The treasure hunt took place to a backdrop of surf, rushing gently and rhythmically to and from the cave. The soft hissing of the water at least eclipsed any sounds of dripping blood. The scent of the freshwater sea helped to hide the odors of violence and magical decay lingering behind.

When all was said and done, the Gembounds could proceed along the narrow, slippery, but otherwise not very treacherous pathway around the lagoon. If they fell in, well, they could just climb back out. The gap at cave's end led up into a tunnel, shafts of light and hanging vines guiding their way out.

This tunnel was one that merged with three others: all four dungeon wings recombining into a single exit, a half-collapsed (but still traversible) open passageway that wound, quite far, back up to Lacerta's surface. The top was safe, overgrown but miraculously free of predators, and in fact not too far from the staging ground where they'd started.

They would be free to go, with the experience, minor injuries, and loot that they'd acquired--and a story to tell, if they chose to share it.

Surely Bartholomew Bear would wish to know of their survival.

Click for Loot Results!

Nebula would find a single, shining Gemcoin. In addition, he'd find a slender, silvery chain tiara with a crescent moon that would dangle at the forehead. Or he could wear it as a pendant, or wind it around a leg. It was enchanted with Dreamwalk, granting elaborate daydreams that might be prophecy or simply misplaced magic.

Vestyge would find eighteen coins. He'd also remember that a Lesser who reproduced sexually (laying eggs) would not, in fact, have a gemstone. This obvious fact would likely occur to such an ancient Valkhound fairly early on in his search. There were other gemstones, though, lying around the treasure pile. An Emerald glittered with serpentine hues, reflecting the cave's sea colors. This was something he could take with him. It had once belonged to a monstrosity of a creature: some fifteen feet long but without a long tail. It had a pair of bright purple eyes, birdlike in their intensity, and a body that was long and low, aquatic in design. Sleek feathers had covered its upper body, but beneath lay layers of pale brown, ridged chitin. Its lower body, mottled with dull green, had three insectoid limbs sprouting out to either side. The neck was flexible, long and chitinous, with a snapping beak framed by shearing mandibles. The creature sort of looked like a cross between a giant water bird and a huge louse of some kind.

Survivor finds five coins, along with an enchanted ivory dagger. The dagger itself is beautifully carved from a single bone or tooth, cared for so that it's still silky smooth. The blade holds a single curved edge. The dull side is carved in a wavy pattern, as is the ivory hilt. The enchantment is Fountain: it adds little splashes of water to strikes, and it has imbued this dagger with an oddly watery aura. It's a strange choice for an enchantment, but the weapon has an almost ceremonial appearance.

Hrimfaxi procures seventeen coins, and a golden drinking mug. This mug is odd: while heavy and formed of pure gold, it's been created in the style of a very typical beer stein or tavern mug. It's not a fancy chalice, though it is inlaid along the top with jade stone.

Richter finds twelve coins, along with a strange decorative pot. It's shining black onyx, with golden inlay in the form of winding vines and leaves. It may take time to figure out that it's enchanted with Blossom: anything planted in the pot will grow much faster than usual, as will things close around it.

Yvan finds a single coin close by, but no others. Most of the loot was right underfoot, in and around the nest, so he had his choice of items. The most valuable-looking of them was a sleek silvery sword, gleaming with some kind of purple-pink alloy. Tattered purple-pink ribbons hung from the silvered hilt, and probably had once been lovely silk--but little but thread now remained of these. The sword was lightly curved, slender in blade, like a katana but pointed at its tip. The blade was enchanted with Supernova: strikes with it would ignite targets with a small amount of flame. A warm aura like flickering white fire shrouded the blade with ghostly light.

Triage finds two coins. They also find a strange weapon. The bottom half looks rather like a gnarled wooden staff, albeit hard and very strong. The top half is a single long, curving blade, but oddly mottled and pocked, rather than shining. The entire weapon is green and brown, but with a grayish cast, dark and dull. The organic appearance of the weapon was further enhanced by a soft green glow: the hint of a Flora Call enchant, which would cause plants near the target of its strikes to become uncooperative with the target, for example tripping up or scratching them.

Soh-Ling finds five coins, along with another enchanted weapon from the armory the Squallfang seemed to be defending: a steel scythe, its handle a dark and fragrant rosewood with a leather-wrap grip. The weapon also looked organic, but bumpy and gray, as though it were made of or infected by some kind of disgusting fungus. It was enchanted with Decay, so that injuries it inflicted had a chance of being infected with a painful necrotic fungus that prevented healing.

Titivilus consumes nine coins from the ground, spiriting them away, along with a dark wooden box carved with a leafy jungle theme. Within the box (which has dark brass hinges) lay a number of carvings. Each were beautiful but highly stylized, formed of variously colored wood and bone to represent one each of Lacerta's strange, unique Lessers. Each had one gemstone embedded on it, generally in an eye. If Titivilus (or anyone else) attempted to test these for life or even revive them, they'd find that each gemstone was indeed living, with Fledgling-level magic... by no means a guaranteed revival, but a chance.

Hecate, oddly, continues her "water magic completely unrelated to her own element" enchanted loot finds, along with nine coins. This time, rather than water breathing, the silver engraved ring she finds (studded with tiny aquamarines) is enchanted with Blue Sense. It's easy to notice, since it is currently glowing very blue.

Players may add the Coins found to their characters' accounts. Those who received Enchanted items may post in Update Me to have simple icons added to their Enchanted Items profile field, if they wish.

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Characters may exit at will. After posting their exit, they may a) post in Magicka Market for the thread claim, b) add their loot to their inventory, and c) post in Update Me for a soon-to-be-released achievement!

Those who did not post this round must make up for any missed rounds before their loot search/exit/claim. This should be GM-tagged for, as this thread will no longer be checked otherwise! Other wings of the dungeon will be completed in the coming days!