.
.
Tip #1: If You're Diving Into the Labyrinth, Then Having a Party of Slaves is More Beneficial in the Long Term
If you are a beginner or a veteran who has never thought about buying slaves, as a fellow Adventurer who has retired, I highly recommend that you have Slaves as your Trusted Companions. As you probably already know, it's not easy to dive in the Labyrinths on your own. While it is possible to do so on the lower floors, once you get to around the Fifth Floor, it starts becoming a challenge without having Companions. It'll be impossible for you to get to the higher Floors without having Companions on your side.
Why buy Slaves when you can just form a Party with other Explorers and Adventurers, you may ask? There is merit in such a move, but there are many drawbacks to such a venture.
1) You'll have to split the profits. Anything that you'll find will have to be split between your Party Members, which can sometimes lead to fights and arguments. Worse-case scenarios, even duels can be declared. So you'll have far less profits to earn, and much of it will be spent on lodging and food, and other miscellaneous expenses. Meaning you will have very little excess to use to spend on other things that you might really need.
Of course, this might not matter much if you are backed by your family, or are blessed enough to be a Mage or some other high-tier Job. (But at that point, you might as well attract a good employer to hire you.)
2) Betrayal is a possibility in the Labyrinth. While being in a Party is safer than not being in one (and lessens the chances of you getting targeted for your equipment and killed), there is always the possibility that one of your Party Members, or all of them, will turn on you and kill you for your money and equipment. This chance increases if you possess a valuable treasure from the Labyrinth, have quality weapons or equipment, or if they have a grudge against you. Of course, this isn't just limited to you. There could always be a chance that a person or persons could be plotting to kill you and your Companions for your equipment and money, secretly being in league with Bandits.
As such, having Slaves to be your Trusted Companions is much more beneficial. As their Master, you monopolise all of the rewards in the Labyrinths; any money you get from treasures, Drop Items, Magic Crystals, and sold excess equipment and weapons are yours alone. You also own everything your Slave(s) possesses, including their equipment and weapons. This makes it much easier to accumulate nars which you can use for other things — like buying more slaves.
Slaves are also less likely to betray you. Bound to the Slave Contract Magic, should you die, they will also die unless you change their will (more on that in Tip #12). That being said, make sure you treat your Slaves well so that they're less likely to become desperate and take your life in a kamikaze attempt. Slaves could steal from you and/or run away, but in doing so, they'll be considered fair game as criminals and will be unlikely to survive on their own without the protection of their Master (you).
In the short term, owning Slaves may seem counter-productive. Besides the initial purchase cost of the Slaves (the average rate of a healthy combat slave is between 100,000 - 300,000 nars per head), there's also the overall Party upkeep, as well. Unlike in a Party, where each member is responsible for their own upkeep and equipment, you, the Master, alone shoulder the costs of the entire Slave Party. This includes the costs of shelter, clothing, food, weapons and armor, health and hygiene maintenance, and other miscellaneous necessities. As such, it might be prudent to purchase a house versus staying at an inn; owning a house would be cheaper in the long term. On top of this, you're also responsible for paying the Slave Taxes as their Owner: 10,000 nars per Slave (except for First-Year Slaves, which are 30,000 nars each for the first year, after which it'll dip to 10,000 nars for Second-Years and older).
However, in the mid-to-long term, Slaves eventually prove to be worthwhile investments. The more Members you've got, the more Floors you can explore, and thus earn more rewards from valuable Drop Items and Treasures. Even having one slave can do this much, if they're strong. So it won't take long for your money to be recouped.
While you can still join a Party or create your own as you wish, it's always best to own a combat slave or two. Whether temporary or long term, you can even form a Party with another Explorer or Adventurer who has a slave — or slaves — of their own, instantly creating a Party of 4 or 6 individuals, including slaves.
Tip #2: Save Money Before Looking for Slaves
Slaves are usually fairly expensive. Labor slaves are usually 30,000 - 100,000 nars. Male slaves are, on average, between 50,000 and 200,000 nars, depending on their age, appearance, Race, experience and abilities, physical condition, Job, and rarity. Combat slaves are especially pricey, ranging anywhere on average of 150,000 - 300,000 nars. Really good combat slaves can reach up to 500,000 - 600,000 nars, such as Dragonkin slaves. Mage slaves are very rare, so regardless of age, sex, or Race, just them having the Job can inflate prices anywhere from 700,000 - 1,000,000 nars, if not more (at auction).
