Villains' Lorebook.pdf - Department of Political Science

Personality: He seems to be a simple merchantfighter,
blunt and with just enough guile to succeed
in business. In truth, however, Orgauth is a subtle
and ruthless schemer. While his goals often coincide
with those of the Black Network, he feels that he
(and the trade he profits from) would be better off if
the Zhentarim doesn’t expand too far or gain too
much power. He fears that too much success on the
part of the Black Network would only rouse the organization’s
enemies and result in the final destruction
of the Black Network-not to mention his domain
of Zhentil Keep, of which he’s currently supervising
the reconstruction.
Many of his schemes include Manxam the beholder,
who also feels that the Zhentarim should be
kept in check. (Manxam is mentioned under the
Zhentarim entry on page 123 of this book.)
Locales Frequented: Zhentil Keep, the trade
routes surrounding the city, and its trading partners
around the Moonsea.
History: A younger son of one of Zhentil Keep’s
noble houses, Orgauth distinguished himself with 15
years of exemplary service in the Zhentilar. He
fought many battles for the Keep. After his father
and elder brother died, Orgauth retired from the
military to become one of the lords of Zhentil Keep.
His military record gained him much respect and he
soon became a wealthy, successful merchant. His
chief legitimate operations are ore-refining and running
caravans of goods to and from the Keep’s trading
partners. Orgauth’s caravans also specialize in
smuggling all sorts of contraband (including weapons,
poisons and other drugs, and even slaves)
throughout the Dalelands.
In the past, he has betrayed several of what he
considered to be the more foolhardy plans of the
Zhentarim and actively, though secretly, continues
to support the rule of Maalthir in Hillsfar—directly
against the wishes of the Black Network.
Orgauth’s life changed dramatically in 1368 when
the armies sent by Cyric attacked the Keep. Orgauth,
bloody and battered, staggered into the
southern quarter of the city before the bridges blew.
There, he rallied to his side the survivors and
refugees, who were desperate for some sort of leadership.
In the days and weeks that followed the attack,
it was a simple matter to declare himself Lord and
Ruler of Zhentil Keep.
Since then, Orgauth has run the city on his whim.
The other remaining nobles simply nod their heads
in the monthly Lords’ meeting to whatever suggestions
Orgauth makes. There’s a good reason for this
too: Lord Orgauth isn’t quite himself. The true Orgauth
died on his very own doorstep from wounds
suffered while he fought his way back to his family
during the attack on the Keep. A pit fiend named
Abarax had been summoned and imprisoned by one
of Orgauth’s mages. During the attack, the mage was
killed and the pit fiend escaped, soon finding Orgauth’s
body. Struck with the idea of assuming the
man’s identity and ruling the city, Abarax disposed
of the body and polymorphed itself into Orgauth’s
form. Later, he also gated in an erinyes (named Eshaeris)
to pose as Desmonda, a courtesan who disappeared
during the siege. Together, their magicks
have befuddled the minds of the other lords and they
rule Zhentil Keep absolutely. Of course, this is a secret
known only to the two of them, so no PCs
should possess knowledge that MANSHOON, FZOUL,
and SEMEMMON have been unable to uncover.
Motivations/Goals: Orgauth is torn between his
quest for personal power and his greed for material
wealth. While he works with the Zhentarim, he sees
them as merely a means to his ends of getting
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