Caverns of Ooze

The **Caverns of Ooze** were the 7th main level, and 19th overall, of the Waterdhavian dungeon complex of Undermountain. A maze of naturally occurring tunnels inhabited by magically altered oozes, it was the first of the dungeon's three deepest main levels, collectively called the Gauntlet Below.

## Geography

A large portion of the caverns were covered in a nonliving ooze that flowed from the Swamp of Oblivion through an orb placed in one of the caverns by Halaster Blackcloak. The ooze smelled like rotten eggs and had a yellowish-brown coloration. It sometimes spontaneously formed pseudopods that resembled living creatures.

A shrine dedicated to Ghaunadaur existed in a cavern on the level. It was surrounded by intelligent oozes, originally drow and duergar worshipers who had been transformed by Halaster.

### Entrance

A tunnel descended into the Caverns from Vanrakdoom and led to the site of the shipwrecked cog *Blue Opal*, which had sunk in Deepwater Harbor under mysterious circumstances. The crew was rescued by marids, but the ship was never found.

### Exits

There were several known exits from the Caverns of Ooze:

* A *portal* within the caverns led to Seadeeps.
* A *portal* among a pair of menhirs led to the Terminus Level.
* A blood-sipping *portal* led to the Maze Level.
* A tunnel excavated by a purple worm led to the Runestone Caverns.

## History

 File:Illithid space hamster-5e.jpg
In the late 15th century DR, the spelljammer *Scavenger* was captured by Halaster, teleported into the Caverns of Ooze, and stripped of its spelljamming helm. The crew of the derelict ship, which included H'Cathan orogs, gray slaadi, and the mind flayer captain N'ghathrod, were left to fend for themselves in the cave complex.

## Inhabitants

Around 1492 DR, the complex was inhabited by the marid Ichthyglug the Voluminous and the dao Jarûk the Prismatic. The two genies had been imprisoned by Halaster in the dungeon and competed for freedom by attempting to rid the Runestone Caverns of the lich Ezzat, who had set up residence there. According to Halaster's rules, the first to capture the lich's phylactery would be freed from the dungeon. They were not allowed to inflict bodily harm on each other.

## Appendix

### Notes

1. ↑ Canon material does not provide a year for the events described in *Waterdeep: Dragon Heist*, but Christopher Perkins answered a question via Twitter and stated the year was 1492 DR. Unless a canon source contradicts this assertion, this wiki will use 1492 DR for events related to this sourcebook and *Waterdeep: Dungeon of the Mad Mage* (which is referenced on pages 5 and 98 of *Dragon Heist*).

### Appearances

* *Expedition to Undermountain*
* *Waterdeep: Dungeon of the Mad Mage*

### References

1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 Christopher Perkins (November 2018). *Waterdeep: Dungeon of the Mad Mage*. Edited by Jeremy Crawford. (Wizards of the Coast), pp. {{#regex:243–244|%(,)(\S)%|$1 $2}}. ISBN 978-0-7869-6626-4.
2. ↑ Eric L. Boyd, Ed Greenwood, Christopher Lindsay, Sean K. Reynolds (June 2007). *Expedition to Undermountain*. (Wizards of the Coast), pp. {{#regex:16,33|%(,)(\S)%|$1 $2}}. ISBN 978-0-7869-4157-5.
3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 Christopher Perkins (November 2018). *Waterdeep: Dungeon of the Mad Mage*. Edited by Jeremy Crawford. (Wizards of the Coast), pp. {{#regex:250–252|%(,)(\S)%|$1 $2}}. ISBN 978-0-7869-6626-4.
4. ↑ Christopher Perkins (November 2018). *Waterdeep: Dungeon of the Mad Mage*. Edited by Jeremy Crawford. (Wizards of the Coast), pp. {{#regex:244–245|%(,)(\S)%|$1 $2}}. ISBN 978-0-7869-6626-4.
5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 Christopher Perkins (November 2018). *Waterdeep: Dungeon of the Mad Mage*. Edited by Jeremy Crawford. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 248. ISBN 978-0-7869-6626-4.
6. ↑ Christopher Perkins (November 2018). *Waterdeep: Dungeon of the Mad Mage*. Edited by Jeremy Crawford. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 249. ISBN 978-0-7869-6626-4.

### Connections

Undermountain
The Largest Dungeon of the Forgotten Realms

**Upper Levels:** Dungeon Level • Arcane Chambers • Sargauth Level
**Sublevels:** Citadel of the Bloody Hand

**Deep Levels:** Twisted Caverns
**Sublevels:** Wyllowwood • Maddgoth's Castle • Dweomercore • Muiral's Gauntlet • Trobriand's Graveyard • Arcturiadoom

**Dark Levels:** Maze Level • Seadeeps
**Sublevels:** Lost Level • Slitherswamp • Troglodyte Warrens • Obstacle Course • Crystal Labyrinth • Vanrakdoom

**The Gauntlet Below:** **Caverns of Ooze** • Terminus Level • Mad Wizard's Lair
**Sublevels:** Runestone Caverns • Shadowdusk Hold