# Session 46 - [[The Soulthread Gem]] The Dawn Wardens reconvened at The Scarlet Coin tavern in **[[Brensistria]]'s** [[Lowward]], where tensions simmered after their encounter with members of the Heralds of Silver. [[Armara]] had been speaking with [[Keldon Ashveil|Keldon]] Ashveil, leader of [[the Silver Threads]] information network, seeking his help to arrange a meeting with their former benefactor about a crucial artifact. Meanwhile, [[Ilith Ornithullin|Ilith]] had secretly been eavesdropping on [[Armara]]'s private conversation with [[Keldon Ashveil|Keldon]] using a spectral mind beneath the stove, gathering intelligence about [[Armara]]'s true intentions and past relationship with the information broker. [[Chains]], the charismatic feline bard from the Heralds of Silver, decided to probe the Dawn Wardens for information about their mission. Using his signature blend of charm and intimidation, he created an illusory duplicate of himself sitting on Cedric's lap while his real form materialized behind [[Armara]], placing a hand on her shoulder. With a persuasion roll of 32, [[Chains]] insisted he wanted to help fight [[Anam]] but needed to know more about what the party was truly after. He emphasized that while [[Anam]] had thousands of followers, they would need allies beyond their small group to defeat him. [[Armara]] remained guarded, her paranoia about [[Anam]]'s infiltration making her reluctant to trust anyone—even former enemies-turned-allies like the Heralds. She explained that [[Anam]] had his claws in everyone, and spies existed throughout the world. She didn't know if she could trust [[Chains]] or even Ahria, despite their shared opposition to [[Anam|the Withered One]]. [[Chains]] countered with wisdom beyond his playful demeanor: if she truly wanted [[Anam]] destroyed, she couldn't fight both the ancient lich and the entire world simultaneously. The conversation revealed a crucial advantage [[Armara]] possessed: she had mappings of [[Anam]]'s operational network that no one else in the world knew about. This information, combined with a specific artifact she sought, would allow her to track every phylactery in [[Anam]]'s army and destroy him permanently—something no other heroes had ever accomplished. When [[Chains]] questioned what the "seven pieces" were that everyone sought, [[Armara]] remained evasive, unwilling to share such critical intelligence with someone she'd just met. [[Armara]] looked to her companions for support. [[Brother Benwick|Ben]], using his insight, confirmed with absolute certainty that [[Armara]] spoke the truth about her intentions. The various party members vouched for her in their own ways—[[Brother Benwick|Ben]] as a Dawnbringer and wall of [[Perserphina]], [[Hermes]] acknowledging her usefulness despite complexity, [[Ilith Ornithullin|Ilith]]'s flash of genius adding weight to her words, and Cedric supporting her despite being the newest member of the group. After the tense interrogation, [[Armara]] explained she needed to rest while waiting for [[Keldon Ashveil|Keldon]] to return, which would take about a day and a half. During this downtime, [[Ilith Ornithullin|Ilith]] wanted to examine the magical map at The Gilded Rune to see if she could duplicate it as an infusion. [[Brother Benwick|Ben]] returned to the wagon to practice with his weapons. [[Nobuu]] worked on crafting [[Ilith Ornithullin|Ilith]]'s armor. The party scattered to handle personal business while [[Keldon Ashveil|Keldon]] gathered crucial information. ## The Meeting with [[Vexaris Thornwell|Vexaris]] A day and a half later, [[Keldon Ashveil|Keldon]] returned and [[Armara]] assembled a small group to accompany her to meet their old benefactor: [[Brother Benwick|Ben]] as her bodyguard, Cedric, [[Hermes]], and [[Ilith Ornithullin|Ilith]]. [[Chains]] also joined, as he knew [[the Silver Threads]] network well, though [[Keldon Ashveil|Keldon]] was more commonly known by his underworld alias "the Silver Shade." [[Keldon Ashveil|Keldon]] led them on a nearly hour-long trek through [[Brensistria]]'s streets, eventually arriving at a peculiar building in a wealthy district near the castle. The structure appeared neglected from outside—dusty windows, worn doors, wilted flowers, and cobwebs—a stark contrast to the well-maintained buildings surrounding it. [[Keldon Ashveil|Keldon]] produced a red coin-like gem and whispered an incantation, causing the doors to screech open. Inside revealed a completely different reality: elegant hallways filled with obvious wealth. The group descended stairs into an office lit by soft candlelight, where a silver-haired figure sat at a desk with his back to them. The figure finally turned and addressed [[Armara]]: "Seventeen years, [[Armara]] Axton Ostra. Seventeen years since you stood in this very room—a wee slip of a girl barely able to hold a shield spell for more than thirty seconds. Now look at you. The Fire Queen of Shadow Island, the woman who put an elven queen in the ground and burned her secret tree to ash." This was [[Vexaris Thornwell]], [[Armara]]'s former benefactor and father figure from her youth. He questioned why she sought [[the Soulthread Gem]]—the same artifact that had killed two of her companions the moment their fingers touched it, though she alone could contain its power. [[Vexaris Thornwell|Vexaris]] was deeply suspicious, noting [[Armara]]'s recent history: her work with [[the Brimstone Wraith]], her alliance with Renald, and her role in Queen Quithyra's death during an international crisis. ## The Negotiation [[Armara]] explained she needed the gem for a ritual to stop [[Anam]], but [[Vexaris Thornwell|Vexaris]] demanded more than vague promises. He recounted how forty years ago, trusting "vague