Waterdeep City Encounters v1.2 PDF

W A T E R D E E P
CITY ENCOUNTERS
Bring the City of Splendors to life with over a hundred short encounters
in this companion supplement for Waterdeep: Dragon Heist.
Credits
Lead Design: Will Doyle
Design: Alan Patrick, Cindy Moore, Greg Marks,
James Introcaso, M.T. Black, Robert Adducci, Shawn
Merwin, Travis Woodall, Will Doyle
Development and Editing: Will Doyle
Layout and Graphic Design: Rich Lescouflair
Cover and Interior Art: Jason Juta William O'Connor,
Craig J. Spearing, Additional art provided by Wizards of
the Coast and used with permission
Cartography: Jared Blando
Special Thanks: Chris Lindsay, Wizards of the Coast,
and the DMs Guild Adepts
A Collection of Encounters for 1st - 4th Level Characters
DUNGEONS & DRAGONS, D&D, Wizards of the Coast, Forgotten Realms, Ravenloft, the dragon ampersand, and all other Wizards of the Coast
product names, and their respective logos are trademarks of Wizards of the Coast in the USA and other countries.
This work contains material that is copyright Wizards of the Coast and/or other authors. Such material is used with permission under the
Community Content Agreement for Dungeon Masters Guild.
All other original material in this work is ©2018 and published under the Community Content Agreement for Dungeon Masters Guild.
Foreword Overview
I
’ve always been a bit of a city boy. My Waterdeep: City Encounters presents over a hundred
upbringing in London and Tokyo taught me short encounters to bring the City of Splendors to life
to appreciate urban life for its diversity and at your gaming table. The supplement comprises the
unpredictable edge. It’s no surprise that my first following sections:
Dungeons and Dragons campaigns took place in • Random City Encounters. Dozens of random
imaginary cities. encounters for every ward in the city.
Waterdeep represents everything I love about city life: • Location Encounters. An encounter for almost every
boundless opportunity, rich history, communal pride, location mentioned in the city guide of Waterdeep:
and the constant sense of danger just around the corner. Dragon Heist.
Chapter 9 of Waterdeep: Dragon Heist paints a vivid • Appendix 1. Waterdeep Weather. Tables for
picture of this legendary metropolis, providing all the determining the weather in Waterdeep for all four
background you need to begin your own adventures in seasons.
the city. With Waterdeep: City Encounters, I hoped to • Appendix 2. Monster & NPC Statistics. Statistics
bring the city to life on your gaming table with over a for creatures listed in Volo’s Guide to Monsters or
hundred short encounters you can pull at any time as Waterdeep: Dragon Heist.
your group explores.
Waterdeep: City Encounters requires use of the D&D
For this endeavor, I recruited my own gang from the
fifth edition core rulebooks (Player’s Handbook, Dungeon
ranks of the Guild Adepts and let them loose on the wards
Master’s Guide, and Monster Manual). When a creature’s
of Waterdeep. I think you’ll like what they found.
name appears in bold type, that’s a reference to its stat
Will Doyle block in the Monster Manual. If the creature is listed in
September 2018 Volo’s Guide to Monsters or Waterdeep: Dragon Heist, its
stat block is reproduced with permission in appendix 2.
2
3
Part One: Random City Encounters
R
andom encounters can occur at any time Most encounters occur during business hours, which
while exploring the city. Such encounters run late in most wards. No tables are provided for the
add mystery, intrigue, and danger to dead of night, as the city sleeps during these hours and
exploration, reinforcing the impression that the streets are empty save for lamplighters and City
the characters are never truly alone, and Watch patrols. All encounters are reusable if rolled more
that urban life continues around them. than once.
Roll for random encounters as often as you like. Good This section also includes four randomized tables:
times to roll are when the characters move between Random Factions, Random Guilds, Random Goods,
locations, or each time they enter a new ward. The and Waterdeep Rumors. Use these as directed by the
encounters here are balanced for characters of levels 1-4, text, or as needed to add color and flavor to your own
but dangerous outliers do feature. Players be warned! adventures.
Encounter Castle C. of Dead Dock Field North Sea Southern Trades

Angry Mob 01-03 - 01-03 - 01-02 01 01-03 01-03
Assassination 04 01-02 04 01-02 03-04 02-03 04-05 04-05
Awakened Tree - 03-04 - - - 04-05 - -
Beer Tide - - 05 03 05 - 06 06
Beggar - - 06-07 05-06 - - - 07-08
Book Keeper 05 - - - 06-07 - - 09-10
Book Thief 06-07 - - - - - - -
Broadsheet Reporter 08-09 05-06 08-09 07-08 08-09 06-07 07-08 11-12
Celebrating Hero 10-11 - 10-11 - 10-11 08-09 09-10 13
Chamber Pot - - 12-13 09-11 12-13 - 11-12 14-15
City Watch 12-14 07-09 14-15 - 14-15 10-12 13-15 16-18
Crashed Carriage 15 - 16-17 - 16-17 13-14 16-17 19-20
Cultists - 10-12 - - - - - -
Demon Worshipers 16 13-14 18 12 18 15 18 21
Drunken Troublemakers - - 19-20 13-15 19-20 16 19-20 22
Ensorcelled Child 17 15-16 21 16-17 21 17 21 23
4 Part One | Random City Encounters

Fallen Money Pouch 18 - 22 18-19 22 18-19 22-23 24-25
Festival Parade 19-21 17-19 23-24 20-21 23-24 20-21 24-25 26-27
Fleeing Cutpurse 22-23 - 25-26 22-23 25-26 22-23 26-27 28-29
Funeral - 20-23 - - - - - -
Gang War - 24-25 27-28 24-26 27-28 - 28-29 30
Ghost - 26-29 - - - - - -
Gridlock 24-26 - 29 27 29-30 24-25 30-31 31-33
Griffon Cavalry 27-28 30-31 30 - 31-32 26-27 32-33 34-35
Groundskeeper - 32-35 - - - - - -
Guide 29-30 36-37 31-32 28-29 33-34 28-29 34-35 36-37
Guild War 31 38-39 33 30-31 35-36 30 36-37 38-40
Halfling Thief 32 - 34 32-33 37 31 38 41
Haywire Experiment 33-34 - - 34-35 38 32-33 - -
High Stakes Gamblers 35 40-41 35-36 36-37 39 34 39 42
Hue and Cry 36-38 - 37-38 38-41 40-41 35-36 40-41 43-44
Illegal Duel 39-40 42-44 39 - 42 37-39 42-43 45
Lost Pet 41-42 45-46 40 42-43 43 40 44 46
Luck Seeker 43 47-48 41 44-45 44-45 41-42 45-46 47-48
Magister 44-45 49-50 42 - 46-47 43-44 47-48 49-50
Masked Lord 46-47 - - - 48-49 45-47 49-50 51
Mistaken Identity 48 51-52 43 - 50 48 51 52
Muggers - 53-55 44-45 46-48 51-52 - 52 53-54
Murder Victim 49-50 56-58 46-47 49-50 53-54 49-50 53-54 55-56
Newsprint Seller 51-52 59-60 48-49 51 55-56 51-52 55-56 57-58
Nimblewright 53 61-62 50 52 57 53 57 59
Noble and Retinue 54-56 63-64 - - 58-59 54-56 58-59 60-61
Orc (with Pie) - - 52 53-54 60 - - 62
Otyugh - - - 55-56 - - - -
Peddler 57 - 53 57-58 61 57 60 63
Pickpocket 58-59 65-66 54-55 59-60 62 58 61-62 64-65
Pilgrims 60-61 67-68 56-57 61-62 63-64 59-60 63-64 66
Plague Carrier 62 69-71 58-59 63-64 65 61 65 67
Rat Swarm - 72-74 60-61 65-66 66 - - 68
Refugees - - 62-63 67-68 67-68 - - 69
Religious Procession 63-65 75-78 64 69-70 69-70 62-63 66-67 70
Robbery in Progress 66-67 - 65-66 71-72 71 64-65 68-69 71-72
Runaway Cart 68-69 - 67-68 73-74 72-73 66 70-71 73-74
Sea Spawn - - 69-70 - - - - -
Seer 70-71 79-80 71-72 75-76 74-75 67-68 72-73 75
Seized Ship - - 73-74 - - - - -
Sewer Backup 72-73 - 75-76 - 76 69-70 74-75 76
Ship Crimp - - 77-78 - - - 76 -
Sink Hole 74 - 79 - 77 71 77 77
Smugglers - - 80-81 77-78 78-79 - 78-79 78-80
Snake Oil Salesman 75-76 - 82-83 79-80 80-81 72-73 80 81-82
Solicitor 77-78 81-82 84 - 82 74-75 81-82 83
Strange Feelings 79 83-84 85 81-82 83-84 76 83 84-85
Street Performer 80-82 - 86-87 83-84 85 77-78 84-85 86-87
Street Race 83-84 - 88-89 85 86-87 79-80 86-87 -
Street Food Vendor 85-86 - 90-91 86-87 88 81-82 88-89 88-89
Stumbling Figure 87 85-86 92-93 88-89 89-90 83 90 90
Supernatural Mists 88 87-89 94 90-91 91 84 91 91
Tax Collectors 89-90 - 95 92 92-93 85-87 92-93 92-93
Traffic Warden 91-92 - - - 94-95 88-90 94-95 94
Undercover City Watch 93-95 90-91 96 93-94 96 91-94 96-97 95
Unearthed Evil - 92-94 - - - - - -
Unholy Invitation 96 95-96 97 95 97 95-96 98 96
Wanted Criminal 97-98 97-98 98-99 96-98 98-99 97-98 99 97-98
Wild Animal 99-00 99-00 00 99-00 00 99-00 00 99-00
Part One | Random City Encounters 5

Angry Mob Beer Tide
1d4 rabble-rousing thugs lead an angry mob of 2d12 A fermenter full of beer in a nearby brewery bursts and
commoners through the streets, chanting political hundreds of gallons of golden elixir churn into the streets!
slogans, vandalizing storefronts, or otherwise causing The flash flood jeopardizes one or more of the locals! Roll a
upset. Roll a d4 to determine who they are: d4 to find out who is affected or choose up to four results.
1. Hooligans from the Guild of Butchers drag a halfling 1. The flood has washed a young child away from his
pie-maker through the streets. As punishment for mother and is carrying him toward an open manhole
selling unlicensed scotched eggs, the vigilantes have 60-feet away from the group. Any character who
dipped the halfling in butter and rolled him in mince wades over to the drain and succeeds on a DC 9
and breadcrumbs. Strength (Athletics) check can yank the child from
2. Frustrated drivers from the Fellowship of Carters & the flood before it washes him into the sewers.
Coachmen barricade the street to protest the growing 2. A trio of City Watch guards were arresting a criminal
popularity of double-decked dray carriages. The when the flood occurred. In the confusion, the bandit
drivers are upturning a passing dray carriage when escaped and is now running towards the characters.
the characters arrive, much to the consternation of its If the characters capture the ne'er-do-well, they earn
passengers. the thanks of the City Watch. To the contrary, if they
3. Storekeepers rally against the proposed "Door Levy", help her escape, she may repay them when they least
which taxes business owners for every door in their expect it.
premises. The protestors rip the doors from every 3. An old woman's flower cart has toppled over in the
storefront that refuses to donate to their cause. flood. While the cart is mostly intact, all her flowers
4. Youthful agitators protest the anonymity afforded have been lost: as has her livelihood. 5 gp is enough
to the Lords of Waterdeep. They surround anyone for her to restock, and she’s extremely thankful if
wearing a mask and try to tear it from their face. the characters help in such a way. Alternatively, the
Ironically, the agitators wear masks to hide their characters can seek out the miserly owner of the
identities from the authorities. brewery and attempt a DC 15 Charisma (Persuasion)
check to solicit compensation.
Assassination 4. The flood rushes towards the characters! Characters
A passing figure drives a dagger into another person’s who succeed on a DC 9 Dexterity (Acrobatics) or
back and then flees the scene. Roll a d4 to determine who Strength (Athletics) check are able to jump out of the
they are: way or clamber up a nearby street lamp. Characters
1. Two sisters embroiled in a long-running legal dispute who fail are washed down the street, taking 3 (1d6)
over the modest estate left by their father. bludgeoning damage and ending up covered in sticky,
2. The victim was a lawyer involved in the prosecution half-fermented beer.
of a powerful gangster. Her assailant is an assassin
who was sent to silence her. Beggar
A middle-aged lightfoot halfling wererat named Larca
3. The assailant was forced to commit the murder
Shineforth approaches the characters in her humanoid
because of a geas cast by a wicked enchanter, who
form, begging for coin. If the group contains halflings, any
harbored a grudge against the victim after she
character who succeeds on a Wisdom (Perception) check
rejected his romantic advances.
opposed by Larca's Dexterity (Stealth) check notices she’s
4. The assailant is a cambion who has recently come been following them at a distance. Larca is sizing up them
to the city and takes sadistic delight in attacking up for recruitment to the “Shard Shunners”, a gang of
random strangers. halfling wererats of which she is a member.
Awakened Tree Larca singles out any halfling character who displays
The characters come across a tree laden with ripe competency in Dexterity-based ability checks or
apples, regardless of season. The tree bears a sign that Charisma-based ability checks. She waits until she can
reads "Please pick an apple." Numerous items are piled speak with that halfling alone, and then promises them
around its roots, from colorful scarves to a coin pouch great power in return for loyalty to her gang. Whether
containing 17 cp. Any creature taking an apple from the or not the character accepts, Larca transforms into her
tree must succeed on a DC 10 Wisdom saving throw or be hybrid form and attempts to bite the character to infect
compelled to leave a random possession at the tree’s base them with wererat lycanthropy.
and forget they ever owned it. Anyone who tries to take If you roll this encounter again, a different beggar
one of the items is walloped by the awakened tree. approaches the group for alms.

Book Keeper Chamber Pot
Linden Tallowick. a half-elf apprentice wizard (see A homeowner empties a chamber pot of “night soil” from
appendix 2), walks out in front of a horse while carrying a a second story window. Each character must succeed on a
teetering pile of books. Linden is knocked prone with his DC 10 Dexterity saving throw or be spattered by the sloppy
books scattered around him, where he lies stunned but contents. Roll a d4 to determine who emptied the pot:
unharmed. A callous soul could steal his history books 1. A maid in the service of a wealthy lawyer. Her master
and sell them as a lot for 20 gp. is abusive, and "bombing" pedestrians is one of her
If helped, Linden introduces the characters to his few little pleasures.
mistress Vajra Safahr, the Blackstaff, who is always 2. A spy belonging to the Xanathar Guild. If the
looking to hire adventurers (for more details on these the adventurers protest his behavior, he smirks and says,
Blackstaff, see appendix B of Waterdeep: Dragon Heist). If "You have no idea who you’re dealing with."
you repeat this encounter, the characters meet Tallowick
3. An absent-minded toymaker who is oblivious to
again, this time without his pile of books.
what she has done. She apologizes if the characters
Book Thief confront her and offers them a clever clockwork toy
The Font of Knowledge in the Castle Ward is Waterdeep’s as compensation.
largest public library. The faithful of Oghma keep a 4. A kenku member of the Red Sashes. If the
watchful eye over the shelves, but thefts still occur. adventurers complain, he offers to have the “bird
While the characters are passing through the ward, they droppings” cleaned from their clothes and attempts
encounter one of these thieves fresh from the job. Roll a to recruit them to the Red Sashes.
d4 to determine who they meet:
City Watch
1. A penniless acolyte of Chauntea has stolen a series
A City Watch patrol marches down the street. The patrol
of self-help romance books to woo a noble’s daughter.
comprises five City Watch guards and one veteran officer.
When the tomes tumble from under his robes, the
If the characters have committed a crime, they must
poor wretch breaks down and confesses his sins to
succeed on an opposed group Charisma (Deception)
the characters.
check versus the veteran’s passive Insight of 10 to avoid
2. An unschooled kenku offers to pay the characters attracting attention. Even if the characters have abided by
5 gp if they read aloud from her stolen book on the law, there’s a 1-in-4 chance that the officers stop them
powered flight. If they do so, she becomes obsessed for questioning.
with piloting a hang-glider and beseeches the
characters to help her build it. Crashed Carriage
3. An apprentice wizard (see appendix 2) tears off and A carriage has crashed on the street ahead. Roll a d3 to
devours the pages of a library book as five acolytes determine what's happened:
of Oghma chase him down the street. The mad 1. A pair of local guides overloaded their carriage by
apprentice believes that he must consume knowledge cramming in a trio of visiting authors. The axle broke,
to truly understand it. and now the guides must stay with the carriage while
4. A halfling bandit tries to hawk the “Spellbook of it undergoes repairs. They offer the group 25gp to
Halaster Blackcloak” for 50 gp. The book is nothing escort the authors at speed to a local breakfast bar
of the sort but is clearly marked property of the Font and show them a good time before their seminar.
of Knowledge and contains a heretical theory about 2. Gangsters from the Xanathar Guild rammed the
the origins of wild magic. carriage to rob the two nobles held within. Two
guards defend the noble's carriage against 1d6
Broadsheet Reporter hobgoblins and a hobgoblin sergeant loyal to the
Kelia Wintersbane, a sun elf spy and reporter for The Xanathar Guild.
Targe broadsheet, begins shadowing the characters.
3. After crashing her carriage, the goblin driver fled
The Targe is prone to vitriolic pieces on all manner of
the scene on foot. If caught, she reveals that she's
local topics, and Kelia’s looking to do a hit piece on the
a getaway driver for the Xanathar Guild. She's too
“scourge of adventurers” in the city. If the characters
scared to tell her boss about the crash but provides
confront Kelia, she frames her article as a human-interest
directions to his hideout if the characters offer to
story and asks if she can interview and observe the
negotiate on her behalf (for more details on the
characters for a few days. In her notes, she spins events
Xanatahar, see chapter 5, “Spring Madness,” of
to make the characters appear in the worst light possible.
Waterdeep: Dragon Heist).
If you roll this encounter again, a reporter from a rival
newspaper tries the same deal, perhaps with honest Cultists
intentions this time. Passing through the City of the Dead, the characters
hear chanting nearby. On closer inspection, they discover
Celebrating Hero a group of six cultists in the throes of a religious rite.
The champion of a ward competition is carried on the
The remains of a cat lay spread out before them on an
shoulders of a crowd to the House of Heroes in the Sea
overturned headstone.
Ward. Characters who show interest learn the date of the
If confronted, the cultists flee in different directions.
next ward competition and are told how to register for
Any captured cultists shriek in pain as they bite out their
the event. See the “Festival Parade” and “Street Race”
own tongues to avoid betraying their faith. If you roll this
encounters for details on example competitions.
encounter a second time, more cultists have returned with
their cult fanatic leader to finish the ceremony.

