Bes, God Of Households, Childbirth, Fertility, And Entertainment

Bes is an ancient Egyptian deity associated with childbirth, fertility, and household protection.

Pantheon: Egyptian Pantheon
Deity Title: Bes, God of households, childbirth, fertility, and entertainment
Deity Symbol: The head of a lion or a dwarf with a large feathered headdress and crossed arms
Home Plane: The Duat
Deity Level: Lesser deity
Alignment: Chaotic good
Aliases: Bisu, Aha
Superior: None
Traditional Allies: Hathor, Ra, Beset, Tawaret
Traditional Foes: Set, Apophis
Divine Artifact: Bes’s Sistrum
Servants: None
Servitor Creatures: Bes is associated with the dwarf-like creatures known as “Bes-creatures” who are believed to offer protection against evil spirits.
Sacred Animal: Lion
Manifestations: Appears as a bearded dwarf-like creature, often carrying a tambourine or a sword and shield, and wearing a plumed headdress or a lion.
Signs of Favor: Fertility, protection, good health, happiness, and prosperity
Worshipers: Bes was worshipped by common people, especially mothers and women who desired a safe childbirth and protection for their families.
Cleric Alignments: Chaotic good, chaotic neutral, neutral good
Specialty Priests: Priests of Bes were known for their abilities to exorcise evil spirits, entertain and bring joy to people, and assist in childbirth.
Holy Days: Bes had no specific holy days, but his worshippers celebrated his festivals during the month of Choiak.
Portfolio: Bes was the god of households, childbirth, fertility, and entertainment. He was believed to offer protection against evil spirits and misfortune.
Domains: Chaos, Good, Protection, Trickery
Favored Weapon: Whip
Favored Class: Bard
Favored Race: Halflings
Duties of the Priesthood: The duties of the priests of Bes included conducting rituals to protect households and assist in childbirth, entertaining people with music and dance, and exorcising evil spirits.
Major Cult/Temple Sites: Bes was worshipped throughout Egypt, but his major cult centers were in the cities of Abydos, Memphis, and Thebes.
Benefits: The followers of Bes believed that he offered protection against evil spirits and misfortune, and that he could bring happiness, prosperity, and good health to their households. The priests of Bes were also believed to have healing powers and were often consulted for medical advice.

Bes is a small, stout, and jolly deity with a squat, dwarf-like body. He stands no taller than four feet, yet his powerful physique, with bulging muscles and wide chest, conveys immense strength. His face is round and cheery, with a wide mouth full of gleaming teeth, and a wide nose. He has prominent eyebrows, a pair of alert and intelligent-looking eyes, and a bushy beard that frames his smiling face. Bes’s skin is covered in short, curly hair, giving him a wild and beastly appearance. He wears a crown of tall plumes and feathers, and his outfit consists of a simple kilt and sandals, displaying his love for comfort and simplicity.

Bes is a god of fertility, childbirth, and household protection, with origins in ancient Egyptian mythology. His role is to bring happiness and prosperity to households and to ensure the well-being of children and mothers. He is depicted as a joyful and playful being who loves to dance, play music, and entertain people with his antics. He is often portrayed in household scenes, guarding against evil spirits and frightening away any danger or illness that may threaten the health and happiness of the family.

Bes’s unique features and traits are his distinctive dwarf-like body, playful and cheerful persona, and his power to ward off evil and protect families. He is a god of the common people, accessible and relatable, bringing joy and merriment wherever he goes. His mission is to ensure that every household is blessed with fertility and good health, and he does this by entertaining and protecting people with his lively presence. His laughter and music drive away negative energies and invite happiness and abundance into people’s lives. Bes’s ultimate goal is to create a harmonious and prosperous society, one household at a time.

Dogma

Even more so than Bast, Bes is a chaotic deity who cares little for dogma. He loves gambling, and gamblers alternately bless and curse his name, depending on their fortunes. He also delights in small children. People believe that a baby’s unexplained smile is an indication of Bes’s invisible presence, making faces that only the infant can see.

Almost everyone calls on Bes at one time or another for luck, and Bes does not care about the morals or ethics of those who implore him for aid. He acts on whims, handing out good fortune as it pleases him and delighting like a child in the gifts offered to him.

