Holy shit, did someone actually get why the Collector was such a bastard?

"Sorry, there just seem to be a lot of tall, spooky folks like you and the Collector. I hate his ass, too," Eythan scowled, more so because of the persistent rain than actual annoyance at the Masked Merchant. He was definitely a little spooked by that mask drawing nearer, and he took a few cautious steps backwards. Better to not tempt death.

He'd like to live to see this cave the not-Collector was espousing information about, at least. It had rewards at least, probably not imposed by some idiot with hooves and hiding behind a cloak. At least this lad was modestly clothed and not hiding vague gestures in furs. Also, no ominous pinprick eyes--- just a spooky mask. Eythan could live with that.

Woah, a reward actually out in the open from the get-go? The gryphon liked this guy infinitely more than the Collector. Eythan felt a little useless, though, only because he magicka preferred to be fairly inaccessible for reasons unknown to him (probably because he just never bothered to actually... learn about it and the might it actually offered.) Sure, he can turn himself into a statue, but when has that ever benefited him?

(Let's not acknowledge that he's only ever done it for stupid, half-baked ideas.)

(See: the super-charged golem incident in Cetus.)

Once a few Gembound had left (including his protege, Kalama) Eythan bravely stepped forth, again. "I'm thinking that I might not be very useful for finding stones with actual magic in them, but have you got any other way to help out? I'm not looking for any spell reward or anything. Magic's not my strong suit at all."

The Masked Merchant listened in silence. When Eythan spoke, he tilted his head slightly. "I do not hate Algol; he merely..." And here, the Merchant waved a hand slightly, as if in thought. "...sets his sights low."

A moment of silence, and then the creature went on. "You may bring stones, and... others may determine their worth, perhaps... It will save time. But the gemstones of the strong... are all that are required... to open the gate."

@Eythan

Eythan's internal dialogue went something like this: holy shit, was that an actual name? His external? A chirping laugh. "Of course his name is something stupid like that. Not at all intimidating." Anyways, setting sights low? That sounded suspect, but at least this guy seemed honest and had Gembound actually somewhat in his favor. "He sure likes bullying children and overstaying his welcome in this damn cave." One of these days, Eythan thought, I'm gonna evict his ass.
Big dreams, buddy.

Anyways, at least Eythan could definitely find shiny rocks and hope they were "gemstones of the strong." "Aye-aye, cap'n." Without much more to really say, he trudged off to the edge of the circuit.

;exit Eythan

Kalama huffs and stops picking at the dirt. How hard could finding stones be? If the cat can do it, so can shee. She's seen a bunch stuck in skulls here and there. She'd be able to find stones easily. But a nagging feeling in her gut tells her that actively seeking them will give her much more trouble. Irritated at the simple thought of being inconvienienced, she stomps off to find stones. She'd find them all on her own.


Speech. Thought

Kalama temporarily peacin out

Shango trotted back in some days later, the hooves beneath his feet clattering quietly.

He came to where he'd left the Masked Merchant, and--finding him still present--he walked up to him.

His jaw opened.

Stones spilled out.

He hadn't really been sure how to carry all of this, so... here it was: twelve stones of decent energy (once pupil-level Gembound), and one raw Tiger's Eye Agate, striated in dignified browns and golds and thrumming with a once-Master's power.

"Stones," Shango explained, though it didn't really need explaining. Then he stepped back, sitting down, licking his jaws and waiting for the others--and for his reward.

Note: Shango's stones were found in this thread.

A young bird approached, then, and Yoosung tilted his ears her way. Wilder leaped up to greet everyone, and when she approached him, Yoosung lowered his head to touch his nose to hers with a smile, watching idly as she bounded off to the others. But his attention was drawn, then, back to the Masked Merchant, fur standing on end. He was not one for hate, not at all, but it managed to cause something truly visceral to curdle in his stomach.

'You mistake me,' it said to the hybrid, 'for a doddering troublemaker, seeking... playthings.' and that rubbed the dog wrong--that was what the Merchant was. They were his playthings, that he was alright with killing. It addressed them all, then, and he twitched his ears. They were to face another Trial?

