Waterdeep:Yawning Portal

The Yawning Portal is a famous inn and tavern located in the Castle Ward of Waterdeep, on Rainrun Street between Waterdeep Castle and Snail Street. Adventurers can meet all sorts of colorful characters here.

Interior

A stone building with a slate roof, the Yawning Portal offers guest rooms on the three upper floors. Well-worn boards cover the floor, but the main impression is of comfort. Rich blue tapestries decorate the wood-paneled walls of the common room, consisting of a bar and tables of stout wood. A signboard simply reads "The Yawning Portal", and hangs on chains from a black iron pole above the front door.

Entry to Undermountain

At the center of the tavern is the well that the inn is named for, 40 feet in diameter and 140 feet deep. A waist-high stone ring prevents customers and objects from accidentally falling in. Light from the tavern ends 50 feet down, with another 90 feet to go before reaching the sandy bottom. The bottom is the first level of the Undermountain.

On the walls at the bottom of the well are mounted a number of shields, rusted to uselessness. Someone who wishes to ascend from the Undermountain into the tavern bangs on the shields. A bucket would descend, into which one must place 1 gold piece as payment (unless return payment had been paid in advance), and once received, the adventurous soul would be pulled up from the bottom of the well.

A second well in the Yawning Portal, located in the back room, supplied the tavern with water. It is connected to the Waterdeep sewers, as well as to a different area of the Undermountain. The second well also leads to the Pool of Loss, a portal that leads to Hades.

Atmosphere

The Yawning Portal's clientele consists mostly of adventurers. Those who seek to enter the Undermountain are sometimes referred to as The Called. The tavern remains safe from troublemakers; Durnan, the innkeeper, apparently gained immortality some years ago while within the Undermountain, and his greatsword is kept in prime condition and displayed on the wall. When trouble brews, Durnan simply asks the offending parties to leave. they usually do.

Services

A typical dish served at the Yawning Portal consists of quipper and chips. Shadowdark ale is the most popular ale on tap. Seaturtle gravy, seacomber sour vinegar, and hundur sauce are the favored condiments to go with the quipper.

Durnan has a deal with the nearby church of Tymora, who has a cleric always on standby in the tavern to serve as medical personnel. A donation to the church before medical treatment is administered is mandatory.

Entry into the Undermountain costs 1 gp. Exit from the Undermountain also costs 1 gp.

Familiar Faces

Each character should select one of the following individuals as a familiar acquaintance. Multiple characters can be acquaintances of the same NPC.

• 
  Durnan. Proprietor of the Yawning Portal, and retired adventurer.
• 
  Bonnie. Barmaid working for Durnan.
• 
  Mattrim "Threestrings" Mereg. (MAT-trim MAIR-egg) Bard who performs in the tavern.
• 
  Jalester Silvermane. (JAH-les-ter) Regular at the tavern, who can usually be found seated by himself in a quiet corner.
• 
  Meloon Wardragon. (may-LOON) Cheery, optimistic, and warm-hearted man with ties to Force Grey.
• 
  Obaya Uday. (oh-BYE-yah oo-DAY) Priestess of Waukeen who often sponsors expeditions into Undermountain.
• 
  Yagra Stonefist. (YAG-raw) Bodyguard for a man named Davil Starsong, often found at the tavern.