The Ashen Crown of the Ancient Red

The dragon's death does not silence the lair. Heat continues to pulse from the stone, and every movement through the chamber sends avalanches of coins sliding from beneath heaps of armor, gemstones, and half-melted relics. The greatest treasures were not carried by the ancient red dragon itself, but accumulated over centuries through tribute, conquest, and the destruction of rival hoards. Among the wealth are runes preserved in fireproof settings, imperial jewelry blackened by age, and enormous scales that still radiate enough warmth to fog nearby steel. The party has found a hoard worthy of a legendary wyrm, though sorting it will require care, time, and perhaps a specialist who can separate valuable antiquities from treasure fused together by dragonfire.