Threadbare complete tr.., p.85
Threadbare - Complete Trilogy, page 85
“Now that you’re here I can help make golems. Would you like to observe?”
“Ah. About that…” Gudrun sighed, and flipped her long silver ponytail back from where it rested on her shoulder. “The markets are out of yellow reagent.”
“Really?”
“There was a run on it late last night, evidently,” she frowned. “If you can wait a few days, the miners should have a new crop when they come in from the Western digs, that’s where most of it comes from.”
“Hm.” Threadbare said. “I don’t know if our people can.”
“I’m sorry,” Gudrun said. “I told them it was King’s business, and asked them to put the next batches aside for you.”
“Hey Mistah Beah, you gaht a bit?” Madeline poked her head around the doorway.
“Yes, of course.” Threadbare pointed at the pots, and adjusted the pack on his shoulders. “Here you go. Please use them well.” He cleaned the tools, sat them down, and headed into the main room, with Gudrun’s thanks following.
Once he got back to their communal room, Madeline shut the door behind him, with a snap and a twist of her wooden maw against the doorknob.
“It’s the Lurker,” Cecelia said, examining a tangle of copper wire. “This is his opening move.”
“Buying up all the reagents?”
“Not just that. I gave Gudrun a list of components I’d need to assemble a new Steam Knight suit. The most important ones suddenly sold out just before this morning.”
“She says,” Graves said. “What a coincidence, that she’s the one doing the buying, and we are suddenly unable to get what we need to help with the war effort.” He sighed, and held up a sturdy steel shield. “At least the commonly available things came through, so I have arms and amor again. But the rest… it makes me wonder about the veracity of our hostess.”
“You think she’s the Lurker? I don’t see it. She had plenty of chances to try something last night. She literally knows where we sleep. Well, where you sleep, desu,” Kayin said.
“Maybe because she doesn’t want to get found out. Moving against us here would be too blatant, if she’s the Lurker.” Cecelia said. “But if someone else is, then they WILL move against us here, to frame her… Oooh, this is all twisty. I hate intrigue. It’s all complicated.”
“Then let us make it simple,” Zuula said. “We go. We hunt giants as tribe. And when Lurker show, we stomp him to bits.”
“Captured alive, if possible,” Garon pointed out. “We know he can come back from the dead.”
“Right. Threadbeah, you got the thing?”
“Oh yes,” The little bear handed Madeline her pack, pausing to pull the object in question from it. “I think it came out pretty well, all things considered…”
*****
After some quick logistics, the group suited up, equipped themselves, and headed out into the Hold. The dwarves they passed in the dim tunnels stared at them, gave them wide berths as the toys, their cats, and their lone human companion marched by.
Four minutes into the trip, Gudrun came puffing up, racing until she fell in next to Cecelia at the head of the group. “What… what are you doing? Where are you going?”
“We’ve heard good things about Jotunher. We thought we’d try our luck,” Threadbare explained. Cecelia ignored her, marched on without a word, face barely visible behind her doll-sized helm.
“I…” Gudrun shook her head. “We need to know when you’re going to do things like this. The other ministers need to know!”
“We’re old hands at dungeon raiding,” Garon reassured her. “We know our limits. We’ll be back in a few hours at most, it’ll be fine.”
“I… Don’t go in! I’ll let the others know.” Gudrun said. “Please just wait until we get there.”
“All right,” said Madeline. “Run fahst. We have lots to do, so don’t keep us waiting, okay?”
Gurdun beat feet down the passage, and Fluffbear sighed to watch her go. “I feel bad for tricking her,” the small bear squeaked when she was gone. “She baked us cookies. I mean I couldn’t eat them, but they looked good.”
“They were delicious,” Graves told her.
“You checked them, right?” Garon asked.
“Unpoisoned. Confirmed by my appraise,” Graves replied without missing a step.
All told, it took an hour to wind through the hold. The tunnels got smaller and smaller as they went, until Graves was stooping full time, and had to put his helm on to minimize the damage from collisions. Some of them were fairly dusty, and they passed by two guardposts, with suspicious eyes watching through stone slits as they did.
“What ah they gahding foah?” Madeline wondered. “They didn’t even challenge us.”
“They’re not here to keep people out of it, they’re here to keep watch out for things that come out,” Garon said. “Must be why the tunnels are barely dwarven size. If it’s a dungeon full of giants, no way they’d fit through here.”
At last, they came to a final corridor. Beyond, the wind howled past a huge archway, built with curves and lines that were much cruder than the ones that filled the dwarven halls. Natural light, the first they’d seen in over a day, gleamed in from outside.
