How are Unseen Servants turned into the living unseen servants from Waterdeep: Dungeon of the Mad Mage?












8















I know that by lore, giving an unseen servant some semblance of separateness from the caster is possible in that a published adventure contains at least one example of this occurring:




In Waterdeep: Dungeon of the Mad Mage, level 2, area 11b. Master of the Unseen (p. 35), Midna Tauberth, a priestess of Shar, is waited on by 9 living unseen servants left behind by one of Halaster's apprentices. It states:

"The unseen servants obey Midna’s commands because she reminds them of their creator. They follow Midna and can leave the room to fulfill her wishes. Midna has no way to distinguish one servant from another, meaning that when she utters a command, all the servants follow that command. She can’t issue orders to a single servant without the others performing the same task."




How can a character make these using the normal unseen servant spell and presumably something else?



(Simply saying that there isn't anything in the spell description that says whether this is possible, or simply referring to the "Spells do what they say they do" rule, is a little obvious and would be unappreciated.)



I need an answer that explains how the apprentice made these by rules or by lore.










share|improve this question





























    8















    I know that by lore, giving an unseen servant some semblance of separateness from the caster is possible in that a published adventure contains at least one example of this occurring:




    In Waterdeep: Dungeon of the Mad Mage, level 2, area 11b. Master of the Unseen (p. 35), Midna Tauberth, a priestess of Shar, is waited on by 9 living unseen servants left behind by one of Halaster's apprentices. It states:

    "The unseen servants obey Midna’s commands because she reminds them of their creator. They follow Midna and can leave the room to fulfill her wishes. Midna has no way to distinguish one servant from another, meaning that when she utters a command, all the servants follow that command. She can’t issue orders to a single servant without the others performing the same task."




    How can a character make these using the normal unseen servant spell and presumably something else?



    (Simply saying that there isn't anything in the spell description that says whether this is possible, or simply referring to the "Spells do what they say they do" rule, is a little obvious and would be unappreciated.)



    I need an answer that explains how the apprentice made these by rules or by lore.










    share|improve this question



























      8












      8








      8


      1






      I know that by lore, giving an unseen servant some semblance of separateness from the caster is possible in that a published adventure contains at least one example of this occurring:




      In Waterdeep: Dungeon of the Mad Mage, level 2, area 11b. Master of the Unseen (p. 35), Midna Tauberth, a priestess of Shar, is waited on by 9 living unseen servants left behind by one of Halaster's apprentices. It states:

      "The unseen servants obey Midna’s commands because she reminds them of their creator. They follow Midna and can leave the room to fulfill her wishes. Midna has no way to distinguish one servant from another, meaning that when she utters a command, all the servants follow that command. She can’t issue orders to a single servant without the others performing the same task."




      How can a character make these using the normal unseen servant spell and presumably something else?



      (Simply saying that there isn't anything in the spell description that says whether this is possible, or simply referring to the "Spells do what they say they do" rule, is a little obvious and would be unappreciated.)



      I need an answer that explains how the apprentice made these by rules or by lore.










      share|improve this question
















      I know that by lore, giving an unseen servant some semblance of separateness from the caster is possible in that a published adventure contains at least one example of this occurring:




      In Waterdeep: Dungeon of the Mad Mage, level 2, area 11b. Master of the Unseen (p. 35), Midna Tauberth, a priestess of Shar, is waited on by 9 living unseen servants left behind by one of Halaster's apprentices. It states:

      "The unseen servants obey Midna’s commands because she reminds them of their creator. They follow Midna and can leave the room to fulfill her wishes. Midna has no way to distinguish one servant from another, meaning that when she utters a command, all the servants follow that command. She can’t issue orders to a single servant without the others performing the same task."




      How can a character make these using the normal unseen servant spell and presumably something else?



      (Simply saying that there isn't anything in the spell description that says whether this is possible, or simply referring to the "Spells do what they say they do" rule, is a little obvious and would be unappreciated.)



      I need an answer that explains how the apprentice made these by rules or by lore.







      dnd-5e spells magic published-adventures waterdeep-dungeon-of-the-mad-mage






      share|improve this question















      share|improve this question













      share|improve this question




      share|improve this question








      edited 45 mins ago









      V2Blast

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      19.9k357123










      asked 19 hours ago









      rpgstarrpgstar

      1,981844




      1,981844






















          4 Answers
          4






          active

          oldest

          votes


















          18














          There is no official answer



          As far as I am aware there is no official 5e rule that allows you to create permanent living unseen servants. This is likely one of those cases where NPCs have things that there is no RAW way to obtain.



          Previous editions had a spell called permanency which would allow you to make the effects of certain spells permanent. However unseen servant was not one of the spells that this would work on.



          Unfortunately the answer is "up to the DM". I know this is unsatisfying and maybe someone with better researching skills than me will find a better one, but it is the only one covered by 5e RAW.






          share|improve this answer



















          • 2





            I mean technically wish could do it right? So there is an RAW way. But that isn't something that should be available to an apprentice.

            – Rubiksmoose
            17 hours ago













          • @Rubiksmoose Halaster’s apprentices are ridiculously powerful. They just never left his service, since they are greedy for his secrets they haven’t learned yet.

            – SevenSidedDie
            15 hours ago






          • 1





            @SevenSidedDie oh good to know! I'll admit that I am not at all familiar with the module and just assumed based on "apprentice". In that case, linksassin maybe you should consider adding wish as a possibility?

