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Message: <blockquote data-quote="the Jester" data-source="post: 1122321" data-attributes="member: 1210">The Auction of ShadowsThe Auction of Shadows is almost ready to begin.  Several guards, Glaxo the halfling shadowdancer among them, keep careful watch over the crowd.  The people here are a mean bunch, after a mean bunch of items; and the bidding doubtless will quickly run high on them.  Sheva glances at the first item on the block.  It is called the Box of Shadows, an ominous name.  She studies it from the crowd with one eye; it’s not too big to carry in one hand, and it doesn’t look too remarkable…“…I’m telling you, you can’t lose!” Cicero enthuses at her.  She turns back to face him, eyes narrowing.“Let me get this straight.  You want me to fight this Forinthian ambassador?”“No, no- I already have his opponent ready.  What I want from you-” his voice drops- “is to fight against the spies I’ve talked into fighting alongside the ambassador.  You’re tougher than them, I’m sure of it.”“Why,” Sheva asks drily, “don’t you fight them yourself?”“I can’t do that!  I’m in a delicate position, I’m in politics, I can’t go around fighting in arenas- only announcing the plays.  And besides, I’m not taking sides for or against Forinthia; I’m neutral.”“No, I don’t think I’ll help,” Sheva says.  Then they’re interrupted as the auction starts.The Box of Shadows goes first, and the bidding rises fairly high; it ends up in the hands of a weasely-looking fellow that nobody present recognizes, thanks to Clambake’s absence.  The second item tears 100,000 gp out of a mean-looking man; it’s a vorpal sword, an item of immense power, said to decapitate any foes that it strikes squarely.  Sheva briefly considers bidding on it, but laughs it off as being unrealistic.Then a hair of Galador is auctioned off; and this time, both Zeebo and Sheva frown at a face they know- Cluma, the Guardian of Order they’ve battled in the past and in Marius’ time loop.Finally, the Egg of Na’Rat comes up for bid, and Cicero moans, “I’m a fool to do this but it must be done!”  He bids upon it, and another outbids him instantly; and soon they toss growing figures between them until Cicero seizes the egg for the outrageously low sum of only 62,000 gp.Afterwards, the auction starts to break up.  Cicero asks Sheva to arrange for the Egg’s delivery later from the auction and then hurries away.  “I’ve a fight to conduct!” he shouts, and more than a few of the crowd follow him towards his arena.Next Time: The fight!</blockquote>

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