It takes you ten days to explore the area fully, and ascertain that it is indeed empty. The Halls are a veritable underground city, once housing thousands of dwarves. On the top level, where you killed the dragons, are the administrative areas. Below that level is a commercial area, followed by two residential levels and a level devoted to smelters, forges and other industrial activities. Below them all are the mining levels: sprawling warrens of rough-hewn winding passages that follow the twisting paths of the ore veins that the dwarves mined. Much valuable ore remains to be mined, you note.
You find few monsters, though. Except for a few stragglers and cripples, all of them fled for the northern wilderness when they saw that the dragons had been defeated.
The treasure you find, though, is somewhat disappointing. Much of the mountains of coins were only coppers, it turns out. In all, you find: 210,000cp, 130,000sp, 66,000ep, 13,000gp, 2000pp; 97 gems @ 100gp ea.; 87 gems @ 50gp ea.; 17 various jewelry @ 4000gp ea.; 33 various jewelry @ 5000gp ea.; 14 potions; a wand; 14 sling bullets; a dagger; a staff; a periapt; a broadsword; a ring; a rod and a shield.
Valdar regards the pile.
"This does not tally up to even half of what has been taken from my people," he says, "And a fair part of this pile would have been taken from Gonzo's people...not mine."
"Speaking of Gonzo's people," puts in Gizmo, who has joined you. "Going by what I have seen of these fine halls, I am sure that I can convince our family that a timely return here would result in a solid return on our investment."
Valdar smiles.
"That is good news," the elf-lord says. "We Elves would appreciate and support a powerful dwarven ally to our north."
He turns to the rest of you.
"And what are your plans, now that we have finished these fair Halls? I need to find out what has become of the rest of our money. You originally agreed to help me against the pirates who were raiding our shipping. Perhaps we shall find more clues there. Are you still interested? Or have you other plans?"
On the night of October 9th, you sit around the fire in your base camp, planning future moves. The night is seasonably cool, the sky overcast.
Darian bows before the Valdar. "Lord, for all of your assistance, I will gladly help you. But, now that we've saved the world, might we go back and help Kadlian's party? They had some sort of golem problem..."
Gilstrock clears his throat and says, "Now, wait a minute. I realize I'm not the brains of this outfit. I'm never the brains of any outfit I'm in, mostly 'cause I don't wanna be the brains of any outfit. But, see, I've been around the block a time or two, and what just happened here worries me a bit."
"First of all, what about Tiamatlet? All we saw was an illusion. Where's the real one? Was all of that warning and leadup about Tiamatlet just so much hot air? Or is the real one lurking around about to cause trouble somewhere?"
"Next," Gilstrock continues, "what about Ratzass, or whatever his name is. He's still out there, somewhere. Is he really gone from these halls? Or is he about to pop back and cause trouble again? And what abou the rest of that money? Never mind all those dragons... I mean, who heard of so many dragons content to sit on just this much treasure?"
"Good questions," says Valdar. "Perhaps it's time to do some communing."
"Um, I just meant to help Kadlian's group for a day. I mean, a few golems. We just took down fifty or so dragons! What's a few golems to us? And then they can finish up their work. Who knows, maybe a few of them might want to join us..."
Gilstrock shakes his head. "I mean, it looks like we're done here, but something kinda smells like Denmark, if you know what I mean. Mebbe we should go after those pirates, if they're connected."
"Uhhh...Denmark..?" asks another dumb fighter, namely Robert.
"Must be a kind of fish..."
Gilstrock shrugs. "Dunno. Just an expression. Once I heard some bard or another say, 'Something is rotten in the state of Denmark.' I have no clue what it means, 'cept that this Denmark place sounds kinda stinky."
"Whatever," says Valdar. "It sounds like we may be divided as to what to do next. Darian wants to go and help out Lun'Folard's party, while I want to waste no time in getting at the pirates. No matter. This is a large group...I don't see why we can't do both simultaneously.
