Project Second Sun

Project Second Sun is a clandestine project undertaken by the Golden Hand. The initial objective of this project was to explore Iria Crystals as storage vessels for other kinds of energy, especially magical energy. Subgoals include experimentation with synthetic iria crystals. The aim of Project Second Sun has shifted to creating a crystal that can be overcharged and then detonated, leveling a city.

Over the course of the project, prototype iria crystals were produced through the fusion of natural and synthetic iria crystal with a number of alchemical and magical attunements. These crystals seemed to distort magic in their vicinity. Before this was used in weapons, the crystals were tested on insects and rodents. Preliminary results suggested deleterious effects on the health of the animals.

For this reason, it was determined that human trials were necessary. The Golden Hand chose young girls in rural communities as it needed a demographic that was not economically or socially important and that would be unlikely to develop health complications unrelated to the crystals. The crystals were pulverized and poured in with tin that was then cast into pendants. These 100 pendants were then distributed to priests in rural communities around the country with instructions to give them to young girls as a reward for exceptional devotion, meaning they'd likely wear it for extended periods of time. The priests merely had to report the name and location of the person it was gifted to for Clergy records. Once distributed, the names were passed back up the chain of command till it reached the Golden Hand.

Children selected through the program were monitored monthly for change. Little to no change was seen for the first six months. After this, some girls became deathly ill with sicknesses presenting strange symptoms. These children passed away and their bodies were recovered for autopsy. Other children experienced delayed puberties before suffering strange transformations. Most of these were partial, a few odd animal features. A few experienced extensive transformations. All of these children were captured and subjected to vivisection, killing most. The two who survived, Maele and Via, are held in the Drelvyndor Catacombs. Still, other children continue to develop normally and are monitored monthly for any change in their condition.

Thallia Rendroot was one such test subject. The order for her capture and vivisection has been signed, but she evades capture. The Golden Hand is particularly concerned that the teen appears to have disappeared for most of a year before reappearing with a combat style suggesting bardic training as well as allies.