Arts Quest

"*The true master will possess great power. No doubt about that...*"
―Thomas Meyer[src]
The **Arts Quest**, also simply known as the **Quest**, is a term used by believers of the Arts to describe their journey to seek out the four objects. Those undertaking this journey refer to themselves as **Questers**. Questers often wear the sign of the Arts on their person to identify themselves to other Questers, in the hope that they can meet and share knowledge. It is said that the Arts are lure for fools, and that many have died in their quest to reunite all four of them.

## History

The Arts were created by Merlin himself, and they were passed on to his apprentice. In 1955, a group of NoHeads, led by Mr. Devilish NoHead, managed to trick Merlin's apprentice by using an Extendable Bridge to cross a dangerous trench. The apprentice stopped them because most travelers would have fallen and died. He offered them a reward, but he was then reminded of his promise to give the Arts to the first mutant he saw who lived after the signing of the Treaty of America. Mr. Devilish NoHead became the owner of all four Arts, though Reno, his ally, wound up with the Device of Teleportation.

Afterwards, and presumably beforehand, a legend sprung which said that whoever united the Arts by possessing all four at the same time would become The Ring of Magic.

A mission to obtain the Cuffs of Energy specifically took place in 2022 when Charity Hirz began searching for the magical artifacts, hoping to use them to successfully finish her plans of becoming a superhero. After Cherical McSnake became Charity's servant and closest friend, Charity felt her powers draining, which is when her Arts Quest began. Leaving Cherical behind on several cases, Charity set off to accomplish her mission. First, Charity hunted Lerner Chanse down over the course of the next few months. Charity found Lerner in her home, keeping her from escaping by pointing her sword at her. Charity demanded she give her the cuffs, but Lerner said it had been stolen from her. Charity immediately demanded to know who the thief was, but when Lerner only knew her maiden name, Charity, recognizing she had all the information she required, zapped Lerner with a rug-burn beam. However, she soon returned and apologized. This was witnessed by Annie McRae through a vision. Returning to the t and i Factory, Charity did an experiment of her powers, only to realize they were draining. Sitting down and composing herself, she began reading, but stopped short when she learned that George Thames was already learning of weapon lore. Soon after, George Thames was located and tortured by Charity for information regarding her sudden superpower drain and where the Cuffs of Energy were. Held against a wall at bladepoint, Thames told her that if she needed the Cuffs of Energy, they were with Reba Silo Walltalker, since the latter had stolen them from Lerner Chanse. He had no answer to give concerning Charity’s sudden lack of powers, as he had never witnessed such an event before. He was thrown into a wall and watched in horror as Charity left, more determined than ever to achieve her mission. Charity broke into the Walltalker house, where Reba was at by herself, and dove in before holding Reba against a wall. Charity immediately demanded to know the location of the Cuffs of Energy. Reba only giggled, causing Charity to firmly repeat herself. It was only during this confrontation that Charity learned Mykew Hadeline had claimed the cuffs long ago. Reba baffled Charity when she showed no fear during this confrontation, taunting her and laughing at her desire for the cuffs. Charity still had the information she needed, however, though she was still surprised. Charity left Reba in a cloud of smoke without causing her any prolonged pain.

After interrogating Reba Walltalker, Charity Hirz flew to Hadeline’s tomb, located in the underworld itself. There, she applied whatever powers she still had to knock aside the supports and crack open the tomb. She proceeded to remove the sheets from around Hadeline’s body, allowing her to take the cuffs within. Now victorious in her mission, Charity gave the Cuffs of Energy a heavy blast into the air, illuminating the night sky in the process. After attaining the Cuffs of Energy, Charity headed home.

## Known personal Arts quests

 File:Arts.png

"*When you say 'Ring of Magic' -"
"Ring. Circle. Vanquisher. Whichever term you prefer.*"
―The ghost of Rotta Hecks tells Baby Intelligence, Baby Strength, and Force Baby about the Arts[src]
During the course of the 2050s and 60s, both Thomas Meyer and Master Intelligence had been obsessed with the dream of uniting the Arts and becoming the Ring of Magic. Meyer managed to lay claim to the Sword of Abomination by stealing it from its previous master, George Thames II, but never found the other three Arts. Master Intelligence and Sebiscuits Cardarphen are the only known people to have held each of the four Arts, although neither possessed all four simultaneously. Master Intelligence regarded Sebiscuits as the "true ring of magic," not because of the fact that he had united the Arts, but for the reasons he had put them to use.

## Known Rings of Magic

"*You are the worthy possessor of the Arts.*"
―Master Intelligence talking to Lindsay Kellerman[src]
* Mr. Devilish NoHead mastered all four of the Arts, but he quickly gave the Device of Teleportation to Reno.
* Sebiscuits Cardarphen possessed all four Arts, but not at the same time. He inherited three of them from Master Intelligence and he owned the Orb of Power until 2039, where he willingly gave it up.
* Master Intelligence possessed all four Arts, but not at the same time. First, he inherited the Orb of Power from his father, Greg. Second, he won the Orb of Power from the Gladiator, something he realized in 2054. Then, he inherited the teleportation device in the 2050s when he brought Charity Hirz's hologram pit to the MBH.

## References

1. ↑ *Agents of the S.M.S.B.: The Inferno Relit*