Matron Ki'Willis smiles as she speaks.
"Excellent. That is the plan we shall follow. We will attempt to find any available talent that can be bought, tricked, or otherwise acquired.
"It is now time to retire for meditation."
When the Matron mentioned "otherwise acquired", she winked at Quertus. The Matron retires to her room. The others split up to their own rooms. Dariel and Marckarius search the rooms, but find nothing of major significance.
The next day, the members of House Millithor leave the Inn and cross Mantol Derith to the Drow Quarter to speak to Lady Yyssiryl.
Meeting in her luxurious audience hall and surrounded by rare items of many kinds, the Lady Yyssiryl addresses the members of Quell'er Millithor.
"After the word of the slave revolt was sent to me, I immediately purchased every available slave and sent them off to Menzoberanzan. I leaked a story about a great sacrifice to avoid unnecessary questions about why Menzoberanzan would require so many slaves. Other than slaves that have arrived in the last day or two, the only slaves in Mantol Derith are those that are not for sale at any price."
As Yyssiryl says the words, "not for sale at any price", she has a wicked smile on her face and is staring across the room at a gnome who is chained to a desk and working on some books. She continues in a whisper to the Matron that only the Matron and the other priestesses can hear.
"That pathetic creature actually believed he could compete with me. His city dared to compete with Menzoberanzan! Now all of his kin are dead, sacrificed to Lolth, and he suffers every minute of every day for his impudence!
Speaking louder to all the members of House Millithor.
"Impudence is not restricted to gnomes, of course! I had a most curious visit today. A pathetic, strange looking surface dwarf with scars on his face visited me and offered to purchase the freedom of my gnome."
The aged gnome looks up with eyes wide at overhearing this comment.
"Of course, I told the strange dwarf that my slave was unavailable for purchase. That I wouldn't sell him for all the gold in Mithril Hall. You should have seen the tears falling from the dwarf's eyes! He prattled on about the honor of his ancestors.
"It was so very entertaining, but eventually he began to bore me and I told him to leave and bother me no more.
"I recomend talking to some of the independent merchants. Some of them may have bodyguards that would be willing to change who they work for.
"Also, the more combative members of your house could try their luck in the arena. The winner in the arena gets the losers possessions. If you let the loser live, you also get the loser as a slave.
"I would enter my own gladiator to gain some slaves, but my gladiator suffers a blood lust and always kills his opponent. He is a war troll, one of the lot that was originally intended to go to Menzoberanzan and perhaps even to join your slave stable, but I took one look at him and knew that he would be perfect for the arena. He is undefeated in battle!
"The war troll and the gnome are the only slaves I have. Matron Mother Ki'Willis, I will consider the idea of letting you take the War Troll to Maermydrya. I will let you know before you leave Mantol Derith."