"Tomorrow morning I intend to leave here and head north up the Elven Coast Road, to the place where my agents say is the lair of the pirates. Whoever wants to accompany me, you are welcome."
He glances hopefully at Stiff, Orlon and Occa, before saying to Darian, "When you and whoever chooses to go with you are finished in the Borderlands, seek us up the Elven Coast Road. If you only take a day as you expect, then we should be very easy to find. If it takes longer, then we shall leave a trail of some sort."
Stiff steps up.
"I'm going with you, Valdar," he says. "I don't know if I ever want to see that ungrateful mob of wretches again!"
Arrrgh!, Rodenstock, Woody and Hardboard echo Stiff's words.
"I'll go with you, too, lord," says Robert.
"Me too," says Vardui, who is still loitering around.
Jesse looks around at Occa, Pharian and Darian, waiting to see where they plan to go.
Darian looks at the others and shakes his head. "No, Lord Valdar, I'll go with you. It's actually Occa's choice as to whether or not anyone helps them. I've no way to get there since I can't teleport. I can only go if Occa goes."
He then says to Stiff, "You're blaming the whole group on two people's words? Not very fair to the ones who were quite grateful, Stiff."
Stiff starts to say something, then remembers the first rule in Dealing with Darian, and instead opts for a silent glare, instead.
Darian grins at him and sticks out his tongue.
"Well," replies Jesse, "I'm game to continue, if you don't mind me along."
"Valdar, I have been with you since we met by the vampire's castle, so our mission still has not changed." Salaam says to the Elvish Lord.
"I think I'll go help our friends with the golems. Rage, she's a cute chick, huh?" Jerry says with a gleam in his eye.
"Occa, can we go back to Sandas, so that I may finish the temple to Horus Re ?" Alhamet says to the mage.
Gilstrock looks over at Pharian, and then back at Valdar. He turns to Pharian again and says, "Let's go with Valdar," he says to his friend. "These pirates were what we were doing in the first place, and it sounds like it's where we'll probably get some answers. And maybe we'll get to go aboard a ship!"
Gilstrock looks over at Darian. "I mean, no offense. I'm sure Kadlian's group could use the help... but what with half of them having taken my little joke as a threat and having sworn a blood oath against me and my entire family, I think I'd kinda like to stay away from them. Besides, they're all just so serious and dour and intense, they'd probably drive me completely batty before the day was out."
"I don't like them either," says Pharian without elaboration.
"I thought it was just Rage that had a problem with you. I thought the others relaxed once they figured out you were joking. I won't argue that they're serious, dour and intense, though. I imagine if you had to be subjected to that character Furgh, you'd be the same way."
"Anyway, I've decided to go with you and Lord Valdar. Without all of you, there's not much I can do against golems. I'm not powerful enough..."
Occa silent till now says, "Count me in as well, although I think we should do some communing about all of this."
"What I want to do first is go destroy Guido's guild and get my ring of invisibility back. Occa--you had said you were interested. Are you still?" asks Pharian.
"Yea." replies Jesse.
"Yes, although I also have an interest in finding Raztazthebigass and killing him as well. He must have been controlling those dragons with the idea of a Tiamatlet." says Occa.
Gonzo has a quizzical look on his face... "Hey guys. Wha' da ya think Raz-azz meant by 'youse kin have da rest, we have whut we need'? Dem dragons didn't have much treasure as dragons go. What do you think he's really up to? I don't dink we be finished wid his butt till he be in a jar and DEAD!"
Gonzo will go with the party that has the most to offer his character in terms of challenge, fun, etc.
BrightAxe would like to go chase pirates. "The chasing of pirates through coves and caves sounds like fun. If we have to get on a ship; well, I come from a long line of dwarves who bathe."
So, most everyone decides that it is best to shut up Valdar by accompanying him, leaving Kadlian Lun'Folard's party to their fate.
That night, Valdar teleports Al to Sandas, and Occa sends Jerrold to the Black Keep.