To determine who the cultists worship, roll a d4. Young Benji Tormson is a vessel for a primal spirit, which
1. Loviatar, Goddess of Pain possesses him whenever he panics. If Benji succumbs
2. Bhaal, God of Murder. to the spirit, he begins to radiate magic randomly (use
the evoker stats from appendix 2). A DC 15 Charisma
3. Malar, God of the Hunt.
(Persuasion) check calms the child, dampening the spirit’s
4. Talona, Goddess of Disease and Poison influence. If the characters assault or kill Benji, they must
Demon Worshipers answer to the parents and the authorities.
The characters hear a scream from a nearby alley. A remove curse spell can drive out the spirit, but Benji’s
Arronal, a warlock of the fiend (see appendix 2) and a parents can’t afford to pay for the ceremony. Character
cloaked babau (see appendix 2) have abducted a young who cast the spell themselves or pay 300 gp to have it cast
man named Bol off the street with the intent of offering at a temple earn the family’s eternal thanks. If you roll this
him in sacrifice to Baphomet. They’ve set up a demonic encounter more than once, the characters cross paths
altar in a nearby building using five golden candle sticks with Benji and his parents yet again.
worth 10 gp each. If the sacrifice goes ahead, 2d6 maw Fallen Money Pouch
demons (see appendix 2) spew forth from a rift to the A character spots a money pouch lying in the gutter. Roll
Abyss and rampage through the Ward. 1d6 to find out what’s inside:
If this encounter is rerolled, the characters encounter
1. 1d6 gp and a note that reads "Now we’re even."
Bol again, but now he’s gone insane and become a cult
fanatic of Baphomet himself. Bol is abducting someone 2. A very angry poisonous snake.
else to complete the demonic ritual. 3. Fresh horse dung.
4. A cloud of foul-smelling smoke billows from within
Drunken Troublemakers and everyone within 5 feet of the bag reeks of rotten
The characters cross paths with two thoroughly eggs until they next wash their clothes. Gnome
inebriated members of the Black Boar Tribe (two mage Igglewen Cogsworthy watches from a nearby
berserkers). One of them bumps into randomly- doorway and rolls over with uproarious laughter if
determined character and naturally takes offense. The her prank succeeds. If the characters take the joke
offending character must succeed on a DC 15 Charisma well, she clips a clothespin to her nose and offers to
(Intimidation or Persuasion) check or be sucker-punched buy them a round of drinks.
by the berserker. If the character offers to make it up with 5. The pouch is filled with small pebbles. When a
a drink, the check is made with advantage. If you roll this character reaches for it, a human assassin named
encounter again, use the “Random Factions” table to Black Pidden attempts to stab them in the back
determine the troublemakers’ allegiances. as he walks by. He doesn’t fight to the death, and if
Ensorcelled Child questioned reveals that he was hired by one of the
A child of roughly ten years dashes group’s enemies.
into the midst of the characters, 6. The pouch contains a fake map to the legendary Vault
twitching and gibbering of Dragons. Characters who follow the trail are lured
strangely. His parents into a nearby tavern as a publicity stunt.
follow close behind, Festival Parade
shouting for help.
The characters encounter a raucous festival parade that
slows progress through the streets to a crawl. Roll a d3 to
determine what’s happening:
1. Two wards compete to hurl a solid silver ball into a
goal in their rival’s ward. This violent game has just
one rule: you can’t move while carrying the ball. If
the players join in, the first character in the group
to succeed on four consecutive DC 15 Strength
(Athletics) checks makes the winning throw. Failure
on any of these checks results in the character taking
2 (1d4) bludgeoning damage from the flailing limbs
of stampeding competitors.
2. A street food stall goes up in flames, catching
the painted sails of a passing festival float. The
flames roar up the float, threatening to devour the
performers dancing on its roof.
3. Elaborately-costumed dancers try to cajole the group
into joining their performance. If a character joins in
and succeeds on a DC 15 Charisma (Performance)
check, they catch the attention of a passing talent
scout and are invited to visit the Sea Maiden’s Faire
for an audition with Zardoz Zord (see chapter 7,
“Maestro’s Fall,” of Waterdeep: Dragon Heist).
8
Fleeing Cutpurse Silandra (sun elf mage), Tala Furryfoot (lightfoot
A fleeing cutpurse (a spy) slips a stolen gem worth 50 gp halfling priest of Cyrrollalee), and Ruc Brokentusk
into a character’s pocket. Any character in the group with (half-orc berserker). Ruc is particularly grief-stricken
a passive Perception score of 11 or higher sees the thief and is looking for a fight. His friends try to stop him
plant the gem. from coming to blows with the characters but come
A few moments after the gem is planted, a patrol of four to his aid if combat ensues.
City Watch guards arrives on the scene. If the character Gang War
has the gem in hand, the guards spot it and approach
Violence is imminent. Two rival factions face off against
with cudgels bared! Convincing the guards of the
each other in the street, or one group prepares to ambush
character’s innocence requires surrendering the gem and
the other. Either way, things are about to get bloody!
a successful DC 13 Charisma (Deception or Persuasion)
Roll twice on the Random Factions table to determine
check. Otherwise, the character must surrender the gem
who's involved (reroll if the pairing seems unlikely).
and pay a fine of 50 gp to avoid hard punishment.
Most groups consist of 2d4 members: either acolytes,
If you roll this encounter again, the characters spot a
apprentice wizards (see appendix 2), bandits, bandit
different cutpurse dashing through the crowds, and no
captains, cultists, cult fanatics, druids, goblins, guards,
gem is planted.
kobolds, nobles, priests, scouts, spies, thugs, or
Funeral wererats as appropriate.
A funeral is taking place here. Roll a d3 to determine Ghost
what’s happening:
Rumors abound of the spirit of a young child wandering
1. The funeral is for a City Watch officer who was killed the City of the Dead. As the characters move through
while trying to arrest a drunken adventurer. 3d6 the cemetery, they encounter this spirit manifesting as
commoners, 3d6 guards, 1d6 veterans and one a ghost. Speaking an archaic form of Chondathan, the
priest are in attendance. Anyone who looks like an child is oblivious of being dead and the circumstances
adventurer is met with scorn and disgust. surrounding their death. The child cries for their mother
2. A group of gangsters pose as a funeral party to "Shafkii." The spirit is unable to leave the graveyard
exhume the grave of former comrade for the treasure and disappears an hour after appearing. No amount of
map and 100gp ring she was buried with. A master searching official records finds the name anywhere.
thief watches while 1d6 thugs dig. If you reroll this encounter, the characters encounter the
3. An adventuring company called the Sons of the same spirit again. If the spirit has been destroyed or laid
North commemorate their fallen comrade with a few to rest, the characters encounter a different ghost of your
bottles of wine. The remaining members of the group own choosing.
comprise: Sir Humphren Boldblade (human knight),

Random Factions
d100 Faction Overview
01-02 Adventurers Treasure seekers looking to make their names in the big city.
03-04 Black Boar Tribe Barbaric Dock Ward gangsters who serve as bodyguards and bouncers.
05-06 Bregan D’aerthe Drow mercenaries who pledge loyalty to Jarlaxle Baenre.
07-08 Bull Elk Tribe Dock Ward gang who run protection rackets on ships passing through customs.
09-10 Church of Bane Worshipers of the god of fear, hatred, and tyranny.
11-12 Church of Cyric Worshipers of the god of strife and lies.
13-14 Church of Loviator Worshipers of the goddess of agony.
15-16 Church of Shar Worshipers of the goddess of darkness.
17-18 Church of Talos Worshipers of the god of storms and destruction.
19-20 Church of Umberlee Worshipers of the cruel sea goddess.
21-22 City Watch Members of the Waterdeep constabulary.
23-24 Cult of Entropy Cultists who worship a distant deity of annihilation.
25-26 Cult of the Black Earth Cultists who worship Ogrémoch, the Prince of Elemental Evil Earth.
27-28 Cult of the Crushing Wave Cultists who worship Olhydra, the Princess of Elemental Evil Water.
29-30 Cult of the Dragon Cultists who venerate evil dragons.
31-32 Cult of the Eternal Flame Cultists who worship Imix, the Prince of Elemental Evil Flame.
33-34 Cult of the Howling Hatred Cultists who worship Yan-C-Bin, the Prince of Elemental Evil Air.
35-36 Emerald Enclave Alliance of druids and rangers sworn to defend the wilds from evil.
37-38 Enclave of Red Magic Thayan mages who often smuggle slaves into Skullport.
39-40 Fangshields League of good-aligned monsters and lycanthropes sworn to fight evil.
41-42 Fists of Hextor Brutal mercenaries who often sell their services to despots and villains.
43-44 Force Grey League of heroes sworn to protect Waterdeep.
45-46 Griffon Cavalry Elite company of the City Guard who patrol from the air.
47-48 Halaster’s Heirs Dark arcanists trained at a hidden academy within Undermountain
49-50 Harpers Undercover organization sworn to defy tyranny and evil.
51-52 House Cassalanter Agents of the devil-corrupted Cassalanter noble house.
53-54 Iluskan Ship Bravos from one of Luskan’s major gangs (or “ships”).
55-56 Knights of the Shield Knowledge brokers who seek wealth and power by manipulating information.
57-58 Lords’ Alliance Coalition of nobles across the North who are sworn to unite against evil.
59-60 Luminous Lightning League Cabal of wild mages.
61-62 Mercenaries One of many mercenary companies that ply their trade in Waterdeep.
63-64 Order of the Gauntlet Tight-knit group of clerics and paladins united by religious zeal to crush evil.
65-66 People of the Black Blood Widespread league of lycanthrope Malar worshipers.
67-68 Pirates Lawless sea scavengers who return to port to spend their booty on grog.
69-70 Plague Rats League of wererat thieves active throughout the Western Heartlands.
71-72 Red Sashes Undercover vigilantes who seek to enact justice where the city authorities fail.
73-74 Savants of the Dark Tide Enslaved humanoids used as tools by aboleths hiding out in the city’s sewers.
75-76 Sewer Snakes Goblin gangsters who sneak up from Skullport to rob and murder city folk.
77-78 Shadow Thieves Powerful criminal cartel attempting to reestablish control in Waterdeep.
79-80 Tel Teukiira (“The Moonstars”) Undercover agents who serve the Blackstaff by rooting out corruption and evil.
81-82 The Confluence Secret organization of half-dragons who seek to rid the city of shapeshifters.
83-84 The Kraken Society Shadowy group of thieves and mages who serve a kraken master.
85-86 The Unseen Consortium of shapeshifter thieves and assassins.
87-88 Thralls of Artor Morlin Thralls of the Waterdhavian vampire Artor Morlin, the Baron of Blood.
89-90 Underdark Anarchists’ Fellowship Anarchic rebels sworn to smash the tyrannical status quo of the Underdark.
91-92 Wharf Rats Kobold gang active in the Dock Ward slums.
93-96 Xanathar Guild Monstrous servants of the Xanathar engaged in thievery, extortion, and slavery.
97-00 Zhentarim Unscrupulous mercenary network caught up in street war with the Xanathar Guild.

Gridlock Every time you reroll this encounter, Melvyn informs the
A wagon has thrown a wheel and upturned in the middle group about a new area affected by the rot.
of the street, causing a long tailback of traffic. Until the 1. A shallow mass grave containing the bodies of twenty
wagon is repaired, the crowded streets in this ward count children. The cause of death is indiscernible, but
as difficult terrain to move through. each child has a strange symbol branded on their
The characters can be fix the wagon with a successful back: three inverted triangles arranged to resemble
DC 11 Wisdom (Land Vehicle) check. In exchange for a larger triangle. A successful DC 17 Intelligence
their help, the driver gives them a small portion of their (Religion) check identifies this as the infernal symbol
cargo. Roll on the Random Goods table to determine what of Asmodeus.
this gift could be. 2. A black stone sarcophagus that contains skeletal
Roll a d4 to find out why the wagon threw its wheel (see remains swilling in a pool of stinking red fluid. A tin
below). tiara rests on the skeleton’s brow, inscribed with a
1. The wagon was sabotaged by the villain of the rune that a successful DC 13 Intelligence (Arcana)
adventure to lure the characters into a trap. If the check reveals to mean "patience." If the tiara is
group has no such enemy, it’s a case of mistaken removed, a wraith coalesces from the sludge and
identity! Two thugs, a spy, and an apprentice wizard attacks whomever holds the tiara.
(see appendix 2) leap from a nearby alley to attack! 3. A heavy stone slab covers the entrance to a hitherto
2. The Dungsweepers Guild has gotten tired of a nearby unknown crypt. Inside the crypt, a glass coffin
shop shirking its monthly payments and has decided contains the perfectly preserved body of a beautiful
to teach them a lesson by sabotaging a fish wagon Chultan woman in her late-40s. There are no
just outside the premises. Four guild thugs are indications or clues as to the body's identity, and the
now hurling shovel-fulls of smelly fish at the shop's crypt isn't identified on any official records.
windows. They fight anyone who tries to stop them 4. The characters unearth a featureless black stone
but flee if the characters reduce two or more of them orb from the oozing muck. Divination magic yields
to 0 hit points. no clues about it, but any creature that carries the
3. Four thugs from a small-time gang suspect that the orb in their possession for more than a tenday is
wagon is hauling illicit goods belonging to a rival haunted by dreams of drowning in stinking, black
organization. They’ve ambushed the wagon and are slime. Each morning thereafter, roll a die. If the
likely to beat its driver to a pulp if the characters don't result is odd, the character must succeed on a DC
intervene. 11 Wisdom saving throw or be afflicted by a short-
4. It’s just broke. Help the driver fix it, already. term madness (see “Madness” in chapter 8 of the
Dungeon Masters Guide).
Griffon Cavalry
A griffon cavalry rider (see appendix 2) glides overhead
Guide
on a griffon. Roll a d3 to determine what they’re doing: A guide approaches the characters, offering to lead them
to one of the following locations for just 1 sp. Each of
1. The rider circles overhead, scanning the nearby
these destinations has its own encounter in the “Location
streets for a fugitive on-the-run. If the characters
Encounters” section. Roll a d6 to determine the destination:
linger, run the “Fleeing Cutpurse” or “Wanted
Criminal” encounter. 1. Tower of Luck (Sea Ward)
2. The rider is studying the flow of traffic prior to an 2. New Olamn’s Academy of Music (Castle Ward)
upcoming festival. He offers the group 5 gp to move 3. House of Heroes (Sea Ward)
at speed to a landmark in a neighboring ward. If they 4. Shrines to Nature (Sea Ward)
accept, roll another random Waterdeep encounter 5. Jade Dancer (Southern Ward)
while they’re on route, but remember the rider is 6. Court of the White Bull (Trades Ward)
watching from overhead.
3. The griffon lands nearby, as the rider is desperate Guild War
to use the lavatory. He asks the characters to mind Waterdeep’s guilds furiously protect their trades for the
his steed while he’s gone. If the characters accept, good of their members. This often puts them at odds with
they must succeed on a DC 13 group Wisdom each other, or with other factions in the City of Splendors.
(Animal Handling) check to prevent the griffon from The characters witness a brawl between two rival guilds,
devouring a passing horse. with 2d8 commoners involved on each side. Roll twice on
the Random Guilds table to determine which guilds are
Groundskeeper involved.
Melvyn Wake, an elderly human groundskeeper,
approaches the characters with a strange tale about a Halfling Thief
seldom-visited section of the graveyard. He says that the Wents, a halfling master thief (see appendix 2), just stole
grass there has become peculiarly muddy and smells a candle of the invocation (neutral good) from a nearby
distinctly of rot. Melvyn is too scared to investigate further house and is looking to move it fast. He claims it belongs
and begs the characters to do so on his behalf. to his sick mother, and its sale will pay for her medical
Casting a detect magic spell over the area reveals bills. Wents offers the item to the characters for 500 gp
powerful necromantic magic at work. If the characters but is secretly willing to be bargained down to 75 gp for a
excavate the ground, they find something peculiar. Roll a quick sale.
d4 to find out what it is.

