ToME: the Tales of Maj'Eyal

I stepped on an alarm trap in the assassin lord's room... and all of them, lost merchant included, started running at me. This was before I talked to anyone.

That seems to be more or less the idea of alarm traps.

Funny thing is - from a merchant rescuing perspective triggering the alarm seems to be a safer option since they apparently ignore him until you speak to the chief assassin .

But since the Assassin Lord is running at me, He'll speak to me!

And the merchant will too. several times.