In a lost subterranean city, the heroes stumble into an arena, where three cages sit near them, opposite three similar cages on the other side… where their enemy stands (a mind-flayer or aboleth protected from direct attack by various wards) or at least appears to stand (being a projected illusion). The enemy smashes a magic rune tablet to trigger the opening of one of the cages, releasing a creature ready to fight the heroes… or whichever creature the heroes release by smashing one of their own runes.

Each side can only release one creature at a time. If a creature’s opponent creature is killed, the survivor disappears, freed. The creatures understand this by means of empathy magic, and so will be willing to attack their opponent creature. The creatures include various beasts and low-intelligence monsters, such as…

• A troll
• A cockatrice
• A golem
• A wyvern
• A displacer beast
• Three blink dogs
• Six skeletons

The heroes are free to fight along with their creature, but creatures might attack them out of confusion. If the heroes don’t release an opponent to fight the enemy’s creature, the creature will attack the heroes instead.

Results

If the heroes win, they will be awarded their freedom and a small, weird prize. Otherwise, they’ll be seized by a crowd and torn limb from limb unless they manage to escape.