Master Artix

By Ms. J. L