Waterdeep - Dungeon of the Mad Mage

180

POLYMORPH TRAPS

Throughout Arcturiadoom lie magic traps designed to

polymorph humanoids. (Creatures that aren't humanoids

are unaffected.) These traps are marked Pon map 14. The

hobgoblins are aware of these traps and do their best to

avoid them.

A polymorph trap is marked by a nearly invisible glyph

inscribed on a l 0-foot-square section of floor. A character

searching the area for traps can detect the glyph with a

successful DC 20 Wisdom (Perception) check. The first

humanoid to pass over the lO·foot-square area triggers the

glyph and must succeed on a DC 20 Wisdom saving throw

or be transformed into a monster with average hit points.

All items worn or carried by the creature are absorbed into

its new form. The new form is hostile toward all other crea-

tures and must attack any other creatures it can see.

Roll a dlO to determine the creature's new form:

l. Carrion crawler

2. Chimera


3. Fire elemental


4. Gelatinous cube


5. Gorgon
   6. Hook horror
   7. Manticore
   8. Otyugh
   9. Owlbear
   10. Wyvern
   When the polymorphed creature drops to 0 hit points, it
   reverts to its original form and is stable at 0 hit points.
   Once a glyph is triggered, it disappears, rendering its
   space safe to pass through until Arcturia sees fit to replace
   it. A successful dispel magic spell (DC 17) cast on a glyph
   removes it.

are hobgoblin patrols. A typical patrol consists of four

hobgoblins. Their marching footsteps and clanking

armor can be heard well in advance of their arrival, and

characters can't be surprised by them. Combat with a

patrol is sure to alert other creatures in the vicinity.

If any hobgoblins are defeated while on patrol, sub·

tract their numbers from the guards in area 32a.

HOUSE FRETH

Three drow mages have infiltrated Arcturiadoom in the

hope of securing powerful magic to conquer other levels

of Undermountain. These drow belong to House Freth

(see level 12). They avoid violent confrontations with

adventurers and instead try to turn them against the fire

giants and the hobgoblins.

Exploring This Level

All location descriptions for this level are keyed

to map 14.

1. ENTRANCE TO ARCTURIADOOM
   These caverns lie at the end of the worm-bored tunnel
   leading down from level 13.

lA. WORM TuNNEL

The bore worm on leve l 13 wanders down here occa-

sionally, looping around a central column of rock before

traveling back up. This column supports the cavern's

30-foot-high roof. The cavern also has these features:

Double Door. A double door is framed with carvings of

worm-ridden skulls. Carved into the lintel above the

LEVEL 14 I ARCTURIAOOOM

double door is a sconce sculpted to resemble a skele-

tal hand, with a continual flame spell cast in its palm.

Monsters. A pair of stalagmites flank the double door.

Hiding behind each s talagmite is an invisible drow

mage and an invisible quasit.

Rock Formations. Around the edges of the cavern are

more stalagmites and stalactites. More of these forma-

tions fill a s maller cavern to the southeast (area lb).

The two drow mages are males named Hulziin and

Yrrprek. Each wears a cloak pin bearing the insignia

of House Freth. They arrived here shortly before the

adventurers and have greater invisibility spells cast on

them. The drow and their two quasit companions try to

remain hidden, allowing adventurers to move into Arctu-

riadoom ahead of them. Once the path is clear, they pass

through areas 3 and 35 on their way to area 38.

One of their kin, Vanar, arrived early to scout and has

already slipped inside. The characters might encounter

him and his s hadow demon in area 29.

lB. STALACTITES AND STALAGMITES

This damp, dripping cave contains a veritable forest of

stalagmites and stalactites.

le. CLAW-SHAPED CAVE

The drow have hidden supplies in the deepest arm of

this otherwise empty cave. A search reveals three back-

packs made of woven s piderwebs. Each pack contains

a mess kit, 10 days of rations (dried mushrooms, moss,

and boiled cockatrice eggs), 50 feet of spider silk rope,

and a full water s kin made from a lizard's bladder.

2. NATURAL CAVES
   This small network of caves lies outside the dungeon
   proper and serves as home to one of Arcturia's mon-
   strous experiments.

2 A. DEFORMED DUERGA R

Characters who enter this cave are soon attacked by a

hideously deformed duergar. The creature has enlarged

itself to a height of 9 feet.

This creature used to be two separate duergar, a male

named Blork and a female named Muatha. Arcturia

fused them together into a single creature by using

magic that only a wish spell can undo. Both skulls

merged into one bulbous head that has three ears, three

eyes, two noses, and two mouths. It has a third arm on

the right side of its body, and its left leg splits into two at

the knee, giving it three feet. The transformation drove

the poor creature insane, and it regards all other crea-

tures as threats that mus t be destroyed.

The creature is a duerga r, with these changes:

• The creature has 40 hit points.


• It has advantage on Wis dom ( Perception) checks and
  on saving throws agains t being charmed, frightened,
  stunned , or knocked unconscious.


• As a bonus action, it can make an attack with
  its javelin.

2B. DuERGAR' s CRIB

The deformed creature in area 2a sleeps here on a bed

of spongy black mold that grows at the back of the cave.