All Level, No Experience (Worm/Pathfinder Amnesia Quest)

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Very quickly and intra-unanimously, you had decided to stick around rather than just leave immediately, particularly considering taking the opportunity to speak with some of the present capes, and potentially even- though you weren't quite fully sure of the idea- offer the aid of some of your Terra-Cotta Assistants in the rebuilding efforts. That, and also with the intention of asking to keep some of the Ichor for yourself, not only did you just plain want that, especially since after it died there's been a steady flow from any damaged part of the Simurgh's corpse

To say that the mood was good, would be mostly accurate. Sure, amongst some there was a bit of sentimentality in the direction of those that had died in the first minute, but for the most part it was more a sense that it was a shame they weren't able to hold out that little bit longer to see this moment happen, rather than their deaths being unexpected. No, after all the photos were taken, Legend had even gone right into something of a speech, including how today had the lowest death toll in the history of facing the Endbringers. It was a touch convenient for all parties that he had started speaking before you stopped recording with your camera.

He finished his speech, "...Every one of us, hero, vigilante, and even villain, today, we've made history."

You, however, also caught- not on camera but simply on your own, how Shadow Stalker seemed about to speak up on that one, before Alexandria looked right at her, and the celebrating broke out, and you elected to stop recording right there.

Landing yourself on the ground, you lifted your staff and hit it with a quick Memory of Function to top it off, and then addressed the crowd yourself, "Pardon me a moment, all, if I could have your attention?"

When they turned to you, you took your phone back out and said, while typing in one hand, "For the Protectorate capes present, there are for the most part publicly available emails I can send the photos to, but if anyone else would like copies, or if any protectorate heroes would like some sent to a different location, please step up to inform me, or simply if you'd like to speak a moment. I would also like to speak with the more official voices about a couple matters relating to the aftermath, after this, however- relax, those of you I can see tensing up, it's nothing of concern."

Indeed, a good few people had gone up, and after only one push for them to form an actual line, you were able to start going through them. Not overly many capes were waiting, most of them had even just vaguely shouted a general message in your direction as they figured out who went where as a teleporter named Strider soon showed up to start taking people back. To which you did have to state rather loudly that yes, you could also teleport people back to where you picked them up, also pro bono in the same vein as picking them up. That had resulted in an exceptionally small bit of jostling about losing their place in line, which was quickly settled though as one of them simply paused and said out loud, "We're in line to ask for the photos of us in front of Eidolon killing the Simurgh, from the man who held her down, and we're treating this like we just got off a shitty themepark rollercoaster. Why the fuck do I care if I'm one space late? Just have it, man."

It was quick enough to simply go through the line, exchange greetings, pretty much unanimously receive thanks, with only the occasional mention of you slipping them, followed by you guiding them back onto track and sending off the group photo and the one containing them to whatever phone number or email they listed. After only a couple of minutes, with only a few people left the line dissolved- funnily enough a few others also from Brockton.

In particular, Armsmaster was present, next to Shadow Stalker, whom-

Hm, yep. If she had seemed like she was on par with a lesser cleric or such before, now with your improved ability to actually read people, you could tell she was on par with the most dedicated of Cultists you'd seen before. As in, on the uppermost end of cultists, the kind that started to get loyal beyond the promises of power, riches, etc. that whatever particular demon lord or archdevil offered.

Other than those two was a few Dragon suits, one of whom actually did hold Dragon's primary self, so of course that one was the one you would be looking at, to Dragon's much faded but no less impressed or appreciative surprise, and lastly Legend, who was also on ground level having landed, while in the background was Alexandria and Eidolon, as the two flew off-

Now wait up. You shouted towards them, "Alexandria, Eidolon, hold a moment! The Simrugh's corpse is actually part of what I wanted to speak with someone about!"

As they approached, said corpse in hand, and Shadow Stalker nearly stepped away before seemingly noticing that nobody else was, and so kept in place, even if your eyes she couldn't hide how she kept her weight leaned out.

You continued, "Yes, I was hoping to speak with you about acquiring a part of the corpse for myself."

It was interesting how between all of the masks, costumes (and AI nature inside a robot frame), and general natures of the people nearby, a typical person wouldn't have been able to see the general bafflement, yet with your own extreme perceptiveness it was fairly clear.

Regardless, you keep speaking, "In particular, I was hoping to request the ichor, if not all of it then at least a fairly substantial amount."

It was then that Alexandria floated down, and Legend responds, "If I could ask, why?"

After only a moment of thought, you say, "I am confident that my tinkering capabilities could work with the ichor quite well, and to my knowledge it is something for which there should be a relative abundance. Beyond that, I am confident in my knowledge of the various sciences, and am confident that I could do a fair amount of research into it, especially once I've set up a proper lab at some point."

It's then that Alexandria actually chimes in, "You're only confident? Not certain?"

You say, "To claim absolute certainty with the knowledge I currently have would be incorrect, however, if I could see the body a touch closer and perhaps interact with it just slightly, I might be able to speak more certainly."

