I am sorry nobody answered sooner. There are questions I can help with, but often I leave them, hoping somebody will give a better answer than I can. If the material outside the fire brick is more masonry, and not combustible, I doubt the wear on the fire brick is a problem. I am not sure how hot a wood fire can get, but with a good draft, I have seen them consume thin aluminum. We had been burning wood long enough by 1924, that they should have known how to build a fireplace suitable for burning wood.
Don't know about the liner for the pellet stove. Others here should be able to say. The instructions for the pellet stove could be a good guide.
Note to moderator, better to delete
https://www.askmehelpdesk.com/home-s...ace-54379.html I decided to answer this one with the additional detail.