The Black Hand of Bane stats?

[KrazyHades]

In what book (if any) are the stats for the Black Hand of Bane? I know that it acts as a morningstar, effectively, but I thought that somewhere were rules for the Black Hand of Bane as a major artifact, one that I need in my campaign. If in fact it has not been written up, then I will have to.

Basically, IMC there is a huge conflict between the Church of Bane and the Shadowhand (a society of Bane worshipers helping the evil deity steal the shadow domain) and the Hiveband (a CG group known for riding on giant insects; is allied with a colony of formians and with an elven nation). Things are coming to a head, with Bane coming closer and closer to making his final move, and to assure his success they have been given the Black Hand of Bane to prevent the Hiveband from interfering. The PCs were sent to recover The Angel Tome, a major artifact that was long lost but was created for service to the light. I need the stats for the Black Hand of Bane so I can know how good I should make The Angel Tome.

If nobody knows, I will just write up both.

Thank you very much!

 

[Gold Roger]

Faiths and Pantheons tells me it's a plain old +5 lawfull mighty cleaving unholy gauntlet.

 

[KrazyHades]

Thank's for the answer Gold Roger. Looks like I'm going to have to make up something more terrifying. This is a weapon that is normally wielded by Bane himself, after all, so I'm going to make something with lots of powers that are heavy on the fear and command aspects (read: fear effects, suggestion/command effects, etc...).


I'll post it here later tonight for critiquing.

 

[KrazyHades]

The Black Hand of Bane

Bane’s right hand in encased in a major artifact of legendary power, a black iron gauntlet known as the Black Hand of Bane. He has invested a portion of his power in the gauntlet, giving its wielder sway over the forces of fear and tyranny. Bane always knows the location of the gauntlet and the identity and alignment of its wielder, even if the wearer is protected from magical scrying. Only epic level magic or the will of another god could overcome this.

The Black Hand of Bane is a +5 lawful mighty cleaving unholy gauntlet (as stated in Faiths and Pantheons), but has other powers that can only be accessed by a cleric of Bane in good standing with his god and of high ranking in the Church of Bane. When in the hands of Bane himself, powers of FAR greater strength are unleashed, but the powers below are those that can be activated by the mortal servants of bane.

The powers contained within the gauntlet (for the use of Bane’s mortal followers) are:

While wearing the Black Hand of Bane, the wielder is given the Vampire template, with the exception that s/he cannot create spawn or other vampires. (this is here only because of the flavor I gave Bane in my campaign). The creature ceases to be a vampire and loses all benefits of the template 24 hours after removing the gauntlet.

At will (as a standard action) the wielder can target an opponent with either Cause Fear or Command spell as a 20th level cleric (wielder must choose the type before the target rolls the save)

3 times per day the wielder can target an opponent with either Fear or Suggestion, caster level 20th.

Once per day the wielder can either target 4 opponents with Dominate Monster (CL 20th) or the special ability Absolute Terror (see below)
Absolute Terror: All opponents within 100 feet must save on a DC 20 will save or become panicked for 2d6 rounds. A creature that makes the save is frightened for 2d6 rounds. Each successive 2d6 rounds reduces the “fear level” by one (panicked>frightened>shaken>normal). This ability does not affect undead or worshippers of Bane. It is a mind affecting fear effect.

Once per week the wielder can cast Commune as a 20th level cleric.

Once per year the Black Hand of Bane can petition Bane to send forth his Tyrant aspect or his Fear aspect (essentially, avatars with powers over tyranny or fear respectively; in my campaign each deity is made up of an aspect of each of topic in his/her portfolio). Bane looks poorly on those who petition for his presence frivolously, so wielders of the gauntlet are loathe to do so for fear Bane will kill them. The Aspect sent does NOT serve the caller, but it hears out the caller’s petition and decides whether to leave immediately or remain manifested for up to one month.

Later tonight or perhaps tomorrow I will post The Angel Tome, the good artifact being used to counter the Black Hand of Bane.

Tell me what you think of this!

 

[Faraer]

In the Realms as she is wrote, the Black Hand of Bane is Bane's holy symbol; it isn't the name of the gauntlet worn by his avatar. Bane is a transcendent divinity, not a man-size superpowered humanoid with physical weapons -- he's only depicted that way in Faiths and Avatars because Wizards demanded killable gods as in Deities & Demigods. On the other hand, there is a rare Banite magic item called the black hand, detailed in FA1 Halls of the High King.

 

[KrazyHades]

Bane may well be a transcended divinity in the Forgotten Realms, but in my campaign the gods are non-transcendent divinities that can split off their "aspects" (see above) which take a physical form, or they can manifest their entire selves in a physical form that is far more powerful than the component parts. These partial-deities (IMC) tend to wield very powerful magical items and the like; they are a piece of a god in a super-avatar form. The manifested god is the form it spends its time in; all gods have a physical form somewhere, though they may be "absent" from it to send their awareness into a transcendent state.

However, that's just in my campaign (I use Faerun's gods but have it placed in my own campiagn world).

Thank you very much on the tip about where to find the black hand item, as I may use it!

Can I have any constructive suggestions/comments/flames over my design for this artifact?