Also known as the Black Network, the Zhentarim are a secretive syndicate of mercenaries, smugglers, and shadow brokers who trade in influence as much as coin. Their operations stretch across the Sword Coast, from cloaked caravan routes to silent auctions of soulbound weaponry. In the current chaos, they seek to control leyline nodes not for stability, but for leverage. By selling access to fractured magic, they offer power to the highest bidder and increase their stranglehold on the arcane economy. They are whispered about in noble courts and criminal dens alike, always either one step behind an opportunity or one step ahead of a betrayal.
Base of Operations:
While the Zhentarim maintain no public headquarters, their presence is felt in every major city. Black markets in Baldur's Gate, shadow vaults in Waterdeep, and hidden outposts beneath the Earthspur Mountains serve as staging grounds. Magical caches and escape routes are always nearby, ensuring their operatives can vanish as quickly as they appear.
Leadership Structure:
The network answers to a shadowy figure known only as the Shadow Lord, whose identity shifts with rumor. Beneath them, regional leaders called Black Hands manage cells that operate independently, often competing unless called to collective action. Loyalty is not expected: results are.
Colors/Symbols:
Black and crimson. Their symbol is a serpent coiled around a dagger, though many agents use subtle variants: a tattoo behind the ear, a ring with a coiled hilt, or a red slash painted across armor.
Common Activities:
- Smuggling enchanted artifacts
- Black market dealings and mercenary contracts
- Espionage, sabotage, and magical intimidation
- Bribing or blackmailing officials for leyline access
Public Knowledge:
The Zhentarim are known, but never named aloud. Most believe them to be a criminal empire with deep pockets and deeper secrets. Dealings with them are considered dangerous, but not uncommon.
Secret Knowledge:
Elzreth Dyrr, once a noble scion of House Dyrr in Menzoberranzan, is the current Shadow Lord. Exiled after a failed coup, he survived the destruction of his house and resurfaced in the Underdark's black markets, trading in arcane infused weapons and experimental constructs. Now, he commands the Black Network not through loyalty but through leverage. He sells siege engines to cults, buys spellcasters like pawns, and constructs whispersteel caches beneath cities poised to collapse. Rarely seen, Elzreth communicates through homunculi, illusions, or enchanted missives that vanish after being read.
Visibility:
◐ Somewhat Known.
The Zhentarim are not officially recognized, but their influence is undeniable. Rumors, coded messages, and dark deals mark their presence wherever power is for sale.
If you haven't already, our discord is live! Come join us in the fun and earn your first two reserves for the site! Also, keep an eye out for another chance to earn another two reserves later on today! Keep in mind that you may still earn reserves all the way up to the site's opening on May 17th!
You will find our member groups under the cut in which we chose seven deadly sins and seven heavenly virtues. But are they really heavenly? And are they really that sinful? You will have to be the judge of that. You will also find the aesthetics that go with each group along with the group colors. so tell us, we wanna know, which group your character fits into?
one last post for today's previews, with their focus on our site member groups! you've seen our basic, premium, and epic groups, so this preview focuses on the aesthetics of the groups you'll be able to pick from so far! and... what's this? an early sneak peek of our skin?
we're sad to see them end but today's final member group preview has arrived! the final six epic member groups are those that can be awarded to members for certain site challenges, competitions, or events. while more rare and harder to obtain than our premium or basic groups, we do have plenty of ideas of how to pass them on to members as time goes on! for our member groups previews final curtain call:
as mentioned earlier, today's previews focus on our site member groups! we've already released our first twelve basic groups, but we still have a whopping fourteen remaining to go through! this preview focuses on our eight premium groups which can be purchased in our points shop after threading a bit on site, or can sometimes be won (hint hint later this week during our buzz challenges) as prizes! without further ado:
✨ view our prem groups! ✨
AMERICAN PSYCHO 💼
“Some kind of abstraction. But there is no real me.”
BACK TO THE FUTURE 🕙
“Great Scott!”
CINDERELLA ✨
“But the world is full of zanies and fools.”
CLUE 🔎
“This is getting serious.”
EVIL DEAD 📖
“Wouldn't you like to be going home?”
HOCUS POCUS 🎃
“Oh, look, another glorious morning. It makes me sick!”
we hope you're all enjoying reserves day, and if you haven't already we recommend jumping into our discord to finish our first challenge and claim your first two reserves! today's previews revolve around our twenty six member groups. some of you may have clocked our theme when joining the server and answering a certain required question, but all of our groups are focused on different cult classic films! while it's nice to match characters up to the general themes of each film, they are also largely for aesthetics and vibes. follow us down the winding path of the films of yesteryear and check out our basic membergroups of which there are twelve in total!
