Artharis: Odyssey

## About:

**Artharis: Odyssey** is a 4-part graphic novel series set in the year ARC 389 of the New Age Era, and it follows an unlikely group of heroes on a galaxy-wide journey through the Artharis Nebula.

The group is led by a Paladin of Artharis named Remigio "Remi" Roshan, who was tasked with protecting a princess from Andere Prime named Callista Shaeryse from a Black Magick terrorist group known as the Eastern Salvation. This terrorist group eventually infiltrates Callista's Royal Family, influencing her father Ottovar to attempt to assassinate her and take the Anderen throne. After the failed assassination attempt, thanks to Callista's bodyguard Ikabod Izayus, Paladin Remi's garrison is destroyed by the Eastern Salvation. He decides to hire two smugglers named Mykola "McKrisze" Kriszenan and Liwen Tufayl to sneak him, the princess, and her bodyguard offworld; transporting them to the Artharis Republic capital world of Varrados, where they will potentially be safe.

## Summary:

### Prologue:

The story begins in ARC 389, during a period of chaos in the newly colonized area of space known as the Eastern Enclave. 9 Years after the Vantikro Conquest, the Artharis Republic is still recovering in the Northern Commune, with their military spread thin. So when the Princess of Andere Prime, Callista Shaeryse, asked the Artharis War Council for Paladin security, High Paladin Horus Tirka made the decision to send his good friend Remigio Roshan, his old apprentice Haggai Bark-Blade, and only a small garrison of Artharis Security Forces.

Princess Callista was in need of security, as she was under the impression that her father, Ottovar, was plotting to assassinate her. Once they got to the world, Haggai and "Remi" attempted to find and interrogate Otto, but were met with extreme bombardment and Black Magick Deathstorms by a group of acolytes known as the Eastern Salvation. These Black Magick users worshipped a Void being known as Koromon, and they had converted Otto to their cause, attempting to use Andere Prime as a base of operations for their religious crusade through the Eastern Enclave.

The acolytes proved to be too much for the Paladin's forces; and the Black Magick cult leader Azrayal eventually captured and killed Haggai Bark-Blade in a public execution. This forced Remi to retreat from Andere Prime's capital city of Gennso, where he decided to hire two smugglers named Mykola "McKrisze" Kriszenan and Liwen Tufayl to sneak them offworld in their ship, the *"Bulwark Angel."*

### Sojourn on Elizos:

After escaping from Andere Prime, McKrisze and Liwen started questioning the payment methods of Callista and Remi, as the Princess is already paying the sellsword, Ikabod. After the Princess assured the smugglers that they would get paid, just as long as they made it to Varrados safely, Mckrisze tells the group that he knows a place that they could all lay low for a while. They eventually make their way to the snowy planet of Elizos, where they decide to stay at the smuggler's retreat and pit-fighting arena known as The Den. Although Remi was very vocal about how they shouldn't stay at the barbaric town, McKrisze claimed he knew the Administrator of the establishment: Aeron Vidal.

Once they landed in The Den's Black Market District, they were met by Captain Ovias Vadad: leader of the Owl Company security force. Vadad, his second-in-command Kobb, and a large group of "Owls" all surrounded the group and escorted them to the Administration Lounge. There, they met Aeron Vidal, who immediately recognized Mckrisze. Aeron let everyone out of custody, and started asking Mckrisze questions about their current situation. After Aeron was all caught-up, he escorted each member of the group to their temporary rooms, so they could stay for the night. Little did the group know, Aeron was contacting Azrayal and secretly putting them up for ransom.

### Betrayal on Elizos:

The next morning, Mckrisze and Remi woke up in chains, surrounded by "Owls." Aeron told Mckrisze that "none of this was personal", and that he only needed Callista for the bounty. He said that he could go, but he wants to keep Remi for the upcoming pit-fight that night. Mckrisze took some time, but accepted, allowing him and Liwen to leave unharmed.

Feeling betrayed, Remi used his anger for the upcoming pit-fight against some of the most dangerous warriors in the Verdant Territories. Callista was forced to watch the fight, sitting directly to the right of Aeron. As Remi walked out onto the field of the Vidal Fighting Grounds, he heard announcers call out the names of the other fighters...

"On our left we have the dangerous Yaromr Vestr: Technomancer of Shalstu, and Heo'o Reme: champion of the Highland Gunners! And on our right, we have the Hunter of Kanssin: Phalin Adrinogo! Then the one-eyed monster of death: Sunan The Tuggin! And finally, the most recent addition to the roster, a Paladin of Artharis: Remigio Roshan!" As the crowd booed, Remi prepared himself and clutched his Kilano Blade. He looked up and saw Callista chained up next to Aeron, who talked with a business partner and crime lord named Imr Danotiss of the Crimson Crime Communal. As the horn blaired, the fighting began, and Remi rushed into the fray.

### Rescue on Elizos:

Meanwhile, Liwen and Mckrisze argued about whether or not they should stay. Mckrisze said whatever prize they would've gotten from delivering Callista to Varrados wasn't worth the trouble or the danger. Liwen said, "Regardless of the prize, I am still a decent being in this galaxy. I'm staying, so you can leave without me if you want." Not wanting to destroy his one and only good friendship, he decided to stay with Liwen, and rescue the three Artharis Republicans. First, the two made their way to the Den Detention Center, where they shot their way through Owl Company troops and released Ikabod from his cell. As they made their way to Callista, they were stopped by the Owl Company second-in-command: Kobb. He wielded a long Menoshan Spear Rifle, and fought Liwen while Mckrisze and Ikabod finished their sprint to The Arena.

