It is dark as you enter, but with the torch you see this. The floor rises bringing along the furniture. There is a tiny window with metal shutters, an ornate box, and a scroll on top of a cabinet. There are unlit candle stands,  sconces, a simple bed, chest at the foot of the bed, a writing desk with a small collection of books. To your left is a door that leads to the bathroom. There is also a wooden tub behind a privacy screen in the corner of the room.

Hrathen immediately approaches the pile of books and looks at the titles. If there are books without titles, he flips through them, trying to determine the subjects. He will then open the chest at the foot of the bed to see what is inside.

Kasbis uses prestidigitation to light the candles throughout the room.  He goes immediately over the scroll, curious to read and gain understanding.  As with Hrathen, he will go afterwards to investigate the rest of the room.  “Will you look at this place!  Father, there is indeed more to this than scrub land in the desert!”  

There are books on geology, farming, mining, and a book on a Zalanthi Legend.

In addition Hrathen finds a leather bound journal

The scroll is a map of Widoze and Kurta had placed a mark on a building in the Five Hills District.

Kasbis is interested in the journal, wonders if it was left for him by his father.  He comes over and starts to read through it.  

Indeed it was written by Kurta. It detailed how he paid for adventurers to survey the lands in the Kavic desert only to never hear from them again. At first he thought perhaps they met some gruesome end by monsters, but when the second group of adventurers also disappeared, he became suspicious. He decided to investigate and was none too kindly warned to stay away. A warning not given to the adventurers. Kurta disguised himself as a nomad and through bribes and paid informants he learned that some nobles tied with Viscount Marish were aggressively searching the Kavic desert for emeralds. More specifically Zamaruud Emeralds which through his study is very rare.

Kurta secretly bought this land and delved deeper into a Zalanthi legend that speaks of a crown made of Zamaruud Emeralds, mithril, Fayden stones, and wood of the Chiracki tree. In the legend the tyrannt used to it bend the peoples will en mass. None could defy him.

Kurta planned to speak to Mathias a friend in the Senate at a planned date. That date is very significant to Kasbis. That was the day his father died.

At the end of the Journal Kurta writes

Son if you are reading this then I am most likely dead. I know its a legend, but I ask you to complete the task I could not finish. Stop Viscount Marish.

 What do you do?

Kasbis sits down as he reads the journal and a blank look comes on his face.  He starts to read out loud as he is recounting the story.  He comes to the end and he closes the journal, closes his eyes and bends his head forward, rubbing his eyes and he decides what next step to take.  “They killed him for this land.  For the emeralds that it contains.  Viscount Marish must be stopped.  The Viscount wishes to make this powerful crown and gain control over everyone, bend everyone to their will.”  He turns to look at his companions, “Promise me that you will help me stop the Count.  This cannot stand.  Kurta has asked me to pick up where he left off.  I will do so, and restore honor to my family name.”  

He muses in silence for a few minutes, then says “The one I would be most suspicious of is this “friend” of his in the senate, Mathias.  I wonder if Brathir knows him.  I want to store Kurta’s journal away in my special place soon.  What else have you found?”  Kasbis gets up and looks through the room at the rest of the items that were uncovered.  

"We already feared your father's death was a plot, but now we may understand some of the why of it," Duncan says. "We must be very careful, but we also cannot continue without some support. We will need to use the resources this land has."

"I swear to assist you in your quest for justice. These crimes will not be left unpunished. I have found a few books that may be of use, discussing various topics, such as farming, mining, and geology."

“Mining and geology!  Exactly what we need.  Says, should we discuss this with Willoughby and Ellesia?  What’s in that trunk?”  Kasbis continues to search around the room.  

In the trunk you find farming equipment from, shovels, hoes, rakes, watering can and trowels. Among the equipment you find seed packets of a variety of hardy vegetables and fruits.

In the cabinet there are extra blankets, towels, and candles.

There is still the ornate chest on the cabinet which is locked.

Kasbis searches drawers for any sign of a key to fit the chest.  Failing that, he will use improvised tools to try and open the chest.  “Little help here?”  he says to Hrathen and Duncan.  

"Looks like we have all we need to get started here. We only need manpower," Duncan says, then walks over to the chest pointing the butt of his glaive towards the lock and says, "Want me to try to smash it?" If given the affirmative, Duncan will try to break through the lock ((athletics 18))

If no key is apparent in his search, Kasbis gives Duncan help in trying to break through the lock.  

With Kasbis helping to hold the chest still, Duncan tries again ((athletics adv from help 18))

No key is apparent and with a swift thwack the lock breaks. Upon opening the ornate chest you see a very small emerald.  It twinkles in the light as if there is some energy within its depths.

Kasbis takes the emerald and holds it in his hand, trying to feel the energy contained within.  He turns to looks at Hrathen and Duncan, saying “Should we tell Willoughby and Ellesia?  Should we invite them in?”

"If you feel they can be trusted," Duncan replies, then looking to the two magical scholars adds, "Is there anything the two of you might know about this? It looks quite expensive."