CHAPTER 18: Crime

As the new moon approached, the nights were dark indeed. At some points, I had to be guided, usually by holding onto one of Threepaw's creepy – but relatively clean – little hands. She hadn't rooted through the dirt like other goblins had done or played in the mud. Under strict orders from myself and from Blecs, if she got dirty, she'd be subjected to another bath. Only a few times in the nights did we come across beasts of any sort. The goblins weren't loud in a clumsy way, but the sound of a troupe of little feet going through the woods, quiet as they may try to be, did scare away wild game. The forest creatures that we did come across were no match for the dozen or so goblin shortbows that fired every time. These creatures of all sorts fed the group as we travelled. Though it's hard to imagine, Threepaw managed to go the few days that it took to get to the outskirts of Willow's Edge without getting filthy, or even very dirty. It took an extra day, since we wanted to time our arrival for long after dark when the goblins Darkvision would come in handy, and the villagers would be asleep. I'd learned that the goblins could see about sixty feet in the dark like it was dim light, and in dim light like it was day. No wonder we travelled by night.

As we went on ahead of the rest of the band, drawing quickly nearer to the clearing in the trees that opened to the town, I did my best to convince Threepaw to stay behind, but it was useless. I contented myself by bribing her into silence. I told her that if she stayed quiet, I'd give her something extra special. How I'd make good on that, I had no idea, but I wanted her quiet, and it worked all the same. "Don't speak, or the humans will hear you!" I cautioned in a whispering voice, as I laced the Boots of False Tracks tight on her little feet. Then we made our way into town and I started snatching patio chairs, decorations and door signs. These were the first things I saw. At the same time, I started thinking fast.

"System," I say in my head, "Bring out the counter. Where is my number at?"

*ting!*

133/1,000

The junk I'm grabbing isn't making a dent. There's a long way to go before the gauge fills. Longer than I have before Blecs loses patience and attacks the city, I'd wager. I robbed a dark and abandoned hunting lodge of its traps and snares and leftover rations. Useful. And still not enough. Where do I go? There's a druggist! Willow bark and leaves can be eaten to help aches and reduce fevers. Medicines are expensive and useful. But the little apothecary was locked and breaking into one of these stores would mean detection. All these little businesses either had a second story or a cellar or back room where their owners slept. The Weavers' Hall had a window that wasn't locked. Baskets, fish traps, nets: I took it all. But it wasn't nearly as much as I needed. If this town had any livestock, I even would have stolen them! Disappointingly, Willow's Edge is exactly what it sounds like: an out-of-the-way lumbermill town on the bank of a river. They made everything that you could out of wood, but it just didn't seem like enough. The story repeated itself at a furniture maker's storefront. I stole anything remotely valuable that I could find, which was plenty. I was getting desperate, taking more useless crap from outside houses, when I started noticing Threepaw getting antsy. That's when I had my first good idea of the night.

"Little Threepaw," I whispered gently, "you've been SOOO good and quiet, I think I can give you your special surprise early." She squealed in delight, making me panic. "SHH! This magic shield is just for you, but you must remain quiet! Now, if you focus on this for a little while, and…Don't. Make. ANY. Sound. Then it will turn goblin size for you! If you can do that it's yours."

One problem down but even if she's distracted and we're both quiet, some Willow's Edge jerk could wake up at any time and look out his window. Then we're discovered, and that's the end of my midnight marathon of larceny. I'm looking up to the lamp hanging from a lamppost, when I have my second good idea. With just a little hop, I can reach the low streetlamps. Just a little brush of my hand is all that it takes. Then faster than I can blink, the lamp is in my inventory. Light after light goes out as the little counter fills. I'm taking anything remotely valuable that's not nailed down; boxes, brooms, dolls, flutes, poles, toys, rope and string… I even take a crate of handles of some sort, just to see my little green counter rise. A few times, I find catflaps leading into houses and I send Threepaw in to unlock the doors and we rob them blind. Houses have kitchens that hold salt and spices. Workers' shacks have linen or canvas. Outside the sawyer's lodge I collect some decent pieces, saws and tools, mostly, and the streetlights again. Everything that I grab – every bolt of cloth or silk, every pound of wheat or flour or ginger - it's all bringing my goal closer by the minute. There are still plenty of lamps left when the sweet satisfying bell rings in my head to let me know that I've finally reached 1,000.

