11.13.21- The Emerald Professor

### Captain's Log:

We have finally returned to our ship and I feel like a true captain again. Everyone separates to get some rest, and in the morning we discuss what to do next to help Dagii in his quest to find the other remaining pieces to this crown he wants to find. It is decided that we should go to Margrave University to do some research about goblin history to see if we can figure out the other locations of the other four missing pieces. On our way to catch a sky-cab to the upper ward we sent a message to Quilly and Jespen about how things have been going and that we have a lead on some more adventures they might like to write about.

   It takes us some time to navigate the complex campus of the university, but we eventually found the main library building inside the clock tower at the center. Upon asking if we could be pointed towards information about goblin history we were offered the chance to speak with one of the resident experts on the subject. We were given a very intriguing mechanical hummingbird to take us to meet with professor Gydd Alephret in Lareth Hall. When we arrived at their office, we were welcomed    in to ask our questions. They seemed hesitant to answer any of our questions after we mentioned The Ashen Crown—because it is not her area of expertise—until Dagii produced Asherta's Blade. At which point, they looked at us in amazement, before confiding that there had been three other groups that had come to see her before us, all asking about The Arkentash: The Ashen Crown. They said the other groups included members of the Kech Volaar, some high elves, and a man claiming to have been sent by the King of Breyland.

   The professor told us that they did not know much about the crown, at first, but then as more people came looking for the information she did some digging to see what she could find where she discovered some history about the item. Apparently, four of the pieces had once been elvish relics—all with the exception of the goblin addition of Asherta's Blade, which could all be formed together into one crown that could supposedly have an influence over death itself. The five pieces were given to a goblin warrior for which the items have subsequently been named. They are listed as: Kuroc's Circlet, Asherta's Blade, Zurfani's Solitaire, Mucaroc's Orb, and Lurtan's Cord. It is said that no one knows where any of the pieces ended up after the fall of the goblin empire or what happened to the mighty warriors who once carried and wielded the items. Gydd informed us that in her other research she came across the location of one of the items, Zurani's Solitaire, which was located around the Six Kings Monument just southeast of Greywall.

   After learning all we could from Gydd, we suggest that she might want to take a sabbatical with the information she had acquired so that no one else could come knocking on her door. On our way out, Oz noticed that there was someone in an emerald cloak who was following the professor, so she decided to take Gydd to their house and then the lightning rail station to make sure they got out of Sharn without issue.

   Meanwhile, the rest of us went into the library to find more about the crown and the monument we had been pointed towards and the surrounding location. Dagii had an argument with one of the receptionists about how illogical their shelving system was because it wasn't done by size like at the goblin made library's before finally being pointed in the direction of the goblin history section. We found out, the Six Kings Monument was made to look intimidating and to celebrate the glory of the goblin empire before the nonnative races arrived. We also discovered books that talked about the pieces of the crown and what they are rumored to do when nursed properly, so that we know just how powerful they are. With what little time was left we decided to research the Emerald Claw because we thought they were the ones who were tailing the professor when we were leaving. The Emerald Claw are known in Karnath's history to be terrorists and outlaws that started as the Blood of Vul, but were too radical for them. Claws have an extreme taste for the undead and can be found anywhere, but ultimately it would be catastrophic for the world if they got their hands on the crown. With time running out in the day we decided to head back to the Myst Runner to meet up with Oz. Upon returning, we can see that Oz is still with Gydd and they both seem worried.

Oz started filling us in on what had happened since they left us. At Gydd's apartment, a friendly neighbor informed them that an elf friend of the professors had stopped by and gone in to wait for Gydd to get home so they could have dinner later. This immediately told Oz there was something off so she told the neighbor to call the watch while the professor went to sit on a bench around the corner before actually taking them to the station. Once there, they separated to seem less conspicuous. A while later, Oz spotted the same neighbor who had tipped them off about the intruder in the train station wearing a green scarf. They had a brief confrontation before separating and Oz brought Gydd back to the ship so that we can ensure they get to a safe location.

After hearing their story, we decided to head back to the professor’s apartment, with me masquerading as the professor, to see if the elf had taken anything, grab their notes, and bring them clothing for their travels. We find that the elves who had invited themselves in earlier had not actually left, and the primary individual introduced herself as Lady Deney. She wanted some notes that she had requested Gydd find for her about the crown. I told her *I* had not found the information yet and she should come back another time; however, she saw right through my disguise, but said she would be willing to make a deal with us since we clearly weren’t going to give her what she came for. She offered us 3,000 gp for every piece of the crown we could find and bring back to her since there were rumors going around that someone had found a piece. After giving us the information we would need to get in touch with her again if we ever found we wanted to give her a piece of the crown, she took her leave of our company.

Once she was gone, we took a key Gydd gave us and found her safe filled with notes; took the notes; and left some false ones behind to send other people who might have been in the trail in the wrong direction. We also found a crumpled piece of paper, not in Gydd’s handwriting, under her desk, that read, “Deney is Demise.” Later, when we asked the professor about the note, they told us that Demise is Deney’s name within the organization known as Skull Bones who are twisted Arenal Elves who misuse undeath and its promises.

Back at the Myst Runner, before we were able to board again for the evening, we were met by a messenger who delivered a formal summons to the King’s Council to meet with Captain Saj Kalaes. Asking around the crew we were told by our favorite gunner Georges, that the captain is one of the king’s advisors and the head of his secret police making him very dangerous to cross. We set about making plans about how to fit everything we need to accomplish into the next few weeks including getting a carriage or two for us to travel to the Six King’s Monument while our ship travels to Stormhome to pick up our reporters and drop off the professor.