The Artificer
(a.k.a. Titanslayer)
The Artificer was a highly skilled engineer and inventor who played a critical role in The Primordial Conflict by designing and engineering the Aetherial Cannon. They turned The Alchemist's plan into a reality. They created a weapon strong enough to break the armor of the Titans and dissipate the Aether forming them into the larger river of Aether that surrounds the planet. The Artificer had a natural talent for designing and constructing complex magical machinery and was known for their ability to create breakthroughs in arcanatech.
The Artificer had been working on a challenging design and had run out of the necessary materials to complete it. However, they had heard of The Alchemist's exceptional ability to procure rare materials and decided to seek them out for assistance. The Alchemist was impressed by The Artificer's work and agreed to help them, which led to the two becoming fast friends and eventual Titanslayers.
The Artificer realized that storing aether in a highly concentrated battery could create a beam of energy that could penetrate most materials. To achieve this, they developed a series of specially designed lenses that could focus the flow of the aether into a concentrated beam. They also designed an Oculus, a primary lens, that could amplify and enhance the flow of aether from the battery, focusing it into a sharp lance-like stream with a focal point a few meters from the Oculus.
However, engineering constraints were placed on The Artificer to keep the device secret. The Aetherial Cannon and ammunition had to be delivered without being seen by the Titans or other mortals. The Artificer helped mitigate this problem by miniaturizing the device and creating specially designed lenses that were small but maintained accuracy and integrity. The Artificer also developed a method to detect when the Aetherial Shell was in the optimal range for the Oculus before it discharged the aetherial battery, creating the lance of energy to pierce the Titan's thick armor. The focusing lenses and battery were packaged into ammunition and used in a launching device at the Titans. The favored form of delivery was through a small cannon due to the speed at which it could deliver the device. The cannon could be carried by a team of two and operated by two.
The Artificer worked tirelessly to refine this process and eventually developed the technology to become the Aetherial Shell used in the Aetherial Cannon. Their contribution to The Primordial Conflict was critical in defeating the Titans and freeing the mortals of Aetheria.
There were theoretical limits to this method. As the blast wave expands outward, it loses energy due to several factors, including air resistance, heat loss, and interactions with the terrain and structures in the area. This means that the power of the blast wave decreases as it travels further away from the point of detonation. At a certain point, the pressure of the atmosphere becomes too great for the explosion of aether to overcome. As such, the larger aetherial explosives find diminishing returns in terms of output compared to the amount of aether used to detonate. Some explosives use a two-stage chemical and aetherial component to overcome this issue. Another danger of large aetherial explosives is aetherial depletion. This is where the energy from the aether is dropped into a lower energy state after being used. Large aetherial explosives run the risk of using all of the aether up in an area which can create a dead aether area that could take days, months, or even years to repair.
It was said that during this time, The Artificer made several breakthroughs that would significantly impact the future of Aetheria. They realized that they had been focusing too much on the destructive potential of their inventions and decided to shift their focus towards more peaceful and constructive applications of arcanetech.
The Artificer emerged from their seclusion with a renewed sense of purpose and a determination to use their talents to benefit all of Aetheria, not just a select few. Accordingly, they established The Aetheria Restoration Initiative (TARI), a foundation dedicated to the study and development of arcanetech for peaceful purposes, which would forever change the way that arcanetech was viewed and used in Aetheria.
One day, while peacefully resting in their workshop, The Artificer died due to natural causes. The news quickly spread throughout Arcturus, and soon the whole nation was in mourning. The funeral was held in a quiet clearing in the nearby woods, where The Artificer had spent much of their time reflecting on their life's work. The gravesite was marked with a small stone monument engraved with the symbol of the TARI Prize.
People from all across Aetheria and beyond came to pay their respects, including fellow inventors, engineers, and leaders who The Artificer's legacy had inspired. The ceremony was led by the Grand Archon of Aetheria, who spoke of The Artificer's accomplishments and impact on the world. As the sun set on the day of the funeral, a small group of warforged arrived at the command of no one, leading some to speculate about the potential intelligence golems may possess. They stood silently in a row behind the crowd, a reminder of the incredible breakthroughs that The Artificer had achieved in their lifetime.
