I've recently started playing a character who was taught most of what he knows by a priest of Kelemvor
due to this he likes to bless all humanoid corpses he runs across (and bury them properly if there's time) but i don't know what to say to make it feel more authentic
at the moment i've used things like 'May Kelemvor watch over your spirits' and 'Kelemvor protect you on your way to the land of the dead' but i think i need something more
so really, getting down to it i wanted to ask, anybody got any good sayings for last rights that would suit Kelemvor?
-Kraik
~ "May you find comfort in the next world under Kelemvor's watchful eye."
~ "Fear not the Fugue Plane's embrace, but go to it with peace and certainty."
~ "May you cast aside regret and find comfort with the Lord of the Dead."
~ "I pray you find meaning in Kelemvor's realm, as once you did in this life."
~ "May the sight of the Crystal Spire fill you with ease."
~ "Do not worry, for this is merely the beginning of your true journey."
~ "May the vigilance of Kelemvor keep you safe in the Fugue Plane."
Hope these help.
So Lord Manshoon is a closet Kelmvorite!?
Actually, Helm was always my favorite, followed by Mask (I know - polar opposites, but still). Kelemvor was always a god who, in my opinion, could've been fleshed out more (yes, I know we saw him as a mortal, but, for me, he grew stale even before he arose as a deity). Then again, I went ahead and did enough with him in my own Realms that his canonical appearances mattered less to me.
Who knows? Maybe my first contribution to the Shards Project will be oriented around Kelemvor...
and where did Bane fall in all that.......
*shrugs* I learned to like Bane after I divorced his Church from the Zhentarim in my own game, and radically altered his persona so that he doesn't over-extend himself when scheming.
Though he still blows compared to my favorites.
and where did Bane fall in all that.......
*shrugs* I learned to like Bane after I divorced his Church from the Zhentarim in my own game, and radically altered his persona so that he doesn't over-extend himself when scheming.
Personally i think the connection of the Church of bane with the Zhentarim is great:
- its a military arm of the Church of Bane, which tries to gain power and influence through all means.
- the diverse factions within the Zhentarin make them very interesting, and at the same time gives them lots of weaknesses to be exploited (contrary to the shades).
- makes the Church of Bane a stronger conterpart to Netheril, even though they suffered heavy defeats against them.
and where did Bane fall in all that.......
*shrugs* I learned to like Bane after I divorced his Church from the Zhentarim in my own game, and radically altered his persona so that he doesn't over-extend himself when scheming.
Personally i think the connection of the Church of bane with the Zhentarim is great:
- its a military arm of the Church of Bane, which tries to gain power and influence through all means.
- the diverse factions within the Zhentarin make them very interesting, and at the same time gives them lots of weaknesses to be exploited (contrary to the shades).
- makes the Church of Bane a stronger conterpart to Netheril, even though they suffered heavy defeats against them.
Fair points, all. For me, though, it was always enough that many of the Zhentarim worshiped Bane (amongst other gods). I never found a need to turn the Zhentarim (or even a large portion of the Zhentarim) into an extension of Bane's church, as I personally never cared for the perception that the Zhentarim's purpose was to further the agenda of Bane or any dark/militaristic god. That several soldiers and agents worship Bane solely and fervently makes them a recognizable enough faction within the group in my game, without taking orders from the Church proper.
As for the threat posed by Netheril in my own game - it was Shade that needed to keep an eye out for the Zhentarim's activities. I wasn't about to let the long-gone-now-returned enclave and its resurrected sister cities encroach on the turf of the Zhentarim, so I turned the tables, and had the Zhentarim subtly yet surely keep Netherese movements and activities pinned down.
As for the threat posed by Netheril in my own game - it was Shade that needed to keep an eye out for the Zhentarim's activities. I wasn't about to let the long-gone-now-returned enclave and its resurrected sister cities encroach on the turf of the Zhentarim, so I turned the tables, and had the Zhentarim subtly yet surely keep Netherese movements and activities pinned down.
Interesting.
What did you do about Darkhold and the secret Zhent outpost in Tethyamar? Those would be big thorns stuck in or very close to Shade territory.
What about the main zhent trade route that passed through the south of Anauroch, towards Darkhold, crossing through now netherese territory?