Female slaves are even pricier. While there is no price difference as far as labor goes, even if they agree to being sex slaves, they're pricier on account of their looks, age, and Racial rarity. The average price is around 200,000 - 400,000 nars, with the really pretty ones going up to 500,000 - 800,000 nars. The cheaper ones are usually around 100,000 - 150,000 nars. Even less if they're unattractive or have bad body types.
Human female slaves, even if they are cheaper than other Races, can be expensive if they are beautiful and young. However, many Human female slaves average around 100,000 - 200,000 nars, if not less if they lack in looks and age. They're often set aside in favor of female slaves from other Races. Since they age slower than Humans, stronger than Humans, and are more beautiful than Humans, female slaves from other Races are in much higher demand and cost far more than female Humans. But what makes their price truly jump is their inability to get pregnant, making them ideal sex partners, and are often in demand as concubines, mistresses, or Party members.
If any slave of any Race or gender cannot speak Brahim, that automatically drops their price by quite a bit. So even if the slave you want doesn't speak Brahim, it's often cheaper to buy them as they are, and then hire somebody or pick a servant or retainer to teach them Brahim later on. But that depends on your circumstances and reasons for buying the slave.
Slaves who aren't virgins also get a price dip, so if you're not afraid to take the risk after an interview, then buy them.
One doesn't need to be told to know that demi-Human slaves make for better Party members in the Labyrinths than Human slaves. They're faster, stronger, and since they age slower, they have a longer shelf-life, making them the best combat slaves to choose. However, as expected, it also makes them expensive, so it is important that you save enough money to buy a slave if one or two strike your fancy. Saving at least up to 150,000 nars is the safest bet, though having more is always the best option. It would be embarrassing if you came to look at slaves only to find out that you don't have enough money for any of them.
That being said, if you ask, then the Slave Merchant can hold the slave of your choice for a short period if you're lacking in funds and want to get more. However, if you cannot get the required funds by the end of said time duration, then you lose claim to that slave.
Tip #3: Look For Ways to Make Money Quick
There are many ways to make lots of money. Firstly, having a steady job is always handy. Being a merchant or a noble, or coming from a wealthy family, is the quickest way to get money for slaves. However, since most people can't expect to become either, let alone wealthy ones, then becoming an Explorer or Adventurer is very advantageous. If you're a Mage, even better, as they're never short of tasks and employers who'd want them!
Higher Floors, and especially Boss Floors, make good money on account of their Drop Items. Accumulating magic power into Magic Crystals by slaying monsters is also a good side income, though it'll take time to get them to a color that'll give you the most money in the quickest time.
Hunting bandits and criminals can be profitable if they have bounties to collect. Though I caution you to not try this alone: you can easily get yourself killed or hunted down by any surviving members in order to eliminate you as a threat.
You can also sell any excess equipment or weapons that you find to the Armor and Weapons Merchants. And if you're especially desperate, you can sell any special weapons or equipment with Skills fused into them. However, unless they're things you don't need or have an excess of, I recommend keeping them for your future Party members.
A great way to save money is to have slaves be members of your Party, as whatever Drop Items and treasures you find in the Labyrinths will automatically become yours, whereas in a normal Party, you'd usually have to split the profits with the other Party members, giving you only a fraction of the share.
Tip #4: Check the Market Prices for Slaves Before Buying
It's important to check the market prices for slaves, to make sure that Slave Merchants don't scam you from your hard-earned money. Being excellent at negotiating is also an important skill to have. Even the most cunning Slave Merchant knows that it's best to compromise when it's needed.
Being ignorant of a slave's general market price can leave you blind and vulnerable to charging more than you have to pay, so it's important to research before going into a Slave Shop to buy a slave. If you do it well and negotiate better, you might be able to purchase two slaves instead of one.
