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Design Art Director Logan Bonner (lead), Matt James, Jeff Morgenroth, Kate Irwin Robert J. Schwalb, Matt Sernett Cover Illustrations Development Wayne Reynolds (front) Jeremy Crawford, Tanis O’Connor, Tom LaPille, Ralph Horsley (back) Chris Sims, Rodney Thompson, Jennifer Clarke Wilkes Graphic Designers Editing Soe Murayama, Emi Tanji Jennifer Clarke Wilkes (lead), Scott Fitzgerald Gray, Ray Vallese, Miranda Horner Interior Illustrations Dave Allsop, Eric Belisle, Noah Bradley, Clyde Caldwell, Managing Editor Milivoj Ceran,´ Julie Dillon, Jesper Ejsing, Wayne , Kim Mohan Ralph Horsley, Tyler Jacobson, William O’Connor, Adam Paquette, Wayne Reynolds, Craig J Spearing, Stephen Producer Tappin, Eva Widermann, Ben Wootten, Kieran Yanner Greg Bilsland Cartographer D&D R&D Senior Producer Mike Schley Christopher Perkins Publishing Production Manager D&D R&D Group Manager Angelika Lokotz Prepress Manager D&D Senior Creative Director Jefferson Dunlap Jon Schindehette Imaging Technician D&D Brand Team Carmen Cheung Liz Schuh, Laura Tommervik, Shelly Mazzanoble, Chris Lindsay, Hilary Ross Production Manager SampleCynda file Callaway Playtesters Jim Auwaerter, Jeff Barnes, Jordan Conrad, Tom Dale, D&D 4th Edition Design Greg Hartman, Todd Keck, Mark Knobbe, Sarah LaValle, Rob Heinsoo, Andy Collins, James Wyatt Steven Martin, Shawn Merwin, Galen Mullins, Patrick Neal, Ian Ramsey, C.J. Thrasher, Renout van Rijn, Building on the design of previous editions by Gareth Wallace, Nick Wolfanger E. , , David “Zeb” Cook, Jonathan Tweet, Monte Cook, Skip Williams, Richard Baker, Peter Adkison

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CONTENTS

CHAPTER 1 For the DM: The Cloud Castle Crafting the Feel ...... 129 DUNGEON DELVERS ...... 4 Environment ...... 84 Sights and Sounds ...... 129 New Character Choices ...... 4 Ice Palace ...... 84 Developing a Plot ...... 130 Character Themes ...... 6 Magic Laboratory ...... 85 Combat Encounters ....131 Bloodsworn ...... 8 Maze ...... 86 The Battlefield ...... 131 Sample Bloodsworn: Meliera ...... 10 Mine...... 86 Light Sources ...... 132 Deep Delver ...... 11 Prison ...... 87 Skill Challenge: Sample Deep Delver: For the DM: Jailbreak! ...... 87 An Underdark Trek ...... 132 Karl Deepwalker ...... 14 Sewer ...... 88 Individual Checks: Escaped Thrall ...... 15 Volcano ...... 89 Making Progress ...... 132 Sample Escaped Thrall: Mord ...... 17 For the DM: Volcanic Terrain .....90 Group Checks: Trapsmith ...... 18 Warren ...... 90 Overcoming Hazards ...... 133 Sample Trapsmith: Dungeon Denizens ...... 91 Dungeon Makers ...... 134 Thorry the Unlucky ...... 21 Aboleths ...... 91 Cultists ...... 134 Treasure Hunter ...... 22 Ankhegs ...... 92 ...... 134 Sample Treasure Hunter: Ella ...... 24 Beholders ...... 92 Duergar ...... 135 Underdark Envoy ...... 25 Carrion Crawlers ...... 92 Dwarves ...... 137 Sample Underdark Envoy: Khiira ..28 Cave Fishers ...... 93 Humans ...... 138 Underdark Outcast ...... 29 Grimlocks ...... 93 ...... 139 Sample Underdark Outcast: Hook Horrors ...... 93 Kuo-Toas ...... 140 Korag the Clanless ...... 31 Mimics ...... 93 Mind Flayers...... 142 Races ...... 34 Mind Flayers...... 94 Minotaurs ...... 143 ...... 34 Myconids ...... 94 Wizards ...... 143 ...... 40 Oozes and Slimes ...... 94 Yuan-Ti ...... 144 New Item: Hurler-Snatcher ...... 44 Otyughs ...... 94 Special Rewards ...... 145 Svirfneblin ...... 46 Purple Worms ...... 95 Scrolls of Power ...... 145 Dungeon-Themed Powers ...... 52 Ropers ...... 95 For the DM: Be Careful Fear of the Dark ...... 53 Rust Monsters ...... 95 What They Wish For ...... 147 Improvising a Light ...... 54 Stirges ...... 96 Dungeon Companions ...... 148 Secrets of the Deep Guides ...... 55 Troglodytes ...... 96 Akaana Vir’tlar ...... 148 Shadow of the Ziggurat ...... 58 Umber Hulks ...... 96 Meepo ...... 149 Seekers of Lost Lore ...... 62 Infamous Dungeons ...... 97 Thresher ...... 150 Thieves’ Guild of Maelbrathyr ...... 64 Castle ...... 97 Ultok ...... 150 From the Vault of the Drow ...... 67 Ghost Tower of Inverness ...... 100 Battle Tactics of Cor Talcor ...... 69 The Lost City ...... 102 APPENDIX 1: BUILD Pyramid of Amun-Re ...... 104 YOUR OWN DUNGEON ...... 151 CHAPTER 2 WhiteSample Plume Mountain ...... file 106 Linear vs. Dynamic ...... 151 STRIVE TO SURVIVE ...... 72 ...... 108 Rough it Out ...... 152 Top Five Rules of Temple of Elemental Evil ...... 110 Draw it Up ...... 152 Dungeon Delving ...... 72 Gates of Firestorm Peak ...... 112 Dungeon Synergy ...... 153 Further Studies ...... 72 Dungeoneers’ Tools ...... 114 Unique Challenges ...... 153 Expert Delving Tactics ...... 74 Adventuring Gear ...... 114 Words from the Master ...... 154 Climbing ...... 74 Using Equipment Effectively .....115 Darkness ...... 74 Alchemical Items ...... 116 APPENDIX 2: Secret Doors ...... 75 RANDOM DUNGEONS ...... 155 Stealth ...... 75 CHAPTER 3 Involving the Characters ...... 155 Clear the Rooms ...... 75 MASTER OF THE DUNGEON ..118 Who, What, Where? ...... 156 Rest Stops ...... 76 Advice and Tools ...... 118 Why and How? ...... 156 Sustenance ...... 76 Involving the Characters ...... 120 Populating a Dungeon ...... 157 Water Dangers ...... 76 Themes and Adventure Hooks .....120 Random Dungeon Example ...... 158 Traps ...... 77 Exploration and Choices ...... 124 Hazards ...... 78 Mysteries and Puzzles ...... 125 Rituals ...... 78 Creating an Dungeon Types ...... 80 Underdark Adventure ...... 127 Cave ...... 80 Descending into Darkness ...... 127 Crypt ...... 80 Infinite Scope ...... 127 Death Trap...... 82 An Underdark Overview ...... 128 Floating Castle ...... 82 The Setting’s Role...... 128

