Citadel of the Raven

The Citadel of the Raven was a fortress of the Zhentarim that was situated within the Dragonspine Mountains in the western portion of the Moonsea region. The Citadel itself was the main feature of the stronghold, which rested in the center of 10 miles (16 km) of interconnected fortresses on the western end of the Dragonspines. It was a well-fortified and well-protected fortress.
The citadel supported a small community of refugees from Zhentil Keep around its outskirts. This was originally discouraged by the Zhentarim, though they later saw the benefits to controlling such a community.
==Structure==
The Citadel consisted of a 10-mile long string of forts and barracks carved into the side of the Dragonspine Mountains, connected by a series of tunnels, walkways and bridges. In 1367 DR, the following structures made up the whole of the Citadel from west to east:
*Point Dusk: The westernmost fortress could house 200 soldiers and was haunted by the ghost of Galauntar Hawkhelm.
*Barracks: Fortified lodgings for soldiers were scattered along the chain between the forts, and could usually house 200 soldiers each.
*Barracks
*Raven Point: The oldest fort and most heavily decorated with ravens, it could hold 500 soldiers.
*Breachward Point: A smaller fort that could hold 150 soldiers.
*Barracks
*Barracks
*Mercenary Quarters: A smaller fortified lodging that was designated for the use of visiting mercenary companies, and could host 100 soldiers.
*Central Keep: The central fortification controlled the mountain pass, processed caravans, housed the administration and trained recruits.
**Manshoon's Annex: Well-appointed apartments and laboratories attached to the Keep were for Manshoon's use only.
**Main Dungeon: The cells located underneath the Keep could hold up to 100 prisoners.
**Burial Chambers: Huge caverns at the lowest level contained the fallen defenders of the Citadel.
**Sealed Dwarves: A large chamber was sealed with 500 dwarves inside, now mummified.
**The Unexplored: Ancient, unused chambers contained lost treasures and a passage to the Underdark.
*Mercenary Quarters
*Barracks
*Mercenary Quarters
*Bulwark Point: This fort bore high-quality dwarven stonework, and could hold 200 soldiers.
*Barracks
*Barracks
*Point Dawn: The easternmost fort was dank, unpopular, and had a capacity of 500 soldiers.
==Inhabitants==
In 1367 DR, the Zhentarim garrison consisted of 2000 men-at-arms, 200 cavalry, 50 officers, and 300 support staff, with a total capacity to house more than 9000 if needed.
Notable inhabitants of the Citadel included:
*Galauntar Hawkhelm: The first commander of the Citadel, whose outraged ghost continued to haunt it.
*Kandar Milinal: The master of the Citadel in 1367 DR, he was a tyrannical but effective leader.
*Boruse Temlor: The Strifeleader of Cyric designated for the citadel.
*Ampherd Holt: A battle-maddened war-priest of Tempus who was inexplicably popular with the troops.
*Fesric: A charismatic young lieutenant who advocated revolting against weakened Zhentilar control.
*Manshoon: The Lord of the Zhentarim would visit at times.
*Sememmon: Manshoon would allow his subordinate access to the Citadel's resources.
==History==
The Citadel of the Raven was thought to date back to , the creation of unknown builders. It was inhabited by local bandits who were wiped out in the the mid-13 century DR by the northward expansion of the Moonsea settlements.
In 1276 DR, at the behest of Zhentil Keep, an alliance of Moonsea city-states was formed to rebuild and garrison the Citadel, with the goal of protecting against threats from the Ride and Thar. Included in this cooperative effort were Zhentil Keep, Yûlash, Melvaunt, Thentia, Hillsfar, Mulmaster, Voonlar, Phlan, and Sulasspryn. As Yûlash was heavily influenced by Zhentil Keep, this gave the Zhents effective control of the complex. The first commander of the Citadel was Galauntar Hawkhelm, a warrior from Hillsfar, and the safety and prosperity brought by the functioning of the citadel attracted adventurers and companies of interested dwarven stonemasons looking for work.
In 1355 DR the Zhentish garrison betrayed its allies of the Moonsea. During a planned orc attack, the non-Zhentish garrison was left stranded outside the fortress, allowing them to easily take complete control of the citadel. It was later made the main base of operations for the Zhentarim in 1361 DR by the archmage Manshoon and by 1366 DR the Zhentarim had completed the securing of their resources within the citadel fortress. In addition to controlling the land around it and the passage of trade, the Citadel was also used for housing political prisoners.
===Post-Spellplague===
In the Year of the Vindicated Warrior, 1383 DR, during the Shadowbane War the Shadovar moved against Zhentil Keep, and razed the Citadel of the Raven along with it. What was left of the Citadel was scattered across the western slopes of the Dragonspine Mountains. As of 1479 DR most of the outlying towers and lesser fortifications were heaps of overgrown rubble, with miles of tunnels buried beneath the old walls. The Zhentarim began to return in small numbers to secure and rebuild the central citadel, which had remained mostly intact.
In late 1487 DR a few Shadovar survived the fall of Thultanthar, among them the sisters Manarlume Tanthul and Lelavdra Tanthul, and the arcanist Gwelt. They founded the "Court of Three", a society dedicated to saving the surviving Netherese, hidden within one of the more intact towers in the Citadel.
==Appendix==
===Gallery===
ZhentilKeepWest.png|Citadel of the Raven, circa 1367 DR
===Further Reading===
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===References===
FR:Citadelle du corbeau
Category:Citadels
Category:Ruins
Category:Ruined settlements
Category:Settlements
Category:Locations on the Zhentilar Trail
Category:Locations on the Teshpost Trail
Category:Locations in the Dragonspine Mountains
Category:Locations on the Moonsea
Category:Locations in North Faerûn
Category:Locations in Faerûn
Category:Locations on Toril
Category:Locations
Category:Zhentarim locations