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Exploit
Acolyte
Canada
47 Posts |
 Posted - 11 Apr 2007 : 19:42:19
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I am DMing a Cyricist cleric PC trained by Malchior of Darkhold (see Waterdeep) and as such he is indirectly part the Western Zhentarim Cyricist faction that is currently preparing for a holy war against the Eastern Zhentarim Banites. I'm hoping to run a story arc whereby the PC's actions will hopefully affect the outcome of this battle.
I am considering using the PG II rules for affiliations, as a means to gauge the PC's rise within his faction and as a game mechanic for giving tangible benefits/losses for successes/failures. Has anyone made use of these rules in their campaign and if so how well has it worked out?
What do people think about making separate affiliations for the Eastern and Western Zhentarim? Appropriate or not?
Based upon my impressions from the canon sourcebooks, I'm of the opinion that the Eastern Zhentarim is more powerful then the Western Zhentarim. Does everyone else get the same impression?
While reviewing all the references to Cyricist clerics in the canon sources, I noted that the most powerful Cyricist cleric seems to be the 16th level Cleric that leads Darkhold. Even the two Amn Cyricist cult leaders are lower level then him. Have I missed any more powerful Cyricist cleric references anywhere?
It makes the struggle between the Cyricists and the Banites rather lopsided since the Cyricists are lower level and missing access to 9th level spells. Actually upon reflection, that seems suited to Cyricists since as far as I can tell their dogma is geared towards terrorism and asymmetric warfare while the Banites are more traditional overwhelming force types.
I'm mainly musing out loud as I consider how to tailor the campaign more towards this player. It's a solo campaign.
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Eremite
Learned Scribe
Singapore
182 Posts |
Posted - 12 Apr 2007 : 15:36:59
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| I seem to recall that there is a 20th-level cleric of Cyric in Thay (Marathane Zul?) as mentioned in 2E's Spellbound. |
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Reefy
Senior Scribe
United Kingdom
892 Posts |
Posted - 12 Apr 2007 : 21:31:57
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| The eastern Zhentarim are more powerful, yes, so some kind of differentiation could be made. The eastern Zhentarim are also on the rise - recent events in Hillsfar, Shadowdale etc. have demonstrated that. Also, although you don't have to conform to this in your campaign, I'm pretty sure a source released after the FRCS said the Banite faction was starting to dominate in Darkhold. I think it might have been somewhere in Power of Faerūn. I would probably expect the Banites to win, driving the Cyricists out, but I do like the idea of the Cyricists winning, in which case it wouldn't surprise me if they split off from the Zhentarim entirely - a Cyricist stronghold under the control of the Tyrant of Bane isn't likely to sit well, and Darkhold is geographically far enough removed from the Moonsea to be able to do it without Fzoul being easily able to deploy a lot of force against it. This could be turned to your advantage in your campaign, particularly with the eastern Zhents having their fingers in a lot of pies at the moment - Eric Boyd's Cormanthor article in Dragon 354 details this. You can always introduce an NPC or two of your own creation who could help tip the balance in favour of the Cyricists. |
Life is either daring adventure or nothing. |
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Iliphar1
Learned Scribe
Austria
133 Posts |
Posted - 24 Apr 2007 : 23:07:32
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talking about the Western Zhentarim:
I was wondering, what role Sememmon plays. After reading the novel Son of Thunder, I had the impression, that Sememmon lost most of his power and is on the flight from the Eastern Zhentarim.
According to Cloak and Dagger, Fzoul seems to be one of the most powerful individuals in and around the Moonsea Area |
'You see dead bones? ... I see an army!' Ezechiel 37 |
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Kuje
Great Reader
USA
7915 Posts |
Posted - 24 Apr 2007 : 23:33:21
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| The most current lore about Sememmon and Ashashi (I misspelled that I think) is in Steven's Blackstaff novel. |
For some of us, books are as important as almost anything else on earth. What a miracle it is that out of these small, flat, rigid squares of paper unfolds world after world, worlds that sing to you, comfort and quiet and excite you... Books are full of the things that you don't get in real life - wonderful, lyrical language, for instance, right off the bat. - Anne Lamott, Bird by Bird
Scribe for the Candlekeep Compendium |
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At your Behest
Acolyte
Germany
46 Posts |
Posted - 25 Apr 2007 : 00:01:05
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Yep it's "Ashemmi".
Cheers,
AYB |
Beware the beast man, for he is the Devil's pawn.
Alone among God's primates, he kills for sport or lust or greed. Yeah, he will murder his brother to possess his brother's land.
Let him not breed in great numbers, for he will make a desert of his home and yours. Shun him, for he is the harbinger of death. |
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Kuje
Great Reader
USA
7915 Posts |
Posted - 25 Apr 2007 : 00:03:17
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quote:
Originally posted by At your Behest
Yep it's "Ashemmi".
Cheers,
AYB
I knew it looked wrong, but I didn't feel like checking my files for her name. :) |
For some of us, books are as important as almost anything else on earth. What a miracle it is that out of these small, flat, rigid squares of paper unfolds world after world, worlds that sing to you, comfort and quiet and excite you... Books are full of the things that you don't get in real life - wonderful, lyrical language, for instance, right off the bat. - Anne Lamott, Bird by Bird
Scribe for the Candlekeep Compendium |
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George Krashos
Master of Realmslore
Australia
6666 Posts |
Posted - 25 Apr 2007 : 02:20:02
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quote:
Originally posted by Kuje
The most current lore about Sememmon and Ashashi (I misspelled that I think) is in Steven's Blackstaff novel.
Yep, true. The most current lore. But there's lots to be found out about these two. BTW, were you drinking beer when you posted, Kuje? Asahi is a japanese beer!
-- George Krashos
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"Because only we, contrary to the barbarians, never count the enemy in battle." -- Aeschylus |
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Kuje
Great Reader
USA
7915 Posts |
Posted - 25 Apr 2007 : 04:16:23
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quote:
Originally posted by George Krashos
BTW, were you drinking beer when you posted, Kuje? Asahi is a japanese beer!
-- George Krashos
Nope, but maybe I was channeling a drunk japanese. :) |
For some of us, books are as important as almost anything else on earth. What a miracle it is that out of these small, flat, rigid squares of paper unfolds world after world, worlds that sing to you, comfort and quiet and excite you... Books are full of the things that you don't get in real life - wonderful, lyrical language, for instance, right off the bat. - Anne Lamott, Bird by Bird
Scribe for the Candlekeep Compendium |
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Iliphar1
Learned Scribe
Austria
133 Posts |
Posted - 04 May 2007 : 22:24:41
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oh dear, then I have to finish reading Blackstaff
(the first novel I could only read with dict.leo.org... )
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'You see dead bones? ... I see an army!' Ezechiel 37 |
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Western Zhentarim Affiliation?
