The Saving of one Tortured

When Aerith met with Lady Aenysiel in the elven city of Cyrill, she received the most devastating news of her life. Zharrus—her childhood friend and adoptive brother—was alive. But he was not free. He was being held prisoner in the distant city of Illumé… and worse, he was being tortured.   Shaken, Aerith demanded to know why. Could it be, once again, because Zharrus is a Tiefling? The same reason he had been taken away years ago in Bucklewhyte? Lady Aenysiel confirmed the possibility. Illumé had always viewed those they called “impure” with suspicion, even hatred.   But the Lady could confirm that this was not about prejudice alone. This was something darker. Zharrus was being used in an experiment—one designed to turn him into a Warforged using a magical soul gem. Flesh replaced with steel. Spirit chained to arcane machinery.   He was no longer seen as a person. He was a project. Lady Aenysiel could share little more. The rest was shadowed in secrets, buried behind noble banners and locked wards. But one fact was certain:   Time was running out. Aerith had only a year to save him—before the last traces of Zharrus were lost forever.  

Recent Events and Updates

    Aerith has whsipered to her staff to gain information about this gem. How easy is it to obtain and how does it relate to Tieflings and Warforged? Lady Aenysiel had sent Aerith a letter in response, in which she shared:
''The use of soul gems remains a highly experimented and somewhat controversial subject. In theory, soul gems can be fashioned from any type of precious gemstone. The most common are Onyx, Bloodstone and smoky Quartz. Preparing a soul gem is not easy, it involves rituals and methods that are closely guarded secrets. It is always a forceful processm never willing on the part of the being involved. One with more fatal accidents than brilliant successes. Illumians may have found a reliable method to prepare soul gems for their construcs. As for why Tieflings might be involved, it may be their unique heritage, but this is speculation. Whether it is by design or by accident, they may hold qualities that are essential for the process.''   The Lady has invited Aerith and the rest of the Order of Adamant to stay at her private residence in Illumé. This could give everyone access to restricted districts and get closer to Zharrus.   The search for Zharrus hasn't been easy. With Aegaelion's advice, there could be two places to find him. In the Dawn Ward district, the place where the Warforged retreated to for repairs and maintanance or in the Underground. The Underground is a network that spreads everywhere underneath the city. The people there, dealing in illegal things and knowning their way with dark practises, might know more about all of this.   And so, the group of friends tried. They tried getting closer to the Shimmerforge family, with Durgle as their best hope. He however was bound by a magical oath, not being able to tell them much whenever they asked him. The lead they had on the Underground was lost as well. They found out that the leather scrap bearing a symbol on it, was conntected to an old, abandoned statue in Illumé's Sanctuary. The statue had no face, just cupped hands raised solemnly to where her mouth might have been. Behind her stood a small mausoleum-like structure with no door, only two grated vents set into its sides.   Carved into the statue’s pedestal were the words: "The Lattice listens through me. Ask not of gods nor glory, only of threads unseen."   Leonorin, Maeglinn, Jaina and Aerith knew they had to say something through the grated vents in the mausoleum, but the question remained: what should be said?   They had one shot. One question. Aerith’s instinct was that "threads unseen" referred to something subterranean—hidden tunnels, perhaps. She wanted to ask how to find them. Leo disagreed; he argued they shouldn’t be vague and should simply ask where Zharrus was being held. Mae stood back, eyes on the mausoleum, turning the words over in her head, wondering if there was an anagram hidden in the phrase. Jaina leaned toward Aerith’s idea but was too nervous to make the wrong call. In the end, they followed Leo’s lead. He stepped forward and spoke clearly through the grate: “We are looking for Zharrus who is in the process of being turned into a soul gem, where can we find him?” The voice returned—this time everyone heard it. It sounded louder, sharper. "They have shunt me. I hoped you had asked a better question."   They had failed, their lead on the Undergrond lost...   The day of Aegaelion's distraction arrived and this was their only chance to get into the building that might have an underground connection to the Dawn Ward.