            – Rubiksmoose
            14 hours ago











          • @Rubiksmoose Halaster and his apprentices are more like living plot devices. They’re constantly experimenting and inventing, the embodiment of “a wizard did it”, with things in Undermountain not seen elsewhere. (The best background on them is the 2e Undermountain boxed sets.)

            – SevenSidedDie
            14 hours ago





















          12














          RAW, there is no documented way to do this



          This comes under the category of "DM prerogative". Many adventures will use magical places or situations for which there are no rules by which a character can replicate them (flying castles, extra-dimensional huts that walk about on chicken legs and so on).



          Such things can always exist of course if a DM (or the adventure writer) says so. But that doesn't always mean there has to exist a set of rules that say "here's how you do it".



          A DM is free to whip up whatever his or her imagination desires!






          share|improve this answer
























          • can you explain prerogative or provide a link please? I've never heard of it.

            – rpgstar
            19 hours ago






          • 4





            @rpgstar prerogative just means a right or privilege, it is the same as saying "DM fiat"

            – Sdjz
            19 hours ago






          • 5





            @rpgstar: dictionary.cambridge.org/dictionary/english/prerogative. Just means a DM has "admin privileges" to make up whatever he wants :)

            – PJRZ
            19 hours ago













          • thank you. that makes sense now.

            – rpgstar
            18 hours ago



















          9














          “A wizard did it”



          You’ve probably heard the phrase before to explain with a hand-wave why something weird exists, like bulettes or owlbeards: “a wizard did it.” There are things in D&D that were made by human Dungeon Masters for convenience of creating fun adventures, not via rules for players.



          Like owlbears were (allegedly) created by a mad wizard, so is a lot of Undermountain.



          Halaster’s apprentices are mad and powerful inventors



          Halaster’s apprentices are older than Waterdeep. The city was built on the ruins of their original wizards’ tower. Today, those who still live, are ridiculously powerful archmages. Halaster himself, if he still lives (the jury is still out), is nearly a god-like force of nature in his own home.



          The entire existence of Undermountain was originally to give Halaster and his apprentices a place to learn secrets of magic and develop new spells and things in private. The place is packed with bizarre, unique creations that have not been shared with wizards outside its halls.



          His apprentices guard the secrets of their discoveries and creations jealously (first and foremost from each other — only secondarily do they care about the world above), and nobody knows how they do what they do.



          In a less lore-focused way, Halaster and his apprentices were created to be plot devices, which could be used to explain anything non-standard that exists in Undermountain.



          Every spell was invented by some wizard once



          Earlier editions of D&D had spell research rules, and those are part of the lore of even 5th edition. For example, Tenser’s Disc was invented by Tenser (a PC played by Gary Gygax’s son Ernest in Gary's campaign). The spell wasn’t available until Tenser researched it and shared it with other wizards, so that knowledge of the spell spread throughout Greyhawk and, before long, across the Multiverse.



          Halaster and his apprentices have invented many spells, rituals, and partly-magical inventions. You will find many unique magics under Waterdeep, but won’t necessarily learn the secrets behind them easily, if ever. Those secrets are buried deep, and they don’t like to share.



          There is probably a ritual to create more of these living unseen servants, but it’s likely hidden away in the carefully guarded spellbook in the carefully guarded secret lair of a mad and dangerous archmage somewhere deep in the lower levels of Undermountain.



          To read more



          The original lore on Halaster and his apprentices is first established in their first published appearance, the AD&D 2nd edition megadungeon boxed set The Ruins of Undermountain. The price of the PDF is well worth it just for the lore, but it’s an excellent playground for PCs of all levels as well. (Converting it to 5e is likely a pain though, and I haven’t tried yet so can’t recommend either way.)






          share|improve this answer

































            0














            While it is true that there is no such spell as living unseen servant described the the published materials, that does not mean it is flat out not possible. Why, the world full of possible things that were not possible at some point.



            As always, it depends on the DM. If the DM would allow such a thing, it might be possible. If you are asking as a player, talk to your DM. If you're asking as a DM, you have to ask yourself if you would want such a thing in your campaign.



            After all, every spell was presumably invented by someone. You could even argue that either a) the world contains infinite examples beyond the power of even the most powerful player character, which personally I think is pretty lame or b) somehow, some way, with enough effort, what the PCs see, they could aspire to do.



            Doesn't mean it's easy.



            In Xanathar's Guide to Everything, a downtime activity of research is described (p. 132-133). A character could attempt to research an answer, or an answer, or even just information or a hint.



            The time and cost of research is measured in weeks and hundreds of gold for even a few pieces of lore, and typically requires access to a library or a sage.



            Xanathar's also describes crafting a magic item (p. 128-129). While apparently intended for creating items described in the published materials, it is not such a stretch that a DM might allow a character to craft a magic item that is different from the ones described in the books.



            The description for crafting magic items includes:




            Creating a magic item requires more than just time, effort, and materials. It is a long-term process that involves one or more adventures to track down rare materials and the lore needed to create the item.




            It is not such a stretch that a character could research a new spell.



            Such an endeavor might be similar, or a combination of, lore research or crafting a magic item. Of course, the DM could choose to make such an effort easier or harder than that. A wizard can create an unseen servant, create a homunculus, create undead, capture the souls of others. Surely somewhere in there creating a living unseen servant is not completely out of the same league.



            Making the effect permanent, that does seem like it's much harder. Maybe that will take more research.



            And of course, there is wish. A wizard could attempt to wish for a living unseen servant, or wish for a servant to become unseen, or wish an existing living unseen servant to acknowledge the wizard as master, or many other permutations.



