Wizard's Inception

A gang of thieves must infiltrate the core of a wizard's mind to plant the seed of an idea
that could change his entire life

by @artofkarthik
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 Wizard's Inception

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nception is one of my favorite movies from director
Christopher Nolan. Now imagine taking that premise
and dropping it into the wild world of Dungeons &
Dragons and mixing in a little Freudian philosophy.
That's what this adveture is about.
Introduction
Wizard's Inception was originally written as a side-quest to
the Dungeons & Dragons campaign Storm King's Thunder,
expanding upon a little thread mentioned in the adventure
about how a band of thieves tried to steal from the wizard
and were expelled violently from his mansion (but you can
customise it as a one-shot or as part of a campaign or town of
your choice).
It is intended for four to six characters of 4th-6th level with
a default encounter difficulty set for five characters of 5th
level.
This adventure takes place in the town of Triboar, where
the adventurers are called upon by Urlam Stockspool, the
leader of the local Zhentarim agents, to perform the
clandestine task of infiltrating a local wizard's mansion and
his mind.
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Preparing for the Adventure
To run this adventure effectively, you should:
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Foehammer’s Forge run by Ghelryn Foehammer, which
sells good quality weapons and armor
Talking Troll Inn run by Kaelen Sarssir, where the
adventurers are likely to first encounter Urlam
Stockspool.
Guard Tower where the Lord Protector of Tribiar-
Daratha Shrendel resides.
Boar's Rest the gated mansion where the wizard Hyuth
Kolstaag resides
The Three Stages of the Mind where the adventurers
travel through the Wizard's Super-Ego, Ego and Id as they
journey to the center of his mind to plant the seed of an
idea
DM Tip
For more information on Triboar and its residents,
refer to Pg53 of Storm King's Thunder. All special
Items and maps are further detailed towards the
end of this document.
Credit
Based on a D&D side-quest conducted by @artofkarthik
(twitter)
Document designed with

Have a copy of the D&D 5e Basic Rules or the Player's https://homebrewery.naturalcrit.com

Handbook Quest Rewards randomly generated using
Read through this adventure and take notes of anything https://donjon.bin.sh/5e
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specific you'd like to highlight or revise Triboar setting inspired by the insanely fun D&D
Adventure - Storm King's Thunder
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Familiarize yourself with the NPCs and Monsters

Plan any resources you would like to use to help you run
this adventure, such as a DM screen, miniatures, battle
maps, item cards, etc.
Running the Adventure
As the Dungeon Master, you help build the narrative and
guide the story, helping to kindle the imagination of the
players. These are the only rules that matter:
Ensure that teh group has fun
The DM should always almost win :-)
Establish the framework of the narrative and let the
players fill it out with their creativity and imagination
When in doubt, go with the option that you feel would lead
to the most interesting outcome from a storytelling
standpoint
Adventure Locations
Lion's Share A trading post run by Narth Tezrin where
the adventurers can buy basic weapons and supplies
Felaskur Apothecary run by Tarmock Felaskur which
sells potions and salves
Wainwright’s Wagons run by Tosker Wainwright in case
the adventurers are looking for a swift getaway vehicle at
the end of their adventure