Tip #5: Make Sure to Be Clear About What Slave(s) You're Looking For
As such, it's also important to be certain about what kind of slave you'd like. The Race, age, price range, skills and abilities, Jobs, slave type, etc, are all things that you need to consider. If you know what you're looking for, make sure to let the Slave Merchant know so that he can narrow down the slaves he has in his possession that would be of interest to you.
If you don't know what kind of slave you'd like, allow the Slave Merchant to ask you questions that could help narrow down the possibilities. Or you could just peruse their entire store.
However, if the Slave Merchant in question doesn't have what you're looking for, you can always wait for a period before trying again, or you can go to another Slave Merchant in another city who might have what you're looking for.
However, if you still haven't found what you're looking for, the Slave Auctions are an excellent way to find unique, exotic, and excellent slaves.
Tip #6: Check the Contracts to Make Sure They're Legitimate
Always make sure that the contracts are valid before accepting them. Forged contracts and illegal slaves exist; owning an illegal slave automatically can lead you into legal trouble. Criminals such as bandit gangs can capture people and sell them off to Slave Merchants for money, or have a Slave Merchant under their employ who can change a person's Identification Card to a slave status. Some disreputable Slave Merchants can secretly turn a blind eye if it means they get a ready supply of slaves to buy (cheaply) and sell.
You can tell a genuine article from a forged one by the magically imprinted shackles and chains symbol representing the Slave Merchants' Guild; forged copies do not have such markings. Only Village Chiefs, Knight Orders, Nobles and Royals, and Slave Merchants in league with the Slaver Merchants' Guild have access to the legitimate documents. While Slave Merchants not affiliated with the Guild can offer you cheaper slaves, the probably one must watch out for is that they won't have access to the legitimate documents unless they buy slaves from legitimate sources, and, thus, will result in your possible procurement of an illegal slave.
Tip #7: The Higher the Number of Slaves You Have, the More Taxes You Have to Pay
Please be aware of the number of slaves you own, as the more you have, the more taxes you have to pay. As the result of tax-evasion crimes in recent decades, new laws dictated that taxes of first-year slaves would cost as much as a regular citizen (30,000 nars), instead of the 10,000 nars, as it had formerly been. Second-year slaves and older will cost 10,000 nars in annual taxes.
To summarize on taxes, you have the following: Free Citizens (adult men, maybe adult [unmarried] women), or Freemen, have to pay 100,000 nars per person; regular citizens (married(?) women and children not of adult age), 30,000 nars per person; and non-First-Year Slaves are 10,000 nars per person.
(A/N: There's no explanation in either the LN or the manga as to what classifies someone as a regular citizen vs. a Freeman. Perhaps this is different in the WN, but I haven't read it. I've only seen male Freemen and haven't seen any female ones. And I'm not sure if there are male regular citizens, or if only women and children not of legal age are considered regular citizens. If anyone knows what groups of people consist of these classifications, please let me know. Until then, though, I'm going to just have to guess.)
In short, it is important that you are aware of how much slave taxes you'll have to pay annually before you buy any more slaves — especially if you own property and have a family.
Note: Not many know this, but if you sire children from slave women of the same Race, they'll be regarded as regular citizens instead of slaves as you, the Freeman, are the father. Legally, both parents must be slaves in order for the children to be considered slaves as well.
Tip #8: Buying Family Members is the Same as Freeing Them
As a companion to Tip #7, it must be noted that, should you buy back a family member, their taxes do not remain 10,000 nars, but will return to 100,000 or 30,000 nars, depending on their original status, as you buying them will be considered buying back their freedom. According to law, family members are not allowed to own members of their own family as slaves. (Though there is a loophole in that someone connected to your family, such as a retainer or acquaintance, can buy your family member and they'll still be slaves, since the former is not family in the legal and technical sense. Even if you bought them from the party involved instead of the Slave Merchant, your family member will still be considered freed.)
So if you're hoping to buy back family members expecting them to still be slaves and, thus, still be 10,000 nars in taxes, that won't be the case. A few years ago, there was a law passed that nullified such practices after people found a way to work past the previous tax laws, stopping them in their tracks.
