Citadel of the Raven

The Citadel of the Raven was a fortress of the Zhentarim that was situated within the Dragonspine Mountains in the western portion of the Moonsea region. The citadel itself was the main feature of the stronghold, which rested in the center of 10 miles (16 km) of interconnected fortresses on the western end of the Dragonspines. It was a well-fortified and well-protected fortress.

The citadel supported a small community of refugees from Zhentil Keep around its outskirts. This was originally discouraged by the Zhentarim, though they later saw the benefits to controlling such a community.

History
The Citadel of the Raven was thought to date back to -18000 DR. It was rebuilt in 1276 DR, to stop any possible invasions from either The Ride or Thar. , by a joint collection of the Moonsea city-states. Included in this cooperative effort were Yulash, Zhentil Keep, Melvaunt, Thentia, Hillsfar and Mulmaster. In 1355 DR Zhentil Keep attacked its allies of the Moonsea, taking complete control of the citadel. It was later made the main base of operations for the Zhentarim in 1361 DR by the archmage Manshoon and by 1366 DR the Zhentarim had completed the securing of their resources within the citadel fortress.

Post Spellplague
When the Shadovar moved against Zhentil Keep, they razed the Citadel of the Raven along with it. What's left of the Citadel was scattered across the western slopes of the Dragonspine Mountains. As of 1479 DR most of the flanking towers and minor fortresses were weed-sprouting rubble heaps. Miles of tunnels wound back and forth deep in the rock beneath the old defensive wall. A handful of Zhentarim agents returned to the mostly intact central citadel in recent years, and were taking steps to rebuild their former bastion.

1487 DR: a few Shadovar survived the fall of their city, Thultanthar, among them the sisters Manarlume and Lelavdra Tanthul, and the arcanist Gwelt. They founded the "Court of Three", a society dedicated to saving the surviving Netherese, hidden within one of the more intact towers in the Citadel of the Raven.