Making a habit of killing Zhents [Archive] - Wizards Community

Making a habit of killing Zhents [Archive] - Wizards Community

Post/Author/DateTime Post
drthvader71
07-15-07, 02:06 AM I am running a FR Campaign that began in The Moonsea and has now moved to the Silver Marches. The party consists of seven 5th level characters (Shield Dwarf Paladin, Shield Dwarf Cleric, Half-Orc Barbarian, Wood Elf Druid, Strongheart Halfling Ranger, Human Cleric & a Human Wizard). During the party's stay in Moonsea they made a habit of killing numerous Zhents they encountered; including a 9th Lvl Cleric of Bane, 9th Lvl Elite Guard (9th Lvl Ftr), two 5th Lvl Clerics of Bane and numerous 3rd, 2nd and 1st Lvl clerics and fighters. The Zhents were not a major part of the campaign but have now become a subplot as a result of the Party's actions. The party has now travelled to The Silver Marches to deal with some orc issues in the region. I am considering having the Zhents launch a campaign to seek out and kill or capture the party. They have already taken out a bounty on the party and launched a "propaganda" campaign to smeer the party's reputation by spreading lies about the evil deeds the party did. I know The Silver Marches are no strangers to the Zhentarim. Is it plausible for the Zhents to pursue the party in this region? If so would they use their own agents / forces or would they outsource the job to some unsavory but capable bounty hunters or assassins? Finally would someone like Artemis Entreri work for the Zhents?
captaincarot
07-15-07, 02:27 AM would someone like Artemis Entreri work for the Zhents?

no because the zhents have their own force of black armoured assassins.

would the zhents retaliate?

1) did anyone escape.
2) will the zhents who were killed be missed by anyone with authority in the black network.

if the answer to both of those questions is yes, then they will.

if not then it's probably not very likely. but if the answer to the second one is yes then it's more likely than not.
Slayergnome
07-15-07, 04:35 AM Alot of things factor into this.

For one the Zhents of Zhentil Keep (if thats where your Zhents came from) have a deal with Blackstaff not to move into the Silver Marches for a few decades. So that might keep them out of there.

Who are the dead zhents friends and foes amongst the order.

Is there any evidence to direct the Zhents to the band of Adventurers.

They might use outside resources to keep their connection low to the deaths of the adventurers mainly due to their deal with Blackstaff. (Which is the reason he formed a splinter group of the Harpers)
Fillow
07-15-07, 08:55 AM Alot of things factor into this.

For one the Zhents of Zhentil Keep (if thats where your Zhents came from) have a deal with Blackstaff not to move into the Silver Marches for a few decades. It depends on the year where this adv takes place.

Who are the dead zhents friends and foes amongst the order.
Is there any evidence to direct the Zhents to the band of Adventurers.
Indeed, how do the Zhents know that your PCs are guilty?
And how do they know that the PCs went to Silver Marches ?
bitter thorn
07-15-07, 11:16 AM I am running a FR Campaign that began in The Moonsea and has now moved to the Silver Marches. The party consists of seven 5th level characters (Shield Dwarf Paladin, Shield Dwarf Cleric, Half-Orc Barbarian, Wood Elf Druid, Strongheart Halfling Ranger, Human Cleric & a Human Wizard). During the party's stay in Moonsea they made a habit of killing numerous Zhents they encountered; including a 9th Lvl Cleric of Bane, 9th Lvl Elite Guard (9th Lvl Ftr), two 5th Lvl Clerics of Bane and numerous 3rd, 2nd and 1st Lvl clerics and fighters. The Zhents were not a major part of the campaign but have now become a subplot as a result of the Party's actions. The party has now travelled to The Silver Marches to deal with some orc issues in the region. I am considering having the Zhents launch a campaign to seek out and kill or capture the party. They have already taken out a bounty on the party and launched a "propaganda" campaign to smeer the party's reputation by spreading lies about the evil deeds the party did. I know The Silver Marches are no strangers to the Zhentarim. Is it plausible for the Zhents to pursue the party in this region? If so would they use their own agents / forces or would they outsource the job to some unsavory but capable bounty hunters or assassins? Finally would someone like Artemis Entreri work for the Zhents?

