Bones, bones, bones, BONES. EVERYWHERE. It would've unsettled Attikias if he were still a kid, but- well. Okay, it did still unsettle him a bit. He hadn't wandered this far yet, only really knew if it from vague knowledge and what he'd been told by Azizos.

And people lived here? How? Maybe things liked to eat from these dusty bones, and people ate from them? Kind of ironic that the herbivore directed him to a graveyard, though.

With a huff, Attikias fell back onto a hill to sit, swinging his full bag over in front of him. There was quite a bit in there- he'd grabbed everything he thought someone named a Collector would like to collect, and that included the majority of his carvings. Not the kirin one- no, that'd been left behind, but a few things he was proud about and would be sad to see go.

He had it in his mind that they were going to be like Dread. Interested in little piddly things. It fit the name, at least? But, right now, he'd been walking a while and he rummaged about in his bag, looking with his hands for the kind of fruit Azizos had shown him.

There. He would've brought meat, but he was worried it'd get dirty. Here, this thing had kind of its own capsule that he peeled back with one of his myriad of knives he'd miraculously not cut himself with while searching. It worked much better that way and he wouldn't have to deal with the smell lingering under his fingernails for the rest of the day.

He chewed as he contemplated, looking out over what was left of this cave. He'd seen a few beings from a distance, and he'd contemplated approaching, but they ended up going the opposite way both times from him and he just wasn't feeling up to a chase. Instead, he ran his thumb along the strap for his spear as he left the hand holding the meal drop loosely across a propped knee. How was he going to find the Collector? Did he just... Live somewhere? Well- Everyone did, Attikias, be more specific next time.

His mind twirled idly on non-important things, such as the next carving and what he'd do when he got home, tail flickering back and forth as he finished the fruit. When he was done, he threw the rind to the side and stood and stretched his gem-less arm above him, pulling the other in front of his chest. He'd been getting used to the dull pain it provided, even managing to hold it out in front of him, but any change of elevation with the shoulder itself still managed to provide a challenge. He'd get used to it.

He grumbled as he popped his back before looking about him. "Now, where is that Collector guy," he mumbled under his breath before cupping his hands over his mouth. "Hey! Collector, where are ya?"

It was the middle of the 'day', so hopefully he'd be awake.

"Why, I'm right here," came the smooth response.

From right behind Attikias.

It was a little delayed--he'd had to quickly get into position to maintain that seeming omnipresence--but he'd managed. He hoped the elf wouldn't notice. He'd been watching this one, regardless. His form... despite the thin coating of fur and the long tail--well. He wondered if a certain master had seen this one, yet.

The hood hid his expression.

His voice continued, rich in timbre and polite in tone: "And you are..?"

@Attikias

Attikias yelped, first off, at the sudden words, scrambling for his spear only to find it catching over the strap for the bag, leaving him with his arms awkwardly raised and tail spiked straight into the air.Was he there before? How fast did the Collector have to run to get there? Did he teleport?

Too many thoughts, too little time, as Attikias's beating heart lulled back into its average cadence with a sigh. "Sorry-" came first, followed with a readjustment of his posture. Right. Act normal. Clearing his throat, he glanced away with his head high and hands on the thicker strap of his bag. "Sorry, my name's Attikias. Or Attik. Uh- either one."

It was clear he was flustered at this point, still unable to push it past himself. Best to just keep on with the conversation. "My friend's told me about you. I figured I could give you some stuff? Dread- um. A guy in Monoceros, he started a bit of a barter thing, and I was wondering if maybe-" He paused. Okay, he was running over all of his words. "I've got a bunch of.. Things you might like? I figured since your name's the Collector 'n' all that you might like to collect some things." He shrugged- more on his right than left- and pried open the bag, revealing the mess of various woods and carvings he'd brought along to show.

"Dread likes pretty much anything I make, but I could try making whatever you want?" He pulled out a group of mice- crude, a bit, as it was his first attempt at multiple beings in one mass of carving, but still fairly alright. "I've been getting better- I've also got some things that aren't really anything, or I could make one of a person, or-" Slow down. Offering to make a carving of someone to a stranger was probably kind of weird. Huffing, he returned the small carving to the bag. This wasn't even why he'd come here, and here he was trying to ramble on to impress someone he barely knew about.

