Auction for the benefit of Arabel

[Extropy]

*a plain but good quality scroll is posted at the gates of Arabel*

Citizens and Adventurers of Cormyr, I have reached an agreement with the Lady Lord of Arabel to hold an auction in her fine City three days from this date. Twenty percent of the proceeds will be donated to the Arabel city treasury & earmarked for the ongoing restoration of the city.

Confiscated adventuring gear, various supplies and excess wares from a variety of generous merchants will be available for sale.

*signed Wygreth of Suzail*

// Saturday July 27th at 11:00 AM US Central

[Extropy]

The day after

An Arabel guard makes his rounds at dawn, taking down each scroll advertising the auction and folding them up carefully rather than ripping them down. His creased and oft troubled visage is for once graced with a smile.  He slips each scroll beneath his uniform and heads on his way around the city, an uncommon spring in his steps.

* * *

A half hour later the Lady Lord Myrmeen Lhal takes her morning meal outdoors, overlooking Arabel from the Citadel. Shortly she is joined by a few chosen advisors, discussing what will be done with the 300,000 Golden Lions raised by the Auction.  The discussions go on long & any listener would be hard pressed to determine anything but there are many decisions to be made .. and none too hastily ..

* * *

At a more reasonable hour, the sun well on its way across the sky, a well dressed merchant rides out of Arabel with a cheer from the guard tower. His saddlebags are heavy with coin, trade bars, bank notes and letters from Arabel & his escort raises up a cloud of dust behind them on the road. A squad of soldiers ride directly before and after him, some in the colors of the Crown and others looking more like mercenaries or private guards.

* * *

At noon refugees rejoice as food is generously handed out by the guards:  bread, fried fish and even pork and beef stews are available in abundance. 

* * *

Later that afternoon a group of local merchants gather privately & discuss how business will change in Arabel. Despite their precautions, rumors are soon flying that the recent influx of coin will finally push the Blacklake Venture to reopen some dormant local shops & possibly even a traditional inn of the city.

* * *

At dusk, a small form leans against a tree within a few feet of the northern walls of Arabel, studying the outskirts of the city under the pale light of the stars and seeming content just to watch.  Upon the walls an armoured woman pauses to glance down into the shadows that lurk around the tree's trunk and then, smiling, adjusts the two handed sword sheathed on her back and continues on her rounds.

* * *

Sometime in the dead of the night, a dead man floats up next to the wharf, bobbing listlessly until he is discovered by the change of guards at dawn. Middle aged, once handsome and wearing a bright red shirt the man has stabbed in the back at least a half dozen times. Tangled up with the corpse is a very large burlap sack, torn across one side & now empty.  As soon as the guards recognize the man, a runner is sent to the Citadel immediately ..