Overview
Although most of the silver of the Titan’s Skull (33.00) has been long since mined out, enough remains that the dwarves of the mountain are always in the market for slaves to continue mining it. The slaves in the mines live, breathe and even drink silver for a residue of silver exists in the dwarven reservoirs. Dwarves are able to pass this silver but it accumulates in human and orcish skin, turning it an ashen blue. The dwarves find this useful as it allows them to easily identify escaped slaves, while the humans and orcs in question tend to not be so fond of their new coloration.
The slaves, who own nothing in life, receive the silver of their bodies they die. Many of them compose wills that dedicate their silver to their funerals so there is a surprisingly fine slave graveyard in a valley to the east of the Titan’s Skulls known as the Long Graves where many slaves are buried with tombstones paid for by their silver-laden ashes. Other slaves meanwhile, dedicate the silver of their bodies to the Order of the Broken Chain (27.04) in the hopes that it will free their brethren. Some years ago, one orc known as the Baker had a mining accident in which he lost both of his legs. After some legal wrangling, the Baker was able to receive enough silver from his legs to buy his freedom and, as he would not have been welcome in his homeland in his crippled state, he claimed guest right among the dwarves and has lived in the Titan’s Skull ever since. The dwarves despise his presence but he is always careful to never break the letter of dwarven law and has carved out a niche for himself by trading the fingers (and various other appendages) of slaves for various favors.
Hooks
- Any interesting tombs among the Long Graves?
- What exactly are the dwarven laws about guest right anyway?
- Why is the Baker called that and how does he convince so many slaves to sell him their silver-laden fingers?
- Any undead?
