The Sundial of Kaimo the Aurunumancer, in the Ancient Kingdoms of Athrace

Imnif Alvarun glanced at Galf L'nael when Alronc Galvar mentioned her quest to decant the Materia Prima, but his icy blue eyes gave away nothing.

Alronc leaned in conspiratorially. "Have ye heard the tale of the Aurunumancer? He sought to decant lead into gold by capturing the power of the sun on a specific day. He built a massive sundial to calculate the exact moment. He built a tower of lead and prepared the spell, prepared to be rich beyond the dreams of avarice. What happened though was his spell immolated him so thoroughly, the shadow thrown by his sundial takes a human shape, a human in agony." The wizened old gnome cackled.

"The Materia Prima is a similar pipe dream, the madness of hubris, but I know of an attainable goal, one that might grant ye time to pursue your ambitions. The Ilyich Exilir. I know the formula, and soon I will craft it for meself. You could aid me, help refine it, observe my transformation, even."

He leaned back in his chair. Imnif stared at him.