A shot to the face

The goblin sprang from the darkness, its wicked grin illuminated by candlelight. It leveled its crossbow at the face peeking around the corner. Keh'r jerked back, but not fast enough, as the crossbow bolt scraped a deep wound across his face.

Keh'r retreated, face bloodied, and with that, the group decided to take a short rest.

While they rested, the party identified the treasure found in the sarcophagi, as well as the rod Treble picked out of the trash pit:

1. A suit of bronze and steel plate armor with engraved designs of dragons in battle. It is Battleforged Armor +1

2. A wickedly-curved blade with an ivory hilt carved with wings for hand guards. It is a Farbond Spellblade +1 (khopesh)

3. A misshapen wooden rod, covered with burned black whorls. It is a Rod of Corruption +1

4. 2 potion of healing

5. 100 gold pieces

Webbed treasures

The party takes a momentary break. There is a discussion on whether to continue after the fled ettercap and hobgoblin, or to take a longer rest. While some argue that the party must press on, others urge caution.

Still others would rather ignore the discussion and instead drool over the magical items that have been found. Shamash and Horadric are two such members, and they inform the group that the following items have been found:

1. A set of mottled gray robes. The cloth of which they are woven is tough and durable, and has a pebbly feel to it. They are Stoneskin Robes (+1) (also known as Stoneskin Cloth Armor).

2. A flail fashioned of silver and lustrous dark wood. Its haft is worn but solid, and its silver chain still shiny, despite nicks and scratches that indicate its long history. The chain is attached to a heavy wooden ball fitted over a collection of vicious-looking stone barbs. It is a weapon known as the Maw of the Guardian (+1).

The silk bag that contained the flail (found under the web containing Kartenix's body) also contained 100 gold pieces worth of residuum.

The trek back to Brindol

The party makes camp well away from the lands of the Children of Winter, walking a whole day to put some distance between them and the accursed place. After everyone has settled down around the fire, Colvin counts out 4 platinum pieces to each member of the party. He grins and says, "Doesn't look like much, does it," but you know that each silvery coin is worth 100 gold pieces. Among the bodies of the dead, the party also found 104 gold worth of gold teeth, petty jewelry, and coins. This pile of loot glistens by the fire, ready to be divided.

The party passes around the other items they have found, and each is identified as follows:

1. A gold ring with an inset onyx stone carved into the shape of a hand. It is a Ring of Parrying (equivalent to Parry Gauntlets, which have the following property: When you take the total defense or second wind actions, gain a +2 item bonus to all defenses until the beginning of your next turn.)

2. An old map. After comparing it to some of his own maps, Colvin says that the coastline depicted on it appears to match a portion of northeastern Xen'Drik that lies along the Thunder Sea. There are strange symbols on the map, but no words. Some of the symbols look like crude pictures of birds, men (some larger than others), dragons, and lightning-bolt shapes. Other symbols are indecipherable to the group, and Balthazar speculates that they may be representations of dragon marks. After examining the map, Horadric points excitedly at it and exclaims, "X marks the spot!" Well, it's more of an asterisk than an X, but sure enough, nestled among the symbols lies a clear marker of some sort.

3. Questions arise about the skull, and Colvin explains that it was an artifact of a long-dead evil. The skull now consists of 3 oddly-shaped shards of obsidian. "How much do you think it is worth?" asks Horadric. Colvin replies, "Oh, I'd say about 80 gold in total, now. It'd be best to sell the pieces to different merchants, though. We wouldn't want someone to get the bright idea to try to put it back together."

During the trip back to Brindol, Balthazar miraculously recovers from the disease inflicted upon him by the Children of Winter. Throughout most of the journey, he can be seen walking and talking with Rhogar. After two days of walking, the group arrives at the outskirts of Brindol.

Agathor, Balthazar, and Colvin regain their horses, and bid the group farewell. Agathor salutes you, and says, "'Twas a good hunt, and you have been valuable companions. You have earned my gratitude, and the gratitude of the Church. May the light of the Silver Flame guide and protect you." He then turns his horse about and slaps it on the flank with a, "Hyah!" The horse champs with a whinny, and the three ride out on the eastern road, a column of dust rising behind them.

A bag of loot

Treble opens the worn and dirty bag. "Don't worry," he says, "I've checked it for traps already."

As the snickers die down, Treble produces the treasure, holding each item for the party to see, and then placing it on the floor.

The first item is a bow, and even at a casual glance, it is easy to tell the item is special. The wood has a golden luster, and as the bow touches the stone floor, its string quivers, and a sprinkle of notes floats upon the air. At this, Elaira's eyebrows raise, and she says, "Surely, it is a songbow....."

Next, Treble removes a dusty cape. He beats it against the floor, and a cloud of dust rises. After a fit of coughing, he says, "Well, would you look at that." It is a fine cape of shimmering burgundy silk. "Not my color, but it looks like it'll fit me better than the lot of you." He pretends to put it on, but upon noticing the stony glances from the rest of the party, he smirks and passes it around for everyone else to examine.

After the party has taken a short rest, the items are identified as:

1. Songbow of Vanishment +1

2. Cape of the Mountebank +1

In the bottom of the bag rests 20 gold coins and a sapphire worth 200 gold.

"So what was that you were saying about a shard in the treasure?" says Keh'r to the kobold, Shamash, who is meditating or communing, or just humming and acting mysterious nearby.

Shamash opens one eye and replies, "Eh, what? You expect Shamash to know all?" Pointing at the sapphire, he says, "Maybe the goblins moved it, or maybe I just saw that pretty rock. It looks like a shard. Both grow in the belly of the Dragon Below." He shrugs, and that is the end of the conversation.