3 CHAPTER 1 Dungeon Delvers

Black passageways stretch out in all directions. The still, Character Themes: To tie your character more stifling air swirls gently with each cautious step forward. closely to dungeons or the Underdark, you can choose The clank of armor and the crunch of footsteps on gravel a theme that fleshes out his or her backstory or repre- are the only sounds in the deep chambers, but their soft sents a delving-related profession. Each theme’s entry echoes seem deafening. includes unique features, as well as optional powers Around the next corner, faint lights are visible down that supplement the choices available to you at vari- the corridor. With no way to gauge distance in the dark- ous levels. It also includes some suggestions about )ness, they could be anything: far-off torches, nearby how to introduce the theme into a game and a sample glowing fungi, or the eyes of a lurking beast reflecting the character. As well, you’ll find some in-world advice flame. After sharing a glance with the others, the party and background information in the form of sidebars leader lifts the shutter of the bull’s-eye lantern to reveal in each entry. what lies ahead. . . . Races: Three dungeon-dwelling races—the goblin, the kobold, and the svirfneblin—appear here, Dungeons hold everything an adventurer could want: with complete descriptions, roleplaying hooks, and untold riches to plunder, new areas to explore, dan- optional racial feats and powers. Their adaptation to gerous beasts to challenge, and strange societies to a life underground and their specific survival skills interact with. An ordinary adventurer accustomed make members of these races excellent candidates for to a soft life in the surface world might get a short the adventuring life, even though they might face sus- distance into a dungeon and consider it a glorious vic- picion or outright hostility from topsiders. Unlikely tory. But hardscrabble Underdark natives and veteran though it can seem, under the right circumstances delvers know just how difficult survival is down there even a kobold can become a hero. in the darkness, and that the tunnels keep descend-Sample Dungeon-Themedfile Powers: The challenges of ing into realms of ever greater danger. dungeon delving give rise to specialized techniques A dungeon adventure is all about huge risks and and dedicated explorers’ guilds. Sometimes, too, a even greater rewards. You (as well as your charac- character’s background or unique experience spon- ter) need careful preparation, problem-solving skills, taneously gives rise to survival abilities that can’t nerves of steel, and a healthy dose of good luck to be taught. This section describes some of these pos- take on a dungeon crawl and succeed. Around every sibilities, ranging from a widespread organization corner is some unexpected threat, deadly mystery, or of Underdark guides, to the hard-knocks training never-before-seen Underdark horror. If you can’t step that comes from years spent below ground, to the up to the challenge, you’ll never make it out. mind-ripping insights that arise from exposure to unspeakable evil. Here you’ll find new attack New Character Choices powers for a variety of classes as well as skill powers available to any character who has training in the The character options presented in this chapter can relevant skill. help increase your adventurer’s chances of survival. Become with the minds and methods of the most successful dungeon explorers, and maybe—just maybe—you’ll stand a chance. Even so, death can strike at any time, and a party might have to impro- vise or bring in new recruits from the Underdark just to see the light once more. EVA WIDERMANN EVA CHAPTER 1 | Dungeon Delvers 4 Sample file masters, or merchants. Khiira the bard uses her Character wiles, honed as the seventh daughter of her house, to hide both from the other drow who hunt her and Themes from the topsiders who fear and hate her kind. ✦ Underdark outcasts are disgraced exiles from Just as race and class help to define who your char- their societies, forced to wander the lightless acter is in the world, theme adds an optional third realms in a struggle to survive. Through his component to refine your story and identity. The hubris, Korag made it possible for grimlocks to themes presented here explain what your character slaughter many of his clan, and he was cast knows about adventuring in dungeons and provide out in shame. story hooks that you can use to roleplay him or her. A theme generally embraces characters of many different classes. A few more narrowly focused Choosing a Theme themes are limited to a small selection of classes A character can have only one theme. You typically or races—for example, the Underdark outcast must choose a theme at character creation, although the belong to a subterranean race. Any such restrictions DM might allow you to choose a theme at a higher are noted in the theme’s entry. level, particularly if the campaign’s story justifies Each theme’s entry includes a sample character. making the choice later. These characters’ background stories can give you Character themes are optional; you don’t have to some ideas for playing that theme; in a pinch, if you select one if you don’t want to. When you select a have no character prepared, or if a character’s back- theme, it grants you the following benefits. story appeals to you, you can roleplay him or her. Starting Features: Each theme includes one or This section presents the following themes. more features that you gain when you select it. Additional Features: Most themes offer addi- ✦ Bloodsworn go into a dungeon to kill a specific tional features at levels 5 and 10. You gain these enemy, who defines the character’s life and quest features automatically when you reach the appro- for vengeance. The eladrin Meliera changed from priate level; they don’t replace your normal class a peace-seeking diplomat into a bitter hunter after features. a drow betrayed her. Optional Powers: Each theme includes a small ✦ Deep delvers expertly explore underground number of attack powers, utility powers, or both that environments, preferring the dark tunnels of the become available at level 2 or higher. These powers Underdark to the sunlit hills above. Karl Deep- are in addition to the list of powers you can choose walker saw his companions slain by grimlocks, from when you gain levels. For example, if you’re a and now the human youth searches for the traitor 6th-level fighter, you can choose a level 6 fighter util- he’s sure was in their midst. Sampleity powerfile or a level 6 utility power from your theme. ✦ Escaped thralls tore themselves free from the You can use retraining to replace a class power mental control of other creatures. They still bear with an optional theme power or vice versa, exchang- the physical and mental scars of their imprison- ing one power for another power of the same type ment. Mord lost his childhood memories but sees (at-will attack, encounter attack, daily attack, or util- flashes of his enslavement while he dreams. The ity). The new power must be of the same level as the half- has found some measure of peace as a ser- old power or lower. You can also replace an optional vant of Ioun. theme power with a different optional power of the ✦ Trapsmiths create deadly and debilitating devices. same theme, as long as the new power is of the same They get by on ingenuity, adrenaline, and elbow type and is of the same level or lower. grease. Thorry the Unlucky lost a couple of fingers Prerequisites: Just like classes and races, themes to a kobold trap when he was a young svirfneblin. can be prerequisites for feats, paragon paths, and He left his people to pursue safer work but keeps other features. getting pulled back into the dungeon-delving life. ✦ Treasure hunters seek glory and wealth, set- Changing a Theme ting their sights on specific items of considerable Although a theme can last throughout your charac- worth. Ella the was saved by the mysteri- ter’s career, circumstances might arise in which it ous Green Man, along with her siblings—at a price. makes sense for your theme to change. For instance, Unless she finds his crown, scepter, and armor, a character might begin play as an Underdark envoy she’ll never see her brother and sister again. and eventually suffer a horrible betrayal at the hands ✦ Underdark envoys act as diplomats for Underdark of a villain in the subterranean depths. The character societies. They might be spies, delegates for dark consequently leaves the envoy theme and adopts the bloodsworn theme, consumed by a need for revenge.

