It takes a few moments for Sykala to grasp what Ixius is trying to tell her, "Yes. Esteban left jungle. Why matter?" As realization begins to dawn on her, "Is here?! Where?" As she spots him she explains to Jinx that he is not to be trusted, gets up, approaches him, and abruptly interrupts his conversation, "Why you here? Why you follow us?"
It takes a few moments for Sykala to grasp what Ixius is trying to tell her, "Yes. Esteban left jungle. Why matter?" As realization begins to dawn on her, "Is here?! Where?" As she spots him she explains to Jinx that he is not to be trusted, gets up, approaches him, and abruptly interrupts his conversation, "Why you here? Why you follow us?"
Sykala's path is blocked by the Chelish soldiers that surround the party Esteban has ingratiated himself with. Some of the thugs that guard the auction--mostly blood relations of the auctioneer because, if they didn't have a vested interest in keeping the auction alive, his unscrupulous cousins would steal the auction house blind--sense something is up and step forward.
"Sykala! So that was Zixuis I saw darting by just now. I'm lending my expertise to ...," he looks at the thug-in-silks in the centre, who glowers at him. "... to some friends."
With a look of obvious skepticism Sykala is too annoyed about Esteban's presence to pay attention to much of anything else.
Ixius is right behind Sykala.
"Why are you following us, Esteban?"
Jinx, completely comfortable now with the Druid he has charmed and befriended, not to mention spilled a secret or two regarding his master to, curls himself comfortably around her shoulders. As the angry woman confronts the man she says is not to be trusted, the fearless weasel looks on curiously, and tskskes at the man he has immediately taken a disliking to.
Korian, first sensing the excitement then displeasure of his familiar, followed closely by hearing Sykala's angry remarks, turns from his scrutiny of the items on display, trying to determine (1d20+6=8) what is going on to cause strange woman's anger. As the participants are only slightly familiar or completely unknown to him however, he has little clue on how to read them. The young mage is more than a little concerned about the disruption of the auction and the many undesirable aftereffects it could possibly have though. Casting a significant look at Ovirid, Korian moves over to the center of the commotion and says quietly to the fuming Druid "Is everything all right here Sykala?"
Most miss the slightly betrayed look the wizard darts at his familiar and the innocent but insincere 'I don't know what you're talking about' look that the weasel returns.
Casting a significant look at Ovirid, Korian moves over to the center of the commotion and says quietly to the fuming Druid "Is everything all right here Sykala?"
The dwarf raises his considerable eyebrows and shrugs his shoulders before returning his attention to the items on display.
He studies each item as much as possible, trying to determine what they're worth, what he knows about them, etc.
The thug-in-silks stands, flanked on one side by a heavily armoured half-orc and on the other by a man who you'd find remarkably unforgettable except for the coldness of his gaze. "I," the thug-in-silks says, "am Paracount Julistar of Her Majestrix's Expeditionary, sent here from the Chelish Empire. Esteban is with me."
He then gestures to the half-orc and the dangerous looking man beside him. "As are they."
He then waves to the six Chelish legionnaires behind him. "As are they."
"Now," he says, sitting back down and adjusting his robes. "You're blocking my view."
Casting a significant look at Ovirid, Korian moves over to the center of the commotion and says quietly to the fuming Druid "Is everything all right here Sykala?"The dwarf raises his considerable eyebrows and shrugs his shoulders before returning his attention to the items on display.
He studies each item as much as possible, trying to determine what they're worth, what he knows about them, etc.
Korian gently grabs Ixius by the arm and whispers to him "My friend, I do not know what grievance you have with this man, but perhaps it would be best dealt with at a more opportune time? Would you, then, be so kind as to escort the lady Sykala back to her seat?"
As Korian speaks to Ixus, he at the same time uses the man's body as a shield to try and stealthily (1d20+10=19) cast Detect Magic . When finished, under the guise of going back to collect Ovirid, Korian uses the oppoutunity to scan the items for magical auras, and is possible, what type they are.
Waiting for his Dwarven friend to finish his own examination, as they make their way back to their seats, Korain makes sure to sit beside the Ovirid so that they can compare information on the items. While there, he also tries to send an empathic message to Jinx to try and calm the angry Druid.
The very agitated Sykala at first refuses to budge but with some combined urging on Korian's, Ixius', and most importantly Jinx's parts she slowly backs away studying Esteban's new companions closely as she does so. Turning to Korian she says, "Man follow across sea. Want only much money. Is bad." Seeing that his attention is split between her and the displayed items she walks away muttering to Jinx that all these 'civilized' folk care about is their precious treasures. Looking for Fippen she tells him of Esteban's appearance before going back to her seat and watching Esteban's group closely.
