"Sounds good to me."  Leon agrees with the summary.

Ramious claps Bernard on the back, "Great job Bugs!  Great first mission with us! It'd be great to keep having you around!"  He seems to remember who he's touching then, and pulls his hand back, wiping it on his pant leg.  He smiles forgiveness with a shrug as they make their way back out of the cave system.

Alyssa would adjust her note taking to a lower level when she’d notice Duergar taking interest, even if it were suspiciously at first. He’d notice her notes are thorough and organized. She’d even have sketches of the item as a whole with separate drawings of detailed portions that have been highlighted. On pages prior to it, if he was so curious, he’d notice sketches and doodles of the dragon. She had taken some time to ensure she recorded everything she could from memory. There were even notes and doodles of her comparing its wings with Ramious’. The elf was a true scholar at heart and appreciated knowledge above most. By inviting Duergar to look over her notes, perhaps he’d accept that not everyone comes seeking for the material wealth, even if she may be the only exception. Alyssa wasn’t lying when she said she was here for exactly this, history and experience. She desired his respect and the respect of his people in hopes that one day she may be able to learn more. She wanted to document and preserve knowledge, not sell it for personal gain, even if it was knowledge she would have to swear secrecy or to protect.

The archaeologist would do one more review of her mapping, making sure she’s updated the last few sections and notes. Alyssa would nod to the others. She was finally ready to go.

Catching Ramious’ ‘flinch’ after praising touching Bugs, Alyssa couldn’t help but stifle a bit of a giggle. She would offer Bernard her own smile of appreciation. “It has been a pleasure.” She’d agree.

Bugs pulls out one scrap of parchment and begins reading,  "One, establish direction of the fort. Two, head that direction.  Three scout for enemies.  Three A, kill enemies or three B, tail enemies to hide out. Four, map the area.  Wait no Three A subsection 1 collect orc ear.  Five, find Fort, Five A clear out fort, five A1 collect ears, six locate vault.  Six A open vault and Six A 1 collect blades. Seven return blades to town.  Eight return to guild. Eight 8A deliver ears, collect payment "

He pulls out a quilt and starts putting a heavy line though 90% of it.  "Yep, looks like we are in the clear for all of it.  Just let me add an addendum to fight a dragon here... done.  Now shall we head back to the village?"

The battle with the dragon (or at least preparations to it), transporting goods and yet another traveling in the darkness were exhausting enough to make a stop on the way to surface, so you could properly assess the treasure you found. All together it gave you: Wand of Magic Missiles, two potions of healing and one potion of flying, Shield, +1, Greataxe, +2, Longsword, +1 (plus those non-magical weapons), in addition to 6,200 sp, 1,430 gp, two garnets worth 20 gp each, and a black pearl worth 50 gp.

Ramious looks at the hordes of treasure they've come away with.  "This is...remarkable. More gold than I'd ever previously seen ever...on every day of my life put together.  Even more than that time that adventuring group came in and bought unlimited drinks for everyone in the bar.  We are RICH.  I think I might go buy unlimited drinks for everyone at a bar one night!  The only magic item that'd be much use to me is that shield.  But...dunno."  He shrugs.

"I could use the greataxe."  Leon says with a nod to the magical weapon.  He looks over the rest with a look of approval in his eyes.  "We did good guys.  Very good.  I am glad to fight alongside you all."  He gives each of them a nod of respect.

Hard to say how much duergar was impressed by Alyssa's drawings, but pictures of weapons he studied very carefully, and the Glittering cave above seemed to pick his interest as well. In fact, it did seemed he liked the maps, though he could be more expressive in his appreciation and it was obvious, only practical part of Alyssa's science was of any interest to him.

After some rest and riches counting, you continued your journey home (or the closest thing to it here). The way back was easier - even getting up inside the mountain with all the bags (granted - treasure bags) was as pleasant as crawling in cold dark stinky tunnels can be. But once you emerged from the Keep (and everything under it) you were greeted by the fresh, almost sweet to the taste air of the pine and spruce covered mountains, and could see (or imagine) the chimney's smokes of the town far below you. 

Now, that you found the old road, you could see some signs of paths left by the orcs as well - all of them helping to get down. Still, it took a day to reach Blasingdell. The town was as busy as you left it, but Sergeant Gren­­dar Kuln was in his "office". He greeted the group with genuine relief and a broad toothy grin: "Glad to see you all alive and in one piece. Had a report about some villagers you managed to free, was expecting you to be right behind the messenger, but then you disappeared. And a couple days ago a hunter brought news about a dragon flying away from the  Stone Tooth - honestly, did not know what to think about it. But you are back!"

He waked to the door and gave a sharp whistle: "Sit, rest, the food will be here in a moment. Now, let's hear the story and count the gold the town owned you - are those the Durgeddin's blades? For real?!"

