On any encounters on the way back, Deor will freely use one Sleep in combat where ever it’s useful, then switch to cantrips, preserving one Identify for use upon our reaching Minas Tirith. If the battle gets too heated, something gets too near and is threatening me, cast Invisibility and hide until the battle’s over.
A group I was with once finished a big battle some time round about one in the morning. They found a big stash of magic items, and the discussion was still going on at sunrise. And it wasn’t even high summer.
I’ll use 9 of those 10 on our injured (at 2hp per dose), i.e. Theogrim (2), Gwaelur (1), Theogrim (2), Brin (1), Thoroncir (1) and Nanthor (2).
I thank Nanthor for his bravery and courtesy. Without Fighters, Scouts and Flankers, the Wose would not survive…
Ghan smiles at his fellow caster. "Deor, you have got a serious disease :eek: - but don’t worry: I can cure it. 
You have … Gold Fever! 
The symptoms are concentrating on treasure found to the exclusion of all else (e.g. focusing on magic items and spells designed to value the treasure.)
It’s remarkably easy to catch and almost all of us have had it.
Fortunately it’s simple to cure - you just hear a story like this:
‘On the way back, loaded down with treasure, the party are ambushed by a huge band of orcs. Deor casts one Sleep, which takes out several orcs. However the battle is still close.
Although Deor has another Sleep, he refuses to even think of casting it and preserves his Identify - for he has Gold Fever!
Soon only a couple of orcs are left. They gather up all the treasure and depart, leaving Deor with his Identify spell, no treasure and no party…’
This is typically honourable of the good Knight.
However Ghân asks Thoroncir to consider two chances:
- if there is an specific item that he can use, it would benefit the party if he took it
- perhaps Thoroncir would like to spend a small sum on Herbal Cures (Ghân will also do this), because they can be used purely for the party (and Ghân does run out of curing spells…)
Oh yes!
One group I knew faced a battle against lots of orcs. The MU cast (amongst other things) [COLOR=Blue]Summon Monster to help. So they found a vast pile of coins - mainly silver, but still worth bringing back.
Puzzled looks though - the stuff weighed a huge amount.
Then someone pointed out the Summon Monster had brought … 5 ponies :eek: 
…
So now this group had loads of cash, but just a few magic items. So they held an auction, where a potion of Invisibility sold for 9,000 gold pieces :smack:[/COLOR]
So, we are getting richer, I can live with that.
Rule #47: Do the mundane stuff while you are safe. eg. resting, identifying, carousing etc, etc.
I can wait until the items are identified before splitting up the goods. I think we should also see if any of the items are appropriate to any of the group, there is no point giving me the magic 2 handed sword after all.
I think I will be leaving my share with Uncle Pippin in Minas Tirith.
Absolutely.
Coins are easy, but we have two choices with magical items:
- if we can’t agree, we sell them and share the cash
- each specific item goes to the party member who can best use it (only sell the ones you can’t use at all)
(You can tell Ghân’s preference!)
I strongly favour keeping any magic items that are usable, and anyone who loses out will get first dibs on the next hoard. I guess that magic will be rare enough to make it a poor idea to sell it for cash unless we’re badly in need.
While waiting for other players to check in. I think we are done and can head out.
Gimli, “As you are talking about shares, we should decide on the way back. I know my share is going to the family of Náli. I also agree with the Wose & Elf that if anything is useful to people in this little adventure, we should find a way for them to get it, even if they need to forgo their share of the gold. When you take the risk, is seems odd to sell the rare magical items for the idea of a great share of gold. "
Caramir, “I am not too worried, but if it comes to it, I think I can help a little in finding good prices for what you found.”
Nanthor, “Sorry to seem petty, but I volunteered for this mission with no hopes of gain other than what we find. I would hope I have deserved a full share, even if I missed the final battle. That was the luck of the draw and not my own doing.”
Jari, “Hear, hear”.
Gimli spends a little time investigating the cave. Two of the Dwarves join him.
When they return Gimli says, "I don’t believe we missed anything and the recent construction and mining seems to mainly be smoothing out floors, destroying some stalactites & mites and fixing up the area by the well. They also widened the back exit.
Geez, you people are talkative over the weekend
If it is not too late, I’ll help scout the last passage. I’ll let the more injured take on any extra healing. My injuries will recover by rest. I’ll choose to rest under the stars, trading watches with Starharp and the talking Moose. My psychiatrist will certainly have something to say about that!
I’m for distributing useful items by need, and selling useless items.
I say! Surely this thread is for Nerds with no life?! 
Of course those who shared in the earlier fights - and departed only under orders - should receive full shares. They took a full share of the danger and were in the hardest fight of all.
Agreed. And thank you, friend glee, for your good counsel about Thoroncir’s share of the treasure, as well as for your invaluable healing skills.
Ghân likes the way that Thoroncir keeps an eye on him. 
As the Wose saying goes “You look out for me and I will too.”*
*Sadly this can be misintepreted. Woses know what they mean, but others sometimes don’t.
“Thanks to Ghan for healing me back to full strength.”
Gwaelur is happy to distribute the wealth as the party sees fit, he has a great love for gold and money, but is a bit preoccupied with the captured Orcs. Particularly the big Uruk-Hai, who he continues to feel is too dangerous to be left alive. He says little about any of this to the party, instead keeping mostly silent and watching the captives closely.
This is more wealth than Brin has ever seen. Whatever his take, he will petition Lord Caramir to have 50% of it to his family back in Dale. If any weapons are better than his own, he will look to swap (I did see a longsword and shortsword of good quality, but I suspect mine are also of good quality).
Caramir, “We can try, but as you yourself know, messenger service between here and your home is spotty at best. You yourself were a messenger from your King. I fear you would be best serve to hold onto it until you go north or perhaps talk to Gimli. His people do have traffic between Aglarond and Erebor.”
You are correct, the weapons look no better.
OK, I’m back. Wow, a lot happened while I was out. Many thanks to my co-players for [del]almost getting me hacked to pieces[/del] playing Theo very much in character in my absence. 
Theogrim says: I don’t see anything in the hoard that would be of direct use to me, except of course for the coins and gems. I think we should set aside a party fund for healing herbs and potions before splitting anything for personal gain.
This makes a lot of sense to Deor.
Deor would guess that no one else in the party would want the magic staff or the spellbooks, but the rest of the loot isn’t something he’s looking to possess. He’s got a strong academic interest in the magic items, though.