"Sorry, I wanted to- talk, I guess. I thought I could bring some of these along if you wanted 'em, but uh. I kind of just wanted to see- You have hands like me, right?" He held one up and flexed it a little. This wasn't rude, right? Just... Casually asking someone to see their hands, that was all.

Plus, he did stand up, as far as he was aware, and that was already a bit of a rarity in the caves for anything that wasn't a bird. Hopefully the guy'd want to talk- imagine someone just coming up to you and asking if you had hands, Attikias. It didn't help that he was still somewhat jostled from the sudden appearance he'd made behind him.

@Game Master Dark

The Collector swept past Attikias as the elf apologized, offering a brief, friendly clasp--reassuring--of one hand over his shoulder. It was a hairy hand, grey and black, with long and rather wicked black claws. The touch, if not shrugged away from, would feel soft and warm, like a slick-worn leather glove.

"Not at all, not at all," he crooned. "No apologies needed. It is good to meet you, Attikias." He tilted his head, at the name, and wondered about the stars.

He then stood quiet, facing the elf and listening. Attikias was tall, but even so the Collector towered over him. But it was still strange to see, somehow, two tall bipedal figures talking to one another in these caves.

It had been a long time.

Algol waited, listening quietly, and then offered both hands out, the cloak's length sliding back some to display his palms. His fingers were visible on the palm-side, beneath the hair, as soft, black skin: thick, but not rough, not padded. "I do have hands," he added, and then studied Attikias in thought.

"I would certainly be interested; and how kind of you to come to me with this offer. It is generous of you," he went on. His hands retracted. He bowed slightly, head inclined deeply to one side. "But I do not merely collect. I collect... and I trade, and they are items of power. But--ah! A craftsman. I have not seen one of your like in a very long time. Have you met my brother, the Blacksmith?" He was unsure if he'd met Attikias in the past; he remembered having referred someone to his brother, but who it was, he couldn't remember. "He is more the... creator. But I can augment your abilities; I do trade a wide variety of enchanted goods. I have something now, in fact... if you are interested?"

The Collector at last looked down among the carvings, and one long-clawed hand plucked out a carved mouse. He held this up and studied it, turning it this way and that so that it would catch the light.

His grin widened beneath the hood, audible as he spoke: "Tell me--do you hunt for your meals?"

@Attikias

The Collector's hand on his shoulder elated his heart like nothing else had before. He hadn't expected anything like this- he thought he was just an oddity, a glitch in whatever system dictated the world. Here, though, someone like him- tall, on two feet, with hands.

It was a bit of a system shock. He paused for a but longer than he should've before turning to face the Collector as he spoke, admiration and respect striking his eyes. It was like he'd reverted back into a child when the hands were shown off, Attik's own coming up with his own palms facing himself in dreamy comparison.

Back to business, though. Pulling his hands back and returning them to the straps laid across his chest, he watched with an intense interest- followed by furrowed brows. Items of power? Like spears and- what were they, bows?

"I've heard of him," the elf nodded as he opened his pack to look into it. "Do you know where he is?" That would help. But, what does a blacksmith do? Could he bring something for the brother, then? But, the Collector mentioned he was a creator as well; maybe he'd like the wood he could be offered.

New items sparked the constant curiosity in Attikias. "Oh-" he began on the question of interest, head tilted- "I am." It seems a little convenient that he'd have something on him that would align with the elf's interests, but perhaps he'd knew that he was coming?

He watched with reverence as a carving was chosen for inspection, something deep inside of him hoping he was impressed. "I do, yeah." For some time, it was almost all he did to get his meals, until Azizos had shown him some of the more edible fruits he could access that'd be a bit more filling than tiny berries.

@Game Master Dark

The Collector sighed sadly. "Alas, I do not, I'm afraid. He tends to wander, and often to places that you cannot reach." What a tragic shrug he offered.

But then he was closer again, one of those clawed hands delving into the folds of his robes. And what he came out with was what appeared to be an old, stone knife: pitted and primitive, broad-bladed with one long edge. Its point was still razor-sharp, but the time-worn blade itself had been dulled over what might have been centuries, or perhaps even longer.

The Collector held this out, turning it this way and that in his hands.

"I can offer this for your use, then. When you hunt, use this blade to kill--or to finish your kill. And then, carve with it; it will impart the truest essence of your subject to you, a true understanding of it. It will not carve for you, but it will enhance your perception greatly. Those few who have used this in the past have been blessed with creation of the most lifelike and beautiful carvings ever seen. Alas, they were wood, and have not stood the test of time... But it is long past time this gift was brought again into the world. Are you interested? There would, of course, be a price..."

