Knights of the North - NPC: Ixathinon, aka Lady Avrezt

Ixathinon

 aka Lady Avrezt, Tolak of Darkhold

Roleplaying Ixathinon
Key Traits: ambitious, ruthless
Goal: regain the power he had, rebuild the Zhentarim
Motivation: bad childhood
Fears: beholders seem too powerful, he feels out-of-his-depth in this post-Spellplague age
Weaknesses: none

Favourite Sayings
These are always uttered in a soft, pleasant, matter-of-fact voice:

"I can't be bothered wasting spells on them. Hang them, for the citizens to watch."
"These conclusions need bother us?"
"And the approach you prefer?"
"How deeply touching. Slay them."
"I fear so."
"A moment, good sir, of the brief time - by my command - remaining to you."
"Shall I decree it, or are you sensitive enough to heed a mere suggestion?"
"You'll understand, I trust, that as long as I am Lord here, I can allow no diabolical plans to succeed but my own."

Inspiration

Ixathinon believes its destiny is to fill the void left by Manxam's death. Manxam was described as follows:

Possibly the most powerful eye tyrant in the lands of the northwest Inner Sea, Manxam does deal in the politics of humans, but with a low profile and few servant creatures.

Manxam is usually to be found in or about the ruins of Teshwave. It is thought to view the Zhentarim’'s bold expansionist policies with increasing alarm, thinking that they will lead to an inevitable battle union of all of Zhentil Keep'’s foes and the resulting defeat and destruction of Zhentil Keep. Still, it sees the Zhentarim as (relatively) trustworthy allies.

Beholders have allied with evil forces such as those within Zhentil Keep for aeons. Manxam is less than pleased with Manshoon'’s dominance of the inner circle, and prefers Fzoul'’s firm hand (the beholder misses the old days of the Bane-worshipping priests, who seemed to know how to treat beholders with the respect they deserved). Still, the Zhentarim are preferable to the madmen of
the Dales, who always seek to rebel under the eye of the more powerful beholders.

Manxam'’s powers and abilities are unknown, but a doubling of “normal” beholder hit points would not be unreasonable to begin with.

This is exactly how Ixathinon sees itself... and also how it sees the Zhentarim. It wants the Zhentarim "back", an organisation with its own goals but ultimately a pawn of beholders like itself and, in due course, the sword that the beholders of Ixathinon's hive will point toward the Netherese in their quest for vengeance.

Background 

Manshoon, Night King of Westgate and leader of the Zhents, is slain in spell-battle with Elminster.
Awakened clone.
Beholder mage - Ixathinon - did the awakening.
Finds he is working with Cyricists instead of Banites.
Citadel of the Raven is a ruin not the mighty fortress he expected.
Shortcut to increased magical power - tap the magic of the spellweavers who have ruins in this region.
This is Manshoon from 1355 DR but less powerful than even at that time due to the weaker clone ritual used to create him.

Stat Block
Manshoon

Male human arcanist wizard 12

Evil elite controller (leader) 12

Magic Missile - basic ranged

Lightning bolt - ranged at-will

Dominate Monster- recharge when nobody affected

Mind Crush/Feeblemind - encounter

Wall of Force - encounter

Dimension Door - recharge

Summoned Bone Devils

Evil lurker 9

Fimbulwinter (?) - The Return of Manshoon

The Last Clone

I'm back!

Deep in the ruins of the Citadel of the Raven is the last remaining stasis clone of Manshoon, the founder of the Zhentarim and former First Lord of Zhentil Keep.

This clone has remain untouched by the Spellplague - and was immune to the massive awakening that preceded the Clone Wars - as its magic was tied to the portal leading to the extra-dimensional space where it was secreted.

There is a faction within the Zhentarim that believes that if the Zhents are to return to greatness, Manshoon must be the one to lead them. They feel that there is something --wrong-- with the current Manshoon and so they have been researching the locations of his other clones for years hoping to find another Manshoon to lead them.

From the journal of a noted Zhent mage loyal to Manshoon recovered from the ruins of Zhentil Keep, they finally have the clues they need to locate the last remaining clone from an extra-dimensional space within the ruins of the Citadel of the Raven. Now all they need is the portal key....

(I could also use this same general background for a clone of Manshoon secreted in the dungeons beneath Darkhold. Perhaps I could use this for my Dark Weavings campaign instead?)

Manshoon is Dead; Long Live Manshoon!

Another option is to have Manshoon the Night King slain by adventurers off-screen, as it were. Zhents encountered in the campaign could actually be looking for one of his clones in order to replace him. A weaker clone might be seen as a way for an ambitious Zhent black cloak to increase his or her own influence in the organisation with the black cloak believing that the weaker Manshoon can be their pawn.


