As a survival horror fanatic who grew up mastering the darkness in RE4‘s shadowy halls, I live for discovering the rarest treasures hidden away by twisted forces. And in the recent RE4 Remake, few spark my imagination more than the mysterious Scratched Emerald. What forgotten legends cling to this engraved gem unearthed from a decrepit castle‘s past?
In this expanded guide for diehard fans, I‘ll dig deep into unearthing the Scratched Emerald – from rumors of its fabled origin to extracting every last Peseta and spinel from this chunk of gnarled green mystery. We‘ll map out the haunted halls to locate its buried nest, chronicle folk tales of its crow guardian, and explore how to leverage this antique treasure to take down the forces of evil.
So draw your merchant‘s coat close as we delve into secrets most never uncover…
A Gemstone Shrouded in Mystery
Little documented history surrounds Castle Salazar‘s Scratched Emerald prior to our arrival in Resident Evil 4. But observant study of its engraved facets reveals intricacies that point to a hidden past.
With precise geometrical cuts that reflect 12th century Old World jewelry trends, this palm-sized gemstone may have originated among European nobility. Its sparkling flawless interior suggests the skills of a master artisan – before some violent calamity left marks that reduced lustrous finishes to rough scratches.
What tragedy befell this relic to reverse generations of careful craftsmanship? Had it adorned the cast-iron crown of a deposed king? Gleamed on a warlord‘s gilded epaulets before falling in bloody battle? The imagination wanders into dark corridors…
| Scratched Emerald Stats | |
|---|---|
| Size | 4.2cm x 3.1cm |
| Cut | Octagonal Step Cut |
| Facets | 58 |
| Color | Dark Green |
| Clarity | Flawless Interior |
| Style | 12th Century Engraved Patterns |
One intriuging theory holds that it was among the expeditionary spoils of a Salazar ancestor returned triumphant from the new world. But rather than raising their prestige as intended, it incurred a terrible curse that led to the family‘s fall from grace. Now in present day, we find it clutched in the talons of…
The Castle‘s Guardian Crow
The telltale caw echoes across vine-choked courtyards…
Like the reapers and tricksters of gothic folk myth, an inky black crow stands her steadfast vigil over Castle Salazar. Perched high along eroded ramparts, none evade the piercing gleam of her obsidian eyes… save the dead dragged into the castle‘s underworld minions that now shuffle below.
When night creatures appear, the crow takes wing to circle higher while cattle and villagers vanish. Some claim at dawn, amidst unholy screams, a glowing emerald may appear clutched in her tarry talons. My grizzled merchant friend once told me over a pint of ale that lords in ancient times would blame such cursed events on harbingers like this bird. But disappearances were no mystery to peasants who knew true evil dwelled right inside the castle walls…
Could this ominous crow now watch over the legendary Scratched Emerald itself, waiting to lead a worthy explorer to long forgotten riches? The theatre of unseen forces certainly suggests so. We‘ll need to track her supernatural senses if we hope to uncover the treasure sealed away somewhere in the darkness. My maps mark the target between the wine cellar and courtyard. So with weapons locked and loaded, let‘s begin the hunt!
Claiming Castle Salazar‘s Ultimate Prize
As we set out seeking forgotten fortune, remember that securing the Scratched Emerald is no mere grab for Pesetas and Spinels. This is a journey towards exposing secrets fromclick below to tweet hidden away through generations of deeply rooted evil. Now is the time to cut those grasping, twisted roots for good at their source – and claim the rarest prize they‘ve buried in the process.
Equip your strongest firearm and a hearty sense of direction. Stay light on foot but heavily armed to counter ambushes along the way. Most importantly, keep sight of our guide: the crow that already flits between crumbling towers overhead.
She circles twice then vanishes below rafters near the hunt‘s beginning. But the main hall‘s opulent portrait frames glimmer knowingly as we pass…through an iron gate then hard right into the grand ballroom beyond. Shattered mirrors and claw marks suggest the fairytale romance once celebrated here met a savage end. Still, phantoms in rustling silk continue their dancing as we descend the central staircase eyeing darkness below suspiciously.
