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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Silver Moon" data-source="post: 453816" data-attributes="member: 8530">Chinese Take-outChapter 34, “The Potion Auction”, September 18, 1018, 11:00 A.M. The group of Aradyn, Mark, Mojo and Toshiro decide that they should check out how one of the auction is run, and the Potions auction this afternoon sounds more interesting to them than the next day’s Jewelry and Gem auction.  They pool together their available funds, Toshiro coming up with 2,000 GP and Mojo with 4,000 GP.  Aradyn says that Cassie is currently holding his cash, and they decide not to bother her.  Mark says he has lots of cash, but only coughs up 100 GP.  They accuse him of being a cheapskate, and goad him into contributing more, with him finally coming up with a total of 500 GP.  Further harassment of Mark about not contributing his share is interrupted by Hiroshi, who points out that Mark has donated four large diamonds to the Gem & Jewelry auction.  Hiroshi says he has some spare cash they can use, and advances them 10,000 GP, telling them to “Buy whatever looks interesting.”The four arrive at the auction house, getting one of the last available tables.  They leave as their “deposit” the 16,500 gold pieces, and are told they can bid up to 100% above that amount.  All bidding is done in increments of 100 Gold pieces.   Only one person at a table can bid, indicated by their standing and announcing their bid.   Once a bidder sits back down their table cannot bid again on that particular lot.  They thoroughly enjoy the meal, but do not overindulge on the beverages provided, correctly deducing that the constantly refilled glasses are intended to increase auction bids.   The notice that there is a separate waitress for every two tables, and that the waitresses tend to be of the same race as the patrons at each table.   Their waitress is Heian, as the table had been registered in Toshiro’s name.The auction itself is rather interesting with six lots of six to nine potions each.   All of the potions are native to this area, and not the “standard” potions found back in their homelands.  While all eighty tables are occupied, there are only about twenty tables with active bidders.   The first auction consists of cleric-type spells and the lot sells for 8,700 GP.  The second lot sounds more interesting to them, with a mix of clerical and magic-user type potions.  They put in a bid at around 8,000 and stay in the bidding until it gets up to 14,000 GP.  The lot sells for a total of 17,000 GP.    The next lot is a magic-user type potion, but they are only interested in a few, so opt not to bid.  The lot sells for 9,800 GP.   The fourth lot has undead and necromancer type potions which they also opt to pass on, the lot selling for 12,400.  They begin to regret not going higher on the second lot, feeling that it had the best grouping.  “I guess it helps to come to the preview,” Aradyn comments.They then perk up with lot five, which consists of nine very powerful potions, of a magic-user variety.   These include Anti-Magic, which negates the effects of magic; Archmagedom, which boost the level of the mage; Childishness, which reverts the drinker to age five while still retaining their current intellect and memories; Creation: Boat, which when poured on the ground creates an ornate and well constructed sail boat, capable of holding up to six people; Dragon Armor: Silver, which causes a coat of Silver Dragon scales to grown on the imbiber and usable by any class; Eternal Slumber, an extremely potent sleep potion; Magic Enhancement, which effects spells being cast so that they are at maximum potential; Super Healing, a very potent healing potion; and Zorbo Finger, which causes the imbiber’s body to absorb the properties of whatever is touched.The bidding starts, and quickly exceeds that of all previous lots.  They jump into the bidding at 15,000, and stay in as it eventually doubles that amount.   At 31,000 there are still six potential bidders standing, but only two consistently bidding against them.   Their most adamant competitor, the thief-type who had also won lots two and three, drops out when the bidding exceeds 32,000.  The other competitor reluctantly casts bids in odd 100 GP increments to Toshiro’s immediate increase to even 100 GP increments.   The competitor finally stops at 32,900, with Toshiro going to 33,000, which is the most they had to spend.   They are declared the winners of the auction.     The final lot is a collection of silly potions, which only sells for 4,100 GP.  They think that some of those might have been interesting, but with no money left, pass.    The action itself ends rather early, as all six lots went as whole lots all in excess of the seller reserves.  They go to make payment arrangements, discovering that they have until the following week’s potion auction to pay for the lot and then collect the potions.  If not paid for by then, they forfeit the deposit, and the lot will then be resold.    “Gee, we spent twice what we were given, what will we tell the others?” Mark asks.  Mojo answers, “We’ll just tell them we traded half of the party for a bag of magic beans.”  Aradyn mutters, “Can I pick which half?”They get back to the Ming estate, where Hiroshi is getting ready to bring the gems and jewelry over to the auction house for the Gem and Jewelry preview.   In addition to Mark’s diamonds, Lannon’s rings and his own gems, Lono tosses in eight gems worth a total of 10,000 GP, which he insists on playing a fairly high reserve on.   Having reserved a table for this auction, Hiroshi says that he can bring up to four others with him to the preview.   Since Mark, Lannon and Lono have all contributed items they volunteer to go along.  Toshiro also wants to go, to which Hiroshi says, “Fine, we’ll tell them you are our expert appraiser.”  “I can pretend to be that,” says Toshiro.  “What pretend?” answers Hiroshi; “I trained you to take over my business.  Consider this a test of how rusty your gem appraisal skills have become during the past decade.”The five attend the preview, where each of the six lots are stored and guarded in six auditorium-style rooms, each room with seating of up to a hundred people.   Potential bidders are allowed one table at a time, to come forward and examine each lot.    Hiroshi has Lannon spend the entire five-hour preview staying in the room with their lot, to use his observation skills to assess the interest in their items.   The others check out the other lots, concluding that their huge diamonds are one of the two prime lots, the other being a lot of finished jewelry with many expensive gems affixed to the precious metals.   They stay until the end of the preview, and then head back to the Ming Estate.[DM note: The potions come from the article “Oceans of Potions” from Polyhedron Magazine #65 ].</blockquote>

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