CHAPTER 1 | Dungeon Delvers 6

CHARACTER THEMES CHARACTER

The world beneath the world awaits those who cross the threshold of a dungeon

When you can retrain, you can exchange your or race might not otherwise provide. For example, if theme for another theme, instead of using any other you play a dwarf fighter with the Underdark envoy option for retraining. To retrain a theme, you must theme, the combination can offer new opportunities have none of the theme’s optional powers, andSample for file story hooks and roleplaying. What ancient text or you must have neither feats nor a paragon path for scroll has your character been tasked with retrieving which the theme is a prerequisite. A paragon path from a rival city? Which of your ancestors is con- that requires your current theme prevents you from nected to a drow merchant consortium through a retraining that theme, since paragon paths can’t shocking secret? be retrained. But if you have only optional powers The themes in this section can provide story ele- or feats that prevent you from retraining your cur- ments that are unique to your character. Perhaps you rent theme, you can retrain those powers or feats to have knowledge that you want to keep secret from others that don’t require the theme. Once you have other party members, or you might have a hidden retrained all character elements that require your agenda. Such secrets are meant to create fun roleplay- current theme, you can then retrain your theme at ing opportunities, not to set one character against the your next retraining opportunity. others. Every theme in this section has a good reason to want to work with the others. Themes as Story Tools Think about your character’s theme and how he or she would interact with the other party mem- Themes offer a wide array of character creation tools. bers. Multiple characters could be looking for buried You might choose your theme first and then pick a treasure, or several could have connections to drow class or race to reinforce your identity. For example, a society. Discuss these possible interactions with the character who has the trapsmith theme can be of any DM and the other players in the same way that you class, but choosing the rogue class lets you reinforce might talk about each party member’s class or race. your character’s talent for disarming traps with the tools to create them as well. You can also use a theme to take your character in a new direction, adopting a story role that your class NOAH BRADLEY NOAH CHAPTER 1 | Dungeon Delvers 7 BLOODSWORN

“My enemies must pay for their crimes, and the only pay- ment I will accept is in blood.”

Evil emerges from below to work villainy on the innocent. Those of good heart stand against its mach- inations and struggle to rebuild in the aftermath of the conflict. For bloodsworn, though, guarding against wickedness is not enough. They take the fight to their enemies in a quest to destroy them all. Evil creates the situation that brings a bloodsworn into existence. Some terrible event sows the seeds of vengeance in an individual’s heart, goading him or her to take up sword and staff to fight back against the darkness and ensure that evil never rears its head again. Often, bloodsworn are survivors of slaughters, whether from goblin marauding, a dark cult’s sacri- fices, or grimlock raids. Swearing bitter vows to the gods or to their dead comrades, bloodsworn travel a path of righteous vengeance. Playing a Bloodsworn Bloodsworn lead lonely lives that too often end with promises left unfulfilled and bodies broken by the very enemies they pledged to fight. You take no heed of such risks; if you did, you wouldn’t have chosen this life. Most people who encounter you fear that your obsession will bring attention to their peaceful and quiet lives. To those who have also endured suffering, however, you are a savior. These unhappy souls give what they have left to aid you in your quest. The moment you made the commitment to destroy Sampleyour file enemy, any chance of your having a normal life disappeared. As long as that evil darkens the world, you will never rest. But no matter how hot your hatred runs, you do not throw your life away against a foe you can’t hope to defeat. You understand that you have to train your skills, hone your abilities, and perfect your techniques before to the final confronta- tion. For these reasons, you undertake other missions, venturing into ruins and dungeons and fighting alongside your companions, all in preparation for the duty fate has laid at your feet. Building a Bloodsworn Bloodsworn exist among all races, classes, and cul- tures. One tragedy is enough to set an individual on the path of vengeance. When creating a bloodsworn character, consider the following story elements.

