The Zhentarim, previously known as the Black Network, are a mercenary company, and greater mercantile organization in Faerun, who, over their 200 years of existence, has had a storied history as a cadre of self-serving theives, spies, assassins and malevolent wizards, who for a time, were indentured by their leaders to serve dark gods Bane and Cyric.

You are a Zhentarim agent. Your duty is to silence dissidents who would undermine The Zhentarim and to follow instructions given by your handler.

Skill Proficiencies: Deception, Stealth

Tool Proficiencies: Poisoner’s kit

Languages: One of your choice

Equipment: A set of common clothes, a black cloak with a hood, a poisoner’s kit, and a pouch containing 10 gp

Suggested Characteristics

Agents of the Zhentarim are groomed to follow orders without question and to kill without mercy. The trauma that brings one into the order can fester even more strongly against the darkness of a Zhentarim agent’s assignments. Officially, no one ever leaves the order—but those desperate enough do whatever it takes to gain some measure of freedom.

d6	Personality Trait
1	I prefer to keep my thoughts to myself.
2	I indulge vice in excess to quiet my conscience.
3	I’ve left emotion behind me. I’m now perfectly placid.
4	Some event from the past keeps worming its way into my mind, making me restless.
5	I always keep my word—except when I’m commanded to break it.
6	I laugh off insults and never take them personally.

d6	Ideal
1	Order. The will of the crown is absolute. (Law)
2	True Loyalty. The Cerberus Assembly is greater than any power, even the crown. (Law)
3	Death. The penalty for disloyalty is death. (Evil)
4	Determination. I cannot fail. Not ever. (Neutral)
5	Fear. People should not respect power. They should fear it. (Evil)
6	Escape. The Volstrucker are pure evil! I can’t atone for what I’ve done for them, but I can escape with my life. (Any)

d4	Bond
1	The job is all that matters. I will see it through.
2	My orders are important, but my comrades are worth more than anything. I would die for them.
3	Everything I’ve done, I’ve done to protect someone close to me.
4	If the empire falls, all of civilization falls with it. I will hold back chaos and barbarism at any cost.

d4	Flaw
1	I drink to dull the pain in the back of my head.
2	I go a bit mad when I see blood.
3	I can hear the voices of everyone I’ve killed. I see their faces. I can’t be free of these ghosts.
4	Fear is a powerful motivator. I will do whatever it takes to prevent those who know what I am from seeing me fail, and from those I care about from knowing what I am.