Letter 33: The Masquerade, The Auction, & The Auspicious Fortune

General Summary

Mother,
We still had not gotten to the auction part of the masquerade ball. All of us making connections, understanding…well…understanding the battlefield. It was supremely unfamiliar terrain with unexplored risks and unknown players. I glanced about the room, taking in the menagerie of costumes and personalities. I took a breath, remembering my mission.
As I made my way over to The Eagle, Ingoria crossed the room. She moved with purpose, glancing furtively at The Pale Lady. Delivering the letter!
That must be it!
I paused, watching her without directly watching her. I was very interested in the intricacies of the card game before me. Apparently the players chose a color, or “suit” to play for…or against…or something? Seemed like something Alyonna would use to get gold pieces from me. The rank of the cards was obvious, but when playing a higher ranking card of a different suit…actually I didn’t care. Ingoria strode over to a pillar and stood to the north, opposite The Pale Lady. She got the letter out… but without touching it herself: it just floated away from her bodice. She pretended not to notice. The letter moved unhesitatingly up the pillar. I had to turn my back to keep from craning my neck following the letter; the urge was incredible.
Turning back, I glanced at The Pale Lady and saw the letter making its way down the wall behind her, around her side, and directly into her hand. She was slightly startled, but not entirely …surprised. She looked about the room, trying to determine the sender, her gaze finally returning to rest on the letter in her hand; she was clearly unsuccessful: sender unknown.
With a barely perceptible shrug she hid the letter under her cloak. Task one complete. Our remaining tasks were: win the journal, keep The Mask from winning either bottle of wine, learn the identity of the winner of the hammer, and spray the perfume.
I looked back to the gambling table. The knights apparently had a certain amount of superiority against queens of another suit, but only when…
Ingoria crossed my line of sight, headed to the bar, probably to get a drink after her successful mission. She got her drink, sipped, and moved back across the room. A servant approached The Pale Lady, gestured, and walked away. The Pale Lady followed the servant up the stairs leading to the poet. I’m allowing myself to be distracted. Back to my own mission. The Eagle.
I glanced over at the ‘Baxi, the one telling fortunes, and paused. That seemed far more interesting than The Eagle. Gazing back, The Eagle sat at the bar with Baermak, engaged in an intense conversation. The Eagle could wait.
Getting my fortune told had risen to the top of my agenda. Distraction or not, it was far more interesting than some subaerial taking on plumage in a name. However, Ingoria had apparently come to the same conclusion: when I turned back she was already sitting with the fortune teller! Leaning in close, they surely spoke of home, family, and long travels.
Baermak continued his conversation with The Eagle, so I watched the card game. Interestingly, queens and knights of the same suit had superiority over kings, but only of the same suit as their pair…
When Ingoria finally got up, I sidled over and sat with the ‘Baxi fortune teller.
Her fur was completely black but for some white spots on her face. She welcomed me and complimented my costume. I told her that it still surprised even myself, and I could see her subtly taking deep breaths, nostrils widened. She was smelling me. She could surely tell that I actually was a Person, if she’d ever smelled a Person before. If not, she at least knew that I was not anything she had sensed before.
I needed a question for the fortune, so I told her mine. She dealt nine cards and asked me to choose one, which would guide and inform the reading. I chose the card at the center of the nine: The Empty Throne. She told me the card represented loss, but not just loss…significant, palpable loss. However, those who are gone have taught us lessons…if we choose to listen. The card also represented information from far away, both geographically and in time.
Father?
She then shuffled the entire deck, including The Empty Throne, and dealt another nine. This, now, was the reading. The top row represented positive outcomes, the bottom negative, the center neutral. The left row represented the past, the right the future, and the center the present.
For the past I flipped The Peacock over, which indicates a magnificent beauty, or perhaps ugliness. One or the other. But the card was not in an important position, so we mostly ignored it.
Then I drew The Cyclone, also not in a position of importance, though it did indicate a great deal of destruction. Not destruction caused by nature, contrary to the image on the card, but destruction caused by people.
Next were The Crows. They indicated a violent taking of that which is loved. Murder, theft or other losses. This card was a partial match. Not strong, but certainly impactful. And yes, mother, this was relevant to my question. Extremely.
For the present The Trumpet appeared in a partial position, declaring power. It indicated a person who is a force of aggression, wading without hesitation into dire situations because they have a righteous cause. Righteous indeed!
Next I had The Owl, representing wisdom, but not in a strong, relevant position.
Last: The Winged Serpent in a position of power, but misaligned. It acted as a bridge between knowledge and prudence, representing knowing the right time to strike. The misalignment meant that either the moment was not being seized, or you were taking action inadvisably.
