Villains' Lorebook.pdf - Department of Political Science

The Zhentarim
The Black Network
Organization: The Zhentarim is a collection of
evil wizards, priests, rogues, and warriors devoted to
attaining total dominance and rulership over all the
Realms. Anything that cannot be controlled directly
must be threatened into compliance or crippled so
severely that it can never again pose a threat to the
Black Network. The goals of the Zhentarim are clear
in its list of objectives, reproduced in part below:
l Establish a monopoly of trade between the
Moonsea, the Sea of Fallen Stars, and the cities of
the Sword Coast, especially Waterdeep. This monopoly
extends to trade in items and services currently
illegal or controlled in the region, e.g., supplying
poisons, harmful, addictive narcotics, weapons,
and slaves-all at very lucrative rates, of course.
l Dominate all of the political centers of the
Moonsea region, including the cities of Mulmaster,
Yulash, Voonlar, Melvaunt, and Hillsfar.
l Embrace and heighten the stature of the church
of Iyachtu Xvim, the Godson of Bane and his legitimate
heir to the worship of the Black Network.
Most all have accepted that Bane is indeed dead,
and after the “purges” that Cyric has forced upon
them, most religious-minded Zhents have turned to
the lesser deity, Xvim, with their faith.
l Destroy all those who stand in the way of these
objectives. This includes such diverse targets as
Shadowdale (and Storm Silverhand and Elminster),
the Cormyrian military (and King Azoun and Court
Wizard Vangerdahast, leader of the War Wizards),
the church and priests of Cyric, Mulmaster itself,
Hillsfar, all trading coasters and organizations that
trade with the Sword Coast, and the organization
known as the Harpers.
At the head of the Black Network is the “Inner
Ring,” composed of Manshoon, mage, founder, and
leader of the Zhentarim, Fzoul Chembryl, priest and
leader of the church of Iyachtu Xvim, and Sememmon,
wizard and lord of Darkhold, a vital Zhent
stronghold. All three of these men are detailed in
their own entries elsewhere in this book. These
oversee the actions of their many minions, who in
turn, are in charge of the far-flung, innumerable operations
of the Network.
Indeed, if the Zhentarim main weakness could be
selected, it’s the group’s leaders and vast membership
have no clear focus or immediate overall goal. While
the objectives outlined above are pursued to varying
degrees of success by various factions and cabals
within the Black Network, none are within reach. If
the Inner Ring were ever able to bring the Zhentarim’s
entire force of arms and magic to bear on a
single, clearly defined goal, success would most assuredly
be theirs. However, until such time as the
Inner Ring comes to this realization, the Zhentarim
will not pose the threat it theoretically could.
The Zhentarim also have made use of outside allies
in the past. Both the drow and beholders have
worked with the Black Network. Both Manshoon
and Fzoul have had eye tyrants as aides and allies in
the past.
For examples of just some of the Black Network’s
various schemes, browse through the individual villains
in this book and note that many have some
form of tie to the Zhentarim.
History: While false rumors abound regarding the
creation of the Zhentarim, its true roots are traced to
the year 1261 DR, the year of Manshoon’s inaugura-
tion as lord of Zhentil Keep.
Manshoon began recruiting for his secret group of
spies, wizards, and assassins soon after his ascension
to the throne. One of the first people he contacted
was Fzoul Chembryl, then a relatively minor priest
in the church of Bane. While Fzoul knew Manshoon
from their childhood, the pair had come to hate one
another. After consideration though, Fzoul joined
Manshoon’s Black Network. The addition of Fzoul
and his followers was a major step in moving the
Zhentarim from a minor cabal onto the path of becoming
a major player in the future (and for the fu-
ture) of Faerûn and all of the Realms.
Over the decades that followed, the Black Network
grew, suffered setbacks, recovered, and eventually
brought both Darkhold and the Citadel of
the Raven under their control. (More details can
be found in the Ruins of Zhentil Keep Campaign
Book.) One major step that Fzoul took was to break
off the Keep’s church of Bane from the established
church, headed in Mulmaster. Fzoul pronounced
himself leader of the splinter group, and thus improved
his importance in the Black Network
tremendously.
The Zhentarim actively pursued spellfire in the
person of Shandril Shessair, with both Manshoon
and Fzoul becoming personally involved before
Shandril twice visited (invaded) Zhentil Keep with
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