I'm starting in a new party, after having build a cleric of a chaotic neutral god the DM told me that I'm also a member of the Zhentarim, because both my parents are. We've agreed that the character is not really sure what path to choose yet.
I'm really struggling with the Zhentarim part though, I've no idea what motivates more or less "normal" people to be in the Zhentarim and why it appeals to them.
Does any one have ideas about this?
No one?
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The Zhentarim are FR's equivalent to Golarion's Cheliax in almost every way, so pretty much the same motivations work.
The Zhents want to bring order and structure to the world through the use of fear and force. Yes, they're relentless tyrants, conquerors, slavers, and despots. Yes, anyone living under them is subject to strict laws, harsh punishments, and extremely restricted freedoms. But at all those costs, they gain structure, shelter, protection from outside threats, and a sense of belonging to something greater than they are alone.
The Zhents are protective of those they own/rule, and treat threats to their conquests with great seriousness and severity. So yes, while your personal freedoms will be heavily curtailed and you'll be subject to their harsh laws and harsher punishments, you can be guaranteed their protection from bandits, monsters, and other external threats, as well as rival countries and organizations who might seek to do you harm.
While that's a big part of their thing, he was more asking why a "normal person" would be wanting to associate with the Zhents, so I focused my answer on that bit primarily.
Also it's kind of hard to believe it's been twelve years since all that Banite stuff went down. Dang.
But yeah. If you want to be more of a mover and shaker in the organization, then yeah, money and power and rank need to be pretty high on your priorities list. Zhent leadership tends to be only for the ambitious and tyrannical. Again, think a lot like Cheliax.
Orthos: thanks, I was indead looking for the reason a normal person would want to be a Zhent.
Duiker: Which should I have been on?
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I really don't see how a chaotic priest fits in with a society that intensely Lawful Evil.
There used to be some cyric worshippers in the zhentarim also the Peregast i think one was called. They was around Ravenhold i think. I dont have my books here, but somthing like that any way.
But to the OP Lots of folks jointed the zhentarim to gain advantages in Trade and to generally be on the strongest team in a s#!&ty part of the World. But like when you join the mafia you always get more than just well connected:)
My understanding of the Zhents is that they are primarily motivated by greed and power. They have temporal rule over a number of lands, but a large part of their operations relate to their status as a mercenary and mercantile consortium. They seek an ultimate monopoly on trade in Faerun. Consequently, many of their heinous activities revolve around sabotaging or subverting trade rivals and seizing trade resources. I would liken them more to the Aspis Consortium than Cheliax.
I really don't see how a chaotic priest fits in with a society that intensely Lawful Evil.There used to be some cyric worshippers in the zhentarim also the Peregast i think one was called. They was around Ravenhold i think. I dont have my books here, but somthing like that any way.
But to the OP Lots of folks jointed the zhentarim to gain advantages in Trade and to generally be on the strongest team in a s*&%ty part of the World. But like when you join the mafia you always get more than just well connected:)
A small correction...The Cyric worshipers took over for a small amount of time while Bane was dead. Than Bane came back and the Zhentarim kind of fractured...I think the Cyric worshiping branch could be find in small pockets but in general the majority went back to Bane...so yes a CN priest would be a very strange fit for the Zhentarim...
Though I have no idea what they did to the Zhentarim in 4th ed...I could not stomach the Realms after that.
The Zhentarim are FR's equivalent to Golarion's Cheliax in almost every way, so pretty much the same motivations work.
The Zhents want to bring order and structure to the world through the use of fear and force. Yes, they're relentless tyrants, conquerors, slavers, and despots. Yes, anyone living under them is subject to strict laws, harsh punishments, and extremely restricted freedoms. But at all those costs, they gain structure, shelter, protection from outside threats, and a sense of belonging to something greater than they are alone.
The Zhents are protective of those they own/rule, and treat threats to their conquests with great seriousness and severity. So yes, while your personal freedoms will be heavily curtailed and you'll be subject to their harsh laws and harsher punishments, you can be guaranteed their protection from bandits, monsters, and other external threats, as well as rival countries and organizations who might seek to do you harm.
