A lone, eerie whistling was echoing through the Bone Fortresses. Following it to its source would be an exercise in backtracking those echoes, winding one's way through the paths of dead and scattered remains long dried by time... or flying, circling until the reverberations suddenly clarified.

Revealed as their source: a black-cloaked, black-hooded, black-horned figure, one hoofed leg crossed primly over the other and bobbing idly. The owner was perched with almost amused disregard for the bodies beneath him, a fiddle resting unused in the crook of one elbow.

The Collector was waiting.

He'd left parchments around the caves, these last few days, taking a page (heh) from Nemean's recent announcements. He didn't bother making the text announce itself aloud, though; he'd not insult the Gembounds' intelligence. If they cared enough, they'd find someone to read it for them. And if not, then they weren't the sort he needed.

"'Are you bold? Do you have the ambition to surpass others? Do you have the desire to rise beyond, to grow in triumph where others succumb to defeat? Or perhaps you wish knowledge, followers, wealth?

A number of exclusive, time-limited contracts are on offer. Visit the Collector to determine terms, conditions, and rewards. This missive serves as a message only, and is non-binding.' -That's what it says," the Collector read aloud, and winked one crimson, pinprick-glowing eye.

It wasn't clear who he was speaking to. It also wasn't clear what the worn, dark and ragged sack at his side held within, nor why he had a lute he wasn't playing.

But it was clear he was making himself known, and awaiting those who might find his offer to be of interest...

The quest Requisite Stuff has begun! This quest will include two tasks secretly assigned to each participating character, as well as customized rewards for each character. Participants will have two weeks to complete each task.

The next post will take place in one week's time, and will include details on tasks and in-character rewards.

Out-of-character rewards for fully completing the Collector's quest will include an achievement and magicka.

The flyer for Origin on Broadway had flitted past Luna's doors, and she'd considered applying. But she feared having to share the stage... No, she wasn't fit for that kind of theatre. But she was still certainly interested in spectacting.

It was soon after that a second flyer hit Scorpio. She had been forced to read it herself, but it was a great opportunity for further developing her literacy (She had to record her work somewhere, somehow). She had not expected a reason to return to Canis so soon - while the information had been valuable, the cost was some concern. Collecting gemstones only to trade them away after didn't seem like a sustainable business strategy. No, the Collector was a last resort.

But exclusive contracts, for a limited time only. It was worth perusing, at least. Perhaps Luna could push himself further this time, get a little more out of the transaction. But what did he want? Knowledge, power... Transcendance? It was all so tantalising. Such a masterful advertisement!

"HELLOOO! Friend!!" Luna chirruped from a distance, picking up the pace once the Collector was within sight. "It has been, well... It's been a while." She shook the excitement from her fur. No room for frivolities! Business time!!

"I'm here for the uh," She unraveled the parchment she'd been carrying in her forepaw, squinting at the writing. "...The exclusive, limited time contracts. Not that the regular one hasn't been appropriately rewarding, I should note. I'm simply seizing the moment, as any good opportunist should."

"Anyhoo. My focus has not shifted since last we met, but personally, I tire of the need to trail behind those before me. Knowledge is a kind of power, yes. But it isn't the same anymore! I want to create things that are undeniably my own. I've studied the masters for cycles, Collector. I want to become one."

A beat. "Or, ah, something akin. Open to interpretation. I'm shooting for the stars here - have you seen them yourself? Highly recommend it. It's refreshingly de-stabilising."

While Hysteria could read, a lot of the larger, fancier words on the fliers eluded Hysteria's reading skills. But she didn't need to know them to know what they offered. Her rudimentary lessons had been taught by that hand.

Plap plap plap, she'd trot right up to The Collector. "Hey! Father! It's me!" Her voice is eager as ever, a little beam of sunshine coalesced right in front of him. "You have more work? I'm here to help!"

Even if he was often doing other things, or leaving Hysteria and her siblings to her own devices, or just getting milk, she was also eager to see her adoptive father. And maybe they could actually do some good work together!!! I'm going to get him something SO COOL!

With only slightly less enthusiasm than hys sibling Hysteria, Ruse waltzed hymself into the Bone Fortress with paper clamped in weirdly flexible paw. "Hi Dad!" would be his nonchalant greeting, though there was an evident mischief glinting in his eyes that one might manage to mistake for genuine affection.

"What's this about?" Ruse held the paper up to be seen in hys hand. His adult voice was surly, his words dolled out with a puffed chest. It was... different from his bullish, temperamental childhood petulance, to say the least. Some might find the confidence charismatic, even. Though in my humble opinion, the thought would be questionable.

The spoken query, to tell you the truth before I am compelled to cease, was a bit nonsensical in its nature. Had he not... read the paper? Had hy lacked the time, on his half-walk half-flight here? Or perhaps hy had simply forgotten hy had the option, to read? Or... no... had the knowledge of how to read left him altogether? Had hy never learned?!

Our regular narrator has returned to tell y-AGHGERF OU FFM MM MM !!! !

The response to that question remains unclear as Ruse approaches hys father to claim hys assignment.

