Zhentarim Basement

The Zhentarim Basement.

The Zhentarim Basement (also known as the Zhentarim Hideout) is a location in Act One. It is a hidden area beneath Waukeen's Rest that is run by the Zhentarim.

Overview

The Zhentarim Basement is accessed through a barn on the western side of Waukeen's Rest. Inside is a jumpy man named Salazon, who will ask for a password. Rugan will give the party this password if they've saved him during the quest  Find the Missing Shipment or via  Speak with Dead if he's been kileed. Otherwise passing any of the dialogue ability checks with Salazon will have him stand down. If Salazon is successfully dealt with, he will give the party a key to the wardrobe at the back of the basement, which leads to the hideout.

If the party has stolen the Iron Flask from the caravan chest after saving Rugan and Olly, they will show up in the hideout, Olly being dead, and Rugan being tortured.

The Zhentarim Basement is one of the four entrances to the Underdark. There is a secret lift that leads to there, hidden behind an illusionary wall at X: 268 Y: -190, revealed by an Investigation check. Passing through the wall will not cause anyone to be hostile.

Waypoints

This location contains the following  Waypoint:

• Zhentarim Hideout X: 256 Y: -295

Related locations

• The Risen Road
• Underdark
• Waukeen's Rest

Notable characters

• Bellar
• Brem (Trader)
• Garias
• Jarg
• Karad
• Olly (if rescued)
• Oskar Fevras
• Rugan (if rescued)
• Vol
• Zarys

Related quests

•  Free the Artist
•  Find the Missing Shipment
•  Find the Nightsong

Notable loot

Quest rewards

• Harold - reward for bringing the chest to Zarys as part of Find the Missing Shipment.

Hidden treasure

• Abyss Beckoners (Inside a locked chest in the eastern cell at the far northern end of the hideout)

Store

The following items are offered by Brem once you gain the trust of the Zhentarim:

• The Jolty Vest
• Giantbreaker
• Titanstring Bow
• Gloves of Hail of Thorns
• Gloves of Thievery
• Rupturing Blade

These items are locked behind certain quest/dialogue choices. They will only appear in Brem's inventory if the party gain Zarys' and her group's trust. The items can then be acquired through trading, pick-pocketing, or looting Brem's corpse (if the party decide to kill the group anyway after gaining their trust).

If the party antagonizes Zarys in any way, the group will turn hostile and the items won't appear in Brem's inventory, making it impossible to acquire them. In particular, if the party had convinced Rugan to cross the Zhents and let the party take the shipment, then the only way to gain Zarys's trust is to follow her order to finish off Rugan. It's not possible to obtain the shipment, spare Rugan's life, and get access to the items above.

Notes

• The iron gates at the back of the basement can be unlocked with the two Zhentarim Key variants.
• The iron gate that is locked if Zarys becomes hostile can be unlocked with the Iron Key held by Garias.
• The lift to the Underdark can be unlocked with the Mechanical Key held by Karad.