Paths of the Doomed

The Paths of the Doomed was a dangerous labyrinthine cave system located in the deepest parts under the ancient Citadel in Thaymount.

"Many years ago, a successful group ventured into the bowels of the Citadel and discovered a near-endless series of subterranean tunnels and caverns. The area came to be known as the Paths of the Doomed and there are supposed to be horrendous creatures that inhabit those tunnels."

- Naglatha

Description
The Paths were ancient, dangerous, and confusing to most.

Geography
The Paths of the Doomed had several access points from within the Citadel. The main entrance was just past the Citadel gates, in the stronghold's twelve-sided room. Each side was a doorway, each marked with a different arcane rune. The rune of the labyrinth opened the way into the Paths of the Doomed. To gain entrance, one had to trace the symbol and say the command word "Thola Vos" which caused the door to disappear, allowing the passage. Another entry of note was located just beyond the Citadel's main banquet hall, often used by Szass Tam to host Zulkir and Tharchion meetings. Said chamber descended low into the beeper levels of the structure and, eventually, reached the Paths of the Doomed.

Defenses
The part of the Paths of the Doomed designed to lead to the Citadel's heart and hide various chambers of value was designed to confuse and protect against intruders. Very few knew of the ways, shortcuts, and protections against the dangers of the Paths. These protected areas of the Paths were divided into for elemental regions, Earth, Water, Air, and Fire, all converging on the Devouring Portal. Each elemental region was filled with guardians and traps so dangerous, that Szass Tam himself worried don't for possible trespassers.

History
Many years prior to1368 DR, a group of adventurers found a way into the Paths of the Doomed and discovered not just thee tunnels and elemental chambers that served at the access point to the Citadel's heart, but also the expansive wild and dangerous winding tunnels, and almost infinite subterranean caves. The adventurers managed to map the paths. Later, the maps found their way into the possessions of the Zulkir of Necromancy of Thay.

Several years prior to 1368 DR, Szass Tam took control of the Thaymount region and the Citadel, turning it into the seat of his power. The lich survived the dangers of the Paths of the Doomed, reaching the Devouring Portal and aging access to the citadel's hart, where he subsequently performed the ritual of twin burnings, trapping the demon lord Eltab on the Thakorsil's Seat.

Rumors & Legends
The stories and rumors about the Paths of the Doomed were many and most originated from the group of adventurers who mapped the tunnels and told the stories of the forbidden magics, gemmed walls, and monstrous creatures.

Appearances

 * Adventures
 * The Runes of Chaos
 * Novels
 * The Crimson Gold