"You? You are a toothpick I'd use to pluck the dead from my teeth. I answer to one person and one alone. And you are a fly compared to us."

Orlgaun is a powerful Ancient Black Dragon who acts as the Zhentarim's war machine in times of intense conflict. The personal mount of the faction's Leader Manshoon, he has served faithfully as his ally when the Zhentarim have gone to war against their enemies. Having met Manshoon when he was still young, the Young Black Dragon at the time came to the Moonsea to mark his own territory in the region. A thorn in the wizard's side, Orlgaun killed the Zhentarim that trespassed in his territory until Manshoon himself approached the dragon. Exchanging a battle of wits before erupting into a duel, Manshoon defeated the dragon himself through overwhelming him with unmatched arcane skill. Annoyed at being beaten, Orlgaun was surprised when Manshoon rather than execute the dragon made him an offer to join his rising Black Network.

Offering to teach the dragon in spellcraft, he expected his loyalty in exchange, the dragon acting as his mount when times were needed or to handle those that challenged the Wizard directly. Orlgaun accepted these terms, scheming to take revenge on the wizard for making a mockery of his own power. However, to his own surprise, Orlgaun found the wizard generous with his treatment of the black dragon and he took pride in his role in the expansive Black Network. Thus when his moment came to strike against the wizard with others, he instead slaughtered Manshoon's enemies outright and pledged his loyalty to the wizard for all time.

This became evident when Manshoon had ridden him to abduct Shandril Shessair, a powerful adventurer who could use the rare power of spellfire. Seeking to take her for his own plans, Manshoon and Orlgaun together rode with their forces against her and her allies but were unprepared for their defenses. Orlgaun was badly wounded in the conflict, and despite Manshoon's efforts, Orlgaun lost his strength before crashing into Myth Drannor. Consoling the dying dragon, Manshoon made him a rare offer among his followers by being given a second chance as a Clone. Orlgaun agreed to the offer, and his friend executed him so his soul could transfer to the new and improved body Manshoon had already prepared. Awakening in his new Half-Dragon form, the dragon was equally impressed yet aware he now served a new role in the Black Network.

Now acting as Manshoon's enforcer, Orlgaun had often worked in the shadows of his true master following the Manshoon Wars. Aware that the other clones of Manshoon were fakes, he was tasked with traveling the continent in his own pursuits to keep the Zhentarim in line. Able to pull his own influence from the Pereghost who now leads the Zhentarim publically, Orlgaun is dispatched where issues arise the most as a means to either get them in line or eliminate them outright. A role he takes with a large matter of pride since few are aware that Manshoon's dragon has a humanoid form and one that can cleave them in two with his own hands. When not given a task by the Original Manshoon, Orlgaun follows The Pereghost whether it be dealing with the Cult of Dragon, Zhentarim failures, or other issues of the highest caliber. 

Having become a spellcaster in his own right from learning from the original Manshoon, he has also taken amusement in thwarting the lesser clones in their schemes. Secretly tasked with this goal by the Original Manshoon himself, he finds a twisted thrill in butchering the weaker wizards. In his mind, he thinks it's a rewarding fate to crush those who pale in comparison to the true leader of the Black Network. After all, who better than a dragon to slay those lesser than them?

Personality

 "I take pleasure in tearing your spines and shattering your skulls. And then I'll pull the strings of your souls like a puppet to be tossed when done."

Having abandoned his species' desire to plot the ruin of whole realms, Orlgaun has relished his position of unchallenged authority within the Zhentarim. Conniving, cold, and sadistic he does not hide how vile he is in ensuring that when he is called in, there will be a large amount of dead that follow. He takes enjoyment in the fear he can cause, his intimidating presence doing nothing to hide the deadly skills at his disposal. He can lose his temper when things have soured from his own schemes, executing allies that fail him while deceiving others for another reason entirely. The gift of being able to be Cloned whenever he may die does nothing to safeguard his life, finding now a wicked thrill at being able to come back to try again until his goals are met.

Despite the brutal nature he conveys, Orlgaun is knowledgeable in Zhentarim affairs and has dealings with all those within the Inner Circle that runs it. Being still a black dragon and one that answers to Manshoon alone, many in their ranks know that if Orlgaun is working with them it is because something far grander is at play. Among the Zhentarim, The Pereghost is the only one who has earned the black dragon's partnership due to his unwavering loyalty to the Zhentarim cause itself. Alongside this, Orlgaun is also given the personal task of overseeing Manshoon's draconic daughter is kept out of any Zhentarim matters. A role he begrudgingly finds tedious yet surprising knowing that the future heir is meant to not be involved in the Black Network to avoid conflict in the ranks.

Appearance

"My presence here should terrify you. Because it means one of two things is going to occur. You are going to live to not fail again. Or I am going to kill you right now."

As a [monster]Ancient Black Dragon[/monsters] with a [monsters]Half-Dragon[/mosnters] form, Orlgaun is an iconic sight in either form. In both forms, his curved horns and withered visage are fiendish to behold. Due to his dabbling in necromancy, his scales have paled in areas but they do not reflect a state of decay, a notion the black dragon finds distasteful himself. As a dragon, his size is gargantuan due to the experiments under Manshoon alongside his growth naturally despite any death setbacks.

In his Half-Dragon form, he wears a sleeveless attire that exposes his chest and the many scars he has earned in crushing dissidents. Along his forearms metal plates are visible, the Zhentarim snake evident on them by those that observe. He looms over any who come across him, most believing him to be an overpowering [Tooltip Not Found] at first glance. To the trained eye, it's evident he is something much more worrying by the armored scales, spikes, and tail that extend back from him. Orlgaun has used his spellcasting to reduce his since to avoid trouble by this form, but he would easily drop it if it meant he flexes his authority by those questioning him. 

Special Equipment

"My horde is tracked in the influence I command and the weight of the treasures they bring in."

Mask of Orlagaun

This black mask is forged from a rare Netherease alloy and bears two curved, downward-pointing horns on either side of the head. While wearing this mask, you can cast the Thaumaturgy cantrip. The mask has the following additional properties. When one of these properties is used, it can't be used again until the next dawn.

• Echo of Orlgaun. While wearing this mask, you can use your action to summon a spirit that assumes a younger form of Manshoon's favored black dragon mount, Orlgaun. The spirit appears in an unoccupied space within 30 feet of you and takes the form of a Young Black Dragon, though it is a fiend instead of its normal creature type, and can understand one language of your choice that you speak.
  • You control the mount in combat. While the dragon is within 1 mile of you, you can communicate with it telepathically. While mounted on it, you can make any spell that targets you only also target the mount. When the mount drops to 0 hit points or when you dismiss it as an action, it gradually fades, giving you 1 minute to dismount. Whenever the mount disappears, it leaves behind any objects it was wearing or carrying.
• Wings of the Skymage. When you fall while wearing this mask, you can use your reaction to sprout a large pair of bat wings, gaining a flying speed equal to your walking speed. Alternatively, you can use your action to grow these wings. The wings disappear after 1 minute.