GAUNTLGRYM CONNECTIONS
If Eldeth Feldrun survived and escaped from the
Underdark with the characters, she is eager to
return home to Gauntlgrym, and does so at the first
opportunity. In that case, King Bruenor's summons
might come in the form of a pe rsonal message or a visit
from her, and it's likely Bruenor has heard all about the
Underdark exploits from Eldeth.
IfEldeth didn't survive. she might have charged the
characters with returning either her remains or her
warhammer and shield to her home. This errand can
bring the characters to Gauntlgrym of their own volition
even before Bruen or's summons.
Either aiding Eldeth's return or honoring her memory
enhances the party's reputation with the dwarves of
Gauntlgrym. lt also re inforces King Bruenor's opinion
that these adventurers are the right people to do the job
of investigating the happenings in the Underdark.
ARRIVAL
Once the characters arrive at the gates of Gauntlgrym,
they are welcomed as the king's guests and escorted
into the underground city, through the Vault of Kings
(see below), and shown to guest quarters. The dwarves
of Gauntlgrym take matters of hospitality seriously.
ensuring that the adventurers are offered food, drink.
and a chance to rest and refresh themselves before their
audience with the king (see ''Audience with Bruenor~
under "Events in Gauntlgrym'').
The characters' arrival is noteworthy, and the dwarves
of Gauntlgrym treat them in a manner befitting great
dignitaries. You can also have one or two of the faction
representatives desc ribed under "Forging an Alliance"
pass the characters in the corridors of the city, giving
them curious looks and perhaps even making a brief
introduction- before moving on.
GAUNTLGRYM
In ages past. the subterranean city of Gauntlgrym was
the capital of the ancient dwarven Delzoun Empire. its
cavernous halls-some large enough to contain entire
surface villages- were carved with unerring precision,
their ceilings soaring scores of feet overhead. Towering
statues of dwarven gods and heroes stood vigil over
chambers and thoroughfares, the least of which was
wide enough to march fifty dwarves standing abreast.
The mines of Gauntlgrym produced endless tides
of iron. silver, gold, and mithral, and booming trade
brought goods and wealth to the city from across
FaerOn. But it was the Great Forge that was the burning
heart and true treasure of the city. Deep beneath the
settled levels of Gauntlgrym, dwarven crafting and elven
magic bound the slumbering primordial Maegera, a
being of fire and destruction, harnessing its incredible
powers to heat the forge. On anvils of adamantine
blessed by priests of Moradin, great items of power
were forged, their base material infused with a splinter
of Maegera's essence. The unceasing wonders flowing
from these forges helped make Gauntlgrym into one of
the most magnificent cities Faerfin has ever known.
Relations between the great e mpires of the elves,
dwarves. and humans soured as the centuries passed.
And so when numberless hordes of orcs smashed
into the north, each empire stood alone. The war was
brutal and devastating. Gauntlgrym was swarmed by
rampaging armies of orcs. and the empire of Delzoun
was overrun in the terrible fighting. Ultimately. the
dwarves of Delzoun drove back the orcs, but at great
cost. The once-mighty dwarven empire was left crippled.
never to recover, and the great city of Gauntlgrym was
left in the control of an ore horde.
It was humans from nearby 1llusk who finally drove
the orcs from Gauntlgrym. but their hold on the city
proved just as short-lived. as foul creatures from
the Underdark s warmed from the depths to claim
Gauntlgrym as their own. Over the next thousand years.
history turned to legend, and mighty Gauntlgrym was
all but forgotten on the surface world. lllithids, duergar,
drow, and aboleths vied for control of the fallen city, its
treasures, and the primordial still bound within its core.
The drow House Xorlarrin eventually took Gauntlgrym.
establishing a new city they called Q'Xorlarrin.
producing weapons at the forge that they traded and
used to pay tribute to Mcnzoberranzan.
In recent years, the dwarf hero Bruenor
Battlehamme r was able to seize the fabled city back
from its drow masters. Bruenor, along with his
companions Wulfgar. Cattie-brie, Regis. and Drizzt
Do'Urden. gathered many allies from the s urface world
and nearby Underdark communities and retook the
city. They prevented Maegera from being unleashed
upon Faerun. and set about attempting to restore the
city to its former glory. Bruenor now s its upon the Great
Throne of Morad in. working to rebuild the city and keep
it safe-even as a new threat looms in the depths of the
Underdark.
The following areas within Gauntlgrym might be of
some importance during this part of the adventure,
although they don't represent the full measure of the
city by any means. A detailed description of every level,
chamber, and vault of Gauntlgryrn would take up an
entire volume of its own, and th e characters have limited
time to see the wonders of the dwarven city.THE VAULT OF KINGS
Large enough to enclose a small town, this high-ceilinged
chamber rises above a network of bridges. stone towers.
and sturdy walls carved from rock and sheathed in iron
and mithral. Dozens of smaller chambers lead out from
the Vault of Kings, including sprawling residential areas
not yet filled by Gauntlgrym's new occupants.
The vault is on the same level as the city's main gates
and can be reached from there, though a system of
smaller gates and checkpoints has been set up to keep
potential invaders from reaching as far as the throne
room. That section of the vault, where the king spends
a considerable amount of his time, is a large hall lined
with pillars and benches, intended as a meeting place
as much as a seat of rulership. The Great Throne of
Moradin is protected by powerful magic, and forcefully
ejects anyone but the rightful king who artempts to sit
upon it. While so seated, Bruenor has advantage on allCHAPTI R 8 1 AUDIENC E IN CAUNTLGRYM