So far all of the cards had wings or were bird themed, except for the cyclone, which was swirling air.
Looking to the future, The Big Sky appeared first, as a match, a strength card. It represented momentous and powerful change, shackles being thrown off. A very positive indicator for my question.
Next The Tyrant, but not in a relevant position.
Finally I drew The Demon’s Lantern, also a true match. It reflected traps and tricks. The three orbs illustrated on the card represented lures drawing you into those traps. Being in a position of power equal to The Big Sky, the ‘Baxi told me that it indicated that even if I get what I want, there may be great danger and high cost. I smiled.
So in my past was a violent taking. Indeed.
In my present a great and powerful force of aggression with a righteous cause, charging into danger without fear! The Winged Serpent clearly meant that the moment was not being seized, which is easily rectified by a righteous force!
All leading to shackles being thrown off! This was my future, and I wanted to waste no time achieving it!
I thanked the ‘Baxi and rose, ceding my seat to another guest, dressed all in blue and looking anxious.
Digesting the momentous information, I leaned against a column and cast my gaze around the room.
Vessyr chatted with The Cuckoo, and they seemed to be talking about The Cuckoo’s costume. Pretending to be a Person. Vessyr pointed at various contraptions, and The Cuckoo showed him the intricacies of the mechanisms.
Alyonna sat next to the guest that Ingoria had been engaged with earlier, and they seemed to be getting along quite well. Alyonna occasionally touched his arm, pinched his lapel, patted his hand. She seemed…very interested. She acts as if she is so young when she is even older than you, mother! As I watched them, Baermak crossed in front of me, headed up the stairs.
As I watched him ascend a servant came down the stairs and stood at attention behind Alyonna’s companion, who immediately stood, excused himself, and followed the servant back up the stairs.
I finally found my way over to The Eagle and made small talk. After complimenting his costume (and he mine) I offered my hand. He shook it, and, as expected, did the strange handshake. But this time I was ready. And this time I got it! I knew I had it!
Without being rude, I wound down the conversation and headed to Baermak. I had seen him shaking the same hands, and was sure he would have noticed the strangeness, so I introduced myself as if we had never met and shook his hand. I, of course, did the strange handshake. A smile of recognition crossed his face–very briefly, but I saw it. He agreed that it was the same handshake, so I showed him how to do it.
Next I wanted to speak with The Pale Lady. Just…just to… I glanced over to her corner, and there she stood again, returned from whatever the servant had led her to do.
As I turned from Baermak The Mask passed behind me in great haste to the Ballroom. The Pale Lady looked out impassively, and seemed anchored, so I disengaged and followed The Mask to see what drew his attention; a very elegant subaerial entered with a slight limp, fashionably extremely late. A mask obscured her face and she was covered head to toe in diamond studded white, a cloak covering even that. Vessyr approached her, but she turned from him with a dismissive gesture of her hand.
I smiled. I would have to try that with Vessyr the next time he tried to talk to me.
Though he never really tried to talk to me. But if he did…
I returned to the casino and noticed The Pale Lady discreetly watching me. As I watched her.
Perfect!
I casually made my way to her and she gestured a greeting in return of my nod.
I smiled. “It’s very nice to see you here.”
She acknowledged with another gesture, I bowed slightly and made my way back to the stairs.
Vessyr sat with the ‘Baxi getting his fortune. The look on his face seemed to indicate that the fortune was not going well. Though, mother, he mostly had that same look on his face all the time. So maybe it was actually a good fortune and he was mad about that as well. Good or bad, Vessyr was likely mad.
Good fortune? Vessyr was mad about it.
Good food? Vessyr was mad about it.
Good reason to be mad? Vessyr was mad about that too.
But that is his own view. “If you dream of fish, fish you will get.”
When Vessyr got up, Alyonna sat down. She stared very intently at the cards presented and it was extremely challenging not to stay and overhear. I did go up the stairs quite slowly, as close to her table as I could get, catching bits and pieces of their conversation. Looking over the bannister I saw that she also had The Owl, but I didn’t recognize any other cards.
“...a position of power…”
“...new information…”
“...unpleasant card in an unpleasant position…”
“...very dark place…”
At that I began to feel uncomfortable, spying on a friend. Friends don’t do that. I looked away.
The big players seemed to be accumulating in the green room. The auction must be nearing!
As I scanned the room a group of dwarves appeared. Five well-armed dwarves escorted another dwarf who carried what appeared to be a very nice bag of holding. The maitre de appeared and rang a small gong just once. The note resonated clearly and cleanly, hanging in the air as we all gathered.
