The two captured spies were equipped in a uniform manner, suggesting that whomever is their 'boss' equips his or her mooks rather than lets the mooks equip themselves.
In addition to the threadbare clothes they wear, they each possessed the following:
A 'Masterwork' Cloak that improves their Stealth (non-magical +2)
A Masterwork Dagger
A Masterwork Short Sword
A Masterwork suit of Chain Shirt Armor
One Potion of Invisibility (CL 8)
One Potion of See Invisibility (CL 8)
.... One of them has 11 gold coins and 64 silver coins; the other has 8 gold coins and 81 silver coins.
* * * *
XP for the roleplaying encounters of Ledbetter Apothecary, the Rodenthome rat, and Pythoness House, and the capture of the two Aspis Consortium spies = 1600 XP
(Your new total XP is 102,600)
Optional Metagame note for the curious:
Your fearless DM is doing some finagling. I had designed this quick PFS-sized scenario in The Styes to be enough to get you to 9th Level. And if you check among the first posts in Recruitment you'll see I had everyone start about halfway between Levels 8 and 9. I need you to be 9th for our 'A Paladin in Hell' adventure before we get to The Grand Concordance of The Abyss. But, [insert-donkey-squeal-here], now there are 7 PCs to share XP instead of 4-5. So I'm scrambling to think of ways to get you more XP in The Styes. But after thinking about it for a couple days I feel I have a good solution. .... Thus, um, the Undead that are about to attack in Fever Dream Alley were not initially in my plans.
The bills of sale, after a cursory reading, are legal and seem genuine, not forged. And while a forensic lawyer may indeed find points on which to argue in court, that would likely be an involved process.
It certainly appears as though House Oberigo, one of its minor Lords, sold his baby girl to the Agent of Pangolais to be raised as a student of The Midnight Lord, one day to become a Cleric or Inquisitor or somesuch asset -- perhaps even a future ambassador between the two States.
Just so there is no confusion, the four samples of intelligence on Nisroch are merely labeled by number, they are not detailed or described. It just says "payment included four samples of intelligence" and throughout the convoluted, er 'comprehensive' document they are numbered. ....One would have to ask Lord Tiam Oberigo (or maybe his matriarch, Countess Tanith) the contents of such intelligence.
Winnow has on his person the following treasure and magical items:
Handy Haversack
Portable Hole
$1864 GP in gold, platinum, silver and gems
Ring of Protection +2
Cloak of Resistance +2
Headband of WIS & CHA +4
+1 Adamantine Sickle, Vicious
Bill of Sale House Oberigo of Cheliax and Winnow of The Umbral Court
You have Winnow's duplicate copy of a sale purchasing the prodigiously-talented sixth daughter of Lord Tiam Oberigo (a non-Titled cousin of Countess Tanith Oberigo). Lord Tiam and his House have been paid $8000 in gold and four samples of intelligence (labeled 1, 2, 3, 4) regarding the city of Nisroch. The girl child is to be tested and become a pupil of The Midnight Lord's temple in Pangolais.
The bill of sale goes on further to detail the weight of favors that either House Oberigo shall owe the Umbral Court if the girl child does not survive her testing and thereby does not fulfill her potential. Likewise, it details the weight of favors the Umbral Court will owe House Oberigo and Lord Tiam if the girl child exceeds expectations.
Essentially, it is an exhaustively long legal document wherein House Oberigo makes an ally of the Umbral Court in Pangolais and The Midnight Lord gets a future agent in the girl child.
The bill of sale is forty-eight pages in length and written in Chelaxian, referencing legal code from dozens of sources of Chelaxian law.
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There is a second bill of sale, one page long, regarding a homeless boy being purchased by Winnow from The City of Westcrown, with the stamp of the Lord Mayor's office.
This 18-inch-circumference mirror-like disk radiates Overwhelming Conjuration magic and Evil. It is ancient in the extreme and the alloy that comprises the back of the mirror is of unknown metals, though Silver is among them.
A Relic of The Midnight Lord, forged in The Plane of Shadow, this wondrous item is tuned to a disciple of Zon Kuthon and is used to Gate powerful Outsiders from The Midnight Lord's court in various Planar Ally-Like rituals. Preternaturally cold to the touch, it is easier for creatures from The Shadow Plane to enter The Material Plane (under 'control' or 'influence') than it is for natives to the Material Plane to bring themselves through the NightGlass into The Shadow Plane.
