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  Introduction
  The Black Network is a storied and ruthless faction worth all
  the fear, hatred and reluctant respect it receives across the
  realms. In Waterdeep, the organization is in a tenuous
  position as internal strife and an escalating con�lict with the
  Xanathar Guild threatens to undermine everything the
  Zhentarim operations in the city. Intent on increasing its
  strength and securing a foothold in Waterdeep, the
  entrepreneurial Doom Raider Zhentarim are looking for new
  blood to infuse their ranks – and a band of fearless
  adventurers might just be exactly what they're looking for.
  In this series on the Zhentarim you'll �ind resources meant
  to inspire and aid you as you include the Zhentarim as a
  playable faction in your Waterdeep:	 Dragon	 Heist
  campaign. It includes the following:
  Additional	 insight into the Zhentarim and advice on
  how to include them in your campaign.
  Hatred	Surfacing, a faction mission that has a party of
  2nd level adventurers investigating murders in the Dock
  Ward and confronting a fanatic dark elf.
  Deadly	 Delivery, a faction mission that has a party of
  3rd level adventurers facing a Xanathar Guild ambush and
  devious treachery to make a deadly delivery.
  Shard	 Shunners, a faction mission that has a party of
  4th level adventurers delving into the dark sewers of
  Waterdeep in search of a missing hal�ling noble.
  Tyrant's	Turncoat, a faction mission that has a party of
  5th level adventurers risking their lives and freedom to
  investigate and eliminate a treacherous wizard.
  Five	 unique	 battle	 maps in several different versions
  all primed for virtual tabletop and tailored to the faction
  missions – but usable for any urban encounters!
  DM's	cheatsheets	and	monsters	stat	blocks to help
  you quickly prepare for your party's adventures.
  The Zhentarim
  The Black Network's bloody history spans more than two
  centuries. Formed in 1261 DR by the ambitious and evil
  wizard Manshoon, the Zhentarim started out as a mercenary
  network dedicated to the evil wizard's plans of conquest.
  Since Manshoon's death and the end of the Manshoon Wars
  (where the arcane clones of himself left behind by Manshoon
  fought bitter wars against each other) several decades ago,
  the Zhentarim no longer has a single clear leader. It is instead
  run by a scattering of local leaders heading up their own
  bands of Zhentarim throughout Northern Faerun.
  While the Zhentarim's reputation has improved in recent
  decades, the core goals of the organization haven't changed
  much. The Black Network is still intent on expanding its trade
  activities — primarily mercenaries and goods, including
  weapons — and increasing its in�luence, through savvy
  maneuvering, clever manipulation and even brute force.
  The Zhentarim in Waterdeep
  The local chapter of Zhentarim in Waterdeep has been
  divided into two sub-factions: Manshoon's Zhentarim and the
  Doom Raider Zhentarim, who are at war with each other.
  The differences between the two branches are subtle, but
  should be noticeable by the players. Both seek money and
  power, but while Manshoon's goal is to rule Waterdeep with
  an iron �ist as the Open Lord, the Doom Raiders seek
  in�luence within Waterdeep's current power structure. And
  where Manshoon's Zhentarim are more than willing to create
  chaos and carnage to reach their goals, the Doom Raider
  Zhentarim are more careful and methodical.
  To make sure your party understands this nuance, you can
  have Davil Starsong explain it to them, when they speak with
  him. You can also make the difference visible. Perhaps the
  Doom Raider Zhentarim (from the Doom Raiders themselves
  to their low level goons) dress in fancier clothes in hues of
  black and green and with the Zhentarim symbol (a black
  winged snake) on the shoulder or chest, while Manshoon's
  Zhentarim are dirtier, dressed in all black and carry hidden
  snake tattoos instead of visible insignia. This both tells your
  players the allegiance of any Zhent they meet and also hints
  at the key differences between the branches.
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  The Doom Raider Zhentarim
  We're given a bit of information about the Doom Raider
  Zhentarim in the introduction to Waterdeep: Dragon Heist,
  and more scattered bits and pieces throughout the
  campaign's different chapters. To summarize, the Doom
  Raider Zhentarim have the following characteristics:
  Its leaders are the Doom Raiders, Davil Starsong (Master
  of Opportunities and Negotiations), Istrid Horn (Master of
  Trade and Coin), Skeemo Weirdbottle (Master of Magic),
  Tashlyn Yafeera (Master of Arms and Mercenaries), and
  Ziraj the Hunter (Master of Assassination).
  It doesn't have a single base of operations. Davil Starsong
  has a room in the Yawning Portal and conducts most of his
  business in the tavern's taproom. Istrid Horn operates
  from a heavily guarded warehouse in the Dock District.
  Skeemo Weirdbottle runs his business, Weirdbottle's
  Concoctions, in the Trades Ward. We're not told where
  Tashlyn Yafeera lives, but can assume it's either with her
  employer, the magister Vorondar Levelstone, in the
  Southern 
  Ward, 
  or 
  in 
  a 
  nondescript 
  apartment
  somewhere. Ziraj the Hunter's home is purposefully kept
  hidden, but it could be in abandoned buildings or loft, or
  even outside the city walls.
  The exact size and strength of the Doom Raider Zhentarim
  isn't put into words, but since Istrid Horn has thugs
  guarding her, and Tashlyn Yafeera can readily provide the
  party with mercenaries, it's safe to assume that the Doom
  Raiders have at least a dozen thugs and bandits at their
  disposal.
