Golems are exclusively found in the possession of the dwarven kingdoms, each slightly different depending on the kingdom who made it. However, artus was not like any of the golems he had ever seen. Artus resembled a knight in full plate armor but was not clumsy, unlike other golems, who often ran into things. Though it looked to seem that he was wearing the armor, it was actually carved onto him.
Under this armor was some type of stone which he was made up of, it had intricate markings that had a pale blue glow. Even the grandmaster dwarven smiths couldn't even come close to this kind of golem creation. Zavaiel was in awe at the construction as he followed artus, with Reynos back in his mind. "So you like?" Reynos asked. Zavaiel had learned that Reynos and him were tied together, even in thought. "Don't you already know the answer?" he responded.
"I think it's still polite to ask. Would you like to learn how to craft such a work?" Reynos said, his words almost taunting. Zavaiel rolled his eyes. "Uh yea. The craftmanship surpasses even the dwarves" zavaiel exclaimed. "Very well" Reynos responded. Zavaiel suddenly dropped to the floor on his hands and knees. Artus quickly turned and helped him up. "You ok?" he asked. "What did you do!?" zavaiel groaned
Reynos materialized beside him. "You wanted the knowledge, so I gave it to you. I never said how I was going to give it to you". "So you can just share knowledge on a whim now?" zavaiel said finally recovered. "I always could, you just never asked" Reynos responded, laughing. "You get used to it" artus said continuing down the hall. Zavaiel remained silent, his head was throbbing. After a few minutes artus and zavaiel arrived at a vast open chamber lined with what appeared to be crystals.
The walls were covered in designs similar to the ones carved into artus, except these glowed brilliant colors. Zavaiel was stunned at the sight, he had seen nothing even close to it before. "Welcome to the domain" artus said walking towards the center. The chamber went on for miles, entire cities could fit within. Below and above him were floors of what appeared to be thousands of golems. "What is this place?" zavaiel asked in awe.
"This is the fortress of the rith" artus said, motioning zavaiel to stand with him. "The what?" he asked confused. "The rith are my most powerful creations" said Reynos. "Made of stone, metal, and crystalized mana. They are numberless and have no equal in battle" Reynos said with a hint of regret. Before he could say anything the was a bright flash of light and they appeared in another room.
This room was quite smaller, about the size of a small field. There were two levels, the lower was filled with various types of rith. Some appeared to be the size of a normal man, some took the forms of various animals, all varying in sizes. On the main level were the rith knights and larger animals, all made of stone and metal. In the center of the main floor was a large metal device that glowed brilliantly. One could feel there was an incomprehensible amount of power within it.
"What is that?" zavaiel asked still in awe. "This is the domain. Follow artus" Reynos ordered. Without thinking zavaiel began to move towards artus. Artus began interfacing with the machine, which in itself stretched from the floor to the ceiling. "Alright everything is ready, you may enter when you're ready" artus said revealing an entrance. "What do you mean enter?" zavaiel said, hesitation in his voice.
"You are going to become part of the domain, then you will be able to properly use the gifts that have been given to you" Reynos explained. Zavaiel cautiously approached the door, inside was a large crystal which was the source of its immense power. Unknowingly zavaiel reached out and placed his hand on it. Instantly everything went black, after what seemed to be forever zavaiel heard a voice, it was Reynos. "Awaken".
Zavaiel awoke laying on the floor in front of the machine. His vision was filled with the image of a giant wolf above him. Startled zavaiel raised his hands, with this motion the ground erupted, and the wolf was sent flying. "What the?" zavaiel wondered. "What'd you do that for!?" artus bellowed walking towards him. "Artus? What happened!?" exclaimed zavaiel. "You became a part of the domain. With Reynos returned to the domain and you renewing it, you have given life back to the rith army" artus explained.
As his view expanded zavaiel was stunned. The once lifeless statues that filled the room before were now lively. Beasts of all kinds patrolled the room with the knights, mighty rith eagles and dragons flew overhead. The wolf that had been sent flying earlier returned and stopped right in front of zavaiel. "He wants you to pet him to apologize" artus says. The wolf stood over five feet tall with a body made of a smooth black metal. It had glowing blue sockets where its eyes were and razor-sharp teeth.
Zavaiel stood up, barely the size of the wolf, he began to pet the wolf. The wolf lowered its head as if his touch gave it comfort. After a few seconds the wolf lifted its head and returned to patrolling the floor with the rest. "Good job, normally they would rip you to shreds" artus joked. Zavaiel took on a serious tone, "artus what happened to me!? I could feel the wolf, like it was alive! The ground moved to my will!". "Have you paid attention to your hand?" artus said with a chuckle.
Looking at his hand zavaiel could see pulses of blue light, just like the walls and the wolf. "Wha-.... What is this?!". "Go see Reynos, he will explain" artus said motioning towards a portal.