Zhent "merchants" in the area might make sure that some of the less savory folks in the Silver Marches are aware of the existing bounty. The same merchants might even sell weapons, scrolls and potions at a discount to some unsavory adventuring party to encourage an interest in said bounty.

I'm pretty sure the above course of action wouldn't run afoul of Blackstaffs arrangement with Fzoul.
Muddman
07-15-07, 12:42 PM Fzoul's deal with Blackstaff means that they won't move west "in force", meaning they won't try to conquer the Silver Marshes. LE is all about the letter of the arrangement and not the spirit, so I doubt that would stop them.

Would Artemis work for them? Probably not.

After the latest book series, I think he's kind of out of the assassin for hire buisness. I suggest making your own assassin/fighter that is as ruthless and money grubbing as you please.

As for how the Zhents knew it was the PCs, these are high level priests, divinations will point them out in no time flat. Maybe the 9th level priest (or one of the 5the level no bodys) is a relative of Scuyllia Darkhope or something.

So, would the Zhents go after them? Thats up to the DM, but you should come up with a reason beyond the simple fact that they killed Zhent agents. Revenge is beneath their notice, the PCs need to be some sort of a threat to future plans.

Have fun!
Faraer
07-15-07, 01:39 PM Everyone in the Black Network, especially the mages, is out to improve their own status at the expense of their rivals, minions and superiors. The Zhentarim aren't a unified, harmonious whole. Their leadership is less likely to devote the resources to tracking your group so far than an individual member whom they've slighted, and who might employ Zhent personnel or slayers-for-hire as best suits him/her. The need to stay under cover in the Silver Marches makes secretly hired slyblades more likely.
The_Shaman
07-18-07, 04:36 AM Unless the Zhents were on an important mission for someone, I do not think the Network itself would bother overmuch that a few members were lost. Their immediate boss might devote some personal assets to the downfall of the PCs, but I would not bother overmuch. This presumes, mind you, that it was a relatively minor scuffle. If the PCs made an example of the Zhentarim in some way, as in "trying deliberately to gain attention," they might have more problems. Still, a bounty is probably a proportionate response - unless, for example, one of the dead was a relative of someone more powerful, in which case the entire thing gets a personal angle.
Muddman
07-20-07, 11:03 AM The new Shadowdale adventure has an interesting chart for the Zhentarim's response to the PCs. Its based off of how many Notoriety points (also known as victory points from Heroes of Battle) the PCs have accrued, so the further into the adevnture you go the higher their response will be:

0-10 - Unconcerned - They take notice but don't care

11-20 - Slight concern - Commanders periodically ask their informers about the PCs activities

21-30 - Possible Threat - Spies shadow the PCs as they move

31-40 - Perceived Threat - A skymage shadows the PCs overhead and troops openly follow while in town

41+ - Enemy combatants - The Zhentilar muster an overwhelming force against the PCs. Patrols hunt them.

I guess the best way to use this is to decide how much notoriety the PCs have accrued and apply it to this chart... or ignore the chart and attack them at will :)
The Simbul
08-09-07, 12:41 AM The Shadowdale adventure table is a bit scenario-specific, in that it is meant for use in an area where Zhent forces are an occupying army.

Personally if you wanted a chart or even a random table to roll for possible encounters, I would look at the tables in the DMG for urban encounters and modify them (or just create a new one for the specific purpose of old enemies seeking revenge), and perhaps make bounty hunters and Zhentarim assassin squads the equivalent of muggers or pickpockets in terms of how often they are encountered and their relative EL vs the party.

In any case, I think that encounters which are not part of the main adventure (i.e. bounty hunters, agents of previously dispatched foes, etc), should always be slightly lower than the party level---specifically if they are ambushing them outside of inns or as the PCs are returning from an adventure when their resources and health are a bit depleted. Only when the PCs being to turn back and strike directly at the Zhentarim as the primary goal of the adventure should more powerful or challenging foes come there way.

And yes, I would leave Artemis out of the entire affair.
dunehunter
08-10-07, 02:30 PM The Zhent in my campaign would take notice, and try to take action against the pcs, in one way or another. You don't mess with the Zhent without something bad happening.
ClobberinTime
08-10-07, 03:04 PM For a group like the Zhentarim to remain viable they have to intimidate people. It sets a bad example to let people like your PCs kill their men and get away with it, so I think they would try and stike back.

