Zhent Terminology

[DM Cavalier]

Zhent Terminology

The intrigues of Zhentil Keep have spawned a nomenclature all their own.

Zhent: A person from Zhentil Keep or an adjective describing an origin in Zhentil Keep. "Zhentish" is incorrect and brings derision on the user even in places where Zhentil Keep and the Zhentarim are despised. Not all Zhents are members of the Zhentarim.

Zhentilar: A defunct term once used to distinguish the military forces of Zhentil Keep from the forces of the Zhentarim.

Zhentarim: A member of the Zhentarim secret society or the group as a whole. Zhentarim can be in the Zhent army or not.

~Source: FRCS page 162

[dagnabitt]

Zhentish

A grammatically incorrect term that will bring derision on the user, even in lands unfriendly to Zhents. (This somehow wormed its way into the vernacular of more than one Forgotten Realms novel.)

~Source: forgottenrealms.wikia.com/wiki/Zhentarim

[dagnabitt]

The Zhents are soldiers commanded by cruel minor wizards, who report to powerful mages known as the Black Cloaks headed by Lord Manshoon—the Zhentarim's founder. The Zhentarim can also count amongst their forces some beholders (led by one named Xulla), many clerics of BANE, and clerics of CYRIC. The Zhentarim's sole objective is to enrich themselves and control towns, villages, and entire realms along a trade route linking the Moonsea to the Sword Coast—the Waterdeep area, specifically—via Darkhold. Along that route, they smuggle slaves, poisons, and contraband.

So my advice is : Do watch out for those evil ones!

[dagnabitt]

In general, both mean trouble. Zhentil Keep is a walled independent city on the western shores of the Moonsea. It is one of the most evil cities in the Realms, a blight on the North, and a haven for Evil groups, plotting manipulators, dark religions, and foul practices.
Its rulers seek to dominate the lands around it, including the Dragonspine Mountains, Yulash, Voonlar, and the neighboring Dales. The city of Zhentil Keep and its armies (known as the Zhentilar, to make matters more confusing) have destroyed Teshendale, come close to destroying Daggerdale, and for a long time had an agent ruling Shadowdale. The Zhentarim is an organization of evil priests, wizards, and inhuman creatures bent on controlling all the trade and power between the Sword Coast (meaning Baldur's Gate and Waterdeep) and the Moonsea (including the intervening lands of Cormyr and Anauroch).
Its aims in the Moonsea area are the same as Zhentil Keep's, and the two factions work hand-in-glove, often sharing the same membership. The Zhentarim have a more far-reaching effect than Zhentil Keep, though, and have agents throughout the North. In addition, the Zhentarim are not limited to Zhentil Keep itself, and maintain a number of fortified outposts. Their rulership has spread with the passing years.
In addition to being the dominant force in Zhentil Keep, the Zhentarim control the Citadel of the Raven and Darkhold, two important castle complexes. Over the years, more power has been moving away from Zhentil Keep (filled with a lot of unknown and untrustworthy flunkies) and into these more secure areas. Within the Dalelands area, Zhentarim smells of Zhentil Keep and vice versa, but in reality not every Keeper (yet another name for a native of Zhentil Keep) is of the Black Network, and not every agent of the Zhentarim is from Zhentil Keep.

Adventurers should watch who they trust as a result.