I really like most of the Beasts and Barbarians adventures but this one is really not my favourite. The backgroundstory is not explainend sufficiently, so that, as a gamemaster I don´t get a lot of plont point. Especially the reason for the existence of the McGuffin Crystal is poorly explained. I think with some editing this could be a much better story.

"Soul in the Water" is a 20 pages (+ Stats) adventure by Umberto Pignatelli for (the new edition of) "Beasts & Barbarians". The first part of this adventure takes place at Jalizar : however (unlike "the Crying Mother"), this adventure can be played without "Jalizar, City of Thieves", or even (though "Jalizar" is an excellent setting I recommend) adapted with little imagination to any other seaside city if Jalizar doesn't meet the requirements of your ongoing campaign. An old guy called Vanthar hires the heroes for a risky burglary : they have to retrieve some special item precious to him from the windowless mansion of Val Catha, a powerful sorcerer. Fortunately, this wizard shall be absent tonight, and will leave as usual his home to Wulf, his trusted warden. Wulf notoriously uses this free night for wenching at the "Headless Chicken" tavern. So, the plan is straightforward : a pretty female player (or some hired professional....) shall bait Wulf into a tavern's room, have him drink some drugged wine, and steal from him the entrance keys to Val Catha's home (all of this constitutes a very interesting role-playing scene !). Once Wulf slumbers into unconsciousness, the heroes have three hours to search through the mansion (GMs, be warned ! Once again,no map is given... surely you may need to draw one....), find the needed item, bring back the keys to Wulf before he wakes up - because the theft must be discovered as late as possible), and meet back Vanthar on his ship moored at the New Docks... Straightforward... but easy ? It's up to the players to have the final word !