Undermountain
City of Waterdeep Waterdeep’s darkest secret is that it sits on top of one of the greatest and most dangerous dungeon complexes in all of Faerûn. Undermountain is the name given to the colossal underground stronghold sitting within and below Mount Waterdeep, a network of caverns, tunnels, underground fortresses and caves stretching for dozens of levels and thousands of feet into the deeps. This used to be the dwarven stronghold of Melairbode, but has since been occupied by Halaster Blackcloak, the Mad Mage and populated with monsters for his own twisted amusement. Undermountain links to Skullport (which lies adjacent to its third level), the underground warren under the sewers of the city and the Underdark itself. There are several entrances to Undermountain, but the best-known is located in the Yawning Portal Inn.
Officially, Undermountain does not exist. Unofficially, the Lords of Waterdeep have sponsored hundreds of adventuring parties into descending into Undermountain in an effort to clear out its depths before Halaster himself can be confronted. Most of the adventuring parties do return, but only after reporting a gradually escalating level of difficulty before the dungeon became too much for them and they had to withdraw.
To the Lords of Waterdeep, the presence of Undermountain is an unacceptable security risk. Armies of drow, illithid, beholders, orcs or goblins could use Undermountain to invade the city from below. However, Halaster is protective of his stronghold and keeps out all interlopers, including other “evil” entities. Halaster is also one of the most powerful mages in the world, his power perhaps only rivalled by Elminster of Shadowdale. With Halaster showing no signs of acrimony against Waterdeep itself despite having a thousand years to destroy it if he wished, the Lords have reluctantly decided to leave Halaster and Undermountain in place as a buffer and defense against the hordes of the Underdark.
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