Zarys

Zarys leads the group of Zhentarim occupying the Zhentarim Basement in Act One, a hideout she is overseeing the destruction of in order to hide the Zhentarim presence from the Flaming Fist after the events at Waukeen's Rest.

Involvement

Act One

The party must earn Zarys' approval in order to purchase, pickpocket, or loot certain items from Brem. Upon first entering the hideout, Zarys threatens to kill them:

• [BARBARIAN] [INTIMIDATION] Try and I will take your skulls as trophies (DC 10)
• [BERSERKER] [INTIMIDATION] ROAR. (DC 10 )
• [INTIMIDATION] Stand down. I go where I please. (DC 10)  +1  +1  +1
• [PERSUASION] I don't want trouble - I just want to trade. (DC 10)  +1  +1  +1
• [DETECT THOUGHTS] [WISDOM] Read her mind. (DC 12)
  • I know what became of Rugan. His cargo, too.
  • I'm here to help you find your missing cargo.  +1  +1  +1
• [BARD] [DECEPTION] I've a network of dangerous contacts who know I'm here. Kill me, they come for you. (DC 10)
• [GITHYANKI] [INTIMIDATION] A child of Gith goes where they please. (DC 10 )

The party must pass one of the above checks to convince her to offer passage. The party can attempt to slip into the shadows if they successfully pass the stealth check, but the base will go on high alert unless they pass a more difficult check:

• [STEALTH] Slip back into the shadows. (DC 10)
  • [INTIMIDATION] I'm coming in. If you want to die over it, that's your business. (DC 15)
  • [GITHYANKI] [INTIMIDATION] I'm coming in. If you want to die over it, that's your business. (DC 15 )
  • [BERSERKER] [INTIMIDATION] LET ME IN. OR DIE. CHOOSE. (DC 15 )
  • [BARBARIAN] [INTIMIDATION] I want you to know the face of your killer. Or you can let me in. (DC 15)
  • [PERSUASION] I truly don't want to fight - just to trade. (DC 15)

Otherwise, all Zhentarim in the base become hostile and all traps are activated. If they succeed, Zarys orders the Zhents to disarm the traps so the party can approach.

Zarys remarks that not many people can talk their way into a Zhentarim hideout and that she has a job for them: to  Find the Missing Shipment. After the party completes this quest, she treats them very differently depending on how they chose to do so.

Saving Rugan

If the party saved Rugan and Olly but did not take the Caravan Strongbox from them, then they return it to Zarys themselves. Zarys thanks the party for their assistance and rewards them with Harold, gold, and access to special items in Brem's shop.

Returning the unopened Strongbox after Rugan's death

If the party recovered the Caravan Strongbox after Rugan and Olly are killed, then the party can give it to Zarys. She is overjoyed and rewards the party with Harold, either 125 or 250 gold, and access to special items in Brem's shop.

• NOTE: Even if the party killed Rugan and Olly, they do not have to pass a Deception check to lie about this to Zarys.

Persuading Rugan to give the party the Strongbox

If the party persuaded Rugan to give them the Caravan Strongbox, then they walk into a unique scene in the hideout where the Zhentarim have killed Olly and are torturing Rugan for losing the shipment. Zarys demands that the party execute Rugan. If the party kill him, then Zarys rewards them with access to Brem's special stock but does not give them Harold.

If doing anything other than killing Rugan, then Zarys and the rest of the hideout immediately turn hostile. If they ignite the Smokepowder Barrels lying around the base then they can potentially kill the entire party in a single turn.

Returning the Iron Flask

If the party already opened the Caravan Strongbox and instead gives Zarys the Iron Flask, she exclaims that the buyer kill them all for opening the package before immediately attacking the party alongside the rest of the Zhentarim.

Combat

Attacks and abilities

 Brace (Ranged) ()   –  Longbow

Spend 6 m / 20 ft of your movement. For the rest of your turn, roll ranged damage twice and use the highest result.

Recharge: Short rest

 Cure Wounds ( + )

Healing: 1~8 + modifiers

1d8 + Spellcasting modifierHealing

Heal a creature you can touch.