And footsteps rang in the corridor behind them. “Hey!” Bazdra called, barely breathing hard as she ran up to them. “What do you think you’re doing?”
Hidon materialized from the shadows behind her, arms crossed, with a disapproving look on his face. “You do know where you are, right?”
“Oh yes,” said Threadbare, glancing around from his perch on Pulsivar’s back. “We know it’s dangerous. We shall be very careful.”
Hidon and Bazdra shared a look. “Is there any way we can talk you out of this?” Bazdra asked.
“Nope,” Zuula said, folding her arms.
“You have no idea how much of my time you’re wasting.” Hidon rubbed his eyes. “Fine, let’s get this over with quickly. Invite us in.”
“What?” Threadbare said. This wasn’t the plan.
“Invite us in. The King’s orders were to ensure your survival,” Bazdra ground out. “We know Jotunher, you don’t. We’ll even settle for half-shares.”
“Hey now,” Hidon said. “Don’t go crazy there.”
Threadbare looked at the groups, and rubbed his head. “Ah. Garon, can you take them please?”
The wooden minotaur thought it over. “I… suppose. I’ll have to… well, Fluffbear and Mopsy could transfer over to yours. It’ll mean that both groups are running without pets. On the upside we’ll both have a full seven.”
The toys and their friends reshuffled, and Bazdra frowned. “You’re sticking me with the group that’s all golems? My party heals aren’t going to be much good there. I should go with the cats, and the human-”
“No, no, it will be fine,” Threadbare said. “He can heal himself, and Fluffbear will look after the cats. Please trust me, we’ve worked well together before.”
“You’re sure?” Hidon squinted at Garon. “Because I only count six in Threadbare’s group. The two bears, the two cats, Mr. Graves, and Cecilia. She could shift over there easily enough.”
“Oh, six, right, six,” Garon said. “Slip of my tongue. But no, no, it works better this way,” Garon said. “Besides, I’m a shaman and so’s mom. There’s enough healing to go around. We need you in a more tanky role…” he told them, as he led them forward, after inviting them into his party. “So, please tell me about your jobs and specialties, if you would…
*****
A few minutes after they departed, Jarrik heard Madeline’s voice whisper in his ear. “We’re in. You in position?”
“Yeah,” he wind’s whispered back, keeping his back to the wall, and settling in for the long-haul. His camouflage and stealth skills, long-practiced these last five years, had let him slide past the auxiliary guard posts easily. And his Keen Eye was up, as he glanced up and down the hall, leather coat pushed back far enough that it wouldn’t creak and give him away.
Now comes the hard part. Waiting.
As it turned out, he didn’t have long at all to wait.
After a few minutes, his ears twitched, as footsteps echoed down the corridor. He looked over to see a hooded figure run past, black beard flapping as he ran for the archway.
That’s Hidon. But he just went in… Jarrik started to inhale as realization crashed in, then held his breath. Can’t make a sound.
Hidon slowed anyway, stopped as he got to the archway, and glanced around. His gaze passed over Jarrik without registering and kept moving. Then a flash of steel as he pulled a dagger free, and he was gone.
Well. That settles that. Jarrik drew one of his pistols, and checked the primer-
-and barely had time to snap the chamber shut and freeze, as another set of footsteps pounded down the hallway.
Silver hair trailing behind her, Gudrun ran like her life depended on it, hands holding her skirt up as her boots trampled the floor, puffing and panting.
She too slowed as she came to the archway. Jarrik held his breath as she glanced around. Then a flash of steel, as she drew a pistol of her own, and she was gone, into the dungeon.
Shit, Jarrik thought.
Then he shrugged. Whatever the case, his role hadn’t changed. He moved to the corner of the room, dropped his camouflage, and drew out his pipe, tamping it full of tobacco. Once it was lit and smoking, he unbuttoned his coat, and faced the archway.