  The Doom Raiders
  You'll �ind a descriptions of the Doom Raiders in Appendix B
  of Waterdeep: Dragon Heist. Adding to the information in the
  appendix, here's a few extra pointers about the adventurers.
  Since the Doom Raiders have actually made a living out of
  raiding lich lairs, most of the dangers they can face in a city
  such as Waterdeep pales in comparison to what they've
  already survived. The Doom Raiders are hard to impress and
  even harder to scare, with an unwavering con�idence that
  borders on arrogance. In addition, their many dangerous
  adventures might also have given the Doom Raiders different
  quirks and mannerisms, helping you make the powerful
  adventurers more memorable as NPCs:
  Davil	Starsong always pours a little sip out on the table
  or �loor, when he opens a new bottle of wine or liquor,
  never forgetting that one time he drank ankheg acid
  disguised as �ine wine in a lich's lair.
  Istrid	 Horn has a scribe constantly taking down notes
  about the names and appearance of anyone she does
  business with. The dwarf once had her memory wiped by
  a magical trap and still has trouble putting names to faces.
  Skeemo	Weirdbottle often seems to have conversations
  with himself – but in truth, he's talking to a sliver of the
  lich Athraxes' consciousness, which took up residence in
  the gnome's skull several years ago.
  Tashlyn	Yafeera has a nervous habit of looking over her
  shoulder every few seconds. A good thing when you're
  working as a bodyguard, but the habit persists even when
  she's alone and safe.
  Ziraj	the	Hunter has developed an almost childlike fear
  of the undead. His demeanor becomes hostile when
  talking about them, and in combat he'll either try to �lee
  from undead or kill them fast and thoroughly, if he has no
  other option than to �ight.
  Dealing with the Zhentarim
  The Doom Raider Zhentarim are one of the more interesting
  factions and the campaign book gives us plenty of ideas on
  how to make their relationship with the party more dynamic.
  Throughout the different chapters, your party will have
  ample opportunity to meet and a interact with the Doom
  Raiders – and even more so if you use the faction missions
  during periods of downtime.
  During Chapter 1: A Friend in Need, the party are inserted
  into the middle of the con�lict-triangle between the Doom
  Raider Zhentarim, Manshoon's Zhentarim and the Xanathar
  Guild, with the very �irst encounter in the Yawning Portal.
  You can even have Yagra Stone�ist explain the situation to the
  party, if she �inds them friendly and interested (see our
  document on Chapter 1: A Friend in Need for more details).
  At the start of Chapter 2: Trollskull Alley, the 'Hatred
  Surfacing' faction mission makes for a good challenge for a
  party of 2nd level adventurers. As described in the document
  for 'Hatred Surfacing', you can also use the faction mission to
  introduce Ziraj the Hunter to the party.
  During Chapter 2: Trollskull Alley, your party might also
  �ind themselves looking for funds to renovate the Trollskull
  Tavern, which could easily lead them to Istrid Horn and her
  moneylending business (see our document on Chapter 2:
  Trollskull Alley for more details).
  Just before starting Chapter 3: Fireball, you can have Davil
  task the 3rd level adventurers with making a 'Deadly
  Delivery' for Skeemo Weirdbottle. This introduces them to
  the arrogant gnome and foreshadows the �inal mission.
  During Chapter 3: Fireball, the party will once again �ind
  themselves in the middle of the messy and confusing con�lict
  between the two divisions of the Zhentarim as they
  investigate the explosion in Trollskull Alley. Davil might aid
  them in their efforts, eager to remove suspicion from the
  Doom Raiders and avoid trouble with the City Watch (see our
  document on Chapter 3: Fireball for more details).
  In the aftermath of Chapter 3: Fireball, it's suggested that
  the Doom Raider Zhentarim are thrown into turmoil. Davil is
  being held by the City Watch, Istrid Horn is going into hiding
  and Tashlyn Yafeera picks up the reins as temporary leader of
  the Doom Raider Zhentarim. This introduces the party to
  Tashlyn and makes the organization feel even more real – and
  underlines that noone is above the law in Waterdeep!
  At the start – or even in the middle – of Chapter 4: Dragon
  Season, you have an opportunity to pit your party of 4th level
  adventurers against a dangerous band of Shard Shunners in
  the faction mission 'Shard Shunners'. For advice on how to �it
  faction missions and downtime in before or after the
  encounter chain in chapter 4, see our document on Chapter
  4: Dragon Season.
  Finally, either just before the delve into the Vault of
  Dragons, or just before closing the campaign book for
  Waterdeep: Dragon Heist, you can send your 5th level
  adventurers on a dangerous mission to investigate and
  eliminate Skeemo Weirdbottle. It's the perfect way to cement
  an exciting relationship with the Doom Raider Zhentarim:
  with the blood of a traitor!
  However you play the Zhentarim and use the information
  in this document, your players should be able to make their
  relationship with the Zhentarim an exciting and pro�itable
  one. So here's to dubious morals, gleaming gold and endless
  adventure!
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  This document was made with GM Binder.
  We hope you have fun playing through this
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  Gray Hands - Faction Missions
  
SOURCE: textdata/thevault/Dungeons & Dragons [multi]/Adventures/Eventyr/Complete DM's Bundle - Waterdeep - Dragon Heist/Zhentarim Faction Mission 0 - Primer.pdf