 Melee: 1.5 m / 5 ft

 Ensnaring Strike (Ranged) ( + + )   –  Longbow

Damage: 5~17

1d8 + 3Piercing

+ 1d6Piercing

Your attack summons thorny vines that possibly  Ensnare your target.

Ensnared creatures cannot move and take 1d6Piercing damage at the start of each turn. An ally can use their  Help action to try and tear away the vines.

STR Save

 Range: 18 m / 60 ft

 Hamstring Shot ()   –  Longbow

Damage: 4~11

1d8 + 3Piercing

Shoot an enemy in the thigh and possibly reduce their Movement Speed by 50%.

CON Save

 Range: Normal weapon range

Recharge: Short rest

 Main Hand Attack ()

Damage:

Normal weapon damage

Make a melee attack with your equipped weapon.

 Melee: 1.5 m / 5 ft

 Ranged Attack ()   –  Longbow

Damage: 4~11

1d8 + 3Piercing

Make a ranged attack with your equipped weapon.

 Range: 18 m / 60 ft

 Sneak Attack (Melee) ()

Damage: 1~6

Normal weapon damage

+ 1d6Weapon

Deal an extra 1d6 damage to a foe you have Advantage against.

Also works if you have an ally within 1.5 m / 5 ft of the target and you don't have Disadvantage.

 Range: Normal weapon range

Recharge: Per turn

 Sneak Attack (Ranged) ()   –  Longbow

Damage: 5~17

1d8 + 3Piercing

+ 1d6Weapon

Deal an extra 1d6 damage to a foe you have Advantage against.

You can also use Sneak Attack if you have an ally within 1.5 m / 5 ft of the target and you don't have Disadvantage.

 Range: 18 m / 60 ft

Recharge: Per turn

 Throw ()   –  Alchemist's Fire

Damage:

Normal weapon damage

Throw a character or item from the world or your inventory.

Your Strength affects how much weight you can throw. Heavier items deal more damage.

The damage of weapons with the thrown property is the same as the weapon's melee damage.

 Range: 18 m / 60 ft

Loot

• Alchemist's Fire (if unused)
• Arrow of Acid (if unused)
• Dagger - 2x
• Drow Poison
• Leather Armour
• Longbow

Related literature

• Postmaster Shipment Enquiry
• Zhentarim Note

Related quests

•  Find the Missing Shipment

Speak with Dead

Zarys can be spoken to with  Speak with Dead.

Party member: Who are you?

• Zarys: Swordhar of the Zhentarim...

Party member: What is this place?

• Zarys: Zhentarim... trading post...
  • Party member: What are the Zhentarim doing down here?
    • Zarys: Waiting... precious cargo...
      • Party member: What's in the cargo you're waiting for?
        • Zarys: Don't know... didn't ask... Zhentarim way...
          • Party member: Where can I find this cargo?
            • Zarys: ... east... caravan delayed...

Party member: Do you know what happened to the tavern above?

• Zarys: Goblins... raided... kidnapped a duke...
  • Party member: What duke?
    • Zarys: Ravengard... leader of Flaming Fist... bad for... business...

Party member: Where do these tunnels lead?

• Zarys: Underdark... trading route... and graveyard both...

Party member: Do you have anything of value?

• Zarys: ... whole outpost... but you don't steal... from Zhentarim...

Notes

• Zarys is simultaneously a ranger with  Cure Wounds, 3 spell slots, and a rogue with  Sneak Attack.
• If the party wants to gain both the Iron Flask inside the strongbox and the magic items from Brem's special stock, a simple way to do so is to give Zarys the box, buy the items from Brem, and then either kill Zarys or steal it back from her. Given her position at the top of a cliff, the party can easily  Shove or  Throw her off before igniting a Smokepowder Barrel to blow up most of the Zhentarim.
• Something, possibly long rests or fast travel, causes the Caravan Strongbox to disappear from Zarys' inventory

External links

• Zarys on the Forgotten Realms Wiki