This post has potentially manipulated dice roll results.
On realizing the three in the room are customers, Kale‘s eyes narrow slightly. He is a little light on coin, after all. First he sizes up the woman in the mask. He quickly passes over her... anyone willing to wear the skin of an enemy... or maybe worse yet, a friend... is probably not someone to toy with. His gaze transfers to the masked man; it bothers him, that mask - not being able to see the face of whom he‘s dealing with. Finally it lands on the woman in the lab coat, the only one free of a mask... and wearing clothing with pockets he can see. „Excuse me briefly, ladies,“ he says to the others, and approaches the woman in the coat.
Bumping into her, he catches himself - and her - and gives her an apologetic smile. „So sorry, miss,“ he says quickly, his smile wavering. „I‘ve just recently arrived here, and... well, to say I haven‘t found my balance yet would be an understatement. I was wondering, could you tell me — where are the servicepeople attending to the auction house? Are they not usually here? And what, exactly, is being bid upon here today?“
On realizing the three in the room are customers, Kale‘s eyes narrow slightly. He is a little light on coin, after all. First he sizes up the woman in the mask. He quickly passes over her... anyone willing to wear the skin of an enemy... or maybe worse yet, a friend... is probably not someone to toy with. His gaze transfers to the masked man; it bothers him, that mask - not being able to see the face of whom he‘s dealing with. Finally it lands on the woman in the lab coat, the only one free of a mask... and wearing clothing with pockets he can see. „Excuse me briefly, ladies,“ he says to the others, and approaches the woman in the coat.
Bumping into her, he catches himself - and her - and gives her an apologetic smile. „So sorry, miss,“ he says quickly, his smile wavering. „I‘ve just recently arrived here, and... well, to say I haven‘t found my balance yet would be an understatement. I was wondering, could you tell me — where are the servicepeople attending to the auction house? Are they not usually here? And what, exactly, is being bid upon here today?“
A few rolls:
Deception: 21
while Kale checked out her pocket:
Sleight of Hand: 18
Perception: 13
Insight 14
Kale finds a badge to the Adamant Asylum in the pocket he checks out.
The woman in the lab coat seems suspicious of Kale, but just barely missed noticing him lifting her badge.
Lunastra followed after Al-Ashari, taking a seat on the bench beside her. She neglected to speak, with the awareness that she was not well-versed in social situations. Unlike her companion, the wet Firbolg looked quite out of place in such a tame environment, and she did not hesitate to allow the charming psychic lady to handle the talking since she was not familiar with how the negotiation was supposed to work to begin with. She only grimaced and raised a brow in response to the masked woman's info, clearly grossed out by her disturbing accessory. "Yes, we're new...although we didn't come here willingly."
She remained on edge, keeping a weary eye on the goods that were stored around the auction house. When the elf approached him—what was his name, Soleviss?—she stood from the bench and gave his hand a firm shake. She had to turn her head downward to face the bald, tattooed eladrin. Up close, her hand was fully covered in whispy, silver fur, her fingers seemed somehow more angular than normal, and her fingernails were sharp. Her hand was still damped, and water droplets glistened in her wild, white hair that cascaded down her ivory skin.
Her mismatched red and blue eyes softened conversationally, but they never seemed to lose that hostile glint even as she spoke in neutral tones. "I don't mind. Ask whatever you want...after all, we may need to fight for our lives in this place soon."
"Why, yes, who would not? It's so exquisite. And we are indeed newcomers here, but how could you tell?" comfortably continued Al-Ashari the mad conversation, "I do see you are an expert, though. Are there any rumours what can we expect to see today?"
The woman grins through the mask, clearly pleased by your fawning. "No one seems to know what today's auction is to be." She says after a moment though. "They are keeping it a secret for some reason. They usually let something slip, just so we know if we need to come or not, but not today. Suppose that's why the three of us are here today..." She glances to the other two on benches around the room. Turning back to you... "As for what shows you as being new?" She says with a smile. "That's easy, you are not crazy yet."
Whitegaze will carefully place the jar back in the box, "Huh, I wonder if these are what that lady thought were in her eyes... Or maybe they actually were in her eyes, give this place."
