Zhentarim Faction

The Zhentarim

Membership

Common Descriptors: Ambitious, opportunistic, unscrupulous

Primary Classes: Rogues, warlocks

Alignments: LE (primary), LN, N, NE, CE

Locations

Darkhold (The Far Hills, Western Heartlands)

Ranks

• Fang: Rank 1. You are newly inducted into the family, with one mission: to prove yourself. • Wolf: Rank 2. xxx • Viper: Rank 3. xxx • Ardragon: Rank 4. xxx • Dread Lord: Rank 5. x

The Zhentarim are a network of unscrupulous mercenaries constantly expanding their influence and power throughout Faerûn. The group walks a fine line between outright villainy and merely shady activities, and neutral adventurers might find that the benefits of association with the Black Network outweigh any moral qualms about abetting the organization’s evil activities.

Overview

The Zhentarim’s goal is to become omnipresent and inescapable—wealthier, more powerful, and, most importantly, untouchable. All characters who know the organization’s true nature should fear to cross the Zhentarim. The public face of the Black Network appears more benign, however, focused on offering the best mercenary forces in Faerûn.

When a merchant needs an escort for a caravan, when a noble family requires bodyguards to protect its holdings, or when a city is desperate for trained soldiers to defend its walls, the Zhentarim provide the best warriors money can buy. Members of the organization take pride in their ability to provide services and goods both legal and illicit, and are willing to lose coin if it means destroying a competitor.

The Zhentarim hope to one day establish an indomitable shadow empire that extends across all Faerûn. As they do so, they attempt to secure profits from all folk they deal with, except when doing so would work against the ultimate goal of making those same folk dependent on them.

Goals & Philosophy

The Black Network has been established around a simple creed: amass wealth, power, and influence, and thereby dominate Faerûn. To the Zhentarim, wealth is power. Its agents know that nothing else inspires such confidence and dispels doubt so well. In an instant, wealth speaks louder than a thousand bards. Zhentarim agents routinely carry the finest weapons and armor, with no expense spared.

Zhentarim believe:

• The Zhentarim is your family. You watch out for it, and it watches out for you.
• You are the master of your own destiny. Never be less than what you deserve to be.
• Everything—and everyone—has a price.

Activities

Members of the Zhentarim think of themselves as family, and they rely on the Black Network for resources and security. However, members are granted enough autonomy to pursue their own interests and gain some measure of personal power or influence. The Black Network describes itself as “the best of the best,” although in truth, the Zhentarim are more interested in spreading the organization’s propaganda and influence than investing in the improvement of individual members.

Zhentarim seek to:

• Amass wealth.
• Look for opportunities to seize power.
• Gain influence over important people and organizations.
• Dominate Faerûn.

Typical agent assignments for members of the Zhentarim include:

• Plunder or steal a treasure hoard, powerful magic item, or artifact.
• Secure a lucrative business contract, or enforce an existing one.
• Establish a foothold in a place where the Zhentarim holds little sway.

Faction Ranks

A member of the Zhentarim thinks of himself or herself as a member of a large family, and relies on the Black Network for resources and security. However, members are granted enough autonomy to pursue their own interests and gain some measure of personal power or influence. The Black Network is a meritocracy. As a whole, it promises “the best of the best,” although in truth, the Zhentarim is more interested in spreading its own propaganda and influence than investing in the improvement of its individual members.

Fang (Rank 1)

Prerequisite: Zhentarim renown 1+

• Sponsor
• Insignia
• Funding

Wolf (Rank 2)

Prerequisite: Rank 1 and Zhentarim renown 3+

• Flying snake messenger
• Operating Capital Loans
• Lifestyle increase (up the chain)
• Mercenaries
• Trained in Terror
• Secret Missions

Viper (Rank 3)

Prerequisite: Zhentarim renown 1+

• xxx
• Operating Capital Loans
• Lifestyle Increase (up the chain)
• Mercenaries

Ardragon (Rank 4)

Prerequisite: Zhentarim renown 1+

• xxx

Dread Lord (Rank 5)

Prerequisite: Zhentarim renown 1+

• xxx