The auction did not begin with any spoken word or divine declaration. It began with every surviving screen in the chamber finding a new line of space, then filling it with offers written by things that believed price was a language everyone understood.
[ Divine Audience: patron auction ]
[ Opening bid: the Lord of Measures offers one thousand Divine Coins, verified contracts, and one appointed auditor. Term: the First Player will record all territorial claims under the Measure. ]
[ Opening bid: the Red Standard offers a war-grade weapon, three sanctioned revivals, and rank preference. Term: the First Player will answer the Standard's summons during declared conflict. ]
[ Opening bid: the Garden Below offers restorative seed, protected cultivation, and a personal sanctuary. Term: the First Player will carry the Garden's mark before all lesser powers. ]