But he didn't have long to linger at the thought, as the Masked Merchant turned its gaze to him, and then the wisps launched at him. The dog scrambled to his paws, leaping back with a squealed yelp. He cowered, ears flat and fur on end, tucking his tail, only for them to strike a rock. But they were white hot, and he squinted against the heat, flashing his teeth.

Everything screamed at him to turn away, to run off and shake the Masked Merchant. But the kitten was already bolting off to do his bidding, and the dog scowled--well, that was decided for him, he supposed. He straightened, and shook himself, glowering at the Merchant. Trotting away, he looked back over his shoulder, watching as first Wilder, then Shango, left. But the odd hybrid was addressing the Merchant, and he was curious. Apparently the Collector(?) was named Algol, and he tilted his head. The hybrid left then, too, and so Yoosung took his leave.

-temp. exit Yoosung-

I've been on a lonely tripdragging along a lonely shadow

as a maiden she tiptoes shy with her light...

So the Collector's true name is Algol. Thothaga chittered in amusement. The Masked Merchant had quite an interesting opinion on him, almost like they were related. They did have similar tastes in apparel after all. Ha! Algol, the Doddering Troublemaker looking for Playthings. I like it. Thothaga had some questions for the Collector after this. She looked forward to playing that little game.

But gossip was not the reason she had came. Thothaga had promised the Merchant she would return for the other trial, and not matter how dangerous, she intended to enter and succeed. To do that, she must collect the stones of the strong, yet fallen. How fitting, The spider witch thought. The path to perfection is paved with the imperfect. She would collect these fallen, and she would enter. Thothaga only hoped that, ultimately, her fate would not to become one of these stones.

With her mission in mind, the spider scurried off to complete the Masked Merchant's task, but first, she wanted to seek out Algol. There were thoughts in her mind she had to put to rest.

*exit Thothaga

"Thothaga speaking."
Thothaga thinking.

After some time had passed, Wilder came trotting back to the place where the Masked Merchant awaited their return. She was the first back, she observed with glee. "Hi there! I found a lot of gemstones for you!" She meowed happily to the Merchant.

She lifted her paws out of the straps of her bag and shrugged it off of her shoulders. She pawed open the pockets containing the gemstones and let the twelve stones she had found for him roll onto the ground. She pawed away the pink spinel and held it out. "This is the strongest one I could find! The rest are strong too but this one is special!"

Giggle limped to the Merchant with but one stone: a powerful gem, once belonging to a master of magicka, which still lay firmly stuck in a thick femur. This she carried in her teeth.

She set it down at his feet, and then stared at him, dark eyes inscrutable, for a moment before turning away. She paced some distance off, turned to face him, and then sat down--and waited.

The matronly hyena didn't like handing off a potentially-revivable gemstone... but the bones had been specific, and ominous, about all of this. First, they'd said that doing this caused no real harm; it was simply a delay. And second, they'd been very, very clear about not reviving any of the stones she'd found. According to her readings, according to the way the bones had fallen, doing so would be a terrible thing. Something about failure, about something else happening afterward to them, anyway. She was meant to wait, and so, for now, she would.

But she wanted to know just what the hell this being was up to, and so she sat, staring, and waiting.

________________

ROLL THE BONES

Note: Giggle's stone was found here.

Black did not often bother to be stealthy; he was a direct and straightforward being, with an honest personality. Now, though, he was using caution. He did not know what this new stranger was doing, and though his suspicion was only faint, for now, he felt no reason to expose himself so early.

Quietly, then--and very, very slowly--he picked his way closer to the gathering. He lifted paws cautiously, stepping over bones rather than scattering them with his step. Carefully he stepped back down, drawing himself gradually along, keeping always to the shadows.

Once they were in sight, instead of only hearing, he called upon his magicka to hide him--to keep him even deeper in the blackness than he was. He could not really see himself, bar his paws, which always looked black--so he simply hoped that it had worked, and made his way closer and closer. He was shrouded, indeed, in deeper darkness. It was not as powerful, perhaps, as it could have been--but it would hopefully do the job.

Once near enough to hear, he settled himself behind an outcropping of bones, focusing, for now, on his magic--and on listening.

________________