A/N: And here's the next chapter! Enjoy!

Disclaimer: I don't own Dungeons and Dragons. I only own my original ideas.

Chapter 76: Dividing the Hoard

The journey back to the Greenhall Academy was thankfully uneventful. There, Verrax retrieved another spell scroll and reopened the portal. Over the next hour, we retrieved the entirety of the hoard and then set down to sorting it out and identifying each item. Some time later, we'd accounded for it all. There were 885,388 copper pieces, 487,655 silver pieces, 170,801 gold pieces, and 34,821 platinum pieces.

As well, the hoard contained a huge black pearl with green streaks inside a clam-shaped chest, 27 emeralds of various sizes and shapes, a small iron box containing 22 pieces of amber, a blue diamond, 11 moss agates, 9 pieces of amethyst, 12 rough chunks of jade, 43 pearls of various colors, a wooden chest holding 234 obsidian shards, and a fire opal.

Next, came the art objects including 12 mithral bars a wooden throne set with rubies, emeralds and granets and etched with gold designs; 2 mammoth tusks nearly 10 feet long each, 14 medium-sized white marble statues, an emerald idol shaped like a crouching sphinx, a gold plated sarcophagus andorned with tiny percious gemstones, a silver tiara with six matching emeralds, a platinum scepter set with red and blue spinels, a teak wood, velvet-lined box holding flasks of rare perfumes in crystal vials; a silver coffer containing three potions, a sack holding 55 teeth for various beasts and monstrosities, 6 coral statuettes, a gold necklace set with bloodstones, a platinum comb set with tiny diamonds, an ironwood, 5-foot-tall harp, carved with elven runes etched with silver, and unicorn hair strings, a malachite chessboard and 32 moss agate chess pieces, 55 copper ingots, a sliver mirror with a bronze frame, a longsword scabbard with sliver accents, set with rubies, a guilded suit of ceremonial plate armor, a gold ring set with a single sapphire, 34 assorted bronze trinkets, a greatsword set with a jacinth on its pommel, 9 fir pelts wrapped in an oiled cloth, a sliver maple snuff box, and an electrum chalice set.

On top off all that there were the magial items, these, including the items my allies had already claimed was a set of four potions, three spell scrolls, a vorpal longsword, a dwarven thrower, a Belt of Giant's Strength, a quiver of enchanted arrows, a decanter ofendless water shaped like a frog, a pair of sending stones, an Alchemy Jar, a Helm of Comprehed Languages, an Immovable Rod, a suit of Mithral Chain mail, a Lantern of revealing, a bag of beans, an enchanted shield, a Ring of Spell Storing, a Ring of Water Walking, and a Figurine of Wonderous Power in the form of a silver raven.

As we were sorting everything out, Verrax reached out to his contacts to see if we could find a descendant of Clan Ironshaper. In the meantime, our collections of allies began to go their separate ways. Mindartis decided to stay on at the academy to further his studies. Sultana Sulphura took her portion of the hoard, including a necklace we'd found in possession of the medusa. Having gotten her due, she stepped into a portal she summoned, returning to her home in the Plane of Fire. As for the rest of us, we awaited news about the dwarves. In the meantime, Verrax came over to speak with us.

"Thank you again for aiding me," said Verrax, "Unfortunately, it seems that lead didn't pan out. Did Xitlalcoatl reveal anything specific to you before he left?"

"Nothing that could assist us," I said.

"Hells, I was hoping he might know something about the recent unusual planar activity," said Verrax, "back to the books it is, then".

Verrax flew off, deep in thought.

"What's this about planar activity?" asked Zannairth.

"We've come across several rifts and active planar gates in our travels. The entrance to a powerful wizard's sactum that was leaking fiends, the forgotten artifact that contained a portal to the Shadowfell, and the rift high up in the mountains that the Void Dragon was guarding," I said, "there seems to be some sort of connection between these events".

"I see," said Zannairth, "and you think ths cult is behind it?"

"Possibly, there's still many unanswered questions," I said.

Several days later, we received word about Clan Ironshaper. Luckily, some of their descendants were still around, and arrived at the Academy. As they approached, they eyed me warily.

"Are you by chance missing an anvil?" I asked.

"Aye, we are," said one of the dwarves, "what's it to you, dragon?"

"I was one of those who found it," I said, "They have it stored over there".

The dwarves went with my allies over to examine the anvil, and after a short time seemed satisfied.

"This is an artifact of our clan," said the dwarf, "where did you find it exactly?"

"In the lair of the Green Dragon Chlorothra, he kept it in the first chamber of his lair, displaying it next to a captive Coautl," I said.

"What's your price, dragon?" said the dwarf, "what do you ask in payment for its return?"

"I'm not asking for anything," I said, "I think you should have back what belongs to you".

"You're a strange one," said the Dwarf, "tell you what, we'll craft something for you, something suitable for you. It may take some time. What's your name?"

"I am Valignatirisk," I said.

"We thank you and your allies," said the dwarf, "we will meet again, and hopefully on as pleasant terms as these".

The dwarves of Clan Ironshaper took their anvil, working together to carry it, and set off down the road. A short time later, Uxarix approached.

"Valignatirisk, a word please," said Uxarix.

"What do you need?" I asked.

"I heard a tale while visiting the temple," said Uxarix, "tales of a blade of great renown hidden in a forgotten temple out among the desert sands. The problem is no one knows its exact location".

"And you want us to help you find it?" I asked.

"Indeed," said Uxarix, "I know not where this path may lead us, but I feel I must do this. Will you be willing to aid me".

"Very well," I said, "we will aid you in you quest".

"Thank you Valignatirisk," said Uxarix, "I am glad to have met you"

A/N: and there we go! Our heroes have made it back safely, and now are faced with a new endeavor. What might they find waiting for them in the desert? See you then.