"Now onto our first item of the day!"
Another member in a regular Red Drake outfit brought out the first item onto a pedestal in the center of the auction floor and left quickly after placing down the object.
Praline pulled off the cloth covering in a flourish, showing off an elegantly designed sword sheath holding a hefty broadsword. Held aloft in a simple metal rack to show off the beautiful but sturdy style of the entire weapon.
"This wondrous weapon was recovered from a ruin in the storm peaks and discovered by a heroic band of beastkin. The weapon's origins are unknown, but the area where it was found was a storehouse of an ancient and extinct tribe. Named Lightning's Wrath, the sword is able to enhance any lightning-based bloodline skills an entire stage. Starting off at a modest thousand Gold Scale Coin and a minimum increase of five hundred!"
"The Lightning Lynx tribe bids two thousand!"
"Heh, chump change! My nephew just reached the Peak Bone Stage and this would make a wonderful gift. Five thousand Golden Scale Coin!"
Praline cheered for the immediate large bid. "Five thousand to the Tribe Leader of the Storm Wasps! Lightning's Wrath will make for an amazing gift! Does anyone wish to bid higher?"
Hearing no one bid more, the sword was taken by the second bidder who smirked happily and was given an item by a nearby Red Drake attendant.
*Tsssk* Velnarra scoffed.
"Praline must not be happy about that. At best the weapon is good for Muscle Stage beastkin, it looks like a fancy heirloom, and its actual power must've faded quite a bit with it starting at such a low price. Regardless it could've gone for higher if not for the sudden high bid."
While he didn't see any sort of expression from Praline, Noxtis suspected that such a highly respected host wouldn't show any undue expressions anyway.
As another attendant brought the sword off the stage, another pair brought in the next item.
Unlike the one before it, this item was covered by a fairly large metal cloche (a bell-shaped covering, you know like the ones that cover fancy food platters. Apparently also the french word for bell. The more you know!).
Thanking the attendants as they left, Praline addressed the crowd once more. "And onto the next item! A quite unique one even for one such as myself."
Praline opened the covering to reveal a grossly multicolored heart-shaped mask. Two large bloodshot eyes with tiny green pupils and an eerie yellow coloring were the most prominent feature of the mask. Colored in green and blue, the mask also was adorned with several spikes. Four spikes jutted out from the lower left and right sides of the heart while another two were jutting out from above the eyes.
A chorus of gasps and other sounds of shock rang out from the crowd. Even Wurino, Velnarra, and Ember looked at the object in curiosity.
"What is that thing?"
"Did Praline say it was a mask? Who would dare wear such a hideous thing?"
"You'd be more likely to be attacked if you wore that thing in public."
"Alright, alright! Everyone calm down! I know you all must be wondering what a shocking artifact this is. But I guarantee you that nothing we at the Red Dragon Auction House would set up for sale is useless.
This item here was crafted by a mysterious being only known as Majora, and the seller is looking to sell the mask here to help fund his quest to rescue his beloved one. As for the properties of the mask, it allows the wearer to walk amongst lesser and feral savage beasts without attracting any attention.
A word of caution though, especially intelligent or aggressive demonic beasts will not be deterred by the mask. And while the mask can let you pass the lesser and feral savage beasts, they will still retaliate if attacked."
While everyone was initially off-put by the appearance of the mask, after hearing of its effects their expressions changed. Despite only being able to ward off lesser and feral savage beasts and could only be worn by a single beastkin, the prospects of such an item were numerous.
With how prevalent those types of savage beasts were out in the wild, just sending harvesters for food and resources or adventuring from one place to another would be much easier with the mask on hand. The limitations of the mask made it much less worthwhile for larger tribes, and so their interest in the mask faded.
However, there were many single and small groups of beastkin cultivators whose eyes shined at the prospects that having such a mask would have. Not only would the mask assist in traveling through demonic beast territories, but also could allow them to gather resources and treasure with much less hassle.
"We will start the bidding for Majora's Mask will start off at 500 Gold Scale Coins with a minimum bid increase of 50!"
A gruff voice spoke out. "This one bids Five hundred and fifty gold."
Picking out the voice, a large and imposing figure gave off a solemn and fierce aura. While Noxtis had initially suspected the male beastkin to be clothed in a black-furred coat, he was surprised to see that the bear fur covering the frame of the hulking beastkin wasn't a coat but part of the beastkin's body.
With most beastkin having mostly human features, to see this beastkin with a large number of bear features was indicative of how pure his bloodline was.
"Is that The Bear Overlord Gazea? To think that even he would take time out of his training to come to this auction."
"Why would he bid on such a bizarre mask though? I can't imagine that someone at his stage would need such a thing?"
"Who knows, he has always been a very reclusive one. But Gazea's bodily strength is astounding and comes from one of the strongest medium tribes in the area. He must have some reason to bid for the mask."
"We bid six hundred Gold Scale Coins!" The next bid was surprisingly from a small group of beastkin, perhaps a group who pooled their resources together.
