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As soon as my father, Werdon Gerhun, heard what had happened, he almost tore down the whole mansion in rage and grief if my mother hadnt managed to calm him. They both had been doubtful of my tale at first, about bandits attacking Pendak and me while returning from Zhentil Keep, taking Pendak with them for ransom. But Pendak's driver had verified my story (thanks to the enchanment laid on him by Gorron), which finally convinced them.
Gorron had appeared later in his merchant role, taking partial blame for the event because he was notable merchant who was almost continually hounded by jealous factions who constantly tried to disrupt his deals with outsiders, he apologized for not informing us better but there hadnt been any time for that. He offered our family his condolenses and promised to give all aid in locating the bandits and rescuing Pendak. Father had brightened slightly at this, someone offering a helping hand. He swore that even if the entire Moonsea region had to be turned upside down, they would be found and made to pay dearly for this vile act.

The next few weeks passed without incident. My parents were mostly withdrawn to their quarters. I spended the time doing my own interests, which had been much delayed. There was an slight sense of sadness in the house then, but I didn't feel it. Instead, I felt a profound sense of freedom and tranquility, like some heavy burden had been lifted from me. Which was true.

Then, one day, Gorron came to inform us that the bandits responsible had been caught, thanks to my detailed description of them. Unfortunately, Pendak had been found dead from their hideout. They had apparently tortured him after realizing no ransom wouldn't be coming. Father had tried to grasp on a last thread of hope by hiring a powerful cleric to raise Pendak, how much it would require wasn't relevant. Gorron had told father that some of his limbs had been severed and his body was badly mutilated which had removed him beyond the reach of resurrection. Gorron told his own house priest had tried his best to heal but it had only managed to close the wounds but nothing else.

The rage which father had felt two weeks ago was nothing compared to the latest outburst. It almost seemed that for a moment he lost the last vestiges of his sanity. He wanted to flay the bandits with his own hands over a slow fire. Gorron quickly offered that he could arrange a public execution of the bandits, right here in Phlan. Some semblance of sanity seemed to return to father's eyes after hearing that. He asked to arrange this as soon as possible, it had to be done before Pendak's funeral could begin.

The bandits were brought to Phlan and were executed at the town square. My father demanded that he be allowed to flog the leader of the bandits himself, while the others were left to be hanged. Since his efforts had done much to improve Phlan's economy, his wish was granted. Despite some small shadow still looming over his mind, he seemed to brighten considerably as a result.

At the day of execution, I was surprised how much people had gathered to observe the spectacle. Whether it was for honoring Pendak's memory (which I didn't believe to be the case since very few in the city had liked him, that's why he mainly did business with other cities), or just seeing bandits get their due. Latter more likely was the reason. Several vendors even sold delicacies from the bakery to the audience. I sat with my mother on a balcony overlooking the town square. Father was next to the bandit leader, known as "Blacktooth" around the northern Moonsea.

One of the members of the Phlan council stepped forward and began reciting their sentence. Naturally the bandits protested and pleaded for their lives. This merely seemed to amuse the audience and further enrage my father. The irony of the situation was that this time the bandits were innocent of the charge. Even the bandits themselves didn't know how they'd been framed. Pendak's body had been found from their lair by the search patrols, having been magically teleported there in advance by a Zhentarim mage.

After the sentence had been passed, father began flogging Blacktooth. He barely flinched from the hits, stoically bearing every hit. No matter how hard father beat him, he didn't scream. This only furiated father even more, he wanted to hear Blacktooth's scream, even just once. The flogging proved to be more disturbing to Blacktooth's men and the audience. Father was like a man possessed, more a beast than man during the flogging. Even my mother turned her head away.

Then the judge ordered the flogging stopped. Guards had to stop father by force because orders didn't register in his rage-blinded mind. Then the actual execution began. Blacktooth's men were hanged one by one. Few of them screamed mercy from gods for this injustice. Names of Mask, Bhaal, Myrkul and even Bane were uttered from their mouths before the noose tightened around their throats. At hearing the names of the dark gods, the audience muttered counterprayers from their own gods to ward off the others influence.

