Anthony's sales pitch was wildly successful. Soon, a crowd of drow men and women gathered around. The naturally flamboyant Anthony didn't even blink while spinning outrageous tales to his growing audience.
"Behold this tiefling—the Devil Lord's paramour! Though his looks may seem ordinary, his...handiwork can make even a devil swoon. Jealous former lovers took four toes and one finger before I rescued him. For just 3,000 gold coins, you too can experience pleasures fit for a Devil Lord~"
"Who here knows of Tyr's Archbishop's bastard? Feast your eyes on this handsome paladin—the sole male offspring from that hypocritical archbishop who corrupted over a hundred pure priestesses! At merely twenty years old, he's already a 7th-level paladin."
"His potential is limitless! For 5,000 gold, he'll be your loyal bedmate who'll never stab you with a dagger. Need someone to discipline rebellious heirs with his mighty shield? Or perhaps breed premium slaves? He's perfect!"
"Have you seen this fat Rothé? Don't be fooled by his appearance, but he is also a genuine level 7 warrior. Not to mention that he is the grandson of the Deepwater Sea God Fleet High Commander. He has important Deepwater secrets hidden in his head that few people in the world know. As long as you buy him and torture him severely, you may know all the secrets of Deepwater, and it only costs 10,000 gold coins!"
"Finally, our pièce de résistance—this goblin! Though he appears ordinary, his physical prowess outstrips any bugbear's; none last two rounds against him. But his true marvel? He's mastered monkish arts!"
"That's right, ladies and gentlemen! A 7th-level monk master wielding that exotic eastern 'ki' energy! Skeptical? Yoda—show them!"
Bound by their soul pact, Yoda obeyed without question. Two backflips preceded a dazzling martial arts display worthy of championship fighters, culminating in a thunderous lion's roar that left many drow commoners stunned and dazed.
"Witnessed his power? Purchase him, and your house unlocks monkish secrets! That mystical ki will bolster your combat strength, granting Underdark's only drow monk lineage! Yours for merely 15,000 gold!!!"
"Too expensive? I guarantee these are Faerûn's most unique offerings! Find comparable goods within an hour, and I'll refund you! Act now—gems and white gold coins also accepted~~"
"That girl behind me? Not for sale. She's my sole apprentice—still needs to fetch my footwash water daily."
Hearing these words, the surrounding drow exchanged knowing smirks. The little witch standing behind Anthony barely dared to breathe as she watched the approaching dark elves.
She lacked Anthony's social audacity and couldn't understand his words, but some primal instinct told her the Master wasn't saying anything proper.
Anthony's grandiose boasts successfully drew attention from numerous drow families. Even many females who had initially gathered around the minotaur warrior now came to gawk at this peculiar surface-dweller.
Most drow merely inquired about details or attempted haggling. Anthony remained firm on pricing, and beyond basic levels, he revealed nothing else - claiming trade secrets protected buyer interests.
Some drow expressed disappointment at his refusal to bargain, while others made snide remarks.
"Hmph! Such extravagant claims! Who knows if they're true? I say this surface-rat peddles inferior goods for dirty money!"
"Exactly! Some 'devil lord's lover'? Look how emaciated that tiefling is! That scrawny frame couldn't possibly satisfy a devil. Obviously fake."
"And that so-called human noble? Looks like a dull-witted oaf. Even if noble-blooded, he'd likely remember no classified information worth ten thousand gold!"
"As for that paladin—"
"Broke? Go cry to your mother. Don't waste my time." Anthony wasn't one to tolerate nonsense. With a flick, he cast Silence on the loudmouths revealing his trade secrets. Their mouths opened and closed soundlessly.
The offended drow gestured wildly, attempting confrontation. Anthony simply waved a Flaming Hand their way.
The backmost drow leaped aside. Those too slow suffered burns, shocked by Anthony's spell penetration as clothing and skin reddened and blistered. They fled in silent agony.