I wouldn't insult cheliax this way.
The zhentarim are one of many poorly thought out evil organizations/governments in the forgotten realms campaign setting that for whatever reason was poised to control the world (or their part of the world) before being Scooby-Doo'd by the PC or Elminster. Their level of competence, overall scope of plans, and residence upon the evil/Neutral axis depends on who's writing the story/running the game. They supposedly take care of their people but last i heard this depends heavily on whether or not they worship cyric or bane.
I always figured them to be about 2 things. Money and power.
This. My warlock, Sir Tim von Daggerdale, is a Zhent and he is all about acquiring wealth and influence.
The Zhentarim are FR's equivalent to Golarion's Cheliax in almost every way, so pretty much the same motivations work.
The Zhents want to bring order and structure to the world through the use of fear and force. Yes, they're relentless tyrants, conquerors, slavers, and despots. Yes, anyone living under them is subject to strict laws, harsh punishments, and extremely restricted freedoms. But at all those costs, they gain structure, shelter, protection from outside threats, and a sense of belonging to something greater than they are alone.
The Zhents are protective of those they own/rule, and treat threats to their conquests with great seriousness and severity. So yes, while your personal freedoms will be heavily curtailed and you'll be subject to their harsh laws and harsher punishments, you can be guaranteed their protection from bandits, monsters, and other external threats, as well as rival countries and organizations who might seek to do you harm.
I wouldn't insult cheliax this way.
The zhentarim are one of many poorly thought out evil organizations/governments in the forgotten realms campaign setting that for whatever reason was poised to control the world (or their part of the world) before being Scooby-Doo'd by the PC or Elminster. Their level of competence, overall scope of plans, and residence upon the evil/Neutral axis depends on who's writing the story/running the game. They supposedly take care of their people but last i heard this depends heavily on whether or not they worship cyric or bane.
Wow...just imagine what Freehold DM would say if he learned that the Zhentarim were created by Wheedon. ;)
Actually they were not that bad of organization till they started showing up novels...as is true with most things in the FR.
The Zhentarim are FR's equivalent to Golarion's Cheliax in almost every way, so pretty much the same motivations work.
The Zhents want to bring order and structure to the world through the use of fear and force. Yes, they're relentless tyrants, conquerors, slavers, and despots. Yes, anyone living under them is subject to strict laws, harsh punishments, and extremely restricted freedoms. But at all those costs, they gain structure, shelter, protection from outside threats, and a sense of belonging to something greater than they are alone.
The Zhents are protective of those they own/rule, and treat threats to their conquests with great seriousness and severity. So yes, while your personal freedoms will be heavily curtailed and you'll be subject to their harsh laws and harsher punishments, you can be guaranteed their protection from bandits, monsters, and other external threats, as well as rival countries and organizations who might seek to do you harm.
I wouldn't insult cheliax this way.
The zhentarim are one of many poorly thought out evil organizations/governments in the forgotten realms campaign setting that for whatever reason was poised to control the world (or their part of the world) before being Scooby-Doo'd by the PC or Elminster. Their level of competence, overall scope of plans, and residence upon the evil/Neutral axis depends on who's writing the story/running the game. They supposedly take care of their people but last i heard this depends heavily on whether or not they worship cyric or bane.
Wow...just imagine what Freehold DM would say if he learned that the Zhentarim were created by Wheedon. ;)
Actually they were not that bad of organization till they started showing up novels...as is true with most things in the FR.
that picture of bane looks...familiar...
More seriously, the zents became more understandable when in the hands of authors like Richard Lee byers and Paul s Kemp.
The zhentarim are one of many poorly thought out evil organizations/governments in the forgotten realms campaign setting that for whatever reason was poised to control the world (or their part of the world) before being Scooby-Doo'd by the PC or Elminster. Their level of competence, overall scope of plans, and residence upon the evil/Neutral axis depends on who's writing the story/running the game.
Nope.
(Though I agree that the novels stink.)
