Page 282 - Waterdeep - Dungeon of the Mad Mage_Neat

Melissara is a human archrnage, with these changes: Treasure. Under the bed is a locked strongbox
containing 200 pp and 1,000 gp. The key in area lOa
• Melissara is neutral.
unlocks the strongbox, which can also be opened with
• She speaks Common, Deep Speech, Draconic,
and Dwarvish. a knock spell or similar magic, or by a character using
• She has the dimension door spell prepared instead of thieves' tools who succeeds on a DC 15 Dexterity check.
banishment.
11. MELISSARA'S STUDY
If the characters address her in a civilized manner,
Bookcase. A long bookcase with glass doors takes up
Melissara listens to what they have to say. She then
much of the north wall (see "Bookcase" below).
implores them to destroy Dezmyr and Zalthar before
Desk. A sturdy writing desk covered in stacks of parch-
they can enact their plan to conquer Waterdeep, not re-
ment stands against the east wall (see "Desk" below).
alizing that death knights are not so easily vanquished. Workbench. A workbench near the south wall holds a
Melissara asks that she and Derrion be left out of the
ensuing conflict and provides the following information set of alchemist's supplies.
to the characters in good faith: BOOKCASE
All members of the Shadowdusk family have, to some The bookcase's glass doors aren't locked.
extent, been corrupted by the Far Realm. To the best Treasure. The case holds texts on various arcane
of Melissara's knowledge, the damage is irreparable. subjects, focusing on evocation magic and planar travel.
Other family members living in Shadowdusk Hold in- Three of the texts are valuable (100 gp each). They are
clude Melissara's three cousins: the wizards Berlain, titled Tenebrous and the True Path to Lichdom, Musings
Cassiok, and Vertrand. of a Planar Traveler, and Touched by the Far Realm:
Dezmyr and Zalthar are death knights that dwell on A Wizard's Lamentable Descent into Lunacy. Tucked
the lower tiers of Shadowdusk Hold. Contact with the among these mundane tomes is Melissara's spellbook,
Far Realm has given Dezmyr the ability to warp real- which bears the (right side up) Shadowdusk family crest
ity to a limited extent. Zalthar has no such ability but on the cover and contains the spells Melissara has pre-
wields a sword that drains souls. pared, plus arcane lock and glyph of warding.
• The lowest tier of Shadowdusk Hold is home to a blue
dracolich in league with the death knights. (Melissara DESK
knows the dracolich's phylactery is hidden somewhere The desk holds an orderly stack of notes. Half of the
in Shadowdusk Hold, but doesn't know where.) notes detail meticulous magical experiments and stud-
ies regarding the nature of the Far Realm. The other
If the characters have no interest in conversing with
notes are nonsensical ravings that hint at a fractured
Melissara, she uses dimension door to get to area 11
mind slowly coming undone.
and sends her lunatic husband to eliminate them.
The bottom drawer is sealed with an arcane lock spell
Treasure. The armoire holds fine clothing and a
cast by Melissara. Inside is a small black journal. The
wooden jewelry box containing a pair of matching
first page of the book is trapped with a glyph of warding
gold bracelets (250 gp each), a gold-and-pearl necklace spell, whose explosive runes deal fire damage (save DC
(1,250 gp), and the key to the strongbox in area lOb.
15). The glyph is keyed to go off if anyone but Melissara
opens the journal (a precaution to prevent her cousins
10B. DERRION'S CHAMBER
from reading it and discovering her secrets).
Derrion. A middle-aged man with a scarred face (Der-
The journal details Melissara's unease with her fam-
rion Shadowdusk) is pacing about the room anxiously. ily, as well as her growing fear of losing her mind and
Furnishings. These include a simple bed to the west, a soul to the Far Realm. She seems desperate to use her
dresser filled with clothes to the east, and a weapon writings in the journal as a touchstone to her own mind.
and armor rack.
Derrion enjoys killing unwelcome visitors. He is a 12. LOUNGE
human champion (see appendix A), with these changes: Tapestry. A beautiful tapestry covers the west wall (see
• Derrion is chaotic evil. "Treasure" below).
• He speaks Common and Deep Speech. Furnishings. Several sitting areas with comfortable
• Derrion stores his weapons and plate armor on the chairs and side tables are arranged about the room.
equipment racks. If he doesn't have time to don his An empty bottle of fine wine stands on an end table
plate armor, he makes do with a chain shirt (AC 15). next to a used wineglass.
Secret Door. A secret door in the north wall opens into
Derrion accompanies Melissara whenever she leaves
Melissara's study (area 11).
their suite, fearing that she will come to harm without
his protection. He lives in constant fear that adventur- TREASURE
ers might invade Shadowdusk Hold and lay waste to it. The tapestry depicts the original Shadowdusk Hold, an
Prolonged exposure to the Far Realm has made him impressive villa overgrown with ivy that stood in Water-
sleep-deprived and irritable. His eyes are bloodshot, and deep's Sea Ward until it was burned to the ground. The
he hears whispers of things that aren't real. Only Me- tapestry is worth 250 gp and weighs 50 pounds.
lissara can control his inexplicable rage toward visitors.

LEVEL 22 J SHADOWDUS.K HOLD