Choose Your Enemy Every bloodsworn has an enemy that defines him or her. You can choose any individual, creature, or institution to be your enemy. Think about who your enemy is, what it did, Meliera, an eladrin paladin and a bloodsworn and why it did so. TYLER JACOBSON TYLER CHAPTER 1 | Dungeon Delvers 8 still hope to reclaim the life that was taken from you, or have you given up all such expectations, knowing POETIC JUSTICE the road you now walk leads only to death? Putting enemies to death at the point of a sword is satisfying, but not enough so for many blood- Vengeance’s Inspiration Your enemy sworn. Some concoct elaborate schemes to get their could inspire the choices you make about your char- revenge in the most fitting way possible. For exam- acter. Consider deciding on your enemy before you ple, someone whose brother was killed by duergar select your class or race to guide you and suggest a BLOODSWORN might go after the siblings of duergar rulers before character who best reflects your choice of adversary. attacking the rulers themselves. If you prefer to choose your race and class first, those Other bloodsworn look for ways to ruin their ene- details in turn might suggest certain enemies. mies in the most demeaning way possible. The nature Many races in the DUNGEONS & DRAGONS world of such humiliation depends on the enemy society. have natural enemies. The history of the fey folk Cult: Nothing frustrates cultists more than pits drow against eladrin and . Dwarves fought destroying their temples, killing creatures they giants and in ancient times. Dragonborn and summoned, and blaspheming against their beliefs. have good reason to hate each other. The rea- Destroying holy writings can also demoralize cultists sons behind these conflicts could be lost in the past, and set back their plans. but the animosity remains very much alive. Choosing Drow: Betrayal and mistrust run rampant in drow an enemy that has strong ties to your race helps rein- society, so orchestrating an enemy’s fall in status is read- force your character’s place in the world. ily accomplished. For an even greater insult, the puppet Just as race can help determine your chosen foe, who overthrows the enemy should be of low rank. your choice of class can suggest certain opponents : Because hobgoblins take pride in mili- and bring your character to life. Most classes have no tary might, undermining their war efforts makes them particular animosities, but divine characters often pit look weak, cowardly, or incompetent. A themselves against servants of other gods. A priest of leader so disgraced is unlikely to survive for long. Corellon might vow to fight Gruumsh’s servants, and Orcs: The best way to humiliate an orc is to the Raven Queen’s paladins despise Zehir’s priests. A defeat it in single combat. An orc’s friends will gather psion or an ardent might venture into the Underdark quickly for revenge, and in large numbers, so don’t to seek out a portal to the Far Realm and prevent a hanggg around after striking the final blow. flood of monstrosities from reaching the world. An unexpected choice for your hated enemy can create interesting dynamics in the group. For exam- ple, everyone expects a dwarf to hate orcs and giants, Tailor your training to better defeat that hatedSample foe and but file you might create a dwarf fighter who has sworn counter its capabilities, tactics, and motivations. A to defeat an Underdark merchant consortium that bloodsworn who drives back orc hordes is very different exploited your people and emptied their vaults. from one who is committed to wiping out the Cult of the Elder Elemental Eye or one who has sworn to destroy Starting Feature giants. As you make decisions about feats, powers, and The dead haunt your dreams, a constant reminder of other game elements, keep your chosen enemy in mind your failure to save those closest to you. Your friends, and pick options to help you bring it down. your community, your former life—all were lost for- Keep in mind your foe’s level relative to your own. ever in one moment of violence. You refuse to let If you are pursuing dark elves, you probably won’t another misstep keep you from getting revenge. You encounter them until the heroic tier’s upper reaches are singularly focused on defeating your enemies. at the earliest. On the other hand, will cease As your injuries mount, you find the will to succeed to be a meaningful challenge once you hit the para- where another might fail. gon tier. Be sure to talk with your to Benefit: You gain the bloodied determination power. make sure your chosen enemy fits into the campaign’s story and level range. Bloodied Determination Bloodsworn Utility You should also consider the scope of your ven- geance. A limited goal makes defeating your chosen When you are in dire straits, failure is not an option. You adjust your attack at the last moment to deliver a strike. foe reasonable and achievable. Do you really want to ✦ exterminate all dark elves (an impossible task) or only Encounter Martial Free Action Personal the drow of House Eilserv? Trigger: You miss with an at-will attack power while you are Finally, think about your character’s life before the bloodied. tragedy changed you. What did you want to become? Effect: You reroll the missed attack roll. What were your dreams? What did you value? Do you