No further challenges came. The injured drow mouthed soundless curses before scurrying away. Several silent observers departed simultaneously.
Seeing this, Anthony knew his fish had bitten.
His exorbitant prices required substantial funds. Fifty gold coins weighed one pound - a thousand meant twenty pounds. His cheapest tiefling cost three thousand gold - impractical for casual carrying.
Even white gold (1:10 exchange) proved cumbersome.
Only those with bags of holding or slave-porters could afford such purchases. Today being no special occasion, such buyers wouldn't casually appear. Patience was required.
Gems offered alternative currency, but in these pickpocket-ridden streets, few carried such valuables.
How many would actually sell?
Soon, a tall drow female arrived astride a giant lizard - silver-haired, wearing black priestly robes. The DN family insignia sparked pleasant surprise in Anthony's eyes.
Which "merchandise" interested this noble daughter?
The priestess unfastened her bag of holding, laboriously producing an adamantine chest. "Fifteen flawless high-grade gems of varying hues," she said briskly.
Anthony raised an eyebrow, single-handedly accepting chest and key. His effortless lockpicking made the priestess narrow her eyes - this surface mage bore watching.
"Excellent." Anthony secured the chest inside his spatial backpack, noting three particularly dazzling rubies among the gems. Though unsure of Underdark valuations, surface prices exceeded a thousand gold each.
The backpack's weightlessness confirmed its nature - no ordinary bag of holding, but custom craftsmanship. A true archmage indeed.
"Priestess, I presume you want this monk master?"
"Correct." She remained terse, ignoring his appropriation of the adamantine chest.
(Either extravagantly wealthy or urgently pressed,) Anthony mused, leading Yoda forward. "Serve your new master well," he told the goblin in Common. The priestess' slight reaction confirmed her comprehension.
She'd mind-probe the goblin later. Any deception would earn this male a taste of the six-headed serpent whip.
Anthony cared little for her thoughts, more curious about her identity. "Pleasure doing business, honored priestess. Might I know your name?"
"Vierna Do'Urden." She clasped adamantite manacles on Yoda, draping him with Do'Urden's insignia before tethering him to her lizard mount.
The little witch seemed to realize something. She anxiously tugged at Anthony's robes, only to be instantly put into deep slumber by his Sleep spell.
His money-making venture was in full swing. He had no time to entertain the girl's antics.
Not long after Priestess Vierna's departure, another drow female arrived at the slave market, clad in luxurious spider-silk priestess robes and accompanied by several attendants. Unlike Vierna's tall stature, this one possessed a slightly fuller figure, with features carrying a youthful charm.
She appeared young, but by drow reckoning, this female was likely at least three centuries old.
At her approach, the drow lining the market's path instinctively pressed themselves against the walls, clearing a roadway wide enough for two carriages to pass abreast for this priestess who wore the robes reserved for the Spider Queen's favored.
This deference wasn't solely due to her being a high-tier priestess - Vierna had held equal rank.
What truly commanded the city's fear was her identity: the Second Daughter of House Baenre, Menzoberranzan's mightiest family that had maintained its prime position for millennia.
Anthony offered a slight bow to this scion of the ruling house, paying respects to enduring power.
The Baenre Second Daughter acknowledged with a nod before surveying Anthony's wares. "Mage," she began, "I heard you offered four interesting slaves, yet see only three. Where is the rare goblin monk?"
"Honored Priestess," Anthony replied without his usual flippancy, "The goblin monk was recently purchased by Priestess Vierna of House Do'Urden. I currently have the paladin, noble warrior, and tiefling remaining. Which might suit your needs?"
Learning of the monk's sale, the priestess frowned slightly in disappointment. "To act faster than House Baenre... House Do'Urden proves surprisingly adept. We've no interest in Deepwater, nor do I require crippled playthings... Then the paladin shall accompany me. I wish to test how steadfast these surface deities' devotees truly are in their faith."
Another major transaction. Anthony's grin stretched ear to ear. "As you command, Honored Priestess."