Page 156 - Waterdeep - Dungeon of the Mad Mage_Neat

The troglodytes are bracing for another drow attack 7H. BLESSED LAOGZED
from the north. The clan's current leader is a troglodyte This dank cave contains a 5-foot-tall, 8-foot-diameter
with 20 hit points named Kol'daan. He carries a wooden mud sculpture of a loathsome creature that combines
sparring sword and can replace each of his claw attacks the features of a demonic toad and a lizard. Any char-
with a sword attack, dealing 4 (ld4 + 2) bludgeoning acter who has an appropriate background or who suc-
damage on a hit. Whether in battle or negotiations, ceeds on a DC 15 Intelligence (Religion) check knows
Kol'daan is prone to striking heroic poses with his spar- that the sculpture represents the demon-god Laogzed,
ring sword and giving inspiring speeches in Troglodyte. worshiped by many troglodytes.
Treasure. Smashing open the mud sculpture of Laog-
7B. BATTLEGROUND
zed reveals fifty malachite gemstones (10 gp each).
The floor of this damp cavern is littered with the corpses
of twenty-one troglodytes and nine drow, all surrounded 8. I LLUSORY FRONT LINE
by pools of sticky blood and in different stages of decay ~~~~~~~~~~~~
(suggesting that more than one battle occurred here). The drow of House Freth have learned the hard way that
The troglodytes were felled by drow weapons, while the the troglodytes in area 7 are too hardy and stubborn
drow were torn to pieces by the troglodytes' teeth and to be easily conquered. A male drow mage named Ori
Telenna has been tasked with holding these caves until
claws. Some of the drow corpses are half eaten.
reinforcements arrive. Using the resources at his dis-
7c. WOUNDED TROGLODYTES posal, Ori has created illusions designed to discourage
Four adult troglodytes occupy this side cave. One trog- the troglodytes from entering this area. As part of this
lodyte is at full health and guards the other three, which tactic, he has the hallucinatory terrain spell prepared
are wounded (each has ld6 hit points remaining). If instead of Evard's black tentacles, seeming instead of
the characters offer magical healing to all the wounded cloudkil/, and rope trick instead of alter self.
troglodytes and word of the deed gets around, they gain
8A. FALSE IMPASSE
advantage on subsequent Charisma checks made to in-
Thanks to Orl's ha/lucinatory terrain spell, this 20-foot-
fluence any troglodytes throughout area 7.
high cavern appears to be filled from wall to wall with
7D. FIRE BEETLE FARM a pool of bubbling acid. The caustic scent of the acid
A fiery glow emanates from this cavern. Six giant fire seems real to any creature that approaches this area,
beetles live here, watched over by a troglodyte with a but contact with the acid deals no damage. The illusion
10-foot pole. Since being trapped by the drow, the trog- can be removed with a successful dispel magic spell
lodyte clan has taken to raising the beetles for food. (DC 14). Ori refreshes the spell each day.
7E. HALASTER FORMATION 8B. FALSE CAMP
Centuries of dripping sediment have created a rock for- Ori has created a false camp inside a 30-foot-square
mation on the back wall of this cavern that resembles area in the middle of this rubble-strewn cavern. The
the face of Ha laster Blackcloak. The troglodytes have camp appears to be a quiet gathering of nine well-armed
left small offerings around the formation, including a drow wizards and warriors, who are communicating
half dozen balls of bat guano, a garland of drow intes- with one another using sign language. In truth, the drow
tines, and a muddy dagger with a curved blade. are nine troglodyte zombies created using animate dead
Treasure. The muddy dagger is a dagger of venom. and disguised with a seeming spell.
The troglodytes are unaware of its magical nature.
Be. ORL's CAVE
7F. TROGLODYTE NURSERY Water. Fresh water trickles into this cave from cracks
Four adult troglodytes look after twenty-two troglodyte in the dead-end tunnels to the west, forming a 5-foot-
young (Small noncombatants) in this area. Two of the deep pool over much of the floor.
adults stand guard in the front cave; the other two feed Encampment. A rough camp is set up in an alcove to
and play with the young troglodytes in the rear cave. the southeast.
The alcove holds a blanket, a cask of mushroom wine,
7G. CHIEFTAIN'S CAVE
and a satchel made of spider silk that contains 10 days
The last troglodyte chieftain was killed by drow some
time ago, leaving Kol'daan in charge. Lurking in the of rations and Orl's spellbook (see "Treasure" below).
Ori spends most of his time here, but he listens for trou-
chieftain's cave are three toothless old troglodytes ,
each with 8 hit points remaining and no bite attack. ble and slips out every once in a while to check area 8b.
These evil troglodytes served as the former chieftain's Orl's orders don't include fighting troglodytes or
advisors. Kol'daan thinks they're weak and wants noth- well-armed adventurers singlehandedly. If he discovers
ing to do with them. They fight only in self-defense, and any creatures approaching, he casts a rope trick spell,
each has a challenge rating of 1/8 (25 XP). climbs into the extradimensional space created by the
spell, and pulls up the rope. He hides this way for 10
Secret Door. A secret door stands in the northwest
wall of this cavern. The old troglodytes won't divulge minutes before poking his head out to see if the intrud-
the secret door's location, and they spit insults at anyone ers have left. If he doesn't have time to hide in this man-
ner, he casts a greater invisibility spell on himself and
who dares to open it.
retreats to area 9b.

LEVEL I I I TROGLODYTE WARRENS