Wailing Dwarf

The Wailing Dwarf was a 4,000 ft (1,220 m) stone sculpture of a dwarf named for the sound made by wind passing over and through the cavernous ears, eyes, and mouth.

Geography
The Wailing Dwarf was located in the Troll Mountains of western Amn, carved from the easternmost peak, Mount Batyr. The monument faced eastward toward Breakback Pass in the Giant's Run Mountains. The southern slope of the mountain presented a rough climb to the shoulder of the massive structure. There, a 5 ft (1.5 m) wide path cut out of natural rock skirted across the front of the edifice, ran between the twisting stone columns that made up his braided beard, and eventually reached his mouth.

Geographical Features

 * The braided beard was over 1,000 ft (305 m) long and was carved tucked into the Dwarf's belt.
 * The Dwarf's hands rested on the haft of a spectacularly large double-bladed battleaxe.
 * The First Antechamber was a large cavern located at the end of a long throat-like passage.
 * Another passage from the First Antechamber led to a large abandoned dwarven city carved into both sides of a great rift, crisscrossed by ancient suspension bridges, elevated roads, and stone paths of dubious safety.

Defenses
The first challenge to gaining entry was the exposed climb up Mount Batyr and along the narrow path to the statue's mouth. The breezes in and out of the eyes and mouth were erratic; from light zephyrs to gale-force winds. At their strongest, objects and creatures not securely fastened to stone were either blown out to plummet nearly 4,000 ft (1,220 m) or sucked down the 100 ft (30 m) throat to land unceremoniously in the First Antechamber.

The First Antechamber was the station of the first guardian naga who reportedly had four trolls in chains, likely insane from centuries of captivity, used as a regenerating food source. Guardian nagas were known to be very inquisitive about spells, rituals, and esoteric knowledge, and acquisitive of new and interesting magic items. Therefore, it was theoretically possible to negotiate an escape from the jaws of death, but a guardian naga would never bargain for passage into the heart of the mountain.

History
In the Year of the Tankard, 1370 DR, the age of the Wailing Dwarf was estimated at over 6,000 winters, but the name and origin of the sculpture was perhaps known only to the immortal guardian nagas that protected the entrance and what laid within. Inside the edifice and the mountain was a dwarven city that flourished during the age of Shanatar, but was abandoned to trolls and other monsters long before Dalereckoning began. Sometime during the Age of Humanity, trolls gained entry to the underground city by some unknown passage, either dug or discovered, and started to form a colony, kicking off a decades-long war with the guardians. The trolls were driven back, but not entirely eliminated.

Lancameth's Last Expedition
A ballad known as Lancameth's Last Expedition described the final adventure of Bryam Lancameth, a famous explorer from Amn, and his well-known companions, which came to a tragic end in the passages and rooms behind the Wailing Dwarf's facade. Captain Lancameth put up the gold to mount the expedition ostensibly to discover the source of the eerie sound for which the monument was named, but in all likelihood there were hopes of glory and treasure as well. There were no known survivors.

Known expedition members were:
 * Captain Bryam Lancameth, human fighter of Amn
 * Lady Starthorn, elf ranger from the Yuirwood of Aglarond
 * Nhair Ebendar, halfling rogue from Athkatla
 * Dog Wizard, wizard (real name unknown, race unknown, possibly tiefling)
 * Matron Iremar, priestess of Oghma