The amulet itself was simple – a multi-layered leather bag with a leather strap. In the first layer was sewn what the Darvithri must have thought was a gemstone. It did look somewhat like one – it was, after all, round and smooth and an intense red color, and it shined glossily against the dull hide. It was, however, nothing more than a common river stone, crushed smooth by the movement of water and rock. A poor-man's gemstone, Raemos supposed. It – and the leather, worn as it was – would take magical manipulation well enough, and the craftsmanship of the Darvithri amulet was actually quite good. Raemos supposed that the beast races had to be good at something, to make up for their general inferiority.

He hefted the bag experimentally, feeling a bulge that told him that something was inside it. But what? It would be good to know so that he could enchant it properly. Very likely, it was something crude, disgusting, and uncivilized. Raemos couldn't imagine it being anything else. Yet, the beadwork on it's edges and the care that had been given to the bag-amulet's craft implied that it was special to them, and Raemos knew that little was known about what passed for Darvithri culture, except of course that they were trouble in tiny packages. Even if he didn't care about their kind – which he did not, he'd seen the scorched and mutilated remains of their attacks and had slaughtered enough of them to know that, at best, they were hostile mountain neighbors that could and would turn murderous – it was a valuable opportunity to gain some important scholarly knowledge.

He fumbled for the clasp, untying the intricate knot that held it closed and, gingerly, tipped its contens out onto the clean glass of his worktable. It was not, as he had been expecting, some sort of ghoulish trophy or totem; no rotten severed fingers or claws met his gaze. Nor, indeed, was it filled with pebbles, dust, or anything of that mundane nature that a primitive lesser race might find somehow spiritually relevant.

Instead, gleaming in the magicked light of his workspace, were a set of five tiny ivory carvings. Raemos flicked down the magnifiers of his goggles, squinting at them.

Most were shaped like Darvithri:

One stood, a spear carved carefully but inexpertly into it's tiny hands, it's ears meeting upward at the cusp as it stood, faceless and vigilant. It could not stand on it's own, but it's pose was clear – it was ready and wary, prepared for danger.

Another was seated, short and squat, hands carved roughly in front of it, resting on it's knees. This one was calm, meditative. Intriguing... thought Raemos, It is almost a counterbalance to the first.

He turned the third figure over in his hand. This one was more difficult to interpret. Though a Darvithri like the others, it seemed to have wings carved closed into it's back, and stubby horns sprouting from it's head. The wings had jagged markings on it, almost evoking fire, a sensible assumption considering the Darvithri affiliation with that element. It stood upright but instead of defined arms, legs or weaponry, it's base was a pillar, covered with more of the jagged lines.

The fourth piece of ivory, on closer inspection, was actually a Darvithri tooth. It was newer than the others, carved with small, rough symbols. A name? A phrase? Or just pretty? Raemos was not sure.

The fifth was unusual, and he inspected it especially closerly. It was slightly bigger than the others, newer and less adeptly carved. It was not a Darvithri at all. Instead, it was humanoid and horned, with two spires poking awkwardly from it's head. It's creator had paid special attention to the head, carefully etching some sort of cat hood.

Raemos blinked, and then chuckled lightly. The hood was not hard to recognize: it seemed that the dovaa and the darvithri were, indeed, close. Also, that the Darv were capable of the sort of bond that would warrant such a trinket. Carefully, he put the objects back in the bag, and began sketching his enchantments.

~~~

Raemos was ready this time, in advance of the Dovaa barbarian's irate and impatient remark. “Yes.” he said, the moment he heard her fur-lined boots tromp onto the floor of the enchanter's store, “It is ready.” he put the now-enchanted amulet on the counter and smirked, “I hope it's to your liking.”

Red picked it up and inspected it before handing it to her companion. “Is this okay, Yirho?” she asked the darvithri. The beast looked at it, seemingly nervous. There was no evidence of Raemos's handling on the leather, and on the stone...

“Tilt it to the side.” he advised, gesturing appropriately with his hands, “Just so...”

The Darvithri didn't understand idea until Red demonstrated it for him. “Whoa!” she exclaimed, the darvithri squealing in surprise as, at just the right angle, the amulet glittered with runes of shielding and protection. “Neat!” Red looked at Raemos, impressed and suspicious. “So, why ain't it glowing like my axes, huh?”

“I thought it was of some special significance, so I didn't want to change it too much...” Raemos glanced at the Darvithri, who had begun to babble happily, “It seems I made the right choice.”

“Yeah.” Red looked at the darvithri for a moment, smiling absently “I don't know what it is...” she said after a moment, “But it means a lot to him, and it's supposed to protect him, so I figured I should... uh...”

“Give it some insurance to that degree?”

“... Yeah.” The dovaa began to rummage in her pack, “I gotta pay you, right?” She hesitated, “Hang on...” her scowl returned and she paused in her rummaging, glaring at him assessingly with her fierce eyes. “Does it actually work, or is it just all shiny...” she squinted suspiciously, “You ain't... trying to uh... cheat me, or anything?” She said it oddly, as if it was a strange, new concept to her.

“No.” said Raemos, “But the shielding effect is subtle. It will absorb some of the damage done to his person, but...”

“Huh?”

“You might not notice it.” he said.

“Don't try to trick me!” she said, “If it don't work, it don't work. And if it don't work, I don't gotta pay you...”

“Actually.” he said, “You already paid me, so that's not a question. And it does work. You just might not notice it at all. But it will be there, protecting him. That is what you wanted, right?”

“Yeah, but...” he could see it in her eyes – a desire to trust, an instinct to believe. She was a brutish, simple creature from the wild, where even deception was honest. That trusting nature must have burned her many times. Raemos felt sorry for her.

Briefly.

“Fine. Fight me. And him. We'll test it out!”

“I'm not going to fight you.” Raemos said, shaking his head.

“Why not?” she glowered at him, a familiar expression by now.

“I don't want to. I'm off duty. And I'm busy.” he made a shooing motion with his hand, “Go fight someone else, if you wish it. In the meantime, if you have no more items to enchant...” he crossed his arms, “Then please, get out.”

She thought about it for a moment. “Fine.” she said, finally, before skulking out, a happy Darvithri following behind her.

Afterwards, when he was sure he was free of her, he sat back and let out a sigh of relief. “Please, oh lady of light,” he offered in prayer, “Let that be the last time I must deal with that barbarian...” He was sure it would not be, but oh, he could hope...

Raemos Crafting
Rank 10 -> Rank 11 Enchanter
Created: Yirho's Amulet (+5 defense amulet)