In the annals of Faerûnian history, few cities evoke as much intrigue and dread as Zhentil Keep, the infamous stronghold of the Moonsea region. Founded circa 640 DR, the city began as a humble trading camp on the northern shores of the Moonsea. Its fortunes changed dramatically when a consortium of Sembian merchants purchased the settlement, initiating a period of significant expansion. The city’s namesake, a wizard of considerable power named Zhentar, played a pivotal role in this early development.

The city’s growth was marked by the rise of a formidable keep in the northwestern quarter, a symbol of the city’s burgeoning power. Zhentil Keep soon became the primary base of operations for the Zhentarim, a notorious organization of merchants, mercenaries, and mages. The city’s population was predominantly human, but it also harbored a significant number of half-orcs and orcs, reflecting the Zhentarim’s diverse and often ruthless membership.

Zhentil Keep was unique in its state religion, the Church of Bane, the god of tyranny. The city’s rulers not only tolerated but actively encouraged the worship of Bane, marking a stark contrast to the religious practices of other cities in the region. Followers of Cyric, the god of lies, were officially unwelcome, a testament to the city’s complex and often volatile religious dynamics.

The city’s power and influence, however, were not to last. In 1383 DR, the city met a catastrophic end at the hands of the Shadovar, shadowy beings from the Plane of Shadow. The Shadovar’s wrath was incited by the discovery of the Zhentarim’s alliance with the phaerimm, a race of powerful, magic-using creatures. The city was razed, its once-mighty structures reduced to rubble, and its influence over the Moonsea region abruptly ended.

In the aftermath of its destruction, Zhentil Keep lay in ruins for many years, a grim reminder of its past glory and the price of its ambition. However, the Zhentarim, the organization that once held sway over the city, were not so easily deterred. Despite the city’s fall from grace, they saw potential in the ruins of Zhentil Keep.

Approximately fifty years ago, the Zhentarim began the arduous task of rebuilding the city. The process was slow and fraught with challenges, but the Zhentarim were determined. They saw in Zhentil Keep a symbol of their own resilience and a base from which they could regain their lost power.

The new Zhentil Keep is a shadow of its former self, its population a fraction of what it once was. Yet, it is a city reborn, rising from the ashes of its own destruction. The architecture of the city reflects its tumultuous history, with new structures built atop the ruins of the old, a blend of past and present.

The Zhentarim organization, having learned from their past missteps, has significantly transformed their approach. While the worship of Bane, the god of tyranny, remains a prominent faith within the city, it no longer holds the exclusive status of the state religion. Instead, it coexists with a variety of other faiths, reflecting a more tolerant religious climate within the city’s walls.

In addition to this shift in religious policy, the Zhentarim have also made concerted efforts to foster positive relations with other cities in the Moonsea region. This is a strategic move aimed at avoiding the isolation that was a significant factor in Zhentil Keep’s past downfall. Through diplomacy and trade, they are working to integrate Zhentil Keep into the regional community, ensuring its place in the broader socio-political landscape of the Moonsea.