Chapter 21

"How many rooms have we looked in now! We'll never find the treasury at this rate!"
"Don't worry, laddie, I can practically smell the gold from here!"
"How do you know that? You're a dwarf, not a bloodhound!"
"You two just pipe down and help me get this door open!"

The hefty oaken doors swung open into the final room of the corridor, creaking like trees in a storm. A mildewed and stuffy smell drifted into Codin's noise, but the sight that lay before him was sweeter than he'd ever hoped.
"By Elune's beard!" Gasped Belmin, his eyes sparkling. The Dwarf began to roar in laughter, Codin sighed in relief, Fizzbiscuit started incessantly giggling and even the Elf managed a grin. Before their very eyes lay the treasury of the prestigious Stoneraven Crime Syndicate. Dwarven jewels from Khaz Modan, silks from the caravans of Tanaris, crystals from the Azurmyst Isle, rubies from Stanglethorn Vale and gold, silver and copper from Elwynn Forest lay before the motley crew. The vast treasury room, its roof reaching high and the hall stretching deep into the mountain, was filled to the brim with treasures from all across Azeroth, and it was all theirs.
"Haha didn't I say I could smell it, wee Fizzbiscuit?!" Roared the dwarf. The gnome neglected to reply, as he was simply too stunned to care.
After calming down, and wiping the froth from Belmin's beard, the four adventurers set about plundering the treasury, taking suitable compensation for the toil and hard work it had taken them to get here. They stuffed all they could carry into as many haversacks as they could physically bear, making sure to get their fair share.

Fizzbiscuit sat about plundering the small library in the corner, liberating all rare books and scrolls from far off lands that stood before him (Only after filling his pockets with a handful of gems and rubies!). Codin helped himself to a rather generous portion of gold, as compensation for that which was stolen off him, a dozen attractive looking gems from the far off corners of Kalimdor and Quel'thalas and a steel dagger with a jade-green emerald encrusted into the pommel. The Dwarven Mountaineer was having a grand time, stuffing piles of gold, silver, rubies, amethysts and emeralds into his many haversacks, weighing himself down like a merchant's pack mule. Hwinion stood silently, watching over the looting playing out in front of him. He tried to resist the urge, but eventually (After much internal deliberation) let out a cry of joy and broke into a frenzy, charging into the melee of plunder, grabbing as many remotely shiny objects as he could, along with a fancy new cloak as a replacement. After a good long while of revelling in their success and fortune, Codin and his motley crew of adventurers stood up and headed out of the treasury, loaded down with sacks upon sacks of plunder, treasure and loot. They exited the large oak doors, but not before Belmin noticed an unopened crate down by his feet.
"Hold up!" He hollered. The others stopped in their tracks and turned around, as the Dwarf tore into the crate. Before his eyes, lay the reason he was here. A dozen bottles of vintage and finely aged whiskey, brandy, wine and many other alcoholic beverages that the Dwarf had only ever dreamed of consuming. He immediately wrapped them up in his cloak, placed them at the top of his haversack and walked out of the treasury with his head held high, followed by his companions.

Confident, proud and filled with a sense of achievement, the four strode through the torch-lit corridors of the castle, making their way to the exit (But not before raiding the kitchens and scrounging as much free food as they physically could). They passed the main hall, and the barred door on the opposite side, with the Stoneraven's trapped inside still making a feeble attempt to escape, the sound of a bang echoing throughout the passageway and the door rocking back softly every half dozen seconds. The motley crew strode passed, not so graciously stepping over the bodies of Eyepatch and his men, with Belmin letting out a violent belch towards the barred door as he waltzed past, which only served to 'Royally piss off' the trapped bandits and footpads even more. Eventually, after a few more minutes of navigating their way through the halls and corridors of the Stoneraven hideout, they made it to the two oaken doors that they had passed through barely a few hours before. Being careful not to wake the hog-tied, post-polymorph bandit who lay at their feet, they heaved open the two doors and stepped out into the chilly, yet refreshing air of the late Northrend afternoon. Codin took in a deep breath and let out a sigh of relief, whilst gazing out onto the epic vista that was the Grizzly Hills. Codin, after months of stress and torment, felt at peace. Bliss.

Belmin, as always, was the first to speak up.
"Well... That was fun." He stated, struggling under the weight of his loot that rested on his shoulders.
"Aye." Smirked Codin, resting his hand on his longsword's pommel.
"Yup." Nodded Fizzbiscuit, his grey beard and tall hat flapping gently in the breeze.
"I don't know if I would choose the word 'fun' to describe that experience..." Replied Hwinion. The other three turned and looked at him.
"But yes, I suppose it was. A bit." The Elf continued. Codin chuckled. The group fell into silence as they gazed out onto the horizon, taking it all in.

"So who's up for a pint?" Grinned Belmin, breaking the silence. The Man, Gnome and Elf all looked to each other, nodded and looked back at the Dwarf.
"Aye, go on then, mate." Smiled Codin. And so the Warrior and his motley crew set off once more, back to the Amberpine Lodge for a drink and a comfy seat, then back to Valgarde to inform Admiral Keller of their exploits and where to find the Stoneraven Castle, then eventually onto a boat bound for home and hearth, with their trial indeed complete.

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