They're all very good questions :D
I just don't know the answers - yet :D Though absolutely it's the quest itself that is always important, not the object. I think there's a prophecy about the person who will be the General.

In the original notes Elspeth was older, but I've made her younger to fit the overall tone - I'm thinking she's eight. Too young to be a General yet. I'll have to think on this a bit.