After the ceremony, the attendees dispersed, leaving The Artificer's gravesite surrounded by silence once again. But their memory lived on, inspiring generations of inventors and engineers to push the boundaries of what was possible with magic and technology.
Early Life
The Artificer had always been a tinkerer, even as a child. They spent most of their early life in their workshop, experimenting with various mechanisms and devices. It was during one of these experiments that they first met The Alchemist.The Artificer had been working on a challenging design and had run out of the necessary materials to complete it. However, they had heard of The Alchemist's exceptional ability to procure rare materials and decided to seek them out for assistance. The Alchemist was impressed by The Artificer's work and agreed to help them, which led to the two becoming fast friends and eventual Titanslayers.
The Aetherial Cannon
Their inspiration for the design of the Aetherial Cannon came from their studies of the aether, the mysterious and powerful energy that flows throughout Aetheria. The Artificer was taught about the intricacies of the aether by The Arcanist, and they developed a device that could induce an entropic flow in a localized area. The device's limitations meant that any interference would not disrupt any aether. Materials as thin as a piece of paper proved to be enough to prevent an entropic flow from entering.The Artificer realized that storing aether in a highly concentrated battery could create a beam of energy that could penetrate most materials. To achieve this, they developed a series of specially designed lenses that could focus the flow of the aether into a concentrated beam. They also designed an Oculus, a primary lens, that could amplify and enhance the flow of aether from the battery, focusing it into a sharp lance-like stream with a focal point a few meters from the Oculus.
However, engineering constraints were placed on The Artificer to keep the device secret. The Aetherial Cannon and ammunition had to be delivered without being seen by the Titans or other mortals. The Artificer helped mitigate this problem by miniaturizing the device and creating specially designed lenses that were small but maintained accuracy and integrity. The Artificer also developed a method to detect when the Aetherial Shell was in the optimal range for the Oculus before it discharged the aetherial battery, creating the lance of energy to pierce the Titan's thick armor. The focusing lenses and battery were packaged into ammunition and used in a launching device at the Titans. The favored form of delivery was through a small cannon due to the speed at which it could deliver the device. The cannon could be carried by a team of two and operated by two.
The Artificer worked tirelessly to refine this process and eventually developed the technology to become the Aetherial Shell used in the Aetherial Cannon. Their contribution to The Primordial Conflict was critical in defeating the Titans and freeing the mortals of Aetheria.
Post-Primordial Conflict
After the primordial conflict, The Artificer continued developing new technologies. Their expertise in combining aether with technology revolutionized many industries and fields. Early on, their inventions revolutionized warfare. Upon seeing their inventions' destruction, they became distressed and secluded. After several years they reemerged, founding The Aetheria Restoration Initiative (TARI), which is dedicated to promoting peace and the ethical advancement of arcanetech across Aetheria.Early Era of Cataclysm inventions
Warforged
Early on in the Era of Cataclysm, The Artificer invented possibly one of the most world-shaking inventions. By imbuing machines with magical energy, they could create a rudimentary form of artificial intelligence to perform tasks and complete processes with incredible efficiency. The Golems were in mining, construction, and manufacturing. It didn't take long for other artificers to adapt those golems to aid in warfare. These killing machines fought in many later conflicts in the Era of Cataclysm, eventually earning them the name "Warforged." Although they had a rudimentary intelligence that allowed them to carry out tasks autonomously, it wasn't until Althea Ironwright invented true artificial sentience during the Age of Ascension that upgraded golems and warforged were able to think for themselves.Aetherial Explosive
Expanding on their earlier work during the primordial conflict, The Artificer developed a way to concentrate aether into a highly volatile form and detonate it. The device uses a series of lenses and conduits to focus and direct the flow of the aether into a small, contained space. Once the aether is concentrated enough, an igniter releases the energy. The result is a powerful explosion, with the size and intensity of the blast dependent on the amount of aether used and the device's design.There were theoretical limits to this method. As the blast wave expands outward, it loses energy due to several factors, including air resistance, heat loss, and interactions with the terrain and structures in the area. This means that the power of the blast wave decreases as it travels further away from the point of detonation. At a certain point, the pressure of the atmosphere becomes too great for the explosion of aether to overcome. As such, the larger aetherial explosives find diminishing returns in terms of output compared to the amount of aether used to detonate. Some explosives use a two-stage chemical and aetherial component to overcome this issue. Another danger of large aetherial explosives is aetherial depletion. This is where the energy from the aether is dropped into a lower energy state after being used. Large aetherial explosives run the risk of using all of the aether up in an area which can create a dead aether area that could take days, months, or even years to repair.
