Waterdeep:Undermountain Secrets: Difference between revisions
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{{notice|This page is protected, and may only be edited by Waterdeep GMs.}} | {{notice|This page is protected, and may only be edited by Waterdeep GMs.}} | ||
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== Guild of Many Eyes == | == Guild of Many Eyes == | ||
A thieves' guild that was driven from Waterdeep long ago still lurks in Undermountain, waiting and scheming to win back power in the city above. These villains make the sewers unsafe for honest folk to venture into. They have recently taken over Skullport, a subterranean town connected to Undermountain. | {{main|waterdeep:Xanathar Guild|l1=Xanathar Guild|waterdeep:Skullport|l2=Skullport|waterdeep:sargauth level|l3=Sargauth Level}} | ||
A thieves' guild that was driven from [[waterdeep:Waterdeep|Waterdeep]] long ago still lurks in Undermountain, waiting and scheming to win back power in the city above. These villains make the sewers unsafe for honest folk to venture into. They have recently taken over Skullport, a subterranean town connected to Undermountain. | |||
== Immortal Insanity == | |||
{{main|waterdeep:Halaster Blackcloak|l1=Halaster Blackcloak|waterdeep:undermountain|l2=Undermountain}} | |||
The Mad Mage of Undermountain has destroyed himself or been destroyed many times, but his demise is always short-lived. Folk say the dungeon cannot exist without him, and so it magically re-creates the archmage whenever he meets his end within its crumbling halls. Each time Halaster returns, less of his sanity remains. | |||
== Skullport == | == Skullport == | ||
{{main|waterdeep:Skullport|l1=Skullport|waterdeep:sargauth level|l2=Sargauth Level}} | |||
Skullport overlooks the Sargauth River, a watery thoroughfare that cuts through the third level of Undermountain. Pirates once used the subterranean settlement as a trade port, but now it's a monster-infested haunt where spies and assassins hone their craft. Beware the fortress overlooking the river! Its garrison is commanded by an evil knight with a wyvern mount. | Skullport overlooks the Sargauth River, a watery thoroughfare that cuts through the third level of Undermountain. Pirates once used the subterranean settlement as a trade port, but now it's a monster-infested haunt where spies and assassins hone their craft. Beware the fortress overlooking the river! Its garrison is commanded by an evil knight with a wyvern mount. | ||
== Mad House == | == Mad House == | ||
{{main|waterdeep:Shadowdusk Family|l1=Shadowdusk Family}} | |||
The Shadowdusks were a Waterdavian noble family whose quest for political supremacy ended centuries ago after Shadowdusk wizards opened portals to the Far Realm. Twisted by madness and driven from their home, they sought assistance from Halaster and sank into the depths of Undermountain, never to be seen again—yet vestiges of the noble house undoubtedly remain. | The Shadowdusks were a Waterdavian noble family whose quest for political supremacy ended centuries ago after Shadowdusk wizards opened portals to the Far Realm. Twisted by madness and driven from their home, they sought assistance from Halaster and sank into the depths of Undermountain, never to be seen again—yet vestiges of the noble house undoubtedly remain. | ||
== Underground Forest == | |||
{{main|waterdeep:wyllowwood|l1=Wyllowwood}} | |||
The River of the Depths connects the fourth and fifth levels of Undermountain, skirting the edges of vast caverns filled with trees, shrubs, birds, other animals, and sunlight. An entire forest, as real as any found on the surface, waits to be explored, but an archdruid protects it. And explorers traveling downriver have seen a huge green dragon as well, perched on a tower near a bridge that spans the river. | |||
== Scavenger == | == Scavenger == | ||
The Sea of Swords has borne its share of pirate ships, | {{main|waterdeep:Scavenger|l1=Scavenger|waterdeep:Sea of Swords|l2=Sea of Swords}} | ||
The Sea of Swords has borne its share of pirate ships, none stranger than the ''Scavenger''. This vessel could travel below the waves and through the air. No one has seen it in years. Perhaps it sank or was lost in the starry maelstrom of the night sky, but divination spells suggest it found its way into Undermountain. Others have searched for it below Waterdeep, but no one has found it and lived to tell the tale. | |||
== School of Magic == | |||
{{main|waterdeep:dweomercore|l1=Dweomercore}} | |||
Rumor has it that a wizards' academy has opened on one of Undermountain's levels. It's not known who runs this academy—perhaps one of Halaster's apprentices or the Mad Mage himself—but many mages have been drawn down to it. What wizard wouldn't want to glimpse the powerful magic gathering dust in the depths of Undermountain? | |||
== Nester's Fate == | |||
{{main|waterdeep:Dweomercore Students and Staff#Nester|l1=Professor Nester}} | |||
Halaster brought seven apprentices with him to Undermountain. One of them, Nester, became a lich using spells and methods of his own devising. But his process was flawed, and over time Nester’s phylactery and body disintegrated until only his floating skull and skeletal arms remained. Driven mad by his failure to achieve true lichdom, Nester continues to haunt Undermountain in this weakened form. | |||
