You take a slow breath and look at the gnomes, not at their machines, not at the Crown, but at their faces. "The Emerald Crown doesn't just bring luck to one place," you say carefully. "Since it was taken, all of Iredale has begun to change. Small things first: losing things, spilling soup, breaking a pencil. But if it isn't returned soon, that bad luck will spread everywhere." The gnomes glance at one another. "We didn't know," one admits. "We only knew that luck never reached us down here." Another gnome steps forward and taps the glowing crystals lining the cavern walls. "But we've been working on something," she says. They show you a strange device, a green crystal transmitter, carefully shaped and humming softly. Lines of energy pulse through it, matching the flicker of the Emerald Crown. "If the Crown is returned to its resting place," the gnome explains, "this transmitter can be placed beside it. The crystals here in the caves will link to the Crown without removing it. The luck would flow… just enough. Shared. Balanced." The Mark of Balance in your palm grows warm—steady and approving. "There's just one problem," the lead gnome says. "We can't leave the caves. You would have to take the transmitter back with you." They step away from the Crown.