Underhill District

The Underhill District is a metropolis in miniature, populated by the smallfolk of Westden. Buried beneath the actual Hill District, Underhill was initially built in secret nearly 500 years ago by Silverhelm dwarves of the Towers Mountains during the construction of the city’s many great public works.

Infrastructure

Moustache on Mane

Located on the Mainway road of Underhill, the stone-carved sign above the iron-bound door features a heavily mustachioed lion. Moustache on Mane is a barber shop that caters to the care and maintenance of dwarven beards, halfling locks, and gnomish moustaches. Jars of alcohol soak horn-and-bone combs, bottles and decanters of oils, unguents, and fragrant flower waters line the shelves around a plush velvet barber’s chair. Equally plush velvet waiting chairs seat a dozen or so of the small folk who wait patiently for Luigi Sharpshears (male halfling) to turn his scissors to work on their tresses.
Luigi is always on the lookout for new scissors, razors, shears, combs, wigs, oils, and sundries that would further his renown among his clientele. “Tell a friend to tell a friend!” Luigi exclaims as he finishes a new hair creation. Luigi is a comic who sings songs and tells jokes to entertain his clients while he cuts and shaves.
The shop offers the following amenities: beard oil (1gp per application, 50gp per bottle), beard braiding (1gp per strand), moustache reshape (2gp), haircut and shave (2gp), wash and dry (varies, minimum 1gp).

Smorgan’s Board

A sign lit by a gilt lantern displays a cornucopia of food pouring out over a broad table. Glass windows in wrought-iron window frames reveal a series of low benches and wall-to-wall tables packed with diners. The tables are lined with steaming platters of roasted or fried chicken, sausages, sliced turkey, ham, roast beef, and vegetables soaked in delicious sauces.
Smorgan (male dwarf) is a dwarf descended from the inhabitants of the Halls of Silverhelm. Rotund and happy, he is friends with most of the folk in Underhill. He hosts weekly eating contests which cost 5gp to enter. The winner of the contest gains Smorgan’s undying friendship, and a pot worth roughly 100gp. Smorgan is a good source of information of the goings on in Underhill. Smorgan’s bill of fare includes the All-You-Can-Eat Buffet (2gp), Stoneheart Mountain Ale (1gp per mug), Silverhelm Pale (2gp per mug), and Mountain Dark (1gp per mug).

The Coal House

This shop is infused with the pungent stench of oil and coal. Inside is a set of massage tables hidden between black partitions. The floor is covered in several inches of white sand. Clothing racks stand in each of the partitioned stalls. The clientele, mostly dwarves, lie on the massage tables, where they are tended by 3 stout masseurs (male dwarf). During the massage process the clients are covered with coal dust, oil, and rubbed with pumice stones to refresh the renownedly hirsute but stony skin of the dwarven race.
The Coal House is operated by “Smudge” Stonefingers (male dwarf), a renowned dwarven masseur in his own right, and his assistants. Smudge charges a flat rate of 20gp for a full body massage which includes oil and coal rub downs, the final scrape down, and a full body scrub.

The Iron Lodge

The Iron Lodge is an upscale dwarven inn that caters to dwarven merchants from neighboring lands. The entire inn is carved from a single pillar of white marble, and is a four-story affair featuring 20 rooms of dwarven size. Each room faces outward, affording a view of Underhill.
The doors, shutters, and frames of the leaded-glass windows are all forged from wrought-iron, giving the lodge its unique name. Room rates are 5 gp per person per night; 20 gp per week, 75 gp per month.
Hasmer Yamersmash (male dwarf), formerly of the Blackrock Mountains region, runs the Lodge, aided by 6 gnome valets and various halfling and gnome staff. Chef Treni Claypot (male dwarf), serves the following dishes; rack of lamb (3gp), smoked whole ham (6gp), mutton chop (1gp), prime rib (2gp), filet of beef (1gp), pickled catfish (1gp), and fried trout (1gp). All entrees are served with potatoes, grilled onions, and mushrooms, and cheese and onion soup.