Clergy and Temples

Bes has few clerics, despite his popularity among the common people. His clerics usually earn reputations as rapscallions and scoundrels, avoiding any position of responsibility or respectability and playing tricks and pranks on people who are wrapped up in their own self-importance. They are not considered members of the priestly caste and do not conform to the standard dress for Pharaonic clerics. They dress and usually act much like the common people they serve. Most of Bes’s clerics are male.

Bes has no formal temples and no formal ritual of worship. He is worshiped at household shrines and more informally in gambling halls, taverns, and roadway shrines.

BES
Rogue 20/Bard 20
Small outsider
Divine Rank	7
Hit Dice	20d8+160 (outsider) plus 20d6+160 (Rogue) plus 20d6+160 (Bard) (880 hp)
Initiative	+15 (+11 Dexterity, +4 Improved Initiative)
Speed	50 ft.
AC	65 (+1 size, +11 Dexterity, +7 divine, +20 natural, +16 deflection)
Attacks	+4 dancing luck blade +64/+59/+54/+49 melee; or spell +55 melee touch or +59 ranged touch
Damage	+4 dancing luck blade 1d6+14/19-20/×2 or by spell
Face/Reach	5 ft. by 5 ft./5 ft.
Special Attacks	Domain powers, salient divine abilities, spell-like abilities, sneak attack +10d6, crippling strike, opportunist.
Special Qualities	Divine immunities, DR 42/+4, fire resistance 27, understand, speak, and read all languages and speak directly to all beings within 7 miles, remote communication, godly realm, teleport without error at will, plane shift at will, bardic knowledge +29, bardic music 24/day (countersong, fascinate, inspire competence, inspire courage, inspire greatness, suggestion), evasion, uncanny dodge (cannot be flanked, +4 against traps), defensive roll, improved evasion, SR 39, divine aura (700 ft., DC 33).
Saves	Fort +48, Ref +53, Will +47.
Abilities	Strength 25, Dexterity 33, Constitution 27, Intelligence 29, Wisdom 25, Charisma 43.
Skills	Appraise +66, Balance +70, Bluff +83, Diplomacy +87, Disable Device +56, Disguise +83, Escape Artist +78, Forgery +56, Gather Information +83, Hide +82, Intimidate +25, Jump +16, Knowledge (religion) +36, Listen +76, Move Silently +78, Open Lock +38, Perform +83, Pick Pocket +80, Sense Motive +54, Spot +56, Tumble +58.
Feats	Alertness, Blind-Fight, Blindsight 5-ft. Radius, Combat Reflexes, Disguise Spell, Dodge, Combat Expertise, Extra Music, Improved Disarm, Improved Initiative, Improved Trip, Jack of All Trades, Lightning Reflexes, Mobility, Quick Draw, Spring Attack, Superior Expertise, Weapon Finesse (short sword), Weapon Focus (short sword), Whirlwind Attack.
Divine Immunities	Ability damage, ability drain, acid, cold, death effects, disease, disintegration, electricity, energy drain, mind-affecting effects, Paralysis, poison, sleep, stunning, transmutation, imprisonment, banishment.
Salient Divine Abilities	Alter Reality, Alter Size, Area Divine Shield, Divine Glibness, Divine Rogue, Divine Shield, Extra Energy Immunity (sonic), Increased Energy Resistance (sonic), Power of Luck.
Domain Powers	7/day reroll a die roll once after it is made; 7/day protective ward (touched subject gains +7 resistance bonus on next saving throw, maximum duration 1 hour).
Spell-Like Abilities	Bes uses these abilities as an 18th-level caster. The save DCs are 34 + spell level. aid, break enchantment, confusion, disguise self, enthrall, entropic shield, false vision, freedom of movement, invisibility, irresistible dance, miracle, mislead, moment of prescience, nondetection, phantom musician, piper’s call, polymorph any object, protection from energy, screen, sculpt sound, shout, sirine’s song, spell turning, time stop, tongues, wail of the banshee

Bard Spells Known

(4/8/8/8/8/7/7; base DC = 26 + spell level):

0 daze, detect magic, mage hand, mending, prestidigitation, resistance;
1st charm person, expeditious retreat, sleep, unseen servant, ventriloquism;
2nd darkness, invisibility, minor image, mirror image, suggestion;
3rd blink, confusion, dispel magic, emotion, wind wall;
4th dimension door, greater invisibility, modify memory, rainbow pattern, shout;
5th dream, false vision, Healing Circle, mind fog, mislead;
6th eyebite, mass haste, mass suggestion, permanent image.

