Page 86 - Waterdeep - Dungeon of the Mad Mage_Neat

Treasure. If the infant statue is removed from the
llA. TRAINING YEARS
cradle, it transforms into a crystal crown (250 gp) that
Pillars. Stone pillars support a series of stone arches
reflects color as a prism does. This crown is needed to
beneath a 30-foot-high domed ceiling. activate two of Halaster's gates: on level 8 in area 18b
Frescoes. Stone panels set into the walls bear frescoes and on level 11 in area lla.
and Dwarvish runes.
The frescoes chronicle the birth of Melair, a common llE. LIFE IN UNDERMOUNTAIN
shield dwarf, and his early years struggling as a brewer, Stone panels set into the west and east walls of this
metalsmith, and stonecarver. 20-foot-high room bear frescoes and Dwarvish runes
that tell of King Melair's obsession with mithral. The
llB. PROSPECTING YEARS discovery of vast veins of that metal in the Seadeeps
Frescoes. Stone panels set into the north and south (beneath what is today Mount Waterdeep) is recorded,
walls bear frescoes and Dwarvish runes. as is Melair's determination to rid Undermountain of its
Displays. Three objects are displayed on stone blocks infestations of beholders, duergar, and drow.
in the middle of the room, each encased under glass. When the characters first enter this room, ghostly
A fourth display has been plundered, its glass broken orbs of light arranged like the eyes of a beholder appear
and its object stolen. in the middle of the room. This spectral display is one
of Halaster's harmless regional effects (see "Halaster's
Three historical objects are on display here-a rusty Lair," page 311) and lasts for 1 minute.
iron trowel that Melair used to spread mortar, the claw
of a wyvern, and an ore's split helm. (The duergar stole 12. MITHRAL THIEVES
the fourth item, a golden gauntlet of elven design. It can -----------
Any creatures that escaped from area 7 regroup here
be found in area lSa.)
The frescoes depict Melair's early exploits as a pros- and will make a final stand in this area, the features of
pector: building a bridge over a river, meeting his first which are as follows:
elf, prospecting for ore and gems in caves and foothills, Wall Carving. The south wall bears a lavish carving of
hiding from ores, and fighting a wyvern. Io each scene, a mountain, beneath which a large stylized eye looks
he is joined by a small company of dwarf prospectors. down on a line of dwarf warriors.
Monsters. Five enlarged duergar occupy the 10-foot
llc. CORONATION spaces in front of the carving, examining the mithral
Frescoes. Stone panels set into the west and south filigree. Two xorn stand watch in the middle of the
walls bear frescoes and Dwarvish runes. hall, feeding on discarded mithral fragments.
Pedestals. Six stone pedestals stand before the fres- Broken Door. The door to the north has been reduced
coes, surrounded by shattered glass. to rubble, creating an open passageway.
The frescoes show Melair, a shield dwarf prospector, The occupants of this area are tenuous allies. The
discovering veins of mithral under a mountain and shar- duergar attack anyone they don't recognize, and the
ing the wealth with "kith and kin." It shows dwarves xorn assist as best they can. If the duergar are defeated,
flocking to the Underhalls of Melairbode, the subse- the xorn disengage from combat on their next turn and
quent formation of the Melairkyn clan, Melair's corona- flee by burrowing into the walls. If the xorn escape, the
tion as king of the clan, and the gifts given to the newly characters can encounter them again in other nearby
acclaimed king by various dwarf families in attendance. chambers at your discretion. The xorn become indif-
The duergar smashed the glass cases atop the ped- ferent toward characters who feed them gems and pre-
estals and stole all the items on display. The items here cious metals.
were gifts given to King Melair during his coronation-
the same gifts represented in the frescoes. Characters TREASURE
who examine the frescoes can ascertain what was sto- The carving on the south wall is inlaid with mithral
len: a gem-studded cloak, an onyx smoking pipe, a fist- filigree. Ambitious characters can strip a total of 20
sized diamond, a red crystal tankard, and a golden belt pounds of mithral from the walls. One character can
with an obsidian buckle and studs. (These items can all strip I pound of mithral in 15 minutes. Each pound of
be found in area lSa.) the metal is worth 50 gp.
Un. CRADLE AND CROWN 13. HIGH PRIEST'S CHAMBERS
- -----
Frescoes. Stone panels set into the north and east walls The duergar ransacked this room but left a few trea-
bear frescoes and Dwarvish runes. sures behind. The room has the following features:
Bier. Resting atop a marble bier in the middle of the Furnishings. Scattered about the room are the remains
room is a carved stone rocking cradle.
of a bed, an armoire, a desk, and a chair.
The frescoes depict Melair spending time with his Scrolls. Heaped around the broken desk are hundreds
wife, their children, and their children's descendants. of torn-up scrolls all bearing religious sermons.
The cradle weighs 500 pounds and is an art object Secret Door. A secret door in the east wall opens into a
worth 2,500 gp. It contains a 2-foot-long statue of a dusty, cobweb-filled corridor that connects to area 14.
swaddled dwarf infant sleeping soundly. A detect magic (Characters inside the tunnel can spot the secret door
spell reveals an aura of transmutation magic around the at either end of it without having to make a check.)
statue of the dwarf infant.
L£VEL 6 I LOST LEVEL