The Black Mirror: The Black Mirror is a criminal hangout in Simtakka, frequented by the nastier element in the city. At least half the regular clientele is Tzaltakan. The unwary who enter this place often disappear for good. The Mirror serves liquor and snacks, has tables for card- and dice-players, back rooms for secret meetings, and rooms upstairs opening off a balcony for prostitutes. The whole building has been protected by a sorcerous rite that prevents any but the most minor magics from being performed within it--a skilled magician would probably realize this before making an attempt and would certainly recognize it after attempting a spell.

Owner: Toziltlar Mekzat's-son; about 5'6", broadly built and very muscular, black hair in a pigtail, small "piggish" eyes that miss little, scarred face and hands, very dangerous. Usually carries several concealed daggers to supplement his visible shortsword. He normally wears loose black pants tucked into soft boots and a belted jacket-tunic (like a gi top) of dark red embroidered in gold with a pattern that looks like repeated lightning-bolts. Toziltlar usually tends the bar himself. Sufficiently trusted by his regular patrons that he holds stakes on many bets. Toziltlar is the normal bartender.

Other staff: Bouncers, nicknames Tok and Mor, twins, about 5'8 or 9", built heavily--all muscle. Tok has a flattened nose and always breathes with his mouth open; the damage was done by an Adantri guardsman, so he hates them. Mor has a scar down the right side of his face from hairline to jaw, placed there by a caravaner from the west--he hates westerners. Both of them wear their hair barely shoulder-length and loose, held back by headbands. They wear the same loose black pants and soft boots as Toziltlar; their tunic-jackets are normally black, also, and unadorned--they are intended to look menacing, and they do.

Relief bartender: Miklitar, familiarly called Mikil, 5'6", more slender than Toziltlar but not slim, hair in a pigtail, broken front tooth, looks like he might actually know how to smile (not that he does it much). Usually wears dark blue loose pants, sandals, a loose dark-gold shirt, and a red vest with lots of complicated gold and silver geometric embroidery. Very handy with throwing knives and shuriken. If any cooking is done, Mikil will do it.

Tistla, madam of the girls allowed to work out of the upstairs bedrooms, 5'4", solidly built but definitely female in shape, wears her hair braided and wound into an elaborate crown held in place with silver skewers. Usually wears kulotes/split skirt in dark blue, turquoise or scarlet blouse, and black vest embroidered with red flowers, soft boots. Always has a few concealed daggers. Will not tolerate anyone misusing her girls or trying to skip out without paying and is well able to undertake the chastisement of most; Tok and Mor will come to her assistance if needed. Rumored to have a thing going with Toziltlar, but if so, they keep it very private, and no one has the nerve to ask for details.

Hauso's Under the Wall: A very low-class place built against the outside of the city wall in the caravan quarter and having a tunnel (or maybe more than one) connecting with the drains under the city. Hauso's has a bar upstairs that is very small and not too clean where strangers are made unwelcome. Downstairs is a larger room, not much cleaner, where the regulars--pickpockets, small-time thieves, professional beggars, and the like--meet to exchange news, drink, eat, and often sleep.

Owner: The owner is not known, except that it probably isn't Hauso, who runs the place. Hauso appears to be part Adantri, having the typical athletic build, but his face is wider than the norm and somewhat flatter; he is 5'9" tall, with black hair worn loose and long and black eyes; his teeth are crooked and several are broken. He normally wears baggy orange pants tied at the cuffs with thongs, sandals, and a patched blue shirt; he wears a patch over his right eye and may actually be blind in that eye--or maybe not. He carries one dagger in plain sight, and has more than you might expect concealed. He is considered to be the "king of the beggars," and he wields considerable authority among his sleazy regulars.

Tiro's Bar: Tiro's is actually a bar and grill--drinks and sandwiches served either at the bar or at tables. Gambling is the order of the day here, and most of it is honest. With Tiro's, what you see is what you get--there are no back rooms, no up- or down-stairs; there are some alcoves along the sides of the room (the bar is across the back) with curtains for private games, but that's it.

Owner: Tiro ten Molko, an Adantri, 5'9", medium build, brown hair tied back with a thong, gray eyes, nose was broken once. Usually wears bronze-colored pants, scarlet boots, a grass-green tunic with multi-colored embroidery, and a shortsword and dagger. Probably has some concealed daggers (doesn't everybody?), such as down his boots, up his sleeves, etc. An accomplished gambler himself, he keeps an eye on the games in the house--blatant cheating is not allowed--from his position behind the bar.