Random Guilds
d100 Goods d100 Goods
01-02 Baker’s Guild 49-50 Launderers’ Guild
03-04 Carpenters’, Roofers’ and Plasterers’ Guild 51-52 League of Basket-makers and Wickerworkers
05-06 Cellarers’ and Plumbers’ Guild 53-55 League of Skinners and Tanners
07-08 Coopers’ Guild 56-60 Loyal Order of Street Laborers
09-10 Council of Farmer-Grocers 61-62 Master Mariners’ Guild
11-12 Council of Musicians, Instrument-makers and Choristers 63-64 Most Careful Order of Skilled Smiths and Metalforgers
13-16 Dungsweepers’ Guild 65-66 Most Diligent League of Sail-makers and Cordwainers
17-18 Fellowship of Bowyers and Fletchers 67-68 Most Excellent Order of Weavers and Dyers
19-20 Fellowship of Carters and Coachmen 69-70 Order of Cobblers and Corvisers
21-22 Fellowship of Innkeepers 71-72 Order of Master Shipwrights
23-24 Fellowship of Salters, Packers and Joiners 73-74 Order of Master Tailors, Glovers, and Mercers
25-26 Fishmongers’ Fellowship 75-76 Saddlers’ and Harness-makers’ Guild
27-28 Guild of Apothecaries and Physicians 77-78 Scriveners’, Scribes’, and Clerks’ Guild
29-30 Guild of Butchers 79-80 Solemn Order of Recognized Furriers and Woolmen
31-32 Guild of Chandlers and Lamplighters 81-82 Splendid Order of Armorers, Locksmiths, and Finesmiths
33-34 Guild of Fine Carvers 83-86 Stablemasters’ and Farriers’ Guild
35-36 Guild of Glassblowers, Glaziers, and Spectacle-makers 87-88 Stationers’ Guild
37-40 Guild of Stonecutters, Masons, Potters, and Tile-makers 89-90 Surveyors’, Map-, and Chart-makers’ Guild
41-42 Guild of Trusted Pewterers and Casters 91-94 Vintners’, Distillers’, and Brewers’ Guild
43-44 Guild of Watermen 95-96 Wagon-makers’ and Coach Builders’ Guild
45-46 Jesters’ Guild 97-98 Watchful Order of Magists and Protectors
47-48 Jewelers’ Guild 99-00 Wheelwrights’ Guild
Shortly after Wents leaves, five guards from the City High Stakes Gamblers
Watch stop the characters and search them for the Two berserkers and a gladiator are playing a dangerous
candle. If they find it, they charge the characters with dice game. If a character shows interest, the gamblers
burglary unless the characters can prove that Wents is offer them a chair but warn that the stakes are high.
the real culprit. If you reroll this encounter, the characters Whomever scores lowest in each game must chop off
spot Wents again in the crowd. their own left hand, while the highest-scoring player gets
Haywire Experiment to keep the pot. The gladiator carries a potion of greater
healing to prevent the loser from bleeding to death.
An unforeseen accident causes the release of a dreadful
If a character joins the game but later decides not
creation from the House of Inspired Hands. The haywire
to play or refuses the punishment, the three gamblers
experiment rages through the streets, chased by 1d4
angrily decide to teach them a lesson. If you reroll this
acolytes! Roll a d4 to determine what it is
encounter, the characters encounter the same group, but
1. A helmed horror is intent on causing as much this time they’re all missing their hands and are playing
damage as possible. Its armor is white hot, having for their feet instead.
just emerged from the forges. Any creature that
strikes the helmed horror with a melee attack takes 3 Hue and Cry
(1d6) fire damage. The nearby citizens erupt into a "hue and cry": a
2. A shield guardian is marching in a straight line communal effort to hunt down a criminal by shouting,
towards a random location in the Trades Ward, banging drums, and searching together until the City
regardless of what stands in its way; people, carts, Watch arrives. If the characters join the mob, they can
houses, walls. One of the acolytes clutches its broken attempt a DC 12 group Intelligence (Investigation)
control amulet in its hands. check to locate the criminal. Use the "Wanted Criminal"
3. Four gargoyles swoop around the neighborhood, encounter to determine who their quarry is. If they locate
grabbing passersby and dropping them from height, the crook, 2d10 angry commoners accompany them into
cackling all the while. any confrontation.
4. A rug of smothering slithers between the Illegal Duel
storefronts, attempting to scoop up and carry as
Two nobles prepare to fight an illegal duel in the street.
many objects as possible. The rug mercilessly
Roll a d4 to determine the circumstances of their feud:
smothers any creature that gets in the way of its
work, from horses through pedestrians. 1. The nobles duel for the heart of a maiden they
both desire, who watches in horror from a nearby
doorway.

2. The nobles have gotten into a long and tedious
argument over the updated rules of a dice-based
parlour game they both play. With neither side willing
to compromise, they’ve decided that only blood can
settle their dispute.
3. A noble has challenged his wayward son (a bandit)
to a duel for his son’s inheritance. If the son defeats
his father, he wins his estate.
4. The nobles are feigning their dispute to goad passers-
by into intervening. If the characters get involved,
three veteran bodyguards step from the shadows to
attack them while the nobles bet on who’ll win.
Lost Pet
The characters find a small household pet that
appears well cared-for but is alone and frightened.
If the characters succeed on a DC 10 Intelligence
(Investigation) check, they can track down the pet’s
rightful owner. Roll a d4 to see who lost the pet:
1. Homeless teenager Nix has lost her puppy Nibbles.
She devotes what little coin she earns to caring for
Nibbles, so while grateful for his return, she has
no cash to offer as reward. Instead, she’ll gladly do
odd jobs for the group, such as delivering messages,
fetching water, or caring for their mounts: something
she shows real talent for.
2. Lug Toothbreaker is an enormous half-orc thug who
angrily assumes that the characters have stolen
his puppy Facechewer as soon as he sees them. He
gathers up three of his thug buddies to rough up the
characters and recover his puppy.
3. Alixian the half-elf bard is looking for his cat Sonata,
and joyfully composes a song about the great heroes
who rescued her. His tale grows in the telling and
in short order the characters are known throughout
the ward as having faced down the vile Xanathar
to rescue Sonata. How the Xanathar feels about
these upstarts remains to be seen, but the crime
boss is not well known for allowing challenges to his
reputation… you roll this encounter again, the Masked Lord suspects
4. Noblewoman Amanthea Silverstar has lost her the characters of following them, and dispatches three
beloved ermine Elysia and rewards the group with a thugs to rough them up and question them.
potion of healing for returning her pet.
Mistaken Identity
Luck Seeker One of the characters is mistaken for someone else. Roll a
A hapless adventurer stops the characters for directions d6 to determine the cause of the confusion:
to the Tower of Luck. If you need to introduce a new 1. An angry mother mistakes the character for the
character or supporting NPC, this fateful meeting could rapscallion who seduced her son or daughter. She
be the perfect opportunity. If not, the adventurer imparts begins following the character through the ward
a story from the Waterdeep Rumors table before heading demanding to know the whereabouts of her grown
on their way. child. If she can determine where the characters
are staying, she may even hire others to follow and
Magister investigate the group.
A black-cloaked judge marches down the street, escorted
2. The character is mistaken by a veteran member of
by four veteran City Watch officers and an apprentice
the City Watch for a cutpurse he’s been searching for.
wizard (see appendix 2) from the Watchful Order of
Magists and Protectors. If the characters carry magic 3. A delivery boy inaccurately identifies the character as
items, there is a 10% chance per item that the apprentice the recipient for the wedding cake he’s delivering.
wizard detects a disruption in the Weave, causing the 4. An assassin mistakes one of the characters for his
magister to order a stop-and-search on the group. target.
5. An imp believes that the character has been marked
Masked Lord by Asmodeus for great evil and thus tries to buy their
An ornate carriage thunders past, with a masked noble soul.
visible behind its silken drapes. The Masked Lord watches 6. An intoxicated noble believes the character is one of
the group with some interest as the carriage pulls away. If her retainers and begins dishing out orders.

Muggers Masked Lord of Waterdeep. Such a find can be sold on
2d4 thugs accost the group, threatening a severe beating the black market for 100 gp.
if the characters don't hand over their belongings. The Noble and Retinue
thugs donate any money they steal to the old cleric who
Four servants carry a noble through the crowds on an
runs the temple orphanage in which they were raised (see
ornate palanquin, escorted by two veteran bodyguards.
location 27, “The Hospice of St. Laupsenn,” in “Location
Roll a d3 to determine what happens:
Encounters”). If the characters defeat the thugs, the next
group of muggers they encounter aren’t so benevolent. 1. To settle a bet, the noble demands to know a
“commoner’s thoughts” on his own appearance. After
Murder Victim the noble poses the question, his bodyguards silently
The characters unearth the corpse of a murdered citizen. signal that the characters had better be generous
Roll a d3 to determine who they find: with their praise. If they criticize the noble, he
1. The stench of rotting meat wafts from a discarded angrily orders his bodyguards to “teach them some
barrel. Inside is the corpse of a young male dwarf who wespect!”.
shows signs of being strangled. In his boot is a scrap 2. The noble suspects his husband is having an
of leather with the following message scratched into affair. He offers the characters 100 gp to spy on
it: "Ixia, 517 Waterdeep Way, come alone." his husband and return with evidence to prove or
2. An uncannily lifelike statue of an elf lies shattered in disprove his claim.
a nearby alley. If reassembled, the statue depicts a 3. One of the bearers passes out. If the characters help
woman scrambling backward in horror, wearing only him out, he’s reveals he was tipped one too many
one shoe. A matching shoe lies in the mud nearby – drinks during a night out with his mistress and Mirt
but is not made from stone! the Moneylender. Assuming the characters are polite,
3. The exsanguinated corpse of a halfling sprawls in the noble grants them a letter of introduction to
a doorway. A search of her body reveals two small present at Mirt’s Mansion in the Castle Ward.
puncture wounds on her neck. The halfling was Orc (With Pie)
holding a fresh bunch of grapes when she died.
A thin and disheveled urchin is bawling her eyes out on
Newsprint Seller the sidewalk. When questioned, she says that a nasty
A newsprint seller sings out the latest events to befall the orc stole her pork pie. Roll a d3 to determine the real
City of Splendors. Choose a notable event from your own situation:
campaign story, adapt something from the Waterdeep 1. The orc is around the corner, in a narrow, dirty
Rumors table, or roll a d4 to determine today’s news: alley. He’s homeless and hungry and is just about to
1. Strangers across the Castle Ward have reported consume the pie. If threatened, 1d4 homeless orcs
mysterious lapses of memory: a few hours here, a come to his aid, armed with improvised clubs.
day there. Suspecting a curse, the Watchful Order 2. The orc is dressed respectably and speaks
of Magists and Protectors has announced an impeccable Common. He claims to be a journalist,
investigation into the matter. and says the child threatened to "get him" when he
2. One of the characters is named as a murderer! The refused to share his pie with her.
character is accused of murdering a noble during a 3. There is no orc nor pie. The child is a disguised
gambling game, with an accurate description of their enchanter who lures adventurers down quiet
appearance published in the newsprint. alleyways, casts sleep spells on them, and then
3. The Sea Maidens Faire has a special discount deal transforms her sleeping victims into orcs! If
tonight: three-for-two entry on the gangplank with she dupes the characters, they find that the
one free drink provided per person! For further transformative effect lasts for 24 hours, after which
details on the faire, see chapter 7, “Maestro’s Fall,” of time they return to their proper forms.
Waterdeep: Dragon Heist. Otyugh
4. The seller presses a free copy of the newsprint into a The characters notice a crowd gathered around rock
character’s hands. Moving off, the character notices gnome inventor Dandyforth Zalesbottom (an apprentice
that the publication date is a tenday into the future! wizard, see appendix 2). The gnome pushes a huge iron
Glancing back to the seller, the characters see that he box with four wheels over the dung-covered ground of the
has mysteriously vanished. Field Ward. The dung is sucked up through holes in the
Nimblewright underside of the box, which shakes, rumbles, and belches
as Dandyforth pushes it about and boasts to the crowd
A nimblewright (see appendix 2) darts through the
about his new magical invention: the poopsweeper!
crowd on an urgent errand. Characters hunting for such a
Just before the gnome can reveal the price of his
creature during chapter 3 of Waterdeep: Dragon Heist are
creation, the box bursts open and the true "magic" of the
alerted to its approach via their nimblewright detector.
poopsweeper is revealed. A hungry otyugh Dandyforth
The nimblewright refuses to stop. Use the chase rules in
caught in the sewers breaks free of its prison and begins
chapter 8 of the Dungeon Master’s Guide if the characters
attacking the crowd! If the characters intervene, the
give pursuit.
otyugh fights to the death. As reward for dealing with the
The nimblewright could be Nim, the creature from
problem – and keeping quiet about it - Dandyforth offers
chapter 3 of Waterdeep: Dragon Heist, or another
the characters two spell scrolls of disguise self.
nimblewright serving a powerful master in the city. In
If you reroll this encounter, the characters are attacked
either case, the nimblewright carries a casket containing
by a different otyugh living in the ward’s dung heaps.
a private letter that accidentally reveals the identity of a

Peddler Pilgrims
Nervous gnome peddler Gloriphur Amblewise offers to Pilgrims wearing traveling clothes march through the
sell the characters a magic bag for 50 gp. Roll a d4 to city, singing the praises of their god. They encourage
determine what’s on offer (see below). A detect magic passersby to join them in visiting one of the following
spell reveals that either the bag or its contents are indeed temples, each of which has its own encounter in the
magical. “Location Encounters” section.
After making the deal, Gloriphur walks away quickly. Roll a d6 to determine their destination:
If you roll this encounter again, he approaches the 1. Temple of the Seldarine (Location 9, Castle Ward)
characters to hawk another mysterious bag. 2. House of Inspired Hands (Location 22, Sea Ward)
1. The bag is an empty bag of holding that Gloriphur 3. Spires of the Morning (Location 8, Castle Ward)
stole from a barbarian associated with Force Grey.
4. House of Wonder (Location 18, Sea Ward)
If a character wears the bag in plain sight, the angry
berserker may notice it elsewhere in the city. 5. Temple of Beauty (Location 23, Sea Ward)
2. The bag is not magical but contains 4 potions of 6. Font of Knowledge (Location 3, Castle Ward)
greater healing stolen from a Bregan D'aerthe Plague Carrier
safehouse. A barely-conscious commoner rides slowly through the
3. The bag holds a common magic item of your choice. streets on a draft horse, swaying back and forth in the
4. The bag holds a captured shadow demon. When saddle. Anyone approaching the rider sees that they have
the bag is opened, the demon is released to seek the symptoms of a terrible and contagious disease (see
vengeance on its captors. "Diseases" in chapter 8 of the Dungeon Masters Guide).
Roll a d3 to determine which disease the commoner has:
Pickpocket 1. Cackle Fever
A bandit "accidentally" bumps into one of the characters
and tries to lift their purse. Roll a Dexterity (Sleight of 2. Sewer Plague
Hand) check for the bandit opposed by the character's 3. Sight Rot
passive Perception. On a success, the bandit steals some Rat Swarm
money or a small item of importance from the character.
A young rider is having trouble controlling their steed:
When the character later learns of their loss, they can
the horse is rearing up on its hind legs, nearly causing
attempt a DC 12 Intelligence (Insight) check to recall the
them to fall off. The horse is frightened by a swarm of
thief's face.
rats pouring from the gutters. If you roll this encounter a
second time, the characters encounter the rat swarm but
not the rider.