In The Piano's grand (heh) opinion, it had already surpassed others, risen beyond, and grown in triumph. Certainly, it did not need any exclusive, time-limited contracts to help it achieve what it had, quite frankly, been born with.

However.

Although it did not need exclusive, time-limited contracts as a crutch for anything, mysterious exclusive time-limited contracts were something The Piano was interested in, simply because... well, it was powerful and whimsical and could do whatever it wanted, especially what would probably be fun and an excellent opportunity to aura farm. Also, it found the Collector quite the fascinating character, and it surmised that whatever this was, it would not be boring. Additionally, though it was more of an afterthought (don't tell Archimedes), this could also be a good opportunity to grow the reputation of The Organization. Let it be known that if you needed something done, The Organization had just the Piano you should talk to.

"Collector," rang out a delighted series of keysmashes that somehow coalesced into intelligible words as The Piano wheeled its majestic presence to meet the Collector. "My friend. We meet again!" A bundle of metallic strings reached out and gestured at the fiddle in his arms. "I am glad to see that you have continued your musical pursuits. And I am eager to hear what you have prepared for us today! I trust it will be quite the entertaining challenge."

She had seen the paper - thankfully, she was able to read it on her own and considered the words over carefully, many times. She didn't tell Lilith - she doubted she would approve of this, putting herself in potential danger with the strange folks down here, but knowledge...she was interested in knowledge. Knowledge on how to help her love, how to get them through this. Perhaps if there was a way to get them home...

She took a deep breath and packed her things for the journey. She kissed Lilith on the cheek and told her she would be back soon. All of this she tried to hide from her. Tried to keep up the front of being regular Eleanora, out to collect more food or more trinkets for their home. Not to make deals with devils.

She arrived in Canis and made her way towards where the missive directed her and found The Collector there - a figure she'd heard about but never met during her time. She also had never visited the cave, finding it far too macabre and sending her mind to dark, dark places as she waded through a sea of bones.

But she held face as she approached, giving him a small bow. "I heard you have...contracts? I would be willing to take one on, if you can help me."

Audland hadn't cared much for the blabber-mouthed papers yapping on some bullhonkey regarding singing and dancing and not being a loser or whatever. He found the improvisational invention of new words to be lightly amusing and annoying simultaneously, but unfortunately for Master Nemean, the missive simply hadn't caught Audland at a good time. Had he been luxuriating in the tunnels outside of Ursa, or at least not actively dealing with one of the incredibly annoying, ever-persistent "flare-ups" afforded to him by his alignment with Chaos, he might have shown a little more interest. Unfortunately, that pink glitter gel pen-laden email had only added to the frustration he was enduring thanks to the black winds choosing to death grip his skull in that moment, like an unseen hand he couldn't pull off no matter how hard he tried.

When the feeling finally abated and Nemean's missive lay torn to shreds beneath Audland's feet, Audland had opted for a long walk through Polaris. He had made it most of the way to Orion before he had found more yet more persistent parcels strewn about. He might have seen fit to destroy them too, had these ones been imbecilic enough to speak; but they had held their... tongues? And so, Audland would spare one a glance. Once he'd grabbed a hold of it, something in his gut told him that this one might be worth keeping.

Traveling into Orion, he had asked around for what the paper might mean. Those not immediately put off by Audland's lumbering, Valkhoundish appearance usually had little useful information to offer him. There was something about a man though—one who dealt in written contracts that few could read. It wasn't until Audland met some stupid looking pink thing that Audland had received any real information. "The Collector," the two-horned two-winged flying pinky people eater had said. "He'll give you what you need, for a price." Audland hadn't been too sure about trusting the guy, either because he looked funny or because the gleam in his eyes was funny. But Audland had needs, and never before had there been an inkling of a chance that something in these caves could do anything about them. Until now.

So Audland had taken the stranger's directions to the Bone Fortress in Canis, where he eventually caught sight of the one he assumed was the source of these summons; the man of the hour: the Collector. Audland attempted to will the only form of aid he actually had under his own control: the ability to see who was Chaos, who was Order, and who simply was not.

The singular trustworthy ability in Audland's toolkit managed to fetch him the most curious answer. One that suggested that pinkie might have actually been telling the truth.

Without any pleasantries or introduction whatsoever, Audland would begin: "There is somethin' I want," Audland would tell the Collector with uncharacteristically hushed solemnity, "that I cannot have, by virtue of my nature. I don't know what you'd call it. I think I'd know it as power." The Collector may notice the harrowed expression in Audland's face. Perhaps he would find it bemusing—promising, even. "An' there's a lot I'd be willin' t' do for it."

What kind of moral challenge could a Valkhound even face? I supposed we will all have to wonder, for now.

Faceless could not, in fact, read.

But it was bored enough that when it picked up one of the parchments drifting around, it'd simply wandered around and asked everyone it met if they knew what it said. After a lot of annoyed dismissals and grunted "dunno"s, it'd finally got the help it needed from one of the partiers 'backstage' in Orion's forum.

Exclusive time-limited contracts. If nothing else, it sounded interesting, and Faceless desperately needed enrichment in its enclosure. It'd backed out of the last deal it'd tried to make with the Collector, but it didn't seem to feel any awkwardness about that now as it stood waiting in Canis. It even seemed eager to see him again.

