Irwin continues ....
"The artifact we are looking for is a staff. It has had many names, but in most of the old stories it is called the "Staff of the Elioim" I can tell you a bit about its description, what we know about it, and where it was last seen, but more investigation on your part will certainly be necessary.
It is a staff, as I said. Most documents agree that it is about seven to eight human hand spans [5 feet] , a fist stone across [two inches] , and made of magically hardened oak wood. Several documents and stories say it has a woven basket head, while others say there is no ornamentation on top, but it has a large bole six spans from the ground. We are sure it had a gem, and are also sure it is no longer there.
The oldest of stories about the Elioim Staff originate before the golden age of Rhiann, many thousands of years ago. It is believed to have belonged to a race of people that no longer live today, and have long been unknown, other than the buildings they built. You will undoubtedly see some of these in Malta. The staff is said to have power over weather, earth, and water. One tale says the staff drove away a plague of locusts with a mighty wind. Another mentions lightning coming from the staff and destroying the enemies of the Elioim. Of course, these are probably exaggerations of stories told many times over, and no recent stories are told at all about it having power.
It was last known to exist only 1800 years ago, when the gem was removed form the staff and lost to the annals of time. The staff stood in Malta for a long while after, but too was lost some centuries later. There are a quite a few staffs in Malta today. The great families use them as trophies in their silly Game. We had our eyes on three of these as potential leads for the Elioim Staff. One is generally held by the Youngstrom family. Another by the Cuthbert family. And , the last by the Greyson family.
I mention the family names, but of course, there are several branches to each family tree. The staff could be at any of their houses, and perhaps even among other "worthy" noble families who have earned the right to brand their trophy.
It will be your charge to determine if any of these, or perhaps one of the five other staffs, are the Elioim Staff. We can not ask them directly to examine the staffs, as they have already denied the church access and our relations with the great families is poor at the moment. But, perhaps you may find a way to see them. To get the Elioim Staff, we surely cannot afford their inflated price, but again perhaps you can think of some way to negotiate for the staff - a reasonable price may be paid by the museum. For this you will be paid our finders fee.
It will also be your charge to try to reunite the staff with the gem. We will triple the finders fee if you bring the staff to us with the gem known as Eli's Tear. Oh the joy that would bring to me."
Irwin's eyes actually wet a little with the hope that brings him, but he quickly regains his composure. He continues…
"The finders fee will be five thousand crowns per person for the staff alone or gem alone. 15000 crowns for the staff and gem together. Expenses are to be paid at 40 crowns per month, two months paid in advance. We have a location in Malta where messages can be safely dropped off. I expect a report monthly, and would like updates for significant events like finding information on the gem's whereabouts."
"If you find other treasure, we reserve the right to keep and compensate the party for religious items. The rest is for the party to decide what to do with. All treasure objects will be examined at the end of the assignment by our appraisers for your and our benefit (coin excluded) We expect honesty and integrity while on the churches assignment. Murder and outright theft will be unacceptable."
Irwin relaxes a little, refilling his tea. He takes a piece of pastry off a plate and brings it toward his mouth. He lowers it a little again and asks, "Any questions now?" Then he takes a bite of the pasrty.