What did you do about Darkhold and the secret Zhent outpost in Tethyamar? Those would be big thorns stuck in or very close to Shade territory.
Off the top of my head, I actually can't recall what became of the latter. It's still around, and I'm sure I made reference to it somewhere in my notes, but I'm drawing a blank at the moment.
Darkhold was assaulted more than once, but withstood each attack. Cost them many men to withstand the attacks, but the stronghold received new blood after each battle. One instance featured Cormyrian mercenaries being hired to fend off Shadovar ground troops, which drew sharp criticism from the Crown, and quickly infuriated Netheril, which then began to turn their attention more towards Cormyr, giving the Brotherhood the breathing room it needed to recuperate.
What about the main zhent trade route that passed through the south of Anauroch, towards Darkhold, crossing through now netherese territory?
The trade route was contested, and at one point, fell under Netherese control, which lasted for several decades. As Netheril later turned its attentions elsewhere, namely Waterdeep and Cormyr, the Zhentarim took this as an opportunity to slowly but surely retake their lost route. Having had to rely on other regions to sustain themselves, they were quite eager to bite back and reclaim the route. They even called upon aid from the Bedine tribes, who had resisted the encroachment of Shade to the best of their abilities. Needless to say, a mutual enemy was enough to inspire the Bedine to rally and aid the Zhentarim in eliminating key Shadovar officers and ambushing patrols. Shade attempted to seize the route once more, but around the same time, Sakkors came under fire from a blitz attack from Cormyr's War Wizards and Sembian rebels, the former acting in response to the assassination of a pair of nobles loyal to the Crown. Shade devoted what forces it could to seizing the route once more, but because most of their spares headed to bolster Sakkors, they lacked the sufficient manpower to immediately reclaim it. As more time passed, the Brotherhood was able to effectively install a commanding grasp of the route, to the point where it became counter-productive for Netheril to focus attention on it.
The route still occasionally comes under attack from the Netherese, but the numbers of the Zhentarim have swelled in recent decades, and heavy patrols keep vigil all along the path. So far, Shade has yet to strike a momentum-shifting blow, and if they are to do it, it probably will be concentrated elsewhere.
As for the threat posed by Netheril in my own game - it was Shade that needed to keep an eye out for the Zhentarim's activities. I wasn't about to let the long-gone-now-returned enclave and its resurrected sister cities encroach on the turf of the Zhentarim, so I turned the tables, and had the Zhentarim subtly yet surely keep Netherese movements and activities pinned down.
Your Zhentarin seem to be a lot stronger; who controls them?
Did the attacks from Netheril on Zhentil Keep and the Citadel of the Raven occurred in your setting?
Did they lose DaggerDale?
Your Zhentarin seem to be a lot stronger; who controls them?
Yours truly. ;) Although, a fair number of lesser officers control various sections and divisions, all under the watchful eye of their archmage master.
One of the best decisions I (and many others, I imagine) ever made was to ignore how villains and antagonists were portrayed in the novels (sourcebooks typically did a good job at keeping things even-handed). The age-old policy of having the antagonists as either horribly incompetent or nigh-invincible never sat well with me, so I made an effort to balance the scales in terms of power.
The Zhentarim was always my favorite organization, but the novels never failed to disappoint me when anything Zhentarim-related came up. The structure of the Brotherhood was often depicted as being terribly frayed and on the verge of catastrophic in-fighting, and the various members of the Zhentarim represented in novels were typically relayed as dunces whose main motivation for treachery and cunning were " for evil's sake".
Needless to say, I made sure that the Zhentarim were revised within my own game, in what I wouldn't even label an increase in power, so much as an increase in competence. There are still plenty of individuals who aren't loyal to the organization beyond what personal benefits they can reap, but they make sure to stick to the shadows, rather than drawing attention to themselves the way it so often appeared was the case in the various books I read.
Did the attacks from Netheril on Zhentil Keep and the Citadel of the Raven occurred in your setting?
