View source for Neverwinter: The Maze Engine

{{Computer game
| image        = NeverwinterMazeEngine.png
| caption      = Promotional logo for The Maze Engine
| name         = Neverwinter: The Maze Engine
| realm year   = Between [[1486 DR]] and [[1491 DR]]<ref group="note">The events of the game occur some time after the events of the expansion module ''[[Neverwinter: Underdark]]'', the adventure module ''[[Out of the Abyss]]'', and the novel ''[[Archmage (novel)|Archmage]]''. They also occur before the (previously released) expansion module ''[[Neverwinter: Elemental Evil]]'', as well as the adventure module ''[[Princes of the Apocalypse]]'', both of which were part of the [[Elemental Evil]] story line.</ref>
| developer    = [[wikipedia:en:Cryptic Studios|Cryptic Studios]]
| publisher    = [[wikipedia:en:Perfect World (company)|Perfect World]]
| distributor  = 
| designer     = 
| released     = March 2016
| genre        = [[wikipedia:en:MMORPG|MMORPG]]
| modes        = Massively multiplayer
| ratings      = 
| series       = ''[[Neverwinter (game)|Dungeons & Dragons: Neverwinter]]''
| prequel      = ''[[Neverwinter: Underdark|Underdark]]''
| sequel       = ''[[Neverwinter: Storm King's Thunder|Storm King's Thunder]]''
| remake       = 
| original     = 
| modules      = 
| engine       = 
| version      = NW.60.20160307a.4 – NW.60.20160410a.8
| platforms    = PC (Windows), XBox One
| media        = Download
| requirements = 
}}
'''''Neverwinter: The Maze Engine''''' is the 9{{th}} campaign expansion module for the ''[[Neverwinter (game)|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.

{{Quote|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 La'neral|Linu]] and many more!<ref name="Maze Engine">{{cite web| url = https://www.arcgames.com/en/games/neverwinter/news/detail/9863993-neverwinter%3A-the-maze-engine-is-live%21| title = Neverwinter: The Maze Engine is Live!| accessdate = 15/04/2021| author = [https://www.arcgames.com/en/games/neverwinter/news/author/Andy+%28StrumSlinger%29 Andy (StrumSlinger)]| date = 15/03/2016| publisher = Arc Games}}</ref>
}}

==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==
[[File:Lans Thuliaga.jpg|right|thumb|Lans "Illithid Scourge" Thuliaga, servant of Baphomet.]]
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 ''[[portal]]''s to the [[Abyss]] that allowed [[demon]]s 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 [[Cult of the Eternal Flame|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 [[Neverwinter/Chasm|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]].

As agents of the [[Zhentarim]] discovered [[archmage]] [[Vizeran DeVir]] was fighting Baphomet's forces as well, but could not uncover his whereabouts, [[Makos]] suggested the ''[[Orb of Remembrance]]'' could aid in finding his location. Makos and the heroes recovered the orb from an abandoned [[Cult of the Dragon]] lair in the [[Underdark]], outrunning the [[red dragon]] [[Larauthtor]] and defeated the [[Thay]]an [[lich]] [[Zalia]] in the process. The group used the artifact to determine Vizeran could be found at [[Araj Tower]] and traveled to seek an audience alongside Drizzt. Vizeran DeVir told the heroes the ''Maze Engine'' could be found within the [[Labyrinth]], under Baphomet's control, and offered to ''[[portal]]'' them to the location, provided they gather the necessary [[Material component|components.]] The drown archmage required grimoires from each of the four elemental cults, and the personal tome of [[Gromph Baenre]].

