UNESTONE CAVERNS IS DESIGNED FOR FOUR
16th-level characters, and characters who
defeat the monsters on this level should gain
enough XP to advance halfway to 17th level.
This level introduces the characters to a po-
tentially powerful ally in their fight against
Halaster-or an enemy whose destruction
can put them in the Mad Mage's good graces.WHAT DWELLS HERE?
The Runestone is a large magic crystal, created by
Halaster Blackcloak, that is embedded in the top of
a huge, hollowed-out stalagmite that rises from the
center of this level's main cavern. This spire serves
as the lair of a lich named Ezzat, who has long been
Halaster's enemy.
In an effort to destroy Ezzat, Halaster created a legion
of stone golems modeled after himself, placing a frag-
ment of the Runestone in each one to imbue it with more
intelligence and personality. When Ezzat learned what
Halaster was up to, the lich placed wards on the stalag-
mite tower to prevent constructs from assailing it. This
countermove prompted Halaster to abandon his golems
and stop making new ones.EZZAT THE LICH
Ezzat has become obsessed with destroying Halaster
and usurping his control over Undermountain. As his
mania and thirs t for power grows, the lich becomes
more like Halaster with each passing day.Characters who destroy Ezzat and locate his phylac-
tery earn Halaster's favor. Those who ally with the lich
earn Halaster's enmity.STONECLOAKS
Halaster created stone gole ms in his own likeness and
used fragments of the Runestone to imbue them with
intelligence. Then he set them loose on this level. Called
Stonecloaks, these 10 -foot-tall golems worship the Mad
Mage as a god and regard the Runestone as his eye into
their dark domain. The Stonecloaks don't like it that a
lich has taken refuge in the stalagmite tower, but Ezzat's
wards mean that there's lit tle they can do about it.
Unless otherwise noted, a Stonecloak uses the stone
golem statistics, with these changes:- A Stonecloak has Intelligence and Charisma
scores of9. - It understands the following languages but can't
speak: Abyssal, Celestial, Common, Draconic, Dwar-
vish, Elvish, Infernal, and Undercommon. Stonecloaks
use a system of eye blinks to communicate nonver-
bally with one another.
WANDERING MONSTERS
The magical emanations of the Runestone attract
earth-dwelling creatures such as bulettes, earth ele-
mentals, purple worms, and xorn to this level. The char-
acters might a lso come across a n expedition that has
traveled from S hadowdusk Hold.LY.VEL 20 I RUN F.STONE CJ\ VER NS
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