Bhaal
Bhaal is the Faerûnian god of murder, violence, and ritualistic killing. He and his followers have been widely feared since his ascension to godhood in the waning years of ancient Netheril. His followers are almost universally assassins and murderers, and few others. Along with Bane and Myrkul, he is part of the Dead Three.
Mental characteristics
Personal history
Unlike most gods, Bhaal was originally a mortal human, living in ancient Netheril. He was an adventurer, travelling with his companions Bane and Myrkul. They each sought godhood, venturing across Faerûn in order to become more powerful and achieve their goal. In -357 DR, the trio, commanding an army of humans, gnolls, and other races, slew a powerful primordial named Maram of the Great Spear at the Monument of the Ancients in the Frozen Forest. Maram was said to be one of the "Seven Lost Gods", ancient primordials that were effectively demigods.
With a small amount of divine power, the trio was able to venture into the Gray Waste, cutting through undead until they arrived at the Castle of Bone - the domain of Jergal. Surprisingly, Jergal had grown tired of his existence, and decided to willingly hand his portfolio to the trio. In order to divide Jergal's portfolio, the trio played a game of knucklebones. Bane won, taking the portfolio of tyranny and strife. Myrkul came second, choosing the portfolio of the dead and the underworld. Bhaal, who had lost the game, chose the portfolio of death itself.
From then on, Bhaal and his followers engaged in constant murder and death-dealing. One example of this was during 1346 DR, in the Moonshae Isles. When one of Bhaal's avatars was slain by the king of the Ffolk, he and his clerics put together an elaborate plan to exact revenge. He was able to drain the life of the Earthmother, a primal spirit (and possible aspect of Chauntea) that many in the Moonshaes viewed as the soul of the land. After she was destroyed, Bhaal's clerics led an army across the islands in a rampage, killing anyone they could find. Eventually, Bhaal's avatar was destroyed once again by the king of the Ffolk, but he had left a mark on the islands for generations.
Like the other deities of the Faerûnian pantheon, Bhaal was forced to walk as a mortal during the Time of Troubles. On 16 Eleint, 1358 DR, Bhaal was slain by a mortal named Cyric at Boareskyr Bridge with a sword named Godsbane (in reality, an avatar of Mask). This allowed Cyric to steal Bhaal's portfolio, becoming the new god of death and murder. However, Bhaal had forseen this event. In preparation, he had impregnated hundreds of women across Faerûn, creating the Bhaalspawn. These Bhaalspawn engaged in numerous conflicts, killing each other and others in their way. When the final Bhaalspawn died, all of the essence of Bhaal would be gathered once more and he would be resurrected. However, Bhaal's plot to return to life was foiled when one Bhaalspawn refused to give in to his murderous impulses.
Due to his failed plot, Bhaal remained dead during the Spellplague and the following century. However, in 1482 DR, the final two Bhaalspawn fought each other in Baldur's Gate. The victor is unknown, but he turned into a new avatar of Bhaal, and the god was resurrected. Because his followers had defected to Cyric after his death, he had virtually no divine power, barely ranking above a demigod. Despite this, he, and the other members of the Dead Three, have rebuilt their power base since the Second Sundering.
With a small amount of divine power, the trio was able to venture into the Gray Waste, cutting through undead until they arrived at the Castle of Bone - the domain of Jergal. Surprisingly, Jergal had grown tired of his existence, and decided to willingly hand his portfolio to the trio. In order to divide Jergal's portfolio, the trio played a game of knucklebones. Bane won, taking the portfolio of tyranny and strife. Myrkul came second, choosing the portfolio of the dead and the underworld. Bhaal, who had lost the game, chose the portfolio of death itself.
From then on, Bhaal and his followers engaged in constant murder and death-dealing. One example of this was during 1346 DR, in the Moonshae Isles. When one of Bhaal's avatars was slain by the king of the Ffolk, he and his clerics put together an elaborate plan to exact revenge. He was able to drain the life of the Earthmother, a primal spirit (and possible aspect of Chauntea) that many in the Moonshaes viewed as the soul of the land. After she was destroyed, Bhaal's clerics led an army across the islands in a rampage, killing anyone they could find. Eventually, Bhaal's avatar was destroyed once again by the king of the Ffolk, but he had left a mark on the islands for generations.
Like the other deities of the Faerûnian pantheon, Bhaal was forced to walk as a mortal during the Time of Troubles. On 16 Eleint, 1358 DR, Bhaal was slain by a mortal named Cyric at Boareskyr Bridge with a sword named Godsbane (in reality, an avatar of Mask). This allowed Cyric to steal Bhaal's portfolio, becoming the new god of death and murder. However, Bhaal had forseen this event. In preparation, he had impregnated hundreds of women across Faerûn, creating the Bhaalspawn. These Bhaalspawn engaged in numerous conflicts, killing each other and others in their way. When the final Bhaalspawn died, all of the essence of Bhaal would be gathered once more and he would be resurrected. However, Bhaal's plot to return to life was foiled when one Bhaalspawn refused to give in to his murderous impulses.
Due to his failed plot, Bhaal remained dead during the Spellplague and the following century. However, in 1482 DR, the final two Bhaalspawn fought each other in Baldur's Gate. The victor is unknown, but he turned into a new avatar of Bhaal, and the god was resurrected. Because his followers had defected to Cyric after his death, he had virtually no divine power, barely ranking above a demigod. Despite this, he, and the other members of the Dead Three, have rebuilt their power base since the Second Sundering.
Divine Classification
Quasi-Deity
Religions
Alignment
Neutral Evil
Honorary & Occupational Titles
Lord of Murder
Children
Presentation
Masculine
Death
Comments