More food for thought....


(I also rather like the idea of a campaign set in Loudwater and the Fallen Lands where the Zhents have gone to the Sceptre Tower of Spellgarde to ask Lady Spellgarde just where they can find one of Manshoon's clones!)

General Comments

Manshoon is one of those characters who has been harshly dealt with by various RPG and novel authors, largely because of the old TSR policy that evil could never be seen to be successful.

If you read Ed Greenwood's comments about Manshoon over at Candlekeep, it is clear that Ed saw him as a true master villain. That's the Manshoon I want to include in one or more of my games at some point.

I don't like the idea of Manshoon as a vampire. Actually, it's not so much that I don't like it as I prefer the idea of more than one clone still running around. And Manshoon the Night King is both too high in level for my preferred campaign levels and I don't like the whole notion of Stormkeep. It's too high magic for the sort of game I want to run. (Yes, there is a certain irony in rejecting high magic when my preferred campaign setting is Forgotten Realms.)

Suffice to say, I want to bring Manshoon back but as a lower-level protagonist and as someone who has the potential to make the Zhentarim a force in the Moonsea again. Manshoon the Night King can have Darkhold and the Western Heartlands; "my" Manshoon wants the Moonsea....

Dark Weavings - Appendix Two: Darkhold

The Leadership

First Rank: The Tolak

LADY AVREZT, CASTELLAN OF DARKHOLD AND TOLAK OF THE ZHENTARIM
FEMALE HUMAN WIZARD (POLYMORPHED BEHOLDER MAGE)

Avrezt is one of the Tolak that lead the Zhentarim. She commands the three elite corps quartered at Darkhold and oversees the training of much of the Zhentarim. Since Manshoon rarely leaves Stormwatch, Avrezt has near complete autonomy. Avrezt commands the three elite corps quartered at Darkhold and oversees the training. Since Manshoon rarely leaves Stormwatch, Avrezt has near complete autonomy. She is a dark, brooding beauty and carries an undeniable aura of command. She looks you over with an imperious eye.

In reality, “she” is an “it”. Avrezt is actually the beholder mage, Ixathinon, polymorphed into human form. Since rising to the rank of Tolak, Ixathinon has been working to make the Zhentarim an instrument of beholders.

Key Traits:    Domineering. Haughty. Imperious. Xenophobic.
Goal:   
Motivation:   
Fears:    It doesn’t remember any.
Weaknesses:    Ixathinon is extremely xenophobic and openly contemptuous of humans and other “lesser races”. She is also a glutton with a penchant for eating gnomes and finds fresh gnome next to impossible to resist.

Second Rank: Senior Black Cloak

TAALOR DARKHOPE, SENIOR BLACK CLOAK OF DARKHOLD
MALE HUMAN SUMMONER WIZARD

Taalor Darkhope is an incredibly intelligent man with eclectic tastes in literature and is widely read. Taalor is often called "The Binder"
because of his expertise in summoning creatures and binding them to his will. He has created helmed horrors and homunculi.

Taalor is particularly concerned about the recently arrived cleric of Bane and her designs upon him.

NOMBRAIL CALIST, WATCHFUL SKULL OF CYRIC
MALE HUMAN CLERIC OF CYRIC

Nombrail Calist is the high cleric of Cyric at Darkhold and spreads the word of the Black Sun through the Zhentarim. A treacherous weasel of a man who delights in abusing his underlings, he despises Fzain and longs for the day that Avrezt gives him leave to crush the hated Banite. Until then, he taunts and provokes her at every opportunity. Nombrail’s long-term goal is to free Cyric from his imprisonment, and he urges Avrezt to pursue this goal at every opportunity.


Honorary Second Rank: Ambassadors

FZAIN NERIST, BANITE EMISSARY FROM MULMASTER
FEMALE HUMAN CLERIC OF BANE

Fzain Nerist is the representative of the High Imperceptor in Mulmaster to the Zhentarim. A stunningly beautiful woman with honeyed locks and
dressed in the red and black vestments of Bane approaches you.

Born in a family of dedicated Banites, Fzain was named in honour of Bane’s exarch, Fzoul. Manshoon will not permit her into Stormwatch so she stays at Darkhold. She is a strong-willed woman and a brilliant speaker who is able to sway crowds. This, combined with her good looks, has made her popular among the sellswords at Darkhold and brought some into the service of the Black Hand. She is convinced that Bane is the future of the Realms and will triumph over all other gods. She has occasional liaisons with Tomias, but she has her eye on Taalor.