Underbuilders’ Union Hall

This four-story structure is carved from a single block of finely-chiseled marble, and is considered a tour de force of stonework rivaled on Lados only by the fabled masons of the Halls of Silverhelm. The structure houses a union of stoneworkers, masonry masters, builders, and miners who set rate and wages for the majority of delving in Westden and in direct competition for building with the Stoneworkers Guild. Burgher Bogdan Rockroot (male dwarf) is usually found here seeing to guild matters and has little time or patience for visitors.

Oak Leaves

This small shop has a round door emblazoned with the high-relief carving of an oak leaf. Oak Leaves is lined from floor to ceiling with various books and tomes. Most of these books are accounts of heroes and adventurers from legend. Also found here are copies of rare diaries, cookbooks, almanacs, and books on strategies for games of chance.
Comfortable chairs sit beneath sconces set with continual flame, and gaming tables occupy space in the center of the room for games such as chess, checkers, backgammon, dice, and a popular game among halflings of the city called “Papers & Paychecks” where they take on the role of workers and students in an industrialized and technological society.
Books range in price from 10–20gp. Various trinkets and curiosities range from small toys to custom dice popular among the halfling community; most items are under 10gp in value. Benjie Falen, the proprietor, loves all manner of games, and is skilled at most of the games played in his shop. He is also an avid storyteller, and readily buys memoirs of heroes and legendary fables brought to his shop, keeping a decent cache of rare and hard-to-find manuscripts locked in his back office.
Benjie has soft green eyes and curly blond hair shot with streaks of silver. He spent some time adventuring and making his way on the streets but found that his favorite events were always hearing the stories told by others, or retelling stories of those he had traveled with. Earning a small fortune on a foray into the Stoneheart Mountain Dungeon some years ago, he retired to Underhill and opened his tome and hobby shop where he whiles away the time entertaining visitors and collecting rare books. Benjie’s cousin and friends Gary, Dave, and Don (male gnome ) are typically in the shop, either telling stories about “the old days”, or even more likely playing various games. They even put out a small newsletter together called The Sophisticated Reader.

Underhill News and Tobacco

Rich smells of tobacco and herbs fill the air in this single story marble and wrought-iron structure. Within are large glass jars of tobacco from diverse lands. A trio of gnomes male gnome) work a hand-crank printing press in the back of the shop — not as advanced as the new monstrosity at Lyre Valley Press but adequate to the task. Leaves of coarse paper dry from clips along the ceiling and neatly stacked broadsheets stand in an iron rack by the front of the shop.
Merill Longstem (female gnome) runs this shop and fancies herself a part-time reporter on the happenings of Westden, and how they affect the small folk who live Underhill. Aside from being an expert tobacconist, she likes to dig up the “dirt” on the local goings on and publish it in her newspaper The Underground. As most of the targets of Merill’s ire are human, she feels free to be as incendiary and biased as she wants in her articles, since big folk have a hard time making it to Underhill to confront her. Merill pays 5gp for a good story, and may hire halflings, gnomes, or dwarves as “investigative reporters” should she catch hold of a story that sells papers. She is especially interested in stories about corruption of public officials and prejudice against small folk in the city.
The broadsheets sells for 1sp, and affords PCs a free “rumor” that may pertain to offering a new quest or solving a problem in a current quest. The business that “pays the bills” is Merill’s stock of tobacco. Highly sought-after, Merill sells Ferduin’s Traveler, Horum’s Greenleaf, Zalorog’s Blood, Dwarven Coal, and Silver Harp (see the sidebar for more information on these products).

Crugas’ Mantlet

Crugas’ Mantlet is an armor shop specializing in heavy armor and shields for warriors of dwarven or smaller stature. Nothing lighter than a breastplate is sold at the shop. Crugas’ is owned by Gralle Fendattir (female dwarf), an accomplished smith of the Silverhelm Clan and devout follower of the greater Krazzadak clan patron of Crugas, the dwarven ancestor of magical crafts. Working away from Armament Row has allowed her to focus on the specialized forging of the heaviest and hardest armor she can manufacture of the highest quality. It takes Gralle the standard time to manufacture a new suit for a client, though she has a chance of finishing 1d4 days early. Gralle pays market value for rare metals such as adamantine and mithral.

