Artaxerxes' Court was a powerful node located in Persepolis, modern-day Iran. It was used to supply Quintessence to Horizon.
Overview[]
Dedicated by the Euthanatos in the 1450s CE, this node is the site of Persian King Artaxerxes III's assassination by imperial court eunuch Bagoas in 338 BCE. To the Euthanatos, it represents both the death of the Persian king and the collapse of his empire, which fell shortly thereafter to Alexander the Great. The bitter emotions of the ancient Persians and the symbolism of the fall of an empire power this node. [1]
In 1455, members of the Cabal of Pure Thought called the "Falcons of Gabriel" attacked Persepolis and three other key proto-Traditions nodes.[2] While the others were successfully defended, Artaxerxes' Court was demolished, and those inside (Sleepers and mages alike) were forcibly converted to Christianity and then executed.[3]
Version Differences[]
Horizon: Stronghold of Hope refers to Artaxerxes' Court as if it is still an active node, while the Sorcerers Crusade Rulebook and Lost Paths both reference its destruction. (The latter book also describes the site as a Batini, rather than Chakravanti) This may be a retcon or it may be that the node continued to function despite the Gabrielite interference; indeed, such a slaughter might well be better suited to Euthanatos use. However, as Horizon had been destroyed as of the Revised Edition, no clarification was ever given.