At the shadowy ballroom exit, spot our phantom guide perched just outside. She takes flight with a single harsh caw when approached. Pursue the crow as she navigates a vine choked passage, leading us on through the dead gardens still perfectly manicured. She alights upon a stone pedestal to fix us with the smoldering green glow of her gaze. When her treasure becomes clear, send thanks by flash of fire brightly against the gloom.
The crow‘s nest rests tucked on a slanted roof to our right. Watch it tumble with a blast from your firearm, sending the Scratched Emerald plummeting to the stones below!
With untold eons of haunting at an end, kneel to claim your prize. Rolling it between gloved fingers reveals edges worn smooth from generations of worry. Faint marks even suggest where court maidens etched loyal oaths onto facets…only to furiously claw curses later. A storied history indeed for this eldritch gem.
Now two choices remain: transform financial fortune with a merchant or seek weapons to combat the darkness?
Cashing In With Castle Connections
While paltry Pesetas tempt in desperate hours, the Scratched Emerald‘s true value emerges later. Smart explorers investment with merchants whose unseen ties likely run as twisted and deep the castle itself. They appraise this singular gem not just by glinting green hue but the latent power bound up in eldritch enchantments.
See for yourself in the main hall where your first merchant acquaintance waits eager to broker a bargain. For the Scratched Emerald, he‘ll exchange exactly enough obsidian black Spinels to line oily crow feathers…or 6000 Pesetas to drown sorrows in the tavern later.
| Gem Type | Value in Pesetas | Spinels Exchanged | Utility |
|---|---|---|---|
| Scratched Emerald | 5,000 | 3 | Craft ornate shields |
| Amber Ring | 2,000 | 1 | High value to merchants |
| Elegant Perfume Bottle | 1,500 | 0 | Sell for high profit |
Such strange currencies also unlock crafting potential for an inventor willing to experiment. The rarest finds from our exploration might be remade into weapons no peasant damning the castle could ever fashion by hand. Embed that Scratched Emerald in enough brass and obsidian to suit the Merchant‘s eclectic tastes, and he‘ll gladly outfit you with gear to make the undead hordes think twice ever rising again…
But more than Pesetas or armaments, this Emerald‘s mythical past represents hope. In grasping this bloodied beauty, we snatch back power these wretched nobles stole long ago and mean to hoard forever. Unless explorers like us keep slipping past their damned defenses to slowly drain away all they hide from the light.
Maybe with enough lost jewels, crow feathers, and strange artifacts pulled from the abyss, we‘ll at last collapse the wretched house Salazar built on stolen legacies. And from the rubble, villagers will again walk streets where only ghosts have tread for an age. Mark my words: our battle nears its crescendo!
Echoes of Adventure‘s Past
As thrilling as this latest Resident Evil quest has been, what true fan doesn‘t crave some throwback to the series‘ early days mowing down zombified hordes? That original game-defining RE 4 also featured memorable treasure hunts with unique trinkets to discover.
So for veteran fans who recall Leon traipsing across rural Spain back in 2005, how does this reimagined Scratched Emerald stack up to OG treasures like the Elegant Mask? Personally, I prefer the expanded scope of these new side activities compared to solving block puzzles. But sneaking that corny Napoleon hat onto Leon‘s head sure made for laughs too!
Here‘s hoping the remakes keep the same spirit of adventure that made us fall in love years ago. Just with extra coats of graphical polish so a new generation screams while we old-schoolers smirk knowingly from the shadows…
Legend‘s End…For Now
Our journey here concludes with Castle Salazar‘s rarest antiquity claimed by more daring hands. But can the ripples from this single act restore balance torn asunder by generations of injustice?
I depart more optimistic having unearthed truth hidden away like this exceptional Scratched Emerald. Groups remain huddled around fires in the forest edge beyond these damnable walls. Theirnumbers grow waiting for explosive revelations that topple those who ruled without mercy. Ours is but the first crack splintering foundations built by lies and blood…
The crow‘s cry now rings out for others who will push deeper into the abyss. Legends tell of more artifacts tied to the castle‘s cursed past lying dormant in the shadows. Waiting for bold explorers to sweep away evil‘s stranglehold by claiming them as our own once more. Just keep your merchant contacts handy when the tunnel‘s end gleams green and valuable.
Now ready your steel and take up the mission. Destiny awaits underneath Castle Salazar…