Other Divine Powers

As a lesser deity, Bes may take 10 on any check. Bes treats a 1 on an attack roll or saving throw normally and not as an automatic failure.

He is immortal.

Senses:He can see, hear, touch, and smell at a distance of seven miles. As a standard action, he can perceive anything within six miles of his worshipers, holy sites, objects, or any location where one of his titles or name was spoken in the last hour. He can extend his senses to up to five locations at once. He can block the sensing power of deities of his rank or lower at up to two remote locations at once for 7 hours.

Portfolio Sense: He automatically senses every woman in labor and every game of chance. He can also sense any performance of music that is heard by at least five hundred people.

Automatic Actions: Bes can use Bluff, Disguise, or Hide as a free action if the DC for the task is 20 or lower. He can perform up to five such free actions each round.

Create Magic Items: Bes can create any magic item that grants a luck bonus, as long as the items market price does not exceed 30,000 gp.

Artifact

Name: Bes’s Sistrum

Description: The sistrum is a beautifully crafted musical instrument, made of gold and inlaid with precious gems. It has a unique shape, with a loop at the top and curved bars at the bottom that hold metal disks. When shaken, the disks create a ringing sound that can be heard from a great distance. When played by Bes, the air shimmers and glows, and the sound waves have a physical presence.

Abilities: The sistrum is imbued with the power of joy, and its music can lift the heaviest of hearts. When played by Bes, the sound waves created by the instrument have the ability to calm, inspire, and heal those who hear it. The sistrum can also create illusions and cause enemies to become disoriented, allowing Bes or his allies to gain the upper hand in battle.

Limitations: The sistrum can only be played by Bes or by someone who has been granted permission by him. Overuse of the sistrum’s powers can exhaust Bes, and the magical energy it produces can attract unwanted attention from hostile creatures or other deities who may seek to steal it.

Stats:

Type: Magical Musical Instrument
Rarity: Artifact
Requires attunement by a Bard or Cleric of Bes
Grants a +3 bonus to Performance checks when played by an attuned user
Has 3 charges per day that can be expended to cast spells from the following list:
- Calm Emotions
- Healing Word
- Heroism
- Major Image
- Stinking Cloud
Regains 1d3 charges per day at dawn
If all charges are expended, the sistrum loses its magical properties until it regains at least 1 charge.

Currently in the World

Bes has always been a protector of the pharaohs and their people. Since his creation, he has been tasked with keeping them safe from harm and evil spirits. In the 1450s, Bes is still fulfilling his duty with great fervor.

Bes spends his days wandering the Nile, his keen eyes always scanning the horizon for any signs of danger. His nimble feet carry him swiftly through the reeds, and his sharp claws and teeth are always at the ready. He moves with a fluid grace, always alert and ready for action.

Despite his fearsome appearance, he has a gentle heart and a kind spirit. He loves nothing more than to bring joy to the people around him. He is often seen dancing and singing, his infectious laughter filling the air. His music and dance have a magical quality, and it is said that they can heal both body and soul.

Bes’s desire is to protect the pharaohs and their people from harm, but he also hopes to bring them happiness and prosperity. He believes that a joyous people are a strong people, and so he works tirelessly to ensure that there is always music, dance, and laughter in the land.

But he is not without his weaknesses. His love for the people can sometimes make him reckless in his pursuit of their happiness. He has been known to throw wild parties and engage in reckless behavior, putting himself in danger in order to bring joy to others.

Bes’s relationships with the other gods are complex. He is respected for his fierce loyalty and his unwavering commitment to his duties, but some of the more serious gods look down upon his playful nature. Still, he is loved by all who know him, and his infectious energy and joy bring a lightness to even the most solemn of gatherings.

