Summoner Quest (Celestial Menagerie)

This chapter kicked my ass. I wrote a bunch of stuff only to realize that it just didn't flow well and was unnecessary. So I was forced to cut it out and start from scratch. And I hate doing that. I know it's part of the writing process but I still don't like it.
As a result, the chapter is slightly smaller than what I planned. I hope you like it anyway.
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Thursday, 05/19/2011 (4 PM)

More than satisfied with the power testing we just did and happy with the prospect of freeing people from unimaginable torture I returned to the Orb in an excellent mood. And it improved even more when the Pioneer and their charge exited the Dungeon just as I reached it. An over-excited Hug bounced all around me, extremely proud of his achievement gurgling and cooing all the while.

Already I could perceive a minor change in his appearance. Their orange goo was now lightly tinted green. They managed to reach level three in both of their classes. And the abilities they've gained would indeed make them into fantastic gardeners. The plants they took care of would grow faster, be healthier, and produce more. In addition, they are now able to identify all plants at first sight. Something that could be massively useful when we got around to travel to other dimensions.

We spent some time celebrating his success. Olky procured some candies that we shared. Hug ended up eating the majority of the sugary sweets to the point that he collapsed into a puddle of content goo after a while. I left him there so he could enjoy his food coma.

Then it was time for some training of my own. Namely training with Zilla's Nuclear Chakra. With Leviathan dead the next Endrbinger to attack would be either The Simurgh and I already have some ideas on how to deal with the feathered bitch. Or Behemoth, and for him having some ways to handle the radioactivity would be a great boon.

This occupied my time for roughly an hour before I needed to return to the real world for another round of Console duty. Dauntless was keeping watch over the ABB's former territory. Miss Militia was with him, her growing swarm of Manhattan Transfer allowed her to survey an immense area all at once.

At the moment things were calm. The remaining ABB gang members appear to not know what to do without leadership. It was mostly a good thing because they defaulted to hiding or fleeing the town and so didn't cause mayhem. Of course, there were still some incidents but nothing major.

And so two hours later I was free to go. Just in time to join Colin in his lab. He asked me to come see him.

I found him doing a checkup of his halberd. Even after working with the man for more than two months, I was still impressed by the amount of functions he was able to cram into his weapons. The grappling hook was iconic of course, but there was also a miniature saw, a taser, a retractable shield, and more that I didn't know about.

Once he was finished he put the weapon to the side and motioned for me to sit down.

With a serious tone, he spoke up. "I'll go straight to the point. I've decided to accept your proposal. Surveyor could be a massive boon to my abilities, both on the battlefield and in my lab. The test I've done proves that it can repair the majority of my tech."

I smile. "I'm glad to hear that. Have you thought about the power that you want with it?"

"It wasn't an easy decision to make. But after much consideration, I decided that the most beneficial power would be the one that you call Independent Agent."

This surprised me and I said so. "Oh, I would have thought that the ability to summon it more often or to summon three at times would appeal to you more."

He shakes his head. "I considered those but ultimately decided against it. I much prefer the ability to send the drone beyond the limited summoning radius imposed by your power."

I nodded thoughtfully. "I can understand that." I clapped my hands. "Well, no sense in waiting. Let's get started!"

I grabbed his outstretched hand and after a deep breath, I focused on Grant Summoning.

As it became usual I took a moment to stare in awe at the tapestries created by the patterns engraved into my soul. The spectacle was just as beautiful as the first time, better in fact it had only improved since then because more and more patterns were added over time amplifying the effect. Then I got started. Locating the pattern for Surveyor didn't take long and the one for Independent Agent was also swiftly grabbed. Putting the two together, I carefully push the resulting sphere against Collin's soul which accepts it easily. And then I let go of his hand.

I watched as Colin's eyes remained unfocused for a while as he contemplated the feelings generated by the acquisitions of his own partner. The expression of wonder on his face was odd on his usual stoic facade.

When he regained his composure he looked at me with seriousness. "Thank you, Alex. I won't forget that."

I left soon afterward so Colin could get acquainted with his new partner.

On the way back toward my office the Menagerie triggered with another power, an influx of knowledge and reflexes flowing into my head.

I knew how to forage for food in the harshest environments, how to find water in the desert, how to build a shelter, how to build clothes out of the crudest materials, and more. I was now a Survivalist expert. There was some overlap with my previously gained knowledge, mainly Hunter and Farmer but there were also a lot of new things. I could now do an amazing Robinson Crusoe impression.

But despite the comprehensiveness of this power, it was for me functionally useless. With all my partners and powers I couldn't imagine a situation where the only way to survive was to build a shelter out of palm leaves and eat the barely edible roots of an exotic plant.

Maybe I'll find some use for it when we start traveling between dimensions. Or maybe I'll find someone to give it to who possesses a power that such bits of knowledge synergize with.

Once back in my office, it was time for me to prepare for tomorrow's meeting. It would be the second time I would go to New York but the first time didn't really count. I was five and only got a few scattered memories of that visit. And anyway I wouldn't have much chance to visit the Big Apple. Tomorrow I'll try to divine the location of Nilbog with the Triumvirate as my witness. Maybe we'll be able to end the threat straight away.

And I also had a few other things that I wish to discuss with Legend.