            The are other possibilities, which, are admittedly, a bit of a stretch, but maybe not completely. Clerics can call for divine intervention. Sorcerers have powerful patrons. In either case, perhaps a character could gain a permanent living unseen servant as part of a (no doubt bad) bargain of some sort.



            As another answer said, this answer may be a bit unsatisfying, and is definitely pushing at the boundaries of RAW, but I don't think it's out of the bounds of RAI. The game is intended to be extensible and customizable, and this is definitely one of those cases.






            share|improve this answer

























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              4 Answers
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              4 Answers
              4






              active

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              active

              oldest

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              18














              There is no official answer



              As far as I am aware there is no official 5e rule that allows you to create permanent living unseen servants. This is likely one of those cases where NPCs have things that there is no RAW way to obtain.



              Previous editions had a spell called permanency which would allow you to make the effects of certain spells permanent. However unseen servant was not one of the spells that this would work on.



              Unfortunately the answer is "up to the DM". I know this is unsatisfying and maybe someone with better researching skills than me will find a better one, but it is the only one covered by 5e RAW.






              share|improve this answer



















              • 2





                I mean technically wish could do it right? So there is an RAW way. But that isn't something that should be available to an apprentice.

                – Rubiksmoose
                17 hours ago













              • @Rubiksmoose Halaster’s apprentices are ridiculously powerful. They just never left his service, since they are greedy for his secrets they haven’t learned yet.

                – SevenSidedDie
                15 hours ago






              • 1





                @SevenSidedDie oh good to know! I'll admit that I am not at all familiar with the module and just assumed based on "apprentice". In that case, linksassin maybe you should consider adding wish as a possibility?

                – Rubiksmoose
                14 hours ago











              • @Rubiksmoose Halaster and his apprentices are more like living plot devices. They’re constantly experimenting and inventing, the embodiment of “a wizard did it”, with things in Undermountain not seen elsewhere. (The best background on them is the 2e Undermountain boxed sets.)

                – SevenSidedDie
                14 hours ago


















              18














              There is no official answer



              As far as I am aware there is no official 5e rule that allows you to create permanent living unseen servants. This is likely one of those cases where NPCs have things that there is no RAW way to obtain.



              Previous editions had a spell called permanency which would allow you to make the effects of certain spells permanent. However unseen servant was not one of the spells that this would work on.



              Unfortunately the answer is "up to the DM". I know this is unsatisfying and maybe someone with better researching skills than me will find a better one, but it is the only one covered by 5e RAW.






              share|improve this answer



















              • 2





                I mean technically wish could do it right? So there is an RAW way. But that isn't something that should be available to an apprentice.

                – Rubiksmoose
                17 hours ago













              • @Rubiksmoose Halaster’s apprentices are ridiculously powerful. They just never left his service, since they are greedy for his secrets they haven’t learned yet.

                – SevenSidedDie
                15 hours ago






              • 1





                @SevenSidedDie oh good to know! I'll admit that I am not at all familiar with the module and just assumed based on "apprentice". In that case, linksassin maybe you should consider adding wish as a possibility?

                – Rubiksmoose
                14 hours ago











              • @Rubiksmoose Halaster and his apprentices are more like living plot devices. They’re constantly experimenting and inventing, the embodiment of “a wizard did it”, with things in Undermountain not seen elsewhere. (The best background on them is the 2e Undermountain boxed sets.)

                – SevenSidedDie
                14 hours ago
















              18












              18








              18







              There is no official answer



              As far as I am aware there is no official 5e rule that allows you to create permanent living unseen servants. This is likely one of those cases where NPCs have things that there is no RAW way to obtain.



              Previous editions had a spell called permanency which would allow you to make the effects of certain spells permanent. However unseen servant was not one of the spells that this would work on.



              Unfortunately the answer is "up to the DM". I know this is unsatisfying and maybe someone with better researching skills than me will find a better one, but it is the only one covered by 5e RAW.






              share|improve this answer













              There is no official answer



              As far as I am aware there is no official 5e rule that allows you to create permanent living unseen servants. This is likely one of those cases where NPCs have things that there is no RAW way to obtain.



              Previous editions had a spell called permanency which would allow you to make the effects of certain spells permanent. However unseen servant was not one of the spells that this would work on.



              Unfortunately the answer is "up to the DM". I know this is unsatisfying and maybe someone with better researching skills than me will find a better one, but it is the only one covered by 5e RAW.







              share|improve this answer












              share|improve this answer



              share|improve this answer










              answered 19 hours ago









              linksassinlinksassin

              4,92811345




              4,92811345








              • 2





                I mean technically wish could do it right? So there is an RAW way. But that isn't something that should be available to an apprentice.

                – Rubiksmoose
                17 hours ago













              • @Rubiksmoose Halaster’s apprentices are ridiculously powerful. They just never left his service, since they are greedy for his secrets they haven’t learned yet.

                – SevenSidedDie
                15 hours ago






              • 1





                @SevenSidedDie oh good to know! I'll admit that I am not at all familiar with the module and just assumed based on "apprentice". In that case, linksassin maybe you should consider adding wish as a possibility?

                – Rubiksmoose
                14 hours ago











              • @Rubiksmoose Halaster and his apprentices are more like living plot devices. They’re constantly experimenting and inventing, the embodiment of “a wizard did it”, with things in Undermountain not seen elsewhere. (The best background on them is the 2e Undermountain boxed sets.)

                – SevenSidedDie
                14 hours ago
















              • 2





                I mean technically wish could do it right? So there is an RAW way. But that isn't something that should be available to an apprentice.