Sadly, I'm drawing a blank on the Citadel of the Raven's curren state; it's been ages since I last did anything with it. I recall ensuring it survived whatever dangers befell it, but I don't recall who currently controls it. Actually, if memory serves me correctly, I believe the last I described with regards to the Citadel was a growing number of dissidents who were growing fed up with the rule of the mages, and wanted to install the Church of Bane once more, recalling the days of Fzoul's rule in the past. Nothing had yet to develop, but trouble was brewing, and the Zhentarim elite were beginning to plot a plan of action should the resurgent Banites try something.
As for the attack on Zhentil Keep, it did indeed occur, but the Shadovar were ultimately defeated by a combined effort from Fzoul and everyone's favorite self-absorbed, clone-hoarding spellcaster. While the Zhentarim mages duked it out with the Netherese aerial units over Zhentil Keep, Fzoul led the ground troops to combat the Shadovar assassins shifting through the shadows on the outskirts of the area. Rivalen himself made a brief appearance, slaying Fzoul with an overwhelming surprise attack, but in the end he was forced to retreat in defeat, his remaining forces making a beeline for Shade. Fzoul's death, ironically, proved to be one of the key elements in the mages' later succesful bid to eliminate Bane's influence as a dominant power within the Zhentarim.
Did they lose DaggerDale?
Daggerdale was lost in a conflict between Netheril and Zhentil Keep, but neither of them actually walked away the victor. The Zhent soldiers stationed there found themselves ambushed by a wave of Shadovar assassins, who seized control of the dale. However, those same assassins were soon thereafter hit by a sneak attack from a combined unit of Dales soldiers, Cormyrian riders, and Sembian rebels (this last group was eager to see Netherese power weakened in the area, as they believed drawing support from the Dales would be beneficial in combating the Netherese stranglehold over Sembia). Netheril swore a renewed attack against Cormyr, but the Sembian rebels increased their activities in their homeland, and the Dalesmen increases both vigilance in their homes and support for their Cormyrian allies, thus pressuring Netheril enough to convince the Princes to play it safe and make a tactical withdraw from the Dales, awaiting an opportunity to strike again while they reinforced Sembia. The Zhents returned to Zhentil Keep, where they were quickly assimilated into the local militia, which redoubled its efforts to ensure the Dalesmen remained pressured along the borders.
Your Zhentarin seem to be a lot stronger; who controls them?
Yours truly. ;) Although, a fair number of lesser officers control various sections and divisions, all under the watchful eye of their archmage master.
Should have known .
What about Darkhold and the Cyric faction that is so dominant there, with the Pereghost and Dhamir Ercals?
Did the Sememmon/Ashemmi/Khelben "Blackstaff" Arunsun affair happened?
I also assume that, with the downplay of the Church of Bane influence, you may have removed Manshoon aliance with the beholders and that "Voice of Bane" stuff?
The Zhentarim was always my favorite organization, but the novels never failed to disappoint me when anything Zhentarim-related came up. The structure of the Brotherhood was often depicted as being terribly frayed and on the verge of catastrophic in-fighting, and the various members of the Zhentarim represented in novels were typically relayed as dunces whose main motivation for treachery and cunning were " for evil's sake".
Needless to say, I made sure that the Zhentarim were revised within my own game, in what I wouldn't even label an increase in power, so much as an increase in competence. There are still plenty of individuals who aren't loyal to the organization beyond what personal benefits they can reap, but they make sure to stick to the shadows, rather than drawing attention to themselves the way it so often appeared was the case in the various books I read.
I agree and share most of your feelings.
As for the attack on Zhentil Keep, it did indeed occur, but the Shadovar were ultimately defeated by a combined effort from Fzoul and everyone's favorite self-absorbed, clone-hoarding spellcaster. While the Zhentarim mages duked it out with the Netherese aerial units over Zhentil Keep, Fzoul led the ground troops to combat the Shadovar assassins shifting through the shadows on the outskirts of the area. Rivalen himself made a brief appearance, slaying Fzoul with an overwhelming surprise attack, but in the end he was forced to retreat in defeat, his remaining forces making a beeline for Shade. Fzoul's death, ironically, proved to be one of the key elements in the mages' later succesful bid to eliminate Bane's influence as a dominant power within the Zhentarim.
So the control of the MoonSea by the Zhentarin is firmly secured, then?
No ascension of Fzoul to Banes Exarch? That would make his position stronger, not weaker.
