Inside the building are many rows of 10
foot x 10 foot x 10 foot cells, most containing
1 or more slaves. Altogether, there are
80 cells, imprisoning a total of 90 female and
125 male human slaves. This is where characters
arrested by the guards are brought.
Slavery is the usual punishment for all but
the most trivial misdemeanors. The cell
keeper, a fat merchant named Samovar, is in
his office near the entrance, filling out
reports. The other laborers have gone for
the day, but Samovar knows there are
always patrols in the outside streets should
the need for assistance arise.

Currently imprisoned here are Dame
Gold and other guests taken from her estate.
They have been wretchedly used and will
not be immediately recognizable to the
PCs. However, they instantly
know the PCs and clamor for release. As
much as he would like to, Samovar will not
accept a bribe for their release--unless
PCs can pay a lot and make
him appear totally innocent.

If released, Dame Gold and the others
want to accompany the PCs
anywhere they go, being terrified of
Suderham. However, if the PCs can provide clothing and some rnoney,
they agree to rendezvous with the PCs at some other place. If the characters fail to arrive, Dame Gold and the
others will be recaptured and will tell how
PCs freed them.

Also in the building is the beggar who
gave the ivory chess piece to the characters.
The characters can also attempt to buy his
freedom. Samovar the cell keeper will mutter
about this being "highly irregular," but
will have no qualms about releasing some-
one on punishment detail. The price will be
high, however, since the guards, who
brought him in will also demand a share of
the ransom. Samovar will ask 200 SP
but will grudgingly settle for 100. The
beggar will be grateful, staying with the
PCs. Once alone, he will ask
knowingly if they were "sent." If they
answer yes, he will freely answer questions
asked him. However, if they ask things he
thinks they should know (such as "Sent
who?"), he will immediately clam up.

The beggar, actually a thief named Deeb
is suffering from a double-cross. He believes
that he is in the employ of Edralve, 1 of
The Nine. Under what he thinks are her
instructions, he has been guiding the PCs
to the catacombs of the slave
lords. He is not to let the PCs
know of her involvement. He doesn't know
what her game is, but the twisted nature of
the plot appeals to his character. Besides,
Edralve (as she is wont to do) has made
other promises, highly attractive to Deeb.

That is what he believes. In reality, he has
been duped by Stalman Klim and his agents.
The orders Deeb follows do not come from
Edralve; they are the plots of Stalman Klim.
Poor Deeb has been magickally tricked into
believing he has met and dealt with Edralve.
Under any type of examination (including
magickal) he will believe this false vision.

This suits Klim's purpose (the destruction of
Edralve) perfectly.

Deeb (Burglar): AC 6; MV 12"; hp 22;
#AT 1; D by weapon; AL NE; backstab
x3; Dexterity 18 for thieving abilities
THACO 19
XP 375

>>44.