Zhentil Keep

Zhentil Keep (also called Thargate Keep ) was once the most powerful city in the Moonsea region as well as the main base of operation for the Zhentarim. Along with the Citadel of the Raven, Zhentil Keep was destroyed by the Shadovar after it was discovered that the Zhentarim had forged an alliance with the phaerimm.

A person from Zhentil Keep is known as a Zhent or Zhentish. The term Zhentarim is reserved for members of the organization of that name. "Zhentilar" is used to refer to the soldiers of Zhentil Keep. "Zhentarian" is archaic and mainly refers to artifacts.

The Founding
Zhentil Keep began as a small trading camp located on the north side of the Moonsea around 640 DR, The Year of the Fanged Beast. The original purpose of the encampment was to facilitate trade with the Iron House dwarves in the mines of Tethyamar. The trading camp had the benefit of being located farther away from the dangerous lands of Thar then many of the other northern Moonsea trading camps and this helped to give the fledgling community an added measure of protection from the numerous monsters of that area.

It wasn't until around 740 DR that anyone attempted to create a permanent settlement out of the encampment. This person, a Chancelgauntian ship owner named Orlephar Flostren, began hiring workers and mercenaries to construct fortifications and patrol the surrounding areas. This strategy proved to be successful and the encampment (then called "Flostren's Hold") was able to repel several goblin attacks the following season.

The Twelve Lords
The success of Flostren's Hold quickly caught the interest of several Sembian merchants and by the next spring, a group of 12 Sembian merchants purchased the hold from Flostren for 240,000 gp. The merchants quickly instituted a major project of expansion, building large multi-towered walls and setting aside large swaths of land for the creation of more ports and housing. A large keep was raised in the northwestern quarter to hold a defensive garrison.

Following the completion of the Keep, a merchant by the name of Elephstron quickly moved into it, giving himself the title "Lord of the Keep." When the other eleven merchants challenged Elephstron's power grab, his response was to suggest that they also assume the titles of "Lords of the City," and create a formal government council with the power to collect taxes, enact laws, and establish militias to carry out orders on their behalf. The eleven merchants accepted this proposal and together they established a council of twelve, with Elephstron as the head. With rivalries subsided (for the moment), the council was able to focus more on the many building and expansion projects happening within the city. As a result of this, the Keep experienced a time of rapid growth as more and more merchants moved in and bought or rented land.

The Time of Troubles
When Bane fell during the Time of Troubles, Zhentil Keep was claimed by followers of Cyric. He controlled the keep and its citizens until 1367 DR, when he fell and Zhentil Keep was subsequently assaulted by white dragons and frost giants the following year. This siege left a large portion of the city, north of the river Tesh in ruins. Much of the activity and attitude of the city's inhabitants are directed towards rebuilding the destroyed regions.

Post Spellplague
Because of the Zhentarim alliance with the Phaerimm, the Shadovar moved against Zhentil Keep and razed it and the Citadel of the Raven, breaking The Black Network of Zhentarim.

The city's northerly districts have become a pirate den and bandit town. Ships belonging to the Black Moon Brotherhood often dock here. South, across the Tesh river, Zhentil has become a dangerous ruin shadowed by twilight and crawling with undead who, protected by the dimness, walk even at noon. This haven has cause several factions controlled by intelligent undead, and, in one case, a living necromancer, to view for this valuable territory.

Religion
The church of Bane is considered, for all intents and purposes, the state faith of Zhentil Keep. Worship of a select few other deities is tolerated within the city's walls, as evidenced by their scattered temples. Among these shrines and churches are those dedicated to Tymora, Loviatar and Tempus. Any followers of Cyric are officially unwelcome, with a tendency to disappear under mysterious circumstancees if they by some chance make it within the keep.



Politics
As of 1374 DR, there existed a gate fee when entering or leaving the city, imposed by Fzoul Chembryl. A writ permitting an individual free passage within the city for the period of one tenday could be bought, upon entering, for five gold pieces. The valid writ was required on exiting the city, else a fee of 100 gold pieces was imposed. This measure was intended to prevent most citizens from migrating away from the city, since this fee is beyond the reach of most citizens.

Important figures

 * Fzoul Chembryl
 * Scyllua Darkhope
 * Manshoon

Notable locations

 * Temple of Bane: Once serving as a grand palace of Lord Orgauth and before that as home to a Thayan ambassador, this temple dedicated to the Black Lord is home to some of the high-ranking members of the Zhentarim.
 * Tower of the Art: This tower is the home to a local wizard's guild that is led by Thagdal.
 * Zhentarim barracks: This building, constructed not long before 1374 DR, contains the command leadership of the Zhentarim, with only a small portion of the group's standing army. It also posesses a large armory to equip the cavalry and 500 infantry housed there, along with a brig of prison cells to hold traitors and those who break their military oath.