As you settle into your seat and wait for the duck on stage to truly start things off, you decide to look around at your fellow auction goers. It's pretty unlikely that you'd actually recognize anyone, but it could pay to see who the movers and shakers in the magical world really are.
Intrigue Check: Which people look like they're important?
DC 100 needed: 52+14+38+10+5+7=126
Success!
Most of the people around you seem to be perfectly ordinary humans, or at least human-adjacent if their pointy ears are any indication. Even without knowing who any of these people are, a few of them have a certain air about them that sets them apart from their fellows.
One of the more obvious standouts in the front row was a dorky-looking guy with frosted tips that sat next to another man with a neatly trimmed beard and a bowler hat. You had no idea who he was, but Vanessa certainly seemed to!
"Wait a minute, is that Drake Stone?!" she says.
"Who the heck is Drake Stone?" you question.
"Only the most famous magician in the world! He's real?! I knew there was more to his tricks than met the eye!"
"Uh, yeah. That's kinda how magic tricks work." Janna commented dryly.
"Who's that British guy sitting next to him?" Vanessa asked.
"No idea. Who is that?"
"Old money and old magic." Xanatos responds.
Looking through the crowd some more, the next pair of figures that jumped out at you were a duo of oddly dressed individuals with pink and blue hair. Based on the way they were holding hands and making kissy faces in each other's direction, you figured that they were either husband and wife or on one of their first dates. You don't know why, but something about them just screamed 'warlock' to you. Possibly the air of bungling. (No offense to your ancestor.) They're several rows back, so they either got here late or got here without any influence. Possibly both.
Sitting a few seats down was some weird blonde businessman, and…
"Hey. Hey Xanay. Is that Monty Hall?"
"Yes, Mr. Hall has known about the magical community for several years now."
"Wait a minute! You're telling me Monty Hall learned about magic before I did?! What gives?!"
"Hrm." Russ notes to himself. "That was not in the briefing."
Monty Hall winks.
Other than him, there's a pair of redheaded women sitting in the rows behind you. The first is wearing a tailored business suit, and seems to be glaring at everyone as if they stole her lunch money or something. You have no idea who this could be, but based on the way Xanatos is pointedly avoiding her gaze, he seems to.
The other redhead is wearing a dark jacket, sitting a few seats behind you. Normally she'd fall under your notice, but for some reason there seems to be something off about her. Your ears are ringing a little, maybe she's gossiping about you behind your back?
Auction Mechanics
The auction will consist of three rounds, each filled with items of increasing value. Round 1 will contain three items, Round 2 six items, and Round 3 four.
Each round, you will be given a description of each item, and then make an intrigue check. A successful intrigue check will let you know if the item appears to be particularly sought after by anyone in the audience. If it is not, you can expect the next highest bid will not go too high above the base price; if it is, you can expect the person involved to spend considerably more than the base bid.
You have 30 total 'points' to spend on items (increased thanks to putting aside money). Each round, you may allocate as many points as you would like to whatever items you wish. All parties will submit a single sealed bid at the same time. If you win, you lose the points and get the item. If you fail, the points are returned and can be reused in the next round.
Round One items have an opening bid of 2 points, Round Two items have an opening bid of 4 points, and Round Three items have an opening bid of 7 points.
Round One
Beelzebub the Flying Broom
First on the block, flying forwards of its own accord, is an old-fashioned sweeping broom. It lands on the stand, yellow bristles parting gently, and you get the sense that it is preening.
"Ladies and Gentleorcs, I am proud to present the enchanted broom of my very dear friend Witch Hazel, who has recently decided to retire from Witchcraft to pursue her youth charity projects, sentimental old dear. Hazel is the finest enchanter of objects I know, and it really shows in this work. Not only can Beelzebub fly, as one might expect, it can also perform light housework, help with potion brewing, or even…" she squints at the paper. "Teach grouchy old tightwads the true meaning of halloween."
She shrugs.
"Oh, also. For 'moral reasons'" Magica rolls her eyes, "I am legally required to note that Beelzebub is selling its services here of its own free will and reserves the right to, I quote, 'do horrible things' to anyone that treats it poorly."
"Really, a broomstick?" Vanessa asks sarcastically. "Kinda stereotypical."
"Would you prefer a vacuum cleaner?" Janna replies.
Intrigue Check: Is anyone eyeing this item?
DC 100 needed: 32+14+38+10+5+7=106
Success!
Not really, as far as you can tell.
Unfunny Crystal Ball (voiced by special guest star Jay Leno)
"Welcome back!" The next item shouts confusingly as it's rolled out onto the floor. It's a green orb, about the side of your head, which makes sense, since there is in fact a head floating inside it.
"Well folks." Magica begins. "I'll be honest, I don't really-"
"Oh, Hildy, our Crystal Ball! We have to get it back!"
"We have to?"
"Yes!"
"Are you really sure Grimmy?"
"Ahem." Magica cleared her throat, trying to ignore the two irritating warlocks. "As I was saying. This magical crystal ball, in the traditional style, can allow you to look in on any unshielded location you wish! Er. If it's in the mood. And the reception is good. It also has a rather ahm, distinctive-"
"Now the thing about marriage is-"
"At first!" Magica yells over the weird object's continuing joke. "We thought it had somehow stolen the comedic talent of Jay Leno."
"-but her aim is getting better!" the orb finished with a massive grin.
"That was quickly proven false."
Well. Remote viewing certainly sounds useful… if you can bear this thing.
Intrigue Check: Is anyone eyeing this item?
DC 100 needed: 71+14+38+10+5+7=145
Success!
One of the warlocks sitting nearby- 'Grimmy', you believe- is looking at the thing wistfully. He seems to be the only one in the crowd who's eyeing it with anything more than passing interest.
Multiverse's Greatest Sandwich
The next item is a… quarter-sliced sandwich on white?
"A fun diversion for you folks! While I may not have regular access to the wide wide Metaworld of the multiverse, we do get peculiar items from time to time. Today my dears, I present to you: the Multiverse's Greatest Sandwich! That's right, this little piece of bread, meat, cheese and lettuce is, quite literally, the platonic ideal of a sandwich. Men have given their lives hunting for this sandwich, for some reason, but through the twists and turns of fate it has arrived here! Ladies and gentlemen, you'll never find a better sandwich, and it will taste all the finer knowing how many men were strangled by the plant abomination guarding it."
There doesn't seem to be a huge amount of practical value here, but you can think of at least two people who would like to have this.
Intrigue Check: Is anyone eyeing this item?
DC 100 needed: 63+14+38+10+5+7=137
Success!
A few people are looking at it simply for the sheer novelty of the item, but nobody seems to be seriously considering it.
Please vote in Plan format.
[ ] Plan
-[ ] Spend points on Beelzebub the Flying Broom
--[ ] How much? (Opening bid of 2 points)
-[ ] Spend points on the Unfunny Crystal Ball (voiced by special guest star Jay Leno)
--[ ] How much? (Opening bid of 2 points)
-[ ] Spend points on the Multiverse's Greatest Sandwich
--[ ] How much? (Opening bid of 2 points)
There will be a one hour moratorium on voting.