However, those same assassins were soon thereafter hit by a sneak attack from a combined unit of Dales soldiers, Cormyrian riders, and Sembian rebels (this last group was eager to see Netherese power weakened in the area, as they believed drawing support from the Dales would be beneficial in combating the Netherese stranglehold over Sembia).
So Netheril still got Sembia? (makes sense, and was a brilliant move in canon IMHO)
What about ScarDale? Any other major influences from Netheril or the Zhentarin in the Dales?
The Harpers, if not disbanded (worst plot change from 4th Ed), must be working overtime in your setting
Overall, a very enjoyable setting, i must say.
What about Darkhold and the Cyric faction that is so dominant there, with the Pereghost and Dhamir Ercals?
One of Netheril's earliest strikes against Darkhold was led by a unit of Sharran devotees, who hoped to overwhelm the ranks of the Zhentarim, purge Darkhold of its Cyricist element, and turn the fortress into a great temple-fortress in Shar's honor. This occurred while both the Pereghost and Dhamir Ercals still held the (not-so) mutual reins of power. Under cover of night, the Shadovar launched a blitz attack on the fortress, using magic to keep their movements undetected and to slip past the perimeter wards set by the Cyricist spellcasters. A few alert sentries were the only thing that saved the bulk of the garrison that night, for their cries of alarm triggered both internal wards and those members of Darkhold who were still awake.
Ercals quickly launched a counter-attack, mobilizing the inner guard with surprising quickness and efficiency. Still, the Sharran agents managed to systematically slay any guard that stepped into their path. It was not until the Pereghost and his personal unit arrived to flank the Sharrans that the momentum swung in the defenders' favor. Taken by surprise (during their own surprise attack, no less), the Netherese unit was soon eliminated, the survivors withdrawing to Shade as fast as shadow magic could take them. Ercals, however, was seriously wounded in the battle, and perished a few days later. Still recovering from the toll of the attack, the Cyricists struggled to find someone capable of leading effectively in Dhamir's stead, thus allowing the Pereghost and the more Zhentarim-loyal troops to assert greater influence. The Pereghost's men, who were in contact with both Fzoul and Manshoon, sent word to both men about the blow dealt to the Cyricists.
A key note - although the Church of Bane in my game never reached the heights within the Zhentarim ranks that it did in canon, Fzoul still managed to rise to a position of great prominence; for whatever his religious motivations, Fzoul was a truly capable leader, and managed to organize and strategize effectively. The Zhent Banites could be classified in two ways - those who shared Fzoul's fanaticism, and thus shared his belief that Bane's will superceded any mortal ambition within the organization, and those who worshipped Bane but acknowledged the greater significance of the group's own designs and agenda; the latter were far greater in number than the former, as few were so willing to rock the boat to curry favor with a god who may or may not have been speaking directly to Fzoul.
Fzoul, who still wielded considerable power at this time, quickly mobilized some of his most trusted fellow Banites to assert control over Darkhold in the name of their god. Unfortunately for him, Manshoon was one step quicker, and had some of his own agents swoop in to assume control of Darkhold as soon as the Pereghost's contact was received. The Pereghost, loyal to the Zhentarim itself, was satisfied to have such a focused and militant presence, and retained his position as commander of the fortress, even if it was now with Manshoon watching his every move. Fzoul was outraged for a time, but chose not to chastise the Pereghost, for fear that such a move might only convince his the loyal soldier to break ties with him. He instead took what pleasure he could in the knowledge that the Cyricists were without a competent leader (although his further hope that the Cyricist influence in Darkhold would collapse altogether would not come to fruition).
Did the Sememmon/Ashemmi/Khelben "Blackstaff" Arunsun affair happened?
More or less. Following Manshoon's decision to put a seal on Ashemmi's emotions, Sememmon struggled to balance his love for Ashemmi and his devotion to Manshoon. He had truly considered his bond with Manshoon one of friendship, but Manshoon's actions made it clear that if he considered Sememmon the same, he was not willing to pardon even a close confidant. Eventually, Sememmon, disillusioned by what he considered to be a betrayal on Manshoon's part, broke ties with the archmage, and turned to Khelben for aid. (As an aside, this was genuinely difficult for Sememmon to do; he and Manshoon did have a genuine friendship, beyond the "master-apprentice" relationship that seems to be the best that characters of darker moral orientations tend to achieve in mainline stuff).
