The legendary journey of Shanara the Salamander, Zyla Nu Ten, and Brick to the Sun Temple culminated in a pivotal encounter with Ember, the great Phoenix, and Avatar Rozan, the first Avatar of the Sun. This event marked the destruction of the Ebony Amulet, an artifact of immense dark power linked to the usurper Malekith. The journey and the encounter tested the heroes to their core, revealing their darkest regrets and pushing them to their limits.
The trio embarked on a perilous journey across the southern dunesea, traversing The Serrakhan Scar canyon via a narrow bridge. As they ventured further south, the searing heat intensified, and the distant, haunting cry of a phoenix echoed across the dunes.
Silent Kroot warriors, their bandaged and burned appearances barely visible against the desert sands, watched the heroes from afar. As they approached the plateau where the Sun Temple stood, they were joined by a flamboyant wandering poet from Middenland in Tolria, eager to learn more about the desert and its legends.
The path to the Sun Temple wound up a series of ascending sand dunes, with the sun casting fiery orange hues over the landscape. As they climbed, Shanara began hearing haunting whispers from Malekith emanating from the Ebony Amulet. Their own shadows grew long and twisted, eventually attacking them. Unable to kill these shadowy figures, the heroes were forced to sprint to the top of the mesa.
At the summit, the stone plateau was adorned with ancient carvings depicting Ember and Rozan. In the distance, the bright orange crystal known as Rozan's Eye magnified the sun's light, focusing it on the mesa. The heroes prepared to destroy the Ebony Amulet, but were abruptly pulled into a shadow-realm by its dark power.
In this eerie dimension, they were confronted by the spirits of those they had failed to save. Shanara was haunted by the dead civilians of Shariz, their whispers accusing her of serving only her own interests. Brick faced the tormented souls of Triton and Unknown he had killed during The Atlan Atrocity, their ethereal forms decrying his apathy and cruelty. Malekith's voice filled the air, attempting to sow doubt and fear, particularly targeting Shanara with the claim that Talyen, the Avatar of the Sun, could not be trusted. He attempted to possess Shanara, but with Brick's help, she resisted and broke free from the dark influence.
Returning to the Sun Temple, the light of Rozan's Eye illuminated the runestones beneath their feet. Ember, the majestic Phoenix, rose from the horizon, its flaming form signaling the amulet's destruction before Shanara and Zyla Nu-Ten vanquished the accursed object. As the amulet shattered, Ember communicated with the heroes, thanking them for freeing it from Malekith's control. However, the Phoenix warned that another amulet remained in Tomb of the Twin-Spirit, which must also be destroyed to completely rid the world of his dark influence.
Ember then transformed into Rozan, a fiery-haired Solir with a flowing orange and gold robe. Rozan spoke to the heroes, highlighting the dangers of unchecked elemental power, even within the primordial creatures that embody the elements. Rozan's words underscored the balance needed to maintain harmony across the realms, warning that the threat was far from over.