Last three chambers for Level 1 of the Found Tombs of Arvakaten

 Orc Captain's Lair (#29/365)

"Four torches burn in the corners of this long, low-ceiling room. It is an opulent chamber, hung with silk tapestries of geometric designs, and the floor is scatted with cushions. Two creatures sit at a table playing Dragon Chess, one is a very large Orc blowing purple smoke rings while sucking on a water-pipe, while the other is a Black Elf woman with silver-streaked hair, in dark robes, with a scimitar at her side. They look at you with bored disdain and then they both break into a fit of manic laughter!"

Contents: This is the lair of the captain of the Bronze Serpent Mercenary Company, Shaisak Camel-Smiter, and his advisor/factotum/drug supplier, Espereth of Rimon. They are currently both under the influence of some Pale Willowsap wine (see Encyclopedia Arcana: Volume 1 p. 55) they have been drinking.

Shaisak's Bronze Serpents are originally from the uplands bordering the Skull Coast but have left their tribe and ventured south, setting up a base here in the Tombs, where there is more work in the region, whether it be as marines on pirate ships, shock troops for the Lizard Men Empire's far-flung colonies, or simply being paid by local devious merchants to bump off their rivals' caravans. When possible, they venture down to Dust Town to trade, or occasionally send emissaries back home to the north, with loot for the rest of the tribe to spend.

Espereth was formerly a spy operating from Kaynlesh-Ma to Port Blacksand, working for so many shifty shadowy employers that she has lost track of who betrayed who and when and why. While laying low in the city-state of Pellod, she heard of the rumours of the Found Tombs of Arvakaten, and, investigating, struck up a friendship with Shaisak, before getting him hopelessly addicted to a mild variety of Purple Lotus, which she acquires from visiting pirates or periodic trips to the bazaars of Dust Town.

Espereth is convinced a powerful artefact, the Hammer of Bisu, is buried in the depths of the Tombs, and intends to claim it for her own. As such she has spent a lot of time researching the Tombs, while working for the Bronze Serpent mercenaries, but is unsure when to begin actual explorations of the deeper underworld. The Heroes may find her a powerful ally or a devious antagonist depending on whether Espereth thinks they can help or hinder her achieve her goals. She will get on very well with Wubutu however.

Shaisak and Espereth are not especially perturbed with the presence of the Heroes though they will defend themselves if attacked, or if the Heroes have battled their way in here and are covered in green Orc blood. They may challenge the Heroes to a game of Dragon Chess, with a small betting stake attached. If the Heroes are in the presence of other friendly Orcs, they may be granted a boon of further information about the Found Tombs. If there is a fight, and it is going badly for the Orc(s) then Espereth will switch sides; her research is more important to her than her friendships.

The tapestries are worth 100GP but take up 8 Encumbrance slots. The Dragon Chess set has a board crafted from ebony and ivory and pieces made from red and green jade - it is worth 150GP. The water pipe is of a normal brass type, with enough Purple Lotus left in the bowl for one more smoke. Also on the table is a half-empty bottle of Pale Willowsap wine (see Encyclopedia Arcana: Volume 1 p. 55) and 2 glasses.

The current treasury of the Bronze Serpent Mercenary Company is in a chest in hidden nook behind a loose brickwork panel next to Shaisak's camel-skin bed. The panel is trapped; Anyone setting off the trap frees a GONCHONG (see Out of the Pit, p. 62), kept under a wicker basket, that will leap out from the nook and attack whoever interfered with the panel. Inside the chest is:

• 126 GP in a leather bag
• A Merchant's Pass for the city of Pellod
• A pouch with 8 (Common) Goblin's teeth (see Encyclopedia Arcana: Volume 1, p. 104)
• A green, glowing Regeneration Crystal (see Encyclopedia Arcana: Volume 1, p. 100)
• A Nanka Flask (see Encyclopedia Arcana: Volume 1, p. 114)
• An Amulet of Ra, in the shape of a golden ankh (see Encyclopedia Arcana: Volume 1, p. 124)

Stats: 

Shaisak Camel-Smiter, GREAT ORC Mercenary Captain (see Out of the Pit, pp. 90-91) 

SKILL: 9

STAMINA: 14

Attacks: 1

Weapon: Battleaxe (two-handed)

Armour: Medium (Chainmail scraps)

Notes: Has 3-18GP, a Silver Dagger, and a Potion of Weapon Skill (see Encyclopedia Arcana: Volume 1 p. 118). Shaisak is currently under the influence of a mild variety of Purple Lotus (see The Titan Herbal, p. 54). His reactions are as per Smoking Weed (see The Titan Herbal,p. 61), except that he will not randomly attack anyone unless attacked first.

