View source for An End to the Forger

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Amairgen, feeling more confident in her treachery, approached Lady
Zephy, Mistress of the Iron Citadel, with a new plan. Her eye was now
set on Merentesh, whose superior products were causing the Paladins and
the [[Infernals]] much grief. She ordered Zephy to find an Infernal versed
in the arts of deception and treachery, and to bring him or her back in
a few months.

When Zephy returned, she brought with her the Lady Faile. Amairgen gave
a circlet to her, one that was writhed in shadows. Faile's job was to
convince the Champion of the Innocent, Mat Corey, to deliver the ring to
Merentesh as a gift in an attempt to lower his prices. The ring,
however, like all things that come from the mind of Amairgen, had
another covert purpose.

Mat quickly agreed to the plot, though upon arriving at the weapons
gallery, Mat warned Merentesh of the possibility of a trap. However,
once Merentesh saw what appeared to be a fabled 'Circlet of the
Shadows', he became overwhelmed with desire for the ancient artifact.
Bargaining away what seemed to be the strong advantages in the forging
market he had, Merentesh quickly convinced Mat to present the circlet to
him.

However, the ring was not a 'Circlet of the Shadows', and when Merentesh
put it on, he was overwhelmed by the darkness of death magic, consuming
him almost wholly. Only a small part of him remained, whisked away by
Amairgen's now stronger magic. And that part sits now in a jar on the
shelf of Amairgen.

With no owner, the Weapons Shop of [[Delos]] closed. Perhaps it was the
secret wish of the Paladin smiths that it would end that way. Only their
honour and spirit will tell through time.