Zhentarim

The Zhentarim, often referred to as “the Black Network,” is a shadowy mercenary and criminal organization operating throughout Faerûn. In Waterdeep, their presence is subtle but unmistakable—particularly in the Dock Ward and seedy alleys where the City Watch’s influence fades. They operate in layers: a mixture of hired muscle, informants, smugglers, and assassins, with the true power brokers rarely seen by outsiders.
The faction’s goal is control—of trade, territory, and information. While the Zhentarim are not a cult or a unified ideological movement, they operate under an unspoken code: profit, loyalty to the Network, and a ruthless willingness to do what others won’t. Their tactics range from clandestine deals to overt violence, though rarely without purpose.
Despite their unsavory methods, the Zhents are not universally reviled. To some, they are a necessary evil—offering protection, opportunity, or revenge where law and order fail. To others, they are opportunists who use coin and blood in equal measure to claim influence.

Public Knowledge and Reputation

Among the general populace, the Zhentarim are a cautionary tale. Most Waterdhavians know someone who knows someone who got in over their head with a Zhent loan or crossed the wrong enforcer. They are feared more than hated, respected more than admired. No one speaks their name lightly.
Rumors occasionally surface of strange partnerships between the Zhentarim and darker forces—devils, necromancers, or monstrous factions—but these whispers are difficult to confirm. Most believe the Zhents care little for ideology, and would work with anyone if it served their aims.

Presence in the Campaign

The party’s earliest encounters with the Zhentarim were tangled in the events surrounding Floon Blagmaar’s disappearance. A violent conflict had erupted between the Zhentarim and Xanathar's Guild, with both groups seeking possession of the Stone of Golorr. This turf war spilled into the streets, leaving a wake of blood and confusion that the City Watch struggled to contain.
Grayson, having trained under a Zhentarim Master of Shadows in his youth, recognized many of their tactics. His past has earned him reluctant respect among certain underworld figures, especially Yarga Stonefist—a formidable Zhentarim enforcer and regular at the Yawning Portal. Yarga sees the man Grayson has become, even if she doesn’t always approve of his path.
While Grayson has distanced himself from the Black Network, the ties aren’t fully severed. Yarga occasionally shares limited information with him, provided it does not endanger her people or the balance she maintains within the Yawning Portal. Her protection of its staff is absolute, and she has made it clear—violating that sanctuary is not tolerated.
More recently, Grayson’s conversation with Threestrings at the Portal revealed patterns of suspicious business closures across the city—craftsmen being pushed out under mysterious and coordinated pressure. Though no direct connection to the Zhentarim has been confirmed, the tactics are familiar.
The Zhentarim have not taken open action against the party, but their reach runs deep in Waterdeep. Old allies may resurface, or old debts may be called in. For now, the Network watches.

Notable Members

• Yarga Stonefist