Taerix's curiosity gets the better of him, and he pulls the two scroll cases out of the pile. Careful not to spoil the contents with muck or leftover acid, he cautiously opens one to see what's inside.

Giving Sarah a nod, Aldara peers over Taerix's shoulder.

Just wanna see what's up with the scroll.  I know read magic if it comes to it, but I doubt now's the time.

At a glance Valthur is able to determine the armor, shield and axe are enchanted. In the case of magic armor, its original size is nearly meaningless, as it typically conforms to the size of its wearer a few moments after being donned.

One of the potion vials contains a black liquid and the other contains a white liquid.

Inside the scroll cases...the first scroll is obviously a spell of some sort, likely from the abjuration school judging by the neat and orderly rowed sigils.

The second is not magic at all, rather a map. A map depicting Vraath's Keep and a secret tunnel beneath its southwest tower. The map indicates a tunnel leads to a hidden vault beneath the keep. A note next to this secret vault indicates this is the final resting place of one Emery Vraath, and likely the location of his considerable treasury, among which is purported to be his magical strength-imbuing gauntlets, Frostband Sword and Staff of Life!

Finally, one of the gems is a cut garnet (750 gp), the other a jasper (50 gp).

Of the coins, at least 75% of the 20,000 or so coins appear to be copper pieces, about 15% electrum and perhaps 10% gold.

It's definitely more than the party is realistically able to haul out of the marsh in one go.

Having exhausted her ability to treat any further acid burns, Eoni turned her attention to the immovable strongbox.

"Sort out six hundred gold for us," she instructed.  "We'll hope to come back for the rest another day.

"Valthur, if the axe and mail suit you, try them out.  You're always getting into trouble and these might get you out of it.

"Taerix, try out the shield and see if it would do you well.

"We'll strip the other horses and consolidate what we can on the pony," she continued, with a gesture at their lone beast of burden.  "Pile the rest of he tack and saddles someplace dry.  We may be able to salvage something another time."

Having given the others something to do, Eoni turned to Sarah and took the girl in her arms.  "Everything's going to be all right," she soothed.  "We're never alone, even when we think we've lost everything.  Avandra has her eye upon us and we do our best.  Brindol is strong and ready for what's coming.  It won't be easy, but we'll all do our part and get through this."

"Look, I have marched  with a full pack in this damnable heat in the past in the army of Brindel. Heed me, when I tell you, every pound of weight is a burden in terrain like this. Hide the chest, and we can pick it up on our return. What good is gold going to do us,where we are heading. Just dead weight."

"We'll put the gold on the pony," Eoni explained over Sarah's head. "It's a safeguard against losing it all.  If anyone knew this box was here, that beast may have been the only thing preventing them from taking it.  If they find the beast silent, they may come looking.

"If the weight proves too much in this bog," she conceded, "we can cache it someone along the way where only we know where it lies."

 Marklin shrugged." Av it your way. But I nay be carrying any o' that trash, in this bog. Bad enough Valtur en me be wearing mail. Sink like a load stone in water, if we hit a weak spot."

Still sniffling, Sarah reaches into her pack.

"I . . . Here.  Mebbe this can help . . .  I don' know how good it is . . . "

She pulls out a scroll and holds out in the general direction of the spellcasters.

[Private to Eoni Daflin: Scroll of Animal Summoning.
 Animal Summoning
 Duration: See below
 Range: 200 feet
 The caster of the spell summons 1d8 ordinary animals (including
 giant types) of up to 4 HD per animal, if they are within range
 of the spell. The DM will decide the chance of a particular
 animal type being available, and the caster may attempt up to
 three different animals before the spell is a failure. Summoned
 animals will serve the caster for a specific task, including
 fighting, aiding on a quest, or other goals that may be short
 term or relatively longer term. The caster may dismiss animals at
 any time.

Note the range.  Sarah isn't smart enough to get the limitation, but she would know enough about the scroll's purpose and would reveal that she has it at this time.]

[Private to Aldara: Scroll of Animal Summoning.
 Animal Summoning
 Duration: See below
 Range: 200 feet
 The caster of the spell summons 1d8 ordinary animals (including
 giant types) of up to 4 HD per animal, if they are within range
 of the spell. The DM will decide the chance of a particular
 animal type being available, and the caster may attempt up to
 three different animals before the spell is a failure. Summoned
 animals will serve the caster for a specific task, including
 fighting, aiding on a quest, or other goals that may be short
 term or relatively longer term. The caster may dismiss animals at
 any time.

Note the range.  Sarah isn't smart enough to get the limitation, but she would know enough about the scroll's purpose and would reveal that she has it at this time.]

Eoni took the scroll from Sarah and looked it over.