CHAPTER 1 | Dungeon Delvers 9 Additional Features Level 10 Utility Power Until your chosen foe has paid the price, not even the specter of impending death can turn you from your path. Level 5 Feature To confront your foes, you must descend into their lairs, contend with the tricks To the Death Bloodsworn Utility 10 and traps blocking your way, and still have strength enough to do battle once you find your quarry. Con- You refuse death’s call and push yourself to keep fighting. ✦ stant training and preparation boosts your stamina Daily Healing, Martial so you can press on while channeling your fury into Immediate Interrupt Personal Trigger: You drop below 1 hit point. more focused attacks. Effect: You use one of your at-will attack powers. If the Benefit: When you use your second wind, you attack reduces its target to 0 hit points or fewer, you can gain a +2 power bonus to attack rolls until the end of spend a healing surge. your next turn. Sample Bloodsworn: Level 10 Feature Bloodsworn never back down from a fight. Battle-tested and courageous, they Meliera commit themselves to every contest. Flinching even a “They took my husband and destroyed my life. I have little can give an enemy the advantage it needs to win nothing left but hatred.” a decisive victory. Your intensity in battle is unmatched as you lead Some wars never end. Some hate never dies. A litany the offensive with a swift attack. Your enemies sense of wrongs keeps the fires of vengeance hot and fixes your determination and quail before you. retaliation firmly in one’s mind until there is no Benefit: You gain a +2 power bonus to initiative recourse, no solution other than total war. checks and Intimidate checks. Yet some try to find a path away from the blood- shed, to bury the past and forge a new peace. Optional Powers Sometimes such noble efforts work. Most times they end in tragedy, as Meliera knows all too well. Level 2 Utility Power In battle, one foe might stand out from the rest. The forced advantage Origin Story Meliera and her husband had power lets you focus on it so you can bring it down long insisted that the eladrin people should make more quickly and shift the battle to your favor. peace with the drow and end the long-standing ani- mosity between the two races. Disturbed by growing Forced Advantage Bloodsworn Utility 2 aggression in their home city of Mithrendain against the exiled dark elves, they abandoned the Feywild for You fix your attention on one opponent to the exclusion Sampleof all file other foes. the natural world. There, they believed, they could help drow refugees who objected to their people’s corruption Encounter ✦ Martial Minor Action Close burst 5 and sought to make new lives on the surface. The two Target: One creature you can see in the burst settled into an old castle not far from tunnels that led Effect: Until the end of your next turn, you gain combat into the Underdark, brought in servants and guards to advantage against the target and a +2 power bonus to all patrol the lands, and worked with adventuring groups defenses against the target’s attacks. You also take a –2 pen- to infiltrate drow enclaves and liberate the oppressed. alty to attack rolls on attacks that do not include the target. The first, and only, dark to enter their lives was the mysterious Rook. He claimed to be a lesser son of Level 6 Utility Power Tragedy birthed an important house who escaped certain death after you, and the memories of that event haunt you still. killing an elder sister in a confrontation. The eladrin From time to time, they resurface with such inten- couple welcomed him into their home, tended to his sity that you are driven even harder to make your injuries, and fed and clothed him. They treated him enemies pay. as one of their own, and Rook seemed grateful for their aid. Urgent Aggression Bloodsworn Utility 6 Routine business in the nearby Valley of Obelisks The enemies you face bring back memories of your loss and sor- drew Meliera away, so she left Rook in her husband’s row, feelings you use to push yourself beyond your normal limits. care. When she returned, she found her home in Daily ✦ Martial ruins. Servants, guards, and worst of all, her husband, Free Action Personal lay dead—throats cut, corpses bristling with poisoned Trigger: You roll initiative. bolts. Of Rook there was no sign. Effect: You gain an extra move action during your first turn in the encounter. In that moment, Meliera’s life changed. Her sympathy for the dark elves died as quickly as her

