Page 66 - Waterdeep - Dungeon of the Mad Mage_Neat

The arch is one of Halaster's magic gates (see "Gates," 13. ZURKHWOOD GROVE
page 12). Its rules are as follows: ~~~~~~~~-
Ceiling. This immense cavern is SO feet high.
• Feeding a gold coin into the keystone's slot causes the Fungi. A forest of zurkhwood erupts from the guano-
coin to disappear and the gate to open for 1 minute. and moss-covered floor, the tallest and oldest standing
Other coins placed in the slot disappear but don't over 40 feet tall. Between the towering fungi lie a few
open the gate. toppled zurkhwoods, as well as several stumps.
• Characters must be 6th level or higher to pass through Monsters. Near the edge of the forest, feeding on a
this gate (see "Jhesiyra Kestellharp," page 10). The duergar carcass, is a lone carrion crawler. The
first creature to pass through the gate triggers an el- deeper forest is guarded by four awakened zurkh-
der rune (see "Elder Gates," page 12). woods (use awakened tree statistics) .
• A creature that passes through the gate appears in
A svirfneblin druid inhabited this grove until a few
area S on level 2, in the closest unoccupied space next months ago, when he felt threatened by the arrival of the
to the identical gate located there.
aboleth and decided to follow the River of the Depths
Treasure. Talafaere wears an obsidian scarab bear- back down into the Underdark. Before he left, the druid
ing the insignia of House Auvryndar (2S gp). cast awaken spells on seven zurkhwoods in the grove,
three of which have since been felled by duergar axes
12. BAT C AVE and damage-dealing spells. The four that remain are
The drow and their quaggoths recently expanded into indistinguishable from normal zurkhwoods while they
this cavern, which is home to hundreds of bats. remain motionless. The awakened zurkbwoods try to
kill or drive off creatures that cause harm to the grove.
12A. DROW SENTINELS They understand Gnomish but can't speak it.
Sloped Roof. The ceiling here is SO feet high but slopes The duergar, Iktarve Unsuttir, came up the river with
down to 30 feet high toward the southeast. some companions to cut down zurkhwoods and sell the
Drow. Natural shelves and narrow ledges line the walls, wood-but he didn't count on the grove's fighting back.
ranging in height from 10 to 30 feet. Hiding in the He was killed by the awakened zurkhwoods and left be-
shadows atop 10-foot-high ledges are two male drow hind. The duergar's scale mail is not salvageable.
elite warriors (Ryld and Llauzdrar). The carrion crawler plans to spend the next several
Bats. Harmless bats flutter around, disturbed by the hours quietly devouring its meal. It attacks creatures
drow's presence. that come within 10 feet of the dead duergar, but other-
Stumps. The floor is dotted with the stumps of felled wise the crawler just wants to be left alone.
zurkhwood stalks and the occasional bat carcass im- TREASURE
paled by a drow crossbow bolt.
A search of Iktarve's corpse and the surrounding area
Ryld and Llauzdrar have taken to shooting bats with yields a war pick, three javelins stuck in a felled zurkh-
their crossbows. Intruders provide the drow with a wel- wood, and an empty lapis lazuli flask (SO gp).
come opportunity to hone their melee combat skills. If a A thorough search of the grove accompanied by a suc-
battle turns against them, Ryld and Llauzdrar use dark- cessful DC lS Wisdom (Perception or Survival) check
ness spells to cover their withdrawal to area 8. From reveals the gnome druid's old hovel: an igloo-like mound
there, they head to area 1 l a to make their stand. These of hardened bat guano. Inside, characters find a ratty
drow aren't interested in conversation. If captured, how- old blanket hiding two potions of healing in stoppered
ever, they agree to lead their captors to area 11 to speak gourds. The awakened zurkhwoods attack characters
with the drow priestess who commands them. who loot the druid's abandoned home.
· ·· Treasure. Each drow elite warrior wears an obsidian
scarab bearing the insignia of House Auvryndar (2S gp). 14. DROW RAFTS
Darkmantles. Stalactites hang from the 30-foot-high
12B. ZURKHWOOD B RIDGE
ceiling. Two darkmantles disguised as stalactites re-
Crevasse. A 20-foot-wide, 40-foot-deep crevasse splits main motionless until they attack.
the floor. Spanning the gap is the rotting trunk of a
Rafts. Leaning against the west wall are two 10-foot-
zurkhwood fungus. square rafts made of zurkhwood logs lashed together
Quaggoths. Living on natural stone shelves inside the with thick spiderwebs. Resting nearby are six 10-foot
crevasse are eight quaggoths that serve the drow.
poles that the drow use to guide the rafts.
The quaggoths can climb the crevasse without having Although the darkmantles need to eat, they flee if re-
to make an ability check, as can other creatures with a duced to half their hit points or fewer.
natural climbing speed. A successful DC 10 Strength The drow use the rafts to ply the River of the Depths.
(Athletics) check is needed otherwise. Each raft is built to carry six Medium humanoids and
Moving across the trunk without slipping or falling re- their gear, though as many as twelve people can fit onto
quires a successful DC 10 Dexterity (Acrobatics) check. a raft if push comes to shove.
On a failed check, the creature slips and falls prone on
the makeshift bridge- but on a check that fails by S or
more, the creature plunges into the crevasse.

LEVEL 4 I TWISTED CAVERNS