Manshoon, who had enough on his plate, allowed Sememmon to depart. He did this for multiple reasons. First, for as skilled at keeping off the radar as both Sememmon and Ashemmi were, their talents still weren't enough to keep them from Manshoon's eye; he could keep tabs on them whenever they weren't in a spot that could actually overwhelm Manshoon's efforts (Blackstaff Tower being the most prominent among these places). Second, Manshoon knew Sememmon wouldn't betray him; he recognized Sememmon's emotions, and while he was disappointed that his friend was putting emotion before logic (probably the greatest division that reinforced the rift between the two men), he felt that if Sememmon had meant to actively betray him, it would have happened long ago, when a quick visit to Fzoul would've not only earned Sememmon a seat of power, but would've put Manshoon between a rock and a hard place. Finally, Manshoon figured that Sememmon might be a valuable ally in the future, and did not wish to destroy what little hope there was at a reconciliation (although Manshoon isn't above dominating the will of another person, he prefers not having to break the mind of one of the few actual friends he has).
Sememmon and Ashemmi hid within Darkhold for a time, avoiding contact with anyone else. The Pereghost, who was around and suspicious of their secrecy, attempted to discern the truth, but eventually gave up when his men returned to him in failure time and time again. During this time, Sememmon was in contact with Khelben, and eventually the two lovers fled Darkhold under cover of darkness, joining up with Khelben's Moonstars. Both renounced their loyalties to the Zhentarim and any other faction upon meeting with Khelben at Blackstaff Tower, and the two began to serve as agents of Khelben from time to time, solidifying their mutual trust and becoming more comfortable with each other. Blackstaff Tower became a safehouse for the two, who, when they weren't traveling from A to B, would rest in Khelben's home, informing him of what they had heard and discovered. Manshoon, who would later became suspicious of Sememmon's whereabouts, got a good chuckle when he learned of his right hand man's new comrade.
I also assume that, with the downplay of the Church of Bane influence, you may have removed Manshoon aliance with the beholders and that "Voice of Bane" stuff?
Manshoon, and some of the more powerful mages who remain loyal to him, still call on the beholders for aid from time to time, but their alliance hasn't been active in some time. The beholders prefer to keep to themselves, and have come to believe that there is a diminishing benefit in remaining close to Manshoon. For his part, the master of the Zhentarim is only interested in using the beholders' abilities to stave off the Netherese and traitors from within; he, more than anyone else, is aware that the alliance will expire in the near future, and he's already planning ahead for when that time comes.
So the control of the MoonSea by the Zhentarin is firmly secured, then?
There are still pockets of resistance here and there, and not everyone feels the Zhentarim's influence equally. However, the Zhentarim do maintain some presence in the shadow in most parts of the Moonsea. Currently, however, the powerbrokers of the area are growing fed up with Zhentil Keep, and see the Zhentarim's destruction as the key to earning authentic autonomy (for many recognize that some measure of their freedom is mere illusion while the Brotherhood remains strong). The Dalesmen, Cormyrians, and Netherese have all taken note of this, but currently only the third group is doing anything to encourage these sentiments of ill will. The folk of the Dales believe sticking their noses where they don't belong will only encourage the Brotherhood's troops to descend and raze their homes, and the Crown has other, more pressing matters to concentrate on (though certainly, the War Wizards are keeping a close eye on any developments in the Moonsea).
No ascension of Fzoul to Banes Exarch? That would make his position stronger, not weaker.
I used Exarchs in a different sense than canon; the same goes for Chosen. In my game, a Chosen is a representative of a god, who is charged with embodying and furthering a specific portfolio held by his/her patron deity. Each Chosen, upon being raised, is associated via divine ritual with a specific portfolio. There can only be one Chosen for each portfolio, and the maximum number of Chosen a deity can have is equal to the spheres of influence in which that god plays a role. For example, Chauntea holds claim to the portfolios of Agriculture, Crops, Farmers, Gardeners, and Summer, thus she can bless five of her faithful and have them ascend to the role of Chosen. It isn't necessary to do this, but that's the gauge of it.
