The Truth of Bane

[GoblinSapper]

The Truth of Bane

 

By

 

Lazaric Monteblanc

 
Bane.
 
Lord of Men.
 
Tyrant of Tyrants.
Across Faerun, his name inspires devotion in some, fear and loathing in many others. To the uninformed masses he is a despotic, wicked god, who harms others only in the interest of his own. To some deluded followers, he is a source of power, to prop up their own petty and aimless regime's and power bases. To the faithful, he is the loving savior of the human race - of all races.
 
Bane's love is a hard love. His rule is a harsh rule. But it is not out of cruelty or desire he is so. It is out of necessity. For all apex species, there is one truth - we destroy each other. We consume our sick and our weak. We wreck our civilizations with our petty grievances, our pride. Divided, argumentative, we fight over petty things and selfish desires. Even now we stand upon the ruins of the Nerethese, the greatest civilization to even defy the Gods.
 
Look on ye mighty, and despair, for so goes all works of men.
 
Bane was once an adventurer, a mortal man. Bane had foreseen the destruction we would wreak on ourselves, had seen the damage we had already done. And in his heart he wept, for his fellow man was killing himself. Hunger, disease, ignorance, fear - all a result of a lack of place. A lack of order. A man of singular vision and drive, of destined purpose, he would unite the world under his yolk, and bring peace out of chaos in the name of his great love. The legends of those days are apocryphal, little of them is known or understood. What is known is Bane seized his birthright when he became a god, taking the portfolio of Tyranny - a demesne none before he had desired. For none but he, and perhaps Ao the over god, understood.
 
Since then Bane and his true followers have labored tirelessly to save mortal kind from chaos, from wantonness, from the ignorance of free people and the hubris of the idealistic. Ours is a harsh and dangerous world, spinning in a maw of chaos. If ever we are to be safe, if ever we are to be whole, there must be order. Absolute and unbending.
 
It has thus been Lord Bane's cursed lot to be misunderstood and reviled, as he did what was necessary. To rewrite history, to wreck nations, to kill thousands in order to save millions, to be called a tyrant and a murderer. All because there is only one path that see's mortal kind through the twisting paths of chaos and despair. One future that brings us all together in peace and prosperity, where every man and woman can work together for a good world and plenty. One future.
 
One world under Bane.
 
This future is inevitable, and it comes. Slowly, with purpose and care, as a throne is not built hastily. Short sighted men and even idealistic gods oppose him, not understanding Bane means them no harm - only demands their fealty. In the one world under Bane, other gods shall continue to exist, for Bane has no desire to be god of everything. Only the god of Gods. Therefore Helm will still be god of guardians, Sune will still be goddess of beauty and love, Mystra will still be goddess of magic. But they will all serve Bane, and through him, the greater prosperity of us all. Bane is the one true king of kings, to be worshipped and served, for he serves us in return. Bane is the only god to truly have the fate and care of mortal kind at heart, all others push their own agenda's which they FEEL will benefit mortal kind. Their vision is clouded by idealism however, which dulls the mind like the most poisonous drink.

Even death could not give Lord Bane pause, as he defied the other gods and returned to life anew, springing forth as if he had never been struck down by poor misguided Torm. Torm who was blindly used by his own followers during the time of troubles and had to atone. Torm who needed to succumb to Bane's own methodology and consume thousands of his own followers just to temporarily defeat Bane. Hate not Torm, but pity the valiant warrior for his lack of sight. He is a warrior, but not a king. Only a King see's what must truly be done.
 
Eventually however, all will serve Bane. Civilization will flourish, and the earth itself will be brought to heel. Nature will be preserved but contained in Kings Forest's, resources will be judiciously and appropriately dispatched, and all men will be equal in their service to Bane. None will hunger, none will fear, and we shall finally begin to truly embody the glory of a unified world and the fantastic advances in the arts and sciences that can bring. I am a simple man, who enjoys the wilds and testing himself against them, and even though a part of me will mourn the loss of its challenge, my heart weeps unashamedly at the beauty of the world that awaits us. We need only sacrifice and serve. For upon our backs, Lord Bane will carve a brilliant tomorrow.
 
Serve him willingly, and be rewarded. Defy him, and be condemned to the hell of slaves. Accept your place in the grand scheme, and know true peace.
 
All praise Bane.