AT A GLANCE: Perched at the western
end of the Moon Sea, Zhentil Keep is a
large, walled city of the size and population
of Suzail in Cormyr. It is one of the
major ports of the Moonsea, and dominated
by a large temple complex dedicated
to Bane.

ELMINSTER'S NOTES: Zhentil Keep is
the base of the Zhentarim (q.v.), though
the city and its populace is not completely
completelyunder the thumb of the Black
Network. Other factions are abroad in
this city, the most powerful of which
are the rival clerics in the Temple of
Bane. Friction between the factions is
intense, and night-borne fighting common
among the shuttered shops and
closed businesses.

Zhentil Keep is ruled by Lord Chess, a
foppish, vain, fat overlord with a taste
for gluttony. Chess is a gossipy blunderer,
and though the Zhentarim have
used him in the past as an ally, neither
they (nor anyone else knowledgeable in
such matters) count him as a member
of their organization.

GAME INFORMATION: The abilities of
the Zhentarim are detailed in their own
section. The Dark Shrine, Bane's Temple
Complex in the Keep, is one of the
largest in the Moonsea area, outdone in
size and personnel only by The Black
Lord's Altar in Mulmaster. Fzoul Chembryl
is patriarch of the church in Zhentil
Keep, and is a 13th level Cleric of
Bane. Fzoul is a member of the Zhentarim,
as are some of his staff. The Temple
Complex includes:

    1 13th Level Patriarch (Fzoul)
    2 9th level clerics (one of which, Casildar, is a member of the Zhentarim)
    3 7th level clerics (one of which, Zhessae, is a member of the Zhentarim)
    5 5th level clerics
    7 3rd level clerics

While the upper levels of the church
of Bane in Zhentil Keep are loyal to the
Zhentarim, the lower ranks, and those
of other cities (such as Mulmaster)
actively oppose the group. Those clerics
of Bane allied with the Zhentarim
assume that a number of their low-level
assistants are spies for the more orthodox
sects of Bane, which frown on sharing
Bane's blessing with non-clerics.

Lord Chess is a 3rd level fighter who
had previously been a 3rd level magic-user
and 3rd level cleric. A cowardly
fop, Chess is surrounded by a group of
five bodyguards of 6th level. Both the
Zhentarim and those groups opposing
him seek to keep Chess in his position,
the former to use the soft lord as a diplomatic
cushion and catspaw, and the
latter to prevent someone truly effective
to come to the post, which may
solidify Zhentarim power in the city.

Nightime in Zhentil Keep is dangerous,
in part because of press gangs,
groups of local thugs employed by the
Zhentarim or other groups to get cheap
(as in free) man-power. Such groups are
armed with clubs, metal staves, and
brass knuckles, and tend to be of levels
1-4. Such gangs use brawling tactics to
knock out the unaware. Those so captured
may find themselves on a slaveship
heading for Thay, at the oars of a
galley on the Moonsea, or in a work
crew rebuilding sections of Yulash or
the Citadel of the Raven.