| T O P I C R E V I E W |
| Azar |
Posted - 12 Mar 2022 : 17:18:38
Good day, fellow fans of the Realms.
I'm trying to work out just what a Banite marriage ceremony would look like. Given that the faith of those who follow the Black Lord consistently veers towards tyranny and rigid hierarchy, I imagine there would be much talk of bondage (not that kind) and inescapable duty and so on and so forth. There may even be a mention of "the unbreakable chain which binds these souls together". |
| 12 L A T E S T R E P L I E S (Newest First) |
| Azar |
Posted - 31 Dec 2022 : 02:09:20
quote:
Originally posted by sleyvas
One major change I see from "our world" and what you just said would be that Bane's "marriages" may not be sexually biased.
"based" or "biased"? |
| Italian Archmage Karsus |
Posted - 30 Dec 2022 : 22:11:59
I recall an Ed Greenwood piece with a Banite pre-marriage "elopement", where the woman wound up choosing to ker-kill her suitor rather than risk ending up hitched. Maybe it was from Elminster in Hell? Anyone remember the novel? |
| sleyvas |
Posted - 28 Dec 2022 : 18:27:14
One major change I see from "our world" and what you just said would be that Bane's "marriages" may not be sexually biased. |
| bloodtide_the_red |
Posted - 28 Dec 2022 : 01:36:26
A marriage is a legal contract, and Bane being lawful evil just loves things like legal contracts.
So...well, while Ed would fall over himself to say or type "every single man and woman has been 100% equal forever. in the Realms. The End" it...well...does not have to work that way.
Before the 20th century "love" was not overly "part" of a lot of marriages, at least for people above "commoners". People did marry for love, but marring for other reasons was much more common. There was a lot of marriages for social and political reasons. A LOT of women and men were married off, mostly "against their will" to someone to from a bond between two families. And plenty of rich and powerful folks had kids for little more of a reason then to toss them at others as gifts or worse. (and..well...even in 2022 it's not like all of the above is gone from the world)
And except for the North and Dalelands that are a perfect paradise.....well, the rest of the Realms, notably the South and East are not exactly as "fair and equal". For a LOT of (English and American) history women could not have a business, own property, be "head of a household" and a LOT of other legal things. Basically, for a lot of things, a woman would need stay or get married to have any legal say...through her husband.
This it the type of marriage Bane would be all about: love less legal business marriages. |
| sleyvas |
Posted - 27 Dec 2022 : 22:20:43
Would Banites believe in the idea of marriage as we view it at all? By that I mean, would a tyrant see the need to say that they will not have a sexual relationship with only this one person? I mean, I can see them doing some kind of declaration that might specify that any child coming from their union would be his inheritor over that of other women, but only if she will take no other lovers and teach their child to be his loyal hand. |
| Azar |
Posted - 24 Dec 2022 : 20:32:32
quote:
Originally posted by Wooly Rupert
Faiths & Avatars says "Banites were generally cruel folk who enjoyed exercising power over others within the security of a rigid hierarchy and rules." So Banites -- or those in a relationship with a Banite -- would follow some sort or hierarchy with defined rules and roles. Again, not everyone's cup of tea, but there are people who'd be down with that.
There may be an explicit element of protection involved (i.e., the "dominant" defends their "submissive"); I could see that as a sound reason as to why someone of the proper temperament would willingly buy into the faith. Whether they will eventually experience buyer's remorse is another matter altogether. |
| Wooly Rupert |
Posted - 24 Dec 2022 : 17:35:20
quote:
Originally posted by Outlaw Pope
I agree with your sentiment. I think if Banites were involved in any sort of marriage ritual its going to be compelling, demanding, and not something you can just back out of except in matters of some sort of dead weight or weakness. The Banefaith itself would repudiate any sort of bonds of love - so all it would be is the clergy either insinuating itself into some political bond or likely being some sort of cruel ritual. Also if it involves poor people and normies they wouldn't even bother to be involved.
