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SPECIAL QUEST: AUCTION HOUSES

This mini log is for the Special Quest listed on the January 2025 MANTA Board. The IC and OOC timeline for the log is for the entire month of January, and players can play with the idea that things get more difficult later in the month as word spreads and auction houses become more difficult to access and deceive.

There have been recent reports of large amounts of inventory potentially related to the recent whale hunting and crystal statues appearing in various underground auction houses. They are hard to find and both Armadas are feeling heat from the public and higher officials: Corsairs for being suspected as the ones behind all this illegal trade and the Paladins for not being able to close this case out yet.

Both sides will either be working against or with each other depending on what they are assigned to do or how they meet, and suspicions will be high from both sides. Be careful!

There are multiple auction house locations, all with different inventory passing through but all are high end with only those in the know or of elite status will frequent. They are often held on remote islands, but some are clever enough to have them literally underground beneath venues such as casinos. Some are actually "innocent" in the sense that while they likely have illegal goods in their stock, they are not related to the whales and crystal trade. However, they still need to be investigated, and who knows? Maybe there are interesting items there…

Objectives: The following are objectives or assignments that members of each Armada can do in an attempt to infiltrate and investigate the auction houses to find the targeted goods and those involved in the trade. While listed generally, players can be creative to alter and change things to fit the style of the Armada. Working together or against opposing members is allowed.

"Security." Pose as a security member to guard any of these positions: outside the building, high ranking auction participants, storerooms where inventory is kept.
Buyer. Participate in the auction and try to win the item! Where the funds are coming from—not our problem.
Seller. Find something to be sold at the auction house. Is it actually worth something? Is it fake? Have to be convincing to get it on the list somehow and allow entrance into the building.
Other. Any other possible means to get inside the auction house. Just sneak in like a thief? Post as an inspector? A journalist? Crazy drunk? Be creative!
Raid. For those who don't have the patience or have determined that targeted items are there, just raid the auction house! Arrest, capture, or kill(??) them all!!! This might not always be the best option, but perhaps the chaos could create openings.

The following are items that one might find at any of the auction houses, but players can also come up with something else that could be interesting! If a player would like to claim or be part of a specific find or list something they made up, comment to this subthread.

🐋 Whale parts. From raw materials such as bones, ambergris, and oil to specific goods made from such materials such as perfumes, scented oils, wines, and furniture. Without a specific license of approval, this is all considered illegal and one of the main targets for this quest.

👤 Crystal statues. Encased in solid crystal will be animals and people who are victims of the illegal operations that started late summer. Are they still alive or not? Like the whale parts, this is the high priority target.

🫙 Potions. A number of different potion sets will be up for grabs. Their effects range from powerful healing to love potions to dangerous curses.

🦄 Creatures. Various creatures and beasts are a common staple for these auction houses. Sprites and fairies, golems, rare animals like the unicorn, or even dangerous monsters that can barely stay contained in their cage. Some of them may even resemble past bounties: horned dolphins, small carnivorous rabbits, mermaids. Some of these are legitimate, but many are fake.

📚 Forbidden Tomes. Various books that deal with ancient myths, legends, spells, curses, creatures—the topics will vary. There is even a limited edition signed copy of the hit erotic dragon fanfiction, Dragonheat. However, some of these may be fake and contain grandma's old recipes instead. Wait, that actually might be valuable—!!

🪈 Sound of Music. There are special instruments that are said to have special effects when played, such as talking during one's sleep, compelled to speak the truth, etc. There is even a very rare otamatone that only plays the song Thunderstruck. Music sheets are also in demand, some claiming the music could lead the way to treasure, or the notes are actually a secret code for something else. There is also a valuable antique music box said to have a haunting melody, the dancing figure seemingly able to move on its own…

🐕‍🦺 Commanding Collar. A special collar that when worn will make the wearer obey whatever their "owner" demands. "SIT BOY!" Handcuffs sold separately.

🗺️ Treasure Map Pieces. Treasure maps are common to find, but only a few are worth the gold the auction houses bring. Scattered throughout numerous auction houses are pieces of a treasure map said to lead to an "ancient treasure" that dates back to the time before the Flood, when the world had more land masses than water. Is it real or not? (A map CAN be formed, but it will depend on how many map pieces are found during this log!)