“Hidon and Gudrun just came in after yer, one at a time. Both armed,” he whispered to Madeline. “Tell my bro good luck, and bring everyone back alive…”
THREADBARE’S CHARACTER SHEET
Name: Threadbare Age: 5
Jobs:
Greater Toy Golem Level 15 Cave Bear Level 12 Ruler Level 12 Scout Level 7 Tailor Level 11 Model Level 10 Necromancer Level 11 Duelist Level 6 Animator Level 12 Enchanter Level 10 Golemist Level 14 Smith Level 11 Sculptor Level 13
Attributes: Strength: 125 Constitution: 140 Hit Points: 335(435) Armor: 52(65) Intelligence: 226 Wisdom: 204(211) Sanity: 430(584) Mental Fortitude: 42 Dexterity: 148(155) Agility: 118(125) Stamina: 275() Endurance: 62 Charisma: 120(149) Willpower: 211 Moxie: 331(460) Cool: 20(49) Perception: 126 Luck: 92(99) Fortune: 217(325) Fate: 15(22) Generic Skills Brawling - Level 43 (+14) Climb - Level 13 Clubs and Maces - Level 9 Dagger - Level 9 Dodge - Level 9 Fishing - Level 1 Magic Item 1 - Resist Fire 13 Ride - Level 8 Stealth - Level 17 Swim - Level 5
Greater Toy Golem Skills Adorable - Level 33 Bodyguard - Level 7 Gift of Sapience - Level NA Golem Body - Level 28 Innocent Embrace - Level 14 Magic Resistance -Level 16
Cave Bear Skills Animalistic Interface - NA Claw Swipes - 26 Darkspawn - NA Forage - 13 Growl - 2 Hibernate - 37 Scents and Sensibility - 20 Stubborn - 9 Toughness - 20
Ruler Skills Appoint Official - Level NA Emboldening Speech - Level 19 Identify Subject - Level 10 It’s Good to be King - NA King’s Quest - Level 15 Noblesse Oblige - Level 35 Organize Minions - Level NA Royal Audience - Level 22 Simple Decree - Level 15 Swear Fealty - Level NA
Scout Skills Alertness - Level 3 Best Route - Level 3 Camouflage - Level 13(20) Firestarter - Level 10 Keen Eye - Level 10 Sturdy Back - Level 13 Wind’s Whisper - Level 15
Tailor Skills Adjust Outfit - Level 4 Clean and Press - Level 15 Recycle Cloth - Level 2 Tailoring - Level 54(69)
Model Skills Adjust Weight - Level 14 Call Outfit - Level 4 Dietary Restriction - Level 50 (+100 to all pools) Fascination - Level 8 Flex - Level 20 Makeup - Level 10 Self-Esteem - Level 20 Sexy Pose - Level 2 Strong Pose - Level 15 Work it Baby - Level 50 (+50% to raw item bonuses) Necromancer Skills Assess Corpse - Level 12 Command the Dead - Level 28 Deathsight - Level 8 Drain Life - Level 7 Invite Undead - Level 12 Mana Focus - Level NA (+11% to sanity) Skeletons - Level 19 Soulstone - Level 45 Speak With Dead - Level 24 Zombies - Level 3
Duelist Skills Challenge - Level 9 Dazzling Entrance - Level 17 Fancy Flourish - Level 13 (20) Guard Stance - Level 19 Parry - Level 10 Swashbuckler’s Spirit - NA (+14 to cool) Swinger - Level 2 Weapon Specialist - Level 29 (Brawling +14) Animator Skills Animus - Level 36 Animus Blade - Level 10 Animus Shield - Level 4 Arm Creation - Level 7 Command Animus - Level 19 Creator’s Guardians - Level 27 Dollseye - Level 18 Eye for Detail - Level 20 Magic Mouth - Level 18 Mend - Level 40
Enchanter Skills Appraise - Level 30 Boost+5 - Level 14 Boost +10 - Level 2 Disenchant - Level 7 Elemental Protection - Level 9 Glowgleam - Level 26 Harden - Level 32 Soften - Level 31 Spellstore I - Level 25 Spellstore V - Level 4 Spellstore X - Level 1 Wards - Level 2
Golemist Skills Clay Golem - Level 3 Command Golem - Level 24 Golem Animus - Level 48 Golem Guardians - NA Invite Golem - Level 12 Mend Golem - Level 29 Program Golem - Level 43 Toy Golem - Level 56 Wood Golem - Level 12
Smith Skills Adjust Arms and Armor - Level 10 Refine Ore - Level 13 Smelt Down - Level 6 Smithing - Level 50
Sculptor Skills Detect Clay - Level 8 Mend Ceramic - Level 6 Refine Clay - Level 18 Sculpting - Level 60
Equipment Journeyman Tailor’s Apron of fire resistance (+6 Armor, +10 Tailoring, Resist Fire 9)(+3 Armor, +5 Tailoring, +4 Resist Fire from WIB) Okay Quality Bling Ringtail Master’s Coat (+5 CHA, +5 LUCK, +5 Armor, +5 Fate)(+2 CHA, LUCK, Armor, Fate from WIB) Rod of Baronly Might (+5 CHA, +5 WIS, +10 Cool)(+2 CHA, WIS, +5 Cool from WIB) Sneakypants (+5 Camouflage)(+2 Camouflage from WIB) Yellow Belt of Bravado (+5 AGL, +5 DEX, +5 to the Fancy Flourish skill)(+2 AGL, DEX, Fancy Flourish from WIB) Toy Top Hat (CHA +10)(+5 CHA from WIB) Inventory A Folded-steel Dagger (Dagger Level 10) Tailor’s Tools A small jewelry box, now empty. 1 bead of Mend Golem (Level 15) 1 bead of Silent Killer (Level 10) Minorphone (Enhances voice and social skills focused through it twice per day) Quests King’s Quest - Take Down the Lurker Unlocked Jobs Berserker, Cleric, Cook, Cultist, Grifter, Spirit Medium, Tamer, Wizard
Give the Dwarves Their Due 3
Jotunher was big.