Finally, only Blacktooth was left. He didn't show a single expression on the death of his men. Father approached him and said, "Beg for mercy, you disease infested goblin dung!" he screamed to Blacktooth. He raised his head and spitted on father's face and then smiled slightly. Father quickly punched Blacktooth in the gut and then pulled the lever which left Blacktooth hanging.

Then I left the scene since the little interest I had for the event had passed. I returned to our family's home and went to rest in my room. Now that father had gotten his revenge, now my future would really begin since Pendak was nothing more than a memory.

A month later, after wed had dinner, father asked me to join him in the lounge. Mother was already there. I briefly wondered what was going on. Then it occurred to me that father was about to rearrange things because Pendak was no more. My pulse rose slightly of the expectation. I sat down and grabbed a goblet of red wine which a servant had just poured for me. Then father spoke.

"As you well know, Vardin, that Pendak was the heir of family's status and fortune. Since he passed away untimely, this duty shall befall to you. But since you don't have the necessary qualifications for such a responsibility, you will marry the heir of the Sehvarem family in Selgaunt. She is qualified for it and will handle the majority of our part as well after you've joined together."

I couldn't believe what father had said then. Even if great Bane himself had smacked me with his jeweled gauntlet, it wouldn't have hurt as much as the words which father had said to me. Was this the true depth of my father's and mother's regard of me?

"What are you saying, father? I can handle whatever the title requires quite easily. I spended more than enough time with Pendak on the road to learn it. especially after he sended me on his behalf to acquire what he wanted. I learned a great deal, despite being his personal pack mule in the process. Why do you have such a lack of faith in my skills? I can earn more than Pendak ever did once I get the wheels rolling."

"Maybe, but you still don't possess Pendak's determination, ruthlesness and ingenuity. I am actually surprised that you served Pendak as well as you did. Despite that, you cannot possibly upheld the same expectations I had for Pendak. Only by marrying you to the only daughter of Sehvarem family will have any hope for you and our house."

"How can you say such a thing? I have more than proved myself to the family over the years, mainly to Pendak. That hardly helped since he kept tormenting no matter what I did. At least you've dropped off my original career, an official for the family. Now you're saying you don't even allow any sort of autonomy for me as a heir of the house?"

"Theres nothing further to be discussed. We never meant to have another child. Since you were an unintentional result of an drunken revelry your mother and I had after my first major business transaction back in Selgaunt, so I can't envision you in the same position I meant my first born to have."

At that moment, any faint attachment to my family disappeared. For sake of facade I held back all biting comments. Having heard what father said, I gave myself fully to Bane's hatred. I quickly stood up, spilling my goblet in the process.

"You'll pay for that father. No matter how long it takes, you'll both pay. If I never was anything else to you than an accident, you'll get what's your due."

"Even if you could threaten us, it would do you no good. In about tenday, we will leave for Selgaunt where your wedding will take place. Before that, you shall not leave the premises of the mansion. End of discussion," father said.

Then mother and father left the room and I remained standing there dumbstruck. After a moment, it came to me that even my parents were an obstacle in my path. They had to be removed, but how? I couldn't leave the mansion and deliver a word to the Zhentil Keep. Then I remembered the ring Gorron had given me. I could use it to contact him in cases of emergency. This seemed to be such an event. I quickly retreated to my quarters and activated the ring.

After a slow but thorough conversation with Gorron, we came up with a plan to intercept me and my parents on our way to the Selgaunt. Father had opted for sea travel after the recent events. This didn't pose any problem since Zhentarim had an active fleet patrolling the Moonsea. Stopping us would be simple. Satisfied with the conversation, I terminated the contact and went to sleep with relaxed mind.

As the day of travel dawned, I awaited it with trepidation. This would finally change the course of my cursed destiny. Unlike Pendak, my parents wouldn't get the easy way out. They would pay far more severely than Pendak did.

We had barely sailed an hour when the Zhentarim ship appeared in the horizon. The crew went frantic and I was ushered with my parents below the deck. The takeover of the ship didn't last long. although my father tried to resist the Zhentarim fighters, I placed him in sleep with a simple command word which all novices can learn. Mother was terrified of the power I wielded but not as horrified when she saw how the fighters talked to me as an equal. I told them to take my parents away. Then I joined them in the Zhentarim ship.

