The Alpine Star

Describe a historically significant piece of jewelry in your world. What stories does it carry?

Look, we've got a nice little offer for you today.  Either, you tell us who you were trying to steal it for, and we'll kill you quickly.  Or, you don't tell us, and we take our time.  Oh, don't protest.  Three crooks off the street, trying to steal the Star for themselves?  Not even the Cenata are that stupid.  So someone else has payed you to do it.  We'd quite like to know who.  But we understand if you choose not to tell us. 

Significance

The Alpine Star is the largest emerald to have ever been found in Mythia, weighing 2000 carats.  Originally found in the fledgling Mountain Empire by the Clamavius mining clan, it was quickly sold to the state at a never-disclosed sum.  The profits from this one gem are thought to have been enough to last the Clamavius their entire working lives.
The Star was held in the Mountain Empire treasuries for several years, being worn by the emperors in official ceremonies on a simple gold chain.  It's suspected that various people of influence also had access to the Star, as anecdotal evidence and rumours of some figures of interest posessing the Star at various times have filtered through over time.  This persisted until the jewel was stolen by the Notorious Kales in an exploit that is well-documented in Mountain Empire literature.
The jewel disappeared from the public eye for some time, before springing up in Cada Cratal after a few years.  Received as payment at The Caraed for an unspecified service, the jewel was quickly resold to the city's ruler for another undisclosed sum.  Since then, it has remained in the position of the Cada Cratal elite, held in a vault whose location is a closely-guarded secret.  There have been several attempts to steal it nonetheless, and many suspect agents of the Mountain Empire are attempting to retrieve the jewel.

Item type

Jewelry / Valuable

Rarity

One-of-a-kind

Weight

400g/2000 carats

Base Price

Priceless

Related Myths

• The Theft of the Alpine Star