Tip #9: Think Carefully About What Slaves You Want to Get
As was previously explained on Tip #7, since you're responsible for the slave taxes as the slave's master, it's important to figure out what slaves you want. Combat slaves? Pleasure slaves or concubines? Labor slaves? Business slaves? Household slaves? There's much to consider when looking to buy a slave.
As I had previously advised on Tip #4, be sure to be detailed about what you're looking for. Vague details can often lead to fruitless results. If you can't figure out what slave(s) you want, then just browse their store, or go to another Slave Merchant. The Slave Auctions are also a great way to find slaves. As Auctions give them the most money in sales, Slave Merchants often set aside their best slaves for the Auctions.
While it is your prerogative to choose quantity vs. quality, it'll depend on your occupation and circumstances. There may be instances where you have to choose cheap and expendable slaves if you either can't afford more expensive slaves or for other reasons. However, bear in mind that you get what you pay for; don't be surprised if they don't do well or get killed relatively quickly. Criminal slaves are the cheapest slaves you can get, but they also can't be trusted — particularly in the Labyrinths. Though cheap slaves can sometimes be worth more than their price.
For combat slaves, if cheap combat slaves are what you can afford, then do it. However, it's best to equip them well so that they don't die too quickly. And once you get the money, you can either sell your slave(s) for a better one, or use what you have for other tasks while you fill your ranks with more quality combat slaves.
But if slave taxes are a concern along with future investments, it is better to choose quality over quantity. For instance, if you're looking for slaves for your Party, it's better to pick sturdy, experienced, strong, and quality combat slaves to accompany you into the Labyrinths.
Also, keep in mind that if you choose slaves hastily, it could result in your slaves not getting along. So it's always important to make sure that the slave(s) you want to buy will work well and get along well with your current slave(s).
Tip #10: A Properly Cared-For Slave Results in An Efficient Slave
As a slave master, you should provide minimum care for your slaves. It would be a negligent investment indeed to buy a slave if they were to die or be unable to work not long after you buy them. Of course, this doesn't mean you should spoil them to the point of incompetence, but you must ensure each slave has shelter, regular meals, proper clothing, and that you pay their taxes. It is against the contract to abuse your slave unjustly without probable cause, such as beating them, forcing them to walk almost naked outdoors, denying them medical check-ups, making them sleep outside regardless of weather, or killing them without reason. Or, if they're non-sex slaves, forcing them to change their status so that you can bed them, or outright forcing them from the onset.
Such behavior will result in your Slave Contract being nullified and your slave being taken away.
Slaves are property; just like with a horse, or a weapon or armor, the better you take care of your slave, the longer they can serve you — and the harder they'll work for you, too.
Especially with combat slaves, the better their treatment, the better and the longer they'll work for you, the more efficient they'll be in the Labyrinths, and the stronger they'll become. The more you invest in them, the better results you'll get, and the further returns you earn from what you've spent on them.
If you treat your slave(s) poorly, it could result in them secretly looking for other potential masters to buy them from you. Or worse — they will be willing to kill you, even at the cost of their own life.
Tip #11: Invest in Your Slave
As with Tip #9 and Tip #10, wise is the master who invests in their slaves. While this includes all slaves in the general sense, this mostly concerns masters of combat slaves; the more you invest in your combat slave, the more tangible the results and rewards.
As such, it is important to ensure they get a good night's rest, good food, constant training, and quality weapons and equipment. Some incentives or rewards might also be a good way to motivate your combat slaves to work harder, better, and longer.
How much they contribute depends entirely on how much you put into them. The less you give them, the less productive they are and the fewer rewards you get in the Labyrinths.
If you have a slave or slaves that have high-tier or coveted jobs, such as Mage, Priest/Shrine Maiden, or Holy Knight — or even a Racial Job — it would be in your best interests to treat them well, as Mages, in particular, are the main powerhouses of your Party.
As such, if you don't invest much in them or if you abuse them, expect to receive slim rewards in return.
Tip #12: Do Not Change Your Will Prematurely
Similar to and because of Tips #10 and #11, it is wise for you to not change a slave's will hastily until they can prove that they're trustworthy. Otherwise, upon the changing of the will, said slave(s) will take advantage and kill you in the Labyrinth where there'll be no evidence to convict them, and they won't die when you will. It is best to wait or to have the will state that someone close to you will inherit the slaves should you die to prevent dying under suspicious circumstances.
