Zhentarim

The Zhentarim, previously known as the Black Network, was a mercenary company, and greater mercantile organization in Faerûn, who, over their 200 years of existence, has had a storied history as a cadre of self-serving thieves, spies, assassins and malevolent wizards, who for a time, were indentured by their leaders to serve dark gods Bane and Cyric. Over the decades, the organization experienced several leaps and bounds in terms of successes, but also major misfortune, particularly for their historical strongholds in the Moonsea. As of 1489 DR the Zhentarim was headquartered in the Western Heartlands, at Darkhold Castle, nestled in the valley of the same name.

Aims and goals
As an extension of the will of the dark wizard Manshoon, the Zhentarim was initially formed to support his rule over the Moonsea with the aim of spreading that control over all of Faerûn. After he recruited the faithful of Bane, unscrupulous merchants and lesser mages to his cause, they collectively sought to dominate all aspects of the Realms, either by manipulation, outright control or, if they couldn't exert control over something, extinction.

After the mass purge during the Destruction of Zhentil Keep, the focus of the organization was skewed to extend the will of the Bane-worshiping Fzoul Chembryl. He made secret deals with leaders in the Moonsea to erect temples to Iyachtu Xvim, Bane's divine son, within the capitals of their city-states. His aim to extend the will of the Lord of Tyrants across Toril was a dynamic factor behind many of the changes within the Zhentarim. In practical terms, he sought to use the Black Network as a means to garner resources that would fund the undertakings of the church of Xvim, and by extension, the temporarily dormant church of Bane.

The Zhentarim's underlying goals changed little by the late 15 century, despite their more benign public perception. By offering the best guards and mercenaries, with the final aim of an iron-fisted monopoly on protection services in the Realms, they sought to make the merchants of Faerûn, and thus the over-arching economy, completely reliant upon them as an organization. While many of their practices and services they offered were completely legal, they were not above spending a tremendous amount of gold to destroy their competitors and secure future profits to increase their wealth, influence and power.

Membership

 * Beholders:


 * Naug-adar:

Auxiliary forces
While not official members of the Zhentarim, their many connections gave them access to groups of skilled individuals and military resources.

Naug-orls:


 * Zhentilar:
 * Church of Bane:
 * Church of Cyric:

Hierarchy
From the founding years of their alliance until the resurrection of Bane, the Zhentarim kept a threefold hierarchy where the group's officers and senior agents would each work under superiors, who whose ultimate authority would rest with one of the members of the Inner Circle.

Inner Circle
In the years Following the Time of Troubles the Zhentarim was lead by the triumvirate of Manshoon, the ultimate authority, Sememmon, his arcane student and Fzoul Chembryl. They each served as lord of the Black Network's three strongholds of power, respectively the Citadel of the Raven, Darkhold and Zhentil Keep. Manshoon had a trusted bond with his pupil Sememmon, while his relationship with Fzoul was one of mutual disdain shrouded by public respect. While the three shared the same goal of increasing their collective wealth and power, it was ultimately an uneasy alliance, rife with mistrust between Fzoul and Sememmon.

Mid 14 Century
In addition to his role as the ultimate authority of the Zhentarim, Manshoon held the title of High Lord of Zhentil keep and speaker of the Council of Lords, whose members included Lord Orgauth, Lord Chess, who was quite distrustful of Fzoul Chembryl, and the promising Lady Alicia, among others. This seat of power gave him rule over the city of Zhentil Keep (though he had moved his base of operations to the Citadel of the Raven following the events surrounding the Cyrinishad in 1368 DR ), and full command over the city's military, the Zhentilar. He was aided in this endeavour by his head general, Battlelord Syal Amandon, and later General Ulgrym.
 * Manshoon:


 * Xualahuu
 * Zantiid
 * Ilthond

While Lord Kandar Milian kept rule over the Ravenar of the Citadel of the Raven, and officially reported to Manshoon, he maintained a strong loyalty to Fzoul Chembryl thanks to his eradication of Cyricists from the stronghold.

The obedient and skillful lieutenant of Manshoon long served as the Lord of Darkhold, an unfailingly loyal servant of the Zhentarim. Due to its distance from the main contingent of Zhentarim holdings, only the most trusted and capable agents, about 1000 strong, served under the ruthless mage lord in the dark keep hidden within the Far Hills. The keep's second-in-command was the powerful mage Ashemmi, a former Harper who both loved and was loved by Sememmon.
 * Sememmon:

Lord Taradril Aumraven led the political and mercantile endeavors under the Lord of Darkhold. The elder wizard believed Sememmon to be a far better leader than Manshoon, as he actually regarded the well being of the citizens of his realm when making decisions.

