**DISCLAIMER**
I do not own Starcraft or any of its associated properties, characters or species.
I use them in an Alternate Universe capacity, with my own characters, interpretations of existing ones including but not limited to belief systems and familial ties, events speculated or written of by others (Including the original Antioch Chronicles and their fictions from the early 2000's which are almost impossible to find anymore) and am a lover of Multiverse Theory acknowledging storylines.
I am aware several of my main characters are 'Mary Sue' or 'Marty Stu' characters, within context though and given my ability to write all of their stories out, I hope that you, the reader, would understand why and be willing to set aside any grievance with such.
Several species mentioned here are mine however, are likely still in development (indefinitely because I'm a huge procrastinator) and will be only briefly touched on in official capacity within the confines of a story.
As much of my personal and continuously editing storylines are tied into existing universes (including some that are far more obscure than more recent ones) I will do my best to tag appropriately.
If you are interested, I have a Discord server for RP/Questions and will be very cautious about chatting as I've been burned many times. I also have several art pages I frequent, though my main character hub ( ) is privatized.
I may do requests, if enough interest is brought up and it's a character I resonate with, and am familiar with the universe, so don't be afraid to send me a PM!
Legend:
"..." = Normal Speech
**...** = Thought-Speech
~...~ = Invasive Overwhelming Thought-Speech
**END DISCLAIMER**
**Hierarch, the Hyperion and a Zerg Leviathan have just dropped out of Warp.** Karax announced, idly looking over the control console of the Spear of Adun before him. Artanis watched, gaze briefly falling on the singularity some distance away, the remnants of Ulnar visible as little more than a great shadow within its depths. So many emotions and memories, even slight anger mixed amongst the thrill of battling Amon in his own realm, that the image of his mentor Tassadar, had been used to lure him into leading Kerrigan -no, Sarah, she deserved as much to be called by her given name- to Ouros, a dying Xel'Naga that gifted his power to her.
Once that had happened, and Amon had been defeated, they were almost dismissed by Sarah, her light expanding outward and blinding everyone as they were pushed from the Void, through the portal they had entered through. When Ulnar went dormant, many balked at the unexpected sudden push away after the unity they had managed fighting together against a common goal. The Spear of Adun had been pivotal, as its reserve forces and self-regenerating solarite core gave them an offensive edge against the Void beings sent after them.
There had been many talks since the End war amongst the Daelaam about retiring the Ark Ship, as the need for such massive weapons of war were, as many hoped, over. However, many felt that the Hierarch would need a place from which to command, and to be able to go wherever he would be needed in moments. A smaller carrier, even a refurbished Scout craft had been offered as alternatives, however none had the same Warp Autonomy as the Ark ship.
Thus, Artanis remained with the Spear of Adun, Karax, with Talendar, Rohana and Vorazun coming and going as they pleased, acting as figureheads for the factions within the Daelaam. Selendis remained as the Praetor of the Golden Armada, though had difficulty changing from the mindset of War, the intense focus of the Templar Caste forever ingrained in her mind.
The caste system and former Conclave had been long since abolished, the need for such a council no longer necessary, however adopting similar has allowed for less infighting. Karax found himself leader of the Khalai, the inventors, builders and healers of the Protoss, though had gladly stepped back for a younger group to co-govern, offering instead council and suggestions when they could not agree or concede amongst themselves.
Troubles with the Tal'Darim defectors, however, were another matter entirely.
One such of their number; who seemed to be shunned by his peers for his openness to working with other races, hinted that there was something even his former Highlord did not know about the war itself. While having grown accustomed to living among those who still haunted the decks of the Ark ship, as so many had willingly changed to civilian lifestyles, the young Tal'Darim would have awkward encounters with some, and avoided others like a Zerg plague. This youngster, though admittedly not without a deal of uncharacteristic griping, had agreed to go and speak with Highlord Alarak in regards to this strange new wild Zerg threat. Kul, as he had preferred to be called, had been gone now a month, without word.
Artanis secretly hoped he would not return, yet remained curious about who this enigmatic Tal'Darim was, as not only had he not seemed to have any ship with which to travel, he had no ties to any among his fellows or the Daelaam. The other Tal'Darim claimed not to know him, that he remained very aloof even with them, finding ways to avoid any form of combat unless directly cornered or saved from such situations by conveniently appearing distractions upon the Spear. Kul often seemed to act almost like the Terrans they had allied with, emotion plainly visible and had reminded Artanis of himself a few times, when he had been young and inexperienced.
**Very good, Karax, hail them.** Artanis stood upon the command floor before the observer lens that would project his image to the Terran ship. The small activation lights lit up, and Karax nodded that the connection had been established, a holo-image of Valerian and Matthew appearing before him. **Greetings, Friend Valerian, Friend Matthew. It is good to see you both.** Artanis greeted, glad for the distraction from his governance duties.
"Hail Artanis, you are a sight for sore eyes, I will admit." Valerian smiled, nodding, to acknowledge the other Protoss leaders, as Rohana and Vorazun stepped into the forward bridge behind him. Artanis chuckled at this, nodding as well, though he could sense something amiss with the two Terrans. They appeared almost haunted, as though something else nagged incessantly at their thoughts, Rohana also noted this, stepping forward.