assurances from desperate wizards" left him with a terrible scar. He wouldn't hand over such a dangerous weapon without concrete answers. [[Armara]] remained evasive, claiming the details were "complicated" and that it was "necessary to stop [[Anam]]"—explanations that only deepened [[Vexaris Thornwell|Vexaris]]'s suspicion. [[Chains]] intervened with a completely fabricated but emotionally manipulative story about [[Armara]]'s redemption, describing her giving bagels to children and other charitable acts that never happened. His deception roll of 32 completely fooled [[Vexaris Thornwell|Vexaris]], who believed every word. The party members added their support: [[Brother Benwick|Ben]] vouched for her as a Dawnbringer, though others struggled with less impressive persuasion rolls. [[Ilith Ornithullin|Ilith]]'s flash of genius brought her contribution to 23, the highest from the actual Dawn Wardens. Finally, [[Armara]] delivered a deeply emotional confession. She explained that [[Vexaris Thornwell|Vexaris]] had been like a father to her when she was fourteen—treating her with respect, teaching her that power and precision could coexist, and showing her that magical knowledge didn't have to corrupt. When Fortuna took her away to Silvereil's Royal Academy, she felt abandoned and alone. Then Renald filled that void, teaching her the opposite lessons: that power was everything, weakness was death, and mercy was stupidity. [[Armara]]'s voice cracked as she confessed killing Queen Quithyra while chained by [[the Brimstone Wraith]]'s influence, unable to distinguish where its rage ended and hers began. But with **Z'ul** and [[Ilith Ornithullin|Ilith]]'s help, she had broken free while retaining the wraith's power. She stepped closer to [[Vexaris Thornwell|Vexaris]], stating that seventeen years ago she was the only person who could contain that artifact without dying—and she was still the only one. Not because she was stronger, but because she had already been consumed once and clawed her way back. With advantage from the party's support and a D12 bardic inspiration from [[Chains]], [[Armara]] rolled a 20 on her persuasion check. Combined with everyone's efforts, particularly [[Chains]]'s exceptional performance, she finally broke through [[Vexaris Thornwell|Vexaris]]'s defenses. He wiped something from his eye and acknowledged that she seemed to have found good company. He pulled a key from his drawer and handed it to [[Armara]], telling her he believed she might be the only one capable of bringing down [[Anam]] with this knowledge. ## The Vault [[Armara]] stood and began walking out into the hallway as [[Vexaris Thornwell|Vexaris]] remained in his office. [[Keldon Ashveil|Keldon]] led the group through several turns until they arrived at a door with a large demonic face in the middle. [[Armara]] inserted the key into the mouth, twisted it, and magical wards vanished with a metallic click. The doors slid open to reveal a pocket dimension—a vault beyond normal space. Inside, a crystal within a crystal contained [[the Soulthread Gem]], roughly fist-sized. As [[Armara]] reached in and grasped it with both hands, black tentacles wreathed in red magical energy whipped out and crawled up her arms. She screamed as the artifact dealt 90 points of necrotic damage. [[Brother Benwick|Ben]] immediately healed her for 19 points while the party rallied—blessing her, adding bardic inspiration, and [[Ilith Ornithullin|Ilith]] providing her flash of genius. With these combined bonuses, [[Armara]] successfully contained the gem. Necrotic burns resembling gangrene marked her wrists where the tentacles had gripped her, but they slurped back into the artifact. ## [[The Soulthread Gem]]'s Power Anyone who rolled 18 or higher on perception could see thousands of purplish-white soul threads emanating from the gem within a fifteen-foot radius—including threads connected to each party member present. [[Armara]] explained that ancient wizards created these gems to track undead creatures. With help from [[Glyph]], she had deciphered the gem's secrets three months ago. The different colored threads indicated various states of corruption: - **Whitish threads**: Pure, uncorrupted souls - **Darker purple-red threads**: Corrupted souls - **Nearly invisible black threads**: Souls being used to power phylacteries or enable constant resurrection [[Armara]] herself had two soul threads—likely one for herself and one for [[the Brimstone Wraith]] symbiote still within her. [[Chains]]'s thread showed whitish, indicating no necrotic corruption. ## The Plan Forward [[Armara]]'s eyes gleamed with euphoric intensity as she revealed her plan: with help from [[Ilith Ornithullin|Ilith]], **Z'ul**, and [[Glyph]], they would create an item using triangulation to track [[Anam]]'s phylactery network across vast distances. They would narrow locations from continents to regions to miles to yards—and finally destroy every phylactery, ending [[Anam]]'s threat permanently. This would accomplish what no other heroes in Solare's history had ever achieved. [[Brother Benwick|Ben]] raised his sword, declaring "For [[Perserphina]]!" [[Armara]] smiled back with an almost unsettling expression, the candlelight illuminating her from below as she added, "For [[Ishimus - Goddess of Neutral Magic|Ishimus]], the goddess of neutral magic and balance." The session ended with the Dawn Wardens possessing one of the most dangerous artifacts in existence and a concrete path toward permanently defeating [[Anam|the Withered One]]. They now had the key to mapping [[Anam]]'s entire phylactery network—a capability that could change the course of the war against the ancient lich and potentially save all of Solare from his apocalyptic plans.