== Dark Elf Menace == | |||
{{main|waterdeep:House Auvryndar|l1=House Auvryndar}} | |||
Recent Conflicts in Menzoberranzan have left weakened drow houses fearing for their future. Drow are coming to Undermountain in droves to carve out sanctuaries for one house or another. Halaster can't be happy to see them return in force, but who knows? Maybe the Mad Mage orchestrated the upheval to bring the dark elves scurrying back for reasons beyond the comprehension of the sane. | |||
== Spire and Snail == | == Spire and Snail == | ||
{{main|waterdeep:undermountain|l1=Undermountain}} | |||
Deep within Undermountain is a vast cavern containing a giant stalagmite that has been hollowed out to serve as a wizard's tower, perhaps even a refuge for the Mad Mage himself. The tower is guarded by stone constructs. No one knows what dwells inside. Not far from this tower lurks a most peculiar creature: a giant snail with a shell of pure gold. | Deep within Undermountain is a vast cavern containing a giant stalagmite that has been hollowed out to serve as a wizard's tower, perhaps even a refuge for the Mad Mage himself. The tower is guarded by stone constructs. No one knows what dwells inside. Not far from this tower lurks a most peculiar creature: a giant snail with a shell of pure gold. | ||
[[category:waterdeep campaign articles]] | [[category:waterdeep campaign articles]] | ||
Latest revision as of 20:37, 30 March 2025
 | This page is protected, and may only be edited by Waterdeep GMs. |
Secrets of the Undermountain that players have discovered will be recorded here for posterity.
Guild of Many Eyes
A thieves' guild that was driven from Waterdeep long ago still lurks in Undermountain, waiting and scheming to win back power in the city above. These villains make the sewers unsafe for honest folk to venture into. They have recently taken over Skullport, a subterranean town connected to Undermountain.
Immortal Insanity
The Mad Mage of Undermountain has destroyed himself or been destroyed many times, but his demise is always short-lived. Folk say the dungeon cannot exist without him, and so it magically re-creates the archmage whenever he meets his end within its crumbling halls. Each time Halaster returns, less of his sanity remains.
Skullport
Skullport overlooks the Sargauth River, a watery thoroughfare that cuts through the third level of Undermountain. Pirates once used the subterranean settlement as a trade port, but now it's a monster-infested haunt where spies and assassins hone their craft. Beware the fortress overlooking the river! Its garrison is commanded by an evil knight with a wyvern mount.
Mad House
The Shadowdusks were a Waterdavian noble family whose quest for political supremacy ended centuries ago after Shadowdusk wizards opened portals to the Far Realm. Twisted by madness and driven from their home, they sought assistance from Halaster and sank into the depths of Undermountain, never to be seen again—yet vestiges of the noble house undoubtedly remain.
Underground Forest
The River of the Depths connects the fourth and fifth levels of Undermountain, skirting the edges of vast caverns filled with trees, shrubs, birds, other animals, and sunlight. An entire forest, as real as any found on the surface, waits to be explored, but an archdruid protects it. And explorers traveling downriver have seen a huge green dragon as well, perched on a tower near a bridge that spans the river.
Scavenger
The Sea of Swords has borne its share of pirate ships, none stranger than the Scavenger. This vessel could travel below the waves and through the air. No one has seen it in years. Perhaps it sank or was lost in the starry maelstrom of the night sky, but divination spells suggest it found its way into Undermountain. Others have searched for it below Waterdeep, but no one has found it and lived to tell the tale.
School of Magic
Rumor has it that a wizards' academy has opened on one of Undermountain's levels. It's not known who runs this academy—perhaps one of Halaster's apprentices or the Mad Mage himself—but many mages have been drawn down to it. What wizard wouldn't want to glimpse the powerful magic gathering dust in the depths of Undermountain?
Nester's Fate
Halaster brought seven apprentices with him to Undermountain. One of them, Nester, became a lich using spells and methods of his own devising. But his process was flawed, and over time Nester’s phylactery and body disintegrated until only his floating skull and skeletal arms remained. Driven mad by his failure to achieve true lichdom, Nester continues to haunt Undermountain in this weakened form.
Dark Elf Menace
Recent Conflicts in Menzoberranzan have left weakened drow houses fearing for their future. Drow are coming to Undermountain in droves to carve out sanctuaries for one house or another. Halaster can't be happy to see them return in force, but who knows? Maybe the Mad Mage orchestrated the upheval to bring the dark elves scurrying back for reasons beyond the comprehension of the sane.
Spire and Snail
Deep within Undermountain is a vast cavern containing a giant stalagmite that has been hollowed out to serve as a wizard's tower, perhaps even a refuge for the Mad Mage himself. The tower is guarded by stone constructs. No one knows what dwells inside. Not far from this tower lurks a most peculiar creature: a giant snail with a shell of pure gold.