Refugees The departed was a beloved entertainer in the
A bedraggled group of refugees stumbles past, looking for city, so throngs of adoring fans follow. Members of
a safe place to rest. They could be runaways from Luskan, Manshoon's Zhentarim hope to rob the wealthier
mutinied galley slaves, villagers whose home was raided, members of the procession, so they animate the body
or anyone else in need of shelter. New to the city and short as a wight. When the wight springs from the coffin,
on coin, they warily ask the characters for directions to 3d6 Zhent bandits charge in to turn over the crowd.
the nearest temple. 4. Eight actors dressed in motley move down street
If the characters go above and beyond to help the performing tricks, juggling, and acrobatics. They
refugees, they offer their services when the characters wear holy symbols of Tymora but are secretly cultists
next need assistance. Once fed and rested, they can supply of Elemental Evil planning to sow chaos in the city.
1d3 guards to support the characters in times of need. When the time is right, they carry out a deadly attack
If you roll this encounter a second time, the refugees before removing their disguises and blending in with
belong to a faction that may prove dangerous if crossed. the confused and panicked crowd.
Roll on the Random Faction table to determine where
their allegiances lie.
Robbery in Progress
The characters pass a shop where a robbery is in
Religious Procession progress. Four thugs are threatening the owner with
A religious procession moves down the street toward the weapons and demanding the money in the till. The
characters. Roll a d4 to determine who they are. criminals grab the money and attempt to escape if the
1. Eight worshippers of Ilmater chant for alms to feed characters intervene.
the wretched. Any character who makes a generous Runaway Cart
donation gains inspiration.
Merchants, farmers, and all manner of market traders
2. Four devotees of Mystra march through the street bring goods to Waterdeep. On occasion a cart is pushed
casting spells to celebrate their goddess's bounty. The aside or rolls down a hill uncontrolled. In this instance,
acolytes use thaumaturgy and other harmless spells the cart careens towards the characters, who must
to entertain those watching. From hiding, a Thayan succeed on a DC 12 Dexterity Saving throw or take 7
apprentice wizard (see appendix 2) targets an (2d6) bludgeoning damage as the cart crashes into them.
onlooker with a fire bolt spell to make it look like the Roll on the Random Goods table to find out what the cart
devotees attacked the crowd. Unless the characters carries. If you roll this encounter again, the characters
identify the culprit, the crowd turns on the devotees. witness an unmanned cart trundling toward a crowd of
3. A funeral procession led by a priest of Kelemvor pedestrians.
and two acolytes shuffles through the streets.
Random Goods
d100 Goods d100 Goods
01-02 Armor or weapons 49-50 Jewelry
03-04 Backpacks or sacks 51-52 Leather goods
05-06 Baskets 53-56 Vegetables
07-08 Bricks 57-60 Fruit
09-10 Books 61-62 Dirty laundry
11-12 Cloth 63-64 Religious artefacts
13-16 Meat or salted fish 65-66 Perfume
17-18 Chests and crates 67-68 Water
19-20 Common clothes 69-70 Lye
21-22 Travelers clothes 71-72 Cloth
23-24 Fine clothes 73-74 Musical instruments
25-26 Cooking utensils 75-76 Pewter items
27-28 Baked goods 77-78 Rope
29-30 Bread 79-80 Saddles & Tack
31-32 Cheese 81-82 Rare silks
33-34 Glass or ceramics 83-86 Oats or grain
35-36 Herbs 87-88 Furniture
37-40 Ale or mead 89-90 Wine or spirits
41-42 Spices 91-94 Spell components
43-44 Tanned hides 95-96 Songbirds
45-46 Craft Tools 97-98 Livestock
47-48 Inks 99-00 Cloth

Sea Spawn it’s salvageable, but anyone handling it is exposed to
The party witnesses 2d4 sea spawn (see appendix 2) Darkrot infection.
climbing out of the water and breaking into a dockside 4. A horde of 2d10 zombies shambles from a breach in
building. Hiding inside is Silett Blueshell, a human the sewer tunnels.
kraken priest (see appendix 2) who betrayed the sea hag
Agges Siltsip and stole a magical pearl from her. Agges Darkrot
has sent her spawn to retrieve her pearl and punish Silett. Darkrot is a disease that incubates in the sewers of
If rescued, Silett tries to persuade the characters to Waterdeep and the refuse heaps of Rat Hill. Its effects
hunt down Agges by spinning whatever lies seem most are transmitted by exposure to sewer waste or to the
likely to motivate them. Silett carries 200 gp in carved creatures that dwell within, such as rats and otyughs.
coral pieces and the hag’s pearl of power. When a humanoid creature is bitten by a creature
If this entry is rolled again, the character cross paths infected with Darkrot or spends a minute in contact with
with Agges the sea hag as she hunts for her pearl with filth or offal contaminated by the disease, the creature
1d4 sea spawn. must succeed on a DC 12 Constitution saving throw or
Seer become infected.
If contaminated waste is disturbed by digging,
A seer accosts the characters. She claims to have seen a
explosive spellcasting, fire, or combat, each creature
glimpse of their future, which she offers to reveal if they
within 30 feet must make an immediate saving throw to
pay her 5 gp. Roll a d4 to determine her prophecy:
avoid infection.
1. The seer provides a cryptic warning about the It takes 1d3 days for Darkrot’s symptoms to manifest
next foe they’ll face in battle. The characters gain in an infected creature. Symptoms include labored
advantage on their initiative checks for that battle. breathing with a hissing rasp and large black blotches
2. The seer predicts a terrible demise for the group! on the skin. An infected creature suffers one level of
She’s correct with her prediction but has the wrong exhaustion and regains only half the normal number of
party of adventurers. The next day, the characters hit points from spending Hit Dice. Infected creatures
hear about a different adventuring group that died in don’t regain any hit points from finishing a long rest.
the same way the seer predicted. At the end of each long rest, an infected creature must
3. The seer is a con artist whose predictions are make a DC 12 Constitution saving throw. On a failed
orchestrated by her allies in the Xanathar Guild. After save, the creature gains one level of exhaustion. On a
gaining the characters’ trust, she lures them into a successful save, its exhaustion level decreases by one
gang ambush. level. If a successful saving throw reduces the infected
4. The seer warns the characters that death is coming creature’s level of exhaustion to zero, the creature
NOW from the skies! All characters in the group recovers from the disease.
must make a DC 15 Wisdom (Insight) check: on a
success they realize that the seer is tricking them.
If they fail, they look up and are surprised when two Ship Crimp
assassins from House Cassalanter step from the Under Waterdeep’s tough maritime laws, it’s a crime for
shadows to attack. a sailor to abscond from service if they’ve already signed
a ship’s contract. A “crimp” is a hired criminal who uses
Seized Ship coercion and violence to force sailors into signing up for
A sailing ship has defied the Guild of Watermen by understaffed merchants.
attempting to unload its cargo without their assistance. Roll a d3 to determine how the characters meet their
The vessel has been seized under guild law, and 2d4 guild crimp:
thugs are busy hurling its cargo into the water. Roll on the 1. A friendly veteran offers to buy the characters a
Random Goods table to determine what cargo the ship is drink if they join him a local tavern. He laces their
carrying. drinks with torpor (see “Poisons” in chapter 8 of the
Dungeon Master’s Guide,) and forces any character
Sewer Backup who succumbs to the effect to sign a ship’s contract.
Waterdeep’s vast sewer network not only transports bodily
2. The characters witness a pair of thugs bullying a
waste, it also provides a secret highway under the city.
drunken sailor into signing their contract.
Often the sewers get clogged and spill out onto the streets
from ruptured pipes or manholes. 3. A spy for a local merchant pushes a blackmail note
Roll a d4 to determine what - or who - emerges from the into a character’s hand, which promises to “unleash
dark. Any creature taking damage during this encounter violence on your family like the untamed hounds of
risks being infected by Darkrot, a disease native to the hell” unless the character signs a ship’s contract.
Waterdeep sewers (see the “Darkrot” sidebar). It’s most likely a case of mistaken identity, but the
characters needn’t know that!
1. A tidal wave of sewage surges from the sewers!
All creatures in its path must succeed on a DC Sink Hole
12 Dexterity saving throw or fall prone and risk A poorly-maintained section of the street crumbles
contracting Darkrot. underneath a randomly-determined character. The victim
2. A group of 1d6 bandits flee from a giant crocodile. must succeed on a DC 13 Dexterity saving throw or
Use the Random Faction table to determine the fall into the sewers below. Roll a d4 to determine what
bandits’ allegiance. happens next:
3. Junk litters the street following a recent upsurge from
the sewers. Roll on the Random Goods table to see if

1. The character falls into a river of stinking sludge Snake Oil Salesman
and is swept downstream. Any character exposed A salesman stands on a fruit crate, touting a colorful tonic
to the sewage risks infection from Darkrot (see the as a cure for all ailments. The salesman offers to sell the
“Darkrot” sidebar). tonic for 20 gp but can be bargained down to 5 gp. There’s
2. The character falls onto a brick walkway, taking 7 a 10% chance that the tonic works as a potion of vitality,
(3d6) bludgeoning damage. but otherwise it is useless.
3. The character falls into an underground chamber
being used as a hideout by a trio of thugs led by a Solicitor
spy. Awkward. Waterdeep’s laws are extensive and complex, meaning
4. The character falls into a basement hiding a cache that most folk who tangle with them are soon lost at
of stolen goods stamped with the mark of a local sea. Solicitors act as pilots through the troubled waters,
wholesaler. Roll on the Random Goods table to providing legal advice and court representation for
determine what they are. If the characters return the relatively little cost.
goods to their owner, she awards them 25 gp and a As the characters move through the ward, a solicitor
potion of healing. Characters who handle the goods approaches them and offers their services for the paltry
earn the enmity of a small, local gang of thieves who sum of 2 gp per day. If the group hires the solicitor, they
may seek revenge later. gain advantage on ability checks made to deal with the
authorities or guilds within Waterdeep.
Smugglers
A gang of 1d4 + 4 bandit smugglers unload a wagon
Strange Feelings
of contraband into a nearby warehouse. Seeing the The characters get a strange feeling they’re being
characters, they warn them to keep moving and keep what followed. Roll a d4 to determine who’s on their tail.
they've seen to themselves. If the characters move on, one 1. Four thugs see the group as an easy mark, waiting for
bandit tails them to check they don't report to the crime the right opportunity to attack. They spread out and
to the City Watch. Roll a d3 to determine what the wagon try to ambush the group from in front and behind.
contains: 2. Two veteran City Watch officers have been tailing
1. Five crates of vintage Tethyrian whiskey worth 100 the group to ensure that they’re not troublemakers.
gp each. They approach to question the characters about their
business in the city.
2. Fifteen halfling children intended to be sold as
kitchen assistants. 3. A young boy named Nihl is shadowing the group,
hoping to see them do something heroic. His stealth
3. Salacious newsprints that threaten to blow the
is poor, and he comes clean about his intent if the
lid off the aristocracy’s scandalous dealings with
characters confront him.
known villains.

Waterdeep Rumors
d20 Rumor
1 My sister’s cousin on the City Watch says there’ve been several vampire sightings of late. Waterdeep ain’t had trouble with
bloodsuckers for centuries!
2 You know there are treasure maps everywhere nowadays? Can’t say what it’s all about, but if you ask me, someone’s trying to
distract folks from noticing something.
3 Volo is back in town! Working on a new book about taverns I hear. Last I saw him, he was drinking his way through the Dock
Ward sampling the local brews.
4 Word on the streets says that someone’s been stockpiling smokepowder. There’s no good reason for that.
5 Justyn from the Guild of Butchers grew up in Field Ward and has dreams of a fancy home. If you want to make a friend of him,
pass him a few extra coins.
6 They say that Trollskull Manor, that old tavern off Trollskull Alley, is haunted by the ghost of the half-elf bartender Lif, who
literally worked himself to death. I’d stay away if I were you.
7 There’s been a lot more drow in the city of late. It’s good to see the dark elves overcoming their evil history and becoming
contributing citizens. Anyone can make a new life in the City of Splendors!
8 Last night I heard a strange clanking inside the House of the Inspired Hands in the Sea Ward. It was like someone wearing
plate armor dancing a jig.
9 Are you in great need? Local thugs threatening your family? If you need help, and if you can find him, you might be able to
convince the monk Hlam to aid you. They say he’s the Grandmaster of the Order of the Even-Handed, a group devoted to the
returned god Tyr. He’s been known to aid those in great peril.
10 Lots of the Black Network in town. I hear there’s a split between the Zhents who follow Pereghost and some new upstart
claiming to be Manshoon. Not possible of course, since Manshoon is dead. Again.
11 The ghost of the Black Viper is back from the dead! A century ago that burglar and assassin plagued this city, and now they’ve
returned with flair!
12 I hear that one of the Masked Lords is a vampire! Do you think it could be true? If it were, who knows what tax they might
demand.
13 Looking for potions, poultices, or philters? Try Fala Lefaliir who operates an herbalist’s shop on Trollskull Alley called Corellon’s
Crown.
14 Most of the City Watch is corrupt. They don’t care about the people, only lining their pockets. They’ll hassle you for no good
reason, but at least you can bribe your way out of most problems with a few Dragons.
15 There’s a sea monster haunting Deepwater Harbor! Fishermen coming in late have spotted a huge shiny creature with massive
claws and evil glowing eyes swimming through the harbor and out to sea. I’d steer clear of the water if I were you.
16 Something’s not right with that halfling hostel on Spices Street. Its well-kept, but the place is overrun by rats. They’ve got to be
getting in through a tunnel from the sewers.
17 One of the Guilds has been infiltrated by dopplegangers, but no one knows which one. I’m betting on the Fellowship of
Innkeepers. It just makes sense: lots of gossip and spying opportunities, and if someone goes missing, no one will notice.
18 The Blackstaff has gone wonky and you can’t trust her. Rumors say she’s started hunting down members of her own Force
Grey. Think twice if she offers you a job.
19 You noticed the odd weather of late? I bet it’s a sign. I was talking to my greengrocer yesterday and he told me that he heard
from the fishmonger that the Sea Ward is rife with devil worshippers!
20 A light has been seen in Ahghairon’s Tower the last three nights. It’s been magically sealed for centuries, and not even the
Blackstaff has ever gained entry. No one could have gotten inside, could they?
4. A nervous servant is scoping out adventurers to aid 2. A female halfling in leather armor juggles knives,
his master. He says that strange occurrences are daggers, and shortswords. A volunteer from the
happening in the family's crypt in the City of the audience tosses vegetables into the spinning mass,
Dead. If the characters investigate, they discover that which the juggler slices in half with her weapons.
the crypt is haunted by a specter. 3. An elf recites an epic poem about the construction
of Waterdeep. His audience consists mostly of older
Street Performer aged men and woman, who occasionally shout
The characters encounter a street performer. If the corrections to the poor orator.
characters join the crowd of onlookers, they have a 50% 4. A trio of minstrels play to a crowd that is clapping
chance of triggering the “Pickpocket” encounter. along and dancing.
Roll a d4 to determine the nature of the act:
1. A man dressed in brightly colored clothing spins
plates on a series of poles. His balance and skill
impress the small crowd gathered around him.

