The Blushing Mermaid - Basement
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Overview edit
The basement can be accessed through either a door near the front of the tavern, or a hatch near Captain Grisly on the upper floor. Its mostly filled with barrels, but a small area in the back can be jumped towards. A successful 
DC 15 Investigation check reveals a hidden wall which leads to a small room with a ladder. Going down the ladder is a locked door which can be opened with 
Ethel's Lair Key, giving access to the main area.
Main area edit
The main area of the basement looks like the Overgrown Tunnel back in Act One. In the swamp-like area 
Captain Grisly, 
Mask of Servitude, 
Mask of Terror and 
Mask of Vengeance are patrolling. On the left - coming from the entrance - is a table with a 
Whispering Mask on it. There are also a few cages, one containing a 
Beholder Iris, a 
Gauth Eyestalk and a 
Nothic Eye.
Opposite to the cages is a wooden door leading to the Hag's Lair. Two vents and a tripwire are set up as traps preventing access. On the shelves right of the door are the potions 
Lost Time, 
A Mother's Loathing and 
Butterflies in the Stomach.
In the back of the swamp area, near an improvised wooden bridge a Pouch can be found with a 
Ball, a 
Poisoned Apple and a 
Copper Band.
The large orange mushrooms on the wall can be jumped upon and from them a ridge is reachable on the eastern wall. It is riddled with Peculiar Flower traps, but once moved past them a Heavy Chest can be found. It can be opened with Ethel's Chest Key or lock picking ( DC 20 Sleight of Hand check). The chest contains 
gold, a 
Diamond, a 
Jade and some alchemical ingredients.
From the ridge a wooden platform can be reached. On it stands a Gnarly Cauldron which can be interacted with, causing the character to comment on it. Next to it is another cauldron with three 
Worg Fangs, a 
Mind Flayer Parasite Specimen and a 
Vitriol of Shadowroot Sac.
Hag's Lair edit
The Hag's Lair can be accessed through a door behind the tripwire and vents. It can be unlocked using the 
Mottled Key or lockpicking ( DC 20 Sleight of Hand check). If successfully lockpicked it inflicts 
Hideous Laughter on the character if not resisted.
The lair itself is a split-level room where multiple stairways and ladders can be used to traverse up or down. A lever is placed against the left wall next to the entrance. It opens a hidden doorway to the original basement room which is entered from the tavern, allowing a swift exit.
The party can face-off against Auntie Ethel in her lair. Three Pearlspore Bells grow inside it, and as long as they are 'alive' Auntie Ethel resurrects continuously. Attacking them or moving past the second stairs makes 
Auntie Ethel appear. If Ethel's identity was not revealed before, then this area is empty, unless attacking and destroying one of the Pearlspore Bells. If her identity was revealed before, Ethel becomes hostile immediately after appearing and a fight begins. If Captain Grisly and the other victims of the Hag haven't been dealt with in the main area, they come to join Ethel.
The lair contains an interactable Gnarly Cauldron, leading to comments from party members. A useful Barrelstalk stands on the upper level of the room. It grants 
Haste Spores while standing next to it. On the western side a large Gilded Chest stands, containing Rare and Uncommon arrows and gold.
Related locations edit
Related quests edit
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Related literature edit
Notes edit
External links edit
Undercellar on the Forgotten Realms Wiki