If you treat your slaves well, if your slaves are considered trustworthy, or if you know that you don't have long to live, then you should amend the will to emancipate the slave(s) upon your death, or leave them to a chosen heir.
Tip #13: Generally, Demi-Human Slaves are Better Combat Slaves, But Human Slaves are Cheaper
As previously mentioned in "Tip #1", Demi-Human slaves are better combat slaves than Humans, generally speaking. They age slower and thus can fight for longer periods than Human slaves; they are also stronger, more agile, and more beautiful than Humans as well. Demi-Humans outshine Humans in most areas; they are also not as afraid of combat and the Labyrinths compared to Human slaves (namely the females). If you wish to have a Party of female slaves to take to the Labyrinth, I recommend them to be Demi-Human.
They will be braver than Human women who don't wish to fight and possibly die in the Labyrinths. Human women often tend to appeal to rich masters in order to avoid having to go to the Labyrinths. As such, having a Party of Demi-Humans would be preferable in this regard alone. What makes them even better is that they can't get pregnant due to their biological differences from Humans, allowing you to bed them as you will without needing to worry about getting them pregnant. Whereas, if you have a Party of female Humans — and you are Human as well — that spells a recipe for future inconvenience since they'll have to stop diving in the Labyrinths once they are pregnant.
Of course, that being said: should you be unfazed by such a possibility, then that is your prerogative. However, you must bear in mind that Human women are weaker in terms of combat strength, and will be of little use in combat, whether against criminals or monsters. In my opinion, the only viable options for Human women to be reliable combat slaves are as Shrine Maidens or Mages. So buy them at your own risk, or if that's just what you can afford.
It's the same with Human men: they are weaker than their Demi-Human counterparts, and age quicker. However, if you have a limited budget — especially as an Explorer or Adventurer, or some other low-pay Job — then the most budget-friendly options for you are Human combat slaves. They are, by far, the cheapest and most readily available combat slaves you can purchase.
Tip #14: If You're Looking For a Concubine or Second Wife, Find One of a Different Race
As we have previously mentioned, children born from slave women of the same Race as their master — and sired by the master — are considered regular citizens and legal shareholders of your family's inheritance.
As such, if you have a child or three, and are looking for a companion (or if you have pent-up desires and your wife is unable to accommodate you), it is best to buy a female slave that's of a different Race from you to be your concubine or second wife (if your first wife passed away). Since Demi-Human females are unable to birth children with Humans, and vice versa, your children shan't worry about their share in the inheritance from being jeopardized by any future surprise younger siblings. Furthermore, the woman will be able to take care of you in your old age since they age much slower than Humans do. Upon your death, you may grant her freedom.
Of course, this doesn't necessarily apply if your wife has died leaving you childless, if you don't have a family to inherit, or if you just don't care about the inheritance issue from the beginning.
Tip #15: Slaves are Great Alternatives to Spouses (Cheaper, Too)
Do you want to get married but aren't wanting to pay the massive amount of taxes that go along with her? No problem! Simply buy a slave from a Slave Shop and you get an instant spouse! While the immediate cost in buying them will probably amount to a few years in taxes by itself, depending on the slave's final price, it'll eventually make up for it with the 10,000 nars annual tax that comes with them instead of having to pay 30,000 - 100,000 nars per year.
Again, remember that, unless you buy a slave of a Race different from yours, any children that you sire with that slave will be considered legitimate and will cost 30,000 nars per person, per year. So if you're not looking to have children and are looking for a tax cut, buying a Demi-Human slave (or Human, if you're a Demi-Human master) is ideal.
Tip #16: You Can Free Your Slave
It is possible for you to free your slave upon request. However, I advise caution in this matter. Doing so will risk the slave either just leaving or even killing you before leaving. However, that usually applies to slave masters who haven't treated their slaves well. For those who do, if the slave has been proven to be trustworthy, then you may free them should you wish it.