❓ Wildcard. For any other items that players may think of!

It goes without saying that any auction house that is selling either or both the whale parts and crystal statues will need to be shut down. How that happens, well. Guess it depends on who is there.

If you have any questions, comment here.

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[At that, he'll feel a trickle of her magic. Subtle enough that no one else will notice, but not so subtle that he will not know what it is or that it's hers.]

What if I did it right now?

No, too soon for that, love. You'll need to wait a little longer...

[He feels it and he'll just move his hand up higher up her thigh.]

Besides, who knows if there might be something else waiting behind it. Believe there are three more items on the lot.

[She was only joking—how else is she going to pass the time at this boring auction?—but she puts her winds away with a playful click of her tongue, and she nudges her knee at him. That, and she's feeling a little fuzzy-headed now, her cheeks warm like she's had a couple glasses of wine.]

Fine, I will wait until after. I must admit, it might have been a little funny watching it malfunction in front of everyone.

[A quiet chuckle as he leans more against her, fingertips now idly tracing lines around her thigh.]

It will be even better when it's in front of the person who bought it, hm?

[And while he doesn't have to really keep up the ruse as much, his lips still brush over her skin, dipping a little to her jaw.]

[ Raid was the only acceptable choice for Hawks. He waited until it was in full swing, his feathers vibrating from the annoyance and mapping things out. As soon as that got into full swing, he was there, helping facilitate arrests, although admittedly some of the fights have gotten to the drag out point.

Puppetmaster's warning is a lone feather that's scouting for him. He looks bedraggled, there's blood splashed on his uniform, although whether it's his or someone else's it's hard to say.

He has a large primary feather in each hand, leaving a trail in his wake. He's looking for survivors. He's looking for traffickers. It's a sore spot. He's wildly pissed off and trying to contain it. The tensing and relaxing of his grip on his feathers is the only outwardly indication that he's trying to get his emotions under control. He's angry, he's sad for the victims, he wants vengeance - but he shouldn't. He knows he shouldn't.

Coming into the room and seeing Puppetmaster, he exhales. Ally? He wonders. Their last meeting had gone okay, but that didn't mean they weren't involved.

His wings are as small as they would've seen them, about half the size when all is said and done and a few of his secondary feathers are floating around him instead, a wordless threat. ]

You aren't involved in this, are you? [ His tone is nothing like the bubbly one Hawks usually uses, nor is there a hint of a smile. His eyes are wide open, unblinking. He wants to be intimidating. He wants to be unsettling. His goggles are out of sight so he can stare down whoever he meets with his predatory gaze. Despite the shrinking of his wings, he's still holding them up, making himself bigger and more imposing. ]

(They almost don't sense the feather at all. It's a new thing that they hadn't been anticipating a need to look out for, given they hadn't expected Hawks to even be here at this particular auction.

Hawks himself though... they sense him, once he starts getting closer. The mind is familiar enough that they know he isn't one of the traffickers, or a worker coming to check on things, and so they continue looking through the inventory, picking up a covering to peek underneath and oh. OH.

They let it fall out of their hand when he enters, turning to give him the flattest look, except of course their face and eyes are entirely hidden behind that mirrored helmet.)

Do I look like I'm involved? (They gesture at their suit.) This is hardly the worker's uniform. Or are your eyes failing you? (Snappy, annoyed. Offended, even, at the idea that anyone would dare to think they'd be involved in this. Yeah, they're a villain, but there's villainy and there's villainy and this isn't the kind of stuff they do. There's a lot of sharp and crackling static in their voice.)

[He ought to stop teasing her like this. Between the light-headedness and her already wandering thoughts, he is playing a very dangerous game. She purrs at him, a light wind tickling the back of his neck in response.]

Not in front of an entire audience? Where is the fun in that?

[But she knows, and for what it's worth, she'd like to see the look on their faces when she quite literally blows it up from the inside out and scatter it at their feet. It would be kind of difficult to see it here.

There's a loud CLACK at the podium up front.]

Ah, it looks like it is finally over.

[The item has sold to another feline gentleman for the hefty price of seven hundred and fifty thousand, and Benedikta nearly chokes.]

