to market to market to buy a fat pig

Personally I like the gems for bids idea. It's an event that people have been asking for, plus paying for it would held weed out those that think a slave is a good idea at the time, but don't really have plans or muse for it after. Keeps plots from dying. No point in going through all of the trouble if the person being sold as a slave is just hung out to dry.

Gems. Yes. -Nod-

The idea of paying a pack for protection is a neat one too. It'll keep things clean as long as all going into the auction agree that that's what the pack is there for and that they can't make a public scene. Or something along those lines anyway.