The Dark Alley

Game version 1.2.7. Prose checked against 1.2.5.

The Dark Alley combines underground commerce, risky training, drugs, pickpocketing, gambling, the Pit, loans and Shadows faction services. Open it from Main Street with A once the full town menu unlocks. Access and available services depend on your character and faction standing. Martial law can close the alley, and a stranger may approach you on the way in.

Shops

• D Drug Palace: drugs with strong short effects, which add Darkness.
• S Steroid Shop: a permanent Strength and Stamina boost, a limited number of times per life.
• O Orbs Health Club: a full heal for gold.
• G Groggo's Magic Services: information, a fortune or a shadow blessing that raises Dexterity until your next rest.
• B Bob's Beer Hut: a cheap drink with a small random effect.
• A Alchemist's Heaven: a random potion effect for gold.

Good characters pay more here and evil ones pay less; the shop shows the adjustment. Shadows members get a further discount.

Gambling

C opens the Gambling Den, which has a daily round limit and a bet limit based on your gold and level. It offers three games:

• Loaded Dice: the dice are secretly weighted. Each round you call or wait; calling early pays more, and the game shows your roll against the target.
• Three Card Monte: pick one of three cards.
• Skull and Bones: choose a risk level; a riskier bet pays more.

The Inn has its own tavern games too: High-Low dice, a Skull and Bones tile game and arm wrestling.

The Pit

T enters the Pit, a few fights a day: a bare-knuckle fight without armor, a monster fight for double gold, or a fight with an NPC near your level where the winner takes part of the loser's gold. A Pit loss is an exhibition, not a real death. You can add a side bet.

Pickpocketing

P uses your daily thief attempts. You pick a target from a short list with purse hints. Success takes some of their gold; failure starts a fight, and a bad failure sends you to prison. Dexterity helps, and Assassins are better at it.

Loans and the safe house

L visits the Loan Shark. A loan must be repaid within a few days, and interest grows every day. Payments go to interest first. An overdue loan brings an enforcer when you next enter the alley. N is the safe house: rest for HP and mana if you are dark enough. Shadows members are not robbed there and are hidden from PvP while offline.

Shadows faction

J joins the Shadows if you are dark enough and in no other faction. Members get M, the Black Market, which sells forged papers that remove Darkness, poison vials and smoke bombs, and I, an informant who names rich and dark townsfolk. W pays tribute when your standing has fallen below zero. E lists evil deeds with their Darkness, rewards and chance of failure.

Pickpocketing, the Gambling Den, the Pit, the Loan Shark and the safe house close to you if your Shadows standing falls too low.

Costs beyond gold

Drug highs can raise Mental temporarily but bring a crash, tolerance and addiction. Addiction lowers the ordinary Mental cap. Rehab addresses that system; buying another high does not.

Theft, violence and other actions can affect alignment, law and your god's Favor. Umbrath rewards qualifying theft; Judicar treats it as a taboo.

This guide omits hidden easter eggs and exact hidden odds. Discover those only if you choose to pursue them in-game.