Artemis

Artemis, Mystic Human

AND 01/13 Julianne had decided to try to find Artemis, as part of her anticipated successes on her pilgrimage into the world, because an old mystic named Artemis, one with an odd manner and not much talent but an obsession with learning, was recently seen across the Madlands.

AND 01/7 A description of Artemis, as remembered by one of the other mystics, Margit:

The man never was happy amongst people and could go days without being seen even here in the Heights.”

He was an expert on battle magic, and he may know more about the exact threat we’re up against (the New Dawn People) if he’s in the same region.”

"Then what can I expect?"

“A fight. You have to remember, he’s not like us. He’s… different. Don’t appeal to his better nature, and don’t think for a moment you can guilt him into coming back for the good of the people. He doesn’t give a damn about the people.”

“That old codger would jump off a cliff before he took charge of an apprentice, let alone a gaggle of moon-eyed cows like Donna and her group. No, he’s different, but in a way I can’t even explain.”

“Make it a puzzle. A challenge, if you will. Julianne, where your drive comes from protecting the innocent, his is to find the answer. It sounds dry and heartless, and that’s because he is. Well, not heartless, but he just doesn’t understand people enough to care about them like you and me.”

“You told me he’s a good man. How can he be if he doesn’t care about what’s right, about helping people?”

Margit pursed her lips, thinking. Then, she touched a hand to Julianne’s head and muttered a word as her eyes turned white. Julianne’s vision blurred. When it cleared, she didn’t see the room she’d been standing in a moment ago.

She saw a man, older than her, but not ancient. He walked through the Temple halls, past a tapestry she recognized. Instead of faded and moth-eaten, it was bright and clean. The man strode around a corner, not looking up from the book he was buried in.

A young Margit approached him. “Get your head out of that, Art. You’ll miss dinner, and I know you didn’t have lunch.”

“But Megs, I think I’ve found it! I know why Queen Bethany Anne left, and I think that’s why everything changed when she did!”

“Eating first won’t make her come back, and sure as hell won’t make it so she never left. Come on.”“Ok, Artie. It’s ok. You sit here and read, find your answers.” Artemis nodded blankly, his emotions receding as he backed off into a quiet corner, slid down against the wall and sank back into his book.

“We took care of him as best we could, but we couldn’t make him stay. Oh, he could function alright as long as he remembered to eat and bathe, it’s just he wasn’t very personable. I knew he’d be happier away from here, in a place that’s quiet and lonely, but it’s hard to really understand that. Even with powers like ours.”

AND 01/4 Artemis had taught Rogan all he knew. Artemis also knew how to rid the village of the magic (after all, he HAD invented it), and would help to find Rogan. “Well, on account of it being my fault, I suppose I must.”