Artifact

Backstory (**WIP**)

Three generations ago, when the last queen’s great-grandfather still ruled, a powerful earthquake unveiled a magnificent man-made cave, carved into the heart of a cliff, and within its center sat a peculiar object that would later be recognized as an artifact.
The artifact seemed unassuming at first glance, just a particularly smooth metallic stone. The surrounding it was found in were rather conspicuous, so everyone suspected it to be an object of great importance.

But much like the maze-like structure surrounding it, it proved resistant to any attempts to move or damage it. In the attempt to figure out is secrets, many interested parties, and their families moved to the surrounding area. It was supposed to be a short project of a few weeks, but in time, weeks turned to months and months to years. The people had begun to settle down, and a small town was born.

While the artifact remained a mystery, the quest for more durable tools strong enough to affect it led to a rapid growth in smithing techniques and discovery of more powerful alloys. With their unbelievable advancement in the forging industry, the town experienced a rapid increase in immigration, and grew to become a bustling city.

Many years passed, with any attempts to discover the secrets of the artifact having long since ceased. From time to time, a few curious people brave the maze to lay their eyes upon it, hoping against all reason that it would reveal its truth to them. Some other less curious people braved the maze out of boredom, and it was one of these people that first noticed the change in the artifact.
One day, a group of kids returned from the cave in excitement, eager to report that the artifact had started glowing! Skeptical, but nonetheless curious, two guards followed them back to the artifact.

After multiple hours, when people began noticing their absence and growing restless, a single figure emerged from the depths. It was one of the children, covered in blood and littered with numerous cuts, limping towards the people of the city. Upon reaching the exit they collapsed without a word, their face streaked with tears.

According to them, lifeless imitations of people crafted from solid light started appearing en masse once they neared the artifact, and the soldiers quickly found themselves outmatched. They stood their ground, ready to sacrifice their lives for the children. But the real horror had only begun. Upon their attempt to return, the way back was littered with traps and new walls made from the same solid light as the imitations were. One of them managed to brave the way back, but few would dare say that the survivor was fortunate.

And so, the entrance was declared of limits for civilians, henceforth watched over by a team of elite guards. Thankfully, none of the constructs ventured outside of the cave, with as good as none showing their faces anywhere close to the entrance.

The entrance remained under watch, but sometimes soldiers or adventurers enter the maze and brave the outer areas for training. The true danger began deep within its halls, and few where foolish enough to brave its depths again. To this day, the child from that one faithful day was the last person to lay their eyes on the artifact.

 

What kind of artifact does the faction possess?

• The actual artifact is found within a maze, but anything inside of its territory (the maze) is considered part of the artifact
• Produces artificial constructs imitating anyone or anything that has passed through its halls in the last 100 years (clones random units from the Anti-Magic Faction and any Player Parties that have entered the maze in prior runs)
• Produces light constructs in the form of traps

What are they doing with the artifact?

• They keep it tightly guarded
• Use it for training occasionally, and sometimes let adventurers try their luck inside the maze

When and how did the artifact get to the faction?

• It remained undiscovered inside the heart of a cliff ever since the ancient civilization left it there
• The entrance was covered in a cave in far later, and very likely unrelated to ancient civilization
• It was uncovered after a powerful earthquake

When did the faction discover the artifact?

• More than a hundred years ago, during the time of the last queens great-grandfather

How much does the Faction know about the artifact?

• They only know what they can observe with their eyes
• They have not figured out exactly what the conditions are for people to be replicated as constructs
• No one has ever come close enough to turn it off, if such a thing is even possible