Disciples of The Midnight Lord use a NightGlass most often to Conjure forth an Aspect or Avatar of their Masochistic master, but such disciples also use a NightGlass to test whether prospective initiates have sufficient arcane or divine potential to Call forth and Control a creature from The Midnight Lord's court.
Azlain takes the Nightglass from the strong-minded Imp with aplomb and concentrates on activating it blindly -- literally as well as figuratively considering that the shadowy forms on the other side of the ebony glass look at you just as you look at them.
The age of the wondrous item is tangible. Could it have been crafted in the months or days shortly after Earthfall?
Its metal frame is an alloy of some shiny, silvered metals, warped together not by hand but by, one can not really say for sure, mist and fog made strong?
And the black glass is deep. As deep as the Abyss. And full of Shadow.
It whispers to Azlain in Shadowtongue. "Release ME and I shall give you power. ....I know what it is you seek; I have the knowledge of many things past and secret to the Infernal servants in Cheliax. Release me and I shall grant you knowledge the like of which you have not dreamt."
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Azlain had earlier caught the barest glimpse of Winnow using the Nightglass in ritual to Zon Kuthon, Calling forth the Ormyr from its demesne in The Shadow Plane.
The Bellflower Network code broken, this document contains directions to a Druid-created, half-underground oasis in the desert outside of Macini -- roughly fifty miles southeast and only three miles off the cliffs dropping into the Inner Sea.
The Halfling Wizard, Avalia Greenheart, is there, as is another Bellflower Network Halfling, an unnamed Druid. The oasis is used as a semi-permanent base of operations, though it too will soon be scrapped as it is never safe to linger too long in one place in the Empire of Devils.
In addition to being a stopover and resting place before transportation to (and from) Andoran, it is also one of two locations (along with the Sycamore which you have cleared out) where plans are being developed to intercept a group of sea-elf slaves that House Matriarch, Countess Tanith Oberigo has recently obtained somehow and is selling to the Archduke himself, Archeathen Kettermaul Charthagnion. The ArchDuke's middle daughter, Vidame Cristante' Charthagnion, has negotiated the sale and is the target of the Bellflower Network's assault -- shortly after she is to take possession of the slaves. (Countess Tanith Oberigo is too powerful for the Bellflower Network to attack, and Archeathen Kettermaul Charthagnion is waaay to powerful to attack. The Vidame, however -- the Bellflower Network thinks they can handle her.
The map/plans can be sold for a high price to either House Oberigo or the greater House Charthagnion. (assuming you don't want to go there yourselves to bring justice to the chaotic, thieving Halflings)
Things not yet claimed that you may want:
Cloak of Resistance +2
Cloak of Resistance +2
Cloak of Resistance +2
Cloak of Resistance +2 .... (I guess you're each taking 1 but you should list that you're selling your old one if you have it.)
Headband of Vast INT +2
Belt of Giant STR +2
Belt of Giant STR +4
Potion of Fly CL 6
Potion of Cure Serious Wounds
Potion of Cure Moderate Wounds CL 6
Potion of Cure Light Wounds CL 5
Alchemists Fire (x2)
Holy Water (x4)
Sunrod (x2)
Holy Symbol of Iomedae .... Zero resale value (but maybe roleplay)
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Things I assume you'll sell but correct me where I'm wrong: Small +1 Longspear ....Will sell to ParaCount Marcus Phandros for $1Kgp
Small +1 Human-Bane Trident .... Sell for $4K gp