CHAPTER 1 | Dungeon Delvers 10 husband had. Her people were right, she realized. DEEP DELVER Drow are dark-hearted, and they would do any- thing to gain an advantage. With her husband’s head “Only here, with the weight of the world above my head, am cradled in her lap, she whispered a vow to Corellon, I home.” promising to hunt down those responsible and kill them all. If she discovered that Rook was involved, Beneath the tramping of nations and the roots of that he had played her false, she would make him beg forests is a world that surface dwellers can barely DEEP DELVER for death. imagine. Countless tunnels and caverns, rivers and oceans form a fantastic, globe-spanning environ- Values and Motivations A mix of emo- ment. To the unprepared, though, the underground tions holds Meliera in its sway. Her guilt at being wilderness is as ruthless as it is wondrous. Those who absent when her husband was killed compels her to survive these wilds are among the greatest explorers don armor and heft blade. She feels stung by the idea in the world. For these deep delvers, an expedition to that perhaps she was wrong about the nature of the the Underdark is no more threatening than a stroll dark elves, and the ease with which she first enter- through the woods. tained this doubt about their nature makes her wonder Deep delvers are driven by an unquenchable if she ever really felt sympathy for them or if she was desire to pit themselves against the challenges of the paying lip service to ideals that her husband once held. subterranean world. Some seek to map out the spiral- Questioning herself in this way also causes Meliera ing highway-tunnels of the Underdark. Others are to feel as if she has betrayed her husband not only naturally drawn to the seclusion of caves, preferring by being absent during the slaughter, but also by not to abandon life on the surface. Yet others are born to cleaving firmly to his beliefs in the face of the great- the Underdark and still call it home. est of losses ever: the death of her most beloved in the world. All this and more swirls darkly within Meliera’s Playing a Deep Delver heart and mind in a haze of grief and anger that never lifts and that causes her to push onward to bring jus- Deep delvers are rarely seen on the surface; the lure tice’s sword down on her foes. of underground adventure is too strong to keep them topside for long. As experts in navigating the treach- Roleplaying Meliera Cold, withdrawn, and erous depths, some deep delvers profit from their aloof, you possess none of the elegance and grace of skills as guides or cartographers. Most surface dwell- other eladrin. Your purpose keeps you detached. You ers see you as a bit mad, unable to understand how lack compassion for allies, though you would never you go for so long without seeing the sun. You shrug abandon or betray them. Indeed, you feel obliged to your shoulders and wonder if they are the mad ones, protect them to make up for failing the peopleSample you uninterested file in spending their lives gazing upon the loved. You understand your limits, though, and know Underdark’s wonders. those at your side will eventually come to harm no Most deep delvers who were born on the surface matter how hard you fight. So you keep your distance are drawn below by a thirst for adventure. You are to insulate yourself from the grief their loss would addicted to the thrill of exploring the vastness of undoubtedly bring. the Underdark. For you, knowing the ways of cav- You know that wiping out all drow is neither prac- erns is as essential to survival as a surface dweller’s tical nor possible. Instead, you seek the villains who understanding of woodcraft. Those who cannot learn killed your husband. You suspect they were tied to quickly are consumed, while those who survive Rook’s house, so finding that missing dark elf is your become masters of their trade. You might undertake first concern. expeditions for the promise of treasure or fame, but you would enter the Underdark for no other reason Creating Meliera Meliera swore to protect than the chance to breathe the cavern air and tread the world from the drow and avenge the loved ones the stone highways of a subterranean world. who suffered at their hands. She made this oath to Corellon and trained to become a paladin in his Building a Deep Delver name. With the eladrin’s optional Charisma bonus, Deep delvers are a diverse lot, united only by their the protecting paladin build in the Player’s Handbook will to thrive in the caverns they call home. Though serves Meliera best. deep delvers come from all races, few surface dwell- If you choose to play Meliera, you can choose her ers other than humans are likely to choose this path. race and class to suit your interests. She might be an Many deep delvers come from races native to the elf or a half-elf instead of an eladrin. In this case, a Underdark, such as dwarves and svirfneblin, who different defender class might work better, such as have a natural affinity for dungeoneering. Classes the fighter, the knight, or the cavalier. that specialize in survival skills, such as druids,

