The Forgotten Son is an infamous event that unfolded within the halls of Aerenal, where ambition, betrayal, and the hunger for power collided in a tragedy centuries in the making. At the heart of the chaos was Ares Farric, a noble Vanir "scorned" by his own bloodline, who sought to carve his name into eternity through the forbidden power of the Amethyst of the Dying Star—an ancient and malevolent artifact of the Night Mother Nyx.
His theft of the Gwaithor family heirloom and the subsequent murders that followed shattered the tenuous peace of Aerenal, forcing The Elden Council and Guy the Grateful (Avatar of the Air) to uncover a dark conspiracy veiled in whispers and long-buried secrets.
What began as an investigation into arcane assassinations ended in a confrontation of destiny, as Ares stood before his people, clutching the amethyst that had consumed him, proclaiming his defiance—only to be undone by the very power he sought to command.
The Curse of Nyx
The Amethyst of the Dying Star was no ordinary artifact. Forged from the essence of a collapsing star, this maroon crystal pulsed with an insidious hunger, a power that could drain the very life force and Rift Energy from any living being. Bestowed upon a legendary Valar pirate who had pledged himself to Nyx, the amethyst granted strength beyond measure—but with it, came a curse.
For the moment its wielder lost possession of it, their very existence would be erased from history, their name and deeds lost to oblivion. This fate befell the Valar captain when Vanir warriors sank his fleet beneath The Silver Veil Sea, sealing the amethyst away in the Gwaithor family vault for generations.
Until Ares Farric stole it.
The Shadow of Murder
In the weeks following the amethyst’s mysterious disappearance, a series of grisly murders plagued the noble houses of Aerenal. Victims were found withered, their magic and life force drained, leaving behind hollow husks where once great mages had stood.
Among them:
- Luthien Vauldor, a scholar at the Aefir Academy of the Arcane, slain in the depths of his study, a glowing rune burned into the floor beneath him.
- Miriel Farric, Ares’ own kin, clutching a shattered pendant as if she had glimpsed something she feared more than death itself.
- Valen Gwaithor, a noble whose body was found in his family’s botanical garden, his final moments captured in a reflection—a masked figure standing over him.
At first, the Elden Council suspected an assassin. But as Guy and Septimus Lucien unraveled the truth, it became impossible to ignore the evidence:
The stolen amethyst, the lingering traces of Nyx’s curse, and the silent, brooding presence of Ares Farric, the only son of House Farric never meant to inherit power.
Trial of the Forsaken
Ares stood before the Elden Council, unbowed, unbroken. Accused, yet unfazed.
At first, he laughed, dismissing the allegations as desperate paranoia. But when Guy, the Avatar of Air, revealed the stolen amethyst, its blood-red gleam betraying its master, the truth was undeniable.
His mask shattered.
And then, Ares spoke.
Ares Farric’s Monologue – The Forgotten Son
"My name is Ares Farric. I am 476 years old. I reside in the Farric Manor, one of the oldest and most distinguished houses in Aerenal. Every morning, I rise with the first light of dawn and begin my day with a brisk walk through the estate gardens. The roses are particularly vibrant this year—a product of meticulous care, much like everything in my life."
"I follow a strict regimen: meditation at sunrise, correspondence with the Elden Council in the mid-morning, and a solitary lunch on the eastern balcony. A glass of aged Elmsfire wine accompanies my meal—just one glass, mind you. Everything in moderation, as they say. Afterward, I devote my afternoon to studying arcane theory, not out of necessity, but to maintain appearances."
"I am, by all accounts, the perfect model of a noble Vanir. Dutiful, disciplined, composed. The kind of man others look to with admiration, or at the very least, respect. I attend every council meeting, sign every proclamation, and greet every guest with the grace expected of my station. My reputation is impeccable, unmarred by scandal or impropriety."
"But you see… perfection is a mask, and masks are crafted to hide the imperfections beneath. I know this better than most. I wear my mask well—better than anyone else, I’d wager."
"Because in the end, what is life if not a game of survival? A test of will? And if I must bear the burden of their scorn, if I must play the villain in their tale, then so be it."
"I am Ares Farric. And I am exactly where I am meant to be."
The Forgotten Son
As he clutched the Amethyst of the Dying Star, dark energy pulsed through his veins, the Rift magic within twisting him, consuming him, making him more than mortal and less than man.
With a shuddering breath, his voice turned feverish, desperate, and exultant all at once.
"You think yourself righteous? You’re no savior—just another pawn in this endless game. Let me show you true power!"
The amethyst flared, its crimson light casting monstrous shadows across the chamber. His form distorted, veins bulging, his body cracking beneath the weight of Nyx’s curse.
But before he could strike—Guy, Avatar of the Air, intervened.
Entering the avatar state, Guy reflected the amethyst's power on Ares, forcing Ares to endure millennia in an instant. His body aged, withered, and froze in place as if the centuries he sought to steal had been repaid tenfold.
As the light of the amethyst flickered, the curse took hold.
Ares gasped, his form trembling, his voice faltering.
His name—his identity—his very existence began to fade.
And in the end, as the last whispers of his name slipped from the lips of history, his final words were a ragged, broken whisper—
"I was meant for more…"
And then, he was no more.
Legacy
With Ares erased, the Amethyst of the Dying Star fell silent once more, its hunger sated—for now.
Though Ares Farric was gone, his story would never truly end.
For even the forgotten leave echoes in time.