The worship of Beshaba is fairly widespread and varied throughout the Realms. Her followers prefer to keep a low profile even in those cities which profess tolerance and those towns which actively support evil religions. As a rule of thumb, if Tymora can be found in the area, then Beshaba probably goes hand in hand. Her followers and priests can often be found where plots are being hatched and fell actions are foretold.

The spiteful, the malicious, and the reckless dominate the exclusively Human clergy of the Maid of Misfortune. The Beshaban priesthood is split approximately in half into clerics and specialty priests, with only a smattering of mystics belonging to the priesthood (and most of them dwelling apart in remote regions). Relations are good between the different types of priests, although it should be noted that the faith is led by female priests— priests locked in an endless, vicious struggle for personal supremacy.

Male clergy tend to be underpriests or the Black Fingers (professional assassins) of Beshaba; those high in status in Beshaba’s church are almost exclusively female. Specialty priests are referred to as doommasters (a genderless term in this church).

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Hierarchy

In ascending order of rank, the titles in general use by the church of Beshaba are: Bewildered (as in “Bewildered Brother Gorm” or “Bewildered Sister Lashayal”—the Bewildered are the novices), the Unfortunate (full priests who use similar forms of address as the Bewildered), Finger of Fear, Hand of Strife, Higher Hand of Strife, Hand of Gloom, Higher Hand of Gloom, Hand of Horror, Higher Hand of Horror, Hand of Despair, Higher Hand of Despair, Mistress/Master of Dread, and Nails of the Lady.

Vestments

Female priests of Beshaba wear robes of mauve, purple, and black, and are branded or tattooed on one instep with Beshaba’s Badge (the antlers) and on one thigh with a row of marks of rank which can only be read by fellow initiates. These are covered by normal clothing when the priestess is outside of temples or sites where ceremonies are being conducted. Male priests wear robes of crimson and are tattooed with Beshaba’s Badge on one cheek, a device which can be covered only by a mask, mud (or a similar substance), or long, unkempt hair. In services, doommasters of either gender who are leading a ceremony prefer simple black tunics with the symbol of Beshaba on the chest and black stockings.

When working in the field, under cover, on a quest, or simply traveling, most Beshaban clergy wear utilitarian garb appropriate to their locale and the level of danger they anticipate encountering.

Rites and Duties

Beshaba is worshiped in two ways: by those who believe only in her power and wish to appease her, and by her faithful clergy.

To appease Beshaba, one must make an offering of something valuable and hold it in flames until it is at least partially consumed. Beshaba’s name must be called out while this is done, and a prayer of praise and entreaty must made while on one’s knees immediately afterward. Beshaba is said to look more kindly on entreaties made by those who allow themselves to burn their fingers somewhat in the offering.

Priests of Beshaba must make an offering to the Lady at least once a day by setting fire to brandy, wine, or spirits while uttering the name of the god and dipping a black antler tine into the mixture; prayers follow. A second prayer similar to the first must be made to Beshaba each night outside under a dark sky. If a member of the clergy is forcibly confined, at least a prayer during the hours of darkness is expected to be attempted. The nighttime offering is a personal prayer for guidance, and the goddess often answers it with nightmare visions later in the evening.

Devotees of Beshaba mark every Midsummer and Shieldmeet with wild revels of destruction and rudeness to mark Beshaba’s nature as Maid of Misrule. Otherwise they ignore the calendar, holding special ceremonies upon the deaths of important clergy and when a priestess ascends to a new rank. The funeral ceremony is known as the Passing. It is a rare time of dignity and tender piety among the clergy. The body of the departed is floated down a river amid floating candles in a spell ceremony designed to make the corpse into an undead creature and teleport it to a random location elsewhere in the Realms to wreak immediate havoc. Senior clergy use spells or magical items to scry from afar to see what damage is then done by the creature’s sudden appearance.

The ceremony of ascension in rank is known as the Marking. It is a ceremony involving drum music, dancing over flames, and the permanent marking of the priest with a brand or tattoo. The priest being promoted must bear the pain without benefit of spell or potion to ease it.

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Affiliated Orders

The Doommasters are universally feared specialty priests for the way they reveled in the infliction of misfortune on others.

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The Black Fingers are a secret society of assassins dedicated to Beshaba's name. It is comprised of male members of her clergy and evil thieves and fighters.

The Wormlucks were an order created to spread Beshaba's influence and counter the church of Tymora. They serve as a focus for calamities, which occur wherever they go, often affecting them as well. Their style of dress is distinctive, forced upon them by the orthodox clergy to avoid confusion with the orthodox clergy and for high visibility. They wear bright red robes worn over armor and white hair wigs, which have to be obvious and usually ill-fitting, to honor Beshaba's own locks.

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