These last few days were... oh, boy. Tiring. As soon as Eythan arrived in Canis, immediately darted into the Chambers and passed out from exhaustion again, just outside of his own nest. He almost made it. There was no telling how long, exactly, he had slept for, but he woke up with rather sore arms. He had laid on top of them and thus the hardened, reinforced leather of his half-untied arm guards. His fur stood on end, roots rather sore from doing so for so long. Tiredly, he untied the talon extensions from himself and shuffled them underneath the little bed of moss he had made for himself. Itching at his legs, he sighed. Sweet freedom. Yawning himself more awake, the hybrid spun on the spot and peered over the edge of his little nook. Ugh, the idea of flying itself was awful. Even walking sounded unfavorable, if he was to be honest with himself.

The Collector could just manifest, right? He didn't have to be at the dead center of Canis all the time, right? Blinking tired eyes and rubbing away gunk, he shuffled onto his nest to look a little more casual, and called: "Coh... llector?" Talk about sleepy-voiced.

There was a soft tinkling sound from just to Eythan's left.

A figure loomed there--only a foot or two away, dark-robed, tall--and the tinkling was a orange topaz crystal, rough and dull except where it caught the light. Then it glinted, like scintillating fire. A tiny, plain steel loop connected it to its leather cord. The top of the cord was currently held in the grip of the Collector's grey-furred hand, the black claws clutched around it, offering it forth.

The rich, smooth voice purred. "You have helped these caves more than you could know. You have earned your reward. Take it."

Identified Item!

Eythan has received an identified item from The Collector!

3★ Talisman of Sacrifice A crystal on a leather cord. Can be used to sacrifice one's own health or life to save another who is dying or has just been killed. A Successful Other roll can save the user via their chrysalis. The talisman is lost on use.

☆☆☆★ ★ ★ TALISMAN OF SACRIFICE An amulet of raw topaz crystal set on steel, hanging from a plain leather cord. The wearer may prompt this amulet, through an intentional spark of magicka, to take on any wounds, injuries or even death incurred by another Gembound--transferring their wounds, or death, to the bearer. It is possible, but rare, that the bearer's stone will save them from death by transferring them to a chrysalis. Upon use, this talisman shatters and becomes non-functional. ELEMENT: MAGIC LEVEL: 80 DURABILITY: 75 SPECIAL: (+roll)Chance to Survive Fatal Damage in Chrysalis MATERIAL: Raw Topaz ATTACK: N/A ADDED: N/A DEFENSE: N/A WEIGHT: 1 EQUIP: Jewelry: neck Currently owned by: Eythan

@Eythan

Like little bells that were suddenly too obnoxiously close, came the Collector. Eythan didn't even have the energy to flinch or jump at the suddenly enormous presence next to him, looming and holding a rather inconspicuous object. Oh, thank goodness it wasn't some dumb pot or something he had to lug around. He blinked blearily, though his ears flickered forward in genuine interest.

"Yeah," he said to nothing the Collector had said in particular, pulling his right leg from underneath himself. Shifting to adjust, he reached out to hook a talon about the talisman's leather cord. "Thanks." In a spark of genius, he twisted around so his tail was in view, tying the thing about his actual tail, but beneath his first set of tail feathers. "Inconspicuous as fuck," he mused. Which, to be honest, it was. Then, Eythan turned back to the Collector, head tilted as he spoke, "do I just... think really hard to use it?"

The Collector watched as Eythan practiced his knotwork, not saying a word until he had finished. Only then did he helpfully explain.

"It must hang about your neck; you must focus your magic upon it, and even the slightest touch will activate it, according to your intentions. Be wary you do not use it inadvertently. I believe that concludes our business..?" A smooth question, a tilted pair of horns, and ensuing silence.

@Eythan

"Then, I guess I won't wear it around my neck," he laughed, nervously. Slightest touch? No thanks, man. "Whatever happens, I'll just kinda take it off my ass and put it around my neck. Otherwise, there's way too many Gembound that'd try to steal it." As an afterthought, Eythan added, "plus, my not-mom would probably have questions."

Blinking, the hybrid nodded. "If you're done, I'm done?" A questioning lilt bordering a squeak accented his voice, managing to make two seconds of eye contact with the Collector.

The Collector stared, for a beat.

Clawed hands gestured almost gently toward Eythan's ruffed neck.

"It must be around your neck to activate--and it is unlikely that you will have time to move it there before your ally dies, in such an event. By the 'slightest touch,' I refer to your magicka. It will not act without your intent--but it does not take a powerful spell to work. You must focus, and spark its flame with your magicka. By my warning, I meant that perhaps you ought to take it off while dreaming. Though I doubt it would do terribly much for a nonexistent friend."

The Collector took one step back, hands slipping behind the cloak's folds once more. He bowed, deeply. "It has been a pleasure doing business with you. Come back any time."

And then, as if he had never been there, the Collector was gone.

@Eythan

The hybrid nodded mutely, listening but not quite to the Collector's words. Time was of the essence, but Eythan could work around it. It wasn't as if he tied super intricate knotwork. "You too," he said, in the Collector's absence. As soon as the enormous presence was gone, the gryphon simply stood, turned about in his bed, and went back to sleep. And this was everyone's supposed unknown hero, wasn't it?

; exit Eythan