Stumbling Figure
A pedestrian stumbles into the one of the characters. Roll
a d6 to determine why they fell.
1. The elderly woman tripped on a stone and has
dropped a bundle of rags. Inside is a freshly severed
human hand wearing a ruby ring worth 50 gp.
2. The young woman is a spy for the Masked Lords and
is being followed by two doppelgangers. Not sure
whom to trust, she slips vital information about a plot
against the city into the character’s hand.
3. The halfling street performer is trialing a physical
comedy routine where he keeps bumping into people.
4. The young woman distracts the group while her
husband tries to pick the pocket of one of the
characters. Both are bandits.
5. The young man is running from a giant spider that
has crawled up from the sewers.
6. The woman is a female flumph disguised in an
overly large coat and a wig, so she can blend in
while sightseeing.
Supernatural Mists
Clammy and impenetrable mists envelope the characters.
Though the sounds of the city can still be heard, they are
muffled, muted, and seem to be far, far away. The characters
get the impression that they're being followed: the snap
of a twig here, the scuff of a boot on stone there, but
investigating the noises reveals nothing. For the better part
of an hour, the group can wander in whichever direction
they choose, but encounter nothing but the mist. After this
time, the mists fade and the characters find themselves
exactly where they were when they first appeared.
Tax Collectors
Street Race Four veteran City Guards on horseback escort an
A grand race moves through the city’s wards, with armored carriage through the ward. Inside the carriage, a
competitors eager to win glory for their ward by crossing noble tax collector clutches a steel strongbox containing
the finish line first. The route is marked with pennants, the ward’s taxes. The strongbox contains 2d6 x 100 gp,
burning torches, or string bunting. While the race is held, and anyone caught pilfering is sentenced to a year’s hard
the crowded, noisy streets count as difficult terrain and labor under section II of the Code Legal.
Wisdom (Perception) checks that rely on sight or sound
are made with disadvantage. Traffic Warden
Characters who wish to compete in the race must sign A uniformed member of the City Watch uses hand flags
up to one of the ward teams and then purchase a racing to direct traffic at this busy intersection. Characters
uniform in their colors for 3 gp. To determine a winner, who pass by must succeed on a DC 10 group Wisdom
use the chase rules and Urban Chases Complications in (Perception) check to read the traffic warden’s signals
chapter 8 of the Dungeon Master’s Guide. correctly and avoid accident. If they fail, roll a d4 to
Roll a d6 to determine the format of this race: determine what happens:
1. Runners on foot. 1. A double-decker dray carriage thunders into the
2. Horse-drawn chariots. group. Each character must succeed on a DC 10
3. Piggy-back teams. Dexterity saving throw or take 11 (2d10) bludgeoning
4. Griffon riders (must stay below rooftop height). damage.
5. Horse riders. 2. The traffic warden yells at the characters for
6. Boxcarts. stepping in front of traffic and levies a spot fine of 1
gp per person.
Street Food Vendor 3. A carriage driver snaps his horse whip at a randomly-
A tinkling bell announces a man pushing a cart of grilled determined character as he clatters past: +3 to hit, 1
fish kebabs which he claims were caught this morning. (1d3) slashing damage.
Gerdon, the vendor, hears and sees a lot as he wanders 4. Swerving to avoid the characters, a carriage crashes
the streets and can share a wealth of stories so long as into goods wagon and scatters its cargo over the
the characters purchase a kebab from him for 2 cp. If you street. Roll on the Random Goods table to determine
have a specific rumor to plant, Gerdon is a perfect source. the cargo.
Alternatively, roll on the Waterdeep Rumors table to find
out what he has to say.

Undercover City Watch Wild Animal
An undercover spy for the City Watch tails the group The characters encounter an animal that’s escaped from
through the ward. For each hour that passes, roll the captivity. A successful DC 12 Wisdom (Animal Handling)
spy’s Stealth versus the passive Perception of the most check calms the beast so it doesn't cause any harm.
observant character in the group. If the check fails, the However, the DC increases by 1 each round as more
characters notice the tail. The spy is checking to see if people gather to witness the disturbance, risking the
the group is up to no good. If they leave the ward without animal becoming spooked.
causing trouble, the spy gives up following them. Roll a d6 to determine which animal has escaped:
1. Ape
Unearthed Evil 2. Black Bear
A priest of Jergal has unearthed an evil artifact from the
3. Allosaurus
City of the Dead, and it’s causing strange things to happen
4. Elephant
across the ward (for further details, see location 12, “House
of Headstones,” in the “Location Encounters” section). 5. Giant Boar
Roll a d4 to find out how the weirdness manifests: 6. Lion
1. 1d6 skeletons and 1d3 zombies burrow out of their
graves and wander aimlessly around the graveyard.
2. The characters get an odd feeling, as though
someone walked over their graves. That night they
are haunted by dreams of a strange, green stone.
3. Thousands of crows and carrion birds circle the City of
the Dead, covering everything below in their droppings.
4. An unusual rain storm unleashes inches of oily water
over the City of Dead in just a few minutes. For the
next 24 hours, characters caught in the downpour
find themselves glimpsing ghostly figures that no one
else can see.
Unholy Invitation
A messenger approaches the characters with an invitation
from Willifort Crowelle to take a tour of the Cassalanter
Villa (see chapter 6, "Hell of a Summer," in Waterdeep:
Dragon Heist). If they accept, Willifort - a doppelganger
in the guise of an aging tiefling - gives them a tour, reading
their thoughts to see if they’d make good agents for the
Cassalanters. If he finds that the characters know about
the Stone of Golorr, he keeps the tour going for as long
as possible, so he can learn everything they know. If you
reroll this encounter at a later date, the characters are
invited to the villa again, this time to dine with Victoro and
Ammalia Cassalanter.
Wanted Criminal
The characters pass a wanted criminal on the street.
Anyone with a passive Perception of 14 or higher
recognizes the criminal from a wanted poster. Roll a d4 to
determine the criminal:
1. An assassin wanted dead or alive for multiple
murders, with a reward of 100 gp paid on delivery to
the City Watch.
2. A Zhent enchanter (see appendix 2) in service to
Manshoon who uses mind control to force innocent
people into committing crimes for the Black
Network. She’s wanted alive for questioning, earning
50 gp for anyone bringing her in.
3. A swashbuckler (see appendix 2) whose dalliances
with the spouse of a wealthy merchant led to a
bounty. The merchant pays 300 gp for the adulterer
to be brought alive to a warehouse for "questioning."
4. An innocent werebear framed for murder by the
Xanathar Guild. He’s wanted alive for questioning by
the City Watch with a reward of 200 gp.
21
Castle Ward City of the Dead Sea Ward North Ward
1. Blackstaff Tower 11. Warrior's Monument 16 Field of Triumph 26. Holyhands House
2. Castle Waterdeep 12.Head of Headstones 17 House of Heroes 27. Hospice of St. Laupsenn
3. Font of Knowledge 13. Tombs of the Anagrammed Nobles 18. House of Wonder
4. Halls of Justice 19. Sculpture Garden Southern Ward
5. Mirt's Mansion 20. Tower of Luck 28. Helm's Hall
6. New Olamn's Academy Dock Ward 21. House of the Moon 29. Jade Dancer
7. Palace of Waterdeep 14. Aurora's Realms Shop 22. House of Inspired Hands
8. Spires of the Morning 23. Temple of Beauty Trades Ward
9. Temple of the Seldarine Field Ward 24. Shrines to Nature 30. House of Light
10. Yawning Portal Tavern 15 Endshift Tavern 25. Heroes' Garden 31. Court of the White Bull
Part Two: Location Encounters
T
he encounters below introduce Cassalanter family, believe that the orb is magical and
complications at specific locations within confers on its wielder a connection to the infernal magic
Waterdeep. Use them when your group of the underworlds.
visits one of the locations numbered on the While the orb is magical, it’s not what anyone thinks. If
Waterdeep: City Encounters map or passes the person attuned to the orb dies, it explodes in a flash
nearby while travelling through the city. of radiant energy, dealing 22 (4d10) radiant damage to all
creatures within 10 feet of the orb.
Castle Ward Locations 2. Castle Waterdeep
“You want bilge-water, go drink in the Dock Ward. We’ve
got class up here in the Castle.” This mighty fortress houses the garrison for the City
Guard and serves as an impenetrable redoubt for the
— Durnan, Proprietor of the Yawning Portal. citizenry to retreat to in times of war.
The characters arrive just as an execution is about
The Castle Ward is the governmental heart of Waterdeep, to take place. A small crowd has gathered before the
encompassing the city’s courts and municipal halls. Castle gallows, with only the criminal’s family (five commoners)
Waterdeep overlooks the ward from a rocky bluff at its and four City Watch (two guards and two veterans) in
southern end. attendance. The guilty party is Asteppa Northmoss, a
half-elf commoner, convicted of senselessly murdering
1. Blackstaff Tower two patrons at the tavern where she worked, in front of at
This tower is home to Blackstaff Academy, a school for least twenty witnesses.
mages run by the current Blackstaff, Vajra Safahr. As the characters pass the scene, a family member
When the characters arrive, two bandit captains named begs for their help, insisting that there must have been
Stowe and Barrell are questioning an apprentice wizard extenuating circumstances behind her murders. As the
(see appendix 2) named Rollina Metrel outside the tower’s noose is tightened around Asteppa’s neck, the ghost
entrance. The pair have been hired by the assassin Clevey inhabiting her body takes possession of one of the guards,
Sandster to distract Rollina while Clevey aims a crossbow who sets to slaughtering everyone in attendance!
at her from the corner of an adjacent ally 80 feet away. The ghost is the spirit of Agnes Trotter, a famous
Clevey has been hired to murder Rollina and retrieve Waterdhavian murderess who poisoned customers at her
from her body an orb that the apprentice uses as a spell bakery. Any character who sees the ghost in incorporeal
focus when performing magic. Clevey’s employers, the form can attempt a DC 15 Intelligence (History) check to
Part Two | Location Encounters 23

recognize her. If Agnes is named aloud, she dissolves into
nothingness. The characters, however, might have some
5. Mirt’s Mansion
explaining to do, especially if Agnes possessed one of Famed adventurer and raconteur Mirt the Merciless
them and forced them to attack an innocent. has retired to Waterdeep to join the Masked Lords. His
rambling mansion has seen better days but remains
3. Font of Knowledge impressive in size and stature – much like the Old Wolf
himself.
The Font of Knowledge is Waterdeep’s temple to Oghma While passing Mirt’s Mansion, the characters witness
and its largest public library. If the characters delve into an odd occurrence. Four men and a halfling arrive to
the lore contained therein, they discover the facts below in unload a wagonload of spirits, and after signing for
the order listed. the consignment, one of Mirt’s servants helps three of
1. A record of property exchanges between Waterdhavian the men roll the barrels into the cellar. While they’re
nobles, with each exchange happening as the result downstairs, the halfling pops the lid on a barrel and
of the previous noble’s death. On a successful DC 12 crawls inside while the fourth man seals him in and then
Wisdom (Insight) or Intelligence (Investigation) check, rolls his barrel downstairs.
the characters realize that the names are merely The four human bandits have been paid off by the
anagrams of each other. These trades repeat every halfling: a weretiger named Winfredd the Cat. Winfredd
40 years to the day and have been occurring for a in turn has been hired by Jarlaxle Baenre to snoop about
little over 200 years. The record notes that the nobles Mirt’s home for any details he might have about the Stone
are buried in the City of the Dead. If the characters of Golorr. Of course, once night falls and the household
enquire at the House of Headstones they can learn the go to sleep, Winfredd plans to add some larceny to his
plot (see location 12, the “House of Headstones.”) snooping (for more details on Jarlaxle, see chapter 7,
2. A map showing a series of chambers in “Maestro’s Fall” of Waterdeep: Dragon Heist).
Undermountain. One of the rooms has the phrase If the characters foil the plot, they earn a favor from
“Touch not the leftmost skull” scrawled across it in Mirt. He could introduce them to an important public
Dwarvish. Characters who’ve visited Undermountain figure, reveal a piece of choice gossip from the Waterdeep
recognize the rooms as being among those located Rumors table, or even take the characters on a raucous
near the well in the Yawning Portal. night out on the town.
3. A record of known and suspected Harper and
Zhentarim agents active in Waterdeep, but the list is 6. New Olamn’s Academy of Music
almost 50 years old. None of the names look familiar, The academy offers regular concerts, performances,
save for one: Elminster. A note in the margin next to rentable rehearsal spaces, and more. When the
his name reads “Harper? Not a surprise”. characters visit, choose an encounter that matches your
4. A long list of Waterdhavian noble families who chosen season:
are rumored to have consorted with devils. House Spring. A haunting fey-inspired string piece drifts
Cassalanter is chief among the most recent entries. through the academy. If tracked to its source, the
instruments appear to be playing by themselves: in fact,
4. Halls of Justice the musicians are fairies resident in the feywild. Any
This temple to the god Tyr serves as the city’s municipal character who hears the music gains the following flaw: “I
court. Human priest Umfrey Lawgiver and his three can’t help stop myself from tapping my toes and humming
acolytes are leaving the temple when they spot the group along whenever I hear music.”
approaching. Believing that the characters have broken Summer. Four dwarves play jaunty tavern tunes. They
the Code Legal, Umfrey and his followers attempt to wear tunics bearing the holy symbol of Hanseath - dwarven
detain them. All the while, Umfrey screams out a litany of deity of festivity, brewing, and song – embroidered with
the characters’ crimes, which he claims to have seen in a their own names: Bhailee, Bharnum, Garriden, and
divine dream sent to him by the Even-Handed himself. Thaeldrun. A banner above them reads “Hanseath’s Most
Umfrey and his acolytes avoid actual combat and flee Handsome”. Any character who hears the dwarves play
inside the Halls of Justice if attacked. If the characters must succeed on a DC 12 Charisma saving throw or gain
surrender, they’re marched inside and tried before a court. the following flaw: “I must have a frothy mug of ale every
The characters must succeed on a DC 12 group Charisma hour or else I become distracted.” This effect lasts for a
(Persuasion) check to avoid criminal charges. tenday or until dispelled by a remove curse spell.
Regardless of the outcome, Umfrey makes it his Fall. A trio of Chultan musicians pluck at strange-
mission to tail the characters around the city. He can looking stringed instruments while an aarakocra bangs on
become a frequent annoyance as he shows up with a leather-topped drum. Their entrancing rhythm sounds
his acolytes: organizing demonstrations against the like a rainstorm and has a magical charm effect. Any
characters, investigating their wrongdoings, and pointing character that hears the musicians must succeed on a DC
them out to the City Watch whenever possible. Umfrey’s 12 Charisma saving throw or become stunned for 2d4
disappearance would certainly draw suspicion on the minutes or until the musicians stop playing. Meanwhile, a
characters, so they’d best make things right with him Zhentarim spy sneaks through the entranced crowd (DC
quickly or their enemies might just arrange his death to 16 passive Perception to spot) and steals 1d6 gp from
inconvenience them. each person.
24 Part Two | Location Encounters