"Someone else can tell you the story."  Leon says, nodding to his companions.  "But, yes, we did find the dwarven weapons..."  He pulls out the handaxe and hands it over.

Gren­­dar accepted the axe with care and confidence of someone, who knows how to handle one. He made a few swings, looked at the rune of the master: "The legends were true after all. The thing should be ancient, yet, not a spot on the blade and it still quite sharp. Where did you find is exactly?" He dived into the maps (now Alyssa got a very appreciative listener!), ignoring the hot food (meat pies - the staple of local cuisine it seems, ragout, fresh bread) - he gestured something like "help yourself", though, and looked lost in the future plans concerning the Keep. "Ha! We might yet beat up the competitors from both sides!"

Bernard grabbed a chair and found himseld an ale.  He dug into the food with a ravenous hunger.  The warm dishes were much tastier than the harder trail rations.  After the first plate he saw a delicious meat pie at the other ends and while still drinking pointed over to hit.  Little lines of various shaped bugs scurried out and started to drag it to him.  Ge paid no mind until there were a few gasps, squeaks and a chair following over.  

Abruptly he looked up and realized the issue.  He mumbles a "Sorry" through a mouthful of food and usheres his bugs back up his sleeves. 

Ramious also went for ale and meat pies as if he hadn't eaten since he'd left.  Leaving crumbs all over his shirt and foam all over his mouth. Ramious pushed his chair slightly further from Bugs, letting out a shiver, before scratching behind his ear and resuming with his eating. 

He looks at Grendar, "The competitors?" 

Half-orc nodded: "Mirabar mostly. Greedy traders. But now we can show what honest competition means - with metal like this." He suddenly turned and threw the axe in to a wall at the back of the room. "Hah! Good balance. So, what do I owe you?" He search under the table and produced a huge abacus. "The map - 100 gp, orc ears - 25 gp each, 28 ears - 700 gp. That axe - well, normally it's 5 gp, but the metal and the rune - say 50 golds? All together 850 gold, right? Check it out and I'll prepare the gold. Then Evan," Grendar turned to the door leading inside a small back room, "Lesly, call Evan! Now!" (The peasant girl flashed a smile to the group and run outside) "so, Evan will send you back. Any questions?"

Ramious nods, and between some mouth fulls of food says, "That all sounds very fair. It's been a pleasure gettin some good work done for you folk!"

(OOC:  I believe the dragon treasure, plus mission treasure, plus the other treasure we found totals 1550 Silver each, and 1087 Gold each.  If everyone is ok, Ramious would like the Shield+1, it seems like Leon would like the Axe +2.  Longsword+1 and Wand of magic missiles interesting to either Bugs or Alyssa?  And who wants the potion of fly? Is that fair?  Or did others want the shield or axe?) 

Bugs would take either if we are splitting up the magic items.  Once back at the guild he may may try and sell or trade the item for a different magic item.  

Upon reaching Sergeant Kuln's office, Alyssa would bow her head respectfully in greeting. She would happily take her seat wherever there was room left at the table. Along with her companions, she would begin helping herself to the spread before them. The elf would fill the Seargent in on their adventure from beginning to end, in modest detail, enough to satisfy his curiosity as she'd fill her plate. Once the splitting of coin and talk of magics would start, she'd begin eating. The wizard would wait for the others to go through and grab their items of interest/desire before sheepishly speaking up for herself.

(Thank you for the tracking NathanPizzaz. Alyssa would use the wand of magic missiles if no on else would want it to use. )

(OOC:  Alright, shield for Ramious, axe for Leon, wand for Alyssa, and sword for Bugs.  Bugs also gets the potion of flying since he's settled the most?) 

Ramious would eat and drink till his stomach was overly full, as if he wasn't sure when his next meal was coming, despite now having an abundance of treasure.  While Alyssa and the sergeant go over the details of the place, he'd pull a small cloth out and spend his time carefully cleaning the magical shield, buffing it and sizing the straps for his arm.  Finally, once all business seemed managed, he stand up, a big grin on his face.  

"Well, we should be gettin back, I think, if all our business here is done. Was mighty nice runnin' this little errand for ya, glad it's helped.  Oh....we told him about the Duergar in there, right?  There's some dark dwarf types who are keen to take over the place.  We mentioned that?  And a black dragon that we drove off but likely could cause some trouble in the future." 

(sounds good to me.)

Sergeant nodded - Alyssa did tell about duregars too: "Slight change of plans then, but might be even for the best. And we will see about that dragon. Well, really glad the guild sent such a competent group. Wish you luck in your future endeavors." He even somewhat ceremoniously bowed his head and gestured to a young gnome, entering the house: "They are all yours, Evan. Be swift - second foundry still need help." Evan nodded and without a word turned around, leading the way to another house - judging by the equipment, the den of local mages.

