Out of the Abyss

buy more useful equipment. Additionally. the duergar

trade actively with other subterranean and surface-

dwelling races. Gracklstugh's Blade Bazaar might be

the ideal place to find traders or explorers heading to

the surface world.

Tf Buppido or Hemeth isn't with the party, others

can provide the above information. Sarith resists

plans to travel to the city at first, conscious of the low

regard the duergar have for drow. He changes his mind

quickly. however, as Zuggtmoy's spores drive him to

<;cek a densely populated area where he can spread his

:-ontagion.

It's also possible the party arrives at Gracklstugh

tn\'oluntarily. Duergar slavers scour the Underdark in

,earch of new "merchandise," and they might deceive or

c 1utright capture the characters and bring them to their

ny's slave markets. The random encounters in chapters

2 and 3 can easily set up this scenario.

GRACKLSTUGH AND DROW PURSUIT

Taking refuge in Gracklstugh has its advamages. Each

day they spend in the duergar capital, the characters can

anempt a DC 16 group Dexterity (Stealth) check to move

around cautiously, with success indicating that they

a' 01d drawing attention to themselves. The characters

cc n also attempt a DC 13 group Wisdom (Jnsight) check

assess the mood in the city. with success allowing

1 em to avoid trouble before it starts. Characters who He

\\ for the day have advantage on this Wisdom check.

Success with either check reduces the party's pursuit

\el by I (see " Drow Pursuit" in chapter 2).

ARRIVING IN GRACKLSTUGH
:-~c Darklake District is a likely entry point to the city
or the characters. whether they arrive via the water or
""1\'CI one of the many tunnels leading to the district's
_ trs. Non-duergar arriving from tunnels that lead to
•her districts are stopped and escorted to the Darklake
r. trict under heavy guard, as every other district is
curmally off limits to outsiders, and trespassers risk
~x'ing confronted by an invisible patrol of four duergar.
The party's fellow escapees know that trying to
emer through the main entrances is a sure way to get
en-..laved, unless one of the characters is an epic liar
"'ho can convince the guards the party is a legitimate
rlomatic or trade delegation. Anyone with a merchant
riminal background has heard rumors that the
Zhentarim trade in the Underdark, but posing as
Z entarim has its own risks. as such claims are bound
be questioned. A character who is actually a member
rhc Zhentarim can buy the adventurers a couple of
s inside the city before the ducrgar s lavers start
"ing their measure.
,\rriving by way of the Darklake Docks is easier and
re discreet. If the characters arc traveling by boat.
Buppido can guide them to a deserted pier where they
!! dock quietly. He warns them that they have to
p a low profile and head directly to the only inn in
e c·ity devoted to outsiders. The Ghohlbrorn's Lair

• r('quentcd by merchants. mercenaries. and other
  1gners who can offer information about traveling

GRACKLSTUCH: GENERAL FEATURES

Sweltering heat and cloying smoke cling to every corner

of the duergar city, spewing from smelters housed inside

massive stalagmites and stalactites. These protrude

from the cavern's floor and ceiling like the teeth of some

great maw.

Light. Gracklstugh's glowing forges and smithies operate

continuously. Most of the city is dimly lit by a hellish red

glow, with patches of darkness here and there.

Noise. The clanging and clacking of hammers and

machinery echoes constantly throughout the city. Wisdom

(Perception) checks made to listen in Gracklstugh have

disadvantage.

Smoke and Haze. Despite vents dug into the walls and

ceiling of the city's great cavern, fumes from smelters and

forges linger at ground level (as does the gas tapped in

Laduguer's Furrow). Visitors might contract the illness

known as grackle·lung (see the Grackle·lung sidebar).

e lsewhere in the Underdark-or perhaps even to the

surface world.

RANDOM ENCOUNTERS

With routine patrols of heavily armed gray dwarves

who can turn invisible. Gracklstugh is a relatively safe

place for those who know where they belong and stay

there. However, tensions are rising because of the

influence of Demogorgon, and the characters have many

opportunities to participate in events unfolding in the

city. At the end of each long rest. roll a d20; on a roll of

17 - 20, an encounter takes place. Roll another d20 and

consult the Random Encounters in Gracklstugh table;

if the characters are outside the Darklake District, treat

any entry marked with an asterisk as a "Duergar Patrol"

encounter instead.

RANDOM ENCOUNTERS IN GRACKLSTUGH

d 20 Encounter

1-2 Abusive duergar guards

3-4 Deep gnome merchant*

S-7 Derro rioters*

8-9 Drow emissary*

10-12 Duergar patrol

13-14 Mad duergar

15-16 Ore mercenaries*

17-18 Slave caravan

19 Steeder handlers

20 Themberchaud

ABUSIVE DUERGAR GUARDS

The characters come upon two duergar guards beating

a duergar merchant and shouting accusations of heresy.

Any Underdark native accompanying the party urges

the characters not to intervene on the merchant's behalf.

telling them this isn'ttheir business and warning them

that any interference might get them arrested or killed.

Bystanders look a liule surprised or concerned but don't

intervene, not even to aid the unconscious merchant

once th e guards leave.

Jf the characters investigate the circumstances

leading to the assault. bystanders tell them that one

of the guards noticed a golden pin the merchant was

C H APH R ~ J G RACKLSTUGH