His divine artifact is a magical sistrum, which he uses to create his music. When he plays the instrument, the air shimmers and glows, and the sound waves have a physical presence. The sistrum is said to be imbued with the power of joy, and its music can lift the heaviest of hearts.

As Bes continues his eternal mission of protecting and bringing joy to the people of Egypt, he does so with boundless energy and an unshakeable commitment to his duties. His infectious laughter and magical music continue to echo through the land, bringing hope and happiness to all who hear it.

Bes-Creature

Medium celestial, chaotic good

Armor Class 17 (natural armor)
Hit Points 127 (17d8 + 51)
Speed 40 ft.

STR	DEX	CON	INT	WIS	CHA
18 (+4)	14 (+2)	16 (+3)	10 (+0)	12 (+1)	20 (+5)

Skills Perception +4, Performance +9
Senses darkvision 60 ft., passive Perception 14
Languages all, telepathy 120 ft.

Innate Spellcasting. The bes-creature’s spellcasting ability is Charisma (spell save DC 17). The bes-creature can innately cast the following spells:
- At will: bless, dancing lights, faerie fire
- 3/day each: cure wounds, entangle, thunderwave
- 1/day: aura of vitality
Sistrum. The bes-creature wields a magical sistrum that it can use as a spellcasting focus for its innate spells. When the bes-creature plays the sistrum, the air shimmers and glows, and the sound waves have a physical presence.
Joyful Presence. The bes-creature’s presence brings joy to those around it. All creatures within 30 feet of the bes-creature have advantage on saving throws against being frightened, and any creature that starts its turn within 30 feet of the bes-creature gains 5 temporary hit points.

Challenge 7 (2,900 XP)

Actions:

Multiattack. The bes-creature makes two attacks: one with its bite and one with its claws.

Bite. Melee Weapon Attack: +7 to hit, reach 5 ft., one target. Hit: 11 (2d6 + 4) piercing damage.
Claws. Melee Weapon Attack: +7 to hit, reach 5 ft., one target. Hit: 13 (2d8 + 4) slashing damage.

Play the sistrum. The bes-creature uses its Sistrum ability.

Roar. The bes-creature lets out a deafening roar, causing all creatures within 30 feet of it to make a Wisdom saving throw (DC 17) or become frightened for 1 minute. A creature can repeat the saving throw at the end of each of its turns, ending the effect on itself on a success.

Divine Inspiration. As a bonus action, the bes-creature can inspire a creature within 30 feet of it. The creature gains advantage on its next attack roll or ability check.

Legendary Actions The bes-creature can take 3 legendary actions, choosing from the options below. Only one legendary action can be used at a time and only at the end of another creature’s turn. The bes-creature regains spent legendary actions at the start of its turn.

Play the sistrum. The bes-creature uses its Sistrum ability.
Healing touch. The bes-creature touches another creature, healing it for 2d8 + 5 hit points.
Move. The bes-creature moves up to its speed without provoking opportunity attacks.

Lair Actions The bes-creature’s lair is suffused with joyful energy. On initiative count 20 (losing initiative ties), the bes-creature can take one of the following lair actions:

All creatures within 60 feet of the bes-creature that can hear it must make a Wisdom saving throw (DC 17) or be charmed by the bes-creature for 1 minute.
The bes-creature chooses one creature within 60 feet of it that it can see. That creature must make a Wisdom saving throw (DC 17) or be filled with joy, becoming charmed by the bes-creature for 1 hour.

Physical Description they are celestial beings that resemble small, humanoid lions. They stand about 4 feet tall at the shoulder and weigh around 300 pounds. They have tawny fur and a distinctive mane of black hair that frames their face. Their bodies are muscular and agile, with powerful legs that allow them to move with great speed and grace. Bes-creatures have sharp claws and teeth, but their most striking feature is their large, expressive eyes, which seem to radiate joy and kindness. They carry a magical sistrum, which they use to create their music and spread their joyful presence. When they play their sistrum, the air shimmers and glows, and the sound waves have a physical presence.

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