Zhengyi (Character)

Zhengyi the Witch-King was the arch-villain of the Bloodstone Path Saga, a series of Advanced Dungeons & Dragons (1st Edition) modules released in the late 1980s. Originally set in a generic kingdom called Damara, the story was later retconned into the Forgotten Realms campaign setting.

Originally a Red Wizard of Thay, Zhengyi was an enormously powerful lich and servant of the demon prince Orcus. In the far north of Vaasa, the sister kingdom of Damara, Zhengyi raised a fortress called Castle Perilous and summoned the various monsters of the lands to him. Building a huge army, he repeatedly attacked the kingdom of Damara over the next twelve years, killing its king and ruining the land. He was finally destroyed by a party of adventurers led by the paladin Gareth Dragonsbane. Lord Gareth would eventually become King Gareth of Damara.

The Witch-King had hoarded many magical items during its existence, and after its destruction many items were discovered by determined looters. The items were often cursed and quite powerful, plaguing the lands of Vaasa and Damara for years afterwards. The lure of these magic items would become the back-story of the last two books of The Sellswords trilogy by R.A. Salvatore.