(How many other doors are there aside from the front door we came in?)
there is only the front door and another door behind the display counter. That door says 'Employees Only'
Soveliss glanced about at the venue then spotting the actions of the two humans, rolls his eyes and chuckles. "Such a quaint human custom...oh well." Glancing to his fellow companions, Soveliss approached Luna and offered a hand, "Lunastra, correct? Shall we head in together? I have something I'm curious to ask about you as it so happens to stand."
The tiny mire bird flies off of your shoulder, calling out... "Dead.. You all will die..." as it takes wing.
“I was trying to procure a new dagger for my collection darling.”
She says with a fake upper class accent. then with a flourish she waves her suit jacket open and you can see she has daggers strapped all down her ribs.
Hmm. Not quite so trusting, this one. Mentally preparing himself, Kale makes sure his smile falters uncertainly as he affects a subtly nervous mannerism. "I... I apologize, if I seem intrusive. I was just so relieved to see some sign of sanity in this place for the first time. I thought you might be much better company than the madwoman I met just outside who was convinced she was plagued by spiders in her eyes." He sighs and shakes his head minutely. "One for the doctors, that poor woman." Then, looking abashed, he backs away from the woman in the lab coat. "But I've troubled you enough... I apologize if I upset you, madame. I'll leave you to your peace now."
He considers making his way back over to Al-Ashari, but she seems to be engaged in some kind of intense yet crazy conversation with the ghoulish-mask woman, so figures it would be better to let them be. Soveliss and Luna are also paired together, as are Thursday and Whitegaze. Their reticent Githyanki, Inza, however, is still standing off to one side, alone. Frowning, Kale decides to remedy that as he wanders over. "So," he greets the other man. "Have you any thoughts about our situation so far? Are you perhaps planning on making a wish in that strange well outside, once you have the coin?"
If "mental" as in "crazy" - sure, otherwise the conversation was very open.
Al-Ashari did not comment on an obvious "if you know you are crazy, you are not that crazy yet", instead she smiled to the woman in the mask: "I have a feeling it will be amended soon. The place is pretty impressive but does make you dizzy - would you mind me asking about it? How long have you being here? Do you often see newcomers? Have you ever heard about anyone leaving that city?"
Whitegaze will take the opportunity to appreciate her figure as he replies, "For the better part of the last decade, killing pirates. Seems like there's an endless supply, but not the ones I wanted. In any case, perhaps we can find you one here to pick up as a souvenir."
Interupting your conversations, two figures come out from the door behind the display counter.
Mr. Fiddle appears as a short, grumpy old man with curly hair. He wears half-moon spectacles, and has a face in a state of constant grimace.
Mr. Blind is thin and gaunt. He wears all black, and uses a cane to feel his way around. His eyes are a dead white colour.
They carry a package wrapped in cloth, which they lay out on the counter with much to-do. When they unwrap it you find...
The book looks shabby and is in a state of disrepair.
"Well, well..." Blind says with a conversational air. "I see, well I don't actually see, but I sense we have newcomers in our establishment today." He nods to Fiddle, somehow knowing the other's location. "Please tell everyone about our auction for today..."
"Fine." Fiddle says with a grumpy huff. "A collection of short stories bound up in green cloth. This is the only surviving complete and undoctored copy of the Tales. The tales are fairy tales no doubt meant to entertain children."
Even as Fiddle is speaking, the woman in the mask gets up with a shrug and walks out. The man in the cloak and mask does so as well. Only the nurse remains.
"Not to Rosa or the stranger's likings then..." Blind says with a amused smile. "Well, Nurse Joy, at least you are staying." He turns his blank eyes to pan over the rest of you. "And you newcomers, what about you, interested in a strange book?"
"An unexpected lot, to be sure, but we just might look at it anyway," Al-Ashari smiled to the man and turned her eyes to the nurse Joy, allowing her to make the first move.
"All well and good then." Blind says with a knowing smile. "Before we start the auction, it is usually best to explain things for you new people... Fiddle please do so."
"Why are you making me do all of the explaining?" Fiddle asks with a annoyed grunt. He gives a growl of exasperation as Blind just continues to wait. "Fine... We don’t accept payment in anything so mundane as money. Instead, we require the bidder to donate their strength of character, will or intellect to pay for an item."
Kale smirks wryly. "I just knew they wouldn't be bartering in coin," he mutters under his breath. "Your asking price for our bids is interesting," he calls out to the two gentlemen, "but I'm more curious as to how one would go about collecting that sort of fee?"