Small +1 Human-Bane Longbow .... $4K gp
+1 Long Sword .... $1K gp
Small +1 Silver Dagger .... $1K gp
Small Mwk Dagger .... $150 gp
Small +1 Shadow Scale Mail .... $2,375 gp
Small +1 Chain Shirt ....$500 gp
Small +2 Chain Shirt .... $2K gp
+1 Chainmail .... $500 gp
Small +1 Studded Leather .... $500 gp
Ring of Protection +1 .... $1K gp
Ring of Protection +1 .... $1K gp
Ring of Protection +1 .... $500 gp
Cloak of Resistance +1 .... $500 gp Total: $19,925(Smaller shares for those who got lots o' loot)
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Azlain's picks: Ring of Protection +1 ... Azlain
Potion of Cure Serious Wounds ... Azlain
Scroll of Dispel Magic CL 9 ... Azlain
Amulet of Nat AC +1... Azlain
Scroll of Speak with Dead CL 6... Azlain
Handy Haversack .... Azlain
Boots of Elvenkind... Azlain
Potion of Cure Serious Wounds .... Azlain
Bead of Force ... Mindy
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Yaos' picks: Scroll of Teleport CL 9 Yaos.... If you’re using this to get back to Westcrown asap then we can strike it off. Potion of Protection from Energy CL 6Yaos
Potion of Lesser Restoration (x2)Yaos
Bag of Holding type 1Yaos
Belt of Physical Might STR/DEX +2Yaos
Amulet of Nat AC +1Yaos
So if you want to upgrade or think your PC needs a potion or what-have you, hit 'Reply' and Strike through the item, putting your name adjacent to the stricken item:
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Small +1 Human-Bane Trident
Small +1 Chain Shirt
Ring of Protection +1
Cloak of Resistance +2
Headband of Vast INT +2
Belt of Giant STR +2
Potion of Lesser Restoration (x2)
Potion of Cure Serious Wounds
Scroll of Dispel Magic CL 9
Scroll of Teleport CL 9 .... If you’re using this to get back to Westcrown asap then we can strike it off. Bag of Holding type 2 ....Magnius
Small +1 Longspear ....Will sell to ParaCount Marcus Phandros for $1,000 gp
Small +2 Chain Shirt
Ring of Protection +1
Cloak of Resistance +2
Belt of Giant STR +4
Amulet of Nat AC +1
Potion of Cure Serious Wounds
Potion of Fly CL 6
+1 Long Sword
+1 Chainmail
Ring of Protection +1
Cloak of Resistance +2
Potion of Cure Moderate Wounds CL 6
Potion of Protection from Energy CL 6
Scroll of Speak with Dead CL 6
Bag of Holding type 1
Holy Symbol of Iomedae
Small Mwk Dagger
Small +1 Studded Leather
Cloak of Resistance +1
Handy Haversack .... Azlain
Alchemists Fire (x2)
Holy Water (x4)
Sunrod (x2)
Bead of Force
Potion of Cure Light Wounds CL 5
Small +1 Human-Bane Longbow
Small +1 Shadow Scale Mail
Cloak of Resistance +2
Belt of Physical Might STR/DEX +2
Boots of Elvenkind
Amulet of Nat AC +1
Ring of Protection +1
Small +1 Silver Dagger
Potion of Cure Serious Wounds
Potion of Lesser Restoration CL 6
Scroll of Treeshape CL 5
Potion of See Invisibility CL 9
Handy Haversack
'Alarm' Bell
(Obviously we'll just divide this evenly -- then split the gold from everything else, such as the $1K from Phandros for the Longspear)
142 GP; 166 SP
88 GP; 46 SP
203 GP; 186 SP
108 GP; 101 SP
97 GP; 81 SP
Among the adventuring equipment on the Halfling freedom-fighters Avarin Littlehat, Arlo Yellowknuckle and Arnam Goodkin, you find three documents of potential use....
First is a map of sorts that instead of having pictures has notes -- notes that are in written in the Halfling language and further, are in some complex linguistic code. But a cursory glance over the 'map' makes you feel that, if you can break the code (after translating from the Halfling language) you can discern the location of the Bellflower Wizard, Avalia Greenheart.
Second is a letter, also in Halfling and encoded, that you think refers to something in the city of Macini -- and their port.
The third letter in Halfling and encoded seems to have information about Westcrown.