1 PART 1 | INTRODUCTION

Adventure Hook
Read or Paraphrase this to your players
Our adventure begins with all of you receiving an invitation to
meet with Urlam Stockspool, the leader of the Zhentarim in
Triboar.
You're aware that the Zhentarim respects knowledge,
creativity, skill and discreteness. You have been chosen for
your reputation or your past work with them. Whatever your
reason for answering the call, be it fear of ignoring them, or
eagerness for a challenge, or the expectations of a great
reward, or just your morbid curiosity of what they are upto,
you find yourselves in the town of Triboar, located on the
intersection of the Long Road and the Triboar Trade Road
along the Sword Coast of Faerun.
As you enter the Talking Troll Inn, you are greeted by a
frustrated Urlam Stockspool, "Aye, greetings and well met and
all of that rubbish. I'd rather not waste yer time or mine, so I'll
get straight ta tha point."
Urlam Stockspool (Bandit Captain) presents the
adventurers with the following facts:
A local wizard, Hyuth Kolstaag (Mage), has a past with a
Zhentarim operative - Kella Darkhope (Bandit). But their
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relationship went sour since she prioritized her future
with the Zhentarim over adventuring with the wizard. In
retaliation, the wizard is screwing with Zhentarim
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operations all over Faerun.
The Zhentarim tried sending Kella away to some other
corner of the continent and even tried faking her death,
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but the wizard seems hell bent on his path of vengeance.
As a last resort, The Zhentarim want to alter his final
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memory of Kella to be something different, so that he
doesn't persecute the Zhentarim anymore. (A modify
memory spell isn’t enough, since that only tampers with
recent memories for upto 10 mins at its base level)
If you ask him whether something like this has ever been
attempted before, he mutters something about it having
been done once before by a master thief.
"Your mission, should you choose to accept it:
Infiltrate the wizard's manor
Use this specially modified scroll to cast the Dream spell
on him
Enter his mindscape and travel to the core of his memories
Plant an idea in there that will change his mind, something
like, 'Kella Darkhope died trying to save me' or 'Kella
Darkhope joined the Lord's Alliance, so I should take out
my anger on them,' or something like that. Be creative.
Oh, and deal with any crazy things you happen to
encounter on your way in
"If you fail, make a run for it and don't come back. And if
anyone ever asks, we never saw each other.
"And whatever you do, don't kill him! He may be annoying,
but he has powerful wizard friends who would swarm Triboar
in the aftermath and make all of our lives miserable!"
1. The Frost-Touched Frog
The Zhentarim leader informs the party that the Wizard's
estate is well fortified and guarded by four Gargoyles
personally enchanted by the Wizard himself. The gargoyles
get activated any time someone gets too close to the estate
walls and try to scare off any passers-by.
However, his agents have started digging a hole from
beneath the abandoned inn, 'The Frost-Touched Frog' next
door, which should open up somewhere within the estate
compound. However, it's not finished and the last portion of
the dig would need to be performed by the adventuring party,
since an open hole in the estate would likely be noticed.
Another problem the diggers ran into, is that there are
three possible routs the tunnel could exit, but they're not sure
exactly where on the estate each would open up.
2. Tunnels
The tunnel freshly dug out by the Zhentarim agents is 3 ft
wide and goes straight down 20 ft (with a rope climb down,
and then a narrow horizontal 100 crawl. The pathway splits
into three forks:
The straight fork opens up inside a well in the backyard of
the estate, which has a live humanoid fish-creature
(Merfolk) trapped inside. He is very weak and is living off
scraps that the wizard has been flushing through his
kitchen to the well. It's not connected to any underwater
stream, it's just a pool of water that gets replenished when
it rains. A DC20 Investigation Check of all the rubbish at
the bottom of the well reveals a Surveyor's Rod. Exiting
the well requires climbing the slick walls with a DC15
Athletics Check (made with advantage with climbing gear
or a rope with a grappling hook), upon failure of rolling <5
(total) leads to a 20ft fall taking 2d6 bludgeoning damage.
Upon successfully exiting the well, the nearest entrance to
the mansion is the Back Door.
The left branch opens up inside the stables, where the
adventurers have to make a DC10 Dexterity check to
avoid getting stepped on by a scared horse (Draft Horse)
or hit by the chariot the horse is tied to, upon failure
taking 2d4+4 bludgeoning damage. The characters can
