Rian Nightshade - Revision history

Wvaske: Current-truth cleanup (issue #2): move change commentary to edit summaries/Talk; session citations become numbered references

2026-09-15T18:39:21Z

Current-truth cleanup (issue #2): move change commentary to edit summaries/Talk; session citations become numbered references

← Older revision		Revision as of 18:39, 15 September 2026
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	As leader of the Black Network she oversees its operations across the Sword Coast, balancing its mercantile interests against intelligence work and political manoeuvring. She does not delegate the people she considers worth having.		As leader of the Black Network she oversees its operations across the Sword Coast, balancing its mercantile interests against intelligence work and political manoeuvring. She does not delegate the people she considers worth having.

	=== The promotion (Session 43) ===		=== The promotion <ref name="s43">[[Session 43 - The Council of Waterdeep (2025-08-31)\|Session 43]].</ref> ===
	Rian approached [[Shade]] as the party left the council chambers in [[Waterdeep]]. Shade recognised her at once from the dragon amulet.		Rian approached [[Shade]] as the party left the council chambers in [[Waterdeep]]. Shade recognised her at once from the dragon amulet.

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	=== Appearances ===		=== Appearances ===
	* [[Session 43 - The Council of Waterdeep\|Session 43]] – confers Viper on Shade		* [[Session 43 - The Council of Waterdeep\|Session 43]] – confers Viper on Shade

			== References ==
			<references />

	[[Category:NPCs]] [[Category:Rise of Tiamat]] [[Category:Zhentarim]] [[Category:Leaders]] [[Category:Allies]]		[[Category:NPCs]] [[Category:Rise of Tiamat]] [[Category:Zhentarim]] [[Category:Leaders]] [[Category:Allies]]

Wvaske: Expand from stub — the Elturel meeting, the Broken Latch, and her standing with the Council

2026-08-29T17:34:25Z

Expand from stub — the Elturel meeting, the Broken Latch, and her standing with the Council

← Older revision		Revision as of 17:34, 29 August 2026
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	== Rian Nightshade ==		== Rian Nightshade ==
	Rian Nightshade is the current leader of the [[Zhentarim]], identifiable by the dragon amulet she wears. She ~~promoted~~ [[Shade]] ~~to the rank of Viper after~~ the Council of [[Waterdeep]].		'''Rian Nightshade''' is the current leader of the '''[[Zhentarim]]''', identifiable by the dragon amulet she wears. She has taken a personal interest in [[Shade]] since the [[Council of Waterdeep]], raising her to '''Viper''' and, twenty weeks later, delivering her a crew of her own.

	=== Background ===		=== Background ===
	As leader of the ~~[[Zhentarim]], Rian~~ oversees ~~the organization's~~ operations across the Sword Coast, balancing mercantile interests ~~with~~ intelligence ~~gathering~~ and political ~~maneuvering~~.		As leader of the Black Network she oversees its operations across the Sword Coast, balancing its mercantile interests against intelligence work and political manoeuvring. She does not delegate the people she considers worth having.

	=== ~~Role in Campaign~~ ===		=== The promotion (Session 43) ===
	~~After the Council of [[Waterdeep]] in [[Session 43 - The Council of Waterdeep\|Session 43]],~~ Rian approached [[Shade]] as the party left the council chambers~~. From the dragon amulet Rian wore,~~ [[~~Shade~~]] ~~recognized~~ her as the ~~current [[Zhentarim]] leader~~.		Rian approached [[Shade]] as the party left the council chambers in [[Waterdeep]]. Shade recognised her at once from the dragon amulet.

	~~Rian inquired about~~ the Bagpipes of Zariel's Lament ~~and~~ whether [[Shade]] had ~~experienced~~ any ill effects from ~~wielding~~ the infernal ~~artifact~~. ~~Satisfied with~~ the ~~response (~~or ~~perhaps ready~~ to ~~use~~ the pipes herself if ~~needed), Rian bestowed upon [[Shade]]~~ the ~~next~~ rank in the [[Zhentarim~~]]: Viper~~.		She asked after the [[Bagpipes of Zariel's Lament]] — whether Shade had suffered any ill effects from carrying the thing — and sensed the infernal energy on them immediately. Whether she was satisfied by the answer or simply prepared to take the pipes herself if the answer had been different is not clear. She conferred the rank of '''Viper''' on the spot, along with an iron amulet marking it and a copy of the ''Zhentarim Guide to Poisoning Friends and Foes''.

