“Olaf, you should check that desk out,” I said, pointing to it.
Olaf fixed his gaze on it and frowned, “Why are you giving me the paperwork?” The minotaur was reluctant to start looking but after a few seconds he was rapidly shuffling through pages then stuffing all the papers into his bag. Then he turned to the work bench and added the tools as well.
Meanwhile, I looked around the rest of the room, starting with the bed and nightstands, looking for any kind of hidden switches or compartments. I even looked under the bed to find another bed or rather just bedding, it was mostly rags and torn sheets, covered in small holes. There was also ammo, brass shells, black powders and wadding. “I think I found the gremlin’s home,” I commented but received no response.
Looking up to make sure my friends were okay, I saw Olaf still going through Cap’s desk while Mardi had disappeared into the closed room I assumed was a bathroom. Vari sat on the edge of the bed and stared off into space, clearly lost in her thoughts.
Seeing my friends were fine and not wanting to disturb Vari, I went back to work. The only hidden compartment I found was in Cap’s pillows, each pillow had a pistol hidden inside it. I had Olaf collect them, even if none of us could use them, they were all enhanced with bonus stats which meant they had worth and could be sold.
“That is so much better,” said Mardi as she emerged from the bathroom, free of the wedding dress and back in her pants and blouse with her chain boots and six hammers hanging at her hips. As a finishing touch, she was just slipping her chain gauntlets back onto her hands. “Find anything?”
“No, just some pistols that will probably sell well,” I said.
“Yeah, I thought that might be the case when we were climbing the stairwell. This tower does not really have the dimensions to house a secret vault under it and with all the windows, no false walls either,” said Mardi. “Anyway, I looted the closet in the bathroom while I was changing. More jewelry and a very nice box of cigars, Noobans, very expensive. Might help you smooth things over with Major Daws after you let me get captured like that,” she teased me, tossing a humidor to me.
I caught the latched box and dropped it in my inventory. Just because she was teasing me, didn’t mean she wasn’t right. Plus, the name of the cigars just made me smile.
We spent a few more minutes combing over the room but found nothing of value . . . well, nothing we could easily take with us. I had no doubt the rugs we rolled up to get access to the floors underneath them while looking for hidden trap doors were worth a lot. Rugs, especially the classy kind like that, always had value. I wish Olaf could have held them, but they would’ve eaten up way too much of his carrying capacity and there was no guarantee of value.
We checked the slave girl rooms, just to be safe but found nothing but disgust. Those poor girls were so poorly treated. If I could have killed Fitti again, I would have.
Rose, Micaela, Baby, Tessa and a two dozen more arrived as we were about to return to the kitchens. It couldn’t hurt to search through them.
Micaela made it a point to taste everything the chefs had prepared for the wedding feast. Unfortunately, she informed us that most of the food was burned beyond being edible after the cooks fled.
I wasn’t really sure why the cooks fled until I saw a fish on the chopping block, its head had been cut off, but it was clear to see the animal had been zombified before the head was removed. I’m pretty sure I would have fled too at that point.
“Hey, I found a cookbook,” said Micaela excited. “And it is asking if I want the profession ‘Cooking’. I thought we could only get two professions, what gives?”
“Well, you are technically half-human now, maybe your human half gave you the ‘Versatile’ racial ability,” I volunteered.
“Awesome,” shouted Micaela, the book disintegrating a second later.
“Didn’t you want to think about your third profession choice?” Rose asked, expressing the surprise I was sure we all felt by the rash decision.
“Nope, I totally wanted to get cooking as my second profession. But it didn’t pair well with mining like ‘Construction’ does. Now, I get both,” Micaela explained.
“And I can get blacksmithing,” cheered Olaf excitedly. “No more paying a smith to rough out my engineering parts, I’ll be able to do it myself. Minotauri for the win!”
“Hax,” I complained. Not only did they get an advanced class with huge bonuses, but they also got three professions. I might have started regretting not making the change myself . . . but only a little. Sure, it was selfish of me to want more, I was already a halfling, and I had 3 professions of my own, not to mention my unique class.
Another half-hour of searching the stronghold and we finally found a room that could be considered a throne room. It was a long room with an equally long table, capable of sitting fifty dwarves. The far end of the room that was also the head of the table sat a large chair with bright red upholstery and gold filigree. A throne if I ever saw one. And just behind the throne was a large and intricate fireplace framed by two dragon heads, like, real dragon heads. I briefly wondered about taxidermy in World Tree Online, I imagined with all the unique and interesting creatures, the taxidermists must make an exceptionally good living.
“I kind of want to take the dragon heads,” said Olaf.
“Just for your information. It is a major faux pau to display a trophy you have not earned, it can incur several penalties,” warned Mardi.
“Okay, then we need to kill some dragons,” said Olaf. “I want my earned trophies.”
“Later,” I said, studying the mantle of the fireplace. It was a commonly used trope, in more than just games, that said fireplaces equals hidden rooms and passages. This was one time I didn’t mind the trope fitting, it was a very cool fireplace.