If the slave is of the opposite sex, and you wish to marry them legally, then freeing them is a sensible option. Though, just as I had advised on Tip #12, if you do so, then, upon their release, the slave tax will be removed and replaced with the citizen tax, making it more expensive than it was before. However, if such things are of no concern to you, finance-wise, then you are free to do whatever you see fit.
As I've previously mentioned in Tip #8, buying a slave who's a family member will automatically free them. Meaning that you'll be unable to turn family members into slaves in the hopes of only having to pay 10,000 nars instead of 30,000 nars or even 100,000 nars that you would normally have to pay. (Tax evasion is a serious crime, after all.)
Tip #17: Slave Auctions are Great Places to Find Quality Slaves
Slave Auctions hosted in Quratar are an excellent way to procure unique or quality slaves. There, you can find many fine combat slaves, along with beautiful men and women that suit your tastes and preferences. Slave Merchants often set aside their best slaves for the Auction, as it is the best way for them to advertise their merchandise and appeal to new potential customers.
As such, if you're struggling to find the kind of slave you're looking for, it doesn't hurt to try the Slave Auctions. The Auction House hosts them on every holiday of every season throughout the year — or four times a year.
Be aware though: It'd be best if you had at least 500,000 nars on you, at minimum, as not only do you have to pay a thousand-nar entrance fee in order to participate, but you'll need to have the coin on you as bidding between participants can get intense. Many gold, and even platinum coins can be spent there. If you make a purchase, however, the thousand-nar fee will be returned to you.
Of course, it never hurts to have more nars on you where Auctions are concerned.
Tip #18: Having Slave Couples Birth Slave Babies is Inefficient
It is possible to have slave couples give birth to slave children. However, such practices are rare. The reason being, unless you are simply doing this to increase the slaves in your household, if you are doing this for profit, this would be inefficient. Since a child cannot become a slave until they turn fifteen (the legal adult age), you'll be paying 10,000 nars per year until then, adding up to 150,000 nars, in total. And that's not including their education fees. It can easily add up to 300,000 nars in total expenses, if not more. Furthermore, the price you'll get from the Slave Merchant won't be able to equalize your losses, leaving you still in the red. It'd be even worse if the slave wasn't pretty, had a poor body, didn't have much experience or abilities, can't speak Brahim, or can't do combat.
So, in summary, unless you are a Slave Merchant yourself (which would still be a risk, as you have no guarantee that the child slave in question will sell for the amount you invested in them) or plan on expanding your slave force for your household, or you're forced to sell them on account of taxes, it's not recommended to using this practice in order to make a profit. It's not efficient, and it is also risky, as the price you paid for the slave's taxes and education will rarely equalize or even be lower than the price your slave is worth.
Tip #19: Take Precautions When Buying Non-Virgin Slaves
While buying virgin slaves will cost more than non-virgin slaves, it won't affect the overall price difference, even if they aren't. They'll be more difficult to sell, but price will always be determined by their appearance and health. That being said, a slave that is 500,000 nars will naturally go down to 400,000 nars or less if they aren't virgins. And if they weren't virgins to begin with upon becoming a slave, the offered price will be even less.
As such, it is important to interview such slaves and question the Slave Merchant before making your judgment.
That being said, some slaves enter slavery who are already non-virgins, whether it's due to their lifestyle, or being they were married at one point, or had a lover, etc. But buying non-virgin slaves, while cheaper, carries risks if you are planning on bedding them.
Tip #20: Damaged Slaves or 'Used' Slaves Cost Less Than Your Average Slave
This is a companion to Tip #19. It is best to keep in mind that damaged and 'used' slaves cost less than other slaves. Just like with equipment, weapons, furniture, houses, clothes, and other assets, they'll sell for less than the amount you paid for them, since you used them. And if they have damage, you'll be lucky if you'll be able to sell them at all. It's the same with slaves. If a slave limps or can't walk, loses a limb or body part, has a defect, or loses one of their senses, they'll sell for far less than you've bought them for.
It's the same for 'used' slaves, or slaves who've lost their virginity. Because there's a chance of catching sexual-born diseases, slaves who've lost their virginity aren't going to sell for as much as a virgin slave. On the flip side, you can buy them for a nice discount. However, again, you'll have to be aware of the risks involved. It's always wise to interview those slaves and ask them how many people they've slept with before making a choice.