Winter. A series of long, low tones emanate from a group There is no ghost. A moon elf mage and follower of
of musicians playing brass wind instruments. Their notes Erevan Ilesere named Sylmae Beifaren feels the young
are sonorous and resonate around the chamber; leaving acolyte is too serious and is using her illusions to have a
those who hear the music with a feeling of cold dread and little fun at her expense. If the characters don’t intervene,
hollow loss. A nearby sign indicates that the musicians are Amedee’s haunt soon becomes the talk of the Castle Ward.
practicing traditional Kelemvorite funeral dirges.
10. Yawning Portal Tavern
7. Palace of Waterdeep The Yawning Portal is famed for the open well in
The Palace of Waterdeep – as known as Piergeiron’s its taproom that plunges down into the dungeon of
Palace – is the lavishly decorated home of the ruler of Undermountain! Retired adventurer Durnan runs the
Waterdeep. The palace contains many audience chambers tavern, which is packed with adventurers drinking up
and meeting halls for guild and city business. courage for their own dungeon delves.
When the characters arrive here, a carriage bearing Approaching the tavern, a pair of veteran bodyguards
the coat of arms of Neverwinter roars down the street summon the characters to a covered carriage parked
and skids to a stop in front of the main gates. Characters on a nearby street. Inside, Durnan’s old adventuring
in its path must succeed on a DC 10 Dexterity saving companion Mirt sits with a casket containing many potion
throw or be struck by the frothing horses, taking 14 (4d6) bottles. He offers a potion of heroism to each character as
bludgeoning damage and falling prone. A young human an advance for helping him play a trick on his old friend
scribe is bowled over by the carriage and falls to the floor Durnan. For more details on these two adventurers, see
unconscious and dying. appendix B of Waterdeep: Dragon Heist.
Girt the shield dwarf driver leaps down from his bench, Mirt wants the characters to get roaring drunk in the
hysterical with worry, while his ambassador passenger tavern and then descend into Undermountain. Durnan is
strides inside the palace on urgent business. Copies of sure to offer very low odds on them surviving, so he’ll be
the scribe’s governmental documents - intended for the surprised when they quaff their potions to counterattack
Open Lord’s eyes only - flutter about on the breeze. This their drunkenness and return with piles of riches! Mirt
provides an excellent opportunity to draw the characters says he’ll bet against them and split the pot with the group
into city politics as they come into possession of 50/50 when they return.
documents they were never meant to see. Sadly, the joke is on the characters. “Mirt” is in fact
a doppelganger working for the Xanathar Guild and
8. Spires of the Morning the magic potions do nothing. Five of the Xanathar’s
bugbears wait at the bottom of the well to ambush the
The temple of Lathander is called the Spires of the
drunken explorers and rob them of their riches.
Morning, as its seven tall, thin towers of copper, silver, and
gold gleam in the morning sunshine.
As the characters are passing the temple, they witness City of the Dead Locations
acolyte Harber Boke struggle and then fall from the “It’s best that some things stay buried – or aren’t buried to
balcony of the tallest tower, screaming throughout his begin with.”
100-foot descent. If the adventurers save Harber or cast
a speak with dead spell on his corpse, they learn that he — Sir Ambrose Everdawn, champion of Kelemvor
was pushed by a cloaked female figure: elven by the look
he got just before he fell. The City of the Dead is a sprawling cemetery on the
The elf, Confor Teabough, a spy for Manshoon’s sect of eastern side of the city. Its manicured lawns, fine statuary,
the Zhentarim, was attempting to steal some relics from and picturesque woodlands make it more of a park than a
the tower when Harber interrupted her. If the characters graveyard.
give chase, they can engage in a game of cat-and-mouse
throughout the Spires of the Morning as they try to corner 11. Warrior’s Monument
and capture the wily Confor before she escapes. The lawns around this 60-foot-high statue fountain are
crowded with people. If the characters visit during the
9. Temple of the Seldarine day, they find families having picnic lunches. At night,
This beautiful temple to the elven gods has spires that lovers meet for late-night trysts amid some of the most
reach high above the surrounding rooftops. When beautiful artwork in the city.
the characters visit, a moon elf acolyte of Corellon When the characters first visit the Warriors’ Monument,
Larethian named Amedee Liaxisys dashes into the water pouring from the statue turns red as ogre blood,
the temple’s nave from the back rooms. She loudly and some of the more monstrous portions of the statue
proclaims that she’s seen a ghost ascending the come to life. The living statues wade into the crowd,
forbidden stairs from the crypts below! slamming onlookers with fists and stone weapons. The
Beneath the Temple of the Seldarine are crypts from monsters used can be adjusted based on the strength
the ancient elven city of Aelinthaldaar: the site on which of the party: hobgoblins, orcs, trolls, and even human
Waterdeep was built, whose magic still protects the berserkers are represented in statue form as marauding
Waterdeep Plateau from ever collapsing. The acolytes are invaders of the city.
forbidden from entering the crypts and rumors of powerful Any character who tries to figure out how the
wards and restless spirits abound among their ranks. statues came to life can attempt a DC 15 Intelligence
(Investigation) check as an action to discern an arcane

While digging a grave, a priest of Jergal named Victus
Payne recently unearthed a strange, geometric tablet
made of sickly green stone, which he took back to his
quarters in the House of Headstones. Each night, the
stone radiates powerful necromantic magic that affects
the City of the Dead (see the “Unearthed Evil” encounters
in “Random City Encounters.”)
As the characters pass by the shrine, they witness a
young acolyte of Jergal named Ophemar Reil banging on
the doors and calling out Victus’s name. Victus has chosen
to lock the shrine from within and refuses to allow anyone
to disturb his studies. If the characters question Ophemar,
they learn of Victus’s odd behavior in recent days.
If confronted, Victus is unwilling to part with the tablet
and lashes out violently if the characters use force to
retrieve it. The evil of the tablet has warped him into a
necromancer (see appendix 2).
Once Victus is dealt with, characters who’ve visited the
Font of Knowledge in the Castle Ward (location 3) can
enquire after the anagrammed nobles they found in the
records. They discover that they are all buried in a nearby
plot (see location 13, “Tombs of the Anagrammed Nobles.”)
13. Tombs of the Anagrammed Nobles

Prerequisite: To play this encounter, the characters must
visit the House of Headstones to learn the location of the
plot.
The tombstones of five nobles stand adjacent to each
other. The deceased were clearly wealthy and influential,
judging by the materials used to craft their headstones. If
the characters exhume the graves, they discover that each
interned skeleton clutches a sliver of metal in its hand. If
all five slivers are placed next to each other, they magically
clip together to form a mystery key. The key is inscribed
with the name “Caryn Jung Kiel” on one side, and the holy
symbol of Tymora on the other.
If the graves are exhumed at night, removing the final
fragment of the mystery key causes the bones in all five
graves to animate as skeletons with the Lucky feat. Even
if the bones are smashed before removing the fragment,
they recombine and attack as soon as the final piece is
disturbed. Dousing the skeletons with holy water before
taking the fragment prevents this from happening.
Unless the characters take great care to hide their
activities, a patrol of four veteran City Watch officers
approaches them during the exhumation. Characters who
lack the proper paperwork needed for exhuming bodies
– available only to members of the Gravedigger’s Union,
clerics of Kelemvor, or by bribing a gravedigger with at
least 5 gp - are arrested and charged with a tomb-robbing
violation (article III of the Code Legal).
rune etched on each statue that causes it to animate. As
an action, a character can suppress a rune with a DC 18 Dock Ward Locations
Intelligence (Arcana) check. Characters who’ve previously
“They say you’re never more than five feet away from a
met Luva Peersak at the House of Wonder (location 18)
rat in the Dock Ward. Right now, I’d say you’re about five
recognize the rune from her tablet.
seconds away from getting bitten by one.”
12. House of Headstones — Roscoe Underbough, wererat halfling
The House of Headstones is the local shrine to Jergal, The steep, winding slums of the Dock Ward are home to
god of undertakers and graveyard keepers. The shrine the poor and the needy. Visitors to this ward are advised
contains detailed but incomplete records of those buried to return home before dark, lest they end up with a dirk
in the City of the Dead. between their shoulder blades.

14. Aurora's Realms Shop 16. Field of Triumph
Aurora was an adventurer sorceress who quested the The vendors outside the Field of Triumph enjoy a near-
globe before retiring to Westgate to found a lucrative constant footfall of customers, as the coliseum is an
business in exotic goods. Teleportation circles connected architectural wonder to behold. On days when gladiatorial
her Emporium to outlets across Faerûn, including this battles take place, the vendors’ carts and stalls crowd the
one in the Dock Ward of Waterdeep. street between the arena and the House of Heroes.
When the characters visit the shop, halfling shopkeeper On this day, the Xanathar Guild is looking to stir
Murianna Swindleheart casually tells them of a ship trouble by rigging a sweetbread cart to explode amid
being held by the port authorities in the Great Harbor. the throngs of people gathered outside the coliseum.
The Merry Mermaid is carrying treasures from the Tomb As the characters enter, a half-orc bandit named Gouge
of the Nine Gods in distant Chult, but the captain doesn’t approaches them and warns them that one of the carts
have proper paperwork to unload her cargo. Murianna is going to explode very soon. Gouge is a member of
hints that she’d pay a pretty penny to get her hands on the Xanathar Guild who recently grew a conscience. He
those treasures. knows that a cart is rigged but doesn’t have any other
If the character break onboard, use the sailing ship details. The cart in question is operated by halfling vendor
map from appendix C of the Dungeon Masters Guide Doley Frufast.
to manage their progress. At night, the ship is defended The characters have just one minute to locate Doley’s
by four veteran guards. The jungle curios stored in the cart, which is trapped with the explosive runes version
hold are worth 1,000 gp to a collector such as Murianna, of the glyph of warning spell. The rune goes off when
but anyone venturing inside risks enraging the caged Doley opens a drawer in her cart to resupply. Characters
tyrannosaurus rex held within. who observe the crowd and succeed on a DC 14 Wisdom
(Insight) check notice Doley suspiciously inspecting the
Field Ward Locations strange mark on her cart a few rounds before the spell
goes off.
“And if you can’t pay, I’ll chop off your face and feed it to
your friends. That’s how we roll around here.” 17. House of Heroes
— Thrakkus, dragonborn butcher This grand sanctuary to Tempus is the largest temple in
the city. Statues of Waterdhavian champions decorate
The muddy ghettos at the north end of Waterdeep aren’t its halls, from both military and ward competition
considered part of the city proper, except to those who backgrounds.
dwell in them. There’s no law out here: the City Watch When the characters arrive, the temple priests are
monitors the slums from the surrounding walls, but rarely searching for a missing family who came here to pray
ventures inside. for luck in the upcoming ward games. If the characters
join the search, they notice that three of the statues are
15. Endshift Tavern missing from their plinths: not entirely odd, as they could
This tavern is a popular drinking hole for off-duty be in for repair.
members of the City Guard. As the characters enter, Venturing into the crypts they discover that the three
they hear cries of alarm. A crowd has gathered around statues have come to life and are now beating up the
teenager Kilar Tanwith, who is choking on a bite of his missing father in front of his horrified family. Use the
meat pie and turning blue in the face. A successful DC 10 statistics of animated armor for the living statues. Any
Wisdom (Medicine) check prevents the boy from choking character who tries to figure out how the statues came to
to death. If the characters save Kalir, he spits out a small life can attempt a DC 15 Intelligence (Investigation) check
bone, which a successful DC 12 Wisdom (Medicine) as an action to discern an arcane rune scratched on each
check identifies as part of a human finger. statue that causes it to animate. As an action, a character
If asked where he bought the pie, Kilar indicates a can suppress a rune with a successful DC 20 Intelligence
nearby food stall run by a market trader named Nellie (Arcana) check. Characters who’ve previously met Luva
Amoret. The purchase of a meat pie for 5 cp or a Peersak at the House of Wonder (location 18) recognize
successful DC 12 Charisma (Intimidation or Persuasion) the rune from her tablet.
check gets Nellie to reveal she buys her ground meat from If the characters rescue the family, the father reveals
a dragonborn butcher named Thrakkus who lives in the that the statues depict heroes from a rival ward. He says
Field Ward (see "Converted Windmill: Winter" in chapter they came to life when they saw the ward colors he wears
4, "Dragon Season," of Waterdeep: Dragon Heist). on his scarf.
Sea Ward Locations 18. House of Wonder

This glorious temple to the gods of magic is enhanced
“Blue blood and brown earth, that’s my family. I can trace
by illusions and magical displays. When the characters
my line through a hundred generations, but we still stink
arrive, a mage named Luva Peersak is performing a
of the horse dung that built our fortunes.”
presentation to a gathering of priests. Luva believes that
— Teleos Eagleshield, Scion of House Eagleshield any artistic rendition of an object or person absorbs a
small part of its essence, which magicians can harness to
The wealthy manors and boutique stores of the Sea bring it to life. A painting of an enemy, for example, could
Ward proudly exhibit where the old money resides in be interrogated as though it were the enemy themselves.
Waterdeep. Anyone who’s anyone wants to live here: but
not everyone can afford it.

Her presentation is met with skepticism, and Luva a bad first day on the job. She’s lost control of Frigidbeak,
swears that the priests will “learn the truth” of her words. her griffon mount, and is flying dangerously at a height
As she angrily packs up her tablets, the characters catch of roughly 50 feet above the street. Any character that
a glimpse of the experimental runes she presented. Luva can get within 10 feet of the griffon, perhaps by climbing
refuses to discuss her work with strangers. a nearby building with a successful DC 15 Strength
If the characters encounter the living statues in location (Athletics) check, can calm Frigidbeak with a successful
11, the Warrior’s Monument, or location 17, the House DC 13 Wisdom (Animal Handling) check. The characters
of Heroes, they may recognize Luva’s runes. The mad could also use magic, nets, or ropes to calm or restrain
mage has been etching runes into various statues around Frigidbeak and prevent disaster.
the city to prove her theories. If confronted with this, she If the characters are unable to control the griffon
attacks the characters to silence them about her crimes. within one minute of noticing it, Frigidbeak gets tangled
in her harness and crashes to the ground below. One
19. Sculpture Garden character on the ground, chosen randomly, must succeed
on a DC 15 Dexterity saving throw or take 17 (5d6)
Prerequisite: To play this encounter, the characters
bludgeoning damage as the griffon slams into them. Kiri
must recover the mystery key from the Tombs of the
and Frigidbeak also take this damage. After crashing, the
Anagrammed Nobles (location 13).
temple acolytes can help Kiri restrain the griffon so she
In the Castle Ward, there is a sculpture garden opposite
can get it under control.
the temple to Tymora. At the heart of the garden, a statue
of a regal-looking halfling woman bears the inscription
“Caryn Jung Kiel”. If the inscription plate is removed, a 22. House of Inspired Hands
keyhole is revealed beneath. The magic lock within can’t The temple to Gond, god of craft and smithwork, is a
be picked, nor can it be affected by the knock spell or working factory filled with experimental invention. When
similar magic. the characters first pass by the temple, they witness a
If the characters determine that “Caryn Jung Kiel” is an group of five acolytes struggling to unload a huge crate
anagram for “Lucky Jernigan”, the statue animates, smiles from the rear of a goods wagon. Something inside the
at them, and rattles the nameplate. It then reverts to its crate thumps about and roars in rage. Characters who
normal position. offer to help the acolytes must succeed on a DC 12 group
Inserting the mystery key into the keyhole causes the Strength (Athletics) check to maneuver the crate safely
statue to animate. The halfling looks at the character inside. If they fail, the crate falls to the floor and shatters,
that used the key and magically produces a set of playing unleashing an angry gorgon onto the street.
cards. You can use your own cards to play a short game
of blackjack or use a series of low-DC ability checks 23. Temple of Beauty
to simulate it. Should the characters win, the cards
The marbled spas of the temple of Sune offer all manner
magically form into the deed for a wealthy Waterdhavian
of beauty treatments to visitors. When the characters first
mansion. The first character to touch the deed finds that
arrive, they learn that a young member of Sune's faithful
their name is listed upon its face.
has broken out in a terrible rash and is spreading rumors
that they were caused by a jealous rival within the temple.
20. Tower of Luck Characters who confront the rival clergyman and
The temple of Tymora sports a large dragonchess set in succeed on a DC 15 Charisma (Persuasion, Deception,
its courtyard, with each piece depicting the face of a priest or Intimidation) check manage to goad a confession out
of Tymora that previously held office. The characters can of him.
challenge each other or other passers-by to a game.
A five-foot marble post nearby sports the smiling face 24. Shrines of Nature
of a halfling woman, with an inscription underneath
These beautiful garden shrines are tended by the
that reads “Lucky Jernigan. She loved to watch chess
worshipers of nature gods such as Mielikki and Silvanus.
but lived for playing cards. Heep luvs Sozzled.” If the
One of these groundskeepers, Skrewurl Yewheart, has
players can’t figure it out themselves, a DC 14 Intelligence
recently disappeared, which is especially unusual given
(Investigation) check reveals that ‘heep luvs Sozzled’ is an
that he never leaves his shrine. When the characters
anagram of ‘She loved puzzles’.
arrive, the groundskeepers are dashing around in a panic
Anyone who deciphers the anagram or proves to be a
trying to find Skrewurl.
good sport while playing dragonchess is given a blessing
If the characters search the gardens, they spot a
by the statue of Lucky Jernigan. Any character so blessed
parchment pinned to a tree by a bloody dagger, with a
adds a d4 to the next die roll they make for an ability
single copper coin lying on the ground below it. The
check, attack roll, or saving throw. A character can receive
unaddressed letter is signed with an "X" and speaks of
this blessing only once.
a long-owed debt. Any character who succeeds on a DC
The statue of Lucky Jernigan curses any character who
12 Intelligence (History) check can assume that the letter
cheats at dragonchess while in its sight. Any character so
was sent by the Xanathar. the beholder leader of the local
cursed subtracts a d4 from the next die roll they make for
Skullport thieves' guild.
an ability check, attack roll, or saving throw.
If questioned, eye witnesses report that they saw a
loutish-looking man flee into the rose garden, chased by
21. House of the Moon four half-orcs. A search of the rose garden soon unearths
As the characters gaze up at the temple of Selûne, they the thug’s body hurriedly hidden under a pile of leaves. He
notice a griffon and its rider moving erratically in the sky. was fatally stabbed.
Griffon cavalry rider (see appendix 2) Kiri Xian is having