The zhentarim are one of many poorly thought out evil organizations/governments in the forgotten realms campaign setting that for whatever reason was poised to control the world (or their part of the world) before being Scooby-Doo'd by the PC or Elminster. Their level of competence, overall scope of plans, and residence upon the evil/Neutral axis depends on who's writing the story/running the game.Nope.
(Though I agree that the novels stink.)
can you elucidate?
can you elucidate?The zhentarim are one of many poorly thought out evil organizations/governments in the forgotten realms campaign setting that for whatever reason was poised to control the world (or their part of the world) before being Scooby-Doo'd by the PC or Elminster. Their level of competence, overall scope of plans, and residence upon the evil/Neutral axis depends on who's writing the story/running the game.Nope.
(Though I agree that the novels stink.)
Sure. Reverse your entire paragraph so it's the opposite of what you wrote.
(Other than novel-related stuff. Then your statement is accurate. But game stuff? Nope.)
"Emperor Palpatine, what motivates the Zhentarim?"
Sorry, I couldn't resist.
can you elucidate?The zhentarim are one of many poorly thought out evil organizations/governments in the forgotten realms campaign setting that for whatever reason was poised to control the world (or their part of the world) before being Scooby-Doo'd by the PC or Elminster. Their level of competence, overall scope of plans, and residence upon the evil/Neutral axis depends on who's writing the story/running the game.Nope.
(Though I agree that the novels stink.)
Sure. Reverse your entire paragraph so it's the opposite of what you wrote.
(Other than novel-related stuff. Then your statement is accurate. But game stuff? Nope.)
then it is indeed the opposite because I liked the novels-or at least Richard Lee byers and Paul s Kemp. I have never encountered the Zhents in anything other than an easily defeated warlord of the week sense in game, although I found their attempts at creating a trade empire to be hilarious. The thayans and did it better. The Zhents are laughable chumps.
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then it is indeed the opposite because I liked the novels-or at least Richard Lee byers and Paul s Kemp. I have never encountered the Zhents in anything other than an easily defeated warlord of the week sense in game, although I found their attempts at creating a trade empire to be hilarious. The thayans and did it better. The Zhents are laughable chumps.can you elucidate?The zhentarim are one of many poorly thought out evil organizations/governments in the forgotten realms campaign setting that for whatever reason was poised to control the world (or their part of the world) before being Scooby-Doo'd by the PC or Elminster. Their level of competence, overall scope of plans, and residence upon the evil/Neutral axis depends on who's writing the story/running the game.Nope.
(Though I agree that the novels stink.)
Sure. Reverse your entire paragraph so it's the opposite of what you wrote.
(Other than novel-related stuff. Then your statement is accurate. But game stuff? Nope.)
Before they started vomiting out FR novels like bulimic frat boy binge drinkers, mostly written by really, REALLY cheesy writers, the Zhents were a pretty scary Fascist group that used targeted assassination, propaganda, and deep moles to effect their insidious plans.
The horrible FR novel writers turned them into a combination of the Germans from Hogan's Heroes and KAOS from "Get Smart".
I personally think the novels weren't cheesy enough, mainly due to the 'Code' TSR had to adhere to.
I always thought the Zhents were all about exercising temporal/financial domination, if those words mean what I think they mean, in order to achieve some sort of second coming of Bane (or just for the greater glory of), but I may be wrong.
I have never encountered the Zhents in anything other than an easily defeated warlord of the week sense in game, although I found their attempts at creating a trade empire to be hilarious. The thayans and did it better. The Zhents are laughable chumps.
Fascinating.
I didn't follow forgotten realms after the 4e disaster but I used to love FR and the Zhents. As Dreaming Psion stated above they are really more like the Aspis Consortium but as I remember the Zhents need to be distinguished from Zhentil Keep. The Zhentarim were basically an evil trade organization while Zhentil Keep was the evil political enemy. They sometimes worked together and sometime were more fractured (Think Hydra and Nazi Germany).
It would probably be better to be lawful to be a member of the Zhents but as long as you are after money and power you should be fine.