subsequently make a DC13 Animal Handlings check to
calm the poor frightened horse down so they dont make
any more noise. A DC15 Invetigation check reveals a
Whip of Grasping inside the chariot. The stables are
connected to the house via a Side Door.
The right branch opens up inside the Cellar of the
mansion, where the adventurers must make a DC15
Dexterity Check to avoid shattering a large glass vial of
acid, upon failure taking 2d6 acid damage.
PART 2 | ADVENTURE HOOK 2
 3. Back Door & Dining Room
The back door is locked (DC12 Dex check with Thieves
Tools, DC17 Strength check to bust it open).
This door leads to a Dining room with a long table and 12
chairs. There are shelves along one wall filled with crockery
and cutlery. On the opposite wall, there is a massive tapestry
showing a titanic battle between Storm Giants and Blue
Dragons, amidst a fierce lightning storm (weighs 250
Pounds, costs 2000GP).
There are two suits of Animated Armor in this room that
are activated by speaking the keyword, "Darkhope" but only
in the wizard's voice.
The Dining Room has one door to the South-leading to the
Study, one door to the East-leading to the Kitchens, and one
door to the West-leading to a small wash room.
4. Side Door & Coat Room
The side door from the stables leads East-to a coat room
which has racks to hold cloaks, robes, hats, walking sticks
and boots. A DC12 Investigation check reveals the following
items stored here:
A wooden walking stick inlaid with geometric patterns in
bronze
A wooden walking stick which conceals a stiletto dagger
Robe of Eyelids, adorned with patterns of closed eyes
(refer Items page)
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The Coat Room has a door on it's East-leading to the
Wizard's Study.
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5. Cellar
The cellar is a dark subterranean room, with shelves lining
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the walls filled with random assorted trinkets covered in
cobwebs:
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A small book filled with sketches of strange cities
An iron gauntlet torn from a clockwork suit of armor
A set of small nesting dolls representing the various
arcane schools of magic
A steel gauntlet which fits you perfectly
A pewter figurine of a fox with nine tails
A winged spider preserved in amber
A brass ring engraved with the initials T.K.
A knot of goblin hair
A glass orb filled with filings of iridescent metal
A loosely-bound folio filled with the accounts of an
unnamed merchant
A small leather pouch of flat stones
A single cloth glove with an arcane symbol in the palm
A hide gauntlet with a bronze lens fastened to the palm
The cellar has a staircase facing West, leading to a
trapdoor set in the floor of the Wizard's Study, just above.
How to use these trinkets
Feel free to use any or all of the above listed
trinkets as plot hooks for future quests.
3 PART 3 | THE MANSION
6. Study & Lounge
The Wizard's study is a cozy room lined completely with
bookshelves, a reading table and chair, and a lounging chair.
A ladder on wheels leans against one of the walls, used to
reach the upper shelves. The shelves have a variety of books
in them. The Study has a door to the East, leading to the
Bedroom.
A DC10 Investigation check reveals some of the following
mundane tomes:
The Khundu Shards: This set of engraved platinum plates
is contained in a steel coffer set with pearl. It is locked by
magic and starts to scream if opened directly. It can be
opened only within magical Silence. Adventurers opening
this book need to make a DC15 Dexterity check to try
closing the book before it makes too much noise and
wakes the Wizard.
Thratur's Scrolls: This large compendium is bound in
bronze plates.
The Unearthly Apocrypha of Aton: This large
compendium is written in black wax upon linen pages and
bound in leather.
Anzin's Tome of Demons and Fiends: This rare
compendium is written upon silk pages and bound in
pewter plates set with chrysoberyl. It is written in an
archaic form of Sylvan.
A note on the wizard's reading desk that reads, "The
password is: I will always love you, Kella Darkhope."
A DC15 Investigation check reveals some of the following
magical tomes:
Biosanios' Leaves: This obscure libram is bound in
leather. It is sealed by fell wards, and cannot be opened by
a good person. When used in arcane research, this tome
provides a +1 bonus to checks using alchemist's supplies.
Cama's Articles: This compendium is written in luminous
script and bound in monstrous hide. Many of its pages are
marked with seemingly unrelated notes. When used in
larceny, this tome provides a +1 bonus to checks using
thieves' tools.
The Atenus Tablets: This compendium is written in
luminous script and bound in steel plates and locked. It is
locked by magic, and can be opened only in a mirror.
When used in arcane research, this tome provides a +1
bonus to Intelligence (Arcana) checks.