Curlie’s Boughs

The front of this shop has a small round door. The lintel is carved in the shape of a pair of halfling-style shortbows whose stave tips are bent backwards and curled together in a knot. The shop caters to bows, both off the rack and hand crafted for small folk.
Curlie (male halfling), the owner, is always in the market for good wood, especially yew, hornwood, rowan, and other springy but firm staves which may be carved and shaped into bows, and he pays top coin for such pieces that are brought to his shop. His prices range from average to 10% above standard prices.

Gnome Alone

This strange, low-ceilinged shop is a bachelor’s club catering specifically to gnomes. The club is guarded by a pair of doormen (male gnome) who keep the 5ft high doorway blocked save for VIP club members. Membership costs 50gp per month, requires the member be a gnome, and the client must be sponsored by a member of the club in good standing. Inside, the club is decorated in the finest velvet draperies and tapestries. The permanently lit sconces are of stained glass, done in traditional gnomish designs turned mildly risqué. The stage is frequented by comedians, burlesque shows, and performances by brass, woodwind, and string groups.
Proprietor Nikki Brinden (female gnome) does her best to insure that the visitors to her club are well taken care of in every imaginable way. Of course the more imaginative the request by a member of the club, the greater the cost assigned to it.

Cellar Bar

The Cellar Bar, run by “Whiskey” Haro Hart (male halfing), is at the lowest point of Underhill, being in an actual basement of an apartment complex populated by halflings. The Cellar Bar is somewhat seedy by the standards of the Underhill District, and is populated by some scurrilous halflings who may or may not be members of the Shadow Masks, Red Blades, or Wheelwrights.
Whiskey was an accomplished thief who bought this bar about 10 years ago. Whiskey isn’t above teaching others the tricks of the trade and has been known to plan a heist “topside” as he calls the streets of Westden.
The Celler Bar offers Brin Zwiescher Ale (mug or bottle 5cp), Lute Stout (mug 5cp), Cotton Mouth Beer (bottle 3cp), Troll Brew (tankard 5cp), pickled eggs (2cp each), pickled fish (1cp each), bread and cheese (2cp per plate; serves 4).

Curds Away

This boutique shop is dedicated to lovers of all sorts of exotic cheese. Found here are hard pungent cheeses, smoked cheddars, soft farmer cheeses, and fresh cheese curd. The counters are lined with wheels of cheese kept under soft cheesecloth. Krantz, (male gnome) is a gnomish cheesemaker, who gets a steady supply of milk from various animals brought in barrels to his shop where he mixes them with cultures that have been in his family for centuries. His cheeses are sold to inns and restaurants throughout the city, leaving him time and resources with which to perfect his craft. His home shop is busy enough with all the dwarves, halflings, and gnomes who dwell in Underhill and their penchant for cheese products. His cheeses range in price from a 1cp to several hundred gold pieces per ounce. Unique cheeses may have interesting properties upon ingestion, though the most common are constipation and flatulence.

Subcity Sandwiches

This popular eatery in Underhill takes its name from the irony of the district being a thriving town hidden within the metropolis above. Subcity Sandwiches features sandwiches called “yardarms” that are craved by the locals. Yardarms are filled with sliced meats, cheese, pickles, pickled peppers, and relish. Other toppings include mushrooms, tomatoes, onions, fried potato crisps, olives, olive oil, vinegar, hot mustard, and Subcity’s own sultry aoli. Surface workers dwelling in Underhill line up an hour before they are expected at their worksite to get a Subcity yardarm, eating half for breakfast and the other on their lunch break. The typical yardarm costs 2 sp, though the sandwiches are also sold in halves and quarters. Sweet tea, sarsaparilla, and Stoneheart Mountain Ale are sold in “bring your own mug” fashion for 1sp.
The deli is owned by Monte Redbelly (male dwarf), a grizzled round-faced dwarf with a braided ginger beard who keeps his mop of hair tied tight beneath a gold silk bandanna. Monte remembers everyone’s favorite order after one or two visits and commands the sandwich makers (male or female halfling) whom he calls “Mateys” like a pirate captain — which is no real surprise to anyone, as rumor has it he once plied a much more dangerous trade on the high seas before returning to the marble halls more favorable to his ancient ancestors.
Monte is known to enjoy smoking his own meats, and pays well for rare ingredients such as fresh shrieker, wild boar, and gorgon brisket. The rarer the meat the characters bring, the more likely he is to name a sandwich after them, helping increase their fame.

