Tunnel Rat

Chapter 94: Gert is a Big Doody-Pants

There were a lot of people in the mines when Milo got back to that level. Too many people for his comfort, it was like a street fair. Vendors were selling food, and there was even a musician playing a tune and a few people dancing. A steady stream of new people were coming from the upper levels to see the remains of Uthneragrubban, and to gawk at the huge crystal chest that was dispensing loot to those who had fought. The people who had fought in the battle were showing off their new weapons or items of loot and making up the stories about how they took part in the fight.

Milo skulked closer, staying in the shadows, sometimes walking right past people on the outskirts while staying unseen and unnoticed. He saw a lot of miners with crystal picks. That made sense to him. If you could choose a type of weapon, why not get one that would help you mine as well? Some had double-headed picks with balanced heads. Others had a pick-mattock or pick-hammer. Mattocks were good for moving lose rock and softer stone like coal deposits. The thick blade could also chop down like an axe.

A group of rangers were formed up nearby. Each of them had a new crystalline axe of varied types. Dwarves preferred axes over swords, and their short, strong bodies were ideal for wielding them. Burnock's rangers were looking a lot better. Many were equipped with new shields as well.

Milo just wanted to get his loot and then scamper upstairs. He chose the side of the chest with the most shadow and skulked up to it slowly. As he got near, the system sent a query.

As one of the major contributors to the victory over Uthneragrubban, First of the World Bosses, you have gained rewards.

Please choose a weapon type.

Additional rewards will be available as well.

A long list of weapons appeared. Milo chose Pick-Mattock and the image of a shiny, crystal weapon appeared, the head mounted on a sturdy gnarled wood handle. It was too pretty for Milo's taste. Shiny was bad. In the dark it would throw reflections and make it hard to hide. And despite the message saying it was soul bound, people would fight you for the wealth they saw hanging on your belt. Maybe it was different in other areas, but this was Shadowport.

"Does it come in any other color?"

You are such a pain...

Why yes! It comes in any color you like, as long as that color is black!

A sturdy looking tool fell at Milo's feet. The head was a dull, black finish that would reflect no light. It was perfect. It was followed by a fist-sized bag of what sounded like coins, and a small, silver knife. He scooped up the items, noticing that heads were turning in his direction. He did a backwards roll into the shadows and moved away until he found a quiet spot where he was undisturbed.

Soul bound Black Pick of Skulking

This sturdy pick is made of Tier 4 materials and will cut through lesser materials with ease. When mining, the normal sound of a tool hitting rock is decreased by 75% and the sound dies out entirely after 50 feet.

Cautious Knife

This silver knife appears as a normal eating knife. If the knife touches poisonous food, it will turn black. The deeper the color, the stronger the poison.

Useful items. Milo liked them. The bag had 40 silver coins and a large ruby. Small sparks of light moved in the gem's depths. Identification only told him that is was a Live Gem. Milo had no idea what it was worth, that could wait for later. The guild could probably appraise it for him. He wondered if he could learn the skill himself.

Retracing his steps to the top of the guild hall, he saw Bernard at his desk. The halfing was wearing an obviously magical leather breastplate of red scales, with a crystal spear next to him. He was startled when Milo started to speak. "Ack...geez...don't sneak up on me that way! I guess that teaches me a lesson for daydreaming. What can I do for you kid? I hear you got in some good shots at the boss. Gain a level? Want to give your kindly Uncle Bernard a little dues money?"

Milo liked the halfling. He told you his rules right at the start and then was consistent. "Yes, I actually do. I just leveled up to Tier 2, and level 6. Bernard raised a bushy eyebrow. His eyes appraised Milo again, noting the fancy spanner on his belt, and pick in his hand.

"You've been busy. Good for you! I like busy people. The dues is two silvers for Tier 2, and three more for Level 6. Your looking at four silver for Level 7, 5 for 8, 6 for 9, and a gold for 10. Another gold for tier 3, and then....well, it goes up fast but most of you mooks will never get that far. I'll give you a deal if you want to pay up front. Twenty silver will pay your dues to the start of Tier 3. Save money and pay while you have it." Bernard rattled all the numbers off fast, but his body language indicated he felt that he didn't expect anyone to pay up front.

Milo actually liked the idea. Less coin to pack around, and it was cheaper. He pushed forward another fifteen silver to go with the five already there. The halfling smiled. "And I like a man who's confident that he's moving up in the world. Your all set, kid. Come tell me some stories when you hit level 11." Bernard handed Milo an updated guild membership card. This one on much tougher paper than his first.