"I feel exceedingly reassured by that statement," Kale says calmly. "Still, it's no small price you're asking for such a book. Would you mind terribly if any of us had a closer look at it? I expect we wouldn't need touch it, naturally, but I'm curious to see what's so compelling about a book of child's tales."
Looking at the number of his new friends against the single nurse, "Would such a payment be required from only the bidder, or would it be possible to spread out the cost?"
Looking at the number of his new friends against the single nurse, "Would such a payment be required from only the bidder, or would it be possible to spread out the cost?"
Blind answers the question. "Nurse Joy is a customer, she would not be doing the extraction." He informs you. "As for payment, as long as we get the amount agreed upon, we don't mind taking it from multiple individuals."
On realizing the three in the room are customers, Kale‘s eyes narrow slightly. He is a little light on coin, after all. First he sizes up the woman in the mask. He quickly passes over her... anyone willing to wear the skin of an enemy... or maybe worse yet, a friend... is probably not someone to toy with. His gaze transfers to the masked man; it bothers him, that mask - not being able to see the face of whom he‘s dealing with. Finally it lands on the woman in the lab coat, the only one free of a mask... and wearing clothing with pockets he can see. „Excuse me briefly, ladies,“ he says to the others, and approaches the woman in the coat.
Bumping into her, he catches himself - and her - and gives her an apologetic smile. „So sorry, miss,“ he says quickly, his smile wavering. „I‘ve just recently arrived here, and... well, to say I haven‘t found my balance yet would be an understatement. I was wondering, could you tell me — where are the servicepeople attending to the auction house? Are they not usually here? And what, exactly, is being bid upon here today?“
A few rolls:
Deception: 19
while Kale checked out her pocket:
Sleight of Hand: 15
Perception: 13
Insight 14
Kale finds a badge to the Adamant Asylum in the pocket he checks out.
The woman in the lab coat seems suspicious of Kale, but just barely missed noticing him lifting her badge.
Lunastra followed after Al-Ashari, taking a seat on the bench beside her. She neglected to speak, with the awareness that she was not well-versed in social situations. Unlike her companion, the wet Firbolg looked quite out of place in such a tame environment, and she did not hesitate to allow the charming psychic lady to handle the talking since she was not familiar with how the negotiation was supposed to work to begin with. She only grimaced and raised a brow in response to the masked woman's info, clearly grossed out by her disturbing accessory. "Yes, we're new...although we didn't come here willingly."
She remained on edge, keeping a weary eye on the goods that were stored around the auction house. When the elf approached him—what was his name, Soleviss?—she stood from the bench and gave his hand a firm shake. She had to turn her head downward to face the bald, tattooed eladrin. Up close, her hand was fully covered in whispy, silver fur, her fingers seemed somehow more angular than normal, and her fingernails were sharp. Her hand was still damped, and water droplets glistened in her wild, white hair that cascaded down her ivory skin.
Her mismatched red and blue eyes softened conversationally, but they never seemed to lose that hostile glint even as she spoke in neutral tones. "I don't mind. Ask whatever you want...after all, we may need to fight for our lives in this place soon."
The woman grins through the mask, clearly pleased by your fawning. "No one seems to know what today's auction is to be." She says after a moment though. "They are keeping it a secret for some reason. They usually let something slip, just so we know if we need to come or not, but not today. Suppose that's why the three of us are here today..." She glances to the other two on benches around the room. Turning back to you... "As for what shows you as being new?" She says with a smile. "That's easy, you are not crazy yet."
there is only the front door and another door behind the display counter. That door says 'Employees Only'
The tiny mire bird flies off of your shoulder, calling out... "Dead.. You all will die..." as it takes wing.
Whitegaze will turn to Thursday, "So, what were you doing before being brought here?"
“I was trying to procure a new dagger for my collection darling.”
She says with a fake upper class accent. then with a flourish she waves her suit jacket open and you can see she has daggers strapped all down her ribs.
“what about you big guy?”
Gash - Lvl14 Goblin Wizard - The High Court of the Aasimar Queen
Hmm. Not quite so trusting, this one. Mentally preparing himself, Kale makes sure his smile falters uncertainly as he affects a subtly nervous mannerism. "I... I apologize, if I seem intrusive. I was just so relieved to see some sign of sanity in this place for the first time. I thought you might be much better company than the madwoman I met just outside who was convinced she was plagued by spiders in her eyes." He sighs and shakes his head minutely. "One for the doctors, that poor woman." Then, looking abashed, he backs away from the woman in the lab coat. "But I've troubled you enough... I apologize if I upset you, madame. I'll leave you to your peace now."