APOSTROPHE DOUBLE APOSTROPHE, DROW EMISSARY FROM SSHAMATH
FEMALE DROW CLERIC OF SHAR OR MALE DROW SHADOW ADEPT


Third Rank: The Captains

GRON, CAPTAIN OF THE STORM WATCH
MALE DRAGONBORN PALADIN OF CYRIC

Gron left his homeland of Tymanther for reasons that have never been specified. Because of Gron’s horrible temper, it is commonly believed that he murdered someone important during one of his rages and had to flee the country. Gron is a devout follower of Cyric and revels in the strife of physical combat. He has little respect for Tomias and believes him to be a two-faced cad. If he finds out that Tomias is passing information to Fzain, Gron will kill him.

HULT IRONTOE, MASTER OF RECRUITS
MALE DWARF BRAWLER FIGHTER

Hult Irontoe is a dangerous and aggressive dwarf, a bully. The position suits Hult fine as he likes hurting people and his rank gives him plenty of opportunity to do so. Hult Irontoe hired on as a mercenary to the Zhentarim about twenty years ago. Always a dangerous and aggressive dwarf, Hult bullied the other Zhents. After Hult killed the former Master of Recruits in bare-fisted brawl and then intimidated a room full of observers into silence, Avrezt made him the new master. The position suits Hult fine as he likes hurting people and his rank gives him plenty of opportunity to do so.

TOMIAS PALESUN, CAPTAIN OF THE GREY FEATHERS
MALE HALF-ELF RANGER

Tomias Palesun is a seemingly easygoing man with a quick wit and many jokes, but he has the cold eyes of a killer. Tomias is a firm supporter of Bane, and is having a liaison with the cleric of Bane. During their trysts, he feeds information to Fzain about Zhentarim activities.


JESYM DREIN, CAPTAIN OF THE OUTRIDERS
FEMALE HALFLING RANGER/ROGUE

Jesym Drein, a halfling, intends to build up her cult of personality among the Zhents of Darkhold until she has enough support to split from the Zhentarim and form her own mercenary band.

Jesym Drein is very friendly with the PCs as she sees them as potential recruits to her future plots. She recently rose to command after she managed the “accidental” death of Hallook Breidorlzan, the former captain. Once she has the Outriders consolidated under her control, she intends to build up her cult of personality among the Zhents of Darkhold until she has enough support to split from the Zhentarim and form her own mercenary band.

NYTH “GREYCLOAK” ARILANTHER, BLACK CLOAK
MALE HUMAN WIZARD

Signature Spells: sleep, glitterdust, fly, Evard’s black tentacles, missile mastery (swats away arrows)

PROBOLAR, BLACK CLOAK
MALE HUMAN WIZARD

Linked to the Cult of the Dragon. Signature Spells/Items: flaming staff (dragon head), fireball.

CYRICSON MOLTAR, STRIFELEADER OF CYRIC

Dashingly handsome, engaging smile, perfect white teeth, cruel, pragmatist: this is Cyricson. His robes are of purple velvet from the hide of a displacer beast and his unholy symbol is solid platinum. Signature spell: blade barrier. His bodyguard, Briemulk, would sacrifice himself for Cyricson.

MELITHUA, STRIFELEADER OF CYRIC
FEMALE HUMAN CLERIC OF CYRIC

SMOLITUNG, STRIFELEADER OF CYRIC
MALE HUMAN CLERIC OF CYRIC

Smolitung lacks subtlety. He is just a thug. He prefers to fight with a morningstar. He is muscular and has a large scar on the left side of his face from the claw of a dragon. He hates dragons and dragonborn.

Fourth Rank: The Jacks

Dardres Halamer, Strifeleader of Cyric

Laerdan Istus, Strifeleader of Cyric

Thorak Srasam, Zhent War Mage (prefers fire spells)

LERILENANIEL, BEAST TAMER OF DARKHOLD
FEMALE ELF RANGER

Lerilenaniel is quiet and doesn't like people very much. She bears scars from torture at the hands of inquisitors under the command of the High Observer.
Lerilenaniel has a deep and lasting hatred of the High Observer of Torm who rules Elturgard over his barricading of the Reaching Woods. She uses monsters to kill or harass the paladins of Elturgard, even though Avrezt has ordered her not to provoke the city.