Without bristling even a single fur, Overlord Gazea raised the bid. "Six Hundred and fifty."
"Seven hundred fifty!"
A few more groups and another individual beastkin began to bid on the mask but eventually after the price had risen to one thousand and seven hundred gold scale coins went to the Bear Overlord. Somewhat annoyed that he had to pay more than expected, Gazea fur bristled.
Lying back on the couch and combing his fingers through Ember's silky crimson hair, Noxtis was excited about the entire affair even though he hadn't participated in the bidding himself despite being tempted. "I'm surprised that the mask went so high considering its effects."
Wurino nodded as well. "It certainly is surprising that Majora's Mask went for such a high amount, but for individuals and small tribes, the mask could make gathering and training much easier.
For example, a tribe could send out only one of their hunters to gather food and supplies from the wilderness and send other groups with more beastkin.
While an adventuring group or individual looking to train their bodies or look for treasure would have to deal with much less harassment from demonic beasts who aren't worth their time to kill off.
There are plenty of areas that are swarmed with lesser and feral savage beasts."
"Plus there might be some that are interested in figuring out if they can copy such an effect themselves. Selling such an item in larger quantities would make for quite a wealthy operation." Velnarra added but wasn't well versed in such things herself so her slight interest in the mask was just that.
After the first two items, a myriad of other items was up next. Weapons and armor were the most common of the items and their strength was mostly around the Muscle and Blood stages.
There were a few more uncommon items that got some hesitant bids such as a huge black pot called a Divine Cauldron or whatnot.
Noxtis managed to successfully buy a large bottle of pills called Divine Grace which were potent in healing poisons and curses. He also bought a set of barrier inscriptions at a high price with many parties interested since defensive items were much rarer than offensive ones.
Velnarra and Wurino even managed to snag a couple of live monsters and a few herbs which caught their attention. One of the monsters was even called a Honey Yak which apparently was quite rare and produced the most delicious milk. After winning the bid, they both were grinning widely and talking to one another with a long list of different food and drink possibilities.
Satisfied at being able to purchase some worthwhile items, Noxtis smiled and looked on as the auction continued.
A few more artifacts of different types were auctioned off, but none of them had caught any of their eyes to bid for them.
With the last item being taken into the back, Praline addressed the room once more. "Alright everyone, I hope you all have gotten some fruitful items during your time here thus far. For our last item for the general public, we have a wonderful and unique item."
Two attendants brought forth the item, which looked like a couple of the other clothing artifacts before but somewhat had a different feel to it. Held aloft in the air by some inscription that Noxtis still didn't really understand how it functioned, the cloak was a fairly simple one compared to others before it.
The inner lining looked to be crafted of dark-colored material, while the outside had a shiny silver fur sheen on it with a crescent moon sigil in the middle of the back. Equipt with a hood, the entire cloak was simple but even from their distant viewpoint had a soothing glow to it.
"This next item is provided to us by the Frost Wolves Great Clan, and it is a fantastic mantle from a hidden tribe in the north.
As one of the few surviving items, this mantle's abilities appear to boost the wearer's strength and agility slightly in the moonlight and provide safety from the harsh conditions when worn.
This Mantle of the Snowy Moon will start off at one thousand gold scale coins and each bid must at least be an increase of one hundred gold scale coins."
"I will bid one thousand and three hundred." Almost immediately after Praline finished, a bid came from a duo of burly brown-furred bearkins.
"One thousand five hundred!" A charming lady with snow-white ears and a long fluffy tail countered.
"Heh, to think the prestigious Snow Witch would set her eyes on my new cloak. I bid one thousand seven hundred." Growling, the larger of the bearkin sneered at the snow fox.
Covering her mouth with a snow-feathered fan, the snow fox giggled. "Don't you have a nice and cozy cave to crawl in? Besides, who's to say that cloak is yours? I quite fancy such a beautiful piece for my own wardrobe. Two thousand dear Praline."
Glaring at the sly fox, the bearkin scoffed. "Damn witch, don't think you can flaunt your curves around in Crimson Scale City. This mantle will be mine! Two thousand five hundred."
Fluttering her long lashes and brushing her long hair behind her ear, the snow fox smiled behind her fan. "Oh dear...what so ever do you mean? I'm just a helpless beauty that is looking for a simple cloak to keep me warm at night. I guess I will have to go home empty-handed."
Immediately a hotblooded beastkin shouted. "I'll bid two thousand six hundred golden scale coins!"
"Heh, do you think you can buy the beauty's heart with that paltry amount of coin? My lady I shall buy the Mantle for you! Three thousand!"
Suddenly a couple of young beastkin males fought to get the attention of the fair beauty and the price had risen to a whopping four thousand coins.
A grin had risen on the snow fox's mouth as the various beastkin males clamored to get her attention. She would gladly take the mantle with no cost to herself to flatter the simpletons later.
A clear and soft voice cut through the crowd as a hooded figure bid. "Five thousand gold scale coins."