An Exarch is akin to a Supreme Chosen; Exarchs represent their patron deities in their entirety, and hold a portion of their gods' divine sparks. The power of Exarchs is noticeably superior to the power of Chosen; so great is the difference that, whereas Chosen typically inhabit the material plane, Exarchs remain in the divine homeplanes of the gods, who fear that allowing their greatest champions to roam the mortal world will upset the balance and trigger severe responses from their enemies. Also, whereas Chosen go about spreading the will of their gods to other mortals, Exarchs are tasked with governing the homeplanes, alongside their patrons. The Exarchs of the most powerful deities are effectively Demigods in their own right. One thing to keep in mind is that both Chosen and Exarchs start out as non-divine beings, typically from the material plane where religions tend to flourish the greatest.
With regards to Fzoul, he is Bane's Exarch, going by my version of the concept. Following his death, Bane elevated him to supremacy in the confines of Banehold, anointing him the supreme representative of his faith. Fzoul maintains a vigil over the souls of the faithful Banites, and whispers words of advice to the pious mortals, whom Bane can use to further his plans of domination. Fzoul also grants visions to these blessed ones, and though he no longer has a direct influence on the world, he still influences certain events from his place at Bane's side.
So Netheril still got Sembia? (makes sense, and was a brilliant move in canon IMHO)
Yep. Netheril maintains control of Sembia to this day, though the Sembian rebels have given the empire significant headaches ever since the nation fell to the influence of Shade. Throughout the past century, certain parts of Sembia have temporarily overthrown the Netherese governors and declared a short-lived independence, but the Netherese have been ferocious in putting down these rebellions and slaughtering the troublemakers time and again.
What about ScarDale? Any other major influences from Netheril or the Zhentarin in the Dales?
The Netherese hold control over Scardale, though Sembian rebels have been confounding their efforts to expand from this base for years. The Dalesmen and Zhentarim alike have deeply considered the possibility of retaking the Dale, but nothing fruitful has ever come of these thoughts. At the moment, the Netherese troops continue to exert a solid control over Scardale, even though the rebels bite at their heels whenever possible.
The Harpers, if not disbanded (worst plot change from 4th Ed), must be working overtime in your setting
The Harpers remain active, though they don't have any specific safehouse. Despite Khelben's age-old break from the Harpers, Blackstaff Tower still finds itself home to a number of Harper agents from time to time. The Crown of Cormyr has funded Harper operations ever since the Spellplague broke out, and the Forest Kingdom remains one of the safest places for Harper leaders to meet and coordinate their activities. Baldur's Gate's population boom was composed of a fair number of Harpers, who expanded activity in the area and uses the massive city to coordinate greater efforts in that part of the land. The Harpers have a slew of problems facing them, but they're doing a fair job of handling the ordeals. Currently, a large part of the Harpers' attention has been aiding the Sembian rebels in causing trouble for the Netherese, though a certain faction with the latter group was been grumbling of late, wondering why the Harpers offer information and suggestions easily enough, but hesitate to commit significant manpower to helping them assassinate governors and ambush patrols.
Overall, a very enjoyable setting, i must say.
Ercals, however, was seriously wounded in the battle, and perished a few days later. Still recovering from the toll of the attack, the Cyricists struggled to find someone capable of leading effectively in Dhamir's stead, thus allowing the Pereghost and the more Zhentarim-loyal troops to assert greater influence.
So the Pereghost never converted to the Church of Cyric, then; nice.
So the control of the MoonSea by the Zhentarin is firmly secured, then?
There are still pockets of resistance here and there, and not everyone feels the Zhentarim's influence equally. However, the Zhentarim do maintain some presence in the shadow in most parts of the Moonsea. Currently, however, the powerbrokers of the area are growing fed up with Zhentil Keep, and see the Zhentarim's destruction as the key to earning authentic autonomy (for many recognize that some measure of their freedom is mere illusion while the Brotherhood remains strong).
That is surprising.
I would assume Manshoon would have gained control (directly or through puppets) of at least Hillsfar and/or Melvaunt, like the Zhentarin gained control of the Citadel of the Raven. Those resources would have been very much needed, IMHO, for the battle with the Shades, who had centuries to hone their combat skills in the Shadowfell; where did the Zhentarin got so many resources?
That is surprising.
