Neverwinter: The Maze Engine

Neverwinter: The Maze Engine is the 9 campaign expansion module for the Neverwinter massive-multiplayer role-playing game. Released in March 2016, the expansion added a new campaign, re-introduced four previously-removed dungeons, along with a new system for in-game mounts.

"Neverwinter: The Maze Engine has finally escaped into PC and is now live! Delve deeper in the Underdark as you unravel the plans of Baphomet, Prince of Beasts, who seeks the Maze Engine, an ancient artifact that could alter the very fabric of reality itself. To aid you in your quest, familiar faces return in the form of Drizzt Do'Urden, Minsc and Boo, Linu and many more!"

Features

 * The Maze Engine Campaign
 * Updated Queue System
 * The return of 4 Leveling Dungeons
 * The return of a reworked Castle Never
 * Stronghold Economy Changes
 * Campaign Updates
 * New mount system
 * The Shaundakul Lockbox
 * New Enchantments
 * New Artifact Set

Plot
Following the defeat of the Demon Prince Demogorgon, the Heroes of Sleeping Dragon Bridge and their allies Drizzt Do'Urden and Bruenor Battlehammer began to close the portals to the Abyss that allowed demons to pour into Gauntlgrym. Afterwards they were attacked by a servant of Baphomet, Lans Thuliaga, who insisted the fiends were their "salvation" before eventually fleeing from the underground realm. As they left Gauntlgrym, the heroes were assailed by cultists of the Eternal Flame who sought to take the dwarven realm for their own. As more tears into the Abyss appeared, the group was rescued by Linu La'neral and granted an escape from the once-again overrun Gauntlgrym. As Bruenor and Linu sought out allies for the dwarf lord's kingdom, Drizzt and the Heroes allied themselves with Minsc and the Emerald Enclave to defeat the cell of fire-worshiping cultists. They defeated the cult leader General Fury and rescued the injured knight, Lucas Shaneway III of the Lords' Alliance. For the heroes' efforts, Lucas offered the aid of the Lords' Alliance to Bruenor's cause.

Upon their return to Neverwinter, Lord Neverember informed the group that demons were emerging from the Chasm to attack the city of Neverwinter outright. With the aid of Linu's divine magic, the Heroes of Sleeping Dragon Bridge were able to descend into the Chasm. While resting underground, the group once again encountered the now-friendly goliath known as Lans Thuliaga who had been fighting demons with the Order of the Gauntlet. The goliath was confused as to their mention of a previous interaction as he had no memory of being in the Underdark for months and none whatsoever of their previous battle. Working together the group managed to defeat a balor within the depths beneath the city. As the tanar'ri fell, Lans became possessed and told the Heroes that Baphomet would reshape the world with the Maze Engine and warned them to stay out of the Underdark, before vanishing through a portal. The heroes returned to Mantol-Derith alongside the Neverwintan warlock Makos, who shared information about the reality-altering Maze Engine.

When the group returned to Neverwinter, they witnessed the takeover of Castle Never by Orcus, as the demon lord sought out the phylactery of the dracolich Azarzhel, former ally of Valindra Shadowmantle. The heroes fought through the hordes of demons and undead that were under the command of the Prince of Undeath, and struck him down from the face of Faerûn.

at his command and ultimately struck down the Prince of Undeath.

Eventually, the Zhentarim delivered information that a drow archmage named Vizeran DeVir had been fighting Baphomet's forces as well. While they didn't know where Vizeran was, Makos told them of an artifact called the Orb of Remembrance in an abandoned Cult of the Dragon lair in the Underdark that could be used to locate him. Though they discovered when they arrived that it was still occupied by a brood of red dragons, they pressed onward, undaunted. No sooner did Makos wonder why they had not been attacked than the dragon Larauthtor landed behind them. Thanks to a quick haste spell by Makos, the heroes managed to outrun the ancient red and reach safety in a deeper part of the cavern. There they found the Orb of Remembrance guarded by a Thayan lich named Zalia, but together they defeated her and claimed the artifact.

Once they were safely back in Mantol-Derith, Makos used the Orb to determine that Vizeran was in a place called Araj Tower in the Underdark. Drizzt led the heroes there, where they found the tower under assault by demons. Though Drizzt confessed that he did not trust Vizeran, he believed him to be their best chance of defeating Baphomet. After the demons were slain, Vizeran told them that the Maze Engine was located within the Labyrinth, now under Baphomet's control. He offered to create a portal to send them there, if the heroes could find the necessary components.

Vizeran required a grimoire from each of the four elemental cults, as well as the tome of Gromph Baenre. The Lords' Alliance sent Lucas Shaneway to deliver the fire grimoire, which they had previously acquired from the cultists in Gauntlgrym. Meanwhile, Drizzt and Minsc discovered that the surviving air and water cultists were meeting at Spinward Rise; the heroes accompanied them there to claim their grimoires. When they returned, Regis had word that the remnants of the Cult of the Black Earth, now led by General Onyx, were launching an attack on Helm's Hold from their fortress of Reclamation Rock. The heroes met Sergeant Knox and Celeste there, and together they defeated Onyx and the cultists and retrieved their grimoire.

