The Shadowbane War was a conflict waged between Netheril and the Zhentarim in the Year of the Vindicated Warrior, 1383 DR. It ended in victory for the Netherese, who broke the Zhentarim's power in the Moonsea region and caused a schism between the Zhentarim and the Church of Bane.[1][2][3][4][note 1]
Location[]
The war took place across the western Moonsea, where the Zhentarim had built their influence.[2][3]
History[]
Causes[]
Shortly following the Return of the Nertherese city of Thultanthar to Toril in the Year of Wild Magic, 1372 DR, the shadovar began a campaign to exterminate their ancient enemies, the phaerimm.[3][5] By 1383 DR,[1] they had determined that Fzoul Chembryl, the leader of the Zhentarim, had secretly formed an alliance with the phaerimm, and so decided to move against him and the Moonsea cities under Zhentarim control.[3]
Battles[]
The Netherese razed both Zhentil Keep and the Citadel of the Raven, the two biggest centers of Zhentarim power in the Moonsea,[3] and successfully killed or captured the Zhent leadership.[6] The siege of Zhentil Keep left Fzoul Chembryl dead,[4] and the city's ruins became shrouded in unnatural darkness and choked with undead.[7] Meanwhile, the Zhents fought back viciously,[2] and a Prince of Shade was slain singlehandedly by Cvaal Daoran, the Zhentarim ruler of Phlan.[1] In the face of the threat posed to Phlan by the Netherese, Cvaal Daoran would also end up seeking aid from the fey of the Quivering Forest to help protect the city, and as a result, he formed a pact that prohibited logging or travel in the woods.[8]
Aftermath[]
Following their defeats, the Zhentarim went from controlling half of the Moonsea to having no meaningful foothold in the region, and they ceased to be a threat to the surrounding areas—such as the Dalelands—as they had once been.[2][4] They retreated to their strongholds at Darkhold and Stormwatch.[3][7]
With most of their leaders dead or missing, the Zhentarim fractured, and soon many of its cells across Faerûn disbanded or were destroyed by rival factions.[6] The death of Fzoul had particularly profound consequences as it led to a schism within the Zhentarim. Followers of Bane were forced out by followers of Cyric, who would go on to attempt to exert control over the Black Network (although they would prove to be less successful than the Banites had been under Fzoul).[3]
The victorious Netherese attempted to claim the cities of the Moonsea as colonies, however they were stymied when Coronal Ilsevele of Myth Drannor allied with the cities of Hillsfar, Melvaunt, and Thentia to oppose them. Over the next century, Netheril and Myth Drannor would vie for influence over the Moonsea region.[2]
The pact formed between Phlan and the fey of the Quivering Forest continued to be enforced by the fey for decades. When Talaric Daoran—Cvaal's descendant—violated the agreement in the Year of the Mithral Hammer, 1456 DR, this lead to his disappearance.[8]
Appendix[]
Notes[]
- ↑ The name of the Shadowbane War and its date of 1383 DR are given in Dungeon magazine Issue #170: Monument of the Ancients, in which the only additional information provided is that Cvaal Daoran killed a shade prince. It is not explicitly stated to be the same as the broader conflict between Netheril and the Zhentarim mentioned in other sources, and canon material does not explicitly name or date the conflict elsewhere. However, the author of Monument of the Ancients, Brian R. James, clarified in a Tweet that the broader conflict indeed occurred in 1383 DR. Thus, the Shadowbane War is presumed to be the name for the broader conflict.
Appearances[]
Adventures
Monument of the Ancients
References[]
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 Brian R. James and Matt James (September 2009). “Monument of the Ancients”. In Chris Youngs ed. Dungeon #170 (Wizards of the Coast) (170)., p. 65.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 2.5 2.6 Bruce R. Cordell, Ed Greenwood, Chris Sims (August 2008). Forgotten Realms Campaign Guide. Edited by Jennifer Clarke Wilkes, et al. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 150. ISBN 978-0-7869-4924-3.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 3.4 3.5 3.6 3.7 Bruce R. Cordell, Ed Greenwood, Chris Sims (August 2008). Forgotten Realms Campaign Guide. Edited by Jennifer Clarke Wilkes, et al. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 282. ISBN 978-0-7869-4924-3.
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 Bruce R. Cordell, Ed Greenwood, Chris Sims (August 2008). Forgotten Realms Campaign Guide. Edited by Jennifer Clarke Wilkes, et al. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 238. ISBN 978-0-7869-4924-3.
- ↑ Bruce R. Cordell, Ed Greenwood, Chris Sims (August 2008). Forgotten Realms Campaign Guide. Edited by Jennifer Clarke Wilkes, et al. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 164. ISBN 978-0-7869-4924-3.
- ↑ 6.0 6.1 Steve Kenson, et al. (November 2015). Sword Coast Adventurer's Guide. Edited by Kim Mohan. (Wizards of the Coast), pp. 77–78. ISBN 978-0-7869-6580-9.
- ↑ 7.0 7.1 Bruce R. Cordell, Ed Greenwood, Chris Sims (August 2008). Forgotten Realms Campaign Guide. Edited by Jennifer Clarke Wilkes, et al. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 151. ISBN 978-0-7869-4924-3.
- ↑ 8.0 8.1 Brian R. James and Matt James (September 2009). “Monument of the Ancients”. In Chris Youngs ed. Dungeon #170 (Wizards of the Coast) (170)., p. 81.