*ting!* "Congratulations on earning a new background! Congratulations on earning a new title!"

"Yes!" I hiss in hushed triumph. The Spy title is mine, but it's not what I need. All this thievery was to help me with, well… thievery.

Criminal. Earned 1,000 by thievery or robbery.

REWARDS;

Criminal Contact. Access to fences and black market.

You are now skilled in Deception, Stealth, One type of gaming set, and thieves' tools.

You gain: A crowbar, a set of dark common clothes including a hood, and a belt pouch containing 15 GP

"DAMN!" I hiss. This whole time, I've been banking on the 'Criminal' background. It gave me the skill to pick locks, but not picks themselves! The crowbar will have to do: I'm out of time. I turn to face the direction of the first store I found – from the first time that I came to Willow's Edge. "This way!" I say to Threepaw, but I grab her and hurry along, instead of waiting for her to follow. She's clutching the now-small shield. Jeeze! The attunement should have taken her a full hour. Has it really been an hour?

I've reached the general goods store. "Guidance!" I almost whisper. As I cast the Guidance cantrip, I'm not even sure what skill I'm supposed to use it for. Or if there even is one. A nearby streetlamp is shining close – I would steal it, but I'll need the light to see. Or will I? If I'm just going to smash this thing open, I might as well do it in the darkness. As I size up the door, which I notice is new, I am starting to think that I'll never break through it without realizing that I don't have to. The DOOR is new… but the door FRAME is ancient. My criminal instincts must have taken over, because as I remember the giant crossbar that I saw when I ran from this place not long ago, I understand how to disable it. That's when I steal the nearby streetlamp.

The lights from further lamps are more than enough for this. I use the prybar then, not the door, but on the frame, pulling it a bit outward from the house. I can see it in my mind: the nail that are holding a critical piece of the giant lock bar in place are loosened by my movements. I can't describe all of what I do. But the lock is loosening. I'm no woodcarver, but in addition to the crowbar, I've got every woodworking tool I can name, and then some. This door never stood a chance.

Panting when I finally get inside, I tell Threepaw, "Okay. I need a minute, then we'll get moving." Before I take everything this bald jerk of a shopkeeper owns, though, I take a minute to collect my rewards from the system.

Criminal. Earned 1,000 by thievery or robbery.

REWARDS;

Criminal Contact. Access to fences and black market.

You are now skilled in Deception, Stealth, One type of gaming set, and thieves' tools.

You gain: A crowbar, a set of dark common clothes including a hood, and a belt pouch containing 15 GP

"System, what do you mean by 'gaming set'?" The choices were in front of me; Dice, Dragonchess, Playing cards, Three-Dragon Ante. "Okay. I don't know what that means, but thanks! I don't care. Just pick one and then show me the other rewards."

*ting!* "You have gained proficiency in Playing Cards."

Spy. Scout Title, Criminal Background.

REWARDS; Ring of Mind Shielding

Nice! I'll identify it later. For now, I put it on my finger.

Quest Complete!

Objects of Power: Aqcuire an Uncommon magic item

REWARDS; 1 Attribute point

Quest updates is available at higher levels.

The Attribute point can wait for a minute. First I'm going to get some new books and teach this town a lesson. That's when I heard a voice behind me.

"Great!" says Threepaw suddenly, "My distraction is all set. How is yours?" Behind the idiot smile of this little jerk, I saw her so-called 'distraction': the building was on fire! While we were still inside! She was BURNING what I wanted to be STEALING! AND we were going to die in here. It was too late to stop the fire from spreading through the drapery towards the ceiling as the smiling Threepaw looked on proudly, with her hands on her hips. I frantically ransacked the books and whatever else that I could get to before the fire got consumed them, and then ran before the blaze consumed us, too. In a little town like this, with all the windows close together, the whole place could be razed if no one stopped it. Jerking Threepaw into my arms, I ran. Holding on to me, she was still peeking back at the building as I fled and spoke to her, in a low angry voice.

"And I want my boots back, you little arsonist!"