« mini manta board log: auction houses »

[seaboards]

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.

Comments

[flamekthunder]

[LEONA LISTENS BEHIND, EUSTACE LISTENS FORWARD, THEY GOT THIS]

Hm... I'd say so. When I was looking around, I noticed there were at least one or two that seemed more alert and looking over the venue more than usual. Whether that will help us or not, however, remains to be seen.

[sunsetking]

It doesn't matter in the end.

[He frowns, ears twitching here and there.]

We just need to do what we came here to do.

[flamekthunder]

[He nods at that and looks down the hall.]

Then let's hurry. We have five minutes before the patrol passes through.

[sunsetking]

Lead on then.

[He'll take care of what comes their way to give Eustance more room to move. The dog seems like a more capable fighter than he is, anyway.]

Time's ticking.

[flamekthunder]

[With that, Eustace will just take another look and listen before leading Leona down the hall at a brisk walk, footsteps still kept light so as not to arouse any suspicion should anyone be nearby. And things will go well as the narrowly avoid that first patrol and head down another way.

But as they near where the goods for the auction are located, they'll be to hear and sense higher traffic, forcing them to slow and hide down a dark hall.]

...Something must have happened, they're tightening security.

[Was there someone else who fucked up?]

[sunsetking]

[His ears flick forward and Leona is quiet, listening. He clicks his tongue against his teeth softly.]

They're announcing there are some intruders in the area.

[A.k.a someone did fuck up. Horribly.]

[flamekthunder]

[He'll also click his tongue as he runs through the possible scenarios. He did account for this, so he'll glance down the hall.]

We can try and take advantage of the chaos...

[He looks at Leona.]

...And have you pose as my prisoner.

[sunsetking]

...

[A slow blink.]

If you wanted me in handcuffs, just say so.

[But. Still. He nods.]

I'm fine with that.

[flamekthunder]

[What. Same thing?? Well he's taking them out, anyway.]

...Keep your hands behind your back. I won't close them all the way so you'll be able to break out easily.

[sunsetking]

[He holds back a snort, but does place his hands behind his back.]

Good enough for me.

[His ears twitches as he listens to the sounds going on.]

[flamekthunder]

[And on goes those cuffs as Eustace pulls Leona closer as he hears some approaching.]

Let's go.

[And now just a somewhat gentle nudge to have Leona move forward. Whether Leona wants to pretend to go peacefully or not, Eustace will roll with it.]

[sunsetking]

[Fortunately or unfortunately, Leona is a lazy lion. Putting in that much effort in acting isn't something he'll do.

So, he moves along with the nudge, keeping his shoulders slouched and looking very much like a begrudging prisoner. Though his ears do twitch and flick when they pass by a couple of rooms, hearing a commotion from inside.]

[flamekthunder]

[He's also keeping a keen ear out, but for those approaching. Although some glance their way, seeing how Leona is clearly being taken in somewhere, they don't say much. So far so good...

But of course their luck will run out as Eustace tries to lead them closer to where the main area where the goods are and are called to stop. So there's a low click of the tongue as he stops. Seems to only be one person at least...]

[sunsetking]

[His ear flicks back at the click.

Leona is forced to stop alongside with him and he tilts his head a bit. Another guard. Just one for now, but they're coming closer now to them. See where Eustace is trying to bring Leona to. They're, apparently, going the wrong way.

His eyes narrows and he angles his head to look at the guard better, nose twitching.]

[flamekthunder]

[It was likely inevitable since they really were going in a completely different direction than what would have been normal.

With the guard now near them, Eustace just feigns innocence—or incompetence, rather. If he acts as if he doesn't know what he's doing that will lower their guard and make it easier to subdue them...which is likely what they need to do.

So which way he was supposed to go? Oh down this way. The guard will mutter under his breath as he leads them around a corner away from the busy hall...and into a rather empty one. At that point, Eustace will subtly let go of Leona's arms to give him some freedom before Eustace readies to take out the guard.]

[sunsetking]

[To his credit, Leona doesn't put up much of a fuss throughout the whole ordeal before grumbling and growling here and there. Considering it's just one guard, it'd be easy to take him out.

Especially when they're led to an empty hallway.

He flexes his arms a bit once Eustace releases him, his long tail swaying before suddenly wrapping around the guard's ankle to keep him in place.]

[flamekthunder]

[The guard lets out a surprised sound, but Eustace will be quick to shut him up before he shouts, slamming his elbow hard against the side of the guards face to knock him down the side.]

[sunsetking]

[Ow. Even Leona felt that.

With the guard now fallen to the floor and unconscious, Leona listens closely to other sounds, ears twitching.]

They're going to notice him missing eventually.

[flamekthunder]

Which means we need to move fast.

[A glance out.]

Grab his badge, would at least buy us some time to pass those who haven't seen you yet.

[sunsetking]

[Leona does bend down to snatch that badge, nodding to Eustace.]

Let's go.

[flamekthunder]

[Once Leona is ready, Eustace will glance out and now they'll have to move quick towards the hall where most of the inventory is held. Fortunately with the auction getting closer to start, people have moved, giving them a chance to make a break towards one of the entrances into the area.

But they need to be quick as they'll hear footsteps approaching.]

[sunsetking]

[The moment he hears footsteps, Leona quickens his own pace. It’d be nice if he could use his magic, but for now, this is the best he can do with the other man. But his nose twitches.

Oh.

Interesting.

He smells what he’s sure is a powder keg nearby.]

[flamekthunder]

[It seems Leona has noticed something, and while of wolf descent, he doesn't have the nose. So he'll look at Leona questioningly.]

[sunsetking]

Powder keg.

[He tilts his head in the direction of where it is.]

Can be useful.

[flamekthunder]

[...Aha. There's a small nod at that.]

Won't need much to ignite it, either.

[A subtle hint will be heard by the buzz of electricity and spark at his fingertips.]

If it can draw everyone out, then we can slip in. Should be long enough for us to release whatever is inside to create enough of a disturbance.