During my exploration, a single scale on one of the dragon heads lit up for me. Checking the scale, I found it slid off, revealing a small keyhole. “Found it,” I said.
Vari handed me the key.
I inserted the key, being careful as a I twisted it. For some reason, when I put in the key, my mind flashed to the office at the cartographer’s guild. Getting the feeling I was about to set off something bad, I let go of the key and stepped away.
“What is it, Jack?” Rose asked.
“Not sure, just got a bad feeling. I think there might be a trap,” I said, stepping back again.
Vari brushed past me to the key, she twisted it this way and that, humming a tune as she did until there was a grinding sound from inside the floor and walls. A moment after the grinding of gears began, the fireplace started sinking into the floor revealing the entrance to the treasure vault. Satisfied with her work, Vari stepped back and hung the key back around her neck and turned to us with a smile.
“How did you know what to do?” I asked.
“It was a game my father taught me when I was little. He would give me a key then send me to find what it unlocked. The lock would be surrounded by clues to a song. You had to know the beat of the song to know how to turn the key. This one is for ‘Dragon Mists’ by Baska Bangclanger, one of his favorites,” Vari explained. “I am glad to know some part of my father survived after his . . . anyway. Please take what you want.”
We all shared a look and rush inside.
Our enthusiasm faded fast. We expected mounds of gold, rare metals and magical items galore. What we got, was a single pile, albeit a large pile, of gold coins, several bookshelves that were completely empty with the exception of a single shelf with a single book. And in the center of the room sat a simple stand with a pair of mannequin hands, six rings occupying six of the eight fingers and two thumbs.
Mardi couldn’t have been happier, taking that single book from the shelf.
“He said he’d been plotting for years, spending gold for his plans . . . but I still expected . . . more than this,” said Rose, disheartened.
I understood she was relating the lost treasure to Fitti’s spending, but I wasn’t so sure.
“And gold,” said Olaf.
Heath cringed. “Look, I’m the first one to encourage greed . . . usually. This time . . . well, there are two dozen girls out there that could really use a little help starting a new life.”
“Heath . . . is . . . right,” said Rose, fighting each word even as she said them.
“I agree,” I said, proud of my thief friend. Maybe he was finally starting to see the citizens as people and not just NPC’s.
“Of course, I agree and so does Olaf, don’t you?” Micaela said, glaring at her husband and daring him to contradict her.
“Agreed, agreed,” Olaf said quickly.
“You know I agree,” said Baby.
Olaf sighed defeated before moving forward to the center of the vault and the small stand with the rings, plucking them off the fake fingers one at a time. “At least these are pretty good,” he said, handing one with an orange gem to Heath and equipping a green gemmed ring himself. He gave Rose a ring with a red gem, Baby got one with a purple gem, while Micaela got a ring with a Blue gem. Finally, he tossed me a ring bearing a white gem with gold striations affixed to a simple gold band.
Ivaldi’s Gratitude – A gift of thanks from the God Ivaldi for saving his daughter. +10-Intellect, +20-Holy Spell Damage and Healing
Well that was certainly convenient. It also hinted the God Ivaldi might be the reason the vault was mostly empty. It occurred to me, he might still be punishing me. I heard a chuckle and the clanging of a hammer on an anvil that no one around me seemed to notice. Yep, I was still being punished, it made me feel bad that my punishment had to be suffered by my friends. Though, maybe they got better rings than I did?
Reviewing the rings stats again, it occurred to me, this was another giant billboard telling me it was past time I level up my magic skills.
“Good game,” said Heath, sighing a breath of relief.
Mardi suddenly started cursing and threw the book to the ground then started jumping up and down on it while continuing to curse some more. “This is not funny!” she shouted, looking upwards after her impromptu temper tantrum ended.
“Bad news?” Olaf asked.
“Blood from the still beating heart of a stone giant,” Mardi answered as if we should understand what that meant. “The next ingredient. I need the still beating heart of a stone giant. I need to spill the heart blood onto the superheated spear then bind it to the spear.”
“And getting the still beating heart of a stone giant is difficult?” I asked.
“Yes!” Mardi shouted. “Stone giants are easy enough to find, even in the Hammer and Anvil Mountain Valley. But mining the still beating heart from one is almost impossible. Stone giants are incredibly tough and are immune to most magics, holding one long enough to mine the heart from it is insanely difficult.”
“Can’t you just cut off the limbs?” Olaf asked.
Mardi gave him a flat look. “If only it were that easy. They don’t exactly have limbs to cut off. They are a floating rock collection.”
“We’ll figure it out,” I promised Mardi, trying to calm her. “We have however long we are in Hammerton to figure it out.”
Mardi sighed heavily, picking up the blueprint and stashing it in her inventory.
“Three and half weeks by my count,” said Olaf, causing Heath and I to both cringe.
“I might have forgotten to mention. It took me a few days to follow the Stonebreakers back here, so more like exactly 3 weeks,” Heath said.
“What!” my friends shouted in one voice of dismay.
“Yeah, turns out they kept us unconscious for the trip here,” I said, trying to take some of the heat off Heath.
