Slavery - The Illegal Slave Trade

Unfortunately, the world over, slavery is a very real problem that not many people are privy to. In the world of Haven, slavery has taken on a whole new spin since the introduction of supernatural and magical creatures to the world. There are people from every race and species that hunt down gullible people, or individuals who would not be missed. Once found, the target is kidnapped and tossed into a very different world than the one topside. Those unlucky enough to be abducted are usually tested for quality, magical abilities, and illnesses while they are housed at various locations until auction day arrives, when they are sold to the highest bidder for whatever cruel, oppressive lives they will soon lead. Depending on the person, the slave trader may hire someone to train their "product", or drug them to make them more obedient before they are sold.

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On auction day, those to be sold are brought in through underground networks beneath both Haven and London to avoid any well-traveled routes. Auctions can take place anywhere, and once the slave finds themselves there, they are often herded to holding pens or chained to posts for inspection while they wait for their turn on the "stage" where their lives will be sold for thousands, and sometimes even hundreds of thousands of dollars. Once the bidding is over, the seller will collect their payment and hand over the slave along with any paper work they might have on them. If the slave has a blood bond, it will need to be transferred to the new owner. If there is no blood bond, a buyer may contract a Fae that does black magic to create one for a price. Slaves that have no bids on them are returned to their seller to see the auction block another day, though various blood banks and sleazy hotels are always looking for donors and "volunteers".

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Gifted humans tend be be popular amongst those who are sold, due to their durability, flavorful blood, and magical abilities. Plus, they are easier to capture and tame compared to other races like vampires or shifters. Werecreatures are prized for their fighting ability, and are often used in underground pit fights. Shifters can fetch a good price depending on their species, since they make good fighters, guards, and trophy pets. Fae tend to be worth the most and are rarer to find than the other races.

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Besides getting abducted, however, there is another way that slaves are obtained - and that is through breeding. This method is highly illegal and very risky, but there do exist places in the world that specialize in breeding and raising slaves. These slaves tend to be much more obedient and are often clueless when it comes to how to live a life outside of slavery. Often, slaves that have been farm-raised are branded or tattooed with a special mark to indicate who they belong to or which farm they came from (much like cattle are tagged). They often come free of blood bonds, as they don't usually have the mental capacity to consider running away.

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The Black Markets are lawless and despicable, but there are a few unspoken rules that most everyone adheres to simply to keep their own heads from rolling:

* Don't cheat a buyer or a seller.
* Don't get caught trying to pass off suspicious products.
* Don't lead the feds anywhere but away.
* Never show weakness.