The Dark-Ringed Usurper's Stash

After forcing open a sealed, torch-littered cell deep in the dungeon the party confronted a lone human who clutched a dark ring and fought with a mixture of steel and weak spells. He wore well-kept gear and carried evidence of dealings deeper in the complex. From his person the party stripped a protective ring whose surface still thrummed with magic, a finely made +1 short sword, a useful potion of greater healing, and a 2nd-level spell scroll that likely belonged to his spellcasting repertoire. In addition they recovered three modest gemstones and a coin pouch containing the proceeds of recent raids and a short ledger indicating payments to unseen contacts. Hidden in a seam of his cloak the party also found a curious ebony sigil fragment that reacted when placed near the ring. The items will fund further repairs and supplies and the sigil fragment offers a lead for the party to learn more about the ring's origin and the human's masters.