Waterdeep - Dungeon of the Mad Mage

162

MADNESS OF B APHOMET

dl OO Flaw (lasts until cured)

01-20 "My anger consumes me. I can't be reasoned with

when my rage has been stoked."

21 -40 "I degenerate into beastly behavior, seeming more

like a wild animal than a thinking being."

41-60 "The world is my hunting ground. Others are my

prey."

61 - 80 "Hate comes easily to me and explodes into rage."

81 - 00 "I see those who oppose me not as people, but as

beasts meant to be preyed upon."

6. SPECIAL EFFECTS

These areas contain some of the Mad Mage's harmless

regional effects (see "Halaster's Lair," page 311). The

earthen floor throughout is covered by a 2-foot-thick

layer of fog.

6A. " HELP ME!"

The first time a character reaches this intersection, a

faint call for help is heard coming from the tunnel open-

ing to the north, which ends at a cave-in. The cry for

help is an illusion, and characters who dig through the

rubble find nothing in it.

6B. R ATTLING CHAINS

This 10-foot-high tunnel slopes up gradually to the

north, so that its floor rises above the fog. Characters

who pass this point hear rattling chains when they get to

the fork in the tunnel. The sound clearly comes from the

left passage. Further investigation reveals no source; the

sound is one ofHalaster's illusory regional effects. The

passage to the right contains nothing of interest.

Mirror Gate to Level 10. At the end of the west tun-

nel, a tall oval mirror framed in stone hangs on the

rocky wall. The mirror's frame is carved with vines that

twist through eleven actual humanoid skulls mounted

to the frame. Carved into the bottom of the frame are

the following words in Celestial: "The dead know

the secret."

The mirror is one of Halaster's gates (see "Gates,"

page 12). Its rules are as follows:

• Speaking the proper command word while standing
  in front of the mirror opens the gate for 1 minute.


• Characters must be 11th level or higher to pass
  through this gate (see ''.Jhesiyra Kestellharp," page
  10). The first creature to pass through the gate trig-
  gers an elder rune (see "Elder Runes," page 12).


• A creature that passes through the gate appears in
  area lle on level 10 , in the closest unoccupied space
  next to the identical gate located there.
  Casting speak with dead on one of the skulls forces it
  to reveal the gate's command word ("Axallian"), which
  Halaster changes every few days. The skulls are other-
  wise hostile and refuse to answer questions put to them.

6c. GIGGLES

The earthen floor of this 20 -foot-high cave is slightly

concave, causing the fog to pool to a depth of 4 feet.

LEVEL 12 I MAZE LEVEL

Whenever two or more creatures are inside the cave,

the sound of an old man giggling can be heard every-

where in the area. No one outside the cave can hear the

giggling, which ends as soon as the cave is no longer .,

occupied by two or more creatures.

7. MINOTAUR CAVES
   These caves form the main living area for the minotaurs
   of the Maze Level. A 2-foot-thick layer of fog covers the
   floor throughout.

7A. SOUTHER N C AVE

Ceiling. The ceiling ranges in height from 20 to 30 feet

and is covered with stalactites.

Minotaurs. Stalagmites and floor-to-ceiling columns

of rock are scattered across the area, the fog flowing

slowly around them. Seven minotaurs lurk behind the

stalagmites and rock columns.

The minotaurs are stationed throughout the cavern,

guarding against a drow attack. They are famished, hav-

ing been forced to sacrifice their food for Maku's ritual

(see area 8a). They spring out when they see or hear any

creatures in this area, charging intruders and ignoring

any attempts to parley. The minotaurs fight to the death

and loudly devour their kills if they are victorious. Any

sound of combat in this area brings the five minotaurs

in area 7b as reinforcements.

7B. NORTHERN CAVE

This cave has the same features as area 7a. Five mino-

taurs stand watch in this area and attack in response

to any intrusion. The sound of combat here brings the

seven m inotaurs from area 7a as reinforcements.

7C. MINOTAUR GRAVEYARD

The minotaurs place their dead in this wedge-shaped

cave, which has the following features:

Bones. The fog that covers the floor wraps around six

large piles of minotaur bones.

Skulls. Dozens of minotaur skulls in various states

of decay are jammed into niches and crevices in

the walls.

8. SHRINE OF THE HORNED KING

Maku, a minotaur shaman, has been busily collecting

the remains of slaughtered drow, fallen troglodytes and

quaggoths, and unfortunate adventurers in this area.

He plans to use these remains in a ritual to summon

the demon lord Baphomet. If the characters fought any

minotaurs in area 7b, Maku and his followers cannot be

surprised here.

8 A. KEEP C ALM AN D CARRION

The stench of death that permeates the dungeon is

strongest here. As the characters approach this 50-foot-

high cave, they hear minotaurs chanting and stomping.

This area contains the following:

Minotaurs. The fog swirls through this cavern, agitated

by the dancing of eleven chanting minotaurs.

Offal Pile. Low stone barriers constrain a massive pile

of rotting, dismembered body parts.