Zavenlora now had general knowledge of a lot of things in the caves, including the ancients beings in the caves. Among those she had heard of, was someone called The Collector. A mysterious robed figure offering prizes for favors. She had also heard rumors that he resided in Canis, so she decided to come to see if she could get a gem, or something else if she could. The young one barked about, trying to call the collector to see if he was around. "Oh Collector! Oh Collector! Come out, I need to see ya and talk to ya about prizes!" The child still needed a slight lesson on manners, but nonetheless she was still a kid. Her tail waged in excitement to meet this person who exchanged favors for goods.

"Prizes... and tasks." The warm, silky voice crooned from the darkness behind her, as if it had always been there. From the shadows beneath an overhang, crumbled with bones and time, he stepped: cloaked, hooded, pinprick crimson eyes regarding the pup from the shadows of his cowl.

The last he'd spoken to had been... rude. And they had, for the most part, stopped coming. He found himself less amiable, a little more... bitter; and his tone, though smooth and perfectly polite, was not its usual jaunty self. Instead, he stepped forward almost aloofly, his pacing taking him around the tiny pup and before it. He regarded it with an utter lack of emotion, looking it over; wondering what something so small might be useful for. He had had good sport with even smaller things, but they always took a little extra innovation.

"What is it that you seek, then..? And what is it that you can offer me, in return? For these are not prizes, little cub. These are rewards."

@Zavenlora

Zavenlora was a bit spooked by seeing the collector, after all, she was just a child. Her ears flattened some and the small pup let out a frightened yip, before speaking. She also made sure to speak with complete respect. "Um hi! I have arcane magic so I'm looking for an important object I can use my hindsight spell on, so I can find out secrets of the cave. Or maybe any important ancient object, like a gem or something?" Zavenlora flattened her ears realizing she forgot to say please. "Um, please? I'm not sure what I can offer ya though. What do you have in mind?" The child was kinda scared, fearing what she had to do to get a prize.

@Game Master Dark

When he spoke, it sounded as though he were leering. "Some 'secrets' are best left uncovered."

He considered.

"You speak of secrets, but you want one object. That magic, that you have," and here he leaned back against the bone-strewn wall, "It shows you moments of the thing you touch. You aren't going to get many secrets from one object."

He paused, eyeing her with dull malice.

"I'll tell you what. Instead me giving you a gemstone, how about you bring me one. And then, I shall grant you a most powerful gift, exactly what you seek: something to empower your visions. Something to show you--as you travel the caves--the deepest, darkest secrets that they have to offer." His tone made it sound tantalizing, his red eyes sparkling with promise.

"But such things have a high cost... and not just any stone will do. Prove to me that you are a master of secrets. Lead another speaking, thinking Gembound to their death, through your lies, and bring me their stone. Befriend them, gain their trust; then betray them. Only a mind such as that can handle what secrets the Whisperer will reveal to them. I will know if you've completed the pact, truly, or if you have lied to me. That is my offer."

The Collector swept his hands out to either side--a promise, again; an offering. An invitation.

And then, he vanished completely.

The Collector exits.

@Zavenlora

GM note: Collector quests to kill or otherwise harm other Gembound cannot be predetermined. Meetings between two Gembound can be prearranged, but the outcome--death, injury, etc.--is not allowed to be decided in advance.

Zavenlora stayed quiet as The Collector spoke to her. When he said she needed to find a gemstone, she felt she had hope to get a prize. But when the collector stated how she had to get it, she immediately froze. Zavenlora was not a killer, and before she could reject, The Collector disappeared. Though, she spoke anyway. "No. It is important to me to find secrets, but a gembound's life is more important than anything. I will find another way to find secrets, I won't kill anyone." The Collector was very wrong, killing someone to find secrets was not right at all.

-Exit Zavenlora