"I'm listening," it hissed, and leaned forward.

It'd taken Hog some time to find someone who could read the missive to her. Then, even more time to consider the idea. She didn't yearn for followers, nor for wealth.

But, upon her emergence had vowed to her friend that she would know everything there is to know. She craved knowledge, even if the bone caves made her stomach twist and churn.

Perhaps, in another life, she would have seen the irony of a pig falling into the trappings of greed.

However, she did not. Not now. Instead, she tried to keep a brave face as the young piglet entered, perhaps aware she may be the youngest in the room. That she was soft-bellied and naïve. She lingered slightly further away.

"I want a contract!" Hog demanded, her jaw clenched in an effort to seem more than she really was; a young pushover. If she put on enough face, the others would leave her alone. Or, even better, they'd see her as nothing and leave her alone. "I want to know!"

All she could do was try to seem confident. It felt like she was the only one who'd never met this 'Collector' before. Perhaps she was the only one who didn't know what to expect from all this...

They trickled in, and he greeted them. Some arrived alone, some ended up with visits heavily overlapping, and all of that was all right. The only problem was, he knew some of them. Oh. Some were his own damn kids.

Surely they'd have known better-? He'd taught them that his contracts were deals with the devil.

So to speak.

Ahh, well. They could accept, or not. He'd only go a little easy on them.

But the Collector made his small talk, to begin with. A "Wonderful to see you, Luna, truly. I am certain you are a master in your own right, but let us see what we can do, hmm?" and a "...Work, yes, if you wish this sort of work," with a faintly confused warning glance toward Hysteria.

Ruse was beckoned closer. A whisper. "A test. A little fun. I do not recommend participating. Unless you can truly steel that multicolored heart of yours." Or blacken it entirely. But his grin was knowing; Ruse was not the most softhearted of his children, he thought.

"Piano. Wonderful. I am only disappointed I have not had need to summon you sooner."

Those he hadn't met or didn't know well, like Eleanora and Audland, were given more generic welcomes: a sweeping gesture, a menacing smile (mostly hidden beneath the hood), and smoothly-purred invitations to sit. He didn't know what either wanted, yet, nor Faceless, or Hog. But--ahh, they'd get to that.

Incidentally, Audland would find not corruption here, but an exceptionally boring serving of Natural Order pervading the hooded figure.

Eventually--both to those arriving alone, or to all of those gathering together--the Collector would stand and speak. His clawed hands clapped together, and he cleared his throat.

"Wonderful to see so many faces here, known and not. Let us get down to business, shall we?" A hand gestured, and a desk appeared before him, seemingly made of more bones. A chair, likewise--and another chair opposite him. This one would resize for each Gembound who sat on it. Racks of papers and a flickering old desk lamp, dusty with disuse, and an inkpot with a battered quill manifested from seemingly nothing--as did a second, smaller table made of a giant, flat-topped skull, with a pot and cups of steaming tea.

"One at a time. Leave space, please, and try not to fight too hard over who goes first. Come to me, tell me what you want-" and here he glanced at Audland--"with as much precision as possible. Then I will give you my terms. Each contract will include an easier, initial task; and then, in two weeks' time, a second, somewhat more... challenging one. Complete both, and the rewards shall be yours. If you do not know what to ask for..."

He cleared his throat, and made a spectacle of putting on a pair of... well, spectacles. He cleared his throat, lifting a ragged-edged parchment and eyeing it. "I might recommend one of the following: aid in ensuring a gemstone is given life successfully. A fantastic gemstone to bring to life, yourself: buy a new friend or child today! ...Well, in a cycle's time. An enchanted item, perhaps created by my own hand. Knowledge: one answer of your choice. Or... a favor. Owed... by me. No murder, maiming, etcetera; my favor is more esoteric in nature."

The spectacles were removed, folded, and set down. He gestured to the Gembounds gathered. "So... who is going first?"

Gembounds are being invited to approach the Collector one at a time, and name their chosen reward. For the sake of faster posting, it's best if the reward named is as specific as possible.

The Collector will then assign a task, which each Gembound will, upon accepting the Contract™, have two weeks to complete. Then they must return for a second task. When this task is also complete (another two week limit), they will be given their reward, and the Contract considered complete.

GM posts will occur sporadically and address multiple characters but in separate sections per post, with the assumption that each discussion IC occurs separately. Feel free to GM tag when you've posted!

Offered rewards:

• Guaranteed Give Life
• Guaranteed Revive GM-designed lost stone
• Cursed or enchanted item, requests taken IC, the rest GM-designed (ex. 'something to wear on my neck to ward me from arcane magic'). Some enchanted items may have minor curses.
• Knowledge: a single question answered, should it be in the Collector's power to do so. Ask the question in your post so that he can decide if it's possible!
• One favor owed by the Collector: call and he'll come to the rescue or answer a question, etc. but he won't harm/kill someone else explicitly.
• Other: make a request! The worst he can say is no, probably.

@Luna @Hysteria @Ruse @The Piano @Eleanora @Audland @Faceless @Hog