Avarin Littlehat:
Small +1 Human-Bane Trident
Small +1 Chain Shirt
Ring of Protection +1
Cloak of Resistance +2
Headband of Vast INT +2
Belt of Giant STR +2
Potion of Lesser Restoration (x2)
Potion of Cure Serious Wounds
Scroll of Dispel Magic CL 9
Scroll of Teleport CL 9
Bag of Holding type 2
142 GP; 166 SP
Arlo Yellowknuckle:
Small +1 Longspear
Small +2 Chain Shirt
Ring of Protection +1
Cloak of Resistance +2
Belt of Giant STR +4
Amulet of Nat AC +1
Potion of Cure Serious Wounds
Potion of Fly CL 6
97 GP; 81 SP
Amina:
+1 Long Sword
+1 Chainmail
Ring of Protection +1
Cloak of Resistance +2
Potion of Cure Moderate Wounds CL 6
Potion of Protection from Energy CL 6
Scroll of Speak with Dead CL 6
Bag of Holding type 1
Holy Symbol of Iomedae
108 GP; 101 SP
Aaron Smallbridge:
Small Mwk Dagger
Small +1 Studded Leather
Cloak of Resistance +1
Handy Haversack
Alchemists Fire (x2)
Holy Water (x4)
Sunrod (x2)
Bead of Force
Potion of Cure Light Wounds CL 5
203 GP; 186 SP
Arnam Goodkin:
Small +1 Human-Bane Longbow
Small +1 Shadow Scale Mail
Cloak of Resistance +2
Belt of Physical Might STR/DEX +2
Boots of Elvenkind
Amulet of Nat AC +1
Ring of Protection +1
Small +1 Silver Dagger
Potion of Cure Serious Wounds
Potion of Lesser Restoration CL 6
Scroll of Treeshape CL 5
Potion of See Invisibility CL 9
Handy Haversack
'Alarm' Bell
88 GP; 46 SP
In her haste to grab the Imp's spell pouch, Mendacius comes away with something quite more valuable....
Itch's Handy Haversack:
1 Handy Haversack
2600 GP (in various gold, platinum, silver and gems)
1 Potion Cure Moderate Wounds, CL 4
1 Potion Lesser Restoration, CL 4
1 Potion Gaseous Form, CL 6
1 Potion Water Breathing, CL 6
1 Scroll Mage's Mansion, CL 12
1 Note, 'I-Owe-You'
Itch owes 3400 GP or an equivalent favor/information to Duchess Viola Salisfer, Matriarch of House Salisfer
1 Note, 'I-Owe-You'
Itch owes 8000 GP or an equivalent favor/information to Grand-Count Marcus Phandros, Patriarch of House Phandros
1 Note, 'I-Owe-You'
Itch owes 4000 GP or an equivalent favor/information to Lord Jeremiah Phandros of House Phandros
1 Letter for Blackmail
Duke Bassianus, the Patriarch of House Drovenge, is plotting to kidnap the teenaged Lady Rainaka Phandros and keep her as a slave girl. He is in love with her -- or rather, what he feels is 'love' as he is an absolute monster of misogyny and sexism.
Because House Drovenge is not a friend to House Phandros, this kidnapping has the added benefit of weakening Phandros as the young Lady is showing excellent potential as a Wizard prodigy.
The letter includes a copy of the Pact between the Fallen Ghaele Azata, Tela Vrindias (who was seduced by Ardad Lili) and the principal Wizard of House Drovenge, Saturninus, via Gr Planar Ally.
While the absolute proof here only indicts the Wizard, Saturninus, an official investigation may well lead to the fall of Duke Bassianus himself.
Hinji Lord Mayor Ivici & Admiral Anabeth Grinceen
The third is a note implicating Admiral Anabeth Grinceen of working WITH Andoran pirates to stop the flow of illicit Ice Tears into Hinji. Apparently the Admiral and the Lord Mayor are political enemies as another letter in this folio suggests that the cartel mastermind, Zeran Graytooth, has a secret arrangement with Lord Mayor Ivici.
The second pages in the folio give evidence that the Mayor of Westpool, Tibalt Khrocini, has taken great pains to ensure that the third Stavian Arch is not rebuilt. This colossal crane-apparatus moves large riverboats up the cliff-side near the Westpool waterfalls so they can continue to the Capitol city. Because ships now have to pay more for laborers to carry the barges and boats manually (now viewing & handling ALL cargo personally), Tibalt Khrocini has become much more wealthy and influential.
To ensure he does not lose both the extra income and cheat-proof, detailed reports of who is bringing what to the capitol, he has had imperial engineers assassinated, arranged the liberation of slaves intended to work on the Arch, and falsified tax documents to The Crown.
Whoever has this information can dramatically influence Tibalt Khrocini, less they sell the information to House Thrune, thus ending Mayor Tibalt Khrocini in a quite dramatic way.
