Post/Author/DateTime	Post
Omya 06-18-05, 01:22 PM	I will be playing in an "evil" campaign soon where we players will be members of the Zhentarim starting at 1st level. Our Dm (my flat mate) is running the game. Each of the players will be starting out in Mintar and we hold the rank of corporal to begin with, each of us four players will have about twenty to thirty 1st lv Zhent warriors under us, the DM is using the Heroes of Battle book and the campaign will consist of conquest and Zhentarim expantion into the Border Kingdoms. Bringing Banes law to the Lawless! We will have to complete objectives given to us by our Zhent commander ie: take over trade routes, open relations with other "allies", raid/sack or claim enemy monasties/temples/forts/towns and subvert local lords and rulers to our side... We can also begin the smuggling of drugs,slaves and weapons etc... What would you suggest my Calashite, middle-aged, fat, greasy, character called "Gideon" (a fighter) should do to get up the Zhent ranks quickly, my alignment is Lawful evil and is based on a mafia wise guy in attiude, I have a family with a wife and child to support but they arnt a big priority in Gideons life, more like a ball and chain! heh, heh, heh, Any replies would be welcome and noted, thank you for reading!
The Knightmare 06-20-05, 10:41 AM	I will be playing in an "evil" campaign soon where we players will be members of the Zhentarim starting at 1st level. Our Dm (my flat mate) is running the game. Each of the players will be starting out in Mintar and we hold the rank of corporal to begin with, each of us four players will have about twenty to thirty 1st lv Zhent warriors under us, the DM is using the Heroes of Battle book and the campaign will consist of conquest and Zhentarim expantion into the Border Kingdoms. Bringing Banes law to the Lawless! We will have to complete objectives given to us by our Zhent commander ie: take over trade routes, open relations with other "allies", raid/sack or claim enemy monasties/temples/forts/towns and subvert local lords and rulers to our side... We can also begin the smuggling of drugs,slaves and weapons etc... What would you suggest my Calashite, middle-aged, fat, greasy, character called "Gideon" (a fighter) should do to get up the Zhent ranks quickly, my alignment is Lawful evil and is based on a mafia wise guy in attiude, I have a family with a wife and child to support but they arnt a big priority in Gideons life, more like a ball and chain! heh, heh, heh, Any replies would be welcome and noted, thank you for reading! First, you need to make a name for yourself. I would start by gathering a Banite army and attacking a Cyricist temple. Start a holy war. That will give you recognition. Sounds hard though for 1st level. Smuggling sounds good. Somehow you need to get powerful allies. I always wanted to launch an all out attack on the Twin Towers of Eternal Eclipse in Amn. It was a two towered temple dedicated to Bane that was taken over by a Cyricist name Blackwill (Lords of Darkness). You can somehow launch an assault on the temple and kill Blackwill or convert him to Bane. He was a Banite 14 years ago before Bane was killed. He converted quickly to Cyric and rose quickly through the ranks of Bane's clergy. He would make a great ally if converted back to Bane. I have been a devote Banite since before the Time of Troubles and a follower of Xvim after that and back to Bane again. The Zhentarim are just one tool, remember you are a Banite first, and Zhentarim second. While Banites generally don't search out Cyricists and kill or convert them, Cyricists do. Make a name for yourself and do it, seach out those heretics and kill them. Become a crusader in the name of Bane. You will gain many benefits in the Church of Bane for this.
Lashan 06-20-05, 10:45 AM	Part of it is how the DM portrays the Zhentarium. Is it a secret society called the "Black NetworK', whose organization is shadowy? They use the zhentilar to further their objects? Or is it more of a open power group that is bent on crushing all opposition? Personally, I like using them more as a secret society who uses puppets to reach their ends. In that case, you wouldn't know who is ahead of you or even part of the organization beyond your own cell.
Chloramantis 06-20-05, 11:00 AM	Part of it is how the DM portrays the Zhentarium. Is it a secret society called the "Black NetworK', whose organization is shadowy? They use the zhentilar to further their objects? Or is it more of a open power group that is bent on crushing all opposition? Personally, I like using them more as a secret society who uses puppets to reach their ends. In that case, you wouldn't know who is ahead of you or even part of the organization beyond your own cell. Agreed, I always liked the Zhentarim as an underground secret society, like a mafia type. I think people think of them as being a huge power group, bent on destruction and fear. Thats where the Church of Bane comes in.
Lashan 06-20-05, 12:08 PM	Agreed. I don't see the zhentarium as having a large army with a bunch of guys wearing Z's on their chest and big Z banners. I see them using other govts and powergroups as cover for their own ambitious aims. I see the troops being either the official armed forces of the local govt (Zhentil Keep, Daggerdale garrison, or other local law enforcement) or hired mercenaries that are all lead by a secret zhentarium agent. These poor fools might not even know who their true masters really are. Local govts are still the local govt (though secretly controlled). The local defenders might be a bunch of thugs (like the Teeth of Calaunt), but they are secretly controlled by the Black Network. Zhentarium caravans are simply civilian merchant caravans that cross through the dangerous desert passing and have made deals with varoius stop-over points with favorable tax breaks from the local govts. This is just my humble way I represent the Black Network, though.