Korian:
None of these objects give off a magical aura.
Your Knowledge (arcana) checks don't go to waste, however. You recall that during the time of the Four Pharoahs, cobra headed servants were often "pulled from the stone by means of magic." Also, the star charts remind you that astronomy influenced much arcanic theory during the time of the Four Pharoahs.
Fippin has been busy wandering among the crowd taking in all the sights of the auction. However when he spots Esteban he fades back into the crowd with a sick feeling in his stomach.
He hurries back to find Sykala and Ix.
Did you see? Did you see? Esteban is here? How in the nine hells did he end up here?
Ovirid:
Ovirid completes his perusal of the items, a thoughtful look in his eye, and turns to Korian. "'r ye ready? We should be fer comparin' 'r notes, aye?"
He doesn't seem to pay much attention to Esteban and his new friends.
Korian nods and moves back to their seats with Ovirid, quietly sharing all he's learned and avidly listening to what his wise Dwarven friend has discovered.
Paracount Julistar of Cheliax bids 100 gp for the small statuette. There's a murmur of surprise amongst the merchants. Few of them felt it to be worth half that.
Mainly out of curiosity at this point to see what the other bidders will do, Korian raises his hand and calls out just loud enough to be heard "150."
Paracount Julistar bids 160 disinterestedly and then the man known as 'The Crook Bearer' bids 175.
Korian first waits to see if there are any more bids paying attention to who they are if so. If there are no more bids, he waits until just before the gavel sounds, then says quietly once again "200". This is his final bid though and he will not pay any more for the item than that.
Ovirid leans over to Korian to whisper, "'r ye sure 'at's th' piece ye want t' be buyin'? Ah dinnae think it's worth 'alf 'at, 'n it dinnae seem t' be from th' right era. Jus' seems out o' place 'ere, t' be 'onest."
He continues, "Now, th' charcoal rubbings, Ah think we could be fer gettin' a good price from a collector if'n ye can get 'em fer less than 100 gp.
"'at piece o' bronze, 'owever, is big. It's from th' time o' th' Foor Faroze. Might be those 'ieroglyph can tell us somethin' about 'r destination, even.
"Th' scrolls on th' end 'r th' real prize. A collector 'd be fer givin' 'is eyeteeth fer 'em. Star charts -- very valuable t' th' right person. Mebbe as 'igh as 1000 gp."
The Crook Bearer bids 210 and takes the statuette.
Bidding for the collection of carved veinstone weights is fast and furious. Paracount Julistar opens the bidding at 200 but the Crook Bearer bids 300 before Julistar has even sat down. Before the assembled merchants and collectors can even raise their eyebrows, bidding reaches 500gp.
Korian leans in to Orivid, whispering "Thank you my friend, your insight and information are valuable indeed. I did realize that piece was out of place, but that is why it raised my curiosity. It occured to me that perhaps it contained some hidden secret..." Pausing for a moment, the young man seems slightly pained, before he continues " If our funds were not so limited, I would bid on everything, and the fact that some of these others are bidding so much for some of these items makes me think they may know something we do not." Sighing quietly, he continues with " But, as it stands, I shall have to save what precious gold I do have for those items of most interest to me, as for the rest...well we shall see." and at this last, Orivid is slightly surprised to see a fierce look cross the face of his long-ago friend, but it is gone so quickly, he is not quite sure he saw it.
Suddenly though, for some reason the Dwarf does recall to mind the profession Korian had been practicing the last time he saw him those many years ago...
Suddenly though, for some reason the Dwarf does recall to mind the profession Korian had been practicing the last time he saw him those many years ago...
"'ose weights 'rn't worth th' second bid. If'n 'ese folks know what 'r about, it's not th' value o' th' goods afore 'em. Always more 'an meets th' eye, I s'pose."
Fippin continues to watch the auction with curiosity. He tries to sneak through the crowd to more closely watch the folks that seem to be doing all the bidding- like the crook bearer. He doesn't really care if they happen to notice him, as long as Esteban doesn't see him, he'll just try to make sure they think he's watching the auction and not them.
Stealth/Perception:
Fippin continues to watch the auction with curiosity. He tries to sneak through the crowd to more closely watch the folks that seem to be doing all the bidding- like the crook bearer. He doesn't really care if they happen to notice him, as long as Esteban doesn't see him, he'll just try to make sure they think he's watching the auction and not them.
