Artemis13

You’ve just arrived in a swampy, dim town. As you look around, your gaze is met with shacks and cabins. It smells of rotted wood and wet moss. You duck and step into a tattered tent, illuminated by a series of candles suspended in the air. At the back of the tent, an old hag raises her head, “What brings you to this dingy town? she begins, then pauses to study your face—”Ah, it’s you. I’ve been expecting you. Sit,” she gestures at a cushion, “Tell me your story." ((How do you respond?)) Though somewhat put off by the gloomy atmosphere, Artemis thanks the woman, shooting her a warm smile and settling in to the cushion she gestured towards. "You were expecting me, you say? That's definitely a new one," Artemis says with a chuckle "Though, I suppose one should expect to meet all manner of people when travelling Aevos, eh? I certainly have." At this, Artemis takes a moment to collect his thoughts before continuing. "So, you want to hear my story? Well, I suppose an introduction is in order before we get into the meat of it. The name's Artemis Silverwood. Ah- Silver, sorry, Silver," Artemis stammers, "Just Artemis Silver. Still getting used to the name change. I've denounced my Elven lineage, see, so the name 'Silverwood' is all but dead to me now. Though to explain that, I'd likely have to start this 'story' - as you put it - from the beginning." Artemis shifts into a more comfortable position on the cushion and casts his gaze slightly upward, preparing for the long recollection of his distant past. "Since my earliest memories, I was raised solely by my father, Thalion Silverwood, in Haelun'or. I never knew my mother, and Father scarcely spoke of her. Though," Artemis shoots another small grin at the woman and gestures towards his face, meaning to call attention to his human-like features, "I suppose I get my looks from somewhere." "As is fairly common knowledge among the realms, the High Elves are rather conceited in their ways; Everyone must look, talk, and act in a certain manner, lest they be subject to ridicule among their peers. Not to mention, cross-breeding is directly outlawed by order of the Okariran. As such, one can imagine that I was not exactly welcome in the 'ever glorious Motherland'." Artemis raised his arms in mock prayer at these last words, as if silently cursing his people. "Granted this, I was never given the opportunity to live out my childhood in any normal manner. Father kept me home-bound for the most part, shielding my existence from the outside world at large. In the rare instances where I was taken outside, I was to be shrouded in his old cloak, and remain by his side at all times. This still brought on a number of odd looks from bypassers, though it was better than being outed as what they would refer to as a half-breed." "The only people Father ever told of my existence was my extended family, and even they looked upon us in disgust. Most High Elves have the decency not to gossip in one's face, but when one lives a lifestyle such as mine, you grow accustomed to hearing the whispers one intends to keep hidden. Talk such as the shame me and my father supposedly bring to our family." At this, Artemis' gaze momentarily darkens. "Truthfully, I wish upon them all the 'shame' one family can muster. It's only fair, after..." he rapidly blinks and brings his gaze back to the old woman, as if coming out of a trance. "Excuse me, I'm getting ahead of myself." "Father truly was a good man. Strict, let me assure you, though I suppose he'd have to be given our situation. He taught me all sorts of things on his own, as I obviously couldn't attend any of the Elven schools; Arithmetic, literature, history, geography, the sciences, even practical skills such as agriculture and swordplay. I don't claim to be a fighter by any means, though I'd say I can hold my own. In the rare instances where he allowed me a compliment, he would note my willingness to learn and swiftness in picking up new skills. Though admittedly," Artemis says, his eyes casting an embarrassed glance to the side of the room, "I get disheartened fairly quickly if a certain endeavor or project doesn't go my way. It's a flaw, I realize, and likely a large one, though I suppose it must count for something if I've made it this far." Artemis pauses here, his gaze once again darkening as he prepares to continue. "I suppose it's time to explain what led me here. Though to do this, I need to explain one extra detail. One of the biggest things that differentiated me from the High Elves was my adventurous spirit, namely my curiosity of the outside world. I often blame this on my mother's blood, as not even Father fostered an interest in the other realms. In fact, oft times he would try to discourage this behavior, claiming it would just get me into trouble. Though I held my father in high respects, I never listened to him in this regard. Starting in my adolescence, I would habitually sneak out in the dead of night - shrouded in my father's cloak, of course, - and visit the perimeter walls of Haelun'or, casting my gaze beyond the horizon." "This is relevant to the story, I promise" Artemis said, continuing. "Now, in the last month or so before my departure from the city, Father's demeanor had noticeably changed; nervous, paranoid even, and he would never explain what the meaning of it was if I ever asked. It was worrying, truly." "On the night of my departure," he continues after a sigh, "I returned home from one of my trips to the city wall, and Father... was gone. Not dead, I mean, but gone. No trace left of him. Like dust in the wind. To this day, the only hint I have of what happened to him was a piece of parchment, with one word written in large, sloppy letters in the center, as if hastily written: Run." "My best guess is that the Hiylun - the law enforcement of Haelun'or - finally got to him. Tipped off the wrong people perhaps, left too many hints... it's anyone's guess really. Though I suppose it makes sense; looking back on things, I'm surprised he managed to keep me hidden for as long as he did. I can only imagine what would've happened to me had I been home with him that day." As if coming out of a flashback, Artemis' gaze clears and again meets the eyes of the old woman. "That was years ago. I was 18 then, and have been travelling Aevos ever since. Currently, I'm making my way to what I plan to be my final destination: The Kingdom of Balian. During my father's teachings, he mentioned this human civilization as a welcoming place rich with opportunity, so it was a natural choice. Admittedly, I don't have the grandest of plans or aspirations as of yet. I've yet the opportunity to discover what mark I want to leave on the world. I do plan to settle in Balian though, with some kind of stable job and home. Farming or mining maybe, or perhaps even enlist in the standing Army if I find myself to love the nation enough to give my life for it. The study of magic has also intrigued me for a time, or even opening up a shop once I have the resources..." "Forgive me," Artemis says, stopping himself and clearing his throat, "As you can see, I'm optimistic about what my future holds." At this, Artemis stretches and rises from his seat. "Thank you for listening so intently. I had never realized how cleansing it may be to retell the story of one's own life. With that," Artemis says with a smile, "I'll be off." He turns and exits the tattered entrance to the tent, returning to the murky streets of the town. After one final survey of the place he now found himself in, he begins making his way down the path, ready to continue on his travels and face whatever challenges Aevos has to offer him.