Before Alexandria can do more than slightly open her mouth, Eidolon floats down with the body as well and simply says, "Of course."

It seemed to settle the matter, though you didn't care as you looked closely at the corpse, and, after looking at Eidolon and gesturing, he nodded and tilted it so that the ichor would start pouring out again as you looked closely (during which time the Haste, Eyebite, and remaining Walls of Force expired) and briefly stuck your hand under it, watching move throughout. It managed to confirm one thing for you. Endbringer parts, ichor included, would make for incredible talismanic components to magic item creation, similar to dragon heartblood, yet better.

That was because for one, from your examination, endbringer ichor could could be used at a rate of approximately 1 ounce/vial per 1,000 GP for any item, except for those items which would 'align' particularly with the Endbringer and what it was, where it would be able to provide twice as much effect. At least, so far as you could gather from the Simurgh's ichor, which you could tell would be able to provide the equivalent of 2,000 GP for items relating to mental manipulation, foresight, hindsight (which caught you unexpectedly), telekinesis, and flight.

And secondly, from the moment the first drop touched your hand you could tell, the ichor, and upon close examination body itself, was crystal in nature. Meaning you in particular could work even better with it.

Honestly, a small part of you was considering leaving one of the other two left alive but trapped somewhere, preferably stuck in a coma and with tattooed variants of a ring of sustenance and ring of regeneration just so you could keep harvesting the thing for these absolutely wonderful crafting materials. Especially since without the extradimensional blockage, due to the Dimensional Anchor dissipating on corpse, you could tell there was certainly some form of extradimensional effect manipulating space, meaning there was far more ichor than would be possible even if the original were to have been completely and utterly hollow. Maybe both, if you could manage it.

Immediately, you cup that hand and another beneath it to catch the small trickle, telling Eidolon, "Don't let it spill! This stuff is worth three-hundred and twenty times its weight in gold, double that in my own hands- not as literally as this, I mean- and double that if put towards the correct items!"

You carefully and quickly walked your way towards a choice bit of rubble with some metal sticking out of it, and simply using a bare hand wrenched off a thin piece, which you fashioned into proper metal vial & stopper over the course of one and a half minutes, into which you carefully poured the incredibly valuable material.

Once you returned to where you were, you spoke, "Yes, I can absolutely use this in my tinkering, to more conclusively answer your question, Ms. Alexandria. The rest of the body would similarly be useful as well, on further inspection."

Legend looks over to Alexandria for judgement on this, and she says, "While I'd like a demonstration, that doesn't seem possible, and you've earned a certain degree of trust, I'd say."

You blink once, look around, and in particular hone in a few of the particularly long feathers on one of the Simurgh's wings, some wood in a different pile of rubble, and then on Shadow Stalker's crossbow- not even repeating, which was honestly a touch shameful.

You say, "It actually is, and should only take just over fourteen minutes once I start. Fifteen and a half, since I'll need another vial. Well," you turn to Shadow Stalker, "Assuming you wouldn't mind receiving a new crossbow, that is."

You had set on mingling, and while a ward now, Shadow Stalker had both a history as a fairly effective vigilante, as you'd noted before would fit fairly well with either your homeland of Golarion or Faerun, and back in said lands, you'd certainly seen younger humans by a year or two doing well more in the realm of adventuring than she seems to have done. Hells, you were only seven or so when you murdered your father, a memory seems to come back to back up your point.

Shadow Stalker almost immediately says, "Oh fuck yes I'm on board with this."

You take your dagger from your sleeve- which by the singular moment of muscles tensing you can only see on Legend due to a mix of your perception and his skin-tight costume, he hadn't seen- turn to Eidolon and gesture at that wing, and after a nod, you quickly find the spots where you can cut off those few feathers you noted earlier.

From there, it's as simple as quickly putting together another metal vial, having Eidolon obligingly tilt the corpse, get figuring, forgehammer, and familiar set, and get started on work.

As you began the process, ask a plainly enraptured Shadow Stalker, "This process isn't particularly intensive, so I'm confident I can spare an arm. I presume you also wanted to receive copies of the photographs?"

Shadow Stalker speaks, "Yeah, text them to" she pauses, looks a touch towards Armsmaster, and semi-reluctantly by the sound gives an email address before continuing, "Also, one other thing."

You look at her only a moment, and in a rare moment of exceptional interpersonal insight, make something of a realization; from everything you can tell and recall, she seems to hold a worldview similar to a number of the more wild druids you've met- you've heard it called 'The law of the jungle/wilds/food chain' and all other sorts before. Plain and simply, the strong live, and feast on those that cannot or will not halt them. Whether that be metaphorically, socially, literally, or some mix of those, Shadow Stalker appeared to respect strength above all.

So, you simply turn back to your work, and elect not to be the one asking things.

It works only one minute later, as she says, clearly a bit thrown off, but with a bit more respect in her voice, "Can I have your autograph? Back in Brockton, obviously, nothing worth signing here."

