or martial prowess, and at the naming
wilderness, and bringing order to the lawless. ceremonies of children. If she isn't invited to such an
At many times and in many places in Faen1n, the event, she might take offense and wreak misfortune on
faithful of Bane have been seen as saviors for their ef- those involved.
forts in slaughtering raiders, throwing down corrupt rul- Temples to Beshaba are virtually unknown. It's com-
ers, or saving armies on the brink of defeat. But in just mon, however, for rural folk to erect a post and mount
as many other places, the worship of Bane has created
antlers on it at the site of some roadside accident or
or supported cruel dictatorships, aided mercantile mo-
murder. In cities, where antlers are hard to come by and
nopolies, or brought about the practice of slavery where
murders and accidents more prevalent, the fashion is to
before it didn't exist.
draw the black antlers of Beshaba with charcoal on a
nearby wall, leaving the symbol on display until weather
scours it away. These "shrines," in either form, serve as
warnings to others about places of ill fortune.
S Y MB O L O F BAN E

CHAPTER 1 I WELCOME TO THE REALMS