The Night Auction

[undergroundmods]

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The auction house
At exactly half past eleven on Saturday night, the auction house in Knightsbridge opens to its supernatural customers. Inside the elegant surroundings are a wide range of antique, unusual and plain odd items.

As midnight approaches, the seats gradually fill up. The auctioneer, a spindly pale-faced man in a waistcoat, calls for attention. Bidding opens at midnight and ends when all items have been sold or the sun comes up, whichever comes sooner. Let the bidding commence.

On sale tonight
Enchanted Necklace
A necklace which is enchanted to become a map of the city in which the owner is standing.
Starting price: £12

Monkey's Paw
The preserved paw of a monkey, able to grant every individual who touches it three wishes. Caution is advised.
Starting price: £20
Will be sold to Faolan

Runic Coin
A heavy silver coin for use in spell work, carved with runic patterns.
Starting price: £25

Skeleton of a Lady
The bones of a woman called Eliza, preserved by magic.
Starting price: £30

Antique Pagan Jewellery
A set of brooches, pendants, rings, and earrings made in honour of the ancient gods. In various conditions depending on the piece itself.
Starting price: £40

Vanity Mirror
An enchanted mirror that speaks, forever complimenting the person who looks into it.
Starting price: £50

Mogwai
This adorable creature is an extremely rare and unusual pet. The mogwai is nocturnal and should be kept away from water and sunlight.
Starting price: £50

Vampire Compass
A compass that always, without fail, points to the nearest vampire.
Starting price: £60

Bestiary of English and Welsh Faeries
A 17th century two volume bestiary of the lesser inhabitants of the Other Realm, with detailed and sometimes gruesome illustrations.
Starting price: £200
Will be sold to Gilbert Norrell

Antique Harp
Beautiful Victorian Stumpff harp with carved figures, in need of restoration work. Under enchantment.
Starting price: £500

Gleipnir
According to legend, a section of the chain that once held Fenris.
Starting price: £2,000

Notes
Bidding opens at midnight GMT+1 and continues until 07:29 the next morning! Note that while anyone can bid on any item, the items that are listed as being sold to certain characters are reserved for them to win the bid. The last highest bid in the thread at the point when the auction has closed will win the item.

When characters bid on the item, all they know is the description given by the auctioneer, as above. However, some of these items have other properties – both good and bad – that will not be apparent until after purchase. You'll find out what these are after the auction has concluded.

For more information, please refer to this OOC post.

Comments

[wolfmarked]

"You don't seem to have much regard for the fae." Of course, she says it with a small laugh. Because, well, it's quite an understatement. Still, it isn't an accusation. It's merely an acknowledgement, in its own way. "I admit-- I don't really have much of an opinion one way or the other."

Except that they'd been strangely active, something that unsettled her greatly. Still, as long as they weren't a threat to her, she wasn't overly worried. Other people could worry about them, so far as she cared.

Then, it struck her that manners might be of the essence, so she offered her hand politely. "Sofia Hughes."

[hurtfew]

Well, she has been polite and seemingly listened to him -- and she has been interesting. He takes her hand after a moment's thought.

"Gilbert Norrell," he offers in turn. "And I have very little regard for fae, Miss Hughes, as should you! The fae have a whole other realm of their own, and yet they have begun to take control of parts of London! They are tricksters and deceivers, with no regard for law or manners! If we allow them to be indulged as curiosities they will soon overrun us all!"

[wolfmarked]

"I keep my distance from them, but..." She shrugs her shoulders. It can be dismissed, likely, as either youth or some kind of pragmatism. Difficult to say, really. "As long as they're not bothering me and mine? I'm not in much mood to cross them, y'know?"

Skip bit her tongue slightly at the last word. There was the Irish girl, sneaking past her carefully trained posh Londoner accent. She had to check herself better. Conversation was no reason to get lazy.

[hurtfew]

The accent does not bother him -- for Gilbert Norrell is talking about a favourite topic now, the fae menace, and all his focus is on that.

"Oh, but they are Miss Hughes! Very much so! They are bothering all of us! Perhaps they have not reached where you live yet, but the fae have already made four claims in six months! Does that not seem dangerous to you? Is that not an invasion, if they are exiting their own realm to begin taking ownership of parts of ours? No! If it continues unchecked then it will be everyone's problem, for we risk London falling under fae majority!"

[wolfmarked]

"You make a good point." Because, well, that was what the man had to want to hear. And he wasn't entirely wrong, no. It wasn't anything she particularly cared about, not until they started interfering with her own personal way of life. "I suppose I've been distracted lately, with the losses within the werewolf community from the Blood Moon."

[hurtfew]

It is exactly what he wants to hear, and he likes her all the more for saying it. Enough that her aside is one he indulges instead of barrelling onwards with his own topic, brow furrowed in thought.

"I had heard rumours it was going poorly. It is a difficult time, I understand, with their power reduced."

[wolfmarked]

"It will be some time before we've fully recovered from the losses." She smiles, though, and bows her head a little. "Still, there is that much to be said for the pack's way of life. When something happens, they truly do rally as a community."

With fewer divisions than other factions she'd seen. But that needn't be said.