The Black Scale and the Fivefold Serpent

The treasure chamber lies beneath the ruined temple, where black dragon acid has pooled in the cracks between ancient flagstones. The ancient black dragon's hoard forms the outermost layer, with coins, gemstones, and relics taken from generations of victims. Beneath it rests the anathema's ritual treasury, carefully arranged around a defaced altar once dedicated to the yuan-ti's serpent god. The Staff of the Python remains upright in a stone basin, while the Elemental Gem and healing potion were hidden behind false idols for emergencies. A ring of protection lies among the dragon's personal ornaments, and the spell scroll was preserved in a sealed reliquary. The dragon scale must be harvested from the corpse or nearby lair rather than found worn by either monster. Together, the hoard represents both the dragon's accumulated wealth and the temple's final attempt to buy divine favor through sacrifice and sorcery.