The Malevolent Leaves of Cate: This modest tome is
bound in stained glass plates. When used in research, this
tome provides a +1 bonus to Intelligence (History) checks.
Tome of Cat Summoning: By opening this tome and
reading it for one minute, you summon a normal cat. The
cat lays upon the tome and does nothing else, but departs
if removed from the tome or attacked.
How to use these tomes
These tomes can be used to expand upon the lore
of the world you are building for the players if this
is part of an existing campaign or if you are
planning to continue playing with these characters.
7. Bedroom
The wizard Hyuth Kolstaag (Mage) is fast asleep here, tired
after a hard day of study and research. If the adventurers step
into this room, they need to make a Stealth check contested
by the wizard's perception check.
If there is any noise in his room or any of the adjacent
rooms, he makes a DC15 perception check made with
disadvantage for each noisy disturbance. Upon making a
successful check, he wakes up and summons his battle
regalia via a Leomund's Secret Chest which contains:
6x500GP gems
Bracers of Defense (+2AC)
+1 Wand of War Magic
The adventurers are free to use the Modified Dream
Scroll whenever they wish (refer Items section for how it
works).
8. Kitchen & Pantry
The door to the East from the Dining Area leads to a Kitchen
which seems to run itself.
When you enter the Kitchen, you hear a faint scraping sound.
Directly in front of you, a magical brush is vigorously
scrubbing pots and pans in a basin of water.
A towel is magically wiping plates and spoons dry, following
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which the cutlery and crockery are floating off to their
respective places on the shelf.
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Interfering with either the brush or the towel sends the plates
and pots crashing down to the ground respectively.
A DC10 Investigation check reveals the usual fruits,
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vegetables, dried meats and spices expected of a regular
Kitchen & Pantry.
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A DC15 Investigation check reveals the following exotic
ingredients:
A tulip bulb
Kidney of a dire shark
A crab's eye-stalk
Minced Were-Rat claws
A Handful of pickled Belladona leaves
Dried Seaweed
Petals of a Rotten Bloodflower
A bottle of finely ground Pumice dust
A DC20 Investigation/Arcana check reveals one of the
large jugs sitting to dry is actually an Alchemical Jug.
9. Laboratory
There is a secret door to the North of the Coat Room which
can be discovered with a DC20 Investigation check. The door
is seemlessly built into the structure of the brick wall and a
keen inspection shows a small trail of dust in an arc,
indicating that a door-like structure has moved through this
area recently.
The door itself has no handle or keyhole and can only be
opened with a special password known only to the wizard
Hyuth Kolstaag (which he has absent-mindedly written down
and left on his reading desk), or using a Knock spell.
Once opened, the secret door reveals a hidden Laboratory,
filled with weird scents, strange apparatuses and alchemical
substances. A thick greenish smoke hangs low from the
ceiling and has a foul odor. Bookshelves line the walls, filled
with all manner of arcane tomes. A teleportation circle is
inscribed on one side of the room.
A DC 12 Investigation check reveals the following:
A tiny boat crafted from a mouse's skull
A glass lens etched with alchemical symbols
A bracer crafted from strange green glass which is as
strong and durable as steel
A small hourglass filled with fine grey ash
A jade cube engraved with demonic faces
A bronze coin engraved with the face of a devil
A tiny squid-like creature preserved in quartz
A small box crafted from a quartz geode
An iron sphere with a strange keyhole
A bronze ring crafted in the form of a cat wrapped around
your finger
A DC17 Investigation check reveals the following tomes
stored in the bookshelves:
The Heavenly Grimoire of Acrimas: This set of scrolls is
contained in a gold coffer. It is locked by magic, and can
be opened only by a Mage Hand spell. This spellbook
contains the spells Acid Splash, Chill Touch, and Dancing
Lights.
The Desogaeon Incunabulum: This tome is a collection of
scrolls within an engraved gold coffer. Whenever it is
opened, any other magic items worn by the reader cease
functioning. The tome contains the scrolls: False Life,
Grease, Ray of Sickness, Tasha's Hideous Laughter and
Witch Bolt.
A DC20 Investigation check reveals the Wizard's
Spellbook, which has the following spells inscribed in it:
Cantrips: Light, Mage Hand, Prestidigitation
1st Level: Detect Magic, Mage Armor, Magic Missile,
Shield, Burning Hands
2nd Level: Misty Step, Suggestion
3rd Level: Fireball, Fly, Animate Dead
4th Level: Greater Invisibility, Ice Storm, Dimension Door
5th Level: Cone of Cold, Teleportation Circle
PART 4 | THE MANSION CONTD... 4