Page 290 - Waterdeep - Dungeon of the Mad Mage_Neat

ALASTER MAKES HIS HOME IN THE LOWEST LEVEL character as a new apprentice. Halaster has no senti-
of Undermountain, which is optimized for mental attachment toward his apprentices, and he often
four characters of 17th level or higher. Char- enjoys secretly tormenting them.
acters who defeat the monsters on this level
should gain enough XP to reach 20th level. ARCTURIA
Arcturia is a lich and a master of transmutation magic.
WHO DWELLS HERE? She has altered her form dramatically over the years,
In addition to Halaster, two of the Mad Mage's appren- now appearing more alive than undead. Gossamer
tices reside on this level: Arcturia and Trobriand. wings sprout from her shoulders, and bone spurs jut
from her forearms and elbows.
HALASTER BLACKCLOAK If the characters destroyed her phylactery on level 14,
Arcturia attacks them on sight. She has no beef with
If the adventurers have made their way to this level, them otherwise.
Halaster is equal parts impressed and curious. He is
ready to grant the characters an audience, having kept TROBRIAND THE METAL MAGE
an eye on their progress. True to the nature that earned
him the moniker "Mad Mage," Halaster's demeanor Trobriand specializes in the creation of magical con-
toward the characters can change on a whim. He might structs. Characters who have passed through the upper
alternate between seeming furious, baffled, annoyed, levels might have encountered some of his creations.
amused- or simply bored, depending on what the char- Fed up with the frailty of the flesh, Trobriand has
acters have accomplished before reaching this level. See transferred his spirit into the body of a specially pre-
appendix A for more information on the Mad Mage. pared iron golem. This merging of spirit and metal has
If the characters and their actions support Halaster's done nothing to improve his sanity, however.
current goal (see "Halaster's Goals," page 11), the
Mad Mage is not necessarily hostile. For example, if THE DUNGEON
his primary goal is to find an apprentice, Halaster has Locations in the dungeon portion of this level (areas 1
kept an eye on any arcane spellcasters in the party. He
through 21) are keyed to map 23. No tunnels or stair-
might suggest that those characters prove their worth cases connect this dungeon complex to the upper levels
by surviving the Mad Wizard's Lair and "freeing up" an of Undermountain. Characters arrive in area 1 after
apprenticeship by eliminating Arcturia or Trobriand. If
passing through a gate in Shadowdusk Hold (area 35 on
this is done, Halaster is willing to take on an appropriate level 22).

LEVEL 23 I MAD WIZARD'S L'\IR