                – Rubiksmoose
                17 hours ago













              • @Rubiksmoose Halaster’s apprentices are ridiculously powerful. They just never left his service, since they are greedy for his secrets they haven’t learned yet.

                – SevenSidedDie
                15 hours ago






              • 1





                @SevenSidedDie oh good to know! I'll admit that I am not at all familiar with the module and just assumed based on "apprentice". In that case, linksassin maybe you should consider adding wish as a possibility?

                – Rubiksmoose
                14 hours ago











              • @Rubiksmoose Halaster and his apprentices are more like living plot devices. They’re constantly experimenting and inventing, the embodiment of “a wizard did it”, with things in Undermountain not seen elsewhere. (The best background on them is the 2e Undermountain boxed sets.)

                – SevenSidedDie
                14 hours ago










              2




              2





              I mean technically wish could do it right? So there is an RAW way. But that isn't something that should be available to an apprentice.

              – Rubiksmoose
              17 hours ago







              I mean technically wish could do it right? So there is an RAW way. But that isn't something that should be available to an apprentice.

              – Rubiksmoose
              17 hours ago















              @Rubiksmoose Halaster’s apprentices are ridiculously powerful. They just never left his service, since they are greedy for his secrets they haven’t learned yet.

              – SevenSidedDie
              15 hours ago





              @Rubiksmoose Halaster’s apprentices are ridiculously powerful. They just never left his service, since they are greedy for his secrets they haven’t learned yet.

              – SevenSidedDie
              15 hours ago




              1




              1





              @SevenSidedDie oh good to know! I'll admit that I am not at all familiar with the module and just assumed based on "apprentice". In that case, linksassin maybe you should consider adding wish as a possibility?

              – Rubiksmoose
              14 hours ago





              @SevenSidedDie oh good to know! I'll admit that I am not at all familiar with the module and just assumed based on "apprentice". In that case, linksassin maybe you should consider adding wish as a possibility?

              – Rubiksmoose
              14 hours ago













              @Rubiksmoose Halaster and his apprentices are more like living plot devices. They’re constantly experimenting and inventing, the embodiment of “a wizard did it”, with things in Undermountain not seen elsewhere. (The best background on them is the 2e Undermountain boxed sets.)

              – SevenSidedDie
              14 hours ago







              @Rubiksmoose Halaster and his apprentices are more like living plot devices. They’re constantly experimenting and inventing, the embodiment of “a wizard did it”, with things in Undermountain not seen elsewhere. (The best background on them is the 2e Undermountain boxed sets.)

              – SevenSidedDie
              14 hours ago















              12














              RAW, there is no documented way to do this



              This comes under the category of "DM prerogative". Many adventures will use magical places or situations for which there are no rules by which a character can replicate them (flying castles, extra-dimensional huts that walk about on chicken legs and so on).



              Such things can always exist of course if a DM (or the adventure writer) says so. But that doesn't always mean there has to exist a set of rules that say "here's how you do it".



              A DM is free to whip up whatever his or her imagination desires!






              share|improve this answer
























              • can you explain prerogative or provide a link please? I've never heard of it.

                – rpgstar
                19 hours ago






              • 4





                @rpgstar prerogative just means a right or privilege, it is the same as saying "DM fiat"

                – Sdjz
                19 hours ago






              • 5





                @rpgstar: dictionary.cambridge.org/dictionary/english/prerogative. Just means a DM has "admin privileges" to make up whatever he wants :)

                – PJRZ
                19 hours ago













              • thank you. that makes sense now.

                – rpgstar
                18 hours ago
















              12














              RAW, there is no documented way to do this



              This comes under the category of "DM prerogative". Many adventures will use magical places or situations for which there are no rules by which a character can replicate them (flying castles, extra-dimensional huts that walk about on chicken legs and so on).



              Such things can always exist of course if a DM (or the adventure writer) says so. But that doesn't always mean there has to exist a set of rules that say "here's how you do it".



              A DM is free to whip up whatever his or her imagination desires!






              share|improve this answer
























              • can you explain prerogative or provide a link please? I've never heard of it.

                – rpgstar
                19 hours ago






              • 4





                @rpgstar prerogative just means a right or privilege, it is the same as saying "DM fiat"

                – Sdjz
                19 hours ago






              • 5





                @rpgstar: dictionary.cambridge.org/dictionary/english/prerogative. Just means a DM has "admin privileges" to make up whatever he wants :)

                – PJRZ
                19 hours ago













              • thank you. that makes sense now.

                – rpgstar
                18 hours ago














              12












              12








              12







              RAW, there is no documented way to do this



              This comes under the category of "DM prerogative". Many adventures will use magical places or situations for which there are no rules by which a character can replicate them (flying castles, extra-dimensional huts that walk about on chicken legs and so on).



              Such things can always exist of course if a DM (or the adventure writer) says so. But that doesn't always mean there has to exist a set of rules that say "here's how you do it".



              A DM is free to whip up whatever his or her imagination desires!






              share|improve this answer













              RAW, there is no documented way to do this



              This comes under the category of "DM prerogative". Many adventures will use magical places or situations for which there are no rules by which a character can replicate them (flying castles, extra-dimensional huts that walk about on chicken legs and so on).



              Such things can always exist of course if a DM (or the adventure writer) says so. But that doesn't always mean there has to exist a set of rules that say "here's how you do it".



