Religion in Thay 

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      Thayans are known for a relative irreverence toward the gods; whereas much of Faerun is devout, with many clerics who put their gods first, Thay has many people for whom the gods are definitely second, even third.  That's not to say that Thayans are stupid or suicidal.  Since the gods are very real, very powerful, and very harsh to atheists, Thayans have patron deities like most other inhabitants of Toril.  They are more likely to weigh the costs and benefits of patronage in a calculating fashion, choosing gods that fall in line with their plans and offer interesting afterlives.  They raise churches and make donations, but as much for personal glory as glorification of the gods.  Services are attended sporadically, lip service paid in prayers.  Holy days offer opportunities to display wealth and power, so why not celebrate? The general attitude in Thay is this: the gods are bigger than you, so don't tweak their noses.

       A strange kind of religious freedom reigns in Thay, not because individual choices are respected but because Thayans know their history. The ancient Imaskari empire fell because they kept slaves from communing with their gods, and the Thayans are not about to make the same sort of mistake.  Thus, people are not magically influenced to change alignment or forced to choose particular patron deities, even if powerful masters don't approve.  Slaves are not forbidden the worship of their deities but their worship is regulated.  Slaves cannot raise temples or gather in groups larger than 10, but they are allowed shrines and private prayer.  They are not given time off for individual holy days but once their chores are done, they can choose to spend time in worship. Four of the major seasonal festivals in Faerun (Greengrass, Midsummer, Highharvestide, and the Feast of the Moon) are granted as rest days for all slaves, despite the grumblings this causes in the upper classes.

      It must be noted that Thay is a place of religious turmoil for slaves, in that their harsh treatment can cause them to reconsider the gods they serve.  While some slaves never question their deity's power and some even experience a renewed faith, many slaves find their gods' promises to be hollow.  What does Chauntea's bounty matter when the masters won't allow any more than the barest ration?  Light and love wither for the thousands of slaves doing the hardest, dirtiest labor in Thay, far away from any hope of rescue.  Some slaves turn to deities of bitterness like Beshaba and Shar; others turn to Loviatar and torment other slaves.  In select areas, citizens worship Malar and slaves sometimes follow in the hopes of gaining favor.  Malar's clergy offer one of few ways for slaves to earn their freedom.    

      Bezantur has the greatest amount of religious diversity of any place in Thay because it caters to citizens, slaves, and visitors to the port.  In Bezantur, major evil temples are an open secret, barely hidden to avoid scaring foreigners.  The various regions of Thay have different deities in fashion, and the interior of the country openly worships evil deities that are underground elsewhere.  Eltabbar is known as the religious heart of Thay, with some of the grandest temples in the country.  Eltabbar is also the closest major city to the symbol of Kossuth's worship in the country - the volcanoes of the Thaymount.  Kossuth is generally popular throughout Thay, as are Bane, Shar, and Waukeen.  The only gods whose worship is suppressed are the Mulhorandi pantheon, Mystra, and Velsharoon, mainly for historical reasons.  Although she is the goddess of magic, Thayans have no love for the current holder of Mystra's portfolio and would rather worship Azuth, if they must choose a "god of magic" at all; at least he's wielded magic for a long time.

      Below is the religious calendar of Thay.  The worship of many deities is associated with Thayan citizens, while good deities are associated with the slave population.  Major holidays are the only times that some Thayans go to church and great displays of power and wealth are not unknown.  Slave uprisings sometimes happen on or near holy days, as well.