The Dead Three, also known as the Dark Gods, was a collective of three, death-themed deities: Bane the Lord of Darkness;Bhaal, the Lord of Murder; and Myrkul, the Lord of Bones. Originally, they were powerful mortal adventurers who sought the path to godhood and were known as the Dark Three. They found it in the form of Jergal, who acquiesced to their demands as he was tiring of his life as god of the dead. He gave up his portfolios to the three of them, apotheosizing them in the process. Bane ruled tyranny and strife, Bhaal became the god of murder, and Myrkul was lord of the dead.
They earned the name 'Dead Three' when they all perished during the Time of Troubles in the mid—14th century DR. Bane and Torm killed each other in Tantras; Myrkul was killed by the mortal mage Midnight; and Bhaal was slain by Cyric using the sword Godsbane, an avatar of Mask. It was thought the three had ceased to exist since that time.