Delving into the Depths: Session One of Dungeon of the Mad Mage!
Welcome, fellow adventurers, to the recap of our very first session venturing into the infamous Undermountain in Waterdeep: Dungeon of the Mad Mage, masterfully guided by our own GM Wintermute! After a profitable couple of weeks at their bar following their return from a haunted house trip, our heroes found themselves facing new opportunities and potential dangers.
The session kicked off with the arrival of a new face: Kasev Grim, a halfling paladin and cousin of Damon. Kasev, despite being described as an “average-looking” six-foot-tall individual in full plate armor, presented a striking image with blackened plates and a shield bearing a setting sun emblem. He seemed calm and greeted everyone warmly, mentioning he was in Waterdeep due to “family troubles” and spoke highly of the existing group, eager to assist them. He even used his divine sense but detected no evil presence on his cousin's ghostly bar helper.
Another newcomer joined the party as Orem, one of the bar's owners, announced his departure to take a new position with the watch. He introduced the group to Gala Door, a tall elf with long light blonde hair and elegant robes, who expressed hope that this new endeavor would be worthwhile.
The quiet afternoon at the bar was soon interrupted by the arrival of a woman garbed in religious attire, accompanied by two muscular escorts. This mysterious priestess, later identified (through a religion check by Evoru that Kasev failed) as a priestess of Waukeen, the god of trade, was asking about the adventurers who owned the establishment.
It turns out this priestess was looking to hire the group to procure magic items to take back to her native land of Kult. She explained that they have an “undead problem” there and was interested in any magic items, offering to pay in cash, specifically platinum pieces, with higher prices for rarer items. She clarified she wasn't a fence but more of a “high-end person” looking for a good deal. The priestess mentioned that Durnan at the Yawning Portal had suggested she seek out this particular group of adventurers.
Intrigued by the prospect of wealth and adventure, the group, including the newly arrived Kasev, decided to take the job. The priestess informed them that Undermountain, the sprawling dungeon beneath Waterdeep, would be a prime location to find such items. The history of Undermountain was briefly recounted, from the ancient wizard Halaster Blackcloak and his ruined tower to the emergence of the Yawning Portal as the main entrance thanks to Durnan's entrepreneurial spirit. Rumors of the Xanathar Guild and Zhentarim outposts within Undermountain were also mentioned.
With the lure of treasure and the promise of platinum, the party made their way to the Yawning Portal, where they observed a significantly larger crowd than at their own bar. Durnan greeted them and, after Kasev generously offered to pay the gold piece fee for everyone, they were lowered down the massive hole into the darkness.
The adventurers found themselves in a dark, forty-foot square room with a tunnel leading south. The walls were covered in dented, rusty shields bearing graffiti. Upon touching one of the shields, it broke apart, revealing a message written in common: “beyond the pillar forest the mad mage Waits casting spells behind magic gates”. Further searching revealed more mundane graffiti and some discarded gear in the sand, including two iron spikes, an empty wineskin, a tinderbox, and a pair of human-sized pants, along with a little cameo carved into the likeness of a hideous person.
Deciding to press on, the group headed south into the tunnel. Following the curving passage north, they eventually entered a large hallway that opened into an even larger room lined with pillars, with stairs descending further. This description seemed to align with the message they had found earlier.
As Anna stealthily moved forward, two bugbears emerged from behind the pillars, initiating combat. A javelin was thrown at Anna, wounding her. A chaotic fight ensued, with Anna and Kasev attacking the bugbears. Gala Door held an action, ready to cast Ray of Frost. Ultimately, both bugbears were defeated. They found no treasure on the bugbears other than their weapons.
Continuing their exploration of the pillared room, they discovered a message carved into a pillar: “certain death this way,” with an arrow pointing south. At the base of the pillar Anna was near, a loose stone revealed a small, empty compartment. To the west, they found a hallway with niches containing large oval glass mirrors with heavy stone frames. A burnt-out torch lay in the middle of the corridor.
Remembering the inscription about magic gates, the group cautiously investigated the mirrors. A detect magic ritual confirmed an aura of illusion magic on some of them. Testing the mirrors with an unlit torch, they found that the torch seemed to pass through one. Upon closer inspection, one mirror revealed empty shelves behind it. Another also had empty shelves. However, the third magical mirror concealed a shelf holding a non-magical bronze mask.
With sleepiness setting in, GM Wintermute decided to end the session at this point.
Thus concludes the exciting first session of Waterdeep: Dungeon of the Mad Mage! Our adventurers have already encountered new allies, accepted a mysterious quest, braved the descent into Undermountain, faced their first foes, and begun to uncover the secrets hidden within its ancient depths. What dangers and treasures await them in the sessions to come? Stay tuned to find out!