Zarys

Zarys
Level 4
Information
Title	Leader of local Zhentarim
Race	Human
Faction	Zhentarim
Stats
Size	Medium
Type	Humanoid
Hit points	28 (Balanced) 36 (Tactician)
Weight	75 kg (150 lb)
Initiative	+3
Ability scores
STR DEX CON INT WIS CHA 12 (+1) 16 (+3) 12 (+1) 12 (+1) 14 (+2) 10 (0)
Proficiency bonus	+2
Saving throws	Str +1 Dex +3 Con +1 Int +1 Wis +2 Cha 0

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. The player must earn Zarys' approval in order to purchase, pickpocket, or loot certain items from Brem.

Overview

Upon first entering the hideout, Zarys will tell the party they've come far enough and threaten to kill them. The player must pass one of several dialogue checks to get her to stand down or all the Zhentarim in the base will become hostile. 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 player completes this quest, she will treat them very differently depending on how they chose to do so.

Recovered the Strongbox after Rugan's death

If the player recovered the Caravan Strongbox after either they or the Gnolls killed Rugan and Olly, then the player can give it to Zarys. She will be overjoyed and reward the player with gold and access to special items in Brem's shop.

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

Persuaded Rugan to give you the Strongbox

If the player 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 player execute Rugan. If the party does anything other than killing him, 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.

Saved Rugan

If the player saved Rugan and Olly but did not take the Caravan Strongbox from them, then they will return it to Zarys themselves.

Already opened the Strongbox

If the player 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 attack the party alongside the rest of the Zhentarim.

Quests

• Find the Missing Shipment

Notes

• If the player 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 kill Rugan and Olly, 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 player can easily shove or throw her off before igniting a Smokepowder Barrel to blow up most of the Zhentarim.

External links

• Zarys on the Forgotten Realms Wiki