Grigori Reveal Extra Prize in Grigori Auction in 3 Hours
To up the ante, a single set of Mithil equipment (sword, shield, and armor) will be given to the winner of the auction. A single set of mithril won't make a strategic difference in a war, but it will make a single champion or hero that much more effective.
The value of mithril wildly fluctuates, making it impossible to accurately price in gold, but an excellent piece such as this is surely a prize worthy of a national champion.
And remember, the auction will be in Erebus Chat in 3 hours from this posting.
The First Grigori Auction
The Golden Goblin was the first gambling hall of the Grigori, built in the northern region of the former clan conquests. The region has recently become wealthier after the recent discover of gold and silver deposits in the Barrier Mountains, and the Golden Goblin was created to capitalize on the benefits. Though Cassiel disapproved of the construction and has seen to it that it is heavily watched and taxed, the local government has had popular support for the revenue it has brought in (and the occasional riches it gives out).
It was the idea of the head of the Golden Goblin, Saul Vancaskerkin, to hold the auction. Saul himself is said to have purchased the set of mithril in question, in hopes to draw attention.
But tonight was a meager turn out, to say the least. The Grigori, as the hosts, were forbidden to bet. Their Malakim vassals were also watched with distrust, to prevent collaboration.
All that showed up were a few individuals and representatives. A few intoxicated nobles betting with their own fortunes, a Lunan captain, and a few representatives for greater interests. Small-time, for the most part. The only nation to send a representative were the Sheaim.
Saul pretended not to notice or care of the paltry turnout. He hadn't expected everyone come to the first one: rather, this was the chance to gather interest. The chest was modest, but the mere mention of 'mithril' was sure to catch eyes.
"Ladies and Gentlemen of all races, welcome," he said, gathering attention to himself. The slight crowd in attendance stopped talking, or at least quieted, to listen.
"Thank you for coming to the Golden Goblin," he continued. "I see that some of you have already enjoyed yourselves already, and have made yourselves rich tonight. Others have not, but do not fear! The night goes on! Your chance remains, if you are but bold."
"Tonight is the night of the Grigori Auction! An unusual and thrilling style of auction, in which great prizes are for offer for nearly nothing, but both the top two participants bound to pay! It is drama and opportunity together: will you match your foe to claim the prize yourself, or will you be content to pay out for nothing?"
"Tonight's prize is may seem bizarre: a chest of Chislev Gold, plundered from them by our brave armies. Bid gold for gold, you ask? Perhaps for the mithril weapon, but you can buy one such as it for fifteen Gold anyways, and what would be the point? That leads us to the remarkable aspect of the Grigori auction, it's few and basic rules."
"First, participants are allowed to bid whatever they wish on the prize. You can raise as high or little as you wish, though you can not lower a bid once made."
"Second, and most enticing, is that the highest bid will claim the prize. Even if that bid is a mere 1 Gold, we stand by our promise to deliver the prize to the highest bidder."
"Third, and this is where the drama comes in, both the highest two bids will pay, though the prize only goes to one. The fourth rule is that a bid may not be withdrawn: players must announce themselves and forward the gold to make a bid."
"Fifth and final, this auction will end only when no one wishes to raise the bid anymore."
"That is it, ladies and gentlemen. Who shall place the first bid?"
There was a pause, and then a near rush as the lesser nobles all rushed to put in one Gold, then two, and other paltry amounts, each raising the number by the smallest amounts. Most merely watched as each tried to claim the 100 Gold chest for paltry amounts that each could match.
It was when the count reached nine that one of the previously silent players stepped forward. He was a lizardman who had not played any of the other games of chance so far, waiting for this night.
"Caqui bids fifteen Gold," he announced, depositing the money to his handler. There was a moan of disappointment from the lesser richmen who were already passed, though they had had no real chance regardless.
The lesser players muttered and groaned, and Saul looked around into the silence of higher bids. He was clearly nervous that his house stood to lose so much.