That being said, they don't have alot of influence in the Silver Marches, so a bounty or something similar might be the easiest thing for them to do in that region.

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
drthvader71 07-15-07, 02:06 AM	I am running a FR Campaign that began in The Moonsea and has now moved to the Silver Marches. The party consists of seven 5th level characters (Shield Dwarf Paladin, Shield Dwarf Cleric, Half-Orc Barbarian, Wood Elf Druid, Strongheart Halfling Ranger, Human Cleric & a Human Wizard). During the party's stay in Moonsea they made a habit of killing numerous Zhents they encountered; including a 9th Lvl Cleric of Bane, 9th Lvl Elite Guard (9th Lvl Ftr), two 5th Lvl Clerics of Bane and numerous 3rd, 2nd and 1st Lvl clerics and fighters. The Zhents were not a major part of the campaign but have now become a subplot as a result of the Party's actions. The party has now travelled to The Silver Marches to deal with some orc issues in the region. I am considering having the Zhents launch a campaign to seek out and kill or capture the party. They have already taken out a bounty on the party and launched a "propaganda" campaign to smeer the party's reputation by spreading lies about the evil deeds the party did. I know The Silver Marches are no strangers to the Zhentarim. Is it plausible for the Zhents to pursue the party in this region? If so would they use their own agents / forces or would they outsource the job to some unsavory but capable bounty hunters or assassins? Finally would someone like Artemis Entreri work for the Zhents?
captaincarot 07-15-07, 02:27 AM	would someone like Artemis Entreri work for the Zhents? no because the zhents have their own force of black armoured assassins. would the zhents retaliate? 1) did anyone escape. 2) will the zhents who were killed be missed by anyone with authority in the black network. if the answer to both of those questions is yes, then they will. if not then it's probably not very likely. but if the answer to the second one is yes then it's more likely than not.
Slayergnome 07-15-07, 04:35 AM	Alot of things factor into this. For one the Zhents of Zhentil Keep (if thats where your Zhents came from) have a deal with Blackstaff not to move into the Silver Marches for a few decades. So that might keep them out of there. Who are the dead zhents friends and foes amongst the order. Is there any evidence to direct the Zhents to the band of Adventurers. They might use outside resources to keep their connection low to the deaths of the adventurers mainly due to their deal with Blackstaff. (Which is the reason he formed a splinter group of the Harpers)
Fillow 07-15-07, 08:55 AM	Alot of things factor into this. For one the Zhents of Zhentil Keep (if thats where your Zhents came from) have a deal with Blackstaff not to move into the Silver Marches for a few decades. It depends on the year where this adv takes place. Who are the dead zhents friends and foes amongst the order. Is there any evidence to direct the Zhents to the band of Adventurers. Indeed, how do the Zhents know that your PCs are guilty? And how do they know that the PCs went to Silver Marches ?
bitter thorn 07-15-07, 11:16 AM	I am running a FR Campaign that began in The Moonsea and has now moved to the Silver Marches. The party consists of seven 5th level characters (Shield Dwarf Paladin, Shield Dwarf Cleric, Half-Orc Barbarian, Wood Elf Druid, Strongheart Halfling Ranger, Human Cleric & a Human Wizard). During the party's stay in Moonsea they made a habit of killing numerous Zhents they encountered; including a 9th Lvl Cleric of Bane, 9th Lvl Elite Guard (9th Lvl Ftr), two 5th Lvl Clerics of Bane and numerous 3rd, 2nd and 1st Lvl clerics and fighters. The Zhents were not a major part of the campaign but have now become a subplot as a result of the Party's actions. The party has now travelled to The Silver Marches to deal with some orc issues in the region. I am considering having the Zhents launch a campaign to seek out and kill or capture the party. They have already taken out a bounty on the party and launched a "propaganda" campaign to smeer the party's reputation by spreading lies about the evil deeds the party did. I know The Silver Marches are no strangers to the Zhentarim. Is it plausible for the Zhents to pursue the party in this region? If so would they use their own agents / forces or would they outsource the job to some unsavory but capable bounty hunters or assassins? Finally would someone like Artemis Entreri work for the Zhents? Zhent "merchants" in the area might make sure that some of the less savory folks in the Silver Marches are aware of the existing bounty. The same merchants might even sell weapons, scrolls and potions at a discount to some unsavory adventuring party to encourage an interest in said bounty. I'm pretty sure the above course of action wouldn't run afoul of Blackstaffs arrangement with Fzoul.
