So, join up, and contribute ideas for adventures and what to suggest to players in order to help bring about the Pax Banilar!
(Also, the slight issue of how to get those damn Cyricists taken care of)
Hmm... this presents an interesting situation. It may be cliche' but some would say better the devil you know then the devil you dont. I wonder if the people of Faerun would care to choose the lesser of two evils. I had a similar idea as a side story to my own campaign. http://forums.gleemax.com/showthread.php?t=1078821
I wanted to say the Banites where taking interest in towns/cities/countries. That are having problems with the Netherese. (Ala the Empires "deal" with Lando in Star Wars, sorta). Basically Banites would Show up in these places asking for and special Rights in exchange for aid, never really planning to leave(or give up said rights).
Im no Lore Expert though. So I couldnt say what is more plausible.
As for the Cyricst, Internal strife is always interesting so I think that followers of Bane would have an interest preventing any attempt to free Cyric. Im aware however that doesnt really help get rid of em.
However, I am assuming that this is a 4.0 game? Then here is my suggestion(Keep in mind, I have no idea what's happened to the organization in 4.0). The weakness of the Zhents is that their membership usually consists of the dregs of society. Bandits, hooligans, thieves, evil humaniods, and power hungry, back stabing, ambitious individuals with enough moral ambiguity to do whatever it takes to get ahead. While this allows the Zhents to do whatever they deem neccasary, it also means that they will stab you in the back at a moments notice. This worked well enough under Manshoon's leadership, I have a feeling that Fzoul would have different opinions.
Fzoul has been busy during the last 100 years. He has cemented his grip on the organization, and the Zhents now belong to Bane alone. He has transformed Zhentil Keep into a religious state, completely controlled under his iron fist. To facilitate this, he created a new religious order, "The Fists of Bane". The order is composed of paladins, warriors, clerics, and a few rogues that swear their allegience to Bane first, Fzoul second. The Paladins hold most of the authority in the organization, and serve as the Zhents police force. They fanaticly uphold the law, and are totally draconian in enforcing them. The order serves it's purpose well, as it inspires fear in the populace, and in the other zhents as well. Fzoul now has a core group of loyal and devoted followers who serve as an iron backbone to his forces.
In the chaos that followed the spellplague, the Zhents have become a bastion of order and stability. Now Fzoul looks to once again expand his territory. He makes a gracious offer to the neighboring nations; order, strength, stability, for the small price of freedom. Submit, and peace and security will be yours. Defy them, and you will be crushed by the gauntleted hand of Bane.
This opens up lots of opportunities, as the players can become part of the Fists, or be average Joe zhents trying to get ahead and not end up being crushed by the Fists.
The 4E Zhents are, bizarrely, the 2E Zhents.
They're Cyricists operating out of the Ruins of Zhentil Keep and Darkhold.
All we need is Xvim back.
That would be a very good version of the Zhents.
The 4E Zhents are, bizarrely, the 2E Zhents.
They're Cyricists operating out of the Ruins of Zhentil Keep and Darkhold.
All we need is Xvim back.
Lol, I guess that tells you a lot about Cyric.... Have him be imprisoned for 100 years, and out of touch, and what happens? His followers begin to make some headway. Some dieties are their own worst enemies I guess, LOL.
Ok, so out of curiousity, what happened to Fzoul?
Ok, so out of curiousity, what happened to Fzoul?
He got promoted to Demigodhood, for whatever reason.
(edit: hmm, avatar disorientation.)
IMO he should move out of Westgate, to Darkhold. Either that or become the city's de facto ruler/puppet-master, making Westgate a new Zhent City-State.
That might draw Cormyr's attention, though. So PCs in your campaign might be tasked to gin up a conflict between Netheril & Cormyr. One that weakens both and distracts them while the Zhents rebuild.
PCs can then be dispatched on a mission to Zhentil Keep & the Citadel of the Raven, to recover lost Zhent magic items & loot. And perhaps reforge the old Zhent alliance with Beholders.
They might then have to undertake some missions to either thwart Fzoul (who has been tasked by Bane to regain control of the Zhentarim) and/or forge a partnership with him.
All the while having to continue to keep the pot boiling between Netheril & Cormyr, so they remain at each other's throats.
After that, recruiting in The Ride to gather a significant force, and disguising themselves as "good guys" to befrend the Sand Kings in Netheril, stirring up a rebellion there.
By now the PCs should be of reasonable level. They might make contact with dissaffected merchant princes in Sembia - there's got to be some - who want to overthrow Netheril's suzerinity over their nation. Could lead to some big battles, and if everything works out the Zhents have Westgate, Darkhold, and an ally in Sembia: Cormyr, possibly weakened after the conflict with Netheril, is sandwitched between all these...Hammer, meet Anvil...SWORD, MEET EVIL!
Unlike other Exarchs, he's apparently still living on Toril and raising Hell.
-Figuratively, of course.
Then Fzoul would start skimming some more from the til.
I wish I lived near you so I could play (as I played a Banite on a NWN server).
Netheril destroyed a big portion of lands ruled by Bane, so it would be prompt to strike them back. You could develop a campaign where things happen to residents/lands of areas around Netheril (Silverymoon, Cormyr, etc) that draw the forces of good to attack portions of Netheril.
This could weaken or otherwise cripple Netheril, and also weaken the lands of the nations that need conquered (Silverymoon, Cormyr, the Dales, etc).
Lots of political intrigue, espionage, and etc...sounds like fun.
You could even have them pose as agents of Hoar (Bane's exarch) whom are out to bring justice to those who have escaped it in order to get them on the "good side" of the townsfolk.
Yes, he'd need to check Asmodeus' counter-offer and see if he can leverge something better from Bane.
-The guy is in the favor of Waukeen, because, damn, can he strike a business deal.
After learning all that, you can still take my "Fist of Bane" idea and tweak it some. Have them be the militant group that can take down the Cyracists. Having an orderly, devoted, and highly discipline group of soldiers, should be able to outclass a group of murdering, backstabing assasins.
Have them take over that pass that the Zhents control (can't remember the name of it off hand), for a start. Let them control and choke off trade. Let them establish a new stronghold to base their operations. From there, let them establish order, and protect their citizens. Have them begin begin to stir of fear and unrest in the surrounding areas, and paint the Cyracists in an even more negative light. When the Banites finally make their move, the people will be behind them.
All we need is Xvim back.
ALL HAIL INVADER XVIM! :D
The Zhents are in no shape to take on Netheril, at least in a stand up fight, but there's always the seduction of power. How willing are the priests of Shar to share that power with those not of Shadovar descent? It's stated in teh FRCG that worship of Shar is the only approved religion in their realm. I would speculate that Banites could offer to spread around more power (or at least put it in more "deserving" hands) than the priests of Shar do. Absolute power corrupts absolutely.
Last but not least, there's always the attempted bargaining with the Cyricists. Sure, they could use some help in busting their god out of the diety pokey and it's a bonus knife in the back of those sphere encroaching Shar worshipers...what could go wrong?
As an evil campaign, I like this even better than freeing Cyric. It's something of a challenge to find players who can handle this sort of thing (being evil without being psychotic/stupid evil) but it could be fun.