Page 73 - Waterdeep - Dungeon of the Mad Mage_Neat

Arch. Carved into the· middle of the east wall is a dec- 4D. WESTERN GATE
orative stone arch enclosing a blank wall (see "Arch This gate resembles the one at area 4a, except that it
Gate to Level 2" below). looks out over area 4e.
Furnishings. A wooden trestle table lies on its side
in the middle of the room. An iron chandelier with 4E. CRYSTAL CAVERN
melted wax candles is suspended from a rafter above
Crystal Decor. The walls of this 60-foot-high cavern are
it by a rope tied off to a hook near the northern door. covered with naturally formed crystal draperies that
Dead Halfting. Tucked behind an iron stove in the resemble frozen waterfalls.
northeast corner is a dead halfling in leather armor, Moaning Fissure. A 30-foot-long, 10-foot-wide, 20-foot-
his face twisted into a mask of horror.
deep fissure cuts across the middle of the ceiling like
The halfling adventurer, Haddon Fleetfoot, refused an open wound. The ominous moan heard throughout
to serve the will-o'-wisp in area 2d and barricaded the complex originates from here and is made by a
himself in this guardhouse, believing that act would cloaker hiding in the crack.
prevent the will-o'-wisp from reaching him. An exam- Gate. An iron gate is embedded in the east wall (see
ination of his corpse and a successful DC 12 Wisdom area 4a for details).
(Medicine) check reveals that he died from several light- Illusory Wall. A 20-foot-square section of wall south of
ning shocks. area 4d is illusory and conceals a tunnel. The illusory
Arch Gate to Level 2. The stone arch is one of wall has no substance, and creatures can pass right
Halaster's magic gates (see "Gates," page 12). Its through it. A successful dispel magic spell (DC 17)
stone frame has been carved to look like the trunks of dispels the illusion.
trees, and close inspection reveals the image of a dead The cloaker is using its moan to draw others of its
tree carved into its keystone. Its rules are as follows:
kind to this location, hoping to form a conclave. If the
• Touching the arch with a dead twig or branch causes cloaker detects interlopers, it creates phantasmal du-
the gate to open for 1 minute. plicates of itself, emerges from the crack in the ceiling,
• Characters must be 6th level or higher to pass through and attacks.
this gate (see "Jhesiyra Kestellharp," page 10). The The crystal formations reflect and amplify nearby
first creature to pass through the gate triggers an el- light. The crystals also amplify sound, allowing it to
der rune (see "Elder Runes," page 12). carry well beyond the cavern's confines. The crystals
• A creature that passes through the gate appears in otherwise have no properties or value.
area 12 on level 2, in the closest unoccupied space
next to the identical gate located there. 5. INNER F OREST
Treasure. Haddon's corpse wears a salvageable suit A thorough exploration of this part of the forest reveals
of halfling-sized leather armor. It clutches a silvered several items of note:
shortsword in one hand and a burnt torch stub in the Litter. The forest is strewn with rusty weapons, burnt
other. A search of the corpse yields a dungeoneer's pack torch stubs, empty bottles, and other worthless para-
with spoiled rations and 5 torches remaining, and a phernalia left behind by adventurers.
small pouch containing 4 gp.
Druidic Totems. Eerie totems hang from the trees.
Made from twigs, feathers, and tattered bits of cloth,
4. CLOAKER D EN
they look like crude dolls. (Each one is modeled after a
A conclave of cloakers has taken over this series of cav- humanoid Wyllow has killed.)
erns. Wyllow has tried to frighten off the cloakers, so
General features of the forest are summarized in the
far without success. A persistent, eerie moan emanates
"Forest Features" sidebar. Characters who engage in
from area 4e and can be heard throughout this complex wanton destruction are accosted by several creatures,
and well into the surrounding forest.
each of which has been the recipient of an awaken
spell: four awakened trees, an awakened brown bear,
4A. EASTERN GATE
two awakened elks, and three awakened giant wasps.
A 15-foot-high iron portcullis is embedded in the stone
These creatures are loyal servants of the archdruid.
wall at the mouth of a long tunnel. Rough-hewn stairs
just inside the tunnel climb to the top of the wall, which 6. WYLLOW'S TOWER
is enclosed by stone battlements. There are no guards
stationed atop the wall or beyond the portcullis. The Wyllow's Tower is carved to look like a squat stone tree
winch to raise the portcullis is inside the tunnel, just with twisted, stony boughs protruding from the walls.
beyond the gate. The portcullis can also be lifted with a Thirteen giant bats hang from these crumbling limbs
successful DC 25 Strength (Athletics) check. like ornaments, their wings wrapped tightly around
their bodies. If the characters try to climb the tower, the
4B- C. SIDE CAVES bats attack. The bats otherwise fight only in self-defense
Two cloakers lurk here, one in each cave. They team up or at Wyllow's command.
against intruders. If one is killed, the other retreats to At the base of the tower, on the south side, is a 12-foot-
area 4e and joins the cloaker there. The caves are bereft high arched double door made of carved stone. A rope
of furnishings and treasure. hanging next to the door rings a bell when tugged. If
the characters knock or ring before entering, Wyllow's

LEVEL 5 I WYLLOWWOOD
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