He considers making his way back over to Al-Ashari, but she seems to be engaged in some kind of intense yet crazy conversation with the ghoulish-mask woman, so figures it would be better to let them be. Soveliss and Luna are also paired together, as are Thursday and Whitegaze. Their reticent Githyanki, Inza, however, is still standing off to one side, alone. Frowning, Kale decides to remedy that as he wanders over. "So," he greets the other man. "Have you any thoughts about our situation so far? Are you perhaps planning on making a wish in that strange well outside, once you have the coin?"
If "mental" as in "crazy" - sure, otherwise the conversation was very open.
Al-Ashari did not comment on an obvious "if you know you are crazy, you are not that crazy yet", instead she smiled to the woman in the mask: "I have a feeling it will be amended soon. The place is pretty impressive but does make you dizzy - would you mind me asking about it? How long have you being here? Do you often see newcomers? Have you ever heard about anyone leaving that city?"
Meili Liang Lvl 5 Monk
Dice
Whitegaze will take the opportunity to appreciate her figure as he replies, "For the better part of the last decade, killing pirates. Seems like there's an endless supply, but not the ones I wanted. In any case, perhaps we can find you one here to pick up as a souvenir."
Interupting your conversations, two figures come out from the door behind the display counter.
Mr. Fiddle appears as a short, grumpy old man with curly hair. He wears half-moon spectacles, and has a face in a state of constant grimace.
Mr. Blind is thin and gaunt. He wears all black, and uses a cane to feel his way around. His eyes are a dead white colour.
They carry a package wrapped in cloth, which they lay out on the counter with much to-do. When they unwrap it you find...
The book looks shabby and is in a state of disrepair.
"Well, well..." Blind says with a conversational air. "I see, well I don't actually see, but I sense we have newcomers in our establishment today." He nods to Fiddle, somehow knowing the other's location. "Please tell everyone about our auction for today..."
"Fine." Fiddle says with a grumpy huff. "A collection of short stories bound up in green cloth. This is the only surviving complete and undoctored copy of the Tales. The tales are fairy tales no doubt meant to entertain children."
Even as Fiddle is speaking, the woman in the mask gets up with a shrug and walks out. The man in the cloak and mask does so as well. Only the nurse remains.
"Not to Rosa or the stranger's likings then..." Blind says with a amused smile. "Well, Nurse Joy, at least you are staying." He turns his blank eyes to pan over the rest of you. "And you newcomers, what about you, interested in a strange book?"
"An unexpected lot, to be sure, but we just might look at it anyway," Al-Ashari smiled to the man and turned her eyes to the nurse Joy, allowing her to make the first move.
Meili Liang Lvl 5 Monk
Dice
"All well and good then." Blind says with a knowing smile. "Before we start the auction, it is usually best to explain things for you new people... Fiddle please do so."
"Why are you making me do all of the explaining?" Fiddle asks with a annoyed grunt. He gives a growl of exasperation as Blind just continues to wait. "Fine... We don’t accept payment in anything so mundane as money. Instead, we require the bidder to donate their strength of character, will or intellect to pay for an item."
Kale smirks wryly. "I just knew they wouldn't be bartering in coin," he mutters under his breath. "Your asking price for our bids is interesting," he calls out to the two gentlemen, "but I'm more curious as to how one would go about collecting that sort of fee?"
"Not a problem." Blind says with a nod in the direction of Nurse Joy. "The staff at the asylum has helped us with a device to do just that."
"I feel exceedingly reassured by that statement," Kale says calmly. "Still, it's no small price you're asking for such a book. Would you mind terribly if any of us had a closer look at it? I expect we wouldn't need touch it, naturally, but I'm curious to see what's so compelling about a book of child's tales."
Looking at the number of his new friends against the single nurse, "Would such a payment be required from only the bidder, or would it be possible to spread out the cost?"
Blind answers the question. "Nurse Joy is a customer, she would not be doing the extraction." He informs you. "As for payment, as long as we get the amount agreed upon, we don't mind taking it from multiple individuals."
"Sounds like an interesting deal, shall we begin bidding?" Whitegaze will look at his companions to verify they're ready.