With the aid of many of their allies, including Drizzt, Minsc, Lucas Shaneway III, the [[halfling]] Companion [[Regis]], and even [[Celeste]] and [[Sergeant Knox]], the Heroes of Sleeping Dragon Bridge recovered all four of the grimoires, traveling from Gauntlgrym, to [[Spinward Rise]], and finally [[Helm's Hold]] and [[Reclamation Rock]]. During the heroes' journey across the [[Sword Coast North]], Drizzt and Regis found the location of Gromph Baenre's tome near [[Menzoberranzan]], which the heroes recovered from the roguish leader of [[Bregan D'aerthe]], [[Jarlaxle Baenre]]. He warned the heroes that it was Gromph himself who summoned Demogorgon and the other demon lords into the Underdark. Just before the heroes departed, the group were assailed by demons under the lead of Lans Thuliaga. After a brief battle, the Baphomet-worshiping [[goliath]] fled and the heroes were allowed to continue on. Studying the books they had gathered together, Makos and [[Grazillax]] determined that Vizeran planned to kill Baphomet, but could discern his plans regarding the ''Maze Engine''. Undeterred from their quest, the heroes delivered the books to Vizeran at Araj Tower, who began work on his ''[[ritual]]''.

[[File:MazeEngineNeverwinter.jpg|thumb|right|350px|The ''Maze Engine'' in Baphomet's Labyrinth]]

Meanwhile, the Heroes of Sleeping Dragon returned to reclaim the bridge that led to Gauntlgrym, aided by Minsc, the [[Companions of the Hall]], Linu La'neral, and the heroes of the [[Neverwinter Vanguard]] - all of whom had come to help defeat Baphomet. They slaughtered the demons, closed the tears that led to the Abyss, and confronted Lans Thuliaga once and for all. As the heroes kept him engaged in battle, Linu La'neral and Celeste performed a ritual to cleanse him of his demonic corruption. When they returned to Mantol-Derith in triumph, Vizeran opened a portal to Baphomet's Labyrinth, and the group of heroes ventured into the demon lord's domain. The assembled heroes managed to defeat the ferocious Baphomet, who wielded the power of the ''Maze Engine'' against them, striking down the demon lord from Toril. After the victory, Vizeran attempted to claim the ''Maze Engine'' for himself, but was cast down by Makos, doomed to the same fate of Baphomet: banished to the Abyss.

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, the fire cult leader [[Vanifer]] was visited by a projection of Vizeran DeVir, who named himself Harbinger of the [[Tharizdun|Elemental Eye]]...and Vanifer's true master.

==Index==
===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]] • [[Portobello DaVinci]] • [[Respen Durothil]] • [[Valden Burningheart]] • [[Vizeran DeVir]]
::{{Refonly}}
::<small>[[Catti-brie]] • [[Gromph Baenre]] • [[Karrundax]] • [[Regis]] • [[Vanifer]] • [[Wulfgar]]</small>

===Creatures===
: [[aboleth]] • [[balor]] • [[cloud giant]] • [[drow]] • [[goliath]] • [[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]] <small>([[Endless Maze]])</small>

;Regions
: [[Sword Coast North]] • [[Underdark]]

;Settlements
: [[Gauntlgrym]] • [[Helm's Hold]] • [[Mantol-Derith]] • [[Neverwinter]] <small>([[Neverwinter/Blacklake District|Blacklake District]], [[Neverwinter/Chasm|The Chasm]], [[Neverwinter/River District|River District]])</small> • [[Spinward Rise]] • [[Vellosk]]

::{{Refonly}}
::<small></small>

===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]]'' •

::{{Refonly}}
::<small>''[[disintegrate]]''</small>

===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]]

::{{Refonly}}
::<small>[[Companions of the Hall]] • [[battlerager]]s • [[Company Yargo]] • [[Emerald Enclave]]</small>

===Religion===


==Appendix==
===Notes===
{{Notes}}

===External Links===
* [https://www.arcgames.com/en/games/neverwinter/news/detail/9770373 Announcing Neverwinter: The Maze Engine!]
* [https://www.arcgames.com/en/games/neverwinter/news/detail/9804483 Neverwinter: The Maze Engine Coming March 15!]
* [https://www.arcgames.com/en/games/neverwinter/news/detail/9794083 The Maze Engine Developer Hub]
* [https://www.arcgames.com/en/games/neverwinter/news/detail/9863993-neverwinter%3A-the-maze-engine-is-live%21 Neverwinter: The Maze Engine is Live!]
* {{NWWiki|The Maze Engine}}

===References===
{{refs}}

===Connections===
{{Neverwinter modules}}

[[Category:Video games]]
[[Category:Published in 2016]]