Book 2: Chapter 41: The Guild Vote

Book 2: Chapter 41: The Guild Vote

Malt called the meeting to order with an ear-splitting shout. He gave me a wink as everyone sorted themselves.

“It’s a Milestone ya get fer anything involving parties or managing folk,” he confided. “[Project Voice]. Browning has an evolved version strong enough ta shatter glass n’ stone.”

I nodded. “Oh, I got offered that once.”

“What did ya take instead?”

“[Bottomless Barrel].”

“Now why would ya need that? There’s always more than enough ta drink.”

“Eh, I think we’ll need to agree to disagree on that one.”

“It’s completely unacceptable! The Sacred Brew is a dwarven tradition!” The emerald-haired dwarfess exclaimed when the din dropped enough for her to be heard.

Several of the brewers bristled, and muttonchops actually spat. “You think gnomes aren’t as deservin’ of our Sacred Brew as any dwarf, Master Caskit? When they helped build this city!?”

“Hear, hear! Well said, Master Stonetusk!” A blonde haired dwarf beside Stonetusk pumped his fist and cheered. That was Master Brewer Bristleburr. Annie had him marked down as one of our six supporters.

“Our ancestors never allowed gnomes to brew. Should we really be the ones to break that tradition?” The ginger twin harrumphed, though he appeared more contemplative than combative. I put him down as a ‘maybe’. The inaugural upload of this chapter took place via N0v3l-B1n.

“The gnomes have always been willing to allow us to become Baristas. Isn’t it about time we allowed them to become Brewers?” A hooded dwarf grumbled. “It would be in the spirit of the Octamillenial.”

Beside me, Rudd was counting on his fingers. He whistled when he reached the end of his calculations. “It’s much higher than a 75% increase in sales. We’d be the only brewers serving gnomes in all of Crack. For a while at least.”

A cloaked figure actually began choking, and their neighbour patted them on the back until they spat up a chicken bone. “Dear Gods! The potential gold!!”

“Who cares about the potential gold!” A white haired dwarfess pulled her hood back. I immediately recognized her as Master Brewer Zirce Icewhite - her clan was named after their signature white hair. “This is about holding fast to our traditions!”

Another hooded brewer put up his hand. He had a quavery voice, but a lot of these codgers did, so I couldn’t tell who it was from that. “Goldstone. You mentioned the Pot corporation. I know them. Aren’t they a tea company?”

Drum snorted. “They stopped bein’ a simple tea company near a thousand years ago, Master Cimon. Mebbe you should take a minecart out of yer cave more than once a century.”

Malt held his hand up for order as arguing broke out again. “Now that we know the gist of it, let young Goldstone tell us the specifics.” He yielded to Annie who stepped forward, her eyes full of a confidence I was pretty sure she didn’t feel.

“As of yesterday we have a beer that a majority of the gnomes we’ve spoken to find more than acceptable. Some declared it superior to coffee.” Well, Beatbox had, but he loved regular Sacred Brew so I wasn’t putting much stock in his opinion.

There was a shocked murmur from the Master Brewers, though a few still had complaints.

“It had better not cause farts this time.” A hooded dwarf shouted.

Caskitt rolled her eyes. “OBVIOUSLY the Sacred Brew is superior to coffee!”

Annie ignored them and continued. “We entered talks with the Pot company to join us in a subsidiary position, much like when a branch clan or trusted ally is given brewing rights within a specific city. As per the Country of Crack Ordinances, Chapter 956, Section 23, Subsection 2, gnomes may not become Brewers, but in this case they wouldn't be Brewers, they would be labourers within a dwarf administered facility. I’ve worked it out, and it’ll all be legal and above board.”

“It’s cuttin’ the spirit of the law, is what it is...” Caskitt hissed.

Rudd held up his hand. “Then why even bother with tha gnomes, eh? We could do it all on our own. I’m not sure about using a gnomish subsidiary, but I’m all for bringing the glory of beer to the gnomes.”

Eight. We had EIGHT. One more, come on, one more! I prayed for luck, to Barck, to Tiara, to anybody! Jesus! Yearn! Dionysis! Whatever!!!

Then Master Crackle raised his hand. Caskitt gasped, and the dwarf who'd choked earlier shouted angrily, “it’s a lotta gold, but gold’s just gold!”

“It’s not just the gold!” Crackle snapped. “Me sister’s in the Highwatch! You lot forget that for us smaller clans, our families have lives outside our Breweries. If Drum thinks this could help bring her back alive, I want it. Do you even know how many energy potions a Highwatch team gets on a patrol!? Not enough!!”

Malt counted twice, then clapped Annie on the back. “Welcome back to the Guild, Young Goldstone. Or I guess it’s just Goldstone now. You’ll need ta earn tha Master Brewer part! Ha!”

A lot of things happened at once:

The Brewers burst into applause, angry shouts, and thrown food.

Annie went ramrod straight, her eyes getting the faroff look of someone reading through notifications. Then she smiled, “I got a Blessing! From Barck, for ‘Successful Innovation in Cultural Business Practices’!! I can finally become an [Inventor]!! Oh and Aaron too.”

I also got a string of notifications.

*Bing!*

Stat Increased: [Charisma]!

Your charisma has increased by 1! Your new charisma is 17.4!

*Bing!*

Quest Complete: Guildsman

Back to where you started! Are you progressing, or backsliding?

Rewards: [Thick Skin]

*Bing!*

Quest Complete: Gnomebody to Love Pete

Finally! An officially sanctioned gnomish brewery!

Rewards: [Friend: Gnomes]

*Bing!*

Specialisation Possible!

Please select 5 Milestones to combine into a Specialisation!

Merge Milestones?

Yes/No

I chose 'No'; I didn't have enough brewing Milestones to make a second Specialisation worth it yet, and Barck had recommended waiting for [Pete's Poor Manasight] to get it.

And then a moment later Annie screamed, “BY BARCK’S BEARD, I GOT A PERSONALIZED MILESTONE!!”