Level 1, Area 3

A major aspect of this dungeon is that each level is an active workshop for a wizard. This will look different for each apprentice, be that a focus on minions, magical items, etc, but I want each level to be scattered with signs of wizardry at work.

For our astromancer, that's going to be obsessive study of the mysteries of the stars. The primary tool for that is going to be a huge, complex telescope, but I'll save that for deeper into the level. For room 3, which is very easy for the players to access right away, I want his magical research to be a little ominous, and strange; a hall of "specimens" (creatures captured from the astral world and held for further study) on display. Room 4 will then show the players what the astromancer does with these creatures...

The creatures in magical suspended animation, with the spell telegraphed via visible magical sigils under each. Anyone too curious risks danger, as crossing the threshold of the sigil will end the spell holding the creatures in place.

I think three creatures is enough to add variety without making the room a slog, and we'll have our first nod to another level here, an empty alcove with a note the specimen is on loan to another wizard. This will give the players something to look for on that level, a name of an apprentice, and knowledge that the two seem to cooperate to some degree.

Of the three creatures held here two will be hostile and the third more of a curiosity (although dangerous if attacked). Two of these creatures (the lunar eel & the asteroid crabs) introduce some recurring substances on this level, lunar mercury & star metal. I'll include more information on these in an introductory section to this level, but for now I'll just summarize them.

Lunar mercury is a viscous liquid metal that's impossibly cold, temporarily freezing any creatures that touch it. This makes attacking the eels a little tricky! Star metal is a substance infused with astral magics that can be collected and used between adventures to forge weapons that deal extra damage to creatures immune to non-magical damage. In the case of the asteroid crabs, it explains their high AC and provides a nice little treasure for players willing to do extra legwork during downtime.