Bedine

[Magonushi]

Just a quick question.

I was wondering if any of the Bedine tribes work with the Zhents. It would seem to me that at least one tribe would be willing to take Zhent gold in exchange for safe passage through their lands, much like how the Howeitat took Turkish bribes.

[Grand Fromage]

Bedine hate everybody, especially Zhents. It's not completely impossible but unlikely--the Zhents have been screwing up Anauroch for years and they have wizards, which the Bedine absolutely do not tolerate. There are a few tribes that are softer on spellcasting and on outsiders though, one of them might be willing if the bribe was high enough.

However, Shade is screwing up Anauroch more than the Zhents ever did; an enemy of my enemy thing is the most likely way to go, I think.

[hollyfant]

I have no canonical sources to back me up here, but any tribe in inhospitable land would be big on survival.

• avoid or appease the strong
• exploit the weak
• destroy the competition for scarce resources

Zhents come in two flavours: domineering and mercantile. Bedine would not be averse to protecting and guiding trade caravans, provided they'd get paid very well for their trouble. Zhents bent on controlling the tribes would be shunned, and subject to guerilla attacks.

[Grand Fromage]

Well, the thing is the Bedine are xenophobic. Very very xenophobic. They don't have any trouble surviving on their own, thank you very much, and Zhents killing/enslaving them haven't exactly helped. But, of course, there is variation--some of the tribes near the edge of the desert are a bit more open, a bit more cynical.

[Leevoth]

Says here in the Forgotten Realms campaign setting,

"The Bedine, human nomads who survive by raiding and leading caravans through the hidden passes, make their homes on the surface of the wastes. They are divided into dozens of small tribes led by sheiks, whose wealth is measured by the size and well-being of their herds. The Bedine roam from oasis to oasis, rarely staying long in any one place.

The Zhentarim have spent decades seeking a safe caravan route across Anauroch.....Through years of pain-staking work the Zhents created a chain of caravanserai at oases in the Sword, the sandy southern portion of the Anauroch. The Zhentarim marauders and garrisons fought for years against the Bedine, but they only hold the land on which they stand at any given moment."

[Thangorn]

If you want a Bedine PC you can have a Bedine slave in Zhentil Keep. You can spend you days roleplaying rebuilding the northern section of the city, dodging looters and madmen or perhaps cleaning privies (since Bedine slaves probably wouldnt be courteous enough to be front-of-house slaves or pleasure slaves )..

What do you say? doesnt that sound glamorous?

[Magonushi]

Sorry the lifestyle of the rich and famous aren't for me. Though I might have to reconsider if there's a Poodle thrown in the mix.