              A DM is free to whip up whatever his or her imagination desires!







              share|improve this answer












              share|improve this answer



              share|improve this answer










              answered 19 hours ago









              PJRZPJRZ

              8,75512046




              8,75512046













              • can you explain prerogative or provide a link please? I've never heard of it.

                – rpgstar
                19 hours ago






              • 4





                @rpgstar prerogative just means a right or privilege, it is the same as saying "DM fiat"

                – Sdjz
                19 hours ago






              • 5





                @rpgstar: dictionary.cambridge.org/dictionary/english/prerogative. Just means a DM has "admin privileges" to make up whatever he wants :)

                – PJRZ
                19 hours ago













              • thank you. that makes sense now.

                – rpgstar
                18 hours ago



















              • can you explain prerogative or provide a link please? I've never heard of it.

                – rpgstar
                19 hours ago






              • 4





                @rpgstar prerogative just means a right or privilege, it is the same as saying "DM fiat"

                – Sdjz
                19 hours ago






              • 5





                @rpgstar: dictionary.cambridge.org/dictionary/english/prerogative. Just means a DM has "admin privileges" to make up whatever he wants :)

                – PJRZ
                19 hours ago













              • thank you. that makes sense now.

                – rpgstar
                18 hours ago

















              can you explain prerogative or provide a link please? I've never heard of it.

              – rpgstar
              19 hours ago





              can you explain prerogative or provide a link please? I've never heard of it.

              – rpgstar
              19 hours ago




              4




              4





              @rpgstar prerogative just means a right or privilege, it is the same as saying "DM fiat"

              – Sdjz
              19 hours ago





              @rpgstar prerogative just means a right or privilege, it is the same as saying "DM fiat"

              – Sdjz
              19 hours ago




              5




              5





              @rpgstar: dictionary.cambridge.org/dictionary/english/prerogative. Just means a DM has "admin privileges" to make up whatever he wants :)

              – PJRZ
              19 hours ago







              @rpgstar: dictionary.cambridge.org/dictionary/english/prerogative. Just means a DM has "admin privileges" to make up whatever he wants :)

              – PJRZ
              19 hours ago















              thank you. that makes sense now.

              – rpgstar
              18 hours ago





              thank you. that makes sense now.

              – rpgstar
              18 hours ago











              9














              “A wizard did it”



              You’ve probably heard the phrase before to explain with a hand-wave why something weird exists, like bulettes or owlbeards: “a wizard did it.” There are things in D&D that were made by human Dungeon Masters for convenience of creating fun adventures, not via rules for players.



              Like owlbears were (allegedly) created by a mad wizard, so is a lot of Undermountain.



              Halaster’s apprentices are mad and powerful inventors



              Halaster’s apprentices are older than Waterdeep. The city was built on the ruins of their original wizards’ tower. Today, those who still live, are ridiculously powerful archmages. Halaster himself, if he still lives (the jury is still out), is nearly a god-like force of nature in his own home.



              The entire existence of Undermountain was originally to give Halaster and his apprentices a place to learn secrets of magic and develop new spells and things in private. The place is packed with bizarre, unique creations that have not been shared with wizards outside its halls.



              His apprentices guard the secrets of their discoveries and creations jealously (first and foremost from each other — only secondarily do they care about the world above), and nobody knows how they do what they do.



              In a less lore-focused way, Halaster and his apprentices were created to be plot devices, which could be used to explain anything non-standard that exists in Undermountain.



              Every spell was invented by some wizard once



              Earlier editions of D&D had spell research rules, and those are part of the lore of even 5th edition. For example, Tenser’s Disc was invented by Tenser (a PC played by Gary Gygax’s son Ernest in Gary's campaign). The spell wasn’t available until Tenser researched it and shared it with other wizards, so that knowledge of the spell spread throughout Greyhawk and, before long, across the Multiverse.



              Halaster and his apprentices have invented many spells, rituals, and partly-magical inventions. You will find many unique magics under Waterdeep, but won’t necessarily learn the secrets behind them easily, if ever. Those secrets are buried deep, and they don’t like to share.



              There is probably a ritual to create more of these living unseen servants, but it’s likely hidden away in the carefully guarded spellbook in the carefully guarded secret lair of a mad and dangerous archmage somewhere deep in the lower levels of Undermountain.



              To read more



              The original lore on Halaster and his apprentices is first established in their first published appearance, the AD&D 2nd edition megadungeon boxed set The Ruins of Undermountain. The price of the PDF is well worth it just for the lore, but it’s an excellent playground for PCs of all levels as well. (Converting it to 5e is likely a pain though, and I haven’t tried yet so can’t recommend either way.)






              share|improve this answer






























                9














                “A wizard did it”



                You’ve probably heard the phrase before to explain with a hand-wave why something weird exists, like bulettes or owlbeards: “a wizard did it.” There are things in D&D that were made by human Dungeon Masters for convenience of creating fun adventures, not via rules for players.



                Like owlbears were (allegedly) created by a mad wizard, so is a lot of Undermountain.



                Halaster’s apprentices are mad and powerful inventors



                Halaster’s apprentices are older than Waterdeep. The city was built on the ruins of their original wizards’ tower. Today, those who still live, are ridiculously powerful archmages. Halaster himself, if he still lives (the jury is still out), is nearly a god-like force of nature in his own home.



                The entire existence of Undermountain was originally to give Halaster and his apprentices a place to learn secrets of magic and develop new spells and things in private. The place is packed with bizarre, unique creations that have not been shared with wizards outside its halls.



                His apprentices guard the secrets of their discoveries and creations jealously (first and foremost from each other — only secondarily do they care about the world above), and nobody knows how they do what they do.