The Pillar of the Geomancer

This marble pillar running from floor to ceiling is a marvel of stonecraft and magic. The pillar is the home of Vikter Stoneshifter (male dwarf), a dwarven wizard of some renown. Full member of the Dominion Arcane, Vikter is one of the most skilled wizards in the arts of moving stone, shaping stone, and knowledge of the Plane of Earth. Vikter’s tower has no visible entrance as he simply passes through the solid wall. Vikter’s pillar is guarded by various creatures native to the Plane of Earth. Vikter is known to take apprentices, so long as they prove their worth in a trial against one of his bonded earth elementals.
In exchange for being left alone to continue his research, Vikter has pledged his defense of Cylyria’s home from below; anyone attempting to mine into the High Burgess’ home, or enter through the stone foundation, can expect a “visit” from Vikter and his minions.

Character

Underhill’s marble halls, small tables, and stature-appropriate furnishings and chambers remain hidden from the eyes of the majority of the city’s populace. Buried under the very noses of the wealthy elites Underhill District offers an escape from the hustle and bustle of “big city life” for its small enclave of denizens. Underhill District is home to several hundred dwarves, gnomes, and halflings, comprising some 30% of the population of these folk within the city proper. The Underhill District is seldom visited by the “big folk” of the city. For starters, the entrances to Underhill are concealed in the Lower Ring of the Hill District, near access portals under public fountains. The overall construction does not readily accommodate Medium creatures taller than dwarf height, as the furnishings are decidedly designed for folk whose average height does not exceed 5ft. Indeed, doorways and portals seldom reach 5-1/2ft in height, and average 5ft. The height of the bar in an average taproom is a mere 32 inches, making it chest high to the average dwarven craftsman, and affording the average halfling a peek over the bar at items on the back rail.

Businesses

With such a small area, and space commanding a premium rate, buildings not described in this district are most likely apartments for rent. Shop owners and permanent residents live here above their shops.

District Modifier

–2 (+2 for smallfolk)

Prices

Prices are 10% over standard values, unless otherwise noted.

Gold Piece Limit

Unless otherwise noted there is a 4000gp limit on items sold in the Underhill District. Dwerfater’s Mantlet being the sole exception.

Building Type

Most of the buildings are carved from solid rock and run from the ground to the domed ceiling of the Underhill District. The buildings average four stories, with space unused by shops used as apartments. Apartments are expensive in Underhill; most are 3–4 rooms affixed with a wrought-iron door and iron shuttered windows. The apartments average 60 gp per month to rent.

Guard Details

As with the street level areas of Westden, a private guard patrol works the streets making sure that they are safe and clean. They enforce fines for those relieving themselves in public, leaving trash behind, and generally being too loud for their own good. Normally an Underhill guard patrol consists of 5 regular dwarven watchmen and a sergeant; exceptional NPCs occasionally roam the district, dispensing their own brand of vigilante justice to “big folk”.

Entrances and Exits

The four tunnels shafts that lead into the Underhill District are 20ft wide but have a ceiling that is only 5ft high, making it uncomfortable at best for Medium or larger folk to foray into the secret realm below the Hill.

Light

The streets of Underhill form spokes of the central plaza beneath the hill. Wrought-iron street lamps stand at every corner. The lamps are leaded crystal and are lit in their interior with a continual flame that casts a warm light throughout the district.