"Perhaps," she replied to the girl.  "Keep an eye out for animals that might help and we could use this.  It only calls upon those nearby.  So trying for more horses is unlikely.  But if we see a herd of them nearby, we could call upon some of them for aid.  Thank you for letting us know that you have it."

She handed the scroll back to the girl for safekeeping and nodded to Aldara.  "Animal summoning," she explained.

OOC: Declaring this a Clerical spell scroll as being closer to Speak with Animals rather than the higher level Charm Monster.

Sarah takes the scroll back and returns it to her pack.

Leaving the others to their business, Eoni slogged through the fen to the fallen owl.  It seemed large enough to be one of the Tiri Kitor's fabled mounts and she wondered if there were any sign that it was.  She first checked for signs of life before examining it and the immediate environment for any indication of belonging.

" We need to move on. That carcass with draw scavengers like a whore house on pay day." Observed Marklin in his usual subtle way.

At Eoni's suggestion, Valthur eagerly dons the chainmail and replaces his own axe, a worthy weapon at that, with the new, enchanted one.

"Let's see how those hobgoblins like me now," he boasts, twirling the axe and giving a few practice swings.

Taerix tucks away the map of Vraath Keep and tries out the magic shield with his sword.

Reverting to her expressionless and emotionless state, Sarah assists with trying to sort the gold coins from the lesser ones.

[Private to DM Pawn: And if I find something that was overlooked, try to pocket it.]

 Marklin walked over to where Sarah was helping to sort coins. He looked like he was about to say something to her, but then turned and walked away to stand sentry.

Aldara nods at Eoni and Sarah, and begins to aid the others in sorting the gold from the rest of the currency.

Still giddy with the acquisition of two enchanted items, Valthur joins the others sorting coins with an unusually positive attitude. "This new chainmail is light as a feather. Now I should be able to carry a few extra coins."

Several party members sift through the massive treasure chest, picking out gold coins from the mountain of copper and electrum. This is long tedious work, but the group soon settles upon a productive method. During this period, Valthur tries on the magic chainmail and practices swinging the magic battle axe. Meanwhile, Taerix checks out the magic shield. It feels quite good in the halfling's hands.

Meanwhile, Eoni turns her attention to the dead giant owl. The cleric discovers a jade band around one leg. The band is inscribed in a strange, eloquent script that to Eoni's eye appears to be elven in nature. Unfortunately, she is unable to make sense of the letters, but it may well support her hunch of the owl being related to the Tiri Kitor people.

Several minutes later, the party has separated a pile of about 2000 gold pieces from the mountain of copper and electrum. Additionally, the adventurers segregate the potions, scrolls and gems from the coins, the other magic items having been, at least initially, claimed by Valthur and Taerix.

Sadly, the other 18,000 or so coins will be much too cumbersome to haul out of the marsh, given the fact they only have one living pony remaining. Not that such places are meant for hooved beasts in the first place.

The adventurers separate the loot amongst them and talk of pushing onward toward the Ruins of Rhest, when they hear a strange rush of wind. Glancing skyward, the party sees six giant owls soaring overhead!

Each owl bears a rider--dark-haired elves wearing leather armor dyed green and brown to match the colors of the marsh. The flying elves circle the area twice, high above, and then alight next to the slain owl.

They study the party with narrowed eyes, their faces a mask of suspicion and disbelief. Then, one speaks, "Who are you?" the elf demands. "And what are you doing in the marsh?"

"We're the Trailbreakers," Eoni replied to the elven speaker.  "We've come looking for the Tiri Kitor.  We have word from Adranna the Young, Eth Speaker of Witchcross, that a great evil stirs in the ruins of Rhest.

"We hope to prevent that evil from rising and adding to the war now being fought in Elsir Vale."

She presumed an explanation of their most recent encounter was self evident.

Sarah shrinks behind the others as she tries to be somewhat out of view.

Valthur eyes the riders carefully but says nothing. He's learned to trust Eoni to these types of negotiations.

Aldara, too, keeps her mouth shut, even though she must really want to pester the Elves for magical knowledge.

Taerix lets his eyes drift quite often to the beast that the party just killed, in case there was any doubt. He also lets Eoni handle the parley.

The elf narrows his eyes while studying Eoni and then sweeps his eyes across the other adventurers, pausing over each in turn.

Turning his attention back to Eoni, the elf nods and says, "Nice work..." He flicks his chin toward the greenspawn razorfiend.

The elf then dismounts his giant owl and strides toward the slain owl and kneels down beside the creature's leg. Seeing the jade band and reading the inscription, he sighs and asks, "Have you seen any other elves in your travels? This owl, Lioki, belonged to one of my tribe, Lanikar. He is missing..."