Tier 3

10. Upside Down Apothecary

Cabinets once filled with glass vials now lay in a heap on what was once a ceiling, filling this chamber with debris and rubble. A section of floor near one of the walls is busted in a similar manner as the two floors above, and part of the wall near the hole has been destroyed.

DM Notes

Dzaan's simulacrum and his wight companion Krintass are in are 11, and investigate any loud noises in area 10 or 12

Treasure. Any character who spends a few minutes picking through the detritus finds a small brass key (which unlocks the invisible chest in area 14) and a sealed scroll tube made of chardalyn (see the chardalyn sidebar). It contains a spell scroll of invisibility stamped into a rolled-up piece of golden foil. The chardalyn tube is safe to handle.

11. Snow and Shadow

Some effort has been taken to arrange the contents of this upside-down room, creating a functional office. A table stands in the middle of the room, surrounded by small stacks of books. Lying on the table is a silver amulet, with a teardrop shaped ruby in the center, on a silver chain.

Two figures stand behind the table. A pale, thin warrior with taught, grayish skin stretched over its decaying skeleton. One of its eyes is milky white, it wears studded leather armor that is dry rotted and full of small holes, a rusted longsword is sheathed on its hip. The second man, an attractive young man in a thick brown overcoat, fur lined tunic and breeches, and heavy boots. A pointed wizards hat sits on top of long, straight brown hair, warm eyes blink beneath the brim of the hat, and a long chin beard grows just beneath a charming smile. He spreads his arms wide and says, “Welcome to the lost spire of Netheril, my name is Dzaan.”

DM Notes

Dzaan’s simulacrum lacks a spellbook. If attacked, its impulse is to turn invisible and flee, then use its levitate spell to ascend the tower while Krintaas covers its escape. If it escapes the spire, it makes its way to Ten-Towns; as a thing made of ice and snow, the simulacrum can cross the tundra without fear of freezing to death.

Amulet. The object on the table is a Periapt of Wound Closure. Dzaan retrieved it from area P15 and brought it here for examination. Neither the simulacrum nor Krintaas know what the amulet does, nor do they care. The simulacrum will happily give it to the characters if one or more of them agrees to accompany it to the rune chamber on the lowest level. A detect magic spell reveals a magical aura of abjuration around the amulet.

Books. The simulacrum has been picking through the spire’s wreckage and gathering books that might be useful. Characters can find the following readable titles among the stacks of worthless, damaged books on the floor:

Lost Scrolls of Sabreyl. Written in Elvish, this scholarly tome copies and analyzes fragments of eight ancient scrolls left behind by a sun elf wizard who taught magic to the cloud giants of Ostoria, a bygone empire that collapsed 40,000 years ago.

From Shadow, Substance. This speculative work discusses how one might harness the Weave to turn an illusory object or creature into its real counterpart, with commentary and criticism from noteworthy Netherese illusionists.

Here Lies the King. This elaborately plotted novel features an illusionist who uses magic to impersonate a prince, supplant a king, rule a fictional kingdom for sixty-one years, and fake his own death.

Ventatost This book uses testimonials and conspiracy theories to piece together events leading up to the destruction of a Netherese city called Ventatost, which disintegrated as it flew over the forest of Cormanthor nearly two thousand years ago, before the fall of Ythryn.

12. Upside Down Shrine

A stone altar is attached to the ceiling of this otherwise empty, semicircular room. An eight-pointed star is carved into the eastern face of the altar.

DM Notes

Characters who succeed on a DC 15 Intelligence (Religion) check recognize the symbol on the altar as the holy symbol of Mystryl, the first incarnation of Mystra, the god of magic. If this check succeeds by 5 or more, the character also knows that holy shrines to Mystryl are rare places and often full of mystery.

Altar. The altar hangs 9 feet above the “floor” and merges seamlessly with the “ceiling” to which it’s attached. If a creature that can cast spells says a prayer to Mystral (Mystra) at this altar, the top of the altar glows a brilliant blue, and all creatures within 60 feet of the altar gain a permanent +2 to their intelligence score, and is immediately granted the benefits of a short rest. A creature can only benefit from this effect once.