Rain settled down, folding their front legs under them and then their back ones. Sitting. They had a feeling this might be a somewhat lengthy conversation. "What kind of dangerous?" they asked, head tilting to the side. "Other-creatures dangerous, or lots-of-traps dangerous, or something else altogether?" That would depend. They could probably convince the other faeries regardless, but they still wanted to know -- some tasks might be better suited for someone disposable, like Marshmallow.

Their mandibles spread out in an uncanny grin as he kept talking. "The faeries are very good with riddles, Collector," they said, emphasizing the name just slightly in their strange monotone. "As for seeking... we like games. I'm sure they would come with me, or else be convinced to." The Queen of Lies would not let her do something potentially dangerous alone, Rain was pretty sure of that. Foxtrot would follow the Queen anywhere she went without question, and Six Stripes was much the same, but also fascinated with puzzles and games. Rain, however... "I especially am fond of puzzles." Every body was one. Rain wanted nothing more than to take them apart and put them back together again.

"Hmmm. I do not know what exactly was left to guard these places, but it is best to assume both. It is a potentially deadly task I set before you. In return, I might offer enchanted blades for your natural weaponry--nothing with drawbacks, I assure you," he added. "Not for this. Are you interested..? If you are, I will grant you the details--the secrets of the Sprites. It would be a long and difficult journey for you and your friends, but perhaps you might find your own treasures hidden along with these secrets, as you go. What do you say..?" the Collector added, head tilting questioningly to one side.

@Rain

Rain thumped a foot against the ground, violet eyes catching the light. Not only were they willing, they were interested. Anything for weaponry, first of all, but also? This just sounded cool. They gave a shallow bow, eyeing the Collector from where they lowered themselves. "I am willing. I am interested. I... accept your task." They rose again. "Details, then?" and waited to hear what else the Collector had to say.

The Collector studied Rain, for a moment, as if thinking. "It is detailed--rather deeply so. I can go over it now, but would you prefer to bring your allies here..? Perhaps it might be better if I tell you all at once, so that the information is all relayed correctly. But it is your decision; which would you prefer-?"

He wondered, for a moment, if the Masters might become angry about what he was about to do. Or amused, perhaps. Ahh, well; if pressed, he would simply tell them the truth: he was serving his purpose here.

@Rain

Rain considered it for a moment themselves, thinking their allies over. After several long moments, they finally decided, "As few of us ought to be recognized as possible. You are nearly a faerie, after all; the less you know about our identities, the safer we are." There was no accusation in the perpetually-even tone, though -- just reason. "We also do not like to be seen if it can be avoided, for that same reason. Especially outside of our disguises." They closed their eyes and considered for a few moments. "I will relay the information to my allies."

They looked up at the Collector, and waited patiently for him to start talking. They'd need to be paying close attention to remember as much as they could.

The Collector studied this one, for a moment. It had no way of knowing, of course, that he could simply follow it unseen. And he might attempt it; but for now he'd simply send it on its way. To the idea that he was very nearly faerie, he almost snorted, but managed to turn it into a light grunt and a bow of his head, as if he were honored by such a thing. But again he was reflecting on the nature of such creatures and how far they were from... a bug.

It had the wings, at least. Sort of.

"There are seven of them," the Collector began, drawing from his cloak--as if it had been waiting all along--a slender object. It was plain iron in a two-pronged shape, unrusted by age, with a mass-production stamp at what amounted to a hilt. It was, in fact, a tuning fork. "When they were no longer needed, they were laid to rest. And each of them is different--some elegant, some brutish. So the safeguards left around their resting places will vary for each. Use this to find them," the Collector added, offering it out. "You may have to search all the caves, but it will let you know when you are close. Your task is to find each of the seven hidden throughout the caves, pass their safeguards, and break the stone that now confines them. Any questions?"

@Rain

Rain's eyes lit up at the produced treasure, reaching out to take it. They listened carefully, noting that the Collector either did not know where they were located or just didn't want to tell them. That was fine, though. They could deal with that. Either way, it was something of a game -- the metal thing rang when it was struck, then? They eyed it. Rain didn't know much about metal, but figured they would have to be careful not to chip it as they held it carefully between their wrists.

"Is it stone like our stones," they said, gesturing to their collar, "like magic and like birth, or is it stone like the ground we walk upon?" They held the fork up to the light. "Is there an easy way to break them, or will we have to figure that out for ourselves?" They met the Collector's eyes again, finally. "Also, can I keep this when I am finished?"

Regardless of his answers, though, once he had given them, Rain would nod and finally say, "I will take upon your task."

The Collector peered at Rain for a moment. "Like your own, yes. And it may be better to say that you will not break them yourselves; you will find a way to... wake them," he clarified, tone thoughtful.

The tuning fork was in Rain's hands, now. "Alas, no," he said, gesturing to it; "that is my tool, and not part of our deal."

A gentle, almost apologetic shrug. "As for how best to... free the stones, there may be hints close to them. I do not know for certain. But I know they will require cunning. Good luck," he added, and then vanished, with a wink and a flash.

@Rain

Rain eyed him, and then the tuning fork. Oh well. They'd keep it nice, then -- faeries didn't have much in the way of personal property, but the few things that did belong to just one person were treasured almost as much as a name, if not moreso in some cases. They watched the Collector vanish, and started to shuffle off.

In any other creature, it might have been a misstep to not make them sign one of his contracts (there weren't courts anymore, except Rain's anyway, and they were mostly a formality, but they seemed to be useful for threatening errant Gembound who didn't want to keep their end of the deal). In a faerie, however, it didn't matter one way or another whether a piece of paper was binding them. Rain had given their word, and they would keep it, even if it killed them -- one way or another, this task would be completed.

After all, faeries didn't break contracts.


/exit walks-like-rain