The first pages detail an inappropriate relationship between Baroness Sandrina Salisfer, the married younger sister of House Salisfer’s Patriarch, and Para-Count Rand Aulamaxa, one of the most powerful members of that minor House. The reason this affair is particularly damning is that House Salisfer is one of the greater Houses that is enemies with House Oberigo. And House Aulamaxa is a minor House that serves House Oberigo. House Aulumaxa is an ambitious and growing-in-influence House but if it is discovered that Para-Count Rand Aulamaxa is having an affair with Baroness Sandrina Salisfer, House Oberigo could crush them. OR,…. House Aulamaxa could try to unite with House Salisfer and turn on House Oberigo. Either way, the Baroness Sandrina Salisfer and the Para-Count Rand Aulamaxa are having an illicit and secret affair. And whomever learns about it could wield influence over both individuals – and maybe both Houses – or sell the information to another House (such as House Oberigo or even House Charthagnion).
These letters detail both of the locations where the two adulterers meet and the typical excuse that the Baroness gives her husband the Baron-Consort and her brother the Duke and Patriarch of House Salisfer. Her lie is that she is negotiating for a contract of spices from Rahadoum that will make House Salisfer financially stronger. She has forged documents indicating that she is in these negotiations and has even neglected other duties as Baroness, in order to “finish negotiations with the Rahadoum spice merchants.”
Francesco Phandros Aristocrat of House Phandros of Westcrown
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In addition to gold and platinum coins and ingots worth 19,400 gp, Francesco Phandros carried an assortment of gems in need of appraisal.
One 6 carat Diamond
Twelve Rubies between 4 and 9 carats each
Two Emeralds both roughly 4 carats
Three Citrines of 12, 13 and 15 carats each
One 8 carat Onyx
One 14 carat Amethyst
There are also several sheets of paper pressed with the House Phandros Seal and Heraldry, as well as Francesco Phandros' signet ring and badge of office. These items can be used to forge documents from House Phandros.
More importantly, Francesco Phandros kept immaculate records. You have enough documents, financial sheets, bills of lading, receipts, legal writs and worker contracts to gain a comprehensive understanding of the financial standing and liquid resources of House Phandros. Enough to give you a +10 Bonus to ‘almost’ all Knowledge Society checks regarding the material might of House Phandros.
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Finally, in a folio labeled as a ‘dowry’ of sorts, you find the following letters….
I also think we need to set the Halflings free at some point
Among some of the more banal documents you found in Vaelin's possession were some tax records and bills of sale for the Halfling slaves.
Though the resale value of the slaves is variable and requires negotiation, there is considerable tax and insurance value. Letting them go free is a considerable waste of money.
Vaelin LE Human gestalt Expert-12 / Adept-12 of Barbatos
Cloak of Resistance +2
Robe of Bones (unique) Scroll of Silence CL 9
Scroll of Silence CL 9
Scroll of Speak w/ Dead CL 9 (x2)
Scroll of Charm Person CL 9 (x2)
Scroll of Deep Slumber CL 9
Potion of Gaseous Form
Handy Haversack
3854 gp
8140 sp
Aman LE Human Cavalier-6 Order of the Lion
+1 Glaive
+2 Breastplate
+1 Ring of Deflection
Potion of Cure Moderate Wounds CL 12
Potion of Lesser Restoration CL 6
64 gp
120 sp
Camabah NE Human Wizard-6 Transmuter
Cloak of Resistance +1
Scroll of Dispel Magic CL 6 (x4)
Scroll of Summon Monster III
Scroll of Locate Object CL 6
Potion of Invisibility
Potion of See Invisiblity
Potion of Cure Light Wounds CL 5
82 gp
98 sp
Joareln LE Human Rogue-9
+1 Comp Longbow (+1 STR)
+3 Studded Leather
Ring of Deflection +1
Holy Water (x4)
Sunrod (x2)
Masterwork Thieve's Tools
Potion of Treeshape CL 5
Potion of Cure Moderate Wounds CL 12
Potion of Protection from Energy CL 8
Potion of Comprehend Languages CL 8
Potion of Expeditious Retreat CL 8
Hat of Disguise
845 gp
486 sp
Two Advance Scouts, LE Human Ranger-2
Mwk Comp Longbow (STR +2) (x2)
Mwk Studded Leather (x2)
Mwk Longsword (x2)
85 gp & 88 gp
25 sp & 21 sp
During your various splinters of time inside Phandros' wagon, and through the occasional slip-of-tongue by the man himself during conversations of his wedding and bride-to-be, you get the impression that his wedding gift, dowry if you want to use such a term, has more to do with something other than Halfling slaves and some gold.