CHAPTER 1 | Dungeon Delvers 11 rangers, and rogues, also excel as deep delvers. Con- sider the following story elements when creating a deep delver character.

Born Above If you belong to a race native to the surface, something uncanny must have inspired you to favor a life below ground—and to enable you to survive there. The Underdark’s scope and geography are unlike anything aboveground. Think about why you decided to live below the earth, and thus how you approach its many challenges. Are you constantly in search of new sights and experiences? Is the physical challenge of getting there half the fun? You might revel in the rush of descend- ing a miles-deep chasm or swimming through a flooded cave. The thrill of being the first to see such a sight is its own reward. You might instead be a deep delver out of neces- sity. Perhaps you live in a community located near an entrance to the Underdark that must contend with raids by monsters or savage humanoids, so that patrolling the tunnel and the area around it is essential to your home’s survival. Alternatively, your livelihood might depend on searching the Underdark for precious resources, such as rare minerals and magical components, or simply for food. In either case you must become a master of underground tracking and observation to succeed. The most well-known deep delvers have patrons who pay them to explore the Underdark. You might be the employee of a wealthy monarch, hired to map an extensive series of passages discovered in one of the realm’s mines. Does your patron plan to open up Sampletrade file with Underdark civilizations, or hope to use the tunnels to launch secret attacks against rivals? The results of your exploration could trigger far-reaching events in the campaign. Consider also what you’re leaving behind as you delve. Your connection to family and friends on the surface is cut off during your ventures, but maybe that is the point. Did you become a deep delver to escape something? If so, what better place to hide than the limitless depths of the Underdark?

Born Below For deep delvers who hail from the Underdark, the subterranean realm isn’t a mys- tery—it’s home. What topsiders see as a place of legendary dangers, mythic locales, and otherworldly beasts is just what you deal with every day. If your character is a member of an Underdark race, you probably have little patience with the blundering sur- face dwellers waving torches in your backyard. Consider how your character’s home and culture fits into the campaign. Dwarves, renowned for their tremendous underground cities, live in the upper reaches of the realm and regularly deal with surface Karl, a human ranger and a deep delver communities. The same goes for savage humanoids KIERAN YANNER KIERAN CHAPTER 1 | Dungeon Delvers 12 such as goblins or kobolds, though their behavior Level 10 Feature When you spend weeks, is far less civil. These races live close enough to the months, sometimes years underground, even the surface that their domains have the feel of a nearby flickering light of a torch can be as intense to you wilderness, much as a human or elf hunter would see as the full brilliance of the sun. The best delvers a forest or swamp close to home—a place to be taken sharpen their other senses to the point that lack of seriously but lacking mystery. light does not hinder them. Subtle vibrations in the

Races that dwell deeper, such as the svirfneblin, ground, the movement of drafts of air, or the echoes DEEP DELVER are one with the Underdark, which provides them of sound against cavern walls let you find your way with shelter and sustenance. Deep delvers of these effortlessly. races see the world above as a place of wonder and Benefit: You gain blindsight with a radius of legend, and they view explorers from the surface as 2 squares. sightseeing nuisances. Optional Powers Starting Feature All deep delvers are experts at surviving under- For you, a trek to the Underdark is all in a day’s work. ground, but for some this specialization is an Your keen senses pick out lurking dangers that would all-consuming passion. They don’t just survive, spell doom for the less experienced. You’ve steeled they thrive underground. Some become so adept at your nerves against the hazards that threaten your navigating the depths that they are uncomfortable every step. You know that you need to be on your toes anywhere else. when navigating the depths, but you wouldn’t have it any other way. Level 2 Utility Power Most battles under- Benefit: You gain a +2 power bonus to Dun- ground don’t offer the luxury of an open field to geoneering checks. maneuver: Swords rake against cavern walls, and You also gain the subterranean survival power. combatants are forced into corners. You, though, take advantage of the cramped conditions, placing your- Subterranean Survival Deep Delver Utility self where foes cannot easily reach you and using the You thrive in the unforgiving caverns of the Underdark. walls as cover. Encounter ✦ Martial Free Action Personal Up against the Wall Deep Delver Utility 2 Trigger: You make a Dungeoneering check and dislike the You find ways to take advantage of close-quarters environments. result. Encounter ✦ Martial Effect: You reroll the Dungeoneering check. Minor Action Personal Effect: Until the end of your next turn, you gain partial cover Additional Features Sample filewhile you are adjacent to a square of blocking terrain, and any enemy that misses you with a melee attack while you have partial cover grants combat advantage to you until Level 5 Feature A life spent underground the end of your next turn. has given you a diverse range of knowledge concern- ing subterranean ecology and terrain. From spotting Level 6 Utility Power At this point in your the territory markers of hook horrors to knowing career you know just about everything about explor- which pools of slime to avoid, you’re the authority ing caves, and this knowledge lets you overcome when it comes to Underdark lore. obstacles where once you might have struggled. In addition, the claustrophobia that rattles the nerves of some explorers doesn’t even faze you. You Cavern Lore Deep Delver Utility 6 descend feet first through cramped tunnels without Your talent for exploring caves gives you the edge needed to a second thought, moving as quickly as a cave lizard overcome unexpected challenges. while others squeeze by at a crawl. Encounter ✦ Martial Benefit: Your power bonus to Dungeoneering Free Action Personal checks increases to +4. Trigger: You fail an Acrobatics, Athletics, Endurance, or Also, when you squeeze, your speed is not halved, Perception check while underground. and you take a –2 penalty to attack rolls instead of the Effect: You make a Dungeoneering check and use its result normal –5. instead.

