Waterdeep - Dungeon of the Mad Mage

HE OBSTACLE COURSE IS DESICNED FOR FOUR
13th-level characters, and adventurers who
defeat the monsters on this level should gain
enough XP to advance to 14th level. Before
running this level of Undermountain, review
the description of the death tyrant in the
"Beholders" entry in the Monster Manual, as
that information will help you roleplay the death tyrant
that claims the Obstacle Course as its lair.

What Dwells Here?

Visitors to this level must contend with mechanical
traps left behind by the Melairkyn dwarves, magical
traps crafted by the Mad Mage, and an undead beholder
named Netherskull. They might also encounter nui-
sances from the Elemental Planes of Earth and Fire,
and a band of githzerai on a special mission.

NETHERSKULL THE DEATH TYRANT

Many years ago, a beholder floated up from the Un-

derdark and infiltrated Undermountain. After carving

out a lair for itself, the beholder dreamed itself into un-

death, becoming a death tyrant called Netherskull.

When Halas ter and Netherskull met in battle, the wiz-

ard emerged triumphant, but he couldn't bring himself

to destroy such a formidable dungeon guardian. Instead,

Halaster agreed to let Netherskull remain the undis-

puted lord of this level on the condition that it permit

Halaster to tinker with and maintain the level's traps,

as well as add a magical, mean-spirited announcer that

taunts visitors as they blunder from one room to another

(see "Halaster's Play-by-Play," page 194).

GITHZERAI ZERTHS

Four githzerai zerths have taken refuge in the Obstacle

Course. They use their psychic abilities and natural

stealth to hide from Halaster's magical gaze and the

death tyrant's watchful eyes.

The githzerai are aware that githyanki have con-

quered the Crystal Labyrinth (level 16) and are waging

war against a mind flayer colony in Seadeeps (level 17).

The githzerai wait patiently to see the outcome of the

Seadeeps conflict but stand ready to assist should the

githyanki need help. The leader of this githzerai band,

Yrlakka, is a member of the Sha'sal Khou, a faction of

renegade githyanki and githzerai who seek to reunify

the gith races. By helping the githyanki defeat a com-

mon foe, Yrlakka hopes to demonstrate the merits of a

single unified gith race- not only to the evil githyanki,

but also to the younger githzerai zerths who follow him.

Yrlakka is concerned because his most headstrong pu-

pil, a githzerai named Ezria, has disappeared. He fears

(correctly) that Ezria was captured by the githyanki on

level 16 while trying to find weak spots in their defenses.

LAVA CHILDREN AND FRIENDS

Several lava children (see appendix A) brought to Un-

dermountain by Halaster's apprentice Trobriand have

migrated from level 13 to the Obstacle Course and taken

residence around a lava-filled chasm in the heart of the

LEVEL 15 I OBSTACLE COURSE