Seclusion and reemergence
After seeing their inventions used in warfare, The Artificer was said to have fallen into a deep depression by their close friend The Alchemist in an interview around 23 ECa. As a result, they secluded themselves on the Isthmus of Arcane's Narrow for several years to reflect on the impact of their creations on the world of Aetheria. During this time, they delved deep into their mind and rediscovered the principles that guided their initial work with arcanetech.It was said that during this time, The Artificer made several breakthroughs that would significantly impact the future of Aetheria. They realized that they had been focusing too much on the destructive potential of their inventions and decided to shift their focus towards more peaceful and constructive applications of arcanetech.
The Artificer emerged from their seclusion with a renewed sense of purpose and a determination to use their talents to benefit all of Aetheria, not just a select few. Accordingly, they established The Aetheria Restoration Initiative (TARI), a foundation dedicated to the study and development of arcanetech for peaceful purposes, which would forever change the way that arcanetech was viewed and used in Aetheria.
TARI Prize
The TARI Prize is an international award that recognizes outstanding achievements in artifice and magic for peace. It is considered one of the most prestigious awards in Aetheria and is named after the TARI Foundation, which The Artificer founded. The prize is awarded annually in several categories, including artifice, magical theory, innovation in arcanetech, and the most coveted peace prize. Winners of the TARI Prize receive a medal, a diploma, and a substantial sum of gold, which the TARI Foundation funds. The prize is awarded based on nominations from experts in the fields of artifice and magic, and winners are selected by a committee of prominent figures in the magi community.Elemental Engines
These engines use elemental energy to power machines and vehicles. They are powered by capturing and harnessing the energy of elementals, which are magical beings that embody the elements of earth, air, fire, and water.Arcane Prosthetics
These prosthetics use magical energy to enhance the abilities of people with disabilities or injuries. For example, using aether, they can power facsimiles of limbs, restoring people's mobility.Death
The Artificer lived long for a dwarf, spending their final years in the bustling city of Arcturus, the capital of the nation of Arcadia Magna. They had dedicated the latter part of their life to promoting peace and undoing the damage caused by arcanetech.One day, while peacefully resting in their workshop, The Artificer died due to natural causes. The news quickly spread throughout Arcturus, and soon the whole nation was in mourning. The funeral was held in a quiet clearing in the nearby woods, where The Artificer had spent much of their time reflecting on their life's work. The gravesite was marked with a small stone monument engraved with the symbol of the TARI Prize.
People from all across Aetheria and beyond came to pay their respects, including fellow inventors, engineers, and leaders who The Artificer's legacy had inspired. The ceremony was led by the Grand Archon of Aetheria, who spoke of The Artificer's accomplishments and impact on the world. As the sun set on the day of the funeral, a small group of warforged arrived at the command of no one, leading some to speculate about the potential intelligence golems may possess. They stood silently in a row behind the crowd, a reminder of the incredible breakthroughs that The Artificer had achieved in their lifetime.
After the ceremony, the attendees dispersed, leaving The Artificer's gravesite surrounded by silence once again. But their memory lived on, inspiring generations of inventors and engineers to push the boundaries of what was possible with magic and technology.
Date of Birth
Unknown
Date of Death
264 ECa
Year of Death
7265 UCT
Circumstances of Death
Natural Causes
Birthplace
Unknown
Children
Pronouns
They/Them