For a moment, there was nothing.
And then, from somewhere off behind Greed and to her left, came a quiet, drifting melody--an unfamiliar sound.
Music.
The sound was a string instrument--fast-paced and somehow humorous in its tune. Upbeat, in a sense. Should Reseda follow it, she would find the cloaked figure of the Collector perched atop a half-crumbled wall, a banjo in his arms, his crimson eyes on the strings as his clawed fingers plucked rapidly and with well-practiced precision.
On closer inspection, the instrument looked to be made of bone, its strings old and rust-tinted sinew.
For an example of the music type, please click here.
@Greed
He did not stop playing, right away, but Reseda did not have long to wait. The last of the twanging chords trailed off in quiet echoes a moment later, rattling over the bones before fading altogether, as the scarlet eyes lifted to regard the reptile.
The Collector shifted, robe rustling as he set the instrument beside and behind him on the wall with a quiet click. Then he spoke, voice rich and welcoming.
"Back, I see. And I imagine, successful. You do seem to be so much more useful, and efficient, than the others..."
His words drifted off, like the music had, and he was left peering at Reseda--waiting for her proof, with silent expectation.
@Greed
The Collector slid down from the wall. He paced forward, hooves clicking on the stone, a couple bones scattering away from his steps.
Down he knelt, a pale-furred hand reaching black claws to slowly envelop the gem. This he lifted, turning it, the apatite shining light blue in the orb-light. Then the hand closed, vanishing into the robe as the Collector looked down at Reseda. He did not stand, yet, instead pulling a golden collar from his robes and holding it up.
"Step forth, little King," he offered, "and receive your deserved prize."
By all appearances, he seemed to intend to close the collar around Reseda's neck, if she approached. It shone bright, glinting, broad and thick and battered with old war-scars.
@Greed
The Collector lifted the collar, turning it to the light much as he had Blueberry's stone, staring up at it admiringly as he turned it to catch every battle-worn scratch in the glow of the orbs.
"It is called the Collar of Impending Victory," he explained, lifting one claw to lightly run it over the gold. Despite the sheen, and the general soft nature of gold as an element, the metal did not scratch.
"It was worn in the old wars; its last owner lived for many years with its protection. You wished defense, when you are at the top, did you not?" He looked to Reseda, again lowering the collar as if to offer to put it on her neck. "It is a metal collar to protect against attacks--that much is clear!--but too it is infused with magic, enchanted to intensify defensive magics and maneuvers. It is said that even when dodging, with no magic at all, the collar lends power--amplifying the effects. There is of course one caveat--once on, it is very difficult, if not impossible, to remove. It becomes a part of you, in essence--but that is a small price to pay for its power." He looked to the collar, again, once more running a claw over its edge--lovingly, this time, almost as if it were an old friend.
@Greed
The Collector reached forward, snapping the golden collar around Reseda's neck. It shown bright, for a moment, as if glowing with the rays of a sun--and when it dimmed, it was perfectly smooth aside from its war-torn nature, with no sign of hinge or clasp. It fit perfectly: comfortably snug without being too tight, and broad enough to protect Reseda's entire neck and throat.
The Collector stood. He bowed in a gentlemanly manner, sweeping his hand before him, and then stood upright. "It is always good to see the powerful get the gifts that they have earned. Long may you reign. Should you ever require me again, do find me."
Then he turned, pacing off with clicks of his hooves, picking up his banjo from the crumbled wall and moving to walk away.
The Collector will now exit the thread unless stopped.
Identified Item!
Greed has received an identified item from The Collector!
1★ Collar of Impending Victory
A battered but still-gleaming collar of wide, thick gold.
Seemingly unremoveable.
Intensifies the results of defensive actions.
Cursed.
art credit: bg texture by Parée on Flickr
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 | ☆★★★ ★ ★ COLLAR OF IMPENDING VICTORY
A thick golden collar closed around the owner's neck, not removeable by normal means. Its width protects against some physical attack, and it is enchanted so that any defensive action with a roll of 15 or higher may be considered to have the effects of a Critical Success.
"I never said whose victory..."
ELEMENT: 
MAGIC LEVEL: 90
DURABILITY: 200
SPECIAL: (CURSED): All Failed rolls for defense-oriented actions must be considered Critical Fails.
MATERIAL: Gold (Enchanted)
ATTACK: N/A
ADDED: N/A
DEFENSE: 5
WEIGHT: 3
EQUIP: Collar (not removeable)
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Currently owned by: Greed
art credit: bg texture by Parée on Flickr
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@Greed