745 Lights, Auction, Camera!

Suddenly, bright lights illuminate the stage where all the seats were facing, revealing Zoltan who smiles at everyone and begins speaking into a microphone fixed upon a stand. "Welcome all of ye', to the Kaedwen Auction House! Sponsored by King Reima of Ichor!" His words reverberate around the room, surprising most of the guests gathered due to them never seeing such a device before.

The crowd begins to talk amongst themselves excitedly, but Zoltan continues, his voice easily overcoming the whispers from the public. "I'm sure you're all excited to see what we have to show ye', but you must have patience... I can guarantee those of you with coin will be satisfied by the end of our three-day event, anyone who isn't... Simply couldn't afford the luxuries we're providing." he says, taking advantage of the arrogant merchants in the crowd. "I'd also like to thank the King of Kaedwen for allowing us the opportunity to host such a thing in their territory, such an honest and charitable person must be commended, and so we won't be selling the first item shown here today!... Instead, we'll be gifting it to King Roche." This doesn't make those in the crowd happy at all, but, it's more jealousy than anything else.

Zoltan turns and looks at the shadowed entrance to the stand, gesturing for someone to come forwards.

From the entrance a woman with pale blonde hair and revealing tight clothing walks out with a box. She smiles at everyone, sending a glare at Roche on the balcony before finally standing beside Zoltan.

Zoltan "This fantastically beautiful woman before you will be the one presenting the incredible items we've acquired for you, her name is Vessica, but don't get any ideas... She's taken." he says with a laugh, taking the box out of her hand and opening it to show everyone in the room... Inside the box, sitting on velvet pillows in some kind of gold necklace with a huge blue gem inlaid in it.

Some of the crowd are drawn in by it, but others seem to lose interest... Jewelry wasn't all that uncommon in the continent, even if the gem was the biggest they'd ever seen cut and inlaid.

Zoltan grins, "I see, some of you aren't aware of this items true worth... Allow me to open your eyes!" he says, gently putting the necklace on and turning as "Vessica" returns with a bow in hand...

The crowd begins murmering at the strange scene, and start panicking when Ves begins drawing the bow while aiming at Zoltan's chest...

*TWANG*

The steel tip arrow leaves the bow at incredible speeds, heading straight for Zoltan's heart as he stands there confidently...

*Snap!*

A shield forms around Zoltan out of nowhere, glowing the same yellow colour of a typical Quen sign... The blue gem on the necklace glows brightly as its activated, making it clear it's the one responsible for the defensive magic.

The shield dissipates as the broken arrow hits the floor, the whole venue silently looking on at what'd just happened in disbelief...

"OOOHHHHH!" A merchant shouts, followed by everyone else who cheer at the brave and brilliant display.

Roche grins, "What do you think? Worth your time to come?" he asks the Kovirian King.

Tankred slowly nods, "I don't doubt it, my, risking his life to show the effect of the product, what a fantastic showman!" he exclaims.

Hjalmar laughs, "Zoltan's 'ad a pair on 'im since I first met 'im in Kaer Morhen!" he praises.

Zoltan turns back to the crowd, delicately taking the necklace off and placing it back in its box, "Haha, I'm sure you all wish to purchase such a priceless artifact, but unfortunately we've decided to gift it to the King of Kaedwen." he says, lowering everyone's enthusiasm quite considerably.

Zoltan hands the box to Ves and she walks off of the stage to hand it off to someone else.

Not long after an anxious-looking girl enters the balcony after Sieglinde checks her over for weapons with the box in hand. "Erm... King Ro-che" she almost chokes on her own spit and blushes bright red...

Roche smiles at her, "Thank you." he says, taking the box out of her hand and looking at artifact within...

Tankred "Ah, Roche, how much would it take for you to sell that necklace to me?" he asks, eyeing it greedily.

Roche shakes his head, "My apologies, but parting with a gift like that would be disrespectful to the people who originally sent it... I'd hate to offend King Reima, I've seen what happens to people who anger him..." he mutters, indirectly warning the Kovirian King to not pursue this.

Tankred nods, "I see... Indeed, it would be a shame to offend some a well-meaning person..." he says diplomatically.

Roche "Besides, there will be other artifacts similar to this one within the three-day auction I imagine?"

Tankred leans forwards in anticipation, "I hope so, men, guards, and mages can only do so much, an artifact like that would allow me to rest at ease."

Crach "Who'd dare try to assassinate you any-how Tankred?" he asks, wondering who was brave enough to risk offending one of the richest nations in the world.

Tankred sighs and glances around as if to look for spies, "King Radovid has been... Eager, to involve me in the war against Nilfgaard. I believe he'll win in the end, the civil war destroying the empire from the inside out, but Kovir's neutrality has protected us for generations... To give it up would be an insult to my parents and ancestors, not to mention dangerous for the future."

Roche nods, "I know what you are feeling, Radovid can be very persuasive when he needs to be... My advice would be to not give him any leverage over you, or you'll be dragged into the war regardless of your wishes."