                In a less lore-focused way, Halaster and his apprentices were created to be plot devices, which could be used to explain anything non-standard that exists in Undermountain.



                Every spell was invented by some wizard once



                Earlier editions of D&D had spell research rules, and those are part of the lore of even 5th edition. For example, Tenser’s Disc was invented by Tenser (a PC played by Gary Gygax’s son Ernest in Gary's campaign). The spell wasn’t available until Tenser researched it and shared it with other wizards, so that knowledge of the spell spread throughout Greyhawk and, before long, across the Multiverse.



                Halaster and his apprentices have invented many spells, rituals, and partly-magical inventions. You will find many unique magics under Waterdeep, but won’t necessarily learn the secrets behind them easily, if ever. Those secrets are buried deep, and they don’t like to share.



                There is probably a ritual to create more of these living unseen servants, but it’s likely hidden away in the carefully guarded spellbook in the carefully guarded secret lair of a mad and dangerous archmage somewhere deep in the lower levels of Undermountain.



                To read more



                The original lore on Halaster and his apprentices is first established in their first published appearance, the AD&D 2nd edition megadungeon boxed set The Ruins of Undermountain. The price of the PDF is well worth it just for the lore, but it’s an excellent playground for PCs of all levels as well. (Converting it to 5e is likely a pain though, and I haven’t tried yet so can’t recommend either way.)






                share|improve this answer




























                  9












                  9








                  9







                  “A wizard did it”



                  You’ve probably heard the phrase before to explain with a hand-wave why something weird exists, like bulettes or owlbeards: “a wizard did it.” There are things in D&D that were made by human Dungeon Masters for convenience of creating fun adventures, not via rules for players.



                  Like owlbears were (allegedly) created by a mad wizard, so is a lot of Undermountain.



                  Halaster’s apprentices are mad and powerful inventors



                  Halaster’s apprentices are older than Waterdeep. The city was built on the ruins of their original wizards’ tower. Today, those who still live, are ridiculously powerful archmages. Halaster himself, if he still lives (the jury is still out), is nearly a god-like force of nature in his own home.



                  The entire existence of Undermountain was originally to give Halaster and his apprentices a place to learn secrets of magic and develop new spells and things in private. The place is packed with bizarre, unique creations that have not been shared with wizards outside its halls.



                  His apprentices guard the secrets of their discoveries and creations jealously (first and foremost from each other — only secondarily do they care about the world above), and nobody knows how they do what they do.



                  In a less lore-focused way, Halaster and his apprentices were created to be plot devices, which could be used to explain anything non-standard that exists in Undermountain.



                  Every spell was invented by some wizard once



                  Earlier editions of D&D had spell research rules, and those are part of the lore of even 5th edition. For example, Tenser’s Disc was invented by Tenser (a PC played by Gary Gygax’s son Ernest in Gary's campaign). The spell wasn’t available until Tenser researched it and shared it with other wizards, so that knowledge of the spell spread throughout Greyhawk and, before long, across the Multiverse.



                  Halaster and his apprentices have invented many spells, rituals, and partly-magical inventions. You will find many unique magics under Waterdeep, but won’t necessarily learn the secrets behind them easily, if ever. Those secrets are buried deep, and they don’t like to share.



                  There is probably a ritual to create more of these living unseen servants, but it’s likely hidden away in the carefully guarded spellbook in the carefully guarded secret lair of a mad and dangerous archmage somewhere deep in the lower levels of Undermountain.



                  To read more



                  The original lore on Halaster and his apprentices is first established in their first published appearance, the AD&D 2nd edition megadungeon boxed set The Ruins of Undermountain. The price of the PDF is well worth it just for the lore, but it’s an excellent playground for PCs of all levels as well. (Converting it to 5e is likely a pain though, and I haven’t tried yet so can’t recommend either way.)






                  share|improve this answer















                  “A wizard did it”



                  You’ve probably heard the phrase before to explain with a hand-wave why something weird exists, like bulettes or owlbeards: “a wizard did it.” There are things in D&D that were made by human Dungeon Masters for convenience of creating fun adventures, not via rules for players.



                  Like owlbears were (allegedly) created by a mad wizard, so is a lot of Undermountain.



                  Halaster’s apprentices are mad and powerful inventors



                  Halaster’s apprentices are older than Waterdeep. The city was built on the ruins of their original wizards’ tower. Today, those who still live, are ridiculously powerful archmages. Halaster himself, if he still lives (the jury is still out), is nearly a god-like force of nature in his own home.



                  The entire existence of Undermountain was originally to give Halaster and his apprentices a place to learn secrets of magic and develop new spells and things in private. The place is packed with bizarre, unique creations that have not been shared with wizards outside its halls.



                  His apprentices guard the secrets of their discoveries and creations jealously (first and foremost from each other — only secondarily do they care about the world above), and nobody knows how they do what they do.



                  In a less lore-focused way, Halaster and his apprentices were created to be plot devices, which could be used to explain anything non-standard that exists in Undermountain.



                  Every spell was invented by some wizard once



                  Earlier editions of D&D had spell research rules, and those are part of the lore of even 5th edition. For example, Tenser’s Disc was invented by Tenser (a PC played by Gary Gygax’s son Ernest in Gary's campaign). The spell wasn’t available until Tenser researched it and shared it with other wizards, so that knowledge of the spell spread throughout Greyhawk and, before long, across the Multiverse.