Streets

The streets are 20ft wide and kept immaculately clean.

Location under

Westden

Tobaccos of the North

The northern reaches of Lados are known for some of the fine tobaccos they produce. A single pipe bowl uses 1 ounce of tobacco and lasts for 1d6 minutes. All tobaccos are considered to be addictive. The individual Constitution DCs necessary to overcome the addiction are included in the individual descriptions.
Damage: As with all addictions, these cause detrimental effects to the habitual user. Unlike most drugs, the use of these tobaccos has a more subtle, though no less insidious consequence. An addicted user of one of these tobaccos receives a –2 penalty to all saving throws against diseases. In addition, as long as the addiction exists, the individual will crave the tobacco and will seek to acquire it at every opportunity. If he possesses a supply, the addict will use at least 1 ounce of it per day.
Dwarven Coal: This rich black tobacco is aged in Dwarven whiskey casks until it achieves the level of curing that dwarves crave in their smoke. The tobacco is heavy in tar and tends to leave a coating in the throat which affords smokers of it a deeper tone to their voice and a complete loss of falsetto. In addition it is known to cause a chronic, hacking cough when used by creatures that do not have the dwarf or gnome subtypes. Those individuals must make a DC 12 Constitution save with each use or be overcome by coughing and hacking for 1d6 minutes during which time they have the nauseated condition. After a user has made three successful saves, he is no longer afflicted by this effect. Dwarven Coal is sold in the surface regions for 60-100 gp an ounce (2d3+4 x 10 gp). It is said to be available for much cheaper in mountain dwarf realms. (DC 16)
Ferduin’s Traveler: This is a rich brown tobacco is prized by smoking enthusiasts for its caramel-like taste and vanilla-like aroma when lit. The tobacco was said to be cultivated by Ferduin, a gnomish explorer who dabbled in illusion and works of magic. He felt that the smoke enhanced his abilities and memory. Ferduin’s Traveler typically ranges from 100–200gp per ounce depending on demand (d% + 100gp.) (DC 14)
Horum’s Greenleaf: This tobacco was believed to have been brought to Lados by Horum the Raider, a Northlander who found the leaf growing on the enchanted Cymu Islands. The leaf itself is often chewed by sailors to keep them awake or smoked by night watchmen who claim it enhanced their senses and gave them an edge when peering into the darkness. Horum’s Greenleaf is fairly common in the North now and ranges from 5-10gp per ounce (1d6+4gp). (DC 12)
Moccavallo’s Leaf: Named for the capricious god of tricksters and chaos, this commonly available pipeleaf is notoriously variable in its quality and taste. It the favorite of few tobacco users but is both relatively cheap and relatively abundant, so it is often smoked for its availability rather than as a preference. Only the most hardcore of addicts or the most uncouth of pipe smokers would choose this leaf if literally anything else happened to be available and affordable. It’s not for no reason that some folk refer to it derisively as “Brin Zwiescher’s Leaf”. Moccavallo’s Leaf can be purchased for 1gp an ounce and occasionally less. (DC 14)
Silver Harp: Silver Harp is a light and airy tobacco that produces a fine silver smoke. It is extremely smooth and bears a hint of mint in its taste and fragrance. It is slightly stimulating and is favored by local musicians and writers for its reputation in helping a user to contact his muse. Silver Harp is fairly common and inexpensive at 5–12gp an ounce (1d8+4gp). (DC 12)
Zalorog’s Blood: This tobacco has a rich reddish color and is named for a particularly diabolical dragon of the northern Towers Mountains. The tobacco burns extremely hot, and tends to form a dark patch upon the lip of the smoker known as the “dragon’s mark” that can only be removed with healing spells of 3rd level or higher. Unlike the other tobaccos on this list, Zalorog’s blood causes a severe addiction with a constant craving its wicked flavor, though it is often difficult to find. Exceedingly difficult to find (there is only a 10% chance that any is in stock at any given time), Zalorog’s Blood sells for 140–200gp per ounce (2d4+12gp). (DC 20)