Espereth of Rimon, BLACK ELF Spy and Scholar (see Out of the Pit, p. 46)

SKILL: 8

STAMINA: 14

LUCK: 10

MAGIC: 2 (Magic Points: 4)

Talent: Dark Seeing, Swashbuckler

Skills: Elvish 4, Common Speech (Allansian) 3, Orcish 3, Magic-Minor 2, Throwing Dagger 2, Sword 2, Sneak 2, Ancient Djaratian 1, Ancient Allansian 1, Vatosian 1, Bargain 1, Con 1, Evaluate 1, City Lore 1, Locks 1, Trap Knowledge 1

Spells (Cantrips): Attraction, Glimmer, Hear, Honesty, Noise, Secrete

Weapon: Scimitar, Throwing Dagger

Armour: Dodge/Swashbuckler ability

Notes: Has 3-18 GP, a Silver Key (for room #30), one sachet of Elven Dust (see Encyclopedia Arcana: Volume 1 p. 111), and 2 pouches of Sleeping Grass pollen (see Encyclopedia Arcana: Volume 1 p. 118).

Espereth's Retreat (#30/365)

This room can only be opened with the Silver Key in Espereth's possession in room #29, or a magic Open spell or something similar. The lock is intricate and requires a Lock Special Skill roll at a difficulty of -2.

"This small chamber is lit by a single torch. One side has a bed and a low table, the other has a desk crammed with papers, curios, scrolls and chunks of carved rock. A box of clothes lies at the foot of the bed."

Contents: This room belongs to the Black Elf spy and scholar Espereth of Rimon. The bed and box of clothes are nothing special, but on the table is a bottle of Old Sarnaks (see The Citadel of Chaos, p. 19) and a single glass.

The desk contains the fruits of Espereth's research concerning the Found Tombs of Arvakaten and their various periods of construction, occupation and rebuilding. Most of it is only of interest to sages specializing in ancient Djaratian, Vatosian or Allansian lore, but there are some things that adventuring Heroes may find useful:

• a papyrus scroll depicting a map of the Maze of Pnar, on level 2 of the Found Tombs, and a successful route through its twisty little passages.
• a pale yellow agate statue of the Djaratian Monkey God, worth 50GP
• the golden Phoenix headdress of a priest of Vatos, worth 75GP
  
• Espereth's notebook/spellbook; anyone reading it, assuming they understand Djaratian, Vatosian or Ancient Allansian, can add +2 to Lore Special Skill Rolls involving these elder cultures
• a pouch of old gold coins from Carsepolis (worth 50GP to a collector; unusable as modern currency)
• a Bronze Key 
• box with 3 dried Purple Lotus flowers
  

However, the statue is also a guardian fetish of the Monkey God. Anyone who touches anything on the desk without first invoking the protection of the Monkey God, will cause a troop of MUNGIES to instantly appear. These screeching apes will attack any Hero present, loot them and the desk of all valuables, and then flee deeper into the Found Tombs.

Stats:

5 MUNGIES, SKILL 9, STAMINA 16, 5 Attacks, Small Bite (see Out of the Pit, p. 86)

Orc Noshroom (#31/365)

"This large chamber contains several long tables with crude benches. At the far end of the room, a Hobgoblin is stirring a pot on a low fire, next to a table covered in foodstuffs of various types and sources, alongside a large barrel. A bunch of armoured Orcs are seated at the tables and eating and drinking, and all look up at your entrance."

Contents: This is the main eating chamber of the Orcs of the Bronze Serpent Mercenary Company. At any time, in addition to Xergus the HOBGOBLIN cook, 3-8 ORCS will be eating or drinking in here. How they react depends on the Heroes' situation; if the Heroes are covered in green Orc blood from previous encounters then the Orcs will attack immediately.

However, if the Heroes speak Orcish, or are accompanied by other Orcs, things may be much more friendly. Xergus will assume they are hungry and offer them a bill of fare (see below). The Orcs may even challenge them to an Orc Ale drinking competition (not recommended!).

Ye Bille of Faire (available food and drink):

Orc Ale, 5SP per pint, see Encyclopedia Arcana: Volume 1 (pp. 57-58)

Roast Aardwolf Joint, 2GP, restores 1-3 STAMINA

Rat Gizzard Soup, 1GP, -1-3 STAMINA to any non-Orcs

Lizard Eyeball Pate, 1GP, see Encyclopedia Arcana: Volume 1 (p. 56)

Pickled Dung Beetles, 1SP per beetle, see Encyclopedia Arcana: Volume 1 (p. 58)

Stats:

Xergus the HOBGOBLIN Cook, SKILL 6, STAMINA 6, Cleaver (as per Handaxe), Light Armour (leather scraps)

Xergus has 2-12GP, and a canvas bag containing a vial of Orcsbane as an insurance policy against his employers (see The Titan Herbal, p. 51), and a battered copy of the book, The Good Rat Guide by Urgun Runaway (from which he has been stealing recipes; see Encyclopedia Arcana: Volume 1 (p. 58)).

3-8 ORC MERCENARIES, SKILL 6, STAMINA 5, Sword, Dagger, Light Armour (leather scraps) 

Each Orc has 1-6GP, but are always looking to increase their stash by betting on what each of them, or visiting Heroes, can or cannot eat or drink.

On the table are enough chunks of roast Aardwolf and various edible tubers for 1-6 Provisions worth of food. Next to the table is half a barrel of Guursh (Orc Ale; see Encyclopedia Arcana, pp. 57-58).