[sblock=readers digest summary]The crown is the key to Haven's defense against the monsters attacks. It lets them create controlled undead to act as soldiers, fodder, building materials, etc. Alahastor has the magical knowledge to open one of the portals with the aid of his gem topped staff which the party brought from his house. He was trying to convince them that they could escape with his help if he could get his magical staff here. They imprisoned him because he was agitating people with his talk which wasn't possible without his staff anyway. The group went after the crown to help Captain Niko and Haven. He promised that if you got the crown back he would free Alahastor and give you all the chance to try and open a portal like the wizard said he could.
Now that Balthazar has taken Alahastor and his staff, Captain Niko is afraid that the monsters might get free of this place leaving the Havenites and your characters stuck forever here if Alahastor is taken through the portal or killed. The other consideration is WHICH portal the monsters might choose to escape through. The one they came from originally, or the one emptying into Alahastor's basement where they can flood out into Orrussus and cause untold destruction...[/sblock]