[b][i]Viginette[/i][/b]

As time passed, the truce with Nittany faded into old news, and life continued on as usual. Close to the crater that was once Boston, a new city was rising, a deliberate plan by the previous Presidents of Troy to tap into the wealth still held by the sea. This town, known as East Point, held a shipyard that produced vessels for both fishing, trade, and although Nittany was inland, war. It was also a greater slave market than Troy, where chattel from the lands further north, taken in sea-borne raids, were 'processed' in preperation for long years of servitude.

Right now, an eighteen-year old young man, with richly-colored, straight brown hair and pale skin, had been freshly washed before being forced onto the auction platform, wearing only a set of pants and boots. Taken from the lands that were once New Hampshire, this young man held a fire in his blue eyes that was defiant as he glared at the audience, who whooped and jeered in response.

"Now," the auction master said, "this fine specimen of a man was born in a town in the barbarian lands, and thus has some un-barbaric knowledge of letters and maths! Capable of manual labor, breeding, or warming one's bed if you're so inclined," laughter sprang forth from the audience, "this young barbarian townsman is a fresh pick, and thus is worth no less than a thousand dollars! And so, we will start the auction with -"

A booming shout broke the auction master's spiel. "One hundred thousand dollars, then! I will buy that slave for one hundred thousand dollars!" The shout was given by a richly-dressed young man of about the slave's age, one whose red hair was not covered with a powdered wig. Several members of the audience looked at him, before murmuring among themselves. This young man was clearly of some importance; more knowledgable ears would know him as a member of a proud merchant family, the Redsoxs.

The auction master, his portly form's belly jiggling in surprise, looked around, but saw no one contest the Redsox scion's bid. And so, somewhat anticlimatically, the young slave on the auction block was sold to someone his age...