	~~Along~~ with a ~~new iron amulet marking~~ the ~~rank~~, [[~~Shade~~]] ~~received~~ the [[~~Zhentarim~~]] ~~Guide~~ to ~~Poisoning Friends~~ and ~~Foes~~.		She was not a member of the Council and did not attend it. She knew what had been said inside it regardless.

			=== The Elturel meeting ===
			During the fortnight's downtime after the Battle of [[Nuts Deep]], Rian was in [[Elturel]] on business with the Network's man in the city. She sent for Shade rather than writing, and they spoke in the back of a chandler's shop for under an hour.

			She delivered '''[[The Broken Latch]]''' — a crew of four under a resident clerk — and opened by saying it was twenty weeks overdue and that she had come to correct that herself rather than send it. Her instruction on the crew's loyalty was blunt: they are hired rather than sworn, anyone can meet their price, and Shade should watch what her people are owed. She then told Shade to do the same in the other direction, on the grounds that the [[Cult of the Dragon]]'s people are also paid and none of them well.

			She left saying she would find Shade after the Council.

			=== Standing with the Council ===
			Rian holds no seat on the [[Council of Waterdeep]] and never has. The Zhentarim's interest is represented through her without her being a member of it. She was near enough to the first session to know its contents without attending, and there is no particular mystery about how.

	=== Relationships ===		=== Relationships ===
	* [[Zhentarim]] – ~~Leader~~		* '''[[Zhentarim]]''' – she leads it
	* [[Shade]] – ~~Promoted~~ to Viper ~~rank~~		* '''[[Shade]]''' – raised to Viper by her hand, and now handled by her personally rather than through a regional captain
	* Bagpipes of Zariel's Lament – ~~Interested~~ in ~~the artifact~~'s ~~status~~		* '''Ollam Pryce''' and '''[[The Broken Latch]]''' – the crew she placed at [[Nuts Deep]]
			* '''[[Bagpipes of Zariel's Lament]]''' – she was interested in their condition, and in Shade's

	=== Appearances ===		=== Appearances ===
	* [[Session 43 - The Council of Waterdeep\|Session 43]]		* [[Session 43 - The Council of Waterdeep\|Session 43]] – confers Viper on Shade

	[[Category:NPCs]] [[Category:Rise of Tiamat]] [[Category:Zhentarim]] [[Category:Leaders]] [[Category:Allies]]		[[Category:NPCs]] [[Category:Rise of Tiamat]] [[Category:Zhentarim]] [[Category:Leaders]] [[Category:Allies]]

Wvaske: Created NPC from Sessions 38-45

2026-01-12T01:56:09Z

Created NPC from Sessions 38-45

New page

== Rian Nightshade ==
Rian Nightshade is the current leader of the [[Zhentarim]], identifiable by the dragon amulet she wears. She promoted [[Shade]] to the rank of Viper after the Council of [[Waterdeep]].

=== Background ===
As leader of the [[Zhentarim]], Rian oversees the organization's operations across the Sword Coast, balancing mercantile interests with intelligence gathering and political maneuvering.

=== Role in Campaign ===
After the Council of [[Waterdeep]] in [[Session 43 - The Council of Waterdeep|Session 43]], Rian approached [[Shade]] as the party left the council chambers. From the dragon amulet Rian wore, [[Shade]] recognized her as the current [[Zhentarim]] leader.

Rian inquired about the Bagpipes of Zariel's Lament and whether [[Shade]] had experienced any ill effects from wielding the infernal artifact. Satisfied with the response (or perhaps ready to use the pipes herself if needed), Rian bestowed upon [[Shade]] the next rank in the [[Zhentarim]]: Viper.

Along with a new iron amulet marking the rank, [[Shade]] received the [[Zhentarim]] Guide to Poisoning Friends and Foes.

=== Relationships ===
* [[Zhentarim]] – Leader
* [[Shade]] – Promoted to Viper rank
* Bagpipes of Zariel's Lament – Interested in the artifact's status

=== Appearances ===
* [[Session 43 - The Council of Waterdeep|Session 43]]

[[Category:NPCs]] [[Category:Rise of Tiamat]] [[Category:Zhentarim]] [[Category:Leaders]] [[Category:Allies]]