751 Darkness is Upon Us!

He slowly opens the box, the crowd all leaning forwards to get a better look at it... Inside, sits a dull gold ring, with an oval-like surface that seems to fit a gem? However, none are present. The crowd is unenthused by this, jeering at Zoltan for hyping such a thing up too much.

"What a let down!"

"And to think I'd been excited!"

"Hmmph! I should've taken a look at the jewelry stall, at least it would have been better than this!"

"Greedy Dwarf is trying to trick us with trash!"

"Is that half-elf single?"

...

Zoltan begins chuckling, and eventually breaks into full-on laughter at the crowds reaction, he eventually calms down and points at them all. "Unfortunately, I'm unable to show you this rings function due to it's unique effect. But I assure you this is no ordinary ring! I've been given permission by the King of Ichor himself to sell this artifact to you all... Its name is the Ring of Sacrifice, and it will protect its wearer from dying once, before shattering and becoming useless. This is the main reason why I cannot show you what it does." he says, the crowd going silent.

"How do we know if it work!?!" one person shout from the crowd, a few others parroting them.

Zoltan frowns, "Do you dare question the honor of the King of Ichor? I should just throw your asses out of my Auction right now!" he exclaims in mock fury.

Tankred stands from the balcony and shouts, "9000 Ducats!"

Everyone looks up him in confusion, wondering why this person would bid so much on a ring that probably doesn't even work.

Tankred "You pissants don't dare to gamble with me for this ring? Then so be it!" he shouts.

Some merchants frown, remembering this man as the one who'd outbid everyone for the last two days... "10000 Ducats!" one exclaims.

"10050 Ducats!" another calls, hoping that he wasn't getting tricked by the bidders or the Auction itself.

Tankred "Dabbling with pennies? 12000 Ducats!" he shouts again.

Zoltan covers his mouth with his hand as a greedy smirk makes it way onto his face... Truthfully this ring is one of the most worthless items out of the whole selection, Reima had said that these were common back in Lordran and that it'd make a great final item. In this world, no other artifact with a similar effect actually existed, making it a valued item for royalty that feared assassination.

Zoltan claps his hands as he sees the bidding slow, "15000 Ducats to the VIP! Going once. Going twice!... Sold!"

Zoltan "That's the end folks! I do so hope you've all enjoyed the Auction and acquired some things that suit your tastes, you lads and ladies try not to go too far with those potions, we don't currently sell shrinking potions so you're stuck with what you got if you drink too much!" he says with a laugh. "Also, the King of Ichor thanks all of you for your patronage... Perhaps next year we'll have even more incredible items than what we showed here!" he says, turning and leaving after bowing to everyone.

Sieglinde nods to the VIP's as they leave aswell, following them and helping them through the crowd, her onion armour acting like a battering ram towards those who refused to move.

Roche, Crach, Hjalmar, and Tankred speak for a while outside of the auction, the former eventually inviting everyone inside his keep for drinks.

Tankred looks at Stryrdan and Triss, "Whaddya think? Do we have enough time to have a couple drinks?"

Stryrdan shakes his head, "With teh amount of goods we have, I think it's best to leave before anyone can start plotting against us my Liege." he says seriously.

Triss nods, "I agree, we can visit another time, what's currently most important is your safety."

Tankred shakes his head, "The question was rhetorical! Of course we're going to drink wit them!" he exclaims, clearly ignoring their words and following Roche into the keep.

After all the guests had left, Ciaran leaves to wait at the back for Lut to arrive with Sif... She'd already prepared a wooden sword for him in preparation for their lesson. It didn't matter that she'd only be teaching him for one day, he was technically now her student and she would treat him as seriously as possible.

While they wait Sif's ears perk up, the huge wolf looking at the sky and beginning to growl, revealing his lethal-looking teeth.

Ciaran "What is it?" she asks, wishing the wolf could properly verbalize the threat at hand.

Sif points his nose at Ciaran and then to the sky a couple times, she eventually follows where he's pointing and spots a black cloud... Her eyesight was a lot more effective than regular humans due to the gifts Gwyn had given her and the other knights, aswell as the strengthening of her soul through the ages.

Ciaran "What is... That... Enemies!" she exclaims, catching a glimpse of what the black cloud is made from, she dashes towards the bell tower at ungodly speeds, leaping over roof-tops and eventually climbing up the outside of the tower as if she were called Ezio. A guard is surprised once she flips onto the top floor, challenging her presence there...

Ciaran "There's an army of vampires heading right for us, ring the damn bell!" she exclaims, the guard refusing to do so as he didn't believe her.

Shaking her head she slaps him in the face with her backhand, kicking the bell so hard it begins loudly ringing, the sound echoing throughout the city. Once she is sure everyone has been alerted she jumps off of the tower, landing on Sif's back as the wolf heads towards the Auction to protect Zoltan and everyone else.