“They kept us drugged for three days?” Olaf asked, clearly not believing that could happen, especially in a game setting. “That can’t be right. How could the game allow that? Does that mean another player could capture me and keep me as a slave for a month before the forced logout?”
It was a reasonable question, one I didn’t have the answer to.
“It bites, big time,” I said. “But it is done. We just need to move on.” We really didn’t have a choice. Yeah, losing almost three days of gaming is a really big deal and I would certainly be reporting it when I logged out at the end of the month, but for now, we just had to move forward.
“I am totally going to raise hell over this when log out comes around,” said Olaf, looking less than pleased, not that I could blame him.
“Anything else we need to do or should we go see the Major?” I asked.
“Yeah, about that,” started Heath.
“What?” Rose asked.
“I don’t really know how to tell you this,” Heath continued.
“What?” Rose asked, her voice sounding more worried now.
“He’s pissed,” said Heath.
“Let’s go face the music then,” I said, not eager for the inevitable chewing out but knowing full well we deserve it. Plus, given what we pulled off despite our failure, he might forgive us.
It took a little time for us to distribute the gold to the girls but when it was done, we received a quest completion I didn’t know we were even taking part in.
Quest Alert: Harem on the Lam (Recommended Level 7-9)
Tessa Hillthumper has asked you to free her and the other girls being held against their will by the Stonebreaker Mafia.
Reward: +5,000-Experience, Employment Contract: Tessa Hillthumper
“I can never thank you enough for what you have all done for the others and myself,” said Tessa. “When the time comes, and you join or form an Order, I will come work for you. Help you as best I can. I am not the most prestigious maid out there, but I am good at my job and I work hard.”
I couldn’t help but notice she addressed Olaf, which made sense as it was his quest chain, I just reaped the benefits.
“We’ll be glad to have you with us when that time comes,” said Olaf, accepting a scroll from the young maid.
With that settled, we marched ourselves and the dozen captured mafiosos out of the stronghold followed by the train of former slave girls.
“Report!” Major Daws snapped.
Olaf stood at attention and saluted, the rest of us stood a little straighter.
“Artilleryman Olaf,” snapped the major, allowing Olaf to begin the story. Starting with the assault on the manor house.
When Olaf finished the story, the major studied us as a group.
“Lady Duchess,” said the major, addressing our benefactor. “Do you wish to press charges for their failure to execute their duties?”
Mardi rolled her eyes. “Honestly, Ethan, they saved my life and put a stop to an organization you and your entire City Watch could not. And they did it faster and with far few casualties than you did. Reward them for services rendered or so help me, I will make sure Leo has you on latrine duty for the next year.”
The major cleared his throat nervously. “Well, in light of your exemplary service, I am prepared to completely overlook your previous failures. As a reward, I am afraid I am only capable of promoting Mr. Crushhammer from Grade I to Grade II Minotaur Artillery.”
“While the Major may not be able to reward you better than that, I certainly can,” said Saaya stepping forward next. I hadn’t noticed his arrival or the fact that Vari was right next to him. “From what my . . . Jr. Patrolman tells me, you have done exemplary work and deserve the respect and gratitude of the entire City Watch. As such, it is within my power to allow you six adventurers access to the Root City jump network.”
It was a great reward, and that it was given without a quest was awesome.
Hidden Quest – Unlock the Pathways of Root City – Completed!
You have earned the respect and gratitude of the City Watch of Root City, even now your names and legends are being spread among the members of the City Watch and Royal Guardsmen. While
most will consider you a friend, there are those who will call you foe for all that you have accomplished.
Reward: +10,000-Experience, Jump Badge
Apparently, I thought it too soon. Saaya gave each of us round token with the seal of Root City on one side and the banner of the City Watch on the other.
Jump Badge – This token when presented at any of the jump points in Root City will grant you access to jump to the nearest City Watch Barracks.
“Now, regarding the Stronghold,” started Saaya. “Vari has informed me she intends to donate the building and any furniture, weapons and armor within to the City Watch. You have already been rewarded with treasure from the vault and anything else you might have taken for yourselves along the way. You have no complaints?”
“No complaints,” Olaf said, speaking for the group.
“Good, a portal will be opening shortly to return you to my barracks and from there you are free to return to the Duchess’s manor or wherever you please,” said Saaya, saluting and rushing off to manage his troops.
Vari started to follow but stopped. “I do not think I will ever be able to thank you enough for what you did for me and . . . thank you,” she said, finishing with a formal bow of gratitude.
“We were happy to help,” I said honestly.
Vari nodded once more, then ran to catch up with the lieutenant.
An hour later the portal was opened, and we were on our way back to the manor house. I hoped it had been repaired while we were gone, or we might end up looking for a hotel for the evening.
Thankfully, I worried needlessly. The manor was as good as new, even newer in some places. I could see places where the paint was fresh. Still, it looked sturdy enough from the outside. Unfortunately, inside wasn’t as pretty. It looked like the walls had been patched, the debris carted away, but that was about all that had been done.
World Tree Online: The Duchess of Hammers: 2nd Dive Begins Page 47
