Undermountain

This information is intended for use with the Dungeons & Dragons role-playing game.


At a Glance

A vast subterranean complex of tunnels and chambers, found beneath Waterdeep. Halaster Blackcloak rules here, relying in part on a mythal-like system of spells he created to manage the dungeon and its occupants.

There are many entrances to Undermountain, including portals from Myth Drannor and probably a dozen other old cities. Even within Waterdeep there are more than a handful of doors both magical and not. There’s the Long Dark Stair, the Blue Mermaid Passage, and the Dungeon of the Crypt, as well as various dark tunnels in the sewers that are easily accessible from anywhere in the city. The most widely known and most often used, however —the “front door” of the dungeon— is the dry well in the Yawning Portal.

Levels and Sublevels

It can be difficult to imagine all these levels in three dimensions, so here’s a handy profile map.

  • The Citadel of the Bloody Hand is not a level so much as an attic. It’s accessible via the Falling Stair on level 1. Unfortunately for the curious, the Falling Stair also leads to the dungeons of Castle Waterdeep, so visitors are not allowed up the stairs without verifiable credentials.
  • The Dungeon Level (level 1)
  • The Storeroom Level (level 2)
  • The Sargauth Level (level 3) features the River Sargauth, obviously enough, but also grants access to Skullport.
  • The Farms Level (level 4)
  • The Shaft is not really a level
  • The Maze Level (level 5)
  • The Seadeeps (level 6)
  • The Wyllowwood (sublevel)
  • The Lost Level (sublevel)
  • Trobriand’s Graveyard (sublevel)
  • The Slitherswamp (sublevel)
  • Muiral’s Gauntlet (sublevel)
  • The Troglodyte Warrens (sublevel)
  • The Obstacle Course (sublevel)
  • Maddgoth’s Level (sublevel)
  • The Crystal Labyrinth (sublevel)
  • Arcturiadoom (sublevel)
  • Vanrakdoom (sublevel)
  • The Runestone Level (sublevel)
  • Shadowdusk Hold (sublevel)
  • The Caverns of Ooze (level 7)
  • The Terminus Level (level 8)
  • The Mad Wizard’s Lair (level 9)

Sources

  • Forgotten Realms Campaign Setting [11836] (3e) page 179
  • Magic of Faerûn page 48
  • Ruins of Undermountain II [1104]
  • Ruins of Undermountain [1060]
  • Living Forgotten Realms — The Xaeyruudh Campaign rejects most 4e Realms material, but this brief description of levels is helpful, and it’s a simple matter to ignore everything that happens after 1365
Passing Mention
Other Resources

Disclaimer

Wizards of the Coast, Dungeons & Dragons, D&D, Forgotten Realms, and their logos are trademarks of Wizards of the Coast LLC in the United States and other countries. This blog is not affiliated with, endorsed, sponsored, or specifically approved by Wizards of the Coast LLC.

Trobriand

This information is intended for use with the Dungeons & Dragons role-playing game.

At a Glance

Also known as the Metal Mage, Trobriand is a wizard, a one-time apprentice of Halaster and the creator of various new constructs including the ferragan, scaladar, silversann, and thanatar.  Trobriand lives/lairs in Undermountain, but may be encountered (suitably disguised) in other places.

Sources

  • The Ruins of Undermountain [1060]
  • The Ruins of Undermountain II [1104]

Disclaimer

Wizards of the Coast, Dungeons & Dragons, D&D, Forgotten Realms, and their logos are trademarks of Wizards of the Coast LLC in the United States and other countries. This blog is not affiliated with, endorsed, sponsored, or specifically approved by Wizards of the Coast LLC.

Halaster Blackcloak

This information is intended for use with the Dungeons & Dragons role-playing game.

Halaster, from the WotC FRCS Art Gallery... click on the image for the link.
All rights are assumed to be reserved by Wizards of the Coast

At a Glance

Halaster is a wizard— the infamous Mad Mage of Undermountain, though he may be encountered anywhere in the Realms.  Most of his still-living apprentices live in Undermountain as well, including Arcturia, Muiral, Nandel Greenward, and Trobriand.  Another one-time apprentice, Jhesiyra Kestellharp, left Undermountain in the early days and later became the Magister.

It’s believed that his name was once Hilather.

Sources

  • Epic Level Handbook [88169] page 294
  • City of Splendors [1109] Who’s Who in Waterdeep page 76
  • Villains’ Lorebook [9552] page 29
  • The Ruins of Undermountain II [1104]
  • The Ruins of Undermountain [1060]

Disclaimer

Wizards of the Coast, Dungeons & Dragons, D&D, Forgotten Realms, and their logos are trademarks of Wizards of the Coast LLC in the United States and other countries. This blog is not affiliated with, endorsed, sponsored, or specifically approved by Wizards of the Coast LLC.