A thorough search of Skrewurl’s quarters uncovers a earnings, Ozmir has managed to keep the hospice afloat
letter from a local woman claiming to have birthed a child these past months and has even turned a tidy profit for a
after a tryst with the missing cleric. Judging from the state rainy day.
of his chambers, Skrewurl left in a hurry. When the characters arrive, they witness a group of
three thugs delivering a bag to Father Ozmir. As they
25. Heroes’ Garden hand it over, the bag splits and jewelry clatters onto the
floor. If questioned, Father Ozmir explains the riches away
The statuary in this secluded garden depicts important
as a donation from a wealthy lord.
figures from the city’s history. Residents report strange
Characters who watch the building see lowlifes coming
sights in the garden at night: specifically, the ghostly
and going at all hours to drop off their earnings to Father
apparition of a human mage. Those brave enough to
Ozmir. The characters also aren’t the only ones spying:
confront the apparition were rebuked when it issued a
five bandits from the Shadow Thieves are watching the
"great shout" that sent them reeling!
hospice, hoping to ascertain the size of Ozmir’s operation.
The ghost is the spiritual manifestation of Ulthorn,
a long-dead wizard whose tower once stood where the
Heroes’ Garden is today. Characters who approach Southern Ward Locations
the spirit peacefully are led to a plain patch of grass. “I’ve been everywhere, man.”
Digging a foot down reveals a skeletal hand clutching
a wand of pyrotechnics: Ulthorn's own wand. If the — Unnamed Calishite stall owner, Southern Ward
characters use the wand regularly to cause surprise, the
ghost gradually fades away. The Southern Ward is home to folk who traveled here
from other lands to stake their claim in the North. Its
maze-like streets are a riot of rich colors, smells, and
North Ward Locations magnificent sights.
“As has been said before, the people of Waterdeep are
Waterdeep.” 28. Helm’s Hall
— Volothamp Geddarm, “Volo’s Guide to Waterdeep” This shrine to the god of guardians and protectors serves
as an orphanage for the poor and needy.
The North Ward is home to most of the middle classes in Today, the orphans have taken over the orphanage to
the city. Its streets are quiet and peaceful, with frequent celebrate Children’s Day. For one day each year, they
City Watch patrols. can dress in adults’ clothing and boss their elders about
without fear of retribution. Something very odd has
26. Holyhands House happened this year: the adults have all disappeared!
Nobody saw them leave, and their clothes lie in heaps
Holyhands House is a temple located in the former villa of
where they last stood.
House Maernos. When Ultas Maernos died without heirs,
The children have formed a monarchy around Little Kaz,
he left his lands to be used as temple grounds. His temple
the youngest and smallest of their number. Anybody who
now has shrines for many different faiths, but halfling,
wishes to speak with the priests must first seek an audience
dwarf, and gnome gods are particularly well represented.
with Queen Kaz. Her majesty allows them to search
When the characters arrive, a man standing in front
the building but insists that they don’t enter one of the
of Holyhands House proudly proclaims that he is Urien
bedrooms. If anyone touches the sinister mirror inside this
Maernos, the grandson of Ultas Maernos. Any character
room, they hear distant cries for help from beyond the pane.
who succeeds on a DC 17 Intelligence (History)
If the characters question the other orphans about
check recalls that Ultas Maernos was a Waterdhavian
the room, they eventually learn that Kaz bought a wish
nobleman who, after a life of debauchery and butchery,
from the “lady in the mirror”, which she used to make
renounced his ways and lived the remainder of his years
Children’s Day last for a whole year. As payment for the
in pious reflection of his misdeeds. However, his wife
deal, she permitted the night hag living inside the mirror
and children were lost to a plague in Amn, leaving him
to kidnap the adults for a year. To free the adults, the
with no heirs.
characters must cut their own deal with the hag.
While the city initially dismissed Urien’s claims, they've
begun taking him more seriously since he’s started
disclosing facts about his grandfather that aren't so widely 29. Jade Dancer
known. What's worse, some of the seedier elements of the This festhall takes its name from the eight-foot-tall jade
ward are beginning to take notice: which may not bode statue of a woman that magically animates to entertain
well for the heir. the patrons. When the group visits, one of the characters
is snatched away by the dancer and made to dance a waltz
27. Hospice of St. Laupsenn around the festhall.
At the end of the dance, the jade dancer leans closer
The faithful of Ilmater erected this hospice as a refuge for
and whispers the word “Taacoro” into its partner’s ear.
lepers, the poor, and the cursed. Charitable contributions
Almost at once, patrons loyal to the four villainous
and tithes from the Church of Tyr keep the hospice afloat,
factions attempt to find out what the characters heard
but money is always short.
by any means necessary: these include a drow from the
Father Ozmir, an old priest of the hospice, has recently
Bregan D’aerthe, a pair of half-orc berserkers from the
begun a secret fundraising operation: recruiting prior
Xanathar Guild, a spy for House Cassalanter, and a pair of
patients as thieves and muggers. Thanks to their
bandits loyal to Manshoon’s Zhentarim.

Each group has staked out the festhall on the
suspicion that the dancer knows something about the
location of the Stone of Golorr. Whether it does or not is
entirely up to you.
Trades Ward Locations

“Money, my duck! You can fluff up those feathers all you
like, but you won’t sit on the king’s table if you’ve got no
dough.”
— Mirt the Moneylender
The bustling stalls and shopfronts of the Trades Ward are

the mercantile hub of the North. Everything is available
here for a price, if you know where to look.
30. House of Light

The hall of the Guild of Chandlers and Lamplighters is
noted for the mountainous heap of waxed candles that is
kept lit outside the building at all hours.
Down-on-his-luck candlemaker Ivar Roamswell recently
fell on hard times and petitioned his guild for aid.
Unfortunately, his pleas fell on deaf ears. He's returned
with a dagger and two vials of poison to exact his revenge
on the official who dismissed him. Ivar plans to poison his
dagger with one of the vials and down the contents of the
second after he slides the blade between the official's ribs.
The characters happen upon him applying the poison in a
side alley outside of the guildhall.
A successful DC 17 Charisma (Deception, Intimidation,
or Persuasion) check talks Ivar down from his crime, but
unless he's arrested, the Waterdeep Wazoo newssheet
reveals that he accomplishes the deed anyway two days
later. If the characters prevent the crime entirely, Ivar
contacts them daily to pester them with philosophical
questions and share his latest conspiracy theories.
31. Court of the White Bull

This courtyard is the site of a spell battle that tore a hole
in the Weave, causing magic to behave peculiarly. To this
day, spellcasting is forbidden within the perimeter of the
square.
When the characters arrive, they spot three wizard’s
familiars perched on nearby fountain: a cat, a rat, and a
toad. The familiars are arguing in the Celestial language
and trying to cast spells with their paws. The trio meet
up while their masters are sleeping and seek to break the
magical hold they have over them.
Unless the characters intervene, the familiars’ crude
attempt at magic has unpredictable results. Roll once
on the Sorcerer’s Wild Magic table to determine what
happens.
30
Appendix 1. Waterdeep Weather
The City of Splendors enjoys milder weather than the Spring
norm due to unusually warm ocean currents and shelter
from northern storms by Mount Waterdeep. Despite these d20 Weather Effects
advantages, strong westerly winds often beset the city, 1 Snow Cold, Heavy Snow, Windy
making it a damp and misty place. 2 Snow Cold, Light Snow
Random Weather Tables 3 Sleet Storm Heavy Precipitation, Ice, Windy

4 Overcast None
While some encounters require specific weather
conditions as part of their story, the weather is frequently 5 Overcast Light Fog
overlooked. Use this appendix to generate random 6 Overcast Light Fog
weather effects to give life to your encounters. Based on 7 Overcast Heavy Fog
the season, roll a d20 to determine the current weather.
8 Overcast Heavy Fog
All temperatures are given in Fahrenheit.
9 Drizzle Light Rain
Winter 10 Drizzle Light Rain
Winters in Waterdeep often range from 0 to 45 degrees
and snow is not uncommon. The warm westerly winds 11 Drizzle Light Rain
frequently lead to melting snow which only adds to foggy 12 Raining Heavy Rain
conditions. Snow from bitter northern winds is generally 13 Raining Heavy Rain
preferred by most locals, as a frozen road is easier to 14 Clear None
traverse than a muddy one.
15 Clear Windy
Winter 16 Partly Cloudy None
d20 Weather Effects 17 Partly Cloudy Windy
1 Arctic Gale Extreme Cold, Heavy Snow, 18 Partly Cloudy Light Fog
Strong Wind
19 Sea Gale Strong Wind
2 Blizzard Extreme Cold, Heavy Snow, Windy
20 Thunderstorm Heavy Rain, Lightning, Strong Wind
3 Snow Cold, Heavy Snow
4 Snow Cold, Light Snow Summer
5 Snow Cold, Light Snow Summer in Waterdeep finds its heat moderated by ocean
winds. While rain is still commonplace, it is less frequent
6 Cold Snap Cold, Windy
during the midday. Temperatures often range from 60 to
7 Cold Snap Cold 90 degrees with the occasional thunderstorm blowing in
8 Sleet Storm Ice, Windy out of the northwest.
9 Clear None Summer
10 Clear None
d20 Weather Effects
11 Partly Cloudy None
1 Raining Heavy Rain
13 Partly Cloudy Light Fog
14 Overcast None
15 Overcast Light Fog
5 Overcast Light Fog
9 Partly Cloudy Windy
20 Thundersnow Cold, Heavy Snow, Lightning,
Strong Wind 10 Partly Cloudy Light Fog
11 Clear None
Spring 12 Clear None
Spring is a season of frequent rains, punctuated by more 13 Clear None
frequent fog. Thought by many to be the least pleasant
14 Clear Windy
season in the city, late spring rarely sees cold weather and
is quite agreeable. With temperatures ranging from 30 to 15 Heat Wave Hot
85 degrees, it sees the most variation of any season. 16 Heat Wave Hot
17 Heat Wave Hot
18 Heat Wave Hot, Windy
19 Sea Gale Strong Wind
20 Thunderstorm Heavy Rain, Lightning, Strong Wind
31
Autumn Extreme Cold. This functions as Extreme Cold from
Like spring, weather in the fall varies significantly, but it Chapter 5 of the Dungeon Master’s Guide.
is generally more temperate on average. Rain and storms Hail. Hailstones plummet from the sky, causing
are common, but so are sunny days. Temperatures range disadvantage on Wisdom (Perception) checks that rely on
from 35 to 90 degrees. hearing. Creatures caught without shelter for ten minutes
or more must succeed on a DC 10 Constitution saving
Autumn throw or suffer 1d3 bludgeoning damage.
Heavy Fog. A blanket of heavy fog makes it impossible
d20 Weather Effects
to see across the street. The entire area is heavily
1 Raining Heavy Rain, Windy obscured, and creatures suffer from the blindness
2 Raining Heavy Rain condition when attempting to see anything beyond five
feet of them.
Heavy Rain or Snow. As Heavy Precipitation from
4 Drizzle Light Rain Chapter 5 of the Dungeon Master’s Guide. If it has been
5 Overcast Windy snowing for an hour or more, exterior locations in the city
count as difficult terrain.
6 Overcast Light Fog Hot. The temperature ranges between 85 and 100
7 Overcast Heavy Fog degrees. Characters without shelter or water suffer effects
8 Raining Heavy Rain as per Extreme Heat from Chapter 5 of the Dungeon
Master’s Guide, except their saving throws are made with
9 Raining Heavy Rain, Windy advantage.
10 Raining Heavy Rain, Strong Wind Ice. As Slippery Ice from Chapter 5 of the Dungeon
11 Partly Cloudy None Master’s Guide.
Light Fog. A light fog lightly obscures the area, causing
12 Partly Cloudy Windy Wisdom (Perception) checks that rely on sight to be made
13 Partly Cloudy Light Fog with disadvantage.
14 Clear None Lightning. Extreme weather has generated perfect
conditions for lightning strikes. For every ten minutes
15 Clear None that a creature spends in the open, it has a cumulative 2%
16 Clear Windy chance of being caught in a lightning strike. A creature
struck by lightning must make a DC 12 Dexterity saving
17 Hailstorm Hail, Ice
throw, suffering 18 (4d8) lightning damage on a failed
18 Heat Wave Hot save, or half as much damage on a successful one.
19 Sea Gale Strong Wind Characters wearing metal armor or in high places such as
roof or treetops suffer disadvantage on this saving throw.
20 Thunderstorm Heavy Rain, Lightning, Strong
Light Rain or Snow. A steady light precipitation covers
Wind
the area, providing disadvantage on Wisdom (Perception)
checks that rely on sight. Light rain has a 50% chance per
Weather Effects hour of extinguishing an open flame.
Each result on the Random Weather Tables possesses Strong Wind. As Strong Wind from Chapter 5 of the
one or more of the following weather effects. Dungeon Master’s Guide.
Cold. The temperature ranges between 0 and 32 Windy. Howling winds gust through the streets,
degrees. This functions as Extreme Cold from Chapter 5 providing disadvantage on Wisdom (Perception) checks
of the Dungeon Master’s Guide, except the saving throw is that rely on hearing. Open flames have a 50% chance of
made with advantage. being extinguished for every 10 minutes they’re exposed
to the wind, and fog effects are automatically dispersed.
32 Appendix 1 | Waterdeep Weather

Appendix 2. Monster & NPC Statistics
This appendix details new monsters that do not appear in Weakening Gaze. The babau targets one creature that it
the Monster Manual. can see within 20 feet of it. The target must make a DC 13
Constitution saving throw. On a failed save, the target deals
Apprentice Wizard only half damage with weapon attacks that use Strength for 1
minute. The target can repeat the saving throw at the end of
Medium humanoid (any race), any alignment
each of its turns, ending the effect on itself on a success.
Armor Class 10
Hit Points 9 (2d8)
Speed 30 ft. Enchanter
STR DEX CON INT WIS CHA
10 (+0) 10 (+0) 10 (+0) 14 (+2) 10 (+0) 11 (+0) Armor Class 12 (15 with mage armor)
Hit Points 40 (9d8)
Skills Arcana +4, History +4
Speed 30 ft.
Senses passive Perception 10
Languages any one language (usually Common) STR DEX CON INT WIS CHA
Challenge 1/4 (50 XP) 9 (-1) 14 (+2) 11 (+0) 17 (+3) 12 (+1) 11 (+0)
Spellcasting. The apprentice is a 1st-level spellcaster. Its Saving Throws Int +6, Wis +4
spellcasting ability is Intelligence (spell save DC 12, +4 to hit Skills Arcana +6, History +6
with spell attacks). It has the following wizard spells prepared:: Senses passive Perception 11
Languages any four languages
Cantrips (at will): fire bolt, mending, prestidigitation
Challenge 5 (1,800 XP)
1st level (2 slots): burning hands, disguise self, shield
Actions Spellcasting. The enchanter is a 9th-level spellcaster. Its

spellcasting ability is Intelligence (spell save DC 14, +6 to hit
Dagger. Melee Weapon Attack: +2 to hit, reach 5 ft. or range
with spell attacks). The enchanter has the following wizard
20/60 ft., one target. Hit: 2 (1d4) piercing damage.
spells prepared:
Cantrips (at will): friends, mage hand, mending, message
Babau 1st level (4 slots): charm person,* mage armor, magic missile
2nd level (3 slots): hold person,* invisibility, suggestion*
Medium fiend (demon), chaotic evil
3rd level (3 slots): fireball, haste, tongues
4th level (3 slots): dominate beast,* stoneskin
Armor Class 16 (natural armor)
5th level (2 slots): hold monster
Hit Points 82 (11d8 + 33)
6th level (1 slot): chain lightning,* wall of ice*
Speed 40 ft.,
*enchantment spells of 1st level or higher
STR DEX CON INT WIS CHA Sculpt Spells. When the evoker casts and evocation spell that
19 (+4) 16 (+3) 16 (+3) 11 (+0) 12 (+1) 13 (+2) forces other creatures it can see to make a saving throw, it can
choose a number of them equal to 1 + the spell's level. These
Skills Perception +5, Stealth +5 creatures automatically succeed on their saving throws against
Damage Resistances cold, fire, lightning; bludgeoning, piercing, the spell. If a successful save means a chosen creature would
and slashing from nonmagical effects take half damage from the spell, it instead takes no damage
Damage Immunities poison from it.
Condition Immunities poisoned
Senses darkvision 120 ft., passive Perception 13
Actions
Challenge 4 (1,100 XP) Quarterstaff. Melee Weapon Attack: +2 to hit, reach 5 ft., one
target. Hit: 2 (1d6-1) bludgeoning damage, or 3 (1d8 – 1)
Innate Spellcasting. The babau’s innate spellcasting ability is bludgeoning damage if used with two hands..
Wisdom (spell save DC 11). The babau can innately cast the Reactions
following spells, requiring no material components:
Instinctive Charm (Recharges after the Enchanter Casts an
At will: darkness, dispel magic, fear, heat metal, levitate
Enchantment Spell of 1st level or higher). The enchanter tries
Actions to magically divert an attack made against it, provided that the
attacker is within 30 feet of it and visible to it. The enchanter
Multiattack. The babau makes two melee attacks. It can also must decide to do so before the attack hits or misses.
use Weakening Gaze before or after making these attacks. The attacker must make a DC 14 Wisdom saving throw. On a
failed save, the attacker targets the creature closest to it, other
Claw. Melee Weapon Attack: +6 to hit, reach 5 ft., one target.
than the enchanter or itself. If multiple creatures are closest,
Hit: 8 (1d8 + 4) slashing damage.
the attacker chooses which one to target.
Spear. Melee or Ranged Weapon Attack: +6 to hit, reach 5 ft. or
range 20/40 ft., one target. Hit: 7 (1d6 + 4) piercing damage,
or 8 (1d8 + 4) piercing damage when used with two hands to
make a melee attack..
Appendix 2 | Monster & NPC Statistics 33

