Zhanthi is a merchant prince of Port Nyanzaru who deals in gems, jewelry, cloth, and armor. She has royal blood and is respected as a wise, old trader whom few dare to dispute. She maintains a monopoly on the jewelry trade through her control of the Jewel Market, where she employs private security forces (guards and spies working undercover) to protect against thieves.
Affiliations and Intrigue
Zhanthi is a secret member of the Ytepka Society, a clandestine organization that monitors Port Nyanzaru’s affairs. She has also forged connections with the Zhentarim specifically to keep tabs on their activities in the city. Her intelligence network is substantial—she has spies embedded within the Flaming Fist mercenary company and has uncovered evidence of Liara Portyr’s secret arrangement with pirates, though she keeps this explosive knowledge to herself.
She is funding a bounty through Zindar (the half-dragon harbormaster) to deal with the pirate threat, demonstrating her willingness to act on threats to Port Nyanzaru’s prosperity.
Family and Relationships
Her son, Shago, works as a guide at Fort Beluarian and serves as one of her informants about Flaming Fist activities, though he’s not her most reliable spy. Unbeknownst to Zhanthi, Shago’s true loyalties lie with the Flaming Fist rather than his mother, and he rarely provides her with genuinely useful intelligence.
Zhanthi considers Kwayothé (another merchant prince) her mortal enemy, though she may not be fully aware of the depth of Kwayothé’s hatred. Kwayothé despises nobility and royal bloodlines, making Zhanthi a natural target. Kwayothé actively meddles in Zhanthi’s business and family affairs while waiting impatiently for the old noblewoman to die.
Villa and Holdings
Zhanthi’s villa is decorated with standing suits of gold-plated armor, large potted plants, and the bejeweled skulls of her ancestors displayed in wall niches—a testament to her royal heritage. Like all merchant prince estates, it is fortified with thick walls topped with deterrents and patrolled by loyal guards.
Interest in Relics
If the party recovers the Skull Chalice of Ch’gakare from the Tomb of the Nine Gods, Zhanthi expresses interest in purchasing it for “sentimental reasons.” Denying her this relic would be a serious mistake that might result in the party receiving an ominous Ytepka Society token—a veiled threat given her membership in that organization.