Shadow and Alaric began their secret mission for Queen Elira, tasked with uncovering the shadowy forces working against the kingdom. Their first lead took them into the depths of the capital, to the underbelly of the city where whispers of forbidden magic and secret alliances ran rampant.
Disguised as mercenaries, they infiltrated a den of smugglers who dealt in artifacts and information. After a tense negotiation—and a swift swordfight—they learned of a cult called the Veil of Ash. This group was rumored to be behind recent unrest and had ties to the ancient powers Queen Elira feared.
Their investigation brought them to an abandoned temple in the outskirts of the city. Inside, they found symbols matching the runes on Shadow's blade, confirming a connection between the cult and the weapon he now wielded.