I would assume Manshoon would have gained control (directly or through puppets) of at least Hillsfar and/or Melvaunt, like the Zhentarin gained control of the Citadel of the Raven. Those resources would have been very much needed, IMHO, for the battle with the Shades, who had centuries to hone their combat skills in the Shadowfell; where did the Zhentarin got so many resources?
With regards to the former - correct. Manshoon and his inner circle effectively dominated Hillsfar long ago. It was converted into an underground demi-garrison for Zhentarim agents, who blended amongst the common people; not all such attempts were successful, and those who were incompetent enough to draw suspicion were typically eliminated, lest they unsettle the rest of the masses. Recently, however, a few Netherese agents have infiltrated their ranks, and are working to undermine the Zhentarim's reputation (even further, that is). The folk of Hillsfar are bitter towards Zhentil Keep's condescending attitude, and believe that if Netheril was to come knocking, the Zhentarim would flee, leaving the people to perish in a Shar-guided catastrophe.
As the people's moods have soured (to Manshoon's benefit), Melvaunt has become increasingly subordinate to Zhentil Keep's edicts. Originally, the Zhentarim maintained a respectable presence in the shadows, but in recent decades, the politics of Melvaunt have become increasingly paranoid, fearful of attacks from Shade and Sembia, with some even believing that Cormyr is working in the shadows to make in-roads into the Moonsea region. From this widespread public fear, Manshoon and his officers have had a simple enough time extending their hold over Melvaunt. Naysayers are quickly being eliminated, and a fair number of commoners are enthusiastic to have a powerful circle of mages and strategists watching their backs (putting aside their reputations as being power-hungry and cold-hearted).
Mulmaster had been firmly under Manshoon's and Fzoul's thumbs prior to the Wailing Years, and with the latter's death, Manshoon had an easy time turning the minds of Mulmaster's populace from fervent devotion to Bane to fervent support for the "empowering" presence of the Zhentarim. A certain group of loyal Banites went underground to avoid persecution, but gradually, Manshoon became less threatened to the role of Bane in their lives, so there was a reconciliation.
Hulburg remains almost completely free of Zhentarim rule; the Zhentarim still work from the shadows, and the people of Hulburg have little time for their politics, beyond their own immediate needs. Netheril has never shown an interest in Hulburg, so the natives of the small town see no need to hold dialogues with Zhentil Keep or Manshoon. For their own part, the higher-ups in the Zhentarim aren't particularly bothered by this attitude. They know they can seize Hulburg at any time; it's just a matter of anticipating Netheril's or the Dales' movements.
In terms of resources, the Zhentarim have primarily relied on maintaining trade routes to draw in support from different regions. Out of all the groups moving by such trails, the Zhentarim encountered great luck in holding on to what routes they relied on prior to the Spellplague and the Wailing Years; not all of those routes were held, but most were. The people of other lands, desperate for some measure of order in the increasingly fierce turbulence of the age, became more malleable to the Zhentarim masters pulling strings. The Zhentarim remained in the shadows in most places, taking on the facade of a symbiotic entity - in return for tolerance towards their agenda of widespread trade, the Zhentarim would keep an eye on the state of small towns and villages, which would quickly be overrun if a true threat appeared. Most people were wise enough to realize that washing the back of the Brotherhood would only invite disaster, but some were desperate, and truly believed they needed the Zhentarim's support. Slowly but surely, their numbers grew, and the Zhentarim began to recruit able-bodied guards and spies in all corners of the Realms, who felt that working for the Brotherhood offered escape from their lives as commoners; the Zhentarim, playing on these feelings of helplessness, continued to use the threat of Netherese domination and Cormyrian imperialism to make themselves look better by comparison; the madness of the plaguescarred world has allowed this plan to succeed, and where once the Zhentarim would have been chased by armed mobs, now they are tolerated, and toleration is all they need to expand their influence.
