Part 9: Plundering the Plunderers' Plunder

"Oh my. Well the few coppers just about breaks us even for coming out here, doesn’t it? And this is just the start." Ora beams.

"Fantastic work, Luban! There could have been more rats down there! Very brave, indeed!"

Luban shifts rapidly between beaming at praise from Ora to confusion at the suspicion from Gilly to realized fear at the prospect of having climbed into more rats. Not sure what to do with himself, he quickly counts the coins and scurries back to one of the horses to store the loot (and even more quickly returns to the party).

Hrmph! "We arcanists have been minds, and are able to think of where treasure may be hidden. Save your concerns for what lays beneath our feet, not who fights beside you." Eltrezar snaps at Gilly, sounding not a little annoyed at her line of inquiry. Something about this place had changed her, and not for the better. No longer did he look at that innocent, happy Halfling he had met only days ago.

Gilly is about to shoot back about the wizard’s mind for treasure hunting having brought them out here to loot an empty room.

But she holds her tongue. The wizard was right. They’d stand a better chance if they worked together and didn’t bicker.

"Let see what waits beneath our feet, then! We might find something worthwhile down there!"

"One can hope."

Mal returns to her efforts of marshalling the group towards the stairs that lead below.

Eltrezar becones excitable upon seeing the map. Ahem! "This map, for some reason, shows the Three Trees where the gnolls await a swift death! After his quick outburst, he looks a little sheepish.

Luban shifts rapidly between beaming at praise from Ora to confusion at the suspicion from Gilly to realized fear at the prospect of having climbed into more rats. Not sure what to do with himself, he quickly begins counting the coins only to find that it wasn't just a few measley copper coins! This was more wealth than he had seen before!

Some greed overtakes the man, as he tries to slip away the small of the three gems before the test of the party notices it. This was a maneuver he had often practiced on his own, but never been out to practice before!

Gilly stops up as the true haul becomes apparent. Her eyes do light up; despite the tense atmosphere within the group.

"Now this is what we came for! Maybe we ought to take another look down the well?" she says with a hint of joy in her voice!

"And then we could find something to cover it over; and weigh it down! To stop our friend here worrying about more rats!" she says, nodding her head to the newcomer.

Things were turning around.

Ora instinctively puts her hands up, in polite rejection of the offer. And then she listens to the full explanation.

"Well, that is a thought! And you’re sure you’re employer won’t mind? I think we can come to that arrangement yes!"

She puts her hand out for the scroll, and unfurls it.

"That was very generous of you. Spugnoir, was it?" she says with a smile!

"Let’s have a look here then!"

Just like he had practiced, Luban spots the gem almost tumble out of the leather satchel and moves his hand to cover it up. And he manages to grab it! But fumbles it! And is left holding it halfway in his upturned palm, for the gods and man to see!

"We split the gains equally Luban, let's have Gilly act as treasurer on this one shall we?"

Mal takes the bundle of loot from the half-orc with a tsk tsk.

Luban grins sheepishly at being caught, and mutters something under his breath about it being worth a shot. He shrugs at Mal before allowing Gilly to handle to treasure, and prepares to dive back into the ruins.

Gilly examines the coins, running her hand through them.

"We came out here for the weapons, didn’t we? A quick in and out mission. You reckon this amount of coins is worth more than what we would have fetched for the weapons?

We could be home for lunch, you know?"

"Well, Spugnoir, my friend. I’ll admit to hoping for something a little flashy. A fireball or something of the sort…" a mischievous grin "… but I’m sure we can make use of a levitate spell. Though, underground…

Well, let’s see, shall we?"

"Well I suppose Gilly has a point, we came here for a quick there and back. What say the rest of you? Should we return to town?"

Hrmph! "We do not seem far from the trees where the gnolls are waiting. And it is in the same direction we have already come, so it makes little sense to turn back now. Spugnior, you have not signed on for this portion, so you may feel free to return to town if you wish. The others have made no such stipulations, so you would come with us. I propose we not make this journey a complete waste of time."