Chapter 94: Gert is a Big Doody-Pants

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. Ñøv€lRapture marked the initial hosting of this chapter on Ñôv€lß¡n.

Soul bound Black Pick of Skulking

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."