Zarys

Zarys is the leader of the group of Zhentarim who occupy 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.

Overview

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 will tell the party they've come far enough and threaten 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.
  • 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 dialogue checks to get her to stand down or all the Zhentarim in the base will become hostile and will arm the traps. If they succeed, then Zarys will order her underlings to disarm the hideout's traps so the party can come talk to her.

Zarys will then remark 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 will treat 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 will return it to Zarys themselves. Zarys will thank the party for their assistance and reward 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 either they or the Gnolls killed Rugan and Olly, then the party can give it to Zarys. She will be overjoyed and reward 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 will 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 will walk into a unique scene in the hideout where the Zhentarim have killed Olly and are torturing Rugan for losing the shipment. Zarys will demand that the party execute Rugan. If the party kills him, then Zarys will reward them with access to Brem's special stock but will not give them Harold.

If doing anything other than killing Rugan, then Zarys and the rest of the hideout will 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 will exclaim that the buyer will kill them all for opening the package before immediately attacking the party alongside the rest of the Zhentarim.

Combat

Attacks and abilities

 Cure Wounds ()

1d8 (1~8) + Spellcasting modifier hit points

Heal a creature you can touch.

 Melee: 1.5 m / 5  ft

 Main Hand Attack ()

Normal weapon damage Make a melee attack with your equipped weapon.

 Melee: 1.5 m / 5  ft

 Ranged Attack ()

Normal weapon damage Make a ranged attack with your equipped weapon.

 Range: 18 m / 60 ft

 Sneak Attack ()

Normal weapon damage +

1d6 (1~6) Weapon

Deal extra 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 ()

Normal weapon damage +

1d6 (1~6) Weapon

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: Normal weapon range

Recharge: Per turn

Notable loot

• Arrow of Acid
• Drow Poison

Related quests

•  Find the Missing Shipment

Related literature

• Postmaster Shipment Enquiry

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, then the simplest way to do so is to give Zarys the box, buy the items from Brem, and then kill Zarys to regain access to the strongbox. Given Zarys's 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