I don't think that Bane's faith would repudiate love. Sure, it wouldn't be a major aspect of the faith, but it's a human faith, and love is a normal human thing.
I'm sure there are caveats and such saying that if you're a Banite, your duty to Bane would be more important than any bonds of love, and that in any relationship involving a Banite, the weak must submit to the strong, but I don't think the faith would have much more to say about love than that.
And while some of that certainly wouldn't sound appealing to a lot of people, it's not necessarily an "I am the master, you are the slave" type of thing -- Faiths & Avatars says "Banites were generally cruel folk who enjoyed exercising power over others within the security of a rigid hierarchy and rules." So Banites -- or those in a relationship with a Banite -- would follow some sort or hierarchy with defined rules and roles. Again, not everyone's cup of tea, but there are people who'd be down with that. |
| Azar |
Posted - 24 Dec 2022 : 14:32:35
Generally speaking, would Banites allow nonbelievers to attend their weddings? |
| Outlaw Pope |
Posted - 22 Dec 2022 : 21:45:45
I agree with your sentiment. I think if Banites were involved in any sort of marriage ritual its going to be compelling, demanding, and not something you can just back out of except in matters of some sort of dead weight or weakness. The Banefaith itself would repudiate any sort of bonds of love - so all it would be is the clergy either insinuating itself into some political bond or likely being some sort of cruel ritual. Also if it involves poor people and normies they wouldn't even bother to be involved. |
| Charles Phipps |
Posted - 13 Mar 2022 : 16:27:19
I wouldn't actually go too far with the "evil" elements because I've always felt the Evil Faiths should have a "public face" which is publicly palatable to the average Faerunite and the "fanatical" elements that the gods really favor but the PCs will be the ones likely to encounter.
Here's my shot:
Banite Marriage
A Banite marriage is a strictly somber and spartan affair divided between the Overseer of the family and the Supplicant. The Overser of the Supplicant is typically the husband in traditionalist Banite societies but there have been cases where women of great favor in the church have taken less influential partners as them. The Overseer agrees to protect the Supplicant, provide for them, be their "spiritual guardian" against heresy, and in turn be obeyed in all things.
Like many religions, Banite marriage requires an exchanging of tokens and this is done with an iron ring that is placed on the finger of the Supplicant and a steel rod that is presented to the Overseer.
Typically, Banite men wear either suits of armor or black clothing while the Supplicant is to wear white robes. Sexual purity is not expected of supplicants but can be demanded of Overseers as part of their terms. A dowry is usually presented by the Supplicants family as well.
Polytheistic Banite
It should be noted that the above Banite ceremony is not the only one and not even the one practiced by most Banites. While priests tend to be monolatrists (worshiping one god but believing in many), most Realmsians worship the pantheon as needs arise. As such, unless under Fzoul Chembyrl's direct rule, most Banites will get married under Sune or Selune or Chauntea the traditional goddesses for marriage. |
| Ayrik |
Posted - 12 Mar 2022 : 19:13:21
I would expect the married couple has no say. They would not be given any choices about the marriage or the partner or the ceremony.
The marriage would be arranged by higher authorities to serve higher purposes, an inescapably binding oath and contract and law. Those fools who violate their marriage terms would be swiftly punished by the social order. |
| TheIriaeban |
Posted - 12 Mar 2022 : 17:58:02
I don't see it being a marriage (or a marriage ceremony) like ours. There would have to be one of the couple recognized as the one in control having "conquered the weaker and seizing their life and possessions". On Faerun, that could be either of the parties. For the Church of Bane, it could be a recording of who is the "recognized ruler of the family" so it may have some semblance to a coronation. Rings may still be used with the family ruler having some sort of signet while the conquered (spouse) would have a plain band representing "chains of submission" and a means to mark the individual as the "property of the family ruler".
Edit: On second thought, maybe the "conquered" would have a metal bracelet to signify a manacle. It could be stylish and expensive (for the rich Banite couple) but it would represent a manacle none the less. |
