With skillful precision, Dannad unlocks both of the chests and the coffers.
Before Dannad can get to the second chest, Vandis smashes the latch and most of the lid along with it.
The inside is filled with 10 simple but tightly sealed bags.
"Ill-gotten gains, I don't doubt," says Dagobert placidly.
Investigating the bags reveals an assortment of gems contained in each one. Not the greatest cuts, but they'd likely yield a decent amount by Punjar standards.
The coffers and remaining chests remain closed.
Dannad looks slightly disappointed in not being able to unlock the last coffer, but he makes due with opening the two chests and rifling through their contents.
The first chest catches Dannad off guard as an unexpected trap is sprung, shooting a small arrow at him as the lid opens. Dannad's quick reflexes are the only thing that keep him from taking an arrow to the eye. It flies off behind him, missing the rest of the party and snapping against the rock.
The contents of the trapped chest do not warrant its security, however, and is mostly made up of copper.
The last chest contains no traps as Dannad opens it, revealing more copper, silver, and what looks like several platinum pieces interspersed.
"It does appear to me as if they were leaving the nest. That happens from time to time, if the threat is great enough."
"I'd say we should leave these ill-gotten gains here to collect on our return."
Hawkseer seems to have little interest in the coin and is ready to move on.
Dannad pockets a platinum coin before closing the coffers and things back up and tickling their locks to re-lock.
"I agree with our friend. These ought to still be here for us when we's on our way back."
"Yes, let us be off. We have better things to consider tonight than simple gold and silver."
The party leaves the coffers undisturbed for now and continues along the walkway past the river. A short ways through the slick, narrow passage another chamber is revealed.
At the far end of the natural chamber squats the loathsome statue of an enormous rat. A trio of iron braziers flanks the statue, casting a dull flickering light about the chamber. Piled between the rat’s paws is a king’s ransom in gold, silver, and jewels. The statue’s ruby eyes scintillate hungrily in crimson light.
Dagobert looks speculatively at the rat statue, and tuts disapprovingly.
"Oh dearie me. This isn't right at all. The average rodent is not capable or creating a deity, to my knowledge. I do not advise touching anything in here."
Dannad's eyes light up when he sights the hoard.
"Well, this might be quite the lucrative venture after all...."
He looks around as they approach, scanning for traps after his earlier near miss.
"Don't touch it Dannad. We have not yet seen a scrap of gold or jewellery in this place. Bait, very likely. Don't be a foolish rodent."
Dagobert voices a probably fruitless warning.
"Shut up, dwarf."
"You're not likely to have had my experience of the snares used in vermin capture, being a foreigner, but I think our young friend should be careful."
Dagobert blandly ignores Vandis, but take the precaution of standing well clear.
"That is a very fine sculpture of a King Rat, which is not healthful at all to my way of thinking."
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Dannad creeps steadily closer, scanning the surrounding area for traps.
Galad watches on, eying the statue suspiciously.
Dagobert is all to familiar with the demigod known as Niramuth. Hawkseer knows the deity by its older name, Narrimunâth. No matter the name, he is the god of plagues and debilitating illness, the patron deity of wererats, those who would spread sickness, and other forms of vermin.
The domains Narrimunâth is associated with are Death, Destruction, and Evil. His favorite weapon is the sap, and his symbol is a mangy, dead, or undead rat.
"Come away, Dannad. That's not a nice god at all. Most unsavoury."
"Don't care how savory it is, those jewels could fetch us a sultan's ransom."
The halfling carefully considers the jewels.
"We can get them on the way out, though."
"That is the deity of disease and debilitating illness. It is also the patron deity of wererats. I do not think Niramuth will take kindly to you lifting one of his eyes. In my professional opinion this is a nest to leave well alone."
Dagobert mangles his favourite metaphor in a desperate attempt to get Dannad away from the statue.
"Right. So we go past it all, then."
"That, in my opinion, would be the right thing to do."
The only way out of the room, other than the way you came, is a heavy oak door on the eastern wall. Moving to open the door reveal that it is solidly locked. A single muffled voice can be heard on the other side.
"What's this then?"
Dannad presses his ear against the door to listen.
"It's a door, with someone behind it," explains Dagobert, gently.
"Shut up, dwarf."
Dannad cannot make anything out at all. He cannot even discern if it's one person or multiple people.
Dagobert can verify that it's only a single person, but the exact words are lost on him through the heavy oak.
"I see.... Think we should force it, or should I tickle the lock?"
"When approaching the centre of the nest, it's not a good idea to advertise your presence," explains Dagobert sagely. "See if you can open it very quietly indeed."
Vandis puts his hand over Dagobert's mouth in an apt demonstration of this principle.
Dannad starts to take out his tools.
"Right," he whispers, "let me see what I can do."
Dagobert breathes as quietly as he can.
Dannad starts to work on the lock.
Dannad swiftly and expertly picks the lock, indicated by a satisfying sound of metal tumblers falling and clicking in to place. With a twist of his tools, the door begins to open.
Dagobert prepares himself for whatever is to come.