The Sundering of the Midnight Hoard

Beneath a vaulted cavern of basalt and black crystal, the party wrested the Midnight Hoard from the clutch of an ancient dragon whose schemes had been twisted by the machinations of a band of mind flayers and an archlich. The dragon had long collected rarities and arcane implements from distant realms; the illithids provided psionic treasures and bizarre trophies; the archlich contributed undead-themed relics and phylactery fragments. The trove is a mix of traditional draconic wealth (coins, gems, and masterwork magic items) and darker, more alien artifacts (cerulean crystal brains preserved in fluid, soul-bound tomes, and necromantic sigils). The party will find coin sufficient for a level-18 expedition, items suitable for high-level crafting and spellcasting, and a handful of powerful magic items—some stable, some tainted by lich-smoke or illithid influence.