Alrute, Biltar, and Torvald Nom, prisoners of Nathii slavers in the town Silver Lake of northwestern Genabackis, were chained and shackled to a long, large log in a filth-filled trench in a warehouse basement - a trench which was intended for the sick and dying. Alrute and Biltar were unconscious and approaching death by starvation and ill-treatment when the group was joined by Karsa Orlong. With Torvald's encouragement, Karsa was able, with great difficulty, to maneuver the very heavy log so as to give Alrute and Biltar a quick and merciful end to their suffering.