Lerilenaniel is cool and distant to the PCs, especially any elves or eladrin. If any of the PCs are drow, she spits on the ground. Lerilenaniel mostly wanders the wilds of Western Heartlands, hunting for monsters, trapping them, and then moving them to places where needed by the Zhentarim. She is quiet and doesn't like people very much. Lerilenaniel has a deep and lasting hatred of the High Observer of Torm who rules Elturgard over his barricading of the Reaching Woods. She uses monsters to kill or harass the paladins of Elturgard, even though Avrezt has ordered her not to provoke the city. The hippogriff that Lerilenaniel is petting is named Bitey.

RIKLA ULGRYM, QUARTERMASTER OF DARKHOLD
FEMALE HALF-ORC THIEF

Rikla Ulgrym is harried by the constant requests for supplies. Rikla is particularly angry at Jesym as the old captain of the Outriders was her embezzlement partner. Hult Irontoe has taken an instant dislike to Rikla and considers her weak and therefore a target. Rikla has to actively avoid the dwarf or suffer his beatings.

Others

Orto, Peltham; Zhent Soldiers
Thusk Tharmuil of Glister, Zhent War Mage (cold spells)
Menzel, apprentice to Thusk
Malunko, half-orc fighter; Grognar, Argrath- human fighters
Zzygarn, black dragon

VARLOSH, ARCHIVIST OF DARKHOLD

Varlosh is a vampire and follower of Shar. He is disliked by many Black Cloaks as he keeps close tabs on the amount of income they are supposed to be reporting.

Varlosh keeps track of all the contracts, reports, and intelligence gathered by the Zhentarim. He greets the PCs with polite condescension. They are expendable fodder that makes money for the Zhentarim. He informs the part that they will be filing their reports and contracts here.

A vampire and follower of Shar, Varlosh works closely with Avrezt to receive reports from many of the Zhentarim corps working around Faerûn. He is disliked by many Black Cloaks as he keeps close tabs on the amount of income they are supposed to be reporting.

He has survived numerous assassination attempts, mostly because no one knows he’s a vampire. Varlosh has noticed Tomias’s relationship with Fzain and is blackmailing the archer captain. This is mostly for show. In reality, he has already reported the treachery to Avrezt, and they are feeding Tomias false information.

Varlosh’s Prisoner: The woman chained to the desk is Nualla A’Ashemmi. She is the daughter of Sememmon and Ashemmi, the Renegades of Darkhold who turned from the Black Network before the Spellplague. She has made it her life’s work to oppose the Zhentarim at every turn, but was recently caught by the Zhents and held prisoner. Varlosh believes that he has her dominated and cowed, but she fought off his control some time ago. She pretends to still be under the influence to avoid Varlosh re-dominating her.

If rescued, Nualla can be a source of vital information.


EYEBITER, BEHOLDER OF DARKHOLD
SOLO ARTILLERY 9

Eyebiter is one of a group of beholders who want the Banites back. More importantly, Eyebiter and its fellows believe that the Black Network can become a completely beholder-led organisation.

HILL GIANT MERCENARY

OGRE CAPTAIN

GEDRETH, GOBLIN SHAMAN

NERETH THE FLAMESKULL

OROKOTH THE BLACK CLOAK

 
Basic Stat Block Roster

Black Cloak    solo artillery 6 (1,250 XP), elite artillery 11 (1,200 XP), artillery 15 (1,200 XP)
War Mage    solo artillery
Mageling    artillery 1 (100 XP), minion artillery 9 (100 XP)
Apprentice    minion artillery 1 (25 XP)

Watchful Skull    solo controller 5 (1,000 XP), elite controller 10 (1,000 XP), controller 14 (1,000 XP), minion controller 22 (1,038 XP)
Strifeleader    solo controller (leader) 2 (625 XP), elite controller (leader) 7 (600 XP), controller (leader) 11 (600 XP), minion controller (leader) 19 (600 XP)
Dark Adept:    elite controller 2 (250 XP), controller 6 (250 XP), minion controller 14 (250 XP)
Dark Acolyte    controller 1 (100 XP), minion controller 9 (100 XP)

Jack    solo soldier (leader) 2 (625 XP), elite soldier (leader) 7 (600 XP), soldier (leader) 11 (600 XP), minion soldier (leader) 19 (600 XP)
Soldier    elite soldier 1 (200 XP), soldier 5 (200 XP), minion soldier 13 (200 XP)
Sellsword    soldier 1 (100 XP), minion soldier 9 (100 XP)
Recruit    minion soldier 1 (25 XP)

Slaver    elite brute 1 (200 XP), brute 5 (200 XP), minion brute 13 (200 XP)

Assassin    elite lurker 2 (250 XP), lurker 6 (250 XP)
Apprentice    lurker 1 (100 XP), minion lurker 9 (100 XP)