However, the Zhentarim have also been lucky with regards to Netheril's movements. Between the rebellions that have plagued Sembia for the past century, the stonewall military prowess of Cormyr, the surprisingly tenacious Dales, the ever-vigilant threat of Waterdeep's finest spellcasters, and the possibility of action from Baldur's Gate's massive standing army, the Netherese have had to plan their movements very carefully, sharing their attention between many powers. The Moonsea has always been on the radar, but not always dead center; what attacks have been launched have rarely had the manpower to cripple, usually only to wound, and the people of the Moonsea are strong enough to endure such reasonable wounds. All the while, the Moonsea continues to churn out fine warriors and powerful mages, both of which are useful in further deterring serious assaults from the soldiers of Netheril. Though it is true that Netheril boasts warriors trained in the depths of the Shadowfell, who would be superior to garrison-raised former farmhands and street urchins, there are only so many to devote to combat. For each attack the Netherese make, they must tread carefully, for a counter-attack from any one of their enemies, while perhaps not powerful enough to jeopardize any one city, would still drain Netheril of more troops and resources than initially expected, and Netheril knows the other nations are prone to following the mantra of "the devil you know".
Mulmaster had been firmly under Manshoon's and Fzoul's thumbs prior to the Wailing Years, and with the latter's death, Manshoon had an easy time turning the minds of Mulmaster's populace from fervent devotion to Bane to fervent support for the "empowering" presence of the Zhentarim. A certain group of loyal Banites went underground to avoid persecution, but gradually, Manshoon became less threatened to the role of Bane in their lives, so there was a reconciliation.
You sure took out much of the power and representation of the Church of Bane, it seems; who leads it now?
Mulmaster had been firmly under Manshoon's and Fzoul's thumbs prior to the Wailing Years, and with the latter's death, Manshoon had an easy time turning the minds of Mulmaster's populace from fervent devotion to Bane to fervent support for the "empowering" presence of the Zhentarim. A certain group of loyal Banites went underground to avoid persecution, but gradually, Manshoon became less threatened to the role of Bane in their lives, so there was a reconciliation.
You sure took out much of the power and representation of the Church of Bane, it seems; who leads it now?
It's not so much that Bane's church is weaker or less-represented on the grand scale; it's just that it's now concentrated in different areas. Threskel, Chessenta, and that general area have become strong powerbases for Bane's worship. Thay has encountered an explosion in terms of Banite worship (but not because of that Haunted Lands plotline, which was far too ridiculous). Baldur's Gate has even seen a spike in underground Banite worship, but it's only a matter of time before that underground movement fully surfaces.
Unther has also fallen under Bane's sway. During the Spellplague, I opted to have Tymanther overlap with but a portion of Unther; the rest went undamaged. The dragonborn naturally wished to overrun the humans they believed to be encroaching on their rightful territory, and the humans wished to drive off the draconic invaders. Bane was intrigued by a race of draconic people, and wished to gain sway amongst them, using his agents to present his church as a foundation of order and firm law. Gradually, the dragonborn came to tolerate Bane's church, and, much like the Zhentarim, tolerance was the only springboard needed for Bane's faith to take root. Meanwhile, Bane's flock amongst the Untherites worked in conjunction with their dragonborn brethren to undermine the war between Tymanther and Unther, working it to the church's advantage. A truce was declared between the two powers a decade ago, as Bane's church was become dominant in both powers; still, his faithful are too few to formally unite Tymanther and Unther, so it's a work in progress. Few believe unification is possible, even amongst his most devout followers, but a few dare to dream of Bane's order fusing the two halves together.
Bane still retains a following in the Moonsea region, but it's no longer the crown jewel. He's found fertile soil in other parts of Faerun, and the spotlight has been shifting to them.
During the Spellplague, I opted to have Tymanther overlap with but a portion of Unther; the rest went undamaged.
Stroke of genius, that.
Some of these work better if your character is present at the time of the person's death. Off the top of my head:
~ "May you find comfort in the next world under Kelemvor's watchful eye."
~ "Fear not the Fugue Plane's embrace, but go to it with peace and certainty."
~ "May you cast aside regret and find comfort with the Lord of the Dead."
~ "I pray you find meaning in Kelemvor's realm, as once you did in this life."
~ "May the sight of the Crystal Spire fill you with ease."
~ "Do not worry, for this is merely the beginning of your true journey."
~ "May the vigilance of Kelemvor keep you safe in the Fugue Plane."
Hope these help.
Saw this last week. Love!! It!!
Had to chime in.Excuse the additional thread necromancy nethermancy necromancy.