                  Halaster and his apprentices have invented many spells, rituals, and partly-magical inventions. You will find many unique magics under Waterdeep, but won’t necessarily learn the secrets behind them easily, if ever. Those secrets are buried deep, and they don’t like to share.



                  There is probably a ritual to create more of these living unseen servants, but it’s likely hidden away in the carefully guarded spellbook in the carefully guarded secret lair of a mad and dangerous archmage somewhere deep in the lower levels of Undermountain.



                  To read more



                  The original lore on Halaster and his apprentices is first established in their first published appearance, the AD&D 2nd edition megadungeon boxed set The Ruins of Undermountain. The price of the PDF is well worth it just for the lore, but it’s an excellent playground for PCs of all levels as well. (Converting it to 5e is likely a pain though, and I haven’t tried yet so can’t recommend either way.)







                  share|improve this answer














                  share|improve this answer



                  share|improve this answer








                  edited 13 hours ago









                  Rubiksmoose

                  49.7k6245376




                  49.7k6245376










                  answered 14 hours ago









                  SevenSidedDieSevenSidedDie

                  205k30661936




                  205k30661936























                      0














                      While it is true that there is no such spell as living unseen servant described the the published materials, that does not mean it is flat out not possible. Why, the world full of possible things that were not possible at some point.



                      As always, it depends on the DM. If the DM would allow such a thing, it might be possible. If you are asking as a player, talk to your DM. If you're asking as a DM, you have to ask yourself if you would want such a thing in your campaign.



                      After all, every spell was presumably invented by someone. You could even argue that either a) the world contains infinite examples beyond the power of even the most powerful player character, which personally I think is pretty lame or b) somehow, some way, with enough effort, what the PCs see, they could aspire to do.



                      Doesn't mean it's easy.



                      In Xanathar's Guide to Everything, a downtime activity of research is described (p. 132-133). A character could attempt to research an answer, or an answer, or even just information or a hint.



                      The time and cost of research is measured in weeks and hundreds of gold for even a few pieces of lore, and typically requires access to a library or a sage.



                      Xanathar's also describes crafting a magic item (p. 128-129). While apparently intended for creating items described in the published materials, it is not such a stretch that a DM might allow a character to craft a magic item that is different from the ones described in the books.



                      The description for crafting magic items includes:




                      Creating a magic item requires more than just time, effort, and materials. It is a long-term process that involves one or more adventures to track down rare materials and the lore needed to create the item.




                      It is not such a stretch that a character could research a new spell.



                      Such an endeavor might be similar, or a combination of, lore research or crafting a magic item. Of course, the DM could choose to make such an effort easier or harder than that. A wizard can create an unseen servant, create a homunculus, create undead, capture the souls of others. Surely somewhere in there creating a living unseen servant is not completely out of the same league.



                      Making the effect permanent, that does seem like it's much harder. Maybe that will take more research.



                      And of course, there is wish. A wizard could attempt to wish for a living unseen servant, or wish for a servant to become unseen, or wish an existing living unseen servant to acknowledge the wizard as master, or many other permutations.



                      The are other possibilities, which, are admittedly, a bit of a stretch, but maybe not completely. Clerics can call for divine intervention. Sorcerers have powerful patrons. In either case, perhaps a character could gain a permanent living unseen servant as part of a (no doubt bad) bargain of some sort.



                      As another answer said, this answer may be a bit unsatisfying, and is definitely pushing at the boundaries of RAW, but I don't think it's out of the bounds of RAI. The game is intended to be extensible and customizable, and this is definitely one of those cases.






                      share|improve this answer






























                        0














                        While it is true that there is no such spell as living unseen servant described the the published materials, that does not mean it is flat out not possible. Why, the world full of possible things that were not possible at some point.



                        As always, it depends on the DM. If the DM would allow such a thing, it might be possible. If you are asking as a player, talk to your DM. If you're asking as a DM, you have to ask yourself if you would want such a thing in your campaign.



                        After all, every spell was presumably invented by someone. You could even argue that either a) the world contains infinite examples beyond the power of even the most powerful player character, which personally I think is pretty lame or b) somehow, some way, with enough effort, what the PCs see, they could aspire to do.



                        Doesn't mean it's easy.



                        In Xanathar's Guide to Everything, a downtime activity of research is described (p. 132-133). A character could attempt to research an answer, or an answer, or even just information or a hint.



                        The time and cost of research is measured in weeks and hundreds of gold for even a few pieces of lore, and typically requires access to a library or a sage.



                        Xanathar's also describes crafting a magic item (p. 128-129). While apparently intended for creating items described in the published materials, it is not such a stretch that a DM might allow a character to craft a magic item that is different from the ones described in the books.



                        The description for crafting magic items includes:




                        Creating a magic item requires more than just time, effort, and materials. It is a long-term process that involves one or more adventures to track down rare materials and the lore needed to create the item.




                        It is not such a stretch that a character could research a new spell.



                        Such an endeavor might be similar, or a combination of, lore research or crafting a magic item. Of course, the DM could choose to make such an effort easier or harder than that. A wizard can create an unseen servant, create a homunculus, create undead, capture the souls of others. Surely somewhere in there creating a living unseen servant is not completely out of the same league.



                        Making the effect permanent, that does seem like it's much harder. Maybe that will take more research.



                        And of course, there is wish. A wizard could attempt to wish for a living unseen servant, or wish for a servant to become unseen, or wish an existing living unseen servant to acknowledge the wizard as master, or many other permutations.