"Fifteen Gold to Caqui," he said. "Anyone else?"
There was nothing, and Saul forced himself to close the deal. "The winner," he said, "for fifteen Gold, is-"
"Twenty Gold," said another voice, clearly waiting so long to drive the man into conniptions. It was the Sheaim representative. "Os-Gabella and the Sheaim bid Twenty Gold."
He didn't appreciate the joke at his expense, but he was glad at the continuation. "Twenty to the Sheaim."
"Twenty-three," said Caqui.
"Twenty-five," returned the Sheaim.
"Thirty-five!" boomed a voice.
The audience turned towards the door, where another had walked in. He was an Orc, a a veteran of the Clan of Embers by his tattoos. "In the name of Jonas, I bid thirty-five Gold, and my apologies for arriving late."
At a nod of Saul's head, ushers and attendants guided the Orc to a station and brought him refreshments.
"Of course," Saul said easily, "and welcome. Thirty-five gold for Jonas!"
"Captain Formuna for thirty-eight," said the Lunan captain in his chair.
"The Laughing Man bids forty," said a figure hiding behind a Balseraph mask. It was impossible to tell if he was a she, or even human. The clothes 'he' wore were too extravagant and all-covering to tell.
"Caqui bids fourty-two."
It climbed thus. Captain Formuna dropped out after a final bid of fifty. Saul didn't mind too much, because the Captain turned his money towards the more traditional gambling entertainments. When Os-Gabella's representative dropped out at fifty-four, Saul wished her well. The House had already come close to breaking even.
What was left was the final three, individuals all: Caqui, the Laughing Man, and the representative of Jonas. Each was holding a small fortune, enough to equipment a considerable force. Two of them would have to pay.
"I bid fifty-seven Gold," challenged Caqui.
"Fifty-eight," returned Jonas's man.
"I fold," said the Laughing Man, surprising those involved. In the previous stretch, he had been amoung the most aggressive at driving up the price. Now, beaten by both of the others, he retired with his money.
Saul was annoyed at the timing, but not upset. The House had broken even, and the final two were still bound. It seemed clear, though, that they had differing desires: Caqui had twice checked the monetary value of the mithril, and asked about selling it back to the House. The representative of Jonas, on the other hand, clearly had his eyes fixed on the mithril set itself. Had they pooled their resources and split the prize...
Perhaps the Laughing Man had realized that was likely, and withdrawn when he did. He would have lost regardless, but now he lost nothing.
"Sixty-one for Caqui, and a request for a short break," said the Lizardman.
"Sixty-twofor Jonas," matched the Orc before the second part had come clear.
Saul considered. It was obvious that Caqui had sent a message to the orc. It didn't take a genius to figure that it was an offer to cease now and split the prize: likely something close to 'Give me X amount of Gold, and I will stop now.'
"Granted," Saul said. The rules of the House were clear: any bidder could ask for a break. But he wasn't surprised when Caqui ceased bidding when they resumed.
"Are there any other bids?" asked Saul, though the answer was already known. No one proved him wrong, and he ended the auction.
"Then the auction is decided: the winning bid is sixty-two Gold from Jonas, for the prize of One Hundred Gold and a set of Mithril equipment. The second highest bid was sixty-one Gold from 'Caqui.' Will the winner pleace collect his prize?"
They didn't even try to hide that they had cooperated: Saul watched as the Orc carefully counted seventy Gold and gave it to the Lizardman. A little math in his head, remembering that he had bought the set of Mithril for 15, and...
Saul smiled. Tonight wasn't as rich as it could have been, and it had been a very modest start. But it had been a good start. Maybe next time would be far more profitable, and with better prizes.
---
Review:
The Grigori House made a net profit of 8 Gold from the auction.
Caqui had made out an additional 9 Gold from the deal he struck with Jonas's representative.
Jonas made a net loss of 32 Gold, but gained a full set of Mithril. Jonas can pick it up if/when he comes to the Grigori lands.
