Chests and crates are all at your disposal now, but those with money and items are quite heavy. The path is clear now, of course, but it will take some time to drag all the treasure to the bathhouse (through the flooded corridors and up to the stairs).

Choir doesn't see any reason the crown has to be hauled in a heavy chest, and (probably unwisely) puts it on her head.  Then she will see if she can carry the chest with the sparkly agates in it.

Surprisingly, nothing happened (though Choir looked quite impressive with the crown on, that tried to slip down and cover the eyes). Crown itself is not that heavy even - about 2.5 pounds, but chests with coins and goods weight about 50 pounds each. Inconvenient and a quite heavy load.

Adray could carry two if needed.  Hed have to take a moment and rig something up with rope but he could do it.  If the others help then not a big issue at all.  

With that I guess we lug it all up and make the trip back to the barracks where we can give a report.

Polly will absolutely start to cast identify as a ritual on all the items with an magical aura while the rest of the group take inventory and figuring out how to carry it all. After all, the chest are probably bigger then her so she’ll be of limited help. 

The treasure is mostly treasure, but two red crystal vials with are the potions of fire breath. The dragon mask is one of the true chromatic dragon masks - white one. At least the aura a very strong with that one, a true pure (evil) magic. To understand all it's quality one would need to truly study it (and attune to it).

Crown appears to be just an object of art (a symbol of power?) and bares no magical auras.

Is it safe to assume everyone is out of the bathhouse?

I think so.

And so you travelled all the way back - through the flooded stinky rooms and corridors, now freshly decorated with new dead bodies, leaved behind long stairs up to the bathhouse and went past the pools of recently fragrant bath water now stinking of blood (though at this point you might not recognize that smell anymore). The air outside felt so incredibly fresh, as even Ordrag never felt in the middle of the ocean. Too bad you could not enjoy it for long.

As you emerged from the bathhouse, five figures leaped down from the top of the courtyard wall to confront you. In addition to their black leather armour, they wear strange masks and cloaks that give each of them a vaguely dragon-like appearance . All five brandish curved steel blades reminiscent of dragon claws.

One of them stepped forward and pointed with his blade at the treasure chests in your hands: "This does not belong to you!" The crown on Choir's head made the man growl and forced to make another step "TAKE. THAT. OFF!" He obviously was not the most patient man in the realm but was still talking: "You are not the thieve who's stolen from us, but I swear to cut you down if you do not return ti!".

Choir shrugs, puts down the chest, and takes the crown off, looking at Adray and Ordrag for an idea what to do next.

The crown isn't sparkly enough to risk dying for, but the chest is full of shiny agates and coins, and Choir is not in a hurry to hand anything over to these Dragon Ninja types.

”And who exactly might you be then? Speaking so boldly to the Flaming Fist! Know you no shame? Did your mother not raise you right?”

Polly is so tired she think she might faint soon. And her patients is on the breaking point.

“We have been through hell tonight and I’ll be dammed if some punk are going to rob us after all this, if you have a problem with the treasure you can take it up with our captain!”

"I came here to return what was stolen from my Master and I will take it. Or those who come after me will. And believe me when I say that - you have not being through Hell. Not yet." Cultists behind the leader are silent but their posture leaves no doubts - they do know how to fight and they are not going back empty-handed.

“Than say, friend.. why don’t you take us to your master so that we can talk with him? Maybe we can come to an understanding, ey?” She looked him right in the eye. “We’re no pushover you know!” 

Choir has no idea where this is going, so she hooks the crown around her shield arm, ready to equip her hammer and shield immediately if necessary.

 Adray slumps the chest down with a loud thump and takes a hard look at the men and Polly's reaction.  Their outright disrespect for the group charged with protecting the land grates on his nerves.  

"We just spent the night clearing this place of the cultist filth that had seeped into this town and came across this," he says putting his boot to the chest.  "It's evidence in the matter.  We're taking in and if you would like to place a claim on it that's fine but you'll have to come down to the office and go through proper channels.  Unless, you're refusing to do so because it's all I'll gotten goods?  Choice is yours."

With that said Adray will hold his position and based on their previous words expect an attack.

It would be hard for Polly to look the man into eye (his eyes were twice her size above her and hidden by the mask) but the man acknowledged Array. "You did kill some of the thieves, I can sense it. Not the main one, but they will be found too. Your reasons or  not concernobligations do me.  You can return the stolen treasure now - and the dragon will remember that, or you will die. This is the only choice."

Fran would bring up the rear, thumping and dragging along so much gear, she would not have noticed the newcomers right away. 'Why we stoppin'- Oh." The artificer would give an awkward wave. "Hi." Would escape her lips. Otherwise she'd remain quiet, arms crossed, with narrowed eyes. Fran would stay at the back of the group and take a seat on a chest. She'd look these figures up and down to study them while the others interacted.

(Before Mortlock leaves, Ordrag suggests a couple of ships most likely to accept him as undeclared passenger)

The mental gears turn slowly for Ordrag, but as they retrace their footsteps out of the dungeon, he contemplates the developments. Their orders were to eradicate the Dead Three cult. The cult is being financed by the family of Duke Vanthampur, with money stolen from the Cult of the Dragon. The Duke is also responsible for Elturel's disappearance. It seems to Ordrag that the next step should be to investigate and arrest the Duke and her family, but that is up to his superiors to decide.

When the dragon cultists show up, Ordrag instinctively prepares to fight, but as he listens to the arguments, he considers their options. It seems that the dragon cult's goals align with their own, and as for ethics, it would make no difference to Ordrag whether these were Cult of the Dragon or Order of the Gauntlet. So far they have been on their own in this affair, and allies would be useful regardless of their source. Bringing back treasure or evidence was not technically in their instructions, and perhaps could be used to complete their prime objective. With these thoughts in mind, Ordrag steps forward.

Hey bro, me see this means a lot to you, and yous are ready to die for it, same as we. How about us help each other and none of we has to die? If yous help us capture the Duke and her family, but promise not to kill them unless us say so, then yous can take your treasure and your lives back to your master. Whadya reckon?

Mortlock repeated the names of the ships to memorize them and nodded in gratitude. He did not promise anything, but you could say he is the type that remembers his debts.

Ordrag certainly piqued cultist's leader interest, when he mentioned Duke. "Do you talk about one called Duke Vanthampur? What do you know about her? She hides in her houses and so do her sons, but the dragon is patient and persistent. I need them dead. Death can be postponed until you get what you need from them," he tilted his head as if considering the idea, "but death they get nevertheless. Now, where are they?"

Adray was impressed by Ordrag's words.  What he said made sense and what he was proposing was quite useful.  Picking up on it he said, "My friend here makes a good point.  Maybe we can further help each other out.  We were tasked ridding the city of these cultists and your goals align with ours.  We have recently been informed that Amerik Vanthampur owns a tavern close by was supposed to keep these guys inline.  We plan on paying him a visit soon.  Maybe we could get your assistance in securing a personal chat with him.  Get some info on their mansion and then move on from there.  It might fare better than throwing ourselves at the mansion first."  He'll turn to Ordrag and give him a smile and pat on the back.  Then whisper for them all, "Group decision, I want everyone's opinion."