Evoker Dagger. Melee or Ranged Weapon Attack: +4 to hit, reach 5ft. or
range 20/60 ft., one target. Hit: 5 (1d4 + 2) piercing damage.
Light Crossbow. Ranged Weapon Attack: +4 to hit, range
Armor Class 12 (15 with mage armor) 80/320 ft., one target. Hit: 6 (1d8 + 2) piercing damage.
Speed 30 ft.
Reactions
Feather Fall. The rider wears a magic ring with which it can
STR DEX CON INT WIS CHA cast the feather fall spell on itself once as a reaction to falling.
9 (-1) 14 (+2) 12 (+1) 17 (+3) 12 (+1) 11 (+0) After the spell is cast, the ring becomes nonmagical.
Saving Throws Int +7, Wis +5

Kraken Priest
Medium humanoid (any race), any evil alignment
Languages any four languages
Armor Class 10
Spellcasting. The evoker is a 12th level spellcaster. Its Speed 30 ft, swim 30 ft..
with spell attacks). The evoker has the following wizard spells STR DEX CON INT WIS CHA
prepared: 12 (+1) 10 (+0) 16 (+3) 10 (+0) 15 (+2) 14 (+2)
Cantrips (at will): fire bolt,* light,* prestidigitation, ray of frost*
Skills Perception +5
1st level (4 slots): burning hands,* mage armor, magic missile,*
Damage Resistances bludgeoning, piercing, and slashing from
2nd level (3 slots): mirror image, misty step, shatter*
nonmagical attacks
3rd level (3 slots): counterspell, fireball,* lightning bolt*
4th level (3 slots): ice storm,* stoneskin
Languages any two languages
5th level (2 slots): Bigby's hand,* cone of cold*
6th level (1 slot): chain lightning,* wall of ice*
*Evocation spell
Innate Spellcasting. The priest’s spellcasting ability is Wisdom
Sculpt Spells. When the evoker casts and evocation spell that (spell save DC 13, +5 to hit with spell attacks). It can innately
forces other creatures it can see to make a saving throw, it can cast the following spells, requiring no components:
choose a number of them equal to 1 + the spell's level. These
creatures automatically succeed on their saving throws against At will: command, create or destroy water
the spell. If a successful save means a chosen creature would 3/day each: control water, darkness, water breathing, water walk
take half damage from the spell, it instead takes no damage 1/day each: call lightning, Evard’s black tentacles
from it. Actions
Actions
Thunderous Touch Melee Weapon Attack: +5 to hit, reach 5 ft.,
Quarterstaff. Melee Weapon Attack: +3 to hit, reach 5 ft., one one target. Hit: 27 (5d10) thunder damage.
target. Hit: 2 (1d6 - 1) bludgeoning damage, or 3 (1d8 - 1)
Voice of the Kraken (Recharges after a Short or Long Rest).
bludgeoning damage if used with two hands.
A kraken speaks through the priest with a thunderous voice
audible within 300 feet. Creatures of the priest’s choice that
can hear the kraken’s words (which are spoken in Abyssal,
Griffon Cavalry Rider Infernal or Primordial) must succeed on a DC 14 Charisma
Medium humanoid (any race), any alignment saving throw or be frightened for 1 minute. A frightening
target can repeat the saving throw at the end of each of its
Armor Class 17 half plate) turns, ending the effect on itself on a success.
Speed 30 ft.
STR DEX CON INT WIS CHA

14 (+2) 15 (+2) 14 (+2) 10 (+0) 12 (+1) 10 (+0)
Skills Animal Handling +3, Athletics +4, Perception +3

Languages any one language (usually Common)
Challenge 2 (450 XP)
Actions
Lance. Melee Weapon Attack: +4 to hit (with disadvantage
against targets within 5 ft.), reach 10 ft., one target. Hit: 8
(1d12 + 2) piercing damage, or 11 (1d12 + 5) piercing damage
while mounted.
34 Appendix 2 | Monster & NPC Statistics

Master Thief Maw Demon
Medium humanoid (any race), any alignment Medium fiend (demon), chaotic evilt
Armor Class 16 (studded leather) Armor Class 13 (natural armor)

Hit Points 84 (13d8 + 26) Hit Points 33 (6d8 + 6)
Speed 30 ft. Speed 30 ft.
STR DEX CON INT WIS CHA STR DEX CON INT WIS CHA
11 (+0) 18 (+4) 14 (+2) 11 (+0) 11 (+0) 12 (+1) 14 (+2) 8 (-1) 13 (+1) 5 (-3) 8 (-1) 5 (-3)
Saving Throws Dex +7 Int +3 Damage Resistances cold, fire, lightning

Skills Acrobatics +7, Athletics +3, Perception +3, Sleight of Hand Damage Immunities poison
+7, Stealth +7 Condition Immunities poisoned
Senses passive Perception 13 Senses darkvision 60 ft., passive Perception 9
Languages any one language (usually Common) plus thieves’ Languages understands Abyssal but can’t speak
cant Challenge 1 (200 XP)
Rampage. When it reduces a creature to 0 hit points with a
Cunning Action. On each of its turns, the thief can use a bonus melee attack on its turn, the maw demon can take a bonus
action to take the Dash, Disengage, or Hide action. action to move up to half its speed and make a bite attack.
Evasion. If the thief is subjected to an effect that allows it to Actions
make a Dexterity saving throw to take only half damage, the Bite. Melee Weapon Attack: +4 to hit, reach 5 ft., one target.
thief instead takes no damage if it succeeds on the saving Hit: 11 (2d8 + 2) piercing damage.
throw, and only half damage if it fails.
Sneak Attack (1/Turn). The thief deals an extra 14 (4d6)
damage when it hits a target with a weapon attack and has
advantage on the attack roll, or when the target is within 5
Necromancer
feet of an ally of the thief that isn’t incapacitated and the thief
doesn’t have disadvantage on the attack roll. Armor Class 12 (15 with mage armor)
Actions Hit Points 66 (12d8 + 12)
Speed 30 ft.
Multiattack. The thief makes three attacks with its
shortsword. STR DEX CON INT WIS CHA
9 (-1) 14 (+2) 12 (+1) 17 (+3) 12 (+1) 11 (+0)
Shortsword. Melee Weapon Attack: +7 to hit, reach 5 ft., one
target. Hit: 7 (1d6 + 4) piercing damage Saving Throws Int +7, Wis +5
Light Crossbow. Ranged Weapon Attack: +7 to hit, range Damage Resistances necrotic
80/320 ft., one target. Hit: 8 (1d8 + 4) piercing damage. Senses passive Perception 11
Reactions Languages any four languages
Uncanny Dodge. The thief halves the damage that it takes
from an attack that hits it. The thief must be able to see the
Spellcasting. The necromancer is a 12th-level spellcaster. Its
attacker.
with spell attacks). The necromancer has the following wizard
spells prepared:
Cantrips (at will): chill touch, dancing lights, mage hand, mending
1st level (4 slots): false life, mage armor, ray of sickness
2nd level (3 slots): blindness/deafness, ray of enfeeblement, web
3rd level (3 slots): animate dead, bestow curse, vampiric touch
4th level (3 slots): blight, dimension door, stoneskin
5th level (2 slots): Bigby's hand, cloudkill
6th level (1 slots): circle of death
Grim Harvest (1/Turn). When the necromancer kills a creature
that is neither a construct nor undead with a spell of 1st level
or higher, the necromancer regains hit points equal to twice the
spell’s level, or three times if it is a necromancy spell.
Actions
Withering Touch. Melee or Ranged Weapon Attack: +7 to hit,
reach 5 ft., one creature. Hit: 5 (2d4) necrotic damage.

Nimblewright Sea Spawn
Medium construct, unaligned Medium humanoid, neutral evil
Armor Class 18 (natural armor) Armor Class 11 (natural armor)

Speed 60 ft. Speed 20 ft., swim 30 ft.
12 (+1) 18 (+4) 17 (+3) 8 (-1) 10 (+0) 6 (-2) 15 (+2) 8 (-1) 15 (+2) 6 (-2) 10 (+0) 8 (-1)
Saving Throws Dex +6 Senses darkvision 120 ft., passive Perception 10

Skills Acrobatics +8, Perception +2 Languages understands Aquan and Common but can’t speak
Damage Resistances bludgeoning, piercing and slashing from Challenge 1 (200 XP)
nonmagical effects
Condition Immunities exhaustion, frightened, petrified, poisoned Limited Amphibiousness. The sea spawn can breathe air and
Senses darkvision 60 ft., passive Perception 12 water, but needs to be submerged in the sea at least once a
Languages understands one language known to its creator but day for 1 minute to avoid suffocating.
can’t speak
Challenge 4 (1,100 XP) Actions
Multiattack. The sea spawn makes three attacks: two
Magic Resistance. The nimblewright has advantage on saving unarmed strikes and one with its Piscine Anatomy.
throws against spells and other magical effects.
Unarmed Strike. Melee Weapon Attack: +4 to hit, reach 5 ft.,
Magic Weapons. The nimblewright’s weapon attacks are one target. Hit: 4 (1d4 + 2) bludgeoning damage.
magical.
Piscine Anatomy. The sea spawn has one or more of the
Repairable. As long as it has at least 1 hit point remaining, the following attack options, provided it has the appropriate
nimblewright regains 1 hit point when a mending spell is cast anatomy:
on it.
Bite. Melee Weapon Attack: +5 to hit, reach 5 ft., one target.
Sure Footed. The nimblewright has advantage on Strength and Hit: 4 (1d4 + 2) piercing damage.
Dexterity saving throws made against effects that would knock
it prone. Poison Quills. Melee Weapon Attack: +5 to hit, reach 5 ft.,
one creature. Hit: 3 (1d6) poison damage, and the target
Actions must succeed on a DC 12 Constitution saving throw or be
poisoned for 1 minute. The target can repeat the saving
Multiattack. The nimblewright makes three attacks: two with throw at the end of each of its turns, ending the effect on
its rapier and one with its dagger.. itself on a success.
Rapier. Melee Weapon Attack: +6 to hit, reach 5 ft., one target. Tentacle. Melee Weapon Attack: +5 to hit, reach 10 ft., one
Hit: 8 (1d8 + 4) piercing damage. target. Hit: 5 (1d6 + 2) bludgeoning damage, and the target
is grappled (escape DC 12) if it is a Medium or smaller
Dagger. Melee or Ranged Weapon Attack: +6 to hit, reach 5ft. or
creature. Until this grapple ends, the sea spawn can’t use
range 20/60 ft., one target. Hit: 6 (1d4 + 4) piercing damage.
this tentacle on another target
Reactions
Parry. The nimblewright adds 2 to its AC against one melee
attack that would hit it. To do so, the nimblewright must see
the attacker and be wielding a melee weapon.
36 Appendix 2 | Monster & NPC Statistics

Swashbuckler Warlock of the Fiend
Medium humanoid (any race), any non-lawful alignment Medium humanoid (any race), any alignment
Armor Class 17 (leather armor) Armor Class 12 (15 with mage armor)
Speed 30 ft. Speed 30 ft.
12 (+1) 18 (+4) 12 (+1) 14 (+2) 11 (+0) 15 (+2) 10 (+0) 14 (+2) 15 (+2) 12 (+1) 12 (+1) 18 (+4)
Skills Acrobatics +8, Athletics +5, Persuasion +6 Saving Throws Wis +5, Cha +11
Senses passive Perception 10 Skills Arcana +4, Deception +7, Persuasion +7, Religion +4
Languages any one language (usually Common) Damage Resistances slashing from nonmagical attacks that
Challenge 3 (700 XP) aren't silvered
Senses darkvision 60 ft., passive Perception 11
Lightfooted. The swashbuckler can take the Dash or Disengage Languages any two languages (usually Abyssal or Infernal)
action as a bonus action on each of its turns. Challenge 7 (2,900 XP)
Suave Defense. While the swashbuckler is wearing light or no

armor and wielding no shield, its AC includes its Charisma Innate Spellcasting. The evoker’s spellcasting ability is
modifier. Intelligence (spell save DC 15). It can innately cast the following
spells, requiring no material components:
Actions
At will: alter self, false life, levitate (self only), mage armor (self
Multiattack. The swashbuckler makes three attacks: one with only), silent image
a dagger and two with its rapier. 1/day: feeblemind, finger of death, plane shift, teleport (self only)
Dagger. Melee or Ranged Weapon Attack: +6 to hit, reach 5 Spellcasting. The warlock is a 17th level spellcaster. Its
ft. or range 20/60 ft., one target. Hit: 6 (1d4 + 4) piercing spellcasting ability is Charism (spell save DC 15, +7 to hit
damage. with spell attacks). It regains its expended spell slots when it
Rapier. Melee Weapon Attack: +6 to hit, reach 5 ft., one target. finishes a short or long rest. It knows the following warlock
Hit: 8 (1d8 + 4) piercing damage. spells:
Cantrips (at will): eldritch blast, fire bolt, friends, mage hand,
minor illusion, prestidigitation, shocking grasp
1st–5th level: (4 5th-level slots): banishment, burning hands,
flame strike, hellish rebuke, magic circle, scorching ray, scrying,
stinking cloud, suggestion, wall of fire
Dark One's Own Luck (Recharges after a Short or Long Rest).

When the warlock makes an ability check or saving throw, it can
add a d10 to the roll. It can do this after the roll is made but
before any of the roll's effects occur.
Actions
Mace Melee Weapon Attack: +3 to hit, reach 5 ft., one target.
Hit: 3 (1d6) bludgeoning damage plus 10 (3d6) fire damage.

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What are random city encounters and location encounters?

What are random city encounters and location encounters?

What does the foreword discuss?

What does the foreword discuss?

W A T E R D E E P

A Collection of Encounters for 1st - 4th Level Characters

Encounter Castle C. of Dead Dock Field North Sea Southern Trades

4 Part One | Random City Encounters

Part One | Random City Encounters 5

6 Part One | Random City Encounters

Part One | Random City Encounters 7

Part One | Random City Encounters 9

10 Part One | Random City Encounters

Part One | Random City Encounters 11

12 Part One | Random City Encounters

Part One | Random City Encounters 13

14 Part One | Random City Encounters

Part One | Random City Encounters 15

16 Part One | Random City Encounters

Part One | Random City Encounters 17

18 Part One | Random City Encounters

Part One | Random City Encounters 19

20 Part One | Random City Encounters

Part Two | Location Encounters 23

24 Part Two | Location Encounters

Part Two | Location Encounters 25

13. Tombs of the Anagrammed Nobles

26 Part Two | Location Encounters

Sea Ward Locations 18. House of Wonder

Part Two | Location Encounters 27

28 Part Two | Location Encounters

Part Two | Location Encounters 29

Trades Ward Locations

The bustling stalls and shopfronts of the Trades Ward are

30. House of Light

31. Court of the White Bull

Random Weather Tables 3 Sleet Storm Heavy Precipitation, Ice, Windy

32 Appendix 1 | Waterdeep Weather

Actions Spellcasting. The enchanter is a 9th-level spellcaster. Its

Appendix 2 | Monster & NPC Statistics 33

Saving Throws Int +7, Wis +5

STR DEX CON INT WIS CHA

Skills Animal Handling +3, Athletics +4, Perception +3

34 Appendix 2 | Monster & NPC Statistics

Armor Class 16 (studded leather) Armor Class 13 (natural armor)

Saving Throws Dex +7 Int +3 Damage Resistances cold, fire, lightning

Appendix 2 | Monster & NPC Statistics 35

Armor Class 18 (natural armor) Armor Class 11 (natural armor)

Saving Throws Dex +6 Senses darkvision 120 ft., passive Perception 10

36 Appendix 2 | Monster & NPC Statistics

Suave Defense. While the swashbuckler is wearing light or no

Dark One's Own Luck (Recharges after a Short or Long Rest).

Appendix 2 | Monster & NPC Statistics 37

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