A great stone house, hundreds of feet tall, it sat in a shielded mountain valley, on a free-standing pillar of stone that had to be miles wide. Cleft from the rest of the range by force unimaginable in times long gone, and surrounded on all sides by impassable peaks, the house of the giants was reachable only by one large, and quite-guarded stone bridge.
“Do you think they see us?” Missus Fluffbear squeaked.
“No,” Hidon said, curtly, digging out a pair of daggers. “They won’t until we get within a few hundred yards, or if we take a shot at them at range.”
“Is their eyesight really that bad?” Garon said, looking over the archway the parties had just emerged from, and the large, open steps down to the edge of the circular gorge. “We’re pretty hard to miss, out here.”
“Some think it’s their eyesight, or their dimness. Others think that being dungeon monsters does something to their perception.” Bazdra said, before she ran through her buffs. “Shield of Divinity. Shield Saint. And here, Aeterna’s Blessing of Constitution on Cecelia.”
“Hm?” The armored doll glanced around. “Oh, thank you.”
“Aren’t you going to buff up too?” Bazdra asked her, frowning.
“Right, right. Um… Shield Saint.”
“We all should,” said Threadbare. “Hm… Keen Eye. Flex. Makeup. Self-Esteem. Strong Pose. Deathsight. Guard Stance. Harden.”
Skill ups rippled past his vision, and he dug in his pack, applied makeup to his face.
“A camouflage pattern?” Hidon said, beard twitching as he fought to keep his scowl.
Your Adorable skill is now level 34!
“I’m buffing one of my Scout skills.”
“That, uh, that was a lot of Model stuff, wasn’t it?” Bazdra asked, curiously. “What kind of mix are you going for here, exactly?”
“Mix?” He said, nudging Pulsivar, as the rest of the party put up their applicable buffs. The cat hopped down a step, and the rest of the party followed suit, clambering down the mildly-icy, four-foot-tall steps with various degrees of trouble. “I’m not sure I understand. Oh, does anyone else want a harden?”
Pretty much all the golems and doll haunters did, and Threadbare smiled as the skill rose, in fits and starts. Long ago that would have drained his sanity entirely. Now it only dented it a bit.
“She’s talking about your jobs,” Hidon said, hopping from step to step with nimble ease. “We don’t see many models among our people. But I guess one of your purposes is to look cute, so it’s understandable.”
“I didn’t plan any of my jobs, not really,” Threadbare said. “But they’ve proven surprisingly useful, so I guess that’s all right.”
“We’re pretty much all alive again, kinda, because of his necromancer and golemist combo,” Garon said.
“It’s different for us,” Bazdra said, dangling her feet over the side and hopping down, repeating the process with each step, and grimacing at clatter of her armor with every drop. “Do you know much about dwarves?”
“You like gold and ale and making stuff,” said Madeline, fluttering easily from step to step, with Kayin on her back. “That’s about it.”
“We get five crafting jobs. And five adventuring jobs,” said Hidon. “So we have to plan carefully. Unlike humans, who mainly stumble around, and grab whatever looks shiny, we have to weigh our choices carefully, check with our elders, and see what helps the clan the most.”
“Five. Geeze. I mean, don’ get me wrong, a while back I woulda thought three would be stupid amounts. But yeah, that’s pretty rough,” Madeline sympathized.
“Well…” Hidon said, sliding down the last step, and staring out to the bridge, “The thing to remember, is that jobs are still new to most of us. It’s only been about forty-three years since they came about and the whole world changed. To a dwarf? That’s not so long. There’s a ton of us that still respect the old ways. Hell, some of our kin back north, when last we spoke wi’ em, had decided to ignore jobs entirely and do things the old-fashioned way. Which is a bit extreme, in my eyes. We used to have some folks like that down here, but, well…”
