Apotheon Artifacts

The Apotheon Artifacts are a series of nine objects infused with the power of the Apotheon Shards - fragments of an object of cosmic origin that fell to Noxerra many ages ago. The Apotheon Artifacts originated with the first Shard that was discovered by the Mage-Emperor and the Knights of Nine during the Sol Rebellion. The Shard was used to defeat and overthrow the High Queen of Sol, which led to the establishment of the Sol Empire. Later, the Shards were used by the Betrayed to craft unique, powerful artifacts capable of massive power and destruction.

## **Origins and Fade Into Legend**

In his increasing madness and desire for immortality, the Mage-Emperor set about searching for the other nine Shards, but they were claimed by the Knights, now calling themselves "the Betrayed," who used them to overthrow the Emperor himself. Prior to his defeat, the Mage-Emperor placed a blood curse on the Knights that limited the Shards from being used at their full power unless used in tandem with a small, gem-like object called a Blood-Rune - binding the power of the Artifacts directly with the life source of it's original wielder.

Destabilized by his defeat, the Empire was fractured during the War of the Nine Knights - when the Shards were used by the Betrayed to create the Artifacts. The use of the Artifacts against one another's provinces during the War led to Noxerra to experience the Collapse - an event that led to the continent becoming the post-apocalyptic, supernatural wasteland it is now, the divine powers of the Artifacts clashing against one another twisting and corrupting Noxerra's magic and environment beyond natural repair.

For centuries it was unknown what became of the Artifacts after the War's end, nor what all the Artifacts were. Many treasure hunters and historians have devoted their lives to finding them, but they are now considered a mystery and legend lost to time.

## **Rediscovery**

The artifacts have slowly begun to resurface in recent years - with the party pursuing them across the wasteland, or encountering them by happenstance - forced to prevent their godlike powers being used for nefarious ends. They are also known to be of great interest to the Illuvari (among other factions) who seem to actively have agents across the wasteland searching for signs of their existence.

### **The Forge**

Most recently, **the Forge**, an Apotheon Artifact belonging to Osmand Stoneward, was discovered in the Eastern Wasteland by a research team sent by the Illuvari Conglomerate and used by the Forgeborn, until it was destroyed by the party during the Battle of Mordenheim.

### **The Tempest Armillary**

Another was discovered still functioning on the island of Krakengärd, the **Tempest Armillary**, built by Sartorius, the Knight of Storms, until it too was destroyed by the party to prevent the Drowned from Summoning the Sunken God.

### **The Black Maiden**

Curiously, the Orrukov Regime came into possession of an Imperial Oculus - a device created by the Mage-Emperor himself in his original search for the Shards, capable of detecting the magical energy signatures given off by Apotheon objects and pinpointing them in a general area on a map.

According to Worstvold the Black's research with the Oculus, the Artifact known as the **"Black Maiden****"** supposedly that of Zyara, the Knight of Pain - lied in the underdark below Durkheim. Tsar Ulrich commissioned an expedition led by Jurza Setrov that also included the party to descend into the depths in pursuit of the Maiden. The team located it in the city of Byzaria - but it was transported to Razahd-Nul by the Queensguard, who had laid a trap for the expedition - after Zyara herself was unwittingly released by Adrio Keist, an agent of the Illuvari who perished at the Knight of Pain's hand.

### **Other Remaining Artifacts**

According to the Oculus - there are three other Apotheon energy signatures across Noxerra, most of them relatively weak. One in western Yarmouth, one in the Dawn Imperium, and one in Golgotha.