Henry
Autoexreginated
If it helps, Shemeska, the part of the article that deals with the tenets and motivations of his followers is FREAKIN' AWESOME. (By the way, kudoes to Ari on that part). It goes much further than any previous treatment of Bane to give a philosophy compatible with non-evil beings, and gives several good reasons why adventurers who aren't two-dimensionally evil would want to follow the laws of Bane.
In fact, I'm currently playing in an alternate history universe of the Realms, where several deities have perished (thanks to the failure of our group in a previous campaign). Some followers of Bane in that world have taken on Bane as a stabilizing influence, someone who does defend the defenseless, in exchange for their unwavering obedience and who is not afraid to punish the disobedient (or slay the evil) because disobedience can mean discord and death if people aren't working together. This article has given my PC much to use to describe Bane as a deity worthy of obedience, and worth dying in his cause...
...after all, if Snivelling Helm and Torm the Untrue failed in their duties to protect the world, and let down their charges, why shouldn't a worthy god take up the mantle and institute order in a lawless land?
In fact, I'm currently playing in an alternate history universe of the Realms, where several deities have perished (thanks to the failure of our group in a previous campaign). Some followers of Bane in that world have taken on Bane as a stabilizing influence, someone who does defend the defenseless, in exchange for their unwavering obedience and who is not afraid to punish the disobedient (or slay the evil) because disobedience can mean discord and death if people aren't working together. This article has given my PC much to use to describe Bane as a deity worthy of obedience, and worth dying in his cause...
...after all, if Snivelling Helm and Torm the Untrue failed in their duties to protect the world, and let down their charges, why shouldn't a worthy god take up the mantle and institute order in a lawless land?