The Zhentarim, also known as the Black Network, was a mercenary company, and greater mercantile organization in Faerûn, who, over their 200 years of existence, has had a storied history as a cadre of self-serving thieves, spies, assassins and malevolent wizards,[10] who for a time, were indentured by their leaders to serve dark gods Bane and Cyric. Over the decades, the organization experienced several leaps and bounds in terms of successes, but also major misfortune, particularly for their historical strongholds around the Moonsea. As of 1489 DR the Zhentarim was headquartered in the Western Heartlands, at Darkhold Castle, nestled in the valley of the same name.
As distasteful as Hillsfar's policies might be, you can hardly expect us to deal with the baby-slaying Keepers. I've heard that they plight their troth with succubi, eat the brains of elves, and worship gods so black they make Moander seem nice. Their names are feared as far south as my native land. And the council who rules them, the Zhentarim, are twice as dark as the Keepers.
— Akabar Bel Akash
Activities
In order to achieve their financial goals the Zhentarim agents often dealt in illicit goods and contraband, using their extensive mercantile contacts to move products throughout the Moonsea, neighboring lands and over Faerûn's more hazardous terrains. The types of commodities they dealt in were slaves, poison, drugs and even smokepowder weapons.
As a means of eliminating their competition, the Zhentarim used the Zhentilar army of Zhentil Keep or recruited bands of monstrous humanoids to take down rival caravans, often completing the route under their own banner to earn good faith and new business with merchant groups. They were not above resorting to sabotage, blackmail, arson to outright murder to undermine their mercantile or political opponents. They were even known to purposefully upset the balance of natural beasts, stir up aggressive monster populations within the wild, and even have their mages summon foul monstrosities to threaten isolated towns and villages, in effect forcing the residents to rely upon the protection of the Zhentilar.
Organization
The current branch of the Black Network in Waterdeep has been split into two sides. One side following the growing cruel ways of their leader and the other trying to stay more true to their older, still illicit, but more noble ideals.
Story
Skálmöld had taken over the life of a Black Network Commander in Waterdeep who was leading the organisation to be more gruesome.
When looking for Floon Blagmaar the party found a group of dead black network members lying in the streets. The trail led them to an abandoned Black Network warehouse where they fought some Kenku seeming to belong to the Xanathar's Guild.
Later Skálmöld got a message from Davil Starsong telling him "we know who you are" and asking for a meeting in the Unknown. During the meeting the party was told Davil is part of the "good" group of the Black Network in Waterdeep and thanks Skálmöld for getting rid of the other evil commander. He then asks the party if they could investigate some murders that have been happening recently targetting only elves.