Raistlin, I've learned this from Valen and at the start of each game, before Jon walks in and do the speech the screen is all dark, right? Before you hear your character does his/her death scream, hit spacebar (aka pause the game) and you will be given the opportunity to access your inventory. If your character is import from prior games, you will have all of your inventory along with your PC. The key is drop everything on the ground, then return to game and unpause. The screen should start to clear up and you will see Jonny boy walk in and does his little speech, "Ah, the child of Bhaal has awoken...blah blah blah". Once Imoen rescues you, just pick up your items that you have dropped at the very beginning of the game. (There!! Clear as mud??
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Long live H22A1!!!!!