Stealth/Perception: 1d20+10; 1d20+8
The weights go to The Arch Docent for 750 gp.
Fippin senses that the purchase was made partly to spite The Crook Bearer.
The Arch Docent glares at Fippin suspiciously but then smiles insincerely and returns his attention to the auction.
The next item on the auction block is the charcoal rubbings. The first bid is made by a lovely young woman near the back row. She bids 20 gp.
Ixius returns with Sykala to their seats at the back of the auction.
"Keep an eye on him." he tells her, then goes back to the front next to Korian.
"See anything good?"
Ixius returns with Sykala to their seats at the back of the auction.
"Keep an eye on him." he tells her, then goes back to the front next to Korian.
"See anything good?"
Korian quickly glances back at the woman, trying to determine her true level of interest in the item, then quietly says, with little interest "I bid 25." After his bid, he unobtrusively looks around to try and notice any particular interest on anyone else's face.
Sense Motive: Bluff: Perception:
For his special signal to the Mithral Scarab, at some point when the bidding on one of the remaining items has gotten more fierce, Korian moves to stand up, then sits down as if he changed his mind, then quickly jumps to his feet, saying louder than he has spoken before " I DO wish to bid on this item! I bid _____"
The woman demurs and bows out of the bidding at 40gp. The bids for this item continue with several Osirionologists bidding 135gp. You can have it for 140gp.
Meanwhile, ...
The Bronze sculpture of the snake headed muscled man is lifted from its chest and the room begins to buzz with excitement. The Arch Docent bids 100gp. The Crook Bearer bids 200gp. Paracount Julistar bids 400gp.
Korian bids 500 on the statue , again, using his skills and consulting his friends to try and gain what info he can of his competitors.
Korian bids 500 on the statue , again, using his skills and consulting his friends to try and gain what info he can of his competitors.
One of the auctioneer's cousins brings the charcoal rubbings over to you. You get them now.
Without speaking the ancient dialect, you can understand her but there's some guess work involved. You know what she's saying but couldn't respond in kind. She said, "Do you speak Old Osirion? Can you read these?"
Korian:
:
Having said what he had to say about the auction's items, Ovirid pays attention to the woman addressing Korian, but he doesn't understand the language she uses.
Korian puts the rubbings safely away in his haversack which is securely tied under several folds of his Keffiyah. Thinking of security, the young mage summons Jinx back to him and has the weasel rest curled up on top of the haversack.
Polite but feeling a mix of fascination, curiosity and suspicion, Korian replies in Osirion
"I do not speak the ancient tongue, fair desert flower, but I am sure that with time and work I can comprehend their meaning. But you must tell me, how is it that you speak the tongue of the old ones?"
While Korian is indeed interested in the woman and her conversation, he does not even slightly let her prove a distraction from his much more important task of winning the final two items.
Korian bids 500 on the statue , again, using his skills and consulting his friends to try and gain what info he can of his competitors.
The stunningly attractive young woman watches with interest as Korian outbids the Arch Docent and The Crook Bearer. Paracount Julistar glares towards the back of the auction hall trying to see who is bidding against him. "850," barks the Paracount.
Spoiler:
"I do not speak the ancient tongue, fair desert flower, but I am sure that with time and work I can comprehend their meaning. But you must tell me, how is it that you speak the tongue of the old ones?"
Korian:
The woman coyly replies again in Old Osirion but Korian can follow:
"Perhaps I am one of the ancient queens reborn? Or, the slave of an emperor, eternally bound to search for her master? ... No, ... but you do have something I desire."
The woman breaks her gaze from Korian and turns to the group, switching to common. "You outbid me on the charcoal rubbings but perhaps ... if you need a translator, I could be of help. As an Osirionologist -- well, an aspiring Osirionologist -- would love to see those rubbings and I believe you would find my fees quite reasonable."
Korian simply smiles at the woman, indicating both his interest in her offer and his willingness to debate it further at a later time.
With the bidding heating up though he switches his full concentration to the auction. Deciding that this will be the moment to make the agreed upon signal to the Mithral Scarab, Korian stands up halfway, sits back down, then leaps up declaring "Yes! I DO want to bid on this item! I bid..."he holds for a moment, then says "I bid 1,000 gold!"
Before breathlessly sitting back down. He does not have to fake the flush up excitement and adrenaline which turns his face a darker reddish-brown.
"1 .. thousand .. 2 .. hundred .. and 50 .. gold pieces," says Julistar slowly and deliberately.