                        The are other possibilities, which, are admittedly, a bit of a stretch, but maybe not completely. Clerics can call for divine intervention. Sorcerers have powerful patrons. In either case, perhaps a character could gain a permanent living unseen servant as part of a (no doubt bad) bargain of some sort.



                        As another answer said, this answer may be a bit unsatisfying, and is definitely pushing at the boundaries of RAW, but I don't think it's out of the bounds of RAI. The game is intended to be extensible and customizable, and this is definitely one of those cases.






                        share|improve this answer




























                          0












                          0








                          0







                          While it is true that there is no such spell as living unseen servant described the the published materials, that does not mean it is flat out not possible. Why, the world full of possible things that were not possible at some point.



                          As always, it depends on the DM. If the DM would allow such a thing, it might be possible. If you are asking as a player, talk to your DM. If you're asking as a DM, you have to ask yourself if you would want such a thing in your campaign.



                          After all, every spell was presumably invented by someone. You could even argue that either a) the world contains infinite examples beyond the power of even the most powerful player character, which personally I think is pretty lame or b) somehow, some way, with enough effort, what the PCs see, they could aspire to do.



                          Doesn't mean it's easy.



                          In Xanathar's Guide to Everything, a downtime activity of research is described (p. 132-133). A character could attempt to research an answer, or an answer, or even just information or a hint.



                          The time and cost of research is measured in weeks and hundreds of gold for even a few pieces of lore, and typically requires access to a library or a sage.



                          Xanathar's also describes crafting a magic item (p. 128-129). While apparently intended for creating items described in the published materials, it is not such a stretch that a DM might allow a character to craft a magic item that is different from the ones described in the books.



                          The description for crafting magic items includes:




                          Creating a magic item requires more than just time, effort, and materials. It is a long-term process that involves one or more adventures to track down rare materials and the lore needed to create the item.




                          It is not such a stretch that a character could research a new spell.



                          Such an endeavor might be similar, or a combination of, lore research or crafting a magic item. Of course, the DM could choose to make such an effort easier or harder than that. A wizard can create an unseen servant, create a homunculus, create undead, capture the souls of others. Surely somewhere in there creating a living unseen servant is not completely out of the same league.



                          Making the effect permanent, that does seem like it's much harder. Maybe that will take more research.



                          And of course, there is wish. A wizard could attempt to wish for a living unseen servant, or wish for a servant to become unseen, or wish an existing living unseen servant to acknowledge the wizard as master, or many other permutations.



                          The are other possibilities, which, are admittedly, a bit of a stretch, but maybe not completely. Clerics can call for divine intervention. Sorcerers have powerful patrons. In either case, perhaps a character could gain a permanent living unseen servant as part of a (no doubt bad) bargain of some sort.



                          As another answer said, this answer may be a bit unsatisfying, and is definitely pushing at the boundaries of RAW, but I don't think it's out of the bounds of RAI. The game is intended to be extensible and customizable, and this is definitely one of those cases.






                          share|improve this answer















                          While it is true that there is no such spell as living unseen servant described the the published materials, that does not mean it is flat out not possible. Why, the world full of possible things that were not possible at some point.



                          As always, it depends on the DM. If the DM would allow such a thing, it might be possible. If you are asking as a player, talk to your DM. If you're asking as a DM, you have to ask yourself if you would want such a thing in your campaign.



                          After all, every spell was presumably invented by someone. You could even argue that either a) the world contains infinite examples beyond the power of even the most powerful player character, which personally I think is pretty lame or b) somehow, some way, with enough effort, what the PCs see, they could aspire to do.



                          Doesn't mean it's easy.



                          In Xanathar's Guide to Everything, a downtime activity of research is described (p. 132-133). A character could attempt to research an answer, or an answer, or even just information or a hint.



                          The time and cost of research is measured in weeks and hundreds of gold for even a few pieces of lore, and typically requires access to a library or a sage.



                          Xanathar's also describes crafting a magic item (p. 128-129). While apparently intended for creating items described in the published materials, it is not such a stretch that a DM might allow a character to craft a magic item that is different from the ones described in the books.



                          The description for crafting magic items includes:




                          Creating a magic item requires more than just time, effort, and materials. It is a long-term process that involves one or more adventures to track down rare materials and the lore needed to create the item.




                          It is not such a stretch that a character could research a new spell.



                          Such an endeavor might be similar, or a combination of, lore research or crafting a magic item. Of course, the DM could choose to make such an effort easier or harder than that. A wizard can create an unseen servant, create a homunculus, create undead, capture the souls of others. Surely somewhere in there creating a living unseen servant is not completely out of the same league.



                          Making the effect permanent, that does seem like it's much harder. Maybe that will take more research.



                          And of course, there is wish. A wizard could attempt to wish for a living unseen servant, or wish for a servant to become unseen, or wish an existing living unseen servant to acknowledge the wizard as master, or many other permutations.



                          The are other possibilities, which, are admittedly, a bit of a stretch, but maybe not completely. Clerics can call for divine intervention. Sorcerers have powerful patrons. In either case, perhaps a character could gain a permanent living unseen servant as part of a (no doubt bad) bargain of some sort.



                          As another answer said, this answer may be a bit unsatisfying, and is definitely pushing at the boundaries of RAW, but I don't think it's out of the bounds of RAI. The game is intended to be extensible and customizable, and this is definitely one of those cases.







                          share|improve this answer














                          share|improve this answer



                          share|improve this answer








                          edited 51 mins ago









                          V2Blast

                          19.9k357123




                          19.9k357123










                          answered 6 hours ago









                          JackJack

                          9,68743791




                          9,68743791






























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