Sharuum

Sharuum is a female sphinx and the Hegemon of Esper, Alara.
==Description==
Sharuum is the beautiful, ageless female sphinx who serves as Esper's de facto "philosopher queen."Doug Beyer & Jenna Helland (2008). A Planeswalker's Guide to Alara, Wizards of the Coast. ISBN-13 978-0786951246 Her word is taken as the deepest wisdom and her judgments, though rare, are incontrovertible. She cannot forge new etherium, but Sharuum has taught her allies how to thin the existing etherium, leading to ever more delicate filigree structures among Esper’s beings.
==History==
Centuries old, Sharuum has long since commanded the inhabitants of Esper. Her lover, Crucius, introduced etherium to the plane. Although unable to create the alloy herself, Sharuum taught the mages of Esper to thin existing etherium via the creation of etherium alloys. After Crucius disappeared, Sharuum devoted much of her life to finding the whereabouts of her former partner.
During the Conflux, many of the leaders of Esper were slain during Malfegor's march against the shards. Hopelessly outnumbered by beings that were once her allies, she fled and secluded herself to prepare more stringent defenses.
==Test of Metal==
Due to problems presented within the text itself, and details later revealed, the canon of Test of Metal is dubious.
Some time afterward, Sharuum encountered the planeswalker Tezzeret. He convinced her that Crucius was still alive, and he would be willing to show her what had become of him. She made a deal with Tezzeret that she would trade him all of her possessions, her power, and her throne for even a small amount of time with Crucius. She revealed a number of riddles to Tezzeret to aid him in his quest. These led him to Kemuel, Sharuum's son.
Later, Sharuum traveled to the Metal Island, an island comprised entirely of etherium, but her own etherium was stripped from her body. Tezzeret quickly treated Sharuum's wounds and reunited her with Crucius. Keeping to her word, Sharuum promised Tezzeret all she had. Tezzeret's only command for Sharuum was to return to Esper and rule as she always had.
==Story appearances==
Title 	Author 	Publishing date	Set 	Setting (plane) 	Featuring
An Etherium Tale	Doug Beyer 	March 4, 2009 	Alara Reborn	Esper and Bant, Alara 	Sharuum, Xorin, Crucius, Agatha, Callio, Travius, Jaria
Test of Metal 	Matthew Stover	October 2010 	Magic 2010 	Esper, Ravnica, Jund, Mirrodin	Tezzeret, Jace Beleren, Nicol Bolas, Crucius, Baltrice, Jest, Sharuum, Silas Renn, Kemuel, Liliana Vess
==In-game references==
Category:Sphinxes
Category:Artifact creatures