Carston is a human male Mage and encountered for the first time when the party transitions via the final portal from the Watcher's Keep Teleport Maze to this new level.
| “ | About ten years ago, I was an adventurer, much like you. I came with my apprentices to explore this dungeon, seeking fame and fortune. What I found was this machine—the most amazing creation I'd ever seen. | ” |
Gameplay[]
After the cutscene finishes involving the Mind Flayers, Githyanki, and the Balor, and all the creatures scatter and depart the area, Carston opens up dialogue with the party by saying:
- Uhh—what? Where did you come from? I—I didn't conjure you up, did I? Uh, no, of course not. Only planar creatures get summoned. Must be more foolish adventurers.
The party must make a selection from three available replies.
Through various dialogue, the party can ask questions and make remarks to the mage, gaining information to help explain what is going on with this strange machine the mage is encased within, including what happened to bring him here in the first place.
Find out whatever you can from this odd former adventurer, but at some point, the mage is likely to cease volunteering answers and may say:
- I, Carston the Magnificent, Lord of the Level, grow weary of your chatter. Time to make things more interesting!
Using the power of the machine, Carston conjures a hostile Mind Flayer group to punish the party.
Even after this event, the party can initiate speaking with Carston again, however, he won't offer much new insight and seems sensitive if the party probes for more information about the apprentices that first accompanied him to this level, ten years ago. If pressed about this subject, he'll probably say:
- How dare you ask about my apprentices? Maybe this will cure your curiosity!
Carston will release a moderate electricity attack at the party member asking the question, although it can be mitigated just like a Lightning Bolt spell would be.
In the end, the party realizes that Carston is trapped in the machine, inside a "bell jar" as it is referred to in a few texts and is apparently sustained by it and immune to the effects of age. He's also likely invulnerable to any harm while inside the glass cage, yet can still attack others outside it, and has the power to conjure various extra planar creatures seemingly at will for his own cruel entertainment.
Carston is triggered by criticism and will lash out if he grows annoyed by persistent questions as well.
If and when the party discovers the method to free Carston from this machine there are two options available to choose regarding his fate.
The party can let the mage go free and let him depart the area (he'll be grateful and sorry for his behavior), or the party can take swift revenge upon the evil actions Carston has taken previously.
If the party let's Carston go, he hands over Carston's Journal - which provides the control sequence to use the Machine of Lum the Mad and open the portal gate to the Lower Reaches as well as 10,000 XP.
If the party ever says:
- Then you are of no use to me—time to die, Carston!, or The more you whimper and whine, the more I'm going to enjoy gutting you!
Carston will reply with - "Well, I'm not going down without a fight!", and the mage will enter a hostile state and try and fight back with the spells noted on the InfoBox.
Notes[]
There is also the unheroic and definite "Cheese" option for the player who wishes to dispose of Carston, where the party can double-dip on experience points by letting Carston go, and then while Carston's sprite walks off the map, attack the neutral creature and kill it. Roleplay this as desired.
Gallery[]
Mod content[]
This section is about unofficial content that is only available via fan-made mods.
The Sword Coast Stratagems mod revises Carston with a randomly assigned mage specialty kit (Conjurer, Enchanter, Invoker or Necromancer), and a corresponding spell book of memorized magic to match up with the kit.
Depending on the player's installed options from the mod and the game difficulty selection will determine the mage's potential spell use.
The opening "previously cast" buff chain will be quite extensive, and Carston will have prepared Minor Sequencer, Spell Sequencer and Spell Trigger actions ready to deploy.
As a level 20-mage, his spell casting options are wide and varied. On certain difficulty settings he has use of mage High-level class ability spells too.
A random potion is added to his inventory to boost abilities or to heal wounds.
Mod gallery[]
- Portraits from Portraits Portraits Everywhere
External Links[]
- Carston on the Forgotten Realms Wiki, a wiki for the Dungeons & Dragons campaign setting Forgotten Realms.