[ Although he's scanning the scene in front of him, his eyes haven't moved. He hasn't moved. Hawks is good at standing completely perfectly still, when he needs to. Not like when he's just in a more relaxed state. ]

My eyes are fine. [ Yet, he sounds like he doesn't exactly trust Puppetmaster's words. When they spoke last, they seemed rather content with the status quo, and the status quo here happened to involve trafficking innocent people. ]

What are you doing here, then? [ He's suspicious, not entirely ready to believe their words. ]

[He glances over when the gavel sounds and his brows raise at the price followed by a low whistle.]

Truly makes you wonder what it's really worth... Or if there's something else about it we're missing.

[There's a mix of envy and congratulations towards the winner, and Tatiana is practically preening, clearly pleased by the results.

But all right, fun and games are over be supposes as he leans back. But he feels reluctant, even a little sluggish about it, as if wanting to continue... Even if this really isn't the time.]

(The status quo of not starting shit between the armadas without a good reason? That status quo? Forgive them if they'd rather not deal with whatever bullshit might interfere with their work if word gets around that Paladins are arresting people on Nogard.)

Same as you, I suspect. Take a look at what I've found.

(And, with a touch of angry and yet dramatic flair, they whip away the cover they were peeking under to reveal a "statue" composed of two people frozen in crystal, an adult trying to embrace a child in their last moments before the crystals took them completely, clearly unrelated due to both being a different species and yet doing their best to comfort each other in their final moments.)

[ One of his feathers shoots forward to press up against the statue and he doesn't say anything for a moment before shaking his head. Fuck. Not another loss. If he'd only known about this to begin with. Too late. He's always too late.

Hawks exhales. ]

They're already gone. [ He doesn't drop his weapons, but he does lower them and turn his attention to investigating a different box, accepting Puppetmaster's explanation. ]

[She mourns the loss like she does any other, chasing after him when he moves away, using the sound of the applause and surprise to mask the little noise she makes at him. She brushes her nose against his cheek, her lashes unconsciously fluttering, and she is hard pressed to lean back in her own chair. Instead, she is far more eager to get out of here, her body feeling both warm and uncharacteristically antsy that she has to wonder if this is something to do with that smoke that still billows through the room.]

I very much think there might be.

[She stares at him for a moment longer before she's watching the others.]

There is absolutely no plausible explanation for something like that going for as much as it did, regardless of who is doing the bidding.

I was concerned as much.

(No fear. No ominous feelings. Nothing to indicate that there might be a desperate mind trapped inside, unable to get out.)

Keep an eye out. (Now that he's here, they can concentrate more thoroughly on picking up those signs, as opposed to "listening" for approaching guards and workers.

Their armor doesn't give off a lot of bio signs, but Hawks might notice the weird way their posture relaxes, stills, for just a moment. Breathe in, breathe out, the armor turning the noise into the sound of a radio tuned to no particular station. Then they stiffen and immediately beeline for something at the back of the room.)

Something's alive.

Already got that covered.

[ He's got feathers in all kinds of places, he'll know if anyone comes from any direction long before they get there. It's a bit interesting that Puppetmaster seems to relax. Does he trust him that much? Seems a bit more odd in someone who he thinks is running in circles closer to what Hawks runs in, over being a total innocent.

At their words, several feathers dart in that direction zipping around until they find it, and a thick heavy tarp is grasped with two feathers and yanked aside, to make it easier for Puppetmaster to see the crystal. ]

(What they found isn't all that big, and they're not sure whether they're disappointed or relieved.)

Probably an ani-

(And Hawks rips off the tarp to reveal... yeah that's just a small and very ugly dog. It's completely encased and frozen and doesn't seem like it should be alive but it definitely is, if only barely. It has been mounted on a platform for display, making it look bigger than it actually is.)

[ Hawks doesn't care if it's an animal or a person, he's there in the blink of an eye, another suggestion that he's way faster than he looks.

He's already trying to break apart the crystal regardless. He's hoping for a happy ending, but it's not easy to get through, sharpened feathers or not. ]

(And well, the alarm at his actions is immediate and palpable.)

