Could you elaborate on how talismans are made, how much they can do, and what they are able to look like? Its always facinated me how different say Elliotts is compared to Hollys and Melodys and I want to know more
A talisman and it's abilities + effectiveness depend heavily on the craftsmanship of the object. They are objects, preferably ones that are slotted into a spot or encompassing a part of the body so that it cannot easily come off and are imbued with magic, so typically they are made of sturdier materials that can withstand every-day wear and are capable of maintaining the potent magic.
The image of the altered body is requested by the user, but ultimately crafted by the creator's image and skill. Because of this, two talismans, crafted by different people with the same image in mind, are likely to bear slightly different results.
The three talismans in canon all work with gender-affirming magic, which is generally an easier medium than more complex and beyond-biological body alterations. They do require an intimate level of knowledge in anatomy on top of having deep understanding and ability of magic, meaning the amount of people who can make them in the world is slim. They are expensive to obtain and, for those who cannot fork out a fortune, have a long waitlist. On top of it all you are putting yourself in a vulnerable situation where your body is known to the artist, and your trust is placed in them to do it the way you want.
For as much of an expert in magic as Lauren may be, the talisman she created for Elliot is the most amateurish of the three. It is in a different field of magic than is her specialty, but she also does her research and does not half-ass things. Elliot would have to settle on a few things-- he wears platform boots to compensate for the fact that his talisman does not increase his natural height, for instance-- but is far happier in his enhanced body.
Aurore's talisman's magic is very basic, but structurally it is beautifully crafted-- and that is yet another layer to the process. It needs to have the human(oid) touch. One cannot just enchant a pre-made ring, it needs to be sculpted or built. Where Elliot's is rudimentary, a carved piece of stone, Aurore's is expert metal work. It alters just her breasts and no more, as is all she requested of it.
Melody's is the most intensive of the three, and is a second iteration, meaning her first version likely looked a bit different than number 2. She lost her original one when the Fault originally occurred and fortunately had the chance to have a new one made for her later down the line. It changes more specific details such as hair length, muscle tone, height, and has better internal enhancements for voice and other anatomy. Her original one was less complex, and cost her quite a lot of money. Thankfully this second one was made out of & purely for love!
While the bulk of talismans are either gender-affirming or at least within the bounds of humanoid anatomy (height, aesthetics, etc.), grander enhancements are possible, but far less common. The bigger the change, the more expertise is needed.
Above are some simple examples of what a talisman can be and what they can do. Rings, bracelets and necklaces are most common, but jewelery is also a popular choice. The second most common alteration after gender affirmation is beautification, but you can achieve your furry dreams, your monster needs, you can become an animal familiar, a giant, a freak of nature... there's a lot of potential!
Some things that are possible but are frowned upon are race alterations, appearing in another person's image, and obscene appearances that are likely to upset onlookers. It's less likely to find experts willing to create talismans for these things, but they do exist.
Talismans are novel and fascinate a lot of people, and are seen often as a trope in media, but are quite rare to come across in the real world. Celebrities have easier access to them because of money & notoriety, but the average person is unlikely to know someone close who actually has one. Many people who do have them also like to go stealth with them, so you may never really know if someone has one of their own!
Oh, and talismans do not work on anybody other than the one who they are made for. They are linked to their owner, and are inert for all others. This is standard practice for all talismans, for if not, the wrong user could be seriously harmed by using a talisman shaped to the body of another.