Alyonna had finished hearing her fortune and stood near the entry. She looked at The Mask and I could see her face…harden. She looked down at her feet, then back up again, determination in her eyes. She had resolve. She knew what had to be done. She walked with great purpose to The Mask and engaged in a quite … intimate conversation. He was clearly pleased with the direction the night had taken. They chatted for a bit, getting closer together at every word. He looked around the room, making sure that everybody saw what was happening, and the two of them headed up the stairs together.
I took a deep breath.
This was not something I could have done. I wished she hadn’t had to do it either. It guaranteed that he wouldn’t get either bottle of wine. And she had agreed. Albeit reluctantly. Still, she was an adult.
Shortly after they disappeared the auction began. First up was a sword…a flaming sword! I bid on it, mother, right away! But it got too high too fast and ended up selling for over 400 platinum.
Next was a Dwarven liquor in which I had absolutely no interest. There was a minor bidding war for this, and it went for far too much platinum.
Seeing the intense attention of the crowd, Baermak took the opportunity to slip out. Heading up to the apartments!
Our wine appeared next. The crowd was incredibly engaged at this point, with heads turning and a current of murmurs. People were looking for The Mask! Everybody knew that The Mask wanted this wine, but…The Mask was not present! I knew where he was. Hah!
Prescott easily won the auction for 375 platinum, and was extremely pleased.
The auctioneer then announced another liquor, which initially did not interest me in the least, except this one was from the Gray Ghost. Who was Vessyr. Glow. Surprisingly, heads turned (as did mine). Some of these people knew exactly what this was. The bidding was intense, with several people obviously keen on acquiring the glow, and everybody else wondering why this vintage was so desirable.
It sold for 5,600 platinum.
This place, mother, this place is insane.
The journal appeared next. A great murmur spread throughout the room as the auctioneer elaborated on the fame and renown of the author, building anticipation with every word! Even I wanted to read his works. So I bid on it! The Pale Lady also wanted it…but not as much as I did!
I feigned casual interest, thinking heavily before each bid and finally deciding that I must, indeed, heavy sigh, bid again. If only Alyonna were here! She reads these books. I find no interest in these works of silly fiction, but she does, and she would find no end of enjoyment watching me bid on this journal.
I could see Ingoria watching me intently as I continued to bid again and again, finally winning it for 1,700 platinum! Two objectives for sure achieved!
The other bottle of Fallen Leaf appeared, which The Mask was, again, not at hand to even bid on. Three objectives achieved! Then more bottles of other wines, and then, finally, the Hammer of Arnakk.
This we didn’t actually need; we only needed to know the identity of whoever won it.
The Eagle, The Diva, and The Cuckoo all bid intently, outbidding each other at each turn. We knew who all of them were. Eventually The Diva won the auction at 11,000 platinum. And we knew who The Diva actually was. Four.
Four down, one to go. A relaxed smile on my face, I watched Baermak ease his way back in to the room, a glass in his hand as if he had only stepped out for a refill. If he was back, I assumed that he had completed his mission. All five of our objectives had been achieved. Phenomenal success!
I didn’t really care any more, but next up for auction was a cloak, though not just any cloak; a cloak of not being seen! I raised my hand to bid, because it would be very nice not to be seen, but then the auctioneer mentioned that it was a Sylvan cloak, and I dropped my hand. I will absolutely not wear a cloak made by Sylvans. Ingoria, however, might: she bid on it.
She lost.
A ring of protection came up next, which Prescott acquired.
With great fanfare the auctioneer had the tables cleared. The Dwarf with the bag brought forth a small box, no more than a foot long, and set it on one of the tables. The box unfolded into a huge boat, occupying most of the room!
I actually got a single bid in before the bidding skyrocketed into the thousands. As if I could ever make use of a boat! Hah! The White Lady eventually got the magical boat for 11,000 platinum.
Our penultimate item was a potion of youthfulness. While the bidding was wild, The Diva eventually took it home.
And the last item was a spellbook. Alas, nothing of interest to me. I cared not who acquired it.
As we filed out of the room and the party seemed to die down, one of the servants appeared and handed me a ticket with which to retrieve the journal in two days. I thanked him. Or her.
So we must retrieve the journal. And then get it to the Lady. And then we are done. We are free from our obligations.
After that we should be able to come free you mother. It might take some time, as there are many obstacles in the way. We must get home, together. We must locate our new friends, formulate a plan. Find you. And deal with the Sylvans. In my next letter I hope to tell you of our journey home. I shall end the letter with “and we arrived safely”.
Then we shall find the Grecko, and I shall write you a letter to tell you “and we made allies”.
Then we shall formulate our rescue plan. I shall write you “and we found the Sylvans”.
With the Sylvans in our sights, in the next letter I shall happily relate that “and then the murders began”.

Report Date

20 Apr 2024