Stop! You're gonna make it worse! (The panic is enough to drop the usual dramatic flair to their speech, though the vocal distorters are still in effect, and they reach out to grab Hawks. There are specialized treatments for getting creatures out of the crystal. Yeah, you can scrape them off at earlier stages--they helped out with that--but just shattering it like this might break apart whats inside!)

[ Making it worse is the last thing Hawks wants to do, and he's a bit surprised by their grabbing of his arm, but he doesn't even glance at it. He does meet their eyes - well, where they would be with the helmet. ]

A specialized treatment? [ He exhales and then nods. ]

Okay...okay. [ He's looking at the crystal instead judging it in terms of weight. He would really be pushing it to carry it out of there alone. It would hamper his speed, without a doubt and he could sacrifice feathers to carry the brunt of it, but it would put his movement in jeopardy. ]

Yes. (They try and switch back to their usual way of speaking.) Both armadas have been working on the developments of cures for this ailment... though I doubt it's any natural sickness.

(They only now seem to notice they've grabbed him, and they let go of his arm abruptly, taking a step back.)

I don't... I am uncertain there is anything else living in here. Though the stocking appears to be in progress. (More living things might be moved in later, is what they're saying. Which is also another concern in that if people are currently moving things in, they probably only have a very limited time before another delivery is dropped off.)

Then I have to be fast. Fortunately, that's my specialty.

[ It's the only time since he's entered the room he offers a bit of levity with a playful wink, but he'll grasp the crystal and pick it up in his arms, beating his wings to fly, even indoors. It takes some of the pressure off. ]

I'm just going to take it out to someone who can help so it won't get missed. I'll be back before you know it.

(A nod. At least they don't have to deal with finding a way to transport the thing out.) I will ...keep an eye out for further developments.

(By which they mean they're going to find a good hiding spot--maybe get under one of the tarps and pretend to be part of a weird statue?--cloak themself in stealth aura, and watch and see what else gets brought in. If Hawks wants to, he can return.

...They can't believe they're doing this. This was going to just be a quick to check to grab any victims already there, but now they're committing to a stakeout? Goddammit.)

Thanks.

[ Hawks makes it look easy to zip out of there, but it's anything but. Strength is not his forte, not by a mile. It's heavy, but he's willing to suffer the consequences of carrying things for however long he needs to. It's his heroic mentality to sacrifice himself.

He's back in a minute flat, which would be far faster than anyone else, and admittedly he made up ground on the way back because the crystal weighed him down significantly. It's likely that Puppetmaster barely had time to situate themself.

The only sign that anything took a toll on him is the sweat beading on his forehead. He enters the room and glances around. Something feels out of place. He can tell something is out of place, but even pausing for a more thorough glance, he can't quite put his finger on what it is. ]

(Everything looks like it did before either of them entered the room, sans one missing statue... and well, one additional item under a tarp, but of course, no one is going to notice that.

Except Hawks nearly has. Is he some form of psy sensitive, they wonder? They've got a sense that his feathers are telekinetic, and they've noticed some interference. It would make sense: the sheer neural load his power should create is more than a typical brain should be able to handle, but they don't know much about how quirks work. If psychic talent exists in his universe, then why isn't there shield training? Dampeners? They know there can't be, because there's no way an agent like this guy would be allowed to go around without some form of protection from spying telepaths who could out him in an instant.

They'll let him scout around and try to figure out what's wrong with the room for about half a minute before they stand up, dropping the effect as they do so.)

You've returned. (More an acknowledgement than any sort of surprise. If they didn't expect him to come back, they would have fucked off with the money.)

[ Their instincts are pretty good, there can't be many psychic people in his world because that's not something that he's been trained for and thus remains an open book for someone who can read his mind.

While he's got a nagging feeling that something isn't right, he doesn't know what it is. Puppetmaster showing up out of nowhere does make him startle, and his feathers puff up from the surprise.

He totally meant to do that. ]

Yeah, that's me, fastest guy around. [ Another glance around the room, now it seems fine. Huh. Weird. ]

Nothing happen while I was gone?

I've at least taken note of the buyer, and I believe there will be some sort of display afterwards...so we still have some time yet.

Let's take a look and see what else they have. And if this sold for this much... One must wonder what the last item will be.

[Which is usually the most valuable product in the entire selection.]

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SPECIAL QUEST: AUCTION HOUSES

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