Post/Author/DateTime	Post
KevinH 01-16-04, 11:08 PM	Anyone know if the Zhentarim have a standard armor or uniform color scheme that distinguishes them as an organization? I know they have the "Z" symbol but anything else like "always wear black helmets or yellow boots or whatever? What about favored weapons or something like that? Is there anything that physically would set them apart from others?
Lashan 01-16-04, 11:42 PM	The Zhentarium is suppose to be a secret society. They really aren't suppose to have anything to make them stand out. There is the Zhentilar, which is the military forces of Zhentil Keep. They are usually the muscle that advances the Zhentarium causes. They have uniforms. There is one thing that makes some Zhentarium members stand out. Now, I really can't recall where I read this, but it deals with a ritual that the zhentarium requires of it's members. Now, it never really went into much detail as to at what point members need to do the ritual. Was it at the lowest levels or more of an inner circle thing? Well, in the North, the barbarians of the area had a way of proving someone's loyalty. They would make you chop off a finger. If you were willing to chop off a finger, then they felt you were really into joining their group. The Zhentarium liked this idea and requires it of it's members. Now, don't forget that the Zhentarium are suppose to be a secret society. They usually use other groups and manipulate them into their cause. A classic example is the theives' guild the Rot Grubs in Ordulin. They are out to restore the monarchy of Sembia. They are really controlled by the Zhentarium and more of a thorn in the side of the current govt. If they ever got close to their aims, then I am sure that the Zhentarium would whip up some puppet personae to place on the throne. Mercenary companies are another favorite of the Zhentarium. What I usually have is a bunch of groups in control of a Zhentarium member. The party fights off all these groups and finds this secretive bad-guy running the local scheme. What they don't know (or eventually get to find out) is that he is really a member of the Zhentarium. If they run into enough of these shadowy background schemers, and they all are missing a finger, it might get them thinking.
Cunning Linguist 01-17-04, 10:45 AM	The Zhentarim have a secrect level: Low. So you could find Zhentarim soldiers in a groupe. In Lords of Darkness you can find the 2 types of groups, one Zhentarim Caravan, that has thugs and local bantids as guards. These don't use Zhentarim armor, and would look like normal people. However, the Zhentarim Military Encounter is something that would escort a Caravan going into and over large a hostile areas. These encounters would have soldiers using black and yellow armor. Mages with Zhentarim robes, and clerics with Bane markings. (look at the back of Lords of Darkness to see how Zhentarim armor is) Since the Zhentarim have stopped using the Z logo, the have moved over to the new and improved armor. Since the Zhentarim belive in strenght in numbers, and the soldiers are trained to fight as a team, and often better then your avarage soldiers, they don't fear using the Zhentarim markings.
Kazaxe 01-18-04, 02:33 AM	nothing official here, just what i use ZHentarim affiliates (like the ROt Grubs thieves) bear no uniform. Only members of the Zhentarim Army, Mage/Clerical orders, officers and persons of rank wear uniforms, the latter on during missions where it can be of advantage. ZHents never travel alone, normally have a mage or cleric working with them behind the scenes (wizard eye, clairvoyance, creating/dispensing potions and such) They don't openly leave evidence for crimes committed (as in a calling card) unless intimidation is needed. Military uniforms consist of Black armorwith golden trim and rivits. The chest piece may sport the symbol of zhentarim, and clericial bodyguards carry the symbol of bane on their shields. Standard zhent soldier is equipped with Scale or Splint Mail, Lg Steel Shield, Helmet and Gauntlets added (for flavor, green gauntlets sometimes) and the weapon wielded is normally a Morningstar, Flail, or Spear. Clerics wear Black, Gold, and Green garments, with green gauntlets and symbols of bane flambuoyantly displayed. Gear is normally banded/splint mail with large shields and morningstars. Mages dress in either drab black or flashy gold/emerald, depending on the amount of attention they are seeking. Many tend towards necromancy and enchantment and carry items that follow those schools. The zhentarim operate freely (for the most part) without disguise in all the areas north of Cormanthyr except for within rival cities, and along the black road between Stonelands and Llorkh. Oh yeah, in one of my friend's campaign, my character hunts down zhentarim, often disguised as an old man with a walking stick (actually a spear staff) I've managed to flush out members of that group by bringing up first person accounts of bane's destruction at Tantras, or speaking about that Heroic adventurer (my char) that has slain so many zhents as of late. This is assuming they didn't try to kill and rob me before conversation. BTW, the zhents are not too happy with him as it stnads, and have made several (unsuccessful) attempt to trap/ambush him, that have at least managed to get my party members into heaps of trouble. Who woulda thought... Keep in mind, this is just in mine and my friend's campaign, though probly not too far off
Faraer 01-18-04, 11:41 AM	Zhentilar wear black armor of different kinds, including chainmail and full plate (they're sometimes called blackhelms). No yellow, and I don't really credit any Z logo. Swords, daggers, crossbows, spears, lances are typical weapons. See for instance the Shadow of the Avatar novels.
Cunning Linguist 01-18-04, 12:04 PM	Faraer: Take a look at the picture on the back of Lords of Darkness. The Zhentarim armor is black and yellow. Just like there symbol. Shadows of the Avatar is a 2.ed book, and Zhentarim has undergone a lot of changes since then. Changed there symbol and leader and god and everything.