As the echoes of Wilder's voice faded, the sound of distant clicking hoofsteps could be heard approaching. They grew nearer, louder, until after a few moments, the robed and hooded Collector stepped into sight among the bones.
"Ahhh... there you are, little cat," the voice crooned--though he did not bend down to pet her. "And what knowledge have you brought me, hmm?"
@Wilder
My, my, isn't she the perfect little spy. Though he'd intended merely to toy with the kitten, Wilder had come back with a wealth of information. The Collector was no fool; he realized almost at once that her bright, inoffensive demeanor made her the perfect spy. No one would suspect a thing.
Much of what she told him, of course, he already knew. Yet there were surprises in her words, too. For example, the fact that this Cetus group knew of Nemean's clash with what was now a tree. This surprised him; 'How did they find out about that, I wonder..?' And the meeting of the leaders--he hadn't heard of this, either.
The news of the Bloodberries' dissolution, too--that was a disappointment. Perhaps, the Collector reflected, he ought to consider paying Blackberry a personal visit.
He bent down to run a furred, clawed hand over Wilder's head and back, a few times, slowly. Meanwhile, he spoke to her, his tone approving. "A task very, very well done, kitty," he told her. "I shall offer you your choice of reward momentarily--magic, indeed, as promised--but first, tell me this--what was it that this secret meeting discussed? I am ever so curious."
@Wilder
The kitten's hesitation and brief stuttering were not lost on him, and he made a mental note to look into it, later, himself. Ahh, well; it seemed his 'perfect' spy was not quite as devoted as he'd hoped.
It mattered little.
He produced a small, stone saucer of cream--caves only knew where from; it was as if he'd pulled it from his sleeve--and placed this down before Wilder, all the while speaking quietly.
"Very, very good. Now for your reward, hmm? I offer you one of two. First, I can grant you the knowledge, the use, of any spell you wish--but it will be tied to an item, a trinket or bauble. Should you ever lose or remove this item from your body, you will lose access to that spell. And each of these items holds a drawback," he warned.
"Alternatively, there is a much riskier, but perhaps more worthwhile, reward: a cunning little trinket, really, that holds any spell you cast into it, and upon being activated by magicka, it casts that magic on its own. So, let us say you put... hmm, light or heat into it; or water. It can then create that light, or heat--or dispense water--on its own, while you... grow plants beneath the light, for example. And you can change which spell this object holds." Very crude examples--the ring could be used far more creatively than that, as he knew from experience. And also from experience... "...However, should your attempt to activate it ever backfire, it will lash out at you, and return you to your chrysalis for a time." He didn't mention, of course, the horrific surge of pain that would come with that--really, who cared about such trifles?
@Wilder
"Very well. Just remember, once you have taken this gift, it cannot be so easily returned." A warning, on the heels of that last fool having abandoned hers. "For the cost of another task I would perform the magic needed."
Down he knelt, clawed hands slipping from his cloak, and between his fingers he held something glowing a soft blue. It was a ring of translucent gemstone, just large enough, really, to serve as a comfortable cat's collar. Wilder could likely slip it on and off at will. It shined softly with its own light. He moved to slip this on over her neck, speaking further.
"And now for your reward, little kitten."
Identified Item!
Wilder has received an identified item from The Collector!
3★ Echo
A translucent blue ring or collar that can be used to cast a stored spell.
Cursed.
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 | ☆☆☆★ ★ ★ Echo
A translucent blue gemstone ring or collar that can be used to cast a stored spell. A spell must be successfully cast into the ring to store the magic. An Other roll is used to later activate it. The ring will then cast the stored spell until stopped. Powerful spells will drain the ring more quickly, and it will need time to recharge before the next use.
ELEMENT: Arcane
MAGIC LEVEL: 70
DURABILITY: 50
SPECIAL: (CURSED): A critically-failed roll to Activate the stored spell will backlash, sending the user into their chrysalis for two weeks' time.
MATERIAL: Blue Chalcedony |
ATTACK: N/A
ADDED: N/A
DEFENSE: 10
WEIGHT: 1
EQUIP: Neck
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Currently owned by: Wilder
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There were few things that surprised a being as old as the Collector.
This question, however, was one of them. Of all the responses to receiving a powerful magically-enchanted item, he'd never had anyone ask for one in another color--and he'd certainly not expected it from the kitten who seemed to be pleased with everything.
He forced a quiet laugh, one which sounded sufficiently good-natured. "No, little kitten. I'm afraid I don't."
@Wilder