Milo waved and headed out into the city, being cautious. He remembered the last time he'd left the guild hall, and been ambushed by Philistron. This time he stayed constantly in the shadows, and ran over the roofs until he was looking down on the little cheese shop in the merchant area. There were several halflings there. He didn't see Jethro, but he did see the older woman he'd dealt with. They were talking angerly and searching through the empty crates.

Milo dropped off a rooftop two-feet away from the shop. "Where's Jethro, we need to talk."

The old woman and four other halflings turned quickly. Grandma stepped up to him. "Trust me, I'm wondering myself. He has a lot of explaining to do before I strip his hide and tan what's left. The little shit got us caught up in some deal and nearly sold on the auction block at Fort Hopeless. Was that you we saw sneaking around just before all the crazy stuff happened?"

Milo remembered seeing halflings in some of the cages. From the state of their dress, all five of these had been on the airship. Milo nodded, acknowledging her guess. "Yes, he captured me as well. Right here in fact, while I was talking with Jethro. Philistron kept some of us in another room where he tortured us. We got out and stole the ship."

Grandma looked at the others. "Nothing for it then. We leave for good. We can't rebuild with the chance of a slaver around." One halfling picked up a box with a few items in it, none of it cheese, according to Milo's nose.

He stood up himself. "You don't have to stay here, but you also don't have to fear Philistron. He's dead."

The old halfling looked at him hard, trying to get the truth. Finally she nodded. "Ok, I'm happy for that. And if you had anything to do with it, you have my blessing. Maybe we're here next time you show up, maybe not." They turned and walked away, clearly exhausted and depressed.

Milo moved through the town. There was a lot of chaos. He smelled smoke, and from the rooftops he could see a section of the docks had burnt, and then the fire had moved up-cave devouring houses and other buildings. He stopped at two taverns, several street vendors, and one of the larger merchants: no one had food, let alone some cheese. The merchant gave him a clue. "Go see Gert, she's been buying up food. Paid me double for every bale and barrel. I kept just enough for my family."

Milo followed his directions to a large warehouse down at the docks. From one roof over and two stories up he could see the warehouse, with quite a few large guards around it. Over two hundred people were in front of the warehouse. He knew some of them. Brother Ignatius was there with several members of his choir. Milo wanted to thank them for their help, but he wasn't sure about going down into the crowd.

The door opened and a large, muscular women walked out, flanked by two more guards.

"Last deal of the day. Then I need my beauty rest. If you have food for sale, I'm buying and paying higher than anyone in town. I'm not selling for another two days. Deal with it."

Ignatius moved forward. "Gert, please. There are people who have lost their homes and need food and shelter. Food which is in scarce supply, and locked in warehouses like yours. We aren't beggars, but we can't pay four times normal prices, and can't wait another two days. People will die. Some of them are your people. You grew up with some of these families."

Gert sighed heavily. Ignatius was one of the few people who could talk to her like that, and he knew it. But she wasn't that little girl any more. That person died while she worked hard to fill her own mouth. "Not my people. Just people. Everyone is out for themselves in this town. You should know that by now."

"Charity will just get me broke, and there will be more hungry people next week. Maybe I'll be one of them. Now I suggest you move on. I've done nothing wrong, just bought and sold. No looting, and I don't buy looted goods. Squint isn't going to come down hard on me just for making a profit."

Milo was pondering what was going on here. He saw Gert's point. If she was playing by the rules, what was the problem? She looked like she worked hard. There was not a speck of fat on her. At the same time, there was Brother Ignatius working to feed everyone. Was he like the food cube delivery system? Making sure everyone got at least some food. If so, it looked like a broken system. But it wasn't Milo's problem to fix, was it? He didn't understand people, so he didn't trust himself to solve their problems.

He wondered if he'd have enough money to buy his own food. Besides his ruby and a few silver, did he have anything of value? Maybe in his stash. In the craziness of the airship he had tossed a bunch of stuff into it, some of it had been books and boxes, but there had been some treasure with jewels. He brought out the secret box and grabbed a couple of items. He'd have to go dump this soon, hopefully in his Arcane Library. He pocketed the items, and was about to head to the Rustyguts Inn and see if Ralph had any food when he saw another person he knew

"But I'm hungry!" The small child wailed. An older girl ran forward to get him and he slipped free. "No, I won't be quiet! Gert is being a big Doody-Pants and hiding all the apples! I'm hungry!"

Milo's eyes narrowed. His mind quit pondering the situation. It became clear in his mind. He ran at the edge of the building and leaped high into the air, sailing over the crowd and landing in a tumbling roll in the open space in front of Gert and her men. From behind him he heard a child's voice muffled by his sister's hand over his mouth. "Mr. Tails."

The guards all reached for their weapons. Milo held out his empty hands.

"Hi, I'm Milo. I want to do some business."

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