Before I noticed it, we were in Zhentil Keep. My parents had been taken to the temple of Bane. I went there with Gorron accompanying me. When my parents saw me in the robes of a Banite, they launched into a verbal ranting I never believed they were capable of.

"Worthless bastard!" my father ranted. "I knew you were unworthy of being the sole heir of our family's fortune, but never I believed you would lower yourself to this."

"I should have killed you on the day you were born!" my mother screamed.

"It's too late to regret that, mother. Both of you should have considered treating me better than you did. Placing all your faith on Pendak wasn't decent of you. Now you'll reap the harvest you have planted. And one thing, the Black Altar you see behind you. Pendak spent his last moments in this world on it as I flogged the life out of him."

It took few breaths before father finally catched it.

"So it was you! You set up your brother and murdered him in this vile place!"

"That wasn't difficult to execute, his greed was the main factor which lured him here. That was a proper end for him, considering how he had treated me in the first place. You should've seen him begging for his miserable life after I flogged him. The Hand of Bane finished what remained of his life."

"I curse you. You never were my son. Just some bastard whelp whom which the gods chose to mock us!" father yelled.

"I deny the day you were born!" my mother exclaimed.

"I can accept that. It will only make it easier to decide your fate," I said.

I turned my head to Gorron's direction and whispered, "What is worst place you know which is far enough from here where my parents could be sended?"

"There is a place far beneath the city of Waterdeep called Skullport. We could sell them for slavery there. From that place they could end up anywhere in the Underdark, with no hope of escape."

I smiled, that would work just fine. Then I turned back towards my parents.

"You should feel lucky, mother and father. You won't have the easy way out like Pendak did. Instead, you'll be sold to slavery in Skullport. That way you can think for the rest of your lives of what went wrong. It may be long or short life but long enough. By the time your life ends, you'll wish you had joined Pendak earlier."

If they hadn't been bound, father would've rushed across the room to strangle me, so furious was his struggling.

"Youll pay for this, bastard! No matter how long it takes, I will come for you and make you pay!"

"I don't think so father. At this point you dont even realize the conditions into which you will be sent. By the time you have reached Skullport, your life on the surface of Faerun has ended."

Then I made a gesture and my parents were taken away. My mother made a one last pleading glance towards me, but she could've tried convincing a troll not to eat her. Then they were gone.

"All of your family is now gone, Vardin. What will you do now?" Gorron asked.

"I dont know, excatly. At least I will now can take full control of my life. Other than being Bane's loyal servant, my life is finally my own. Unless there are some circumstances which may change that."

"In a way there is. Sooner or later you will have to move into the Temple here in the Keep permanently to complete your training. It may take a long time but eventually you should gain enough prestige and power to choose the place where you wish to reside in a position of power and as Bane's agent. But as Fzoul Chembryl mentioned earlier, some exception are made in your case. You can slowly integrate yourself into the church from your former life. You have removed your family members from existence with means which will fool everyone. Eventually you have to remove yourself without suspicion.

"As far as I know, I haven't removed my parents with a plausible reason yet. Do you have something in mind?"

"I have already made a plan. You all were captured from your ship. You were kept prisoners for days. You learned at some point that your parents had been sold to slavery. You would have been next if you hadn't fallen gravely ill and was dumbed because a slave who is deathly ill is not valuable. You will be left on the northern coast of the Moonsea under a spell which makes anyone checking you believe you are deathly ill. You will recover miraculously in about tenday.
Allow some time for recovery before you begin reacting to your parents disappearance. You should proclaim your devotion to Bane because this way everyone in Phlan believe you have lost your mind due the disappearance and death of your family. Otherwise you should do nothing which would make people suspicious. Continue your life as before, slowly removing yourself from the society of Phlan until you are ready to move here."

"That sounds good. I am ready to go with that plan. How soon we start?"

"Is right away enough?"

Gorron's plan worked just like he said. Everybody in the city fell for my act. They weren't overly concerned despite my worship of Bane because I didn't try to convert anyone or made any hostile acts towards the city and its people. Just mumbled myself with litanies devoted to Bane. Soon everyone thought me as a local village idiot who is no harm to anyone.

