Treasuregasm

This week the Hounds (my most steadfast party, the ones that play once a week, generally without fail) managed to open an ancient elvish treasure vault and get a look inside. They were certainly surprised, as this was the largest haul that they've ever seen in a D&D game. While they eventually sold it all, even the coins (for reasons of "historical interest" to the captain of a local elvish merchant's compact), it remains a list to be awed by. Oh, those ten thousand gold Dorlish readers ain't too shabby, neither.

A gold belt made of interlocking leaves and carefully etched.


A circle of wrought silver with plating of jade depicting a crown of waves and a slender elvish ship above the brow, thought to belong to an elf captain during the Fourth or Fifth Age.





A heavy tome of the holdings of a noble family in the far reaches of the Sea of Clouds, complete with a sapphire-jeweled cover.


A blue glass chalice with silver fittings fashioned to resemble mages engaging in a duel of spells.


An ivory statue of Noronia, goddess of the Sun, holding the Lamp of the Sun upon a hooked pole.


A large golden broach, a handspan in width, fashioned in the shape of a phoenix.


Two gold and chalcedony amulets also fashioned to look like phoenixes.


A haul of gemstones: a garnet, an aquamarine, a flawed tiger's eye, a citrine, an orb of jade, and a topaz.


Coins from the ancient Second Age elvish settlement of Dorlan: 10,037 copper, 7,237 silver, 2,450 gold.


An ancient elvish longsword with a leaf-shaped hilt.


A willow wand with a chased ivory handle and a polished ruby setting at its tip.


A ring depicting a tiny wingless silver dragon biting its own tail.


Two scrolls.


All in all, the haul was valued at a rate of 10,000 gold readers by the merchant Ilmsinen. Of course, they kept everything that was magical (the sword, the wand, the ring, and the scrolls). The game has been flagging for the past couple of weeks with late attendees, people who couldn't make it, and people who simply didn't know what direction to go in. However, after this orgasm of treasure, everyone seems to be back in with their gamefaces on.

Maybe I should unload massive amounts of oozy treasure on them more often? But no, I'll let em work for it. To be honest, I didn't think they'd be able to get to this horde; the "puzzle" as it were was really more of a combination lock that required a light spell to be cast four times in the correct order on the correct objects, something that the old master of the house, the Lady Valiamorin Soldava could have done easily. After several failed attempts, however, and two close calls with the golem-guardians of the treasury, they managed to solve the complex magical lock and ascend to the treasure room.

There's nothing quite so good as a hard-won victory.