There is a well-locked, magically protected chest, in addition to the appropriate accouterments in the wagon.
Searching the first tunnel, leading to the Xvart Assassin's lair, Wulfrun (stooped low to fit) and Raggo (sometimes catching his broad shoulders on the tunnel walls) finds a well-appointed chamber for the Xvart Assassin with several vials of something as well as a small table with various plants, roots and insects in jars. Additionally there is a large chest with a very nice lock. You find the key easily enough on the dead Xvart but may still be suspicious that the locking mechanism is also trapped.
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Searching the second tunnel, leading to the Xvart Shaman's lair, you find two wands, a small Bag of Holding and several loose papers on a desk. The papers are crude maps of the local geography--
mostly of the village of Soderfjord,
but also of Griffondale Barony,
Ewerwell Keep -- Nellus Alakart's (the illusionist/alchemist) current home,
Grenwald Castle,
Jojo's hovel,
and a location further in the Verduran called "Bugbear King Bruugh."
(Rudwilla Grumb's hovel is NOT on the map.)
The baguette of charcoal, despite its dull, crumbling façade, is quite solid and seems crafted by a master.
It very likely has magical qualities though Rudwilla may not realize it (Or she may know exactly what it is.).
After Spellcraft:
Ioun Stone (Dusty Rose) giving a +1 Insight Bonus to AC. There is a 5% malfunction chance on this one, requiring a d20 roll at the beginning of Initiative; a result of "1" means the stone malfunctions and you do not get the AC bonus for the encounter. Value = 4K in gold.
No one outside has yet found any tracks for the Sin Spawn or Dark Slayers.
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No one inside has yet taken any of Rudwilla's property or tried to open the chests or cabinet. However, in the process of fully searching the Inner Chamber, you have now found several ingredients, regents and spell components, a Bag of Holding II, two Wands, a magical spoon, and a magical broom. The chests and cabinet are all locked and magically warded.
....This has taken another two minutes of searching and there are still a few areas to search; it will likely take another minute or so.
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No one has yet searched the Sin Spawn, but, assuming you do, she has the following items:
Magical Cloak
Magical Ring
Magical Amulet
Bag of Holding I
+1 Silver Dagger
Magical Boots
The outer chamber, as described earlier, is 12 feet long and 8 feet wide. Doors at each end lead to the outside and into the circular, inner-chamber respectively. The outer chamber's (Foyer's) left wall has two alcoves, as does the right wall. The four alcoves are choked with cobwebs and each holds a bust of a man; the busts are labelled as Rudwilla's past four husbands. The Sin Spawn lies dead in the narrow door connecting the foyer and inner chamber. Her Holy Symbol, that of a well known Demon Lord, is as yet unidentified.
The circular, inner chamber can be lit by four copper torches. A huge, big-bellied cauldron squats in the center of the inner chamber.
Several potions, ingredients and objects clutter the inner chamber's circumference on two tables. Under the tables are three wooden chests and four smaller cauldrons. Two cots hang from the walls. Finally, also against the circumference of the inner chamber, stands a tall wooden cabinet.
It will take at least a few more minutes to go through everything,....
But you have identified a few items so far:
2 potions of Lesser Restoration
2 potions of Cure Moderate Wounds (CL 8)
5 potions of Cure Light Wounds (CL 8)
1 potion of Tree Shape (CL 8)
1 Elixir of Love
1 MWK Silver Dagger
several other as yet unidentified items
. . . .
On the Dark Slayers:
3 +1 Dark Swords (Slashing, 2d4 18-20 x3, can hold applied poisons several rounds, Exotic Weapon, the weapon has a -1 Attack & Damage in Daylight conditions)
3 +1 Silvered Daggers
6 potions
3 cloaks (magic)
3 boots (magic)
several onyx and topaz gems
This took approximately 2 minutes; there is still much more to search...