Before returning home I did one last visit to the Orb, for my daily round of summoning materials.

While I was doing that Nimue informed me that she wants to try her hand at creating a unique magical material of her own. It was something that Dungeon Cores could do by the simple expedient of infusing a massive amount of mana into something. Most of the time nothing happens, sometimes it creates an explosion, and sometimes you'll get a magical something out of it.

I thought it was a little early for her but I wasn't opposed to it if it was something she wanted. I wondered what she would create.

[] Living Wood
Note: Items made of Living wood can regenerate if given water and sunlight.
[] Clinging Chitin
Note: Items made of Clinging Chitin can adhere to nearly any surface on command.
[] Hydrophobic Scales
Note: Items made of Hydrophobic Scales repel water to a supernatural degree.
[] Superconductive Copper
Note: Superconductive Copper is a superconductor within a temperature range of -50°C to +150°C.
[] Time-Locking Flesh
Note: Items fully enclosed by Time-Locking Flesh are frozen in time.
[] Luminous Ink.
Note: Ink that emits light and that can be applied to any surface, including liquids, or even empty air.
[] Reverberating Wood
Note: Instruments made of Reverberating Wood emit clearer sound and transmit it further.
[] Block of solid Air.
Note: A near-invisible material with the durability of softwood.
[] Reversible Fur
Note: Fur that protects from both cold and hot weather depending on which side is on the outside.
[] Sovereign Glue
Note: This can be used to fuse two objects permanently.
[] Evertasty Spice
Note: Massively enhance the taste of anything this spice is applied to.

Wordcount: 1216
Excess words: 951
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Thanks to @Feather_Up for reminding me of the Dungeon rules about loot. It really inspired me.

For the roll, 310 (Banked) + 120 (Chapter) + 0 (Excess words) = 430 points.

[] Creature

[] Power

Voting will be closed Wednesday at 3 PM GMT

I didn't expect so much enthusiasm for the Superconductor but okay.

Details:

-Companion: You gain one creature of your choice costing 100 points or less. This creature is permanently summoned to your side, it does not count against your summoning limit. This creature is real in every sense of the word, it needs to eat, sleep, and care. It can die but you can resummon it after 24 hours.
You can gain this benefit any number of times.
Note: Instead of choosing a new creature, you can choose one we already have to become a Companion. In that case, we'll gain a random 100-point creature as a normal partner too.
-Geater Companion: You gain one creature of your choice costing 300 points or less. This creature is permanently summoned to your side, it does not count against your summoning limit. This creature is real in every sense of the word, it needs to eat, sleep, and care. It can die but you can resummon it after 24 hours.
You can gain this benefit any number of times.
Note: Instead of choosing a new creature, you can choose one we already have to become a Companion. In that case, we'll gain a random 100-point creature as a normal partner too.
-"Variable" Dimensional Adaptation: When you gain this entry choose one creature you possess and PERMANENTLY transform it into a creature from another Dimension.
The options are listed below.
The Cost varies for each option, in most cases, the cost is calculated with one of two formulas.
Either "Base Cost - Creature Cost (X) = Real Cost"
Or "300 + Half creature Cost (X) = Real Cost
In all cases, the Real Cost cannot go below 100 points.
If you do not wish to gain any of the available entries you can keep your points. But you cannot reroll.
200 - X: Pokemon: Grant one or two appropriate Types, an Ability, and can learn Moves.
600 - X: Godzilla: Become a Kaiju between 80m and 100m in height and length.
200 - X: Devil May Cry: Become a Devil's Arms while keeping all their power.
200 - X: Dragons: Gain a Dragon-like body, wings, and an appropriate Breath Weapon.
600 - X: Xenoblade: Become a Rare Blade, gain an Element, a Class, a Weapon, a Field Skill, and appropriate Blade Arts.
100: Slime Rancher: Become a Slime that leaves behind a unique new Plort.
100: Final Fantasy: Become an Invocation.
300 + 1/2X: Terraria: Become an item that allows for the at-will summoning of the original creature.
600 -X: Naruto: Become a Tailed Beast with access to chakra.
300 - X: Golden Sun: Become a Djinn of an appropriate element, able to use ONE of their power when unleashed.
300 - X: Okami: Become a Celestial Brush God and give you access to ONE of their power as a Celestial Brush Technique.
100: Warhammer 40 000: Become a Tyranid, and gain the ability to equip Biomorph Equipment.
100: Horizon Zero Dawn: Become a Machine.
100: Subnautica: Become an aquatic creature, that can swim and breathe underwater.
300 - X: Card Captor: Become a Card, granting you access to their power.
300 + 1/2X: Worm: Become a Shard, giving you access to all their powers directly. Function like a Custom Shards
100: Slugterra: Become a Slug, return to the previous form only as Velocimorph
400 - X: Type-Moon: Become a Servant with all changes that entail, including a class, the ability to benefit from Command Seal, and transform any special move or power into Noble Phantasm.
Note: The Tailed Beast and Servant options won't be available because they're the ones that won the last two times we got DM. The list of possible DM can be found here. Our point budget may remove some options from the list.

Vote:

[] 200 Companion
[] 400 Geater Companion
[] "Variable" Dimensional Adaptation

[] Reject everything and keep points.

Voting will be closed Thursday at 3 PM GMT