Page 70 - Waterdeep - Dungeon of the Mad Mage_Neat

LEVEL 5: WYLLOWWOOD

YLL0WW00D IS DESIGNED FOR FOUR 8TH-LEVEL and ceilings should be. The illusions flawlessly duplicate
characters. Those who defeat the monsters the sun, the moon, the stars, and clouds, though there
on this level should gain enough XP to is no wind or breeze to speak of. During the day, the
reach 9th level. In some cases, defeating a warmth of the sun can be felt, and at night the tempera-
monster can be accomplished without slay- ture drops as one would expect. Despite appearances,
ing it. If the characters strike a truce with the walls and ceilings are still very much in place, and a
a creature, award them XP as if they had true seeing spell or similar magic reveals them.
defeated it in combat. A magic calendar stone in area 6k allows one to
The characters will most likely arrive here by way of change the time of day, the weather, and the season in
the River of the Depths, which they first encounter on Wyllowwood's forests. Wyllow the archdruid (see "What
level 4. Characters who follow the river must navigate Dwells Here?" below) is the only one permitted to use
rapids and small waterfalls to reach Wyllowwood. the calendar stone. When the characters first arrive,
Beyond this level, the River of the Depths begins its Wyllowwood is enjoying a warm autumn-Wyllow's fa-
lengthy, tumultuous descent into the Underdark-a voy- vorite season.
age no ordinary boat or raft can survive.
WHAT DWELLS HERE?
MAGIC OF WYLLOWWOOD An archdruid named Wyllow lives in a tower on this
In addition to dark caverns, this level contains forests of level of the dungeon (in area 6), though she frequently
trees like those that grow on the surface. These temper- wanders the woods. Her neighbors include a green
ate forests were magically created by HaJaster, and the dragon suffering from an identity crisis and a village of
sky high above can fool adventurers into thinking they goblin werebats.
have escaped Undermountain and found their way back
to the surface. Birds, insects, and tree-dwelling mam- W YLLOW
mals live here alongside Wyllowwood's fiercer denizens. Wyllow is a moon elf druid with eyes as green as emer-
The forests are real and nourished by magic, and
alds. Butterflies nest in her tangled black hair, and small
Halaster regularly repopulates them with birds, insects, critters gather around her feet.
rodents, and larger mammals. The main caverns have Over two hundred years ago, Wyllow fell in love with
100-foot-high ceilings hidden by illusions that can't be Yinark, a wizard in league with Halaster, and returned
dispelled. These illusions begin 30 feet above ground with him to Undermountain. Her happiness faded
and create the impression of open sky where high walls quickly when the dungeon proved to be a far cry from

LEVEL 5 WYLLOWWOOD