The Black Network a.k.a. The Zhentarim

The Black Network has an open recruitment policy. Anyone can join. Tenacity and loyalty are highly valued (but not essential) traits in new members.   The Zhentarim seeks to become omnipresent and inescapable, more wealthy and powerful, and most importantly, untouchable. The public face of the organization appears much more benign, offering the best mercenaries money can buy. When a merchant needs an escort for his caravan, when a noble needs bodyguards to protect her holdings, or when a city needs trained soldiers to defend its honor, the Zhentarim provides the best-trained fighting men and women money can buy. However, the cost of doing business with the Black Network can be high.   The Black Network wants to make it necessary—and preferable, even—to deal with its members. It wants to secure, over time, an iron-fisted monopoly. Members must be the best—the cheapest, the fastest, and the most secure—at providing services and goods both legal and illicit, willing to lose coin if it means destroying a competitor, and securing profits from everyone they deal with, except when to do so would work against the Black Network's ultimate goal: to make everyone dependent on it.   A member of the Zhentarim thinks of themself as a member of a very large family and relies on the Black Network for resources and security. However, members are granted enough autonomy to pursue their own interests and gain some measure of personal power or influence.It has long sought to gain political influence in Waterdeep, but the strength of the city’s Masked Lords, nobility, and professional guilds makes that difficult.   BELIEFS:   The Zhentarim is your family. You watch out for it, and it watches out for you.   You are the master of your own destiny. Never be less than what you deserve to be.   Everything—and everyone—has a price.   GOALS:   To amass wealth, power, and influence.   MEMBERSHIP BENEFITS:   1. Davil can arrange meetings with influential nobles and members of city guilds.   2. Members can procure discounted potions and poisons from Skeemo's shop, Weirdbottle's Concoctions, which is located in the Trades Ward.   3. Tashlyn can offer affordable mercenaries, either common thugs or experienced veterans.   4. Istrid can offer a loan of up to 2,500 gp with an interest rate of 10 percent per tenday.   5. Members can hire Ziraj to assassinate someone, in return for a high fee or some undisclosed favor to be called in later.