While they were gone, Regis and Drizzt located Gromph Baenre's tome in an outpost near Menzoberranzan. Using a scroll of illusion, they disguised one of the heroes as a drow priestess and sent "her" to escort Drizzt as her prisoner as a pretense to get close enough to steal the tome. Though they bypassed the guards, Jarlaxle Baenre saw past their ruse. He was willing to give them Gromph's tome, though he also warned them not to trust Vizeran, who surely had an ulterior motive. He also informed them that it was Gromph who inadvertently summoned Demogorgon and the other demon lords into the Underdark. Before they could return to Mantol-Derith, though, demons suddenly attacked the outpost under the command of Lans Thuliaga. Though Drizzt and the hero battled the goliath, he escaped and boasted that they could not stop Baphomet from reshaping the Underdark. The heroes showed the books to Makos, who studied them alongside Grazilaxx to try and determine Vizeran's plans. Makos concluded that Vizeran did indeed plan to kill Baphomet, but was unclear as to whether he would destroy the Maze Engine or turn it against them. Deciding to play along for now, they delivered the books to Vizeran at Araj Tower; Vizeran insisted that the Maze Engine must be destroyed for the good of all, and began work on the spell.

While Vizeran worked, the Heroes of Sleeping Dragon returned to Gauntlgrym to help retake the bridge to the Underdark from the demons. Joined by Minsc, the Companions of the Hall, Linu La'neral, and the heroes of the Neverwinter Vanguard - who had all come to help defeat Baphomet - they easily slaughtered the demons and closed the Abyssal Tears before confronting their leader, Lans Thuliaga. While the heroes battled the goliath, Linu La'neral and Celeste performed a ritual to cleanse him of his demonic corruption. When they returned to Mantol-Derith in triumph, Vizeran met them at the docks, having completed his spell. Vizeran opened a portal to Baphomet's lair, and the entire party of legendary heroes stepped through. Baphomet was outraged at their audacity and fought ferociously, even turning the Maze Engine itself against them. In the end, though, the heroes managed to strike down and destroy the demon lord. Vizeran then attempted to claim the power of the Maze Engine for himself. Makos had prepared for his betrayal, however, and banished the drow wizard to the Abyss before destroying the Maze Engine. With Baphomet slain, Bruenor invited everyone back to Gauntlgrym for a feast in their honor. He declared that they would forever be known as Heroes of Gauntlgrym, and even named the Heroes of Sleeping Dragon Bridge as honorary members of the Companions of the Hall.

Meanwhile, in the depths of Gauntlgrym, Vanifer was visited by a projection of Vizeran DeVir, who named himself Harbinger of the Elemental Eye... And Vanifer's true master.

Characters

 * Baphomet • Boo • Bradda • Bruenor Battlehammer • Drizzt Do'Urden • General Fury • General Onyx • Grazilaxx • Jarlaxle Baenre • Lans Thuliaga • Linu La'neral • Lucas Shaneway III • Makos • Markath • Minsc • Orcus • Portebello • Respen • Valden Burningheart • Vizeran DeVir
 * Catti-brie • Gromph Baenre • Karrundax • Regis • Vanifer • Wulfgar
 * Catti-brie • Gromph Baenre • Karrundax • Regis • Vanifer • Wulfgar

Creatures

 * aboleth • balor • cloud giant • drow • lich • moonbear • nalfeshnee • panther • red dragon

Locations

 * Landmarks
 * Araj Tower • Burrow Dawn Inn • Castle Never • Cloak Tower • Frozen Heart • Icespire Peak • Mount Hotenow • Pirate King's Retreat • Reclamation Rock • Skull Fortress • Whispering Caverns


 * Planes
 * Abyss (Endless Maze)


 * Regions
 * Sword Coast North • Underdark


 * Settlements
 * Gauntlgrym • Helm's Hold • Mantol-Derith • Neverwinter (Blacklake District, The Chasm, River District) • Spinward Rise • Vellosk



Magic

 * Artifacts
 * Baphomet's Infernal Talisman • Demogorgon's Girdle of Might • Globe of the Third Eye • Maze Engine • Shard of Orcus' Wand


 * Items
 * Orb of Remembrance


 * Spells
 * antimagic field • disguise self •


 * disintegrate
 * disintegrate

Organizations

 * Cult of the Black Earth • Cult of the Crushing Wave • Cult of the Dragon • Cult of the Eternal Flame • Cult of the Howling Hatred • Harpers • Lords' Alliance • Order of the Gauntlet • Zhentarim


 * Companions of the Hall • battleragers • Company Yargo • Emerald Enclave
 * Companions of the Hall • battleragers • Company Yargo • Emerald Enclave