**Is Stettmann doing well?** She asked, Valerian smiling and Matthew remaining quiet and stoic as usual.
"Yes, he just informed us of something that we were vaguely aware of, being possibly far more important than we thought." Valerian explained, though the vagueness of his statement earned him a slight tilt to the heads of the Daelaam, all confused by how little was actually shared. Valerian held his urge to laugh expertly, looking to Matthew who tapped a few controls on the panel before him, bearing a slight smirk, sending the footage Egon had shown them earlier to the Spear, where Karax immediately brought it up in another viewing window. They watched the creature move much as they had seen some Hybrid or Zerg, Karax barely hiding his surprise at the facial shape of the creatures' armour.
**Karax? What do you see?** Artanis asked, interested in what Karax had been surprised by, as something about it, the seven assumed eyes and the shape of the decorative horns arrayed around the head nagged at the back of his mind. Something from memories Artanis himself had long suppressed, having been encouraged by the Judicators and Conclave that they were nothing more than a dream he had when young.
**Hierarch, are you familiar with the old gods, specifically one named Ashtareen?** Karax hazarded, Rohana raised a brow, looking at him as well.
**I am familiar with the Luminous One, though only one family lineage had followed her. They were said to have died out long ago, however.** Rohana explained, Valerian and Matthew temporarily forgotten, Egon returning to the bridge behind them and sheepishly stepping up to be just inside the frame of the image sent to the Spear. Vorazun raised a brow as well, crossing her arms.
**I've heard of this Ashtareen, however she is often invoked as a destructive force of Justice.** Vorazun offered, gaze falling on Karax. He seemed to writhe under the intense scrutiny of his peers, yet remained steadfast. He appeared almost excited to share his knowledge with them once he squashed the nervousness in his chest.
**Ashtareen is praised as a goddess of knowledge, light and rebirth, by the Khalai, as once encouraged by a Judicator named Xerxes, before his disappearance. Her appearance is very similar to the helm worn by this creature.** Karax explained, motioning to the recorded image. Egon could be seen furiously entering this information onto his tablet behind Matthew and Valerian, who shared a glance as Karax spoke.
Artanis seemed the only one unreadable, his mind running in circles as things he had long ago learned to ignore as only dreams and false memories from stasis, where he had been found by Judicator Aldaris over two centuries previous, began to nag at him.
Artanis had only been a youngster, barely able to move a small object with a bit of concentration. No family to speak of, he had been among the youngest Protoss alive at that time, as many had stopped having offspring for the furtherance of their people, instead focusing on training, technology and development, instead of procreation.
Rohana and Vorazun could tell, by his stiffness and calm outward appearance, that something bothered their Hierarch, yet neither spoke of it. Instead both acknowledging each other's notice of his demeanour, and wordlessly agreeing to watch him. Rohana though, became more invested in this conversation as it wore on, remembering a young Judicator from before she had gone into stasis with the Spear, sharing the same name.
**Judicator Xerxes? Surely you jest, Karax, he had been one of the supportive forces behind the creation and construction of the Ark Ships. Over a Millennia ago.** She added, Karax blinking almost comically.
**I would think not. He appeared aged, yes, though he could not have been more than several centuries. He was the predecessor to Sevorak of Scion…** Karax motioned a reverence and said a silent prayer.
Sevorak had been the instigator of a brief uprising against the controlling influence of the Conclave, where he and his closest supporters attacked a Shelak archive. When they refused to allow him entry, Sevorak unleashed his forces, killing ten thousand of Karax's Khalai tribesmates, before freeing and using two Xel'Nagan artifacts known as the Eyes of the Xel'Naga.
Sevorak had been stopped, many from Antioch prior to Executor Fenix's deployment there had perished in the battle. In relation to the present, it had been over two hundred years prior. In fact, Artanis had been found just after that incident, in Scion province.
**And this is relevant how? Let us focus on our mission, we can speak on the past and this… Creature, when the Overqueen is not involved.** Artanis quickly stopped Rohana from responding, his head beginning to throb from exertion. Never before had so much conflicting information been thrown at him at once, to be possibly involved in something so heinous and unity shattering as what Sevorak had done, or perhaps, had perpetuated per this Xerxes, who seemed to exist over several Millennia.
Likely another of Amon's shapeshifters, like Narud, who had been slain by Sarah before Amons return and again, within the Void proper.
"I agree, wasting time isn't going to help you find the feral Zerg." Valerian hazarded, motioning as though to say 'lead the way', as the Spear would precede them in entering Aiur's space. Karax acknowledged Artanis' cessation of the conversation, fully expecting continuation later, unnerved that Rohana claimed his idol, may have in fact been around far longer than he thought. He glanced to a portion of the console before him where a symbol for Ashtareen had been pressed into the metal, as though the maker of the Spear had left it there as a signature, while he directed the ship forward into Warp to return to Aiur, the Hyperion and Zagaras' Leviathan following.