Uthlyn wouldn't have been Tri's first choice for a place to lay down for the night... He wasn't a fan of the harsh cold of Connlaoth to begin with, especially with this war going on. At any time, villages and cities could become battlefields, and atmospheres were always tense with soldiers patrolling in dozens, on the lookout for rebel mages. Tri was well-equipped to defend himself if he got in the middle of a skirmish, but he'd rather not deal with it at all.
Tri did enjoy the sights of Connlaoth, though. In this place, there was always something to see, and something to stick your head in. Uthlyn, in particular, was amazing for those like him who had a knack for the arts. This city was home to thousands of painters, musicians, playwrights... Creative and brilliant minds who used their talents to upturn the frowns of these unhappy and fearful citizens in a war-torn country. Thus, he made this place his temporary residence, if nothing more than to silence the screaming voices in his head.
It was around evening, and Tri found himself unable to sleep in his small, unremarkable inn room. With that, he thought a nighttime stroll around the city was appropriate, and thus, he went. The streets at night were alive with red and orange-tinted lanterns, and upbeat, festive music filled the air from all directions. It was truly something else.
He merely enjoyed the sights and sounds, passing open shops and taverns, where people seemed to celebrate nothing in particular, most gleefully drunk. This made him much less hesitant to wear the full-arm, blood-red gauntlets and bastard sword that made him stick out like a sore thumb. Nobody would honestly care if they saw him with them.
Eventually, he stumbled upon a certain attraction that caught his eye. It was a large banquet hall, stylized like an elven bungalow, like those resting far west of La'marri. The roof was steep and pointed, with ceramic, blue shingles. The rest of the building was built with cobblestone, with a wood porch and wood supports holding up the large, pointed roof. The doors were wide open, and a chorus of chatter erupted from within, as well as a loud voice which sounded over the rest. An auction, possibly?
Tri walked up to the front doors... There were no guards at the entrance, so he could only guess that anyone could join in. However, one look at all of the well-dressed, fancy attendees and he knew immediately that everything up for bidding was worth more than he was. They weren't paintings up for grabs, as he had originally believed. It was mostly gold and silver jewelry, encrusted with gems of all shapes and sizes. Not art, but materialistic bobbles. Tri almost wanted to roll his eyes... Was he really surprised?
"Keep your coin purses handy, ladies and gentlemen! We have much more, in the back room!" The auctioneer said with a laugh, his chin dotted with a goatee, his mustache curled in a fancy fashion. Tri blinked. More than what was already there? It was a long table, and not one space was empty. Gold and silver, rubies and emeralds, as far as the eye could see. And a room full of people aching to empty their purses...
"And please, restrain yourselves enough for the final piece... 24 karat gold, with a single diamond gem!" He exclaimed. Everyone audibly gasped, no doubt salivating at the thought of such a piece. Tri narrowed his eyes at the small doorway leading to the back, where it was most likely being kept... Hopefully, guards were back there. Because a revelation like that made thieves a prime concern...