There, still silently, he pointed at the teleporting circle on the floor, waited until everyone was inside, and begun casting (proving he can actually talk). Already familiar swirling silvery darkness - and instead of cold dry air full of sharp smells and noises of a living working mountain town, you came to your senses in the warm quietness of the guild's teleporting room.

Outside the circle stood non other but Sam himself. Grinning, shining and as chatty as ever. "Glad to see you all alive and well, my dearest Monster Slayers! Or should I say - Dragonslayers? I know, I know - you did not exactly slay the beast, but this is a big step, my lads (and ladies)" he bowed to Alyssa and raised index finger: "a big step! One can not call himself a true adventurer, until one meets a dragon!"

"Well, come on in. Rest, clean up, sell, buy, contemplate on your adventure - whatever you need to do, guild will help. (Will can see to your fees, of course). And I'll see you when," (he raised the finger again) "or should I say "if"? No, I am pretty sure it is "when"! So, see you when you are ready to take the new heroic journey!" With that he made a wide inviting gesture towards the doors.

Putting up with Sam's prattling, Ramious waited until he was done and then went through the formalities to escape from the guild hall. Ramious eventually walked out of the hall into the streets along with the others, feeling the heft of his coin in his bag and feeling a bit embarrassed about it all.  As they arrive out onto the street, Ramious turns to the others. 

"Well...this has been a crazy adventure!  With this gold, I can pay off every debt I ever thought I may have had."  He hefts his shield proudly, "And ain't this a fine thing!  Anyway, meeting you and going on these crazy quests has been amazing, it's been a pleasure for certain. I can't believe I even learned how to weave magic...I woulda never thought I could. But...I won't ever need more gold than this....I can retire and life a good life now....so best o'luck to all you, and if you want to get together for a drink at a bar, I think you'll find me in the Yawning portal most nights, now that I'm independently wealthy!"  

He gives bugs a big hug, absently wiping his body off and scratching the back of his neck as he steps back from the embrace.  He clasps Leon on the forearm and gives it a good shake, and he ...somewhat uncomfortable holds out a hand for Alyssa, then...both hands out..then...awkwardly goes in for a hug, which he ends by stepping back and mussing up her hair. 

"You guys stay safe now. And...I think we're all bound to each other, saving our collective skins each a few times, so, I owe ya.  You ever need a friend, an ally, or a drinkin partner, just look me up now....."   

He nods to them with a big, but slightly sad smile, and turns to walk away into the City of Splendors. 

----------------------------------------------------

Three days later. 

The door to the Yawning portal darkened as a hulking armored figure appeared within it. Wearing a suit of half-plate made of glittering grey metal that seemed to make no noise at all, the Tiefling with massive bat wings limped into the bar and sad down with a bloody lip and a swollen eye, and a bad cut across his left arm. He unstrapped his forearm guard and dropped the valuable metal sleeve on the table with a lighter then expected thud.

The waitress approached him, "Hey there Rammy."  She shakes her head looking at him, "Gettin into some trouble? You ever going to change?"  

He shakes his head in reply, "Hey Marta. Guess somethin's don't change, even if I thought they did."  

She shrugs, "You want your regular?"   He nods a lazy nod, and she looks a bit uncomfortable as she says, "I'll...uh, hafta see the coin this time. You still owe quite a bit but if you give me the coin i'll get you a drink. That debt ain't none of my business hon."  

He sighs, and pats himself down, digging a gold coin out of his belt and tossing it to her. She shakes her head and goes to get his drink.  He sighs, clearly sporting a headache, and looks around the bar.  He absently picks at the wound on his arm as he gets lost in his own thoughts. Three days.  Three days to get this fancy armor, and then have everything else go to crap.  Turns out a night of open bar at the Yawning portal on a weeks end is enough to clean a guy out....another debt to the pile.  But those other debts aren't to nice tavern owners. No, those other  debts come callin,  an they look at his fancy armor, and fancy shield, and fancy sword, and they say....he owes extra plus interest....and they remind him that he might be tough, but a dozen guys is still a dozen guys.....and a bit of somethin on a blade is enough to even a fight.  He supposed he could sell the armor and make back enough to get by on. But....just three days ago he wasn't makin it by, he was livin the life. Back back in this stink hole of a city, and he was in trouble again and being taken advantage of in a split second. He hated people he realized. Hated 'em. This city, this place, filled with people that said they had your back, but were just lookin for a place to put their dagger. He glanced around the room, wishing he'd see Bugs, Alyssa, and Leon come strolling in. Out there, in the crazy wilderness running fools errands....out there he felt like he belonged.  Not here.  Turns out he was a fool after all....best to lean into it.  He looked around the room once more.....and sighed to himself heavily.