Tunnel Rat
Chapter 399: Treasure Trove

Milo leaned back on a bed of pillows and watched the activity going on around him. Between the demands on his body from healing and Gendifur's painkillers, he was happy to sit and nap. Things had become frantic since the System had made the rewards announcements. The Scavengers had raced through the old city and, after two hours, found an antique wooden pirate chest with a complex lock that they brought back to the Engineers to open for them. After several minutes of swearing, Two-Screws managed to use a mechanical skeleton key to open the lock. The lid promptly sprang open, and a leering puppet on a spring popped up, reciting dirty limericks for ten minutes until it wound down. The only other things inside were a crank to wind the chest's mechanisms back up and a treasure map to another portion of the city. The pirates raced off again to find the next chest, which turned out to be just the first in a long hunt for their promised gold and gems.

Most of the Engineers were sitting and enjoying the smooth taste of the ancient whiskey and telling stories from their youth. A few were sorting the odd bits of machinery from the Chimera, cataloging every part and cleaning them well with solvent. You never knew what was on old machine parts or who had been handling them. A couple of the shortbeards were running with the Scavengers and enjoying the attention. Whale invited Sledgemonkey along, and to the amazement of all, the old dwarf went with the pirates as they ran around the city. "Just in the interest of safety. There needs to be one level-headed adult in the bunch." Two Screws shook his head and vowed to drink his friends share of the whiskey for him.

Gendifur, Brutus, and the girls were holding a family meeting to study all their options for spending a windfall of experience and enhancement points. With a chance to become 'Heroes in Training', it was essential that they made the most of their points. Both girls had overheard Milo's discussion with Hecate and the System. As their perception increased, so did their hearing. They hadn't understood what was said, other than the important point that 'Big Brother Tallsqueak' had made sure they got rewarded for their fight, and compensated for their injuries. They'd given him big hugs, and he only managed to survive because of the painkillers and cheese inside of him. The girls forgot their strength when they were excited. Hecate was...somewhere. He wasn't sure where, but her dogs were still here. All three pets were napping, arrayed in a circle around him.

Master Clawhammer was holding a similar meeting, helping the miners and smiths make good choices. Most of the ratkin slowly raised their levels and rarely went past the first Tier, but the invasion of the Hollow had changed that. Many were now solidly in the second Tier and could make very good use of certain enhancements to augment their professions. The Hollow was normally so peaceful that there was little opportunity for fighting except in the tunnels, where the pesky beetles and spiderlings might put forth a named champion. All of the ratkin used some of their points to take the available levels of Abundance and Skilled Provider. The Smiths picked up Heat Resistance, and the first two levels of Mitigation were also popular choices. Clawmaster had been hit numerous times with hammers while training clumsy apprentices.

Given the chance, four of the ratkin elected to take up magic, gaining an aspect and beefing up some of their mental stats, and Extra Mana. The Tower of Strife would be picking up some new students soon. And of course, with so many having taken injuries from flying shrapnel and splashing plasma, everyone improved their natural regeneration abilities. Seeing the horrific wounds that Tallsqueak and the girls were rapidly healing was a huge inducement. Milo wasn't sure if he was a good example or a bad one, but he was glad for his own healing abilities. If only his arm didn't itch so much. He couldn't flex his hand yet, and Gendifur said it would be a couple of days.

The stone man was seen around the city, appearing from the ground the day after the battle. He wasn't talking to anyone except Shiftstick, whom he referred to as 'Lord of the City' or 'Heir of Finditurpetram.'He immediately went into the old throne room and began sorting through the tons of rubble that filled it, and scrubbing the walls clean of soot and dust. If it had once been a grandly decorated room, as most dwarven lords prefer, there was no sign of it now. The Chimera had used its weapons repeatedly in the room, though it was unclear what it had been shooting at. Dividing walls were torn down, rock from the ceiling dislodged, and every exterior wall had taken a pounding, with the stone gouged out. It resembled a cave more than a room, with scorch marks everywhere. Carver found what was left of the bodies of the old king and his guard and laid them to rest in the prepared graves, placing large slabs over each.

Then he looked at Shiftstick, "What does the Heir command me to do next?"

Shiftstick was uncomfortable with the whole 'Heir' thing. "Are there things you're supposed to be doing? I thought you said you wanted to leave? Aren't you done?"

"I will take my leave if that is what the Heir wishes."

Shiftstick scratched his head, "Do you need my permission or something? Sure, if you want to go, you can. I mean, you did a fine job. A lot more than your maker probably intended, if he summoned you so quickly. I can understand you wanting to go home."

"If the Heir wishes me to leave, I will leave."

