CHAPTER 5: SPRING MADNESS
ANATHAR HAS LET ITS PARANOIA GET THE
better of it, and the beholder trusts no
one. The Stone ofGolorr disappeared
from its lair while it was brokering a
deal that would have merged the Xana-
thar Guild and the Zhentarim into a
single criminal organization. Although the Zhents didn't
steal the Stone ofGolorr, Xanathar believes they did.
Once content to merely possess the stone, the beholder
is no longer confident of the gold's safety in the Vault of
Dragons. Xanathar thinks that the gold would be safer
under its watchful gaze, but without the Stone ofGolorr,
it can't remember where the gold is hidden.
Before running this chapter, review the "Beholders"
section of the Monscer Manual, particularly the section
titled "A Beholder's Lair." Within its lair, Xanathar has
access to lair actions, and characters might encounter
the beholder's regional effects as well.
Characters who don't visit Xanathar's lair in the
course of this adventure might have reason to do so in
Wacerdeep: Dungeon of the Mad Mage. In that adven-
ture, the characters are most likely to approach the be-
holder's lair from Skullport (see area X4 for details).
As they explore Xanathar's lair, characters will see a
recurring symbol that looks like a circle with ten equi-
distant spokes radiating out from its circumference.
This symbol is Xanathar's personal rune as well as the
symbol used to represent the Xanathar Guild.
Facing Xanathar
Roll percentile dice to determine the beholder's location
when the characters arrive, and consult the Xanathar's
Location table.XANATH A R'S LOCATION
dlOO Location
01 -5 0 Xanathar is talking to Sylgar, its pet fish, in area Xl 9.
51-75 Xanathar is delivering a rambling sermon to min·
ions in the audience chamber (area Xl 8 ).
76 - 90 Xanathar is watching a fight in the Pit of Blood and
Fortune (area X6).
91-00 Xanathar is contemplating its mortality in the crypt,
amid the remains of past Xanathars (area X33).If the characters attack the beholder. it destroys one
character and tries to subjugate the rest. In exchange for
their lives, the survivors must agree to help the beholder
find the Scone ofGolorr. If they refuse, the beholder
destroys another character and repeats the offer. This
process continues until the characters comply or none
are left. Those who agree to the beholde r's terms are
permitted to leave with their lives.
If the characters give Xanathar the stone, it de mands
t hat they accompany it to the Vault of Dragons a nd
help it defeat the vault's draconic guardian. Not fullyCHAPTER 5 I SPRrNG MADNESS