Post/Author/DateTime	Post
Zanan 03-02-07, 05:04 AM	Vendui! A number of deities are listed as belonging to the "Dark Gods" of the Realms (in Faiths & Avatars etc.), namely Bhaal, Myrkul, and Loviatar. Despite looking for more info, I didn't find any (well, at least not within the last two days), so if anyone has some more in-depth knowledge on them, how the name came about, who belongs to them etc. ... sharing it would be very much appreciated! Zanan
Faraer 03-02-07, 06:31 AM	Cyclopedia of the Realms p. 17:Loviatar, Talona, and Malar serve Bane through Bhaal, although Loviatar and Talona are rivals. Bhaal and Myrkul have an unbreakable symbiotic alliance, as one delivers the dead to the other. Shar is allied with Myrkul. All of these beings are collectively known as "the Dark Gods."It's a descriptive, self-explanatory, probably very long-standing term, similar to "priesthoods that are violent". See also FOR4 The Code of the Harpers p. 21.
Khaelieth 03-02-07, 11:35 AM	LoEF has some on Bhaal and Myrkul. I think there's a Loviatar priestess PrC in the Shining South, might be more info. I'd check the good ol' 2nd edition books
TomCosta 03-02-07, 01:05 PM	The Dark Gods were listed out in either 1E or 2E FRCS or maybe FRA. In any case, IIRC, they were comprised of Bane and his servitors and allies, including Bhaal, Loviatar, Talona, Malar, and maybe one or more of the following, I can't recall for sure: Myrkul, Shar, Hoar, and Mask.
Tyrant of the Moonsea 03-02-07, 01:09 PM	I think Myrkul and Mask were actually included as Dark Gods :)
Soltares 03-02-07, 06:58 PM	Being a Dark God is like having a tattoo on your forehead that says, 'kill me now.' I kind of like Talona, her cultists are useful from a DMing standpoint. Hope she's not next...
Old Sage 03-02-07, 07:08 PM	Tom, it was the 1e FRCS, as Faraer pointed out above. Additionally, the reference from Code of the Harpers:- "Where Harpers worked in subtle, secret ways, followers of the Dark Gods used the way of the sword, openly and brutally."
The Ubbergeek 03-02-07, 07:37 PM	Being a Dark God is like having a tattoo on your forehead that says, 'kill me now.' I kind of like Talona, her cultists are useful from a DMing standpoint. Hope she's not next... Nah, somes of them are a part of the universe, and as disliked as they are, they are let alone...
Lord_Lucien_Karsus_Necron 03-02-07, 08:09 PM	Here is the skinny, I always though the Dark Gods where the ones that were, 1 well known faith, 2 served Bane either directly or indirectly. Before the TOT Bhaal served Bane as Bhaal was barely a intermediate power due to his troubles in the Moonshaes. Myrkul was kind of like Banes right hand man form their time as the dread three. So with Bane at the top you have Myrkul and Bhaal as allies and Loviatar, Talona where in direct service to Bhaal because their portfolios complemented each other. Bhaal enforced the peace between those two based on his higher divine rank. So they inadvertently served Bane as well. This is all in F&A. Shar, Mask, and the others are indeed evil but they were not part of the Dark Gods as the term was commonly used in the Realms.
GothicDan 03-02-07, 11:12 PM	When and why did Malar hop on Talos's boat from Bane's? I must say that I kind of like him there. But then again, I adore the Gods of Fury. Somehow, I end up loving diametrically opposed deities - Lathander and Myrkul and Jergal, Selune and Shar, the Seldarine and the Gods of Fury, the Gods of Fury and Nobanion...
Lord_Lucien_Karsus_Necron 03-03-07, 02:58 AM	Malar was Loths wiping boy for a while at the dawn of time.
Zanan 03-03-07, 04:50 AM	Vendui! Thanks for the input. While I was thinking of the term "Dark Gods" having some sort of mythical meaning, it appears that it is more like a title - if not used in that respect by the populace of Faerûn - for allies and subordinates of Bane. Their list does include Bane, Bhaal, Myrkul, Loviatar and Talona. Mask and Malar do not feature there in F&A. While others may be seen as similarly "dark", the Dark Gods as such are a "special" gang.
Lord_Lucien_Karsus_Necron 03-03-07, 12:23 PM	Precisely my dear Zanan! I really like the old Dark Gods. It was nice when the forces of evil had some centralized leadership. They seemed to be so much more efficient in their evilness back then. I remember when Bane was killed off and all the Realms fans went nuts with hate mail. Bane has always been everyone’s favorite bad guy. His son just wasn’t a good substitute. Bane’s resurrection was my favorite thing about 3rd edition Forgotten Realms. Even if the details behind his resurrection were sketchy. I still would like to see Bhaal and Myrkul come back as Demi-powers in service to Bane.