@Attikias

Attikias gave a glance of concern as the Collector began with an alas. That was a bit unfortunate; perhaps someday he and the Blacksmith could meet, if things were different. A clipped sigh yet a slight smile was given in response. "I see," was all he had to say on it.

His face returned to one of wonder as the knife was revealed, his fingers curling in place on his bag. Even with its pits and spots, his first sense was a beauty for the creation. His second was 'is this a personal treasure for him?' He wouldn't want to take something that had been on someone's person if it was like that, but he did have stuff himself he'd trade away on him, so perhaps this was a similar situation.

The Collector went on to describe it, and Attikias pulled up a hand for a moment reaching for it before placing it over his upper lip in thought. It was clear by his expression- he certainly wanted it.

"What's the price?" Attikias took a moment to respond, trying to give an air of considering instead of just jumping to grab the thing for himself. No- he'd learned of doing business with Dread; he had to be civilized and courteous here instead of turning back to who he was as a child, ready to grab it and marvel over it like a dragon looking to amass his hoard.

@Game Master Dark

The Collector reached out, gesturing for Attikias' hands, and then placed the knife carefully across them. Once it was resting there he left it for a moment before placing one of his own hands over it, almost reverently.

His voice was quieter, more solemn, as he went on. "There is a beauty in death, as well as life. I ask that should you ever have need to kill a sapient being--a talking, thinking Gembound--that you use this blade, and bring me their carving in return. I am not asking you to seek someone out to murder-! No. But if you are attacked, if it must be done... Then I ask for it to be done with this blade, and the result given me as a gift. A... payment. Is this acceptable?" the Collector asked, withdrawing both his hands, folding them quietly before him.

slight poweremoting with permission

@Attikias

When the motion came to offer the knife, Attikias went near placid and yet keyed up in the same moment. To his mind, it was like holding something holy, something to be carefully maintained and near worshipped, and yet here it was.

He tore his eyes away from it when the Collector's hand overlaid his, true admiration flowing from him as he looked at the other's hood. It felt like a symbol of trust to receive something so powerful, yet so mundane when compared to most other beings who inhabited these lands.

Was there even anybody who could use this other than he and the Collector?

He gave rapt attention as the payment was laid out before him. Murder was- he wasn't like that anymore. Not when he'd realized that hunting the goose was a fool's errand, when he begrudgingly returned to make his home and stay in it. However- that wasn't the price. No, even mysterious beings had standards. Instead, it was a later opportunity, one he could take in an act of self defense, a chance to show himself how the knife truly worked.

He could work with that. He gave it a moment as he felt the blade by twisting his wrist, eyes glued to it.

He looked up, nodded, and uttered a single word with the resolve of someone holding back overflowing excitement in light of the serious task proposed to him.

"Yes."

Already he was drawing the knife closer to himself, holding it in both hands now as he tried to look mature about the situation. This wasn't planned- he'd come to give something to the Collector rather than take, but there was something he had to give in due time. The payment for a weapon of this value seemed nearly not enough for him to just be able to hold it now.

@Game Master Dark

The Collector took a sweeping step backward, and then a bow, leaving the stone knife in Attikias' hands. "Then I wish you luck with it, and may you create well, both in artistry and in clean kills; for death is a form of artistry, is it not? The true hunter knows," he added, tapping what might have been his nose within the hood.

"Good luck..." -and with that, the Collector disappeared.

Identified Item!

Attikias has received an identified item from The Collector!

2★ Blade of Artistry A time-worn, pitted stone blade. Imparts characteristics of slain targets into subsequent art.

☆☆☆☆★★ Blade of Artistry A time-worn stone knife pitted with age. It has a single cutting edge. When used to slay any gem-bearing Lesser or Greater Gembound, it will hold an echo of their shape and magic in itself, imparting it into the next carving or drawing made of this creature. "Death is a form of art, is it not?" ELEMENT:"arcane" MAGIC LEVEL: 70 DURABILITY: 30 SPECIAL: (CURSED): Effects as yet unknown... MATERIAL: Stone ATTACK: 3 ADDED: N/A DEFENSE: 1 WEIGHT: 4 EQUIP: Weapon Currently owned by: Attikias

@Attikias