The Black Lord, The Black Hand, the Lord of Darkness
Bane, 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, through it may suffer occasional defeat, will never die. Though Bane transcended mortality centuries ago, his primary goal remains notably human -- he seeks nothing short of the total domination of Faerun. When his servants sit upon the throne of every land, when commoners serve their masters in fear for their very lives, and when altruism and hope have been erased from the world, only then will Bane rest. Until that dark day, however, the Black Hand has eternity to hatch demented plots and vile intrigues.
Bane has a small, but loyal following in the Great Realms, spurred by his appearance some years ago. Followers of Bane hold very few formal religious rituals; prayers for spells at midnight and perhaps on the eve of a major battle. Worshipers revel in offering sacrifices to the Black Lord, often of intelligent or innocent beings, usually upon an altar of black basalt or obsidian. They open worship Bane, and use fear and coercion to demand respect. The recent disappearance of this diety from the Great Realms has not had much of an impact on his religion thus far.
