Page 214 - Waterdeep - Dungeon of the Mad Mage_Neat

character who examines the wall can, with a successful githyanki, Urion sympathizes with githzerai and doesn't
DC 14 Intelligence (Arcana) check, ascertain that it's a regard them with utter contempt.
scrying device and figure out how it works. If the characters are willing to listen, Urion tells
them in Common that Al'chaia keeps two magic tomes
7. ANTI- !LLITHID D EFENSE meant to enhance strength and intellect in a chest in her
quarters on Creche K'liir. If the characters offer to kill
Two crystal golems (see "Crystal Golems," page 210) Al'chaia, Urion opens the gate in area 11 for them. Urion
guard this room. They attack any creature that enters won't accompany the characters, however, since doing
this area unescorted by a githyanki, a crystal golem, or
a red dragon. If combat breaks out in this chamber, the so would surely compromise his ability to assume com-
githyanki warriors in area 6a come to investigate. mand once Al'chaia is dead. He doesn't care whether
A permanent enchantment in this chamber grants any they keep Al'chaia's magic books or not.
creature in the area advantage on saving throws against To earn the characters' trust, Urion answers any ques-
being charmed, and causes the levitate and detect tions they have about the current state of the Crystal
thoughts spells to automatically fail when cast. Labyrinth and the asteroid. If the characters attack him,
Urion retreats to Stardock by way of the gate in area 11
8. O FFICER QUARTERS while the crystal golem covers his escape.
Four beds with pale white crystal frames are set along TREASURE
the walls. A male githyanki knight named Eshant and Urion carries a Stardock rod (see "Stardock Rods," page
a male githyanki gish (see appendix A) named Theru 214), a set of mason's tools, and a green crystal wand
stand in the middle of the room, engaged in a tense (his arcane focus).
debate. Characters who get close to this area without Amid the worthless skulls, spell components, and
alerting the githyanki hear the two arguing in Gith crystal fragments on the shelves are several books
about which of them is worthier of "Al'chaia's magic of interest:
books." The debate is intense but stops short of physical • Wedged between red crystal bookends carved in
violence. If the characters don't interrupt, the gish even- the likeness of red dragons (250 gp for the pair) is a
tually backs down and withdraws to area 9 to cool his six-volume doctrine of planar philosophy written in
heels. Eshant and Theru attack intruders on sight.
Common titled The Spectrum of Multiversal Beliefs,
which delves deeply into the conflicting cosmic philos-
TREASURE
Eshant and Theru carry one Stardock rod apiece (see ophies of several different planar factions. Each vol-
"Stardock Rods," page 214). ume is worth 250 gp separately, but the complete set
Eshant's plate armor is set with six black jaspers (50 is worth 2,500 gp.
gp each) and six red spinets (100 gp each). Eshant also • Stacked one atop another are three identical spell-
carries a potion of greater healing in a crystal vial worn books shared by the githyanki gish. Each of these
on a thin platinum chain (25 gp) around his neck. books contains the spells that Urion and his fellow
gish normally prepare (see appendix A), plus detect
9. TROPHY ROOM magic, fabricate, haste, hold person, and shield.
Stuffed Ulitharid. A 10-foot-tall, stuffed ulitharid (see 11. STARDOCK G AT E
appendix A) stands in a 15-foot-high alcove along the
south wall of the room. The crystal doors to this room are magically locked, but
Illithid Heads. Fifteen mounted mind flayer heads dec- they open automatically for any creature that carries a
orate the walls. Stardock rod (see "Stardock Rods," page 214). There
are no physical locks to be picked, but a knock spell or
10. GOLEM LABORATORY similar magic also opens a door.
~~~~~~~~~~ The room contains the following:
Urion. Urion, a male githyanki gish (see appendix A),
is using a set of mason's tools to carve the head of Golem. A crystal golem (see "Crystal Golems," page
a half-completed crystal golem lying atop a 10-foot- 210) stands in the southernmost section of the room.
long, 5-foot-wide, 4-foot-high table in the west side It attacks any creature not escorted by a githyanki, a
of the room. crystal golem, or a red dragon.
Golem. A crystal golem (see "Crystal Golems," page Gate to Stardock. In the western section of the room, a
210) stands guard in the east side of the room, sur- stone arch set with glowing red crystals is embedded
rounded by shelves stacked with books, spell compo- in the south wall.
nents, pieces of crystal, and mind flayer skulls. Pedestal. Rising from the floor 10 feet in front of the
arch is a 3-foot-high pedestal made of red crystal with
The crystal golem doesn't attack unless Urion orders a small hole in the top. •
it to do so, or if the characters attack it or Urion first.
Urion does not attack the characters unless he has no Together, the arch and pedestal comprise a telepor-
other choice. Believing that his superior, Al'chaia, is a tation gate. The hole bored into the top of the pedestal
tyrant unfit for command, he tries to use the characters is 1 inch wide and 6 inches deep. When a Stardock
to eliminate her. This is true even if the characters are rod (see "Stardock Rods," page 214) is inserted into
accompanied by githzerai from level 15; unlike most the hole, the solid wall inside the arch disappears for 1
minute, replaced by an open doorway to area 12a. This

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