SOLO III
Demon World
Part 048

     As astral dragons, the three of you are flying around.  Following Uncle's words.  Seeing the places he speaks of.
     "They land outside of a large port city."  A crowded cluster of brick buildings.  A large natural harbor.  Every chimney is smoking casting a grey haze away from the docks.
     "They dress a cabin boy as one of the kids and take him into the city to a tavern for nobles."  At the edge of the city, a large three story tavern sits.  It has a large parlour on the ground floor, with three fire places and many plush chairs.  In one corner is a small orchestra set, with a harp and chairs in a simi-circle.
     "The captain tells a tale of poor lost chidren, rescued from pirates.  He presents the cabin boy, who has been coached on how to look frightened and lost.  The captain explains his plan to the nobles."
     Suddenly the three of you are back aboard the Triangle looking into each others eyes.  "We don't have the money to get this child home.  Their was a lot of expensive furniture on the ship.  If we could hold an acution, we could raise enough money to cover my expenses and to buy the kid a trip back to his parents." 
     Uncle smiles.  "Now during this time the mates of the Triangle have been unloading the pillage from the other ship to a spot somewhere outside of the city.  Usually a farmer is paid off and his barn is used.  When the nobles ask to see the furniture, they are brought there."
     "What these pirates do.  Our pirates.  Is fill this barn with all the best look from every ship captured for the entire year.  When the nobles see the selection they start wattering at the mouth.  A date for the action is set, and word of the bargains spreads through the city like wild fire."
     "Also these nobles are strange.  They can be quite competative about affairs of honor, and they will out do each other trying to be the patron who handles getting the boy home.  I think the real reason is they want to be the one who keeps the fee for carrying the kid back to his parents."
     "After the acution, the real children are brought.  All of them.  And the nobles are quite pleased that there are enough for each of them to keep their honor."
     "The Pirates sail off with a chest full of money.  Are in each other's buisness till all the kids are returned home.  And eventually some parents are made happy."
     "Thus the pirates get to convert their plunder to cash.  But they need the pretext of returning hostages.  This is how they get enough wealthy patrons to buy the plunder in the first place.  And unlike the legitimate shipping in this world, they have no interest in selling the children to demons."

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