Power Lost
During the events of the new island. Artemis had an unfortunate time. He had a nightmare, one that would haunt him for a long time.
After getting to the island, Artemis had just finished learning a few new tricks. He came to the island with his first blessed weapon just to show off that he had learned new tricks. He prayed to his new God, Irunaki for assistance. However, over the course of the day. His power faded. This new island was inhabited by the undead. Artemis was surprised at that fact. Prepared for Mordok and even Salt Beasts but Undead? Thankfully, his training allowed him to combat them. Yet even the weapons he blessed, and protection offered. It had waned. He only learned why during the first night.
After bed Artemis had a strange nightmare. One that is haunting. There were visions of a possible future, death, torment. Visions from his old god. Artemis was crowned as king but of undead. It was a blur. In short, the old world still had a hold on him. Artemis awoke with a stir.
“A strange dream, one of the future? A possible future? Me a king?” He pondered this thought for a moment. “Me as a king would be lovely, the sheer power. I can only speculate its what my father would desire. King of the Hobos no less. Though Hobos don’t grant any real power and their loyalty is lacking.” He ponders this thought and continues. “Yet in my dream I am to be an Undead king or some sort of necromancer. My family, my friends at my side…. corpses.” He shudders at this thought. “Not something id like to see. Khruki must still have a powerful hold on me. However, if this is true.” He has a realization and begins to pace, “If this is true and Khruki is tied to the Undead then it is possible that the Io’Larian Syndar are responsible…Oh no. They could be responsible for the Undead plague back on Faedrun. Did my sister know of this? Doubtful, as her communication with the gods is through her totem of the bear. My father however, did he know? Did he know his God administered these grave acts? Is the reason he wanted Rialvis dead was to silence him? More questions than answers.”
He then begins his day with a start for something new. “This would explain why my power waned.” He then turns to his group “We may need to bolster a more militant focus”
The Atonement
After returning home battered and bruised, Artemis was on a mission. He needed to find his divine power again. He needed to make a direct pact with Irunaki, or he needed a totem to do so in his stead. “Is blind worship not enough? It works with Arnath. Gods can be so fickle. No matter.” Upon returning home, the denizens of Fort Dread Wyrm greeted him. Artemis had much more wine returning home than usual, so the common folk enjoyed what was left. He also surveys the work that is on the road and the starting of the guard house. Artemis went to his bedchambers to lick his wounds. He rested for many days, yet he was glad his new family was there and went out in force. During this rest, his divine power returned to him. “This just further proves the ties between Khruki and the Undead. I’ve got to inform my family.”
Normally in Io’Larian culture, one must go out and find your totem amongst the first beast you successfully kill while alone or find remnants of, yet for Artemis this in not the case. To get his namesake, Azureal had went out while young and found a small talon, one of an eagle. Naxala, had gone out and came back with a broken tooth of a bear. He did not have that upbringing and was far too late for him to go hunt or find one at his age. But during the dreams of Artemis one word stuck out. Wyrm. One that occupies the name of his current settlement and one that means dragons. Fantastical creatures of legend and lore. Yet it is a word that sticks out.
During sleep and meditation, Artemis walked in his meditative garden. As usual, it was lush and green. A small pound sits in the middle for reflection. Overall, quite relaxing. Overtime, this garden changed. Slowly it became a place remnant of his current living arrangement. His garden, no longer lush, became bare, covered in rocks and hills. Still the same pond in the center. The air becomes cold. At the corner of his eye, he spots movement. Artemis begins to give a calm, collective chase. The being is small and darts within the trees of Artemis’s Mind Garden. Artemis follows this thing for what feels like hours. Only to come upon a strange rock. A rock with only a word carved. In a language of old. “Draco” Artemis looks at the word, then feels a crawling. “Oh hello, you!” On his shoulder a was a small lizard. Scales are much like a Dragon. A tiny Armadillo Lizard to be precise. Its color was very yellow, almost a gold color and its underbelly black. It was munching on a small tick that was on his shoulder. Artemis sat upon the rock and meditated. “This is what I was looking for, thank you young Draco. Speak to Irunaki on my behalf. I require his aid. Also, thank him for his services.”
Artemis then awakes from his dreamlike state only to find his chambers has a small cold spell. He then hears a knock on his door. “Come in, I was only meditating” At his door was a well dressed Syndar, followed by Maretheris and Orla inquisiting her. “Ma’am you can’t just barge in there at least tell me your…oh Artemis your awake this woman…” Artemis holds up his hand to Orla. “Its ok Orla, this woman is my older sister, Naxala. Naxala Wolfgang.” “Artemis, my dear brother, I must speak with you in private, it’s of matters of grave importance.” Naxala in a hurry. “It’s fine sis, I think I know why you’re here. I also make it a point to share everything with my family.” Artemis ushers Naxala to the main seating in his home.
“Little brother, it was I pain to find you, I thought you were up north by the lake and then I heard of this new organization, FATE? I assume your doing?”
“Yes, my doing as well with the help of Orla, Maretheris, and Johan. You are welcome to stay over we are just settling in.”
“Anyway brother, my coming is due to the god Khuruki, I had a strange dream, one of undeath and the dead? I wanted to warn you and apologize. I had no idea.”
“Its ok sis, you were following a tradition, completely understandable.” “I may be able to teach you a few things of my own. Irunaki? You know of him? His tenants are a little less…. extreme” Artemis then looks at the corner of his eye. “One moment, there is a movement” He heads over and sees a small lizard curled up “that cute Draco is real” He bends over, picks up the small lizard. “Look guys!” He then shows the gold scaled lizard. “Anyway sis, stay awhile we have much to discuss!”
Naxala stares a moment at her brother and smiles. She whispers “You are everything like father. Not a doubt in my mind you would be able to clear our family name.”
“Dragon King Artemis”