After letting a few moments pass, you respond, "Would you prefer it in English, or in my native language?"

Shadow Stalker untenses a touch and says, "Native," a brief pause of a couple seconds, "Thanks, Mountain-Smith."

Hm, that is in itself an almost surprising amount of surprise, coming from Armsmaster there.

Speaking of, you turn to Armsmaster and ask, "Anything in particular for you?"

Armsmaster shakes his head, "No. I'm simply here in my capacity to watch Shadow Stalker."

You respond, "Ah, Ward supervision until you've fully returned. Fair enough. If I might ask, how goes your technological work?"

Armsmaster thinks a moment, then responds, "Fairly well. While I haven't had any major breakthroughs, I have been improving my the speed and quality of maintenance work steadily. I'm thinking I might have the time to add and maintain another feature onto the motorcycle if the improvement doesn't peter out too soon. You were right, by the way."

After a split moment that perhaps only Dragon, who's since left for other business and must have simply been hanging around to do so, would have noticed, you said, "About the shelf, I take it?"

Armsmaster nods, then adds, "Unfortunately, it took Assault a full week to stop trying to come up with faux-Swedish names for my tools and equipment, since it was installed."

You say, "Unfortunate indeed. Well, once I'm done I'll drop off you and Shadow Stalker first, then, having taken up more of your time than anticipated."

Armsmaster says, "Much appreciated," and after about a blink's time, "It's been good speaking with you again."

You say, "Much the same."

From there, it isn't much longer to finish creating the demonstration, to which you grab your dagger and carefully carve your own name in terran into the stock, and look over it once more.

With a polished dark wooden body, while the head was made of two carefully combined feathers, the quill-ends meeting in the middle of the weapon, while the bolt rest and flight groove were from the third feather, de-vaned and cut shorter. The soft vanes from the third were woven and combined into the singular and continuous bowstring of it, while the cut part was put to use for the repeating lever.

You hand to Shadow Stalker, who held it with the reverence a magic item made by you ought to receive which was admittedly gratifying, and you speak, "This, Shadow Stalker, is a Plus-one Human Bane Endless Ammunition Impervious Merciful Heavy Repeating Crossbow. I will email both you and Armsmaster with the more precise specifications later, but for now, know that it is baseline better than any normal crossbow, creates its own mundane ammunition, though any other compatible ammunition can still be loaded in place of that, is even further better against all humans, is highly resistant to damage even beyond what the materials alone would imply, and always strikes its targets nonlethally, though that last function can be turned off, and excessive nonlethal strikes can still result in lethal harm."

Shadow Stalker might not realize she's whispering out loud when she says, "Is this what religion feels like?"

From there, it is very much not an issue in not only getting the ichor, but with Eidolon also siding with you, and him being the man who actually killed the Simurgh, the matter gets settled fairly well.

Simply, going by the wings, each of the triumvirate 'get' thirteen wings which they elect not to remove from the body, the body itself goes to the protectorate as a whole, and you yourself get twelve of the wings, which is frankly quite well. Alexandria finds a good angle, and with a twist manages to rip them right off, yourself there to catch any stray ichor that might fall, which does fill up the two vials once the last wing is secured in your bag.

Lastly, before you nearly forget, you bring up the notion of loaning a few of your constructs to aid in reconstruction, but you are assured that both Dragon is already helping, and it'd be better for more of that sort to be handled by locals- Dragon already being something of a known factor in the way she is giving her something of a pass on that front.

Then, soon enough, you teleport everyone left that needs to be teleported about, and now, you're back at your base. The next endbringer attack, assuming the usual schedule, isn't do for a good while.

What next?

[ ] Work on your base, while you're here.
-[ ] Generators and Labratories.
-[ ] Moat.
--[ ] Water Moat (Traditional)
--[ ] Lava Moat (Unique, sends a message)
--[ ] Endbringer Ichor Moat (Unique, Sends. A. Message.)
-[ ] Other. (Write In)
[ ] Order around the Undersiders
-[ ] Send them on a heist for you.
-[ ] Power research time
--[ ] Anything specific? (Write in)
[ ] Set up an Ars Factum Nether Scroll to rest in the light of a Permanency-ed Prismatic Sphere.
[ ] You remember seeing on PHO mention of something called The Whitelist. Look into that.
[ ] Browse PHO for a bit, or otherwise just relax.
[ ] Hand the reigns to Iluontar.
[ ] Rest (and Level Up).
-[ ] Wizard
-[ ] Rogue
-[ ] Student of War
-[ ] Loremaster
-[ ] Other (Write In)
[ ] Something else, or a mix of the above. (Write In)

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(Your character sheet is the exact same as last time, except with the 12 Simurgh Wings in the inventory and the 2 vials of Simurgh Ichor.)

AN: Quite Tired, as might be seen by me short-handing the character sheet this time. Maybe I'll fix it later, once I've slept.

Enjoy!