The "original" Ebon Triad consists of three living gods, so its not imperative that all three gods are dead for this storyline. In fact, if I remember correctly, the Ebon Triad has stepped up their plans because Bane has returned, and its a sign to them that they need to revive and fuse the three gods.
If you want to have a conspiracy going where Bane isn't really back, but everyone thinks he is, you might want to check out this article that I wrote for Candlekeep (which is nowhere near official mind you):
I'm trying to run the AoW campain in a FR setting. The add on for this website says the ebon triad consists of bringing back these 3 gods Bhall, Myrkul, and Bane. Only probelm is that Bane isn't dead anymore and the story takes place after he comes back. So I'm not sure what to do about this. I want to use Bane because those gods go together given there history. Please help.
Like KEJR says, Bane's return is "victory #1 of 3" for the Ebon Triad. I wrote the conversion notes knowing full well that Bane is back.
--Eric
I don't understand why Bane (or any Banite) would be ok with Bane merging with two dead gods. I'd expect Bane (and Banites) to prefer subsuming any power these dead gods might have, converting all possible Myrkul and Bhaal clergy to the worship of Bane.
Bane wouldn't want to merge with dead gods, so with that idea in mind, any PC with ranks in knowledge (religion) could confirm that the Ebon Triad is really, when you get down to it, a group of insane cultists and nothing more.
I don't understand why Bane (or any Banite) would be ok with Bane merging with two dead gods. I'd expect Bane (and Banites) to prefer subsuming any power these dead gods might have, converting all possible Myrkul and Bhaal clergy to the worship of Bane.
Bane wouldn't want to merge with dead gods, so with that idea in mind, any PC with ranks in knowledge (religion) could confirm that the Ebon Triad is really, when you get down to it, a group of insane cultists and nothing more.
Bane's church isn't ok with it. Somewhere in the conversion notes it says that the Ebon Triad's belief's are heretical. And I'm sure Bane would be ok with it, as long as it gave him more power in the end. I wouldn't have thought he'd be ok with dying, but then...
Not only is Bane back, but the opportunities are there to bring back more dead gods. IMC, the players are not going to succede in stopping the cataclysm in "The Champions Belt" That great event will fracture the realms and bring back Myrkul. Bhall will come later, probably in Redhand. The players still think that Cyric is behind it all, granting spells to the followers of dead gods, all the deception. Even granting some hints (More ramblings of Grallak Kur, a few added lines to the Faceless One's letter) and my players are totally on the wrong track. Which is where I like em.....
... and my players are totally on the wrong track. Which is where I like em.....
My players are currently on the "right" wrong track, as far as the story goes. They have no idea the Ebon Triad is a bunch of deluded patsies. The fact that Bane has returned lends strength to the Triad beliefs, which makes the PCs think they have got to stop these guys before Myrkul and Bhaal start running around and merge into this Overgod.