Talan is viable for turn ins, it's the Artisan Tools menu option you want. I traded in HQ silver brocades for Artisan's Needles and got a tidy heap of mastercraft demimateria, which is needed for the new main hands, and some fieldcraft III as well. Make sure to choose an artisan tool that you can desynth and craft the corresponding turn in, which is a Master book I recipe item.