Page 235 - Waterdeep - Dungeon of the Mad Mage_Neat

6. CULTISTS' Q,UARTERS _____ _ Cultists. Two human cultists of Shar are anointing the
precious baubles with oil.
Furnishings. Six empty wooden bunk beds line the
north and east walls. Between the bunks are stone The cultists are named Elthimar and Zelaya. They are
shelves stocked with rations, casks of water, wooden carefully anointing items that have been plucked from
dishware, and steel utensils. Umbraxakar's hoard- treasures that will be used in rit-
Arch. Embedded in the south wall is a stone arch, its uals to tether the shadow dragon's memories to specific
sides carved in the form of scantily clad elves (one areas of Vanrakdoom.
male and one female) holding fingers to their lips in a Treasure. The items on the table include three silver
gesture of silence. bowls (25 gp each), two ceremonial daggers with wavy
Secret Door. A secret door in the east wall leads obsidian blades (75 gp each), a coral figurine of a mer-
to area 5. maid clutching a pink pearl (250 gp), a carved harp of
exotic wood with ivory inlay and zircon gemstones (750
ARCH GATE TO LEVEL 6 gp), and a crystal dragon mask (2,500 gp).
The stone arch is one of Halaster's magic gates (see
"Gates," page 12). Its rules are as follows: 7c. FEEDING H ALL
Cultists unworthy of becoming vampire spawn are
If a silence spell is cast so that the arch falls within
brought here to nourish Keresta's brood.
the spell's area, the gate opens for 1 minute.
Characters must be 9th level or higher to pass through Vampires' Feast. A dead male human lies naked on
this gate (see "Jhesiyra Kestellharp," page 10). The a chaise longue in the center of the room, his cast-
first creature to pass through the gate triggers an el- off purple and black robe draped over a small table
der rune (see "Elder Runes," page 12). nearby. Two vampire spawn loom over the body, one
A creature that passes through the gate appears in slurping ferociously at the corpse's wrist while the
area 47a on level 6, in the closest unoccupied space other sinks her fangs deeper into the corpse's thigh.
next to the identical gate located there. Purple Flames. The walls are lined with rusty iron
sconces, each holding a torch coated in black wax
7. HALLS OF WORSHIP that burns with a purple flame. Situated between the
sconces are fancy wooden chairs with red-cushioned
Cultists gather in this area to worship Shar and suffer
seats and backrests.
Keresta's tests of devotion.
Secret Door. A secret door in the east wall leads
to area 8.
7A. CRAWLING RATS
Characters hear human voices chanting as they ap- The vampire spawn, named Angelica and Yaveros,
proach this chamber, which contains the following: hiss at intruders and demand they leave at once, attack-
ing those who disobey. Close examination of the dead
Purple Flames. The walls are lined with rusty iron
cultist reveals no signs of a struggle, suggesting that he
sconces, each holding a torch coated in black wax that
offered no resistance as he died from exsanguination.
burns with a purple flame.
Cult Ritual. Six human cultists of Shar kneel on rough
8. SCINTILMORN'S REST
woven mats in the center of this area, chanting in low
tones. A human cult fanatic engulfed in a swarm of Fog. The room is lightly obscured by fog.
rats stands quietly in their midst. Vision and Hilt. Any character who moves more than
halfway into the room experiences one of the shadow
The kneeling cultists are named Caradoc, Feldar,
dragon's fleeting visions and notices the shiny hilt of a
Hong, Khafra, Serenade, and Xandeval. They are
longsword lying on the fog-shrouded floor (see "Trea-
chanting the following verse over and over in Common:
sure" below).
"Darkness quench the sun. Darkness swallow the
moon. We are nothing but the night."
DRAGON'S VISION
Keresta Delvingstone is using the swarm of rats to
In this vision, the character confronts a man in a mithral
test the cult fanatic, whose name is Jian. To pass the
chain shirt (Lord Vanrak Moonstar). The man's eyes
test, Jian must allow the rats to crawl over his body with-
brim with madness as he levels a longsword with a ra-
out fear or protest, or else they will devour him. Only by
diant blade at the character and screams, "What have
passing this test canJian qualify to become one of Ker-
we to fear from darkness, you and I? Undermountain
esta's vampire spawn.
is where we belong. It calls to us-can't you hear it?"
The arrival of intruders prompts the cultists to take up
Waving the sword in the air like a lunatic, he continues,
arms and attack. Jian, however, does nothing while the
"Together we shall see the Moonstar name elevated to
rats swarm over him. If he takes damage,Jian panics
glorious heights my father could never dream of! Water-
and is swiftly devoured by the rats. If the swarm loses
deep will shudder at the very sound of it!" With that, the
more than half its hit points, it scatters and flees.
vision ends.
7B. RITUAL PREPARATION
TREASURE
Table. In the middle of the room stands a wooden tres- The hilt lying on the ftoor is carved to resemble a bronze
tle table bearing a small pile of treasure, along with dragon with its wings spread and its mouth agape. This
bottles of oil and flickering candles. device is a sun blade that has held many names over the
LEVEL 18 I VANRAKDOOM