Chloramantis 06-21-05, 09:00 AM	I'm afraid 3e may portray the Zhentarim as an organized army with Z banners and such. Example, Lords of Darkness cover. But, you hit the nail on the head, like the army of Darkhold, the Ravenar of Citadel of the Raven, and etc.
Burningspear 06-21-05, 09:28 PM	i am in the position of doing just the opposite, i play a cleric of bhaal, resident from harrowdale, and intend to hep Maalthiir in his bid for a bit mor equality in the moonsea region...i also intend to ressurect a former diehard zhentilar, namely the one that got cheaply replaced by a greater demon, that was eventually killed by a female dork that should (statistical wise) not have been able to pull such a stunt. (i have a big hatred for Bane as he weakened one of the cooler gods for his own gains(to keep from dying) and it did not even help him in the end) i intend to create a wing of the red plumes, based on the job of expansion of power for maathiir and myself and my co-players, and i will do this by helping goodies against the zhentarim/ church of Bane. so ousting them from daggerdale will be a nice start. and then maybe also from that ruin between hillsfar and zhentil keep :plotting: :evillaugh and i do this with the red plume prestige class, wich makes me a captain by rank in the end.(and gives me 13 5th lvl soldiers and 1 lvl 7 warrior master sergeant and 1 7th lvl fighter lieutenant) not to many soldiers but nice lvl so they r not weak and enough to keep it managable for the dm. i will edit this post some more on my ideas.... sorry if i went of topic... :plotting:
icote 06-22-05, 01:52 AM	I think folks are confusing the Zhentarim with the Zhentilar. The Zhentarim, or Black Network, is the spy ring meant to gain economic control over the Moonsea region. The Zhentilar, are the armed forces of Zhentil Keep. They're the ones running around with the Z's on their tunics.
Lashan 06-22-05, 10:17 AM	I think folks are confusing the Zhentarim with the Zhentilar. The Zhentarim, or Black Network, is the spy ring meant to gain economic control over the Moonsea region. The Zhentilar, are the armed forces of Zhentil Keep. They're the ones running around with the Z's on their tunics. Yes. That's true. Some people don't know this or don't like it. They want to use the Zhentarium as the bad guys and just dump in some low level thugs with Z's.
Chloramantis 06-25-05, 10:44 AM	I believe Zhentilar is a defunct term meaning the soldiers of Zhentil Keep. Everyone in the Black Network are considered Zhentarim now?
Omya 06-25-05, 01:52 PM	ello again! Gratz fer yer replies mates, may the black hand guide each o'yer! (thats my character Gideon speaking) lol. Anyway our DM has leeked out more info about the game (gentle prodding was used).. The campaign will start in Mintar, "Banes city"! The first few story-archs will involve, Banes forces in Mintar (Banite church-military and Zhent agents etc) making a bid for power and influence in the Border Kingdoms. As we know, the Border Kingdoms are a region of lawless squabbling independant towns and small cities usually ruled over by petty warlords and self-styled rulers that only last as long as they can hold on to the reigns of power! (gasp!) Shifts in rulership are frequent, so why not let the next rulers of this potential goldmine be Banes faithful!? Alot of trade routes pass through the Border Kingdoms and the region could do with a firm hand (or should that be GAUNTLET) to grasp... ahem, "tend" the people of the Border kingdoms, end all this lawless strife and offer some "protection" and "support".... heh heh heh... So basically, the head honcho (Teldorn Darkhope) has orders from the chosen of Bane himself! to slowly take over the Border Kingdoms one crummy town, isolated fortress, small city, far flung monastry and ancient ruin at a time! So in a few years the lake of steam/border kingdoms could truly become the Moonsea of the south! Because our lord Teldorn Darkhope dosent want an "open" conflict (just yet) with any other powerful cities around the lake of steam (like Innarlith for example) the church of Bane is going to secretly use a small army of trusted Banites plus Zhent agents (over seen by a couple of Imperceptors of Bane) to put our plans into action! First session will see us trying to capture a pair of merchant (weapons dealers) vessals on the lake of steam, these ships are from a "secret" dirty, heretical fortress on the south eastern coast of Arnaden, where an ex-adventurer (and Cyricist) and his cohorts have been producing smoke powder weapons and selling them to our rival/power groups/enemies in the region! Our intellegence/spies tell us this foul Cyricist mage/alchemist has a captured Gnome Techsmith and has been getting the demi-human wretch to pump out all his secrets regarding smoke powder and the many dangerous toys involving the explosive stuff! These clockwork gadgets and boomsticks were recently used in our very own streets (of Mintar) against our good and honest guardsmen! SUCH BLASPHEMY!!!! So after we grab these ships and find this heretic we will "free" this poor little gnome and expand on the plans the Cyricist already had in motion, lol! We will use his fortress hideout as a base of operations once we have claimed it from the scum currently occupying it and then we are free to launch any further "expansions" into the lovely Border Kingdoms heh, heh,heh... Us Zhent boys will number in the 80's to 90's and the ships and Cyricist fortress should fall without trouble "no hassle!" So thats our upcoming campaign, thoughts? Questions? What should I do to secure a good position of power? And I heard one of the other players is going to be a Dambrathan half-drow!, I dont trust him already, what do you lot think of that? later!