As they entered the Vidal Fighting Grounds, they saw Remi fighting Sunan The Tuggin and Yaromr Vestr. In the background, Phalin Adrinogo is sprayed and killed by Heo'o Reme's Gaish-9 Gatling Gun. Remi slices Sunan's head off while he shoots his eye laser, which blasts into the crowd, killing a few watchers. This causes panic in the crowd, and Aeron to announce, "whoever can kill that Paladin will get a million-credit prize!" This causes both Yaromr and Heo'o to nod to each other, and they both start attacking Remi.

Realizing they need to split up, and Ikabod's more of a fighter, Mckrisze suggests that the bodyguard help Remi out in the fight pit, while he goes after Callista. Ikabod was hesitant at first, but he trusted Mckrisze, and jumped into the pit to help Remi. He then tackled Yaromr Vestr, and they start an intense melee battle while Remi deals with Heo'o. Mckrisze then tried to sneak attack Aeron Vidal, but he was stopped by Captain Ovias Vadad, who pinned him to the ground with his Menoshan Chopper. Aeron takes this time to grab Callista and leave with his associate Imr Danotiss. Mckrisze is able to get out of Vadad's pin, and they have a fist fight in the Administration Lounge.

Meanwhile, Remi is able to dodge and deflect Heo'o's Gatling Gun rounds, and slice directly through the Highlander's chest. Ikabod loses ground against Yaromr, as the Technomancer is skilled in the art of Fon Shalstui. Right as it looks like Yaromr is going to kill the bodyguard, the Owl Company second-in-command, Kobb, falls to his death directly in front of the Technomancer. And as soon as Yaromr looks up to see where the Owl fell from, he's shot in the head by Liwen, who stole Kobb's Menoshan Spear Rifle. Liwen, Ikabod, and Remi then look behind them and see another person fall to their death from the Administration Lounge. It turned out to be Captain Vadad, who was thrown out the window by Mckrisze. The four then realize that Aeron still has Callista, and all regroup at the Black Market District, where Aeron and Imr Danotiss are waiting for Azrayal and the Eastern Salvation.

### Slaughter of The Den:

The four fight their way through more members of Owl Company and make their way to where the two criminals and Callista are held up. Imr Danotiss tries to go up against Ikabod Izayus, but he's picked up by the massive bodyguard, and his back is broken. Aeron realizes he's no match, and puts a gun up to Callista's head. Callista knees Aeron in his cat-balls, and throws him out a window as well. A silly lil joke is made about how so many people have been killed by getting thrown out a window, and the group decides to leave The Den before the Eastern Salvation gets there.

When the Eastern Salvation garrison arrives, Azrayal's Goluundian champion, Beiz Azaad, lands in the Black Market District to find a critically injured Aeron Vidal. When he realizes Aeron doesn't have Callista or anyone else from her party, he pulls out his Black Magick-Enchanted Blade of Koromon. Aeron begs for his life, saying "I put a tracker on their ship! Please, I can help you!" Beiz stops for a second and looks to his translator, Zhon. He does a small hand signal to Zhon, who says, "You've already helped us. Thank you for your contribution to the Eastern Salvation." Then by a single swing of his sword, Beiz Azaad decapitates Aeron Vidal, who screams in fear as his head gets chopped. The citizens of the Black Market District cower in fear, as Zhon translates to Beiz Azaad's troops, "Burn this wretched place to the ground! The denizen's souls will serve Koromon well." The hordes of Black Magick acolytes then sprint into the crowds of citizens, slaughtering the entire smuggler's retreat.

### Wild Gaull Chase:

In the darkness of The Void, the group sits in the cockpit wondering what their next stop is going to be. Because the Bulwark Angel was gassed-up with pristine Dejorran Star Fuel, Mckrisze exclaims that they'll only have to make one more stop at the commerce world of Zevrio, and then Varrados will be within their reach.

It then cuts to Beiz Azaad and Zhon, who talk via Void Projection to their leader Azrayal. Zhon tells the Erran lord that Aeron Vidal and The Den are no more, and that Callista got away with the help of some smugglers and a Paladin. He lets him know that the group has a tracking device on their ship, and that they've calculated their arrival on Zevrio in under one Artharian Rotation. When Zhon asks why the Princess is so important, Azrayal explains that not only is she important to their newest ally, Ottovar Shaeryse, but within her Anderen Shroud is the Eastern Salvation's most important artifact: The Eye of Koromon. With it, they will be able to summon their deity into physical-being from a dark plain of The Void known as the Field of Chains. Azrayal tells to his acolytes that he is expecting them to finish this "Wild Gaull Chase," and that their ally Ottovar is going to assist them in bringing the Princess home.

As the Void Projection fades, the novel transfers over to Mckrisze and Callista, who help Liwen refuel the Bulwark Angel in Zevrio's Malrive Skyport. Mckrisze attempts to make a move on Callista, but she quickly, yet kindly shuts him down; saying how she's not a big fan of guys. Feeling kind of stupid, Mckrisze offers to get the Princess an apologetic drink as friends, and asks Liwen to finish fueling up. As they go get a drink at the Malrive Alehouse, Remi and Ikabod go and attempt to make contact with the Paladin High Council at the Hanna Commune Comms Tower. Remi talks with High Paladin Horus Tirka and Lord Paladin Lenez Rhogar, and tells them about everything. Saddened to hear the death of Haggai Bark-Blade, Horus and Rhogar tell Remigio to bring Callista and the Eye of Koromon back to Varrados, so they may forge a plan to defeat the Eastern Salvation. Right as their call is about to finish, Liwen comes into the room and shows them Aeron Vidal's original tracking beacon. Realizing that Azrayal knows they're here, Remi exclaims they need to find Mckrisze and Callista, who are located on the complete other side of the Skyport in the Distribution District.