"That again. How about this? The Heir wants to know what it is Carver wants to do."

The stone man looked around. "The city has taken damage. It is not as it was. I would like to repair it."

Shiftstick suddenly understood, "Oh, right. Yeah, I get that. I'd hate to leave a job I'd finished in this state. We're agreed on that. As Heir of Finditurpetram, I wish you to repair or fix the city until it's how you like it, and then, if you want to, take your leave with my thanks for a job well done. That will please me." Carver bowed and then slowly walked to a spot where the Chimera's weapons had caused damage and began to mold the stone back to its unblemished form. Over the next few days, people got used to seeing the statue slowly moving from place to place, doing its work.

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Milo was happy to see that the System lived up to their deal, maybe even going a little further. The loot chest, when it appeared, was strange and foreboding, a huge, squat thing of weathered stone carved with faded script in a language that no one knew, and scenes of ancient battles between huge fantastical creatures. Several people thought he should go first, but he was content to lie on his bed and watch from a distance as each person walked up and was rewarded. It was decided that the Scavengers would go first, starting with the two captains. Whale sauntered up to the chest and lifted the lid. Inside was a large curved sword inside a dark, shimmering sheath.

Cutlass of the First Suns

This sword was forged in the last light of the first stars and still holds some of that light. Svarog wished to preserve a little of their light, so as he watched the suns fade, he gathered skyiron and astral dust and hammered the blade with his own hands on an anvil of primordial stone, creating a Legendary sword so old its origins have been lost in time, until now. The blade cannot be broken or dulled, and is sharp enough to cut through stone and steel, if the wielder is up to the task. When Zorya saw what Svarog was crafting, she added her own touch to his creation. She took a piece of dragon skin cast off by one of the star-movers and created a sheath for the weapon, one of the few materials it cannot cut through.

The hero who wields this blade gains +5 CHR and +5 AGI. It confers Drakespeech and Protection from the Void upon the wielder.

She strapped the dragonskin belt around her waist and drew the cutlass, being very careful. A soft reddish light illuminated the area around her. She inspected the blade, then dropped a coin on the edge and whistled as the gold piece was divided effortlessly into two halves. She carefully resheathed the weapon, "Pretty, but I think I'll only use this when things get serious."

A voice behind her said, "With all due respect, Captain, but it's gonna be serious right now if you don't move yourself out of the way and let me have a go." Captain Annie moved past Whale as the other captain hurried to get out of the way. Annie pulled out a golden trident partially covered in barnacles.

The Trident of Neptune

(Well, one of them. That man loved to collect them.)

Confers the following when held: Swift Swimming, Free Action in Water, Water Breathing, Sea Sight. The weapon will do three times its normal damage against any sea monster.

She lovingly stroked the weapon. "Now this is a Scavenger's dream come true. Looting wrecks is going to be a lot easier with this in hand." Following her own advice, she got out of the way of the next person in line. One by one, the pirates approached cautiously, their nervousness turning to glee as they pulled forth items with names like Ogoun's Iron Flask of Eternal Rum, Sea Sleen Boots of Water Running, and the Windcalling Harp of Aeolus.

The last Scavenger to grab her loot was Narwal, accompanied by her husband Boom Boom. Pushing up the lid together, Narwal squealed with glee, and Boom Boom grinned widely. They pulled out twin guns with heavy wooden stocks and thick, short barrels. They were obviously master crafted weapons that incorporated Magi-Tech in their production.

His and Her's Boom Sticks

Not even the Gods know who crafted these weapons. Ares wants whoever did to make more, and Typhon wants him locked up in Tartarus so he can't. Maybe it's good that he stays anonymous. These powerful hand cannons will use a variety of ammunition, amplified by the owner's mana, spells, and their skills. Care should be taken in experimenting with different combinations. (No one does. They just point and yell 'Boom!')

Narwal laughed and pointed at the ceiling far above them. "Good enough for me, BOOM!" To no one's surprise, the gun fired, sending a glowing cannonball at the ceiling, shattering a stalactite and raining down rubble. Boom Boom picked her up and got her out of the way, saving her from being crushed. She shook her head. "Wow, that's a weird feeling. I've never cast a spell before. Does that make me a wizard?"

Boom Boom had to try out his own weapon, but aimed for the area above the ruined part of the city, checking to make sure that Carver wasn't under that spot. He said "Boom" in a normal tone of voice. Instead of a cannonball, the effect spread out into a larger area, blasting a twenty-five-foot diameter circle. Small stones, dust, and two dozen large bats tumbled to the ground.

Brutus sent the girls to pick them up. "Waste not, want not. Looks like Bat Tacos are on the menu."