Even before I declared my devotion to Bane, some of the servants in the house left because they'd sworn to serve my parents. Since they were gone, they saw no oblication to stay. Some gradually left after I'd declared myself a Banite. During one of my visits to the Keep, I had a tattoo of Bane's symbol made on my forehead. Only three of the servants in the house remained for longest time since they were the only ones whom I'd befriended before all this began. Months passed steadily. The year 1358 began, which later became known as the Year of Shadows, or Time of Troubles.

It was during the most rainiest night like of which hadn't struck the Keep in a long time. I was meant to take one last trip to Phlan before permanently settling in the Keep. But the rain was so heavy I decided to postpone my return trip. During the night in my sleep I experienced a vision of Lord Bane, it was similar to the one I'd seen during my initiation, yet slightly different. Moments later I woke to a terrible sound, something had destroyed the Dark Temple. I rushed with all the others, priests, mages and soldiers to the site to see who was responsible for it.

What we found at the ruins shook us all. Lord Bane was there, in flesh. We all fell to our knees before him. I felt we were all honored to see Lord Bane standing before us.

Soon after that we learned that it hadn't been a social visit. All the gods had been cast down from their domains. Having no clue what to do, the leaders of all factions in the Keep followed Bane's orders. I had to remain in the Keep since things had become so chaotic outside the Keep that travelling wasn't safe, especially after we learned the worshippers of Bane couldn't summon our Lord's power anymore. It was better to see how things turned out and wait in hope that the madness would end soon.

Not long after Bane led an attack against Shadowdale which ended in disaster and his defeat. But Bane soon returned back, possessing Fzoul Chembryl as his avatar. Soon afterwards he left the Keep. We learned sometime later that he had led attack against Tantras and he had been defeated by Torm's avatar. He perished in the progress as well, until much later we learned otherwise.

Some time passed before the chaos finally ended. Gods were returned to their rightful places, now under strict orders to pay more attention to their worshippers. To our sadness, we learned Bane had perished permanently, along with his main allies, Bhaal and Myrkul. A new kind of usurper called Cyric claimed all their portfolios and worshippers, demanding complete obedience. Most of us scoffed this upstart, saying he had no measure to claim what he hadn't earned.
Those who were weak of character began worshipping him out of fear of being powerless and without protection in the world. I and other loyal Banites denied Cyrics claim of status. Cyric was angered by this and ordered those he'd won over to kill us for blasphemy. A conflict ensued in which some us were killed, I lost contact with Gorron then and didn't hear from him anymore. I barely managed to flee from the Keep myself before the gates were closed.

I traveled on foot to Phlan, fortunately I didn't encounter anything hostile on the way. I returned to my mansion to bide my time and see how things would develop. I lived in comfort with the help of my family's gathered fortune. Nothing happened for the next ten years. No executioners sent by Cyric came after me. In the year 1368, Year of the Banner, I learned that Zhentil Keep had been destroyed. I gave a prayer to Bane's memory for the destruction of the Keep, at least Cyric couldn't use the place anymore. The next year I learned that a new god had emerged.
He claimed to be the son of Bane called Lyachtu Xvim. He already held two of his father's portfolios, Tyranny and Hatred. He had declared war to Cyric and swore to claim back all what his father had once held. Fzoul Chembryl had become the high priest of Xvim. Despite this wonderful news, I didn't feel the call to join this clergy. They lacked the authority and charm which had lured me to Bane. Even if I remained powerless for the rest of my life, I couldn't betray Bane even in his death.

Four years passed. The wealth of my family had almost run out. I had to fire two of the servants because I couldn't pay them anymore if I wanted to last as long as possible. The final servant, he had been longest with my family, first one my father had hired. He remained with me despite my incapability to pay. He died of old age during the autumn. After that I calculated that my wealth would barely carry me over the winter. After that I had no choice but to sell the house and travel somewhere else, become a beggar or finally join the church of Xvim.

During the night in Midwinter, I decided to have a drink or two in the local tavern called Skevered Kobold. I'd been there few times over the years, but after my wine storages had run out, I was forced to resort to local offerings. It was one of the few times I'd drunk myself to sleep on the counter. During that drunken sleep, I had a dream, or more likely a vision. I beheld the demonic form of Xvim, bathed in green energy. Then, suddenly, his form split apart and a black armoured figure emerged from Xvim's carcass. The black figure squeezed his gauntletet fist together and green beams burst forth between his fingers. Then he spoke.

"Serve no one but Bane."

In that hazy stupor I was, I momentarily believed that my mind and wine I'd drank had finally pushed me over the edge. But when the figure continued speaking, all doubts disappeared from me.

"I must thank you, Vardin Gerhun, of your continued devotion and faith to me during the years of my absence. Therefore you shall be restored to your former level of power as you were before the Time of Troubles, and something else too, as an commendation for your loalty."

Then I woke with a start. I saw my right hand was glowing green. From the mirror behind the bar I saw that the symbol of Bane glowed on my forehead and was changed into the new symbol. In my mind I knew what had happened. I felt the power of Bane in me, stronger than before. Then I gazed around me. Those few patrons and the barkeep who were in the room, stared me with puzzlement and fear. They'd never seen me cast or do anything resembling magic. But I didn't care, I was too pleased of what I'd just experienced.

"Rejoice, for the Black Lord Bane has returned to the Realms! Let all who stand in his way beware! Here, this calls for celebration!" I said, as I tossed my coin bag to the barkeep, ordering a round for everybody. I didn't know did they ever drank on my offer but I didn't care, there were more important things at hand.

I went quickly to my mansion and took what little there was left of my personal belongings and then placed the mansion for sale. Then I said my farewells to Phlan. After such a catasthrope fourteen years ago, things had turned for the better. I began plowing through the snow towards Zhentil Keep. The cold didn't bother me because Bane's power kept me warm. An hour later the glow from my hand disappeared but I still felt like it was Midsummer. This, and probably something else too, was what Bane had gifted to me.

When I finally reached the gates of the Keep, I was accosted by the guards. When they saw my symbol, they grabbed me and ushered through the gate. I was taken straight in front of Fzoul Chembryl. To my surprise, he remembered me, after studying me for a while.

"Vardin Gerhun, is it not?" Fzoul asked.

"Yes, that is my name. You oversaw my initiation into the church of Bane fourteen years ago."

"Yes, I remember now. Why are you here now? Have you come to rejoin us or spy us for Cyric?"

"To become a Banite again, of course. I haven't served no one but Bane during these years. May Lord Bane himself strike me down if I lie."

When nothing happened, Fzoul seemed convinced.

"Very well. I believe you, Vardin. I can also sense Bane's power in you. More powerful than usual in a novice. You have Bane's favor. Welcome back, Vardin Gerhun, to the church of Bane."

I bowed deeply and was about to say my thanks, but a green flash behind Fzoul caught my attention. All of us in the room turned around and saw a giant figure clad in black armour sitting on the newly created Seat of Bane. We all kneeled down in reverence. After a moment of silence, Bane spoke.

"I have returned from the slumber of death after many years. Many things have changed in Faerun, and not for better in my view. There is much to be done in order to claim back our former status and power. I am still the god of Hatred and Tyranny. Cyric still holds Strife, but I no longer desire it. I have finally learned that it weakened me so much that I was kept from obtaining my goals.
Everything is now much clearer without it. I no longer tolerate infighting amongst my faithful. You must be one in the battle against our enemies. The conflicts amongst you in the past hindered my plans too much. Let Cyric have Strife, see how little it helps him. The loss of Strife will not bother me because I have managed to claim a much better and more powerful title which I should have done long ago, Fear."

All of us were instantly in awe of the new dogma Lord Bane had exposed to us. Fear would give more power to Lord Bane than Strife ever did. Bane's long slumber had done much good to him. After we absorbed his words, Bane continued.

"There is much to be done. The structure of the church and Zhentarim must be realigned. As a first act, I shall name Fzoul Chembryl as my personal Chosen Tyrant. Let no one ever dispute his power on the pain of death." Then Bane disappeared in a green flash as quickly as he'd appeared.

It took a moment for it to sink to Fzoul, or perhaps he'd received some personal communication from Bane. Whatever the reason, after that Fzoul began laying plans and orders on what to do next. After everyone had received their orders, Fzoul told me to accompany him to his room. There was a special task for me. Whatever the task would be, I knew my road to power and prestige had just begun.

THE END