If you plan on selling a family member or even yourself, remember that you won't get as much money if your body's damaged or if you're not a virgin, since not many clients are going to want to buy such slaves.
Tip #21: Avoid Buying Slaves That are Unmotivated
Don't buy slaves who are unmotivated. An unmotivated slave is always bound to cause trouble and isn't worth the purchase.
Of course, it's always possible that there is a reason for their lack of motivation, in which case you can interview them and investigate what will get them motivated.
However, if their lack of motivation is because of laziness, or because you're not the ideal master they want to appeal to, or they don't want to work in the Labyrinths, or their Job isn't something they desire, then it's probably best to let them be. If you're looking for combat slaves, it's always preferable to choose slaves that at least look moderately motivated, if not greatly motivated.
You'll get a lot of this from Human slaves — particularly from the females, who don't want to risk their beauty or lives in the Labyrinths, and would rather be concubines or wives or household slaves to wealthy masters who have no interest in the Labyrinths. With other Races, both genders are eager and excited to fight in the Labyrinths or in other conflicts, having the strengths and prowess necessary to handle combat — even if they have anxieties about how they'll be treated by their future masters in the Labyrinths.
In summary, go for slaves who are definitely eager to dive in the Labyrinths, or are at least moderately motivated. If you're looking for slaves for household chores or labor, then find slaves who won't shirk work.
Tip #22: When Buying From or Selling To Someone Else, Do it Under the Supervision of a Slave Merchant
While you are free to buy or sell slaves with others, and only come to a Slave Merchant to switch names on the Identification Cards, it is still advisable to do such transactions under the supervision of your local Slave Merchant. It'll ensure fair negotiations without having to worry about being scammed or conned into buying a defective slave for more than they're really worth.
There will be people who'll try to withhold certain information about the slaves in order to sell them for as much as they can get away with, even if you're paying more than the market price for them. For example, info concerning Dragonkin slaves, certain diseases, troublesome habits, and other important information. As such, it is better to negotiate through a Slave Merchant so that you can be sure that you're not being cheated.
Obviously, withholding important information from a buyer is a serious offense, and can result in the seller having their Slave Contract taken from them along with their slave, or having to pay a fine of 50,000 nars.
Tip #23: Make Sure to Ask the Seller or Slave Merchant Questions About the Slave Your Interested In
When planning on buying a slave, it's always important to ask the seller or the Slave Merchant questions about that slave, or any slave that catches your interest. Questions pertaining to health, skills and abilities, Racial information, criminal record (or lack of one), education, price, and other subjects that you might want to know about that slave.
Not doing so can result in accidentally purchasing a slave with some unpleasant surprises. Naturally, you can complain to the Slave Merchant Guild or Knight Order, and they will punish the offender. However, it is your responsibility in the end to make sure you have all the available information presented to you. If you don't, then you're transactionally bound to pay the consequences of such a choice.
Tip #24: You Can Request for Interviews with the Slaves
Similar to what we discussed in Tip #23 and previous topics, you are allowed to request interviews with certain slaves that strike your fancy to find out more about them, as well as gauge their interest in being bought, their personality, and judge whether they'd be able to do the job required of them. You can also ask the seller or Slave Merchant for further information if you need to.
Keep in mind that there are slaves who will hide behind a persona that they feel will appeal to a certain client that they'd like to have as a master, so it's important to be discerning in your judgment towards such mannerisms. Which is part of the reason for the interviews.
Having interviews is particularly important if you're looking for combat slaves for your Party, in order to discern whether they will or won't become a burden or nuisance for your expeditions.
.
.
Author's Note: Hello, everyone! I wanted to do something different, and I collected all the information I could remember about slaves and slavery, along with auctions, and the transactions. I also expanded or even created parts that weren't in the franchise due to the lack of information and lore. I'm also guessing as to the market prices of slaves based on what little info we have on them.
If there is anything I've missed, or have additional information that I should add, let me know, and I'll do a second chapter if there's enough.
Thanks for reading, and I hope you enjoyed reading this.
— Harem Scarem