Though is there any indication that he underwent such an apotheosis in life, and that isn't just a form he takes on as a god?
-No, but Blackguards get Fiendish servants, and apotheosis' are a common thing, in the D&D verse. It would explain his awkward Human-but-not-Human appearance.
Incidentally, Faiths & Avatars did provide a useful description for Bane.
Any person Bane possessed quickly assumed the appearance of a handsome, black-haired man of oily looks and a derisive, even cruel, manner.
It was less useful for Myrkul, however, as he's described as a robed skeleton. Once again, doubt he looked like that in life. Same for Bhaal, who appeared in two main forms, the Slayer and the Ravager. We've also got this from Grand History of the Realms.
Shortly thereafter, a trio of adventurers from the north—a powerful warrior, a stealthy killer, and a necromancer—came to my court and prostrated themselves before me. The warrior wielded a simple iron blade that rippled with arcane energy.
No real description, there, save for Bane's weapon. And it's driving me nuts, but there's a snippet in a book in which they describe a godslaying weapon which fell into the trio's hands thanks to Jergal. Wish I could remember where it was described, again, or what it was called.
Ah! found it.
It describes Bhaal using an enchanted dagger on Haask while Myrkul and Bane stoically watch.
I'm just saying... everything I've read doesn't seem to indicate that happened, so no reason to think it did. :P
-Indeed, which is why I am saying.
It was less useful for Myrkul, however, as he's described as a robed skeleton. Once again, doubt he looked like that in life.
-Lich.
And it's driving me nuts, but there's a snippet in a book in which they describe a godslaying weapon which fell into the trio's hands thanks to Jergal. Wish I could remember where it was described, again, or what it was called.
-The Jathiman Dagger (Sp?), in the back of the FRCS, and on pg. 46 of AGHotR.
I always imagine that the mortal versions of the gods look like their most normal-looking avatars and religious art (that's if they even have them). It's only when they become gods that they really let themselves go.
You might check out such descriptions, or their appearances in novels.Faiths & Avatars on Bane: "a shadowy vaguely human-shaped figure garbed in garments of black streaked with red". Also he preferred "young and good-looking men of slim build, cultured tastes, wealth and power" to possess in the manner described above.
For some reason, I also imagine him with a beard-of-evil pointy goatee. :D (Though I can't be sure if I read that or imagined it.)
I think they also primarily wielded either their favoured weapon or the weapon that is their holy symbol. I think Bane would use gauntlets to pummel his foes, it sounds right. Torm a greatsword, obviously. Bhaal a dagger, easy. Myrkul a scythe, maybe.
Maybe Bane looks like this:
I now realize that I just repeated what everyone here has already said or knows. :embarrass
Myrkul's avatar mentions being a scythe-wielding skeleton, but goes on to describe him with wasted flesh and wrinkly skin and hollow face, apparently not quite a skeleton or not quite dead yet. His mortal form could be like this, a fair possibility for a necromancer no doubt going on to lichdom.
Bhaal's a bit tricky, but I guess his Slayer avatar is closest to his mortal form (the Ravager I think is a minor god that Bhaal absorbed), minus the wounds and undeath, but it's barely described.
Torm is easy, all three of his avatars easily apply to a mortal, at different stages of his life, and there's been plenty of artwork done of him.
For some reason, I also imagine him with a beard-of-evil pointy goatee. :D (Though I can't be sure if I read that or imagined it.)
Hah, yeah, you're not the only one. Check out the picture of the Priest of Bane on page 13 of Faiths & Pantheons. For some reason, I can't help but think that that guy looks just like how Bane looked in life. Same goes for the Priest of Myrkul next to him. I find it really easy to imagine the real Bane and Myrkul looking a lot like those two did in life.
Torm is easy, all three of his avatars easily apply to a mortal, at different stages of his life, and there's been plenty of artwork done of him.
Yep, here's his description from Faiths & Avatars.
Torm can choose to appear as a helmless, 12-foot-tall man in ancient full plate armor stained dusky purple, who is possessed of an eternal calm. Sometimes he appears as an aging warrior with gray-white hair who has withstood uncounted evils without breaking, and at other times as a handsome, blond, young man of incredible personal magnetism, self-confidence, and quiet enthusiasm.
I pictured them as a typical human adventuring trio. Wasn't there an article on some realmslore by Iahkovas.
Ah! found it.
It describes Bhaal using an enchanted dagger on Haask while Myrkul and Bane stoically watch.
Sweet, thanks for the link. I gotta print that out.
And yep, the Jathiman Dagger. Page 169 of Faiths & Pantheons. For some reason, I was under the impression that Bane was described there, but nope. Still, pretty interesting blurb, how Jergal essentially put that dagger into Bane's hands.
Well, I'm guessing Bane didn't look like this in life.
What if he did?:P
As for your question--don't know of any such sources, sorry.
You walked into the party like you were walking onto a yacht
Your hat strategically dipped below one eye
Your scarf it was apricot
You had one eye on the mirror as you watched yourself gavotte
And all the girls dreamed that theyd be your partner
Theyd be your partner, and...
Youre so Bane, you probably think this song is about you
Youre so Bane, Ill bet you think this song is about you
Dont you? dont you?
You had me several years ago when I was still quite naive
Well you said that we made such a pretty pair
And that you would never leave
But you gave away the things you loved and one of them was me
I had some dreams, they were clouds in my coffee
Clouds in my coffee, and...
I had some dreams they were clouds in my coffee
Clouds in my coffee, and...
Youre so Bane, you probably think this song is about you
Youre so Bane, Ill bet you think this song is about you
Dont you? dont you?
Well I hear you went up to saratoga and your horse naturally won
Then you flew your lear jet up to nova scotia
To see the total eclipse of the sun
Well youre where you should be all the time
And when youre not you're with
Some underworld spy or the wife of a close friend
Wife of a close friend, and...
Youre so Bane, you probably think this song is about you
Youre so Bane, Ill bet you think this song is about you
Dont you? dont you?
Sorry... couldn't resist. :P
I don't remember the exact wording, but in the novel Stormlight Storm delves into the psyche of a man who is possessed by a remaining sliver of Bane's essence and believes himself to be Bane bound to a mortal frame and seeks to regain his rightfull divine powers (the novel is set after Bane's dead during the ToT).
While inside his head Storm is about to discover some secret memories of Bane and upon locating some deeply hidden memories about Bane's secret fear, shame and slefloating from which all his bullying is originating the shiver of Bane kills itself before Storm learns too much.
So Bane is the typical bully who tries to oppress others to cover his own low self-esteem, maybe a disfigured look is some part of it?
Perhaps he worshipped Talos/Gruumsh in life, and aspired to rise above his humble Orcish beginnings.
Question...where does it say Bane, Bhaal and Myrkul were ever human (beyond the ToT when they were force into Avatar forms by Ao)?
-AGHotR, and their write-ups in Faiths & Avatars.
If he did look like that mini/concept art in mortal form, then he was probably an Orc, or at least a Half-Orc.
Like I said, he was born a freak of nature.
:P