First:

Gold, handfuls of the stuff.

The three of us fractionated off what we believed everyone deserved. This meant arguing with Robert about giving the other members enough to retire from being adventurers if so they wished.

Damn, the bastards had us as rear guards…you think we would have seen a silver sliver? Let alone a gold coin?...

He complained to himself as we began appropriating the gold.

Second:

A dark crystal that crackled with an energy I didn't like.

Ronald was given this, seeing that he is a sorcerer, and didn't mind tampering with matters that may indeed be sinister.

Third:

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A plate of armor that resembled the land around us.

Granite armor that felt heavy and strong enough to resist blows from the mightiest foes.

Robert removed his own armor and placed the new granite piece on, only to cover it with his blacksmith smock.

Don't want fellas to know what I got underneath, he laughed heartedly to himself.

I hoped that had made up for the gold...

And lastly:

A deck of cards.

Ronald and Robert looked at each other, shrugged, and handed them over to me.

The short end of the stick, I thought.

Gathering all our belongings, we moved on from the site of the battle.

We were now at the forefront.

No longer the rear guard.

Pressing forward, we moved down our very own path.

What awaited us?

I had no idea, but all that mattered was that the direction was onward.

Never looking back, we pressed on.