The Parallels between Bane and Gortash, and their relationship to Bhaal and the Dark Urge
As someone who is fascinated with the Dark Three and has taken multiple deep dives into their lore, the fact that both mortal Bhaal and Bane are very similar to their aforementioned chosen is very interesting to me.
I decided to take a closer look at the four of them and work out the details. Said details are below the cut.
1. Bane and Gortash as slaves:
What most people don't know about Bane is that he was, as a mortal, a slave to a primordial evil from the beginning of time. Said evil was called "Maram of the Great Spear" and was also one of the Seven Lost Gods of Abeir (Banes original home. Yeah. He is technically an alien in Toril). Bane, despite being enslaved by a literal Primordial Evil, displayed even back then a lot of prowess in battle, having earned the title "The Bane of the Ancients" back in Abeir. We don't know how exactly Bane became a slave, whether or not he was born into it or sold, but we do know that he developed serious mental problems during that part of his life (which is not a surprise). How Bane escaped Maram is unknown, but given that the Crown-Sorcerers of Rdiuz were the ones to break the ancient bindings that kept Maram at bay, that Bhaal (back then still known as Arabhal) worked for them, and that Bane was employed by said sorcerers later on, we can assume that they had a hand in freeing him. Maybe Bhaal himself helped him, which sets things up nicely for other parts of this post.
Gortash, of course, was sold by his own parents as a child to the devil Raphael and raised in the House of Hope. There are already confirmations in the game that he was tortured and abused. He later managed to escape the House of Hope, though by which means we don't really know. There are theories floating around that Helsik somehow managed to help him escape or that even Bane himself had a hand in it, but, sadly, we aren't told how it actually happened.
So both definetly have a similar backround as slaves to a being they cannot possibly hope to defeat alone.
2. Bane and Gortash as strangers:
Okay, let me set the scene here: Bane came to Toril from Abeir, which is a completely different world. And although they are similar there are still differences. Bane came to Toril as part of Marams slave-army. He lost his real home (and possibly also family) when he was a child and was now sent to die in a place he knew nothing about. The cultures, the languages, the customs, literally EVERYTHING was new to him. He had no knowledge of Toril. Zero. All he knew was that he was supposed to fight against the magic-users of Rdiuz. That is an incredibly frightening situation to be in, even if you posess his strength of will.
Gortash on the other hand went from Toril to the Hells, Avernus to be precise. He also knew nothing of the hells aside from the fact that they were a place you really don't want to end up in. Does anyone know how long he spent there? Because depending on how long he spent there and the time he got back towards Baldurs Gate, the city may have changed as well, although I can say little about that.
So yeah. Those two were taken away from everything they new (two times actually) and just thrown into an incredibly dangerous enviroment and expected to just suck it up.
3. Bane and Gortash as affection-seeking individuals:
That may surprise some but despite their demeanor and dedication towards trying to not rely on others (because that makes you vulnerable and neither of them can, in any way, admit a certain desire for kindness) they do, actually, want to have someone that appreciates them. Someone that respects them.
We see that in Bane multiple times during the Avatar Triology: Especially with Blackthorn. Banes whole doctrine is about assembling and keeping power, about having no equal and ruling over all others, about kindness being a weakness. And yet, when Blackthorne shows him mercy and kindness after Bane got wounded during the Time of Troubles (something that is a sin in the religion he established) he not only tolerates it but accepts it with gratitude (no, he doesn't admit it to himself). He begins to like Blackthorne and when he acidentally kills him (because Bane doesn't think things through and just assumes thinngs will work out because he is the one doing it (remember how exhausted Myrkul was because of that)) Bane grieves. The man that had spent thousand of years telling everyone that attachements of any kind make you unworthy of being a leader mourns. Bane goes around and claims that mortals are easily replaced and worthless in the grand scheme of things, but spills tears and cries out loud because over the death of a mortal? Yes, definetly the behavior of someone that never learned that you are allowed to have emotions and like other people. And the tragic thing? Bane is utterly afraid of being known and understood. That is, as we learn directly in the beginning of the Avatar Triology, his greatest fear. Not being enslaved again, not dying, not losing power, prestige or control, but being loved and cared for. Because that would mean he could be manipulated. And that is a fact that makes me incredibly sad but also puts his loud and overbearing demeanor into perspective.
Gortash is very similar. He wears an anti-anxiety coat, presents himself as a man that has complete control over himself and the city he seeks to rule, and yet, at heart, is also just a man that tries to keep his life together by controlling every aspect of it. And I do believe that he is convinced that sending Karlach to the hells would help her become stronger and that it was not some malicious plan of his (it was still utterly cruel but he genuinely doesn't sees it that way). And if Fytz is to be believed, he did care for her in his own fucked up way ("I think you were the only one that kept him a little honest"). That being said it is also plausible that his affections (strictly platonic speaking) for her were also one of the reasons he sent her away to begin with. Do you guys know Mel and Ambessa from Arcane? How Ambessa tells Mel that she sent her away because "she weakened her"? Gortash would do this because he, like Bane, tells himself that genuine connections are dangerous and not affordable for people in their position. And do you remember Gortashs parents? How he doesn't kill them and instead forces them to tell him that he is loved? Yeah? Issues. Serious, serious abandomnent issues.
4. Bane and Gortash as rulers who desire an equal:
Bane and Bhaal. Gortash and the Dark Urge. Lord and Assassin. Tyrant and Liberator. The man that rules and the one that drives the herd into their arms (as Orin so eloquently puts it).
Bane and Bhaal have a long, long history. Those two travelled together for at least six years before meeting Myrkul. They go back a long way. The things is: They did not only respect each other, but actually admired the other one. They liked each other and were a highly efficient duo. Bhaal probably had a hand in getting Bane away from Maram and looking at how Bane handles Blackthorne helping him later on, he probably was immensily grateful towards Bhaal as well. The two of them met each other when they were still young, worked together under the Crown-sorceres of Rdiuz before fleeing Netheril due to the phaerimms life-drain spell together, were both tortured by Jergal in their dreams (because he wanted them to slay the Primordials that had invaded Toril and threatened his plans), and stayed together for the rest of their lifes. In the book Tantras we learn that Bane does want one to share his triumph with, and who, in the long-run, is better suited than his oldest friend? And Bhaal is very similar in that regard. When the Dark Urge looses the duel with Orin they can Sceleritas that they will still try to claim the Crown of Karsus, to which Sceleritas says something along the lines of "What worth lies in world domination/assembling all this power if you don't have a family to return to?" Is it cruel? Yes. Could Sceleritas say that to make them even more miserable? Also yes. Does it make sense for him to speak the truth here? Definetly. Because if you are a ruler you need someone to acknowledge you as such. Not just out of fear or blind obedience, but out of mutual respect and admiration. And if you're an assassin you not only need someone to hire you, but also someone who praises your skills and acknowledges them openly as well. And in a certain way, Bane did exactly that. In 2e Bhaal is listed as serving Bane. We don't really know how that happened but it probably happened shortly after the Moonshae Triology in which Bhaal was thrown from Greater Deity status down to Lesser One. That is a huge loss of power. And Bhaal resides on the lower planes, which is not a good place to be in if you're weakened and hurt. Bane could have killed Bhaal and absorbed his power. He could have stolen his portfolio, he could have enslaved him. Bane has done these things to numerous other divine beings without blinking. Yet he did not. Instead, it seems, he offered his protection in return for Bhaals servitude. And it worked out well. The two of them have no recorded instances of any kind of quarrels between them during that time. Bane respects Bhaal because he knows he is efficient. And Bhaal respects Bane enough to actually listen to him, despite viewing him as an impulsive loud-mouth.
Gortash and the Dark Urge are exactly the same. They respect and admire each other. Gortash wants to have the Dark Urge at their side and share his kingdom with them, and the Dark Urge is awed by Gortashs cunning and ambition and seems reluctant to kill them. It is exactly the same, because even Bhaal never really made any attempts to inflict any direct harm on Bane. Remember the whole "my nearest and dearest" and "favorite assassin" line? Yeah. That works for Bane and Bhaal as well because Bane never had another assassin that served him so directly.
5. Bane and Gortashs want to be challenged:
And when I say challenged I mean questioned and sassed.
We already get a narrator line between Gortash and Durge that straight up confirms that he did miss the harmless arguments with them. He want's someone with a backbone, someone who will tell them when they are wrong. Karlach most likely did it too some degree but was ultimately disposable because she had no part in the Absolute plot. But Durge? They argued back, they discussed, they didn't just submit. They earned not only Gortashs respect (like Karlach did) but also his admiration (which Karlach did not).
Bane reflects that with Bhaal, because just like the Dark Urge, Bhaal would never truly submit to anyone completely. He may follow Banes wishes and kill in his name, but he won't lay down and just allow Bane to do as he wants with him. And do you guys know who else constantly sassed Bane and got away with it because he dared look him in the eyes while doing so? Fzoul, who also, somewhat, betrayed Bane mutiple times and was still kept around.
If you watched The Boys you are definetly familiar with the charactere Homelander, who is very similar to Bane and Gortash (though not as much too Gortash as too Bane): The ego, the insecurities, the delusions of grandeur, the need for love and approval. And that he leaves those that dare speak up against him alive.
Bane and Gortash are proud, but also severely afraid of being questioned and though weak. Yet, simultaneously, hate being thoughtlessly obeyed. Challenge them with words while still aiding them and they will like you.
6. Bane and Gortash have an obsession with industralisation:
While Bane is a god and thinks himself above such things, he definetly does reveal that the fine workings of mortal biology and technology fascinate him. I mean, he get's really excited about it during the Avatar Triology when ge himself was stuck in a mortal body.
And Gortash and his messy experiments that led to the Steelwatch? Yeah. He seems to have taken a page out of Banes book.
7. Bane and Gortash lost their name
Lost their name? Whatever do you mean?
Well... Bane isn't Banes actual name. That is not the name he was given at birth. The name derives from his title: The Bane of the Ancients, which he earned on Abeir. We don't even know his real name. Bhaal and Myrkul possibly do. But it is also possible that Bane himself doesn't remember his name because he spent to much time a slave and got his identity almost completely erased.
And Gortash is just his surname. His real name is Enver. Enver Gortash.
They both have no real identity outside of being "the perfect lord" anymore. That is what they have been reduced to. And who still calls them by their real names?
Bhaal, Myrkul and the Dark Urge. As already mentioned: Bhaal and Myrkul probably do that in the most intimate moments they are capable of sharing. And I can also see the name Enver slipping from Durges tongue.
And what is even more tragic and also strangely sweet? It works the other way around as well. Bhaals real name (depending on which backstory we are going with) is either Arabhal or Tharlagaunt Bale. And the Dark Urge was raised by adoptive parents and must have been given a real name at some point. Bane and Gortash (and Myrkul) know this. In the few moments of genuine trust they dared show affection to one another (in any way) they most likely referred to them with their original names. That being said, the name Bhaal already seems to be a nickname that Bane gave him, given that he only became known as such during the time he spent travelling together with Bane (after Rdiuz and before meeting Myrkul).
Another ramble complete. I may or may not come back to this. We will see.
As always, feel free to leave your own thoughts and correct me on anything I got wrong! 🙃