Muddman 07-15-07, 12:42 PM	Fzoul's deal with Blackstaff means that they won't move west "in force", meaning they won't try to conquer the Silver Marshes. LE is all about the letter of the arrangement and not the spirit, so I doubt that would stop them. Would Artemis work for them? Probably not. After the latest book series, I think he's kind of out of the assassin for hire buisness. I suggest making your own assassin/fighter that is as ruthless and money grubbing as you please. As for how the Zhents knew it was the PCs, these are high level priests, divinations will point them out in no time flat. Maybe the 9th level priest (or one of the 5the level no bodys) is a relative of Scuyllia Darkhope or something. So, would the Zhents go after them? Thats up to the DM, but you should come up with a reason beyond the simple fact that they killed Zhent agents. Revenge is beneath their notice, the PCs need to be some sort of a threat to future plans. Have fun!
Faraer 07-15-07, 01:39 PM	Everyone in the Black Network, especially the mages, is out to improve their own status at the expense of their rivals, minions and superiors. The Zhentarim aren't a unified, harmonious whole. Their leadership is less likely to devote the resources to tracking your group so far than an individual member whom they've slighted, and who might employ Zhent personnel or slayers-for-hire as best suits him/her. The need to stay under cover in the Silver Marches makes secretly hired slyblades more likely.
The_Shaman 07-18-07, 04:36 AM	Unless the Zhents were on an important mission for someone, I do not think the Network itself would bother overmuch that a few members were lost. Their immediate boss might devote some personal assets to the downfall of the PCs, but I would not bother overmuch. This presumes, mind you, that it was a relatively minor scuffle. If the PCs made an example of the Zhentarim in some way, as in "trying deliberately to gain attention," they might have more problems. Still, a bounty is probably a proportionate response - unless, for example, one of the dead was a relative of someone more powerful, in which case the entire thing gets a personal angle.
Muddman 07-20-07, 11:03 AM	The new Shadowdale adventure has an interesting chart for the Zhentarim's response to the PCs. Its based off of how many Notoriety points (also known as victory points from Heroes of Battle) the PCs have accrued, so the further into the adevnture you go the higher their response will be: 0-10 - Unconcerned - They take notice but don't care 11-20 - Slight concern - Commanders periodically ask their informers about the PCs activities 21-30 - Possible Threat - Spies shadow the PCs as they move 31-40 - Perceived Threat - A skymage shadows the PCs overhead and troops openly follow while in town 41+ - Enemy combatants - The Zhentilar muster an overwhelming force against the PCs. Patrols hunt them. I guess the best way to use this is to decide how much notoriety the PCs have accrued and apply it to this chart... or ignore the chart and attack them at will :)
The Simbul 08-09-07, 12:41 AM	The Shadowdale adventure table is a bit scenario-specific, in that it is meant for use in an area where Zhent forces are an occupying army. Personally if you wanted a chart or even a random table to roll for possible encounters, I would look at the tables in the DMG for urban encounters and modify them (or just create a new one for the specific purpose of old enemies seeking revenge), and perhaps make bounty hunters and Zhentarim assassin squads the equivalent of muggers or pickpockets in terms of how often they are encountered and their relative EL vs the party. In any case, I think that encounters which are not part of the main adventure (i.e. bounty hunters, agents of previously dispatched foes, etc), should always be slightly lower than the party level---specifically if they are ambushing them outside of inns or as the PCs are returning from an adventure when their resources and health are a bit depleted. Only when the PCs being to turn back and strike directly at the Zhentarim as the primary goal of the adventure should more powerful or challenging foes come there way. And yes, I would leave Artemis out of the entire affair.
dunehunter 08-10-07, 02:30 PM	The Zhent in my campaign would take notice, and try to take action against the pcs, in one way or another. You don't mess with the Zhent without something bad happening.
ClobberinTime 08-10-07, 03:04 PM	For a group like the Zhentarim to remain viable they have to intimidate people. It sets a bad example to let people like your PCs kill their men and get away with it, so I think they would try and stike back. That being said, they don't have alot of influence in the Silver Marches, so a bounty or something similar might be the easiest thing for them to do in that region.