CHAPTER 1 | Dungeon Delvers 13 Level 10 Utility Power When the lights about the Deep Guides.) As tough as the work was, go out and you are suddenly tumbling into a ravine or exploring the deep caverns and encountering fas- in the path of a landslide, your skilled senses kick in cinating people gave Karl a passion for delving. But to let you respond. now he is on his own. A few days ago, grimlocks wiped out Karl’s com- Spelunker’s Instincts Deep Delver Utility 10 pany of Deep Guides, though Karl managed to Your cave-delving reactions can save you from a sudden misstep escape. His company had recently concluded a deal or a serious injury. with an up-and-coming merchant house to create Encounter ✦ Martial new markets in Underdark communities just beneath Immediate Interrupt Personal the surface. The Guides’ leader had returned to Trigger: You take damage from a trap, a hazard, or a fall. headquarters to give the others the rundown when Effect: Reduce the damage by 5 + one-half your level. grimlocks spilled in through the doors, hacking at Level 11: 10 + one-half your level. everyone in their path. Level 21: 15 + one-half your level. Karl survived by running into the depths, but now he is hounded by guilt. If he had stood by his com- Sample Deep Delver: panions, perhaps he could have made a difference in Karl Deepwalker the fight, but he’ll never know. He’s also suspicious about the attack: The timing was too perfect, and the “Don’t worry. I’ll get us back to the surface . . . somehow.” grimlocks tripped none of the company’s alarms. Karl believes that someone in the organization was behind Nothing tests an explorer’s mettle like a journey in it—and he aims to find out who. the Underdark, as Karl Deepwalker has learned. Cut off from the support of his fellow delvers, the young Values and Motivations Karl is set on human must rely on his untested wits to survive in discovering the traitor who sent his fellow Deep the deepest of wildernesses as he seeks to discover Guides to their deaths. He’ll do whatever it takes to who is behind the deaths of his former companions. avenge his friends. Karl plans to search the former headquarters of the Deep Guides, though he knows Origin Story Eager to strike out on his own it will mean viewing the horrific aftermath of the and make his fortune, Karl signed up with the Deep attack. There he hopes to find clues that will lead him Guides as soon as he turned eighteen, just a few to the traitor, and maybe signs that some of the other months ago. The Deep Guides keep the routes open Deep Guides escaped the slaughter. between the surface and the Underdark, blaze trails through the warrens, and protect the caravans they Roleplaying Karl You are overwhelmed by accompany on the way to destinations such as Deep- strong emotions, but you have come to terms with ing Delve and Maelbrathyr. (See page 55 for moreSample file your friends’ deaths. Now you must recover your courage and sense of self-worth to do what you must to avenge them. Your fledgling dungeoneering skills were put to the test as you fled, and you’re unsure whether they will be enough. You crave the fellowship of strong-willed companions to lean on emotionally as well as in combat. Your time with the Deep Guides instilled in you an industrious work ethic, though your youthful enthusiasm has been suppressed by the harsh reality of life in the Underdark. You always feel a moment of hesitation when faced with a dangerous situation, but you have vowed to never again abandon your comrades in time of need.

Creating Karl Karl’s quest for answers in the Underdark requires a diverse range of skills, as well as the grit to take on the enemies he’s sure to face there. A human’s versatility serves him well, and the ranger is a good class fit. If you prefer to change Karl’s race or class, he could easily be a dwarf instead of a human. Any class that grants training in Dungeoneering, such as rogue, enables him to explore dungeons successfully. WAYNE ENGLAND CHAPTER 1 | Dungeon Delvers 14