I could tell you where it is, but that would spoil all the fun...
This page contains spoilers! Read on your own peril.
The Kurshok Crown is an ancient Magical artifact that was given by The Trickster to Gruliac, the king of the Kurshok. As such, both the Pagans and the Kurshoks see it as a sacred artifact.[3][4]
History[]
Concept art of the Crown in Prima's TDS guide.
During ancient times, when the Kurshok civilization was at its cultural zenith, the Crown was offered by the Trickster to the Kurshok king Gruliac as symbol of his everlasting love for the Kurshok people. However, when Gruliac wore the crown he became infatuated with its power and declared himself above the Trickster. As punishment for this blasphemous display of arrogance, the Leaf Lord banished the Kurshok deep below the earth and reached out for the crown but Gruliac battled him and managed to keep it but lost his hand.[3]
At some point in history, the Crown was turned into a sentient artifact by the ancient Keepers. The exact circumstances of when and how it was done remain a mystery, however.
At a point in more recent history, Keeper Rafe had had stumbled upon the Crown during his one-man expedition into the Sunken Citadel in search for the Glyph Key, but was not interested in an artifact of only monetary value. Although he found the key he got trapped into the library and died there, only leaving his journal.[5]
Deadly Shadows[]
During the events of Thief: Deadly Shadows, Garrett ventured into the citadel in search for the Glyph Key and, at the same time, a Pagan expedition force led by Shaman Cornbriar invaded the Sunken Citadel to retrieve the Kurshok Crown, which the Pagans had long revered as an artifact of great importance.[4][6] Garrett managed to evade both the Kurshoks and the Pagans and found both the Glyph Key and Keeper Rafe's diary near his remains and, reading the diary, learned of the crown and decided to steal it. Garrett managed to sneak into the throne room and take the Crown for himself but was unaware of its true power.
A replica of the Crown, for sale at Carmen's Place.
The crown behaves as an ordinary Loot item that can be sold at the Black Market. During the events of the game it is learned that the Crown is one of the five Sentients, artifacts that are necessary to activate The Final Glyph and if the player chooses to sell the Crown before the mission "Still Life with Blackjack", the Crown is relocated to the Wieldstrom Museum where Garrett must steal it a second time, but if the player chooses to keep it this is of course unnecessary and the Crown in the museum is replaced by a Cat Statuette (although the nameplate under the display inexplicably remains the same). Also note that it is possible for Garrett to purchase a replica of the Crown and/or the Heart at Carmen's Place prior to the museum heist to prevent the museum guards from noticing the absence of said artifacts.
The Crown in the Stonemarket receptacle.
In the end of the game, Garrett must activate the Final Glyph by placing the Sentients in certain "receptacles" or landmarks in The City and the Crown is placed at the base of the Stonemarket Clocktower.
Notes[]
- Along with the Jacknall's Paw and the Eye, the Crown can be classified as a Pagan artifact.
- It is unclear as to why this particular Sentient of Pagan origin was intended to be placed into the Clocktower which is a Hammerite monument although the Keepers have no ties with any organization so it's just possible that the ancient Keepers just chose what best worked to activate the Final Glyph.
- In Thief: Deadly Shadows Mobile, the artifact's name is misspelled as the Kershok Crown.