The military of Darkhold fell under the command of fallen paladin, who was known only as the Pereghost. He was served by Riviar Darkwind, leader of the elite Storm Watch soldiers, and Angus Materi, captain of the Outriders cavalry.

The chosen of Bane commanded the dark god's clergy within Zhentil Keep. While the remainder of the stronghold's forces pledged open allegiance to Manshoon, in truth their loyalties were split between the malevolent mage and the corrupt priest. One instance of this dynamic was seen with Lord Phandymm, who had a seat on the Council of Lords along side Manshoon and Orgauth. He was a secret worshiper of Bane and open supporter of both Fzoul Chembryl, as well as the worship of the Black Lord within the Zhent city.
 * Fzoul Chembryl:

Fzoul also had two Zhentarim-aligned beholders who aided him in his schemes. Manxamm who was considered to be the oldest and most powerful of the eye tyrants in the Western Heartlands and took over rule of the town of Teshwave after the Zhentarim-sponsored orc invasion overran the town. He was aided by Guthbert Golthammer, and later Zerana Hellesk, who served as the leader of the Zhentilar within the town. . Manxam much preferred Fzoul over Mansoon as leader of the Zhentarim. Xulla became the leader of the Temple in the Sky, following the death of Xantriph at the hands of the Knights of Myth Drannor in 1350 DR, and later as the Caravan Lord of Zhentil Keep (a post previously held by Meer).

Marsh Belwintle was the Slave Lord of Zhentil Keep, who was aided by the chief "acquisitions officer" Verblen. Ruinlord Asdag served as the lead torturer and head of internal security in Zhentil Keep, having previously served as the "advisor" of Guthbert Golthammer, though in actuality he made the key decisions to rule over the town of Teshwave.


 * Buorstag Hlammythyl: Voonlar
 * Selfaril Uoumdolphin: High Blade of Mulmaster
 * Darik Berkstan: Leader of the "protectorate" of Yûlash
 * Teldorn Darkhope: Lord of Mintar

Post Re-emergence of Bane
After 1372 DR, the Zhentarim followed a strict linear hierarchy with Fzoul Chembryl at the head of the organization. He had several subordinates that reported directly to him. Each of those "Lords" had many underlings that handled reports and requests. The Zhentarim did not typically skip ranks in the hierarchy. The only exception to this rule was Manshoon who had permission to use any of the resources of the Zhents as he saw fit.


 * Scyllua Darkhope: Castellan of Zhentil Keep
 * Kara Chermosk: Leader of the Tethyamar Fortress
 * Mara Kalaliv: Leader the Order of the Iron Gauntlet
 * Cvaal Daoran: Leader of the Brothers of the Black Fist
 * Teldorn Darkhope
 * Verblen
 * Rezlus
 * Karne

Foes
Over the years the Zhentarim drew the ire and hostility of a great number of peoples and organizations.


 * Harpers
 * Knights of the North

Founding
The Zhentarim was founded in 1261 DR by the power-hungry wizard Manshoon, the lord of Zhentil Keep, as tool for his ambitions of expanding his realm of control. He was soon joined by the Baneite cleric Fzoul Chembryl, in 1263 DR, who broke away from the orthodox church in Mulmaster, bringing with him a a small army of his fellow priests into the lesser ranks of the Zhentarim. He then disposed of the high-ranking priests within Zhentil Keep and converted the city's lesser clergy to the worship of Bane. Paranoid even in the early years of their alliance, Manshoon offset the possible threat of Fzoul's influence by concocting a plan with the beholder Xantriph. They had the Banite priests confess their sins and swear fealty to Manshoon alone. Xantriph's lair, the floating Temple in the Sky, became an outpost for Zhentilar troops and Banite priests in former Teshendale.

Manshoon planned on capturing the Citadel of the Raven during the first days of the Zhentarim, though they were not powerful enough as an organization to openly attack a city of the Moonsea. While it was openly discussed for years, many senior members of the Zhentarim advocated against assaulting the city, fearful of losing their investments that funded the Black Network. Putting that scheme on hold, they greatly strengthened their economic holdings during the Moonsea War of 1306 DR. The allied forces of Zhentil Keep, Hillsfar, Melvaunt, Phlan and Sembia untied together to defeat the city-state of Mulmaster.

Growth
In 1312 DR, Manshoon seized the fortress of Darkhold from the Lich-Queen Varalla in order to extend his control into the Western Heartlands. Four years later they invaded and seized Teshendale in 1336 DR.

With the Zhentarim's successes with the Darkhold, Teshendale and Hillsfar, they had the entire Tesh Valley and Voonlar under their influence. They then conquered and installed own rulers in Daggerdale in 1336 DR. Manshoon consolidated his rule over all Zhent lands and declared himself the High Lord of Zhentil Keep the following year. These actions caused the nations of the Moonsea to begin to grow wary of the Zhentarim and Zhentil Keep.

Also that year, Manshoon granted the previously-occupied Yûlash their independence, and maneuvered this act of "good will" to call a meeting of the rulers of the Moonsea in the neutral town of Elmwood. He called for a garrison to be established at the Citadel of the Raven to protect the greater Moonsea from a horde of orcs that was stirring further north. He "graciously" offered to move the recently-evicted Zhentilar soldiers from Yûlash to the city, though this was merely part of a long-term scheme to take over the city.

The Zhentarim saw significant losses in the next few years when Jyordhan, puppet ruler of Shadowdale, was assassinated by Khelben Arunsun, Xantriph was killed by the Knights of Myth Drannor and Malyk, the puppet ruler of Daggerdale, was killed by Randal Morn, leading to all-out civil war.

Despite their losses, the time was right in 1355 DR for the Zhentarim strike against their former allies in the Citadel of the Raven. They had their agents planted within the city kill as many as their could, using poison and magic. The orcs and Zhentilar poured into the city and claimed it for the Zhentarim. One of the few survivors within the Citadel was the mortally-wounded Galauntar Hawkhelm, whose eventual death would lead to the formation of the Knights of the North. He installed Kandar Milinal as the ruler of the city. This eventually led to civil war in the Zhent city of Yûlash.

Despite setbacks, the Zhentarim were able to set up a secret base in Scardale while the nations of Cormyr and Sembia were busy fighting. It was in vain, however, as all influence in Shadowdale was expunged by the Knights of Myth Drannor. The Zhentarim went through more troubles until the coincidental Time of Troubles in 1358 DR when the avatar of Bane ordered Manshoon's apprentice Sememmon to attack Shadowdale. The attack failed and Bane was killed, throwing its religious aspects into chaos.

Time of Troubles
Cyric converted many Zhentarim Banites and controlled the center of Zhentarim power, but Manshoon relocated the remaining Banites to the Citadel of the Raven and Darkhold. Cyric was eventually undermined by a divine conspiracy involving High Lord Fzoul. The larger northern half of Zhentil Keep was left in ruins as a result. Some 1,500 Zhentilar and Zhentarim, many of whom were high-ranking officers, and all the orc troops fled the city. Fzoul and Lord Orgauth defeated Manshoon and Sememmon, killing Manshoon in 1370 DR.



Manshoon lived on through clone bodies. Of these, one returned to the Zhentarim, conceded all leadership to Fzoul, and worked as an agent. When Bane was resurrected in 1372 DR, Fzoul became an expansionist, but was threatened by the reemergence of Myth Drannor. His paranoia lead him to attack Myth Drannor and Shadowdale, which he temporarily controlled. A Zhent named Karne attempted to take over the Onyx Tower, but the plan ultimately failed. Fzoul engaged in a hopeless alliance with the phaerimm, which enraged the Shadovar. The Netherese destroyed Zhentil Keep and the Citadel of the Raven, killing both Fzoul and the Manshoon clone, leaving only Darkhold left.

15 century
The Zhentarim was again taken over by the forces of Cyric, who engaged in battle with the forces of Bane. In 1420 DR, an evil mage named Rezlus took over the Banites and attempted to conquer Daggerdale. He failed and the Banites fell with only the forces of Cyric remaining.

By 1434 DR, the final Manshoon clone raised an army of undead and took refuge in the citadel of Stormwatch. From there, he retook the Zhentarim, with Darkhold and Stormwatch as their only bases. The Zhentarim were reduced to nothing more than mercenaries hoping to re-achieve their former glory and take any contract as long as it had good pay.



Post Second Sundering
In the year 1489 DR the Zhentarim sent an agent, the gnome assassin Jamna Gleamsilver, to investigate the recent activities of the Cult of the Dragon, as they had been growing in power rather rapidly. They allied with several other factions, including those which would otherwise be enemies, to rise up against the Cult and Red Wizards' attempts to free the dragon god Tiamat.

The Moonsea
This city-fortress main base of operation for the Zhentarim.
 * Zhentil Keep:

This isolated stronghold was a chain of interconnected fortresses straddling the Dragonspine Mountains. It was intended to stop any possible invasions from either The Ride or Thar. The Zhentarim stole it from the other Moonsea powers in 1355 DR before making it their new headquarters in 1370 DR.
 * Citadel of the Raven:


 * Mulmaster - This former enemy became an ally to the Zhentarim after the High Blade was secretly replaced by his twin brother in 1368 DR.
 * Phlan - Another long-time foe, the settlement was finally conquered in 1380 DR.
 * Voonlar - This city allied itself with and was quickly dominated by Zhentil Keep (and thus later the Zhentarim) in 1221 DR.
 * Yûlash - The Zhentarim took this city in a long and bloody civil war, where they pitted their forces against Hillsfar.

Western Heartlands
The castle-keep of Darkhold and the surrounding Far Hills were conquered by the Zhentarim in 1312 DR. The stronghold was the seat of power for the group in the west, ruled by the mage Sememmon until Bane's resurection. It had strong ties to Cyricists, fitting as its two ruling lords were the enigmatic Pereghost and the High Priest of the Black Sun, Dhamir Ercals.
 * Darkhold:

The Dalelands
The Zhentarim made multiple attempts to wrestle control of a number of the Dales throughout the 14 century DR. In 1316 DR, Zhentil Keep recruited a horde of orcs to overrun Teshendale and seized the city shortly after.

In the same year their agents infiltrated Daggerdale and in 1336 DR, wrested control of Dagger Falls out of the rightful government's hands, and Randal Morn was forced to flee the city. The Zhentarim ruled the city for 33 years, though they were forced to regularly rebuff attacks from the Freedom Riders in a bloody civil war. Randal Morn and his guerrillas eventually reclaimed their lands in the battle for Dagger Falls.

In 1339 DR, the Zhentarim managed to assassinate the lord of Shadowdale, Aumry Obarskyr, and replace him with one of their agents, Jyordhan who ruled over the Dale for six years, until he was killed by Khelben Arunsun.

In a joint venture with Cormyr, Sembia, and the other Dalelands states, the Zhentarim sponsored a peacekeeping force in Scardale after Lashan Aumersair attempted to conquer the area during the Second inter-dale war. Support for the troops was withdrawn soon after they arrived in 1357 DR though they remained in the Dale for at least another decade.

In 1374 DR, on Nightal 15, under the cover of darkness, an army of Zhentarim, led by Scyllua Darkhope, invaded Shadowdale with assistance from the Church of Shar and House Dhuurniv. It was only a few months before the citizens of Shadowdale, led by Azalar Falconhand and his fey allies, overthrew the occupiers.

Other regions
The Zhentarim built the Black Road across Anauroch to allow trade with the North, including Waterdeep. By 1479 DR, the road was no longer in use.
 * Anauroch:

It was believed the organization sent some of its older members to the frontier nations of The North, such as the Silver Marches, to act under the guise of families who bought up land to live a peaceful life as homesteaders until needed by their Zhentarim Lords.
 * The North:

In the Delimbiyr Vale, the town of Llorkh and the village of Orlbar marked the end of the Black Road route and the gateway for Zhent trade in The North.
 * Savage Frontier:

Through Karne, the Zhentarim were a shadow organization that existed in Baldur's Gate and its surrounding areas. The Marsh of Chelimber was conquered by the Zhentarim through Karne and his lizardfolk servant, Sleyvas.
 * Sword Coast:

Terminology

 * Zhent: A person from Zhentil Keep. Not all Zhents were members of the Zhentarim.
 * Zhentarim: The greater organization itself; members of the organization, either singular or plural.
 * Zhentilar: The military of Zhentil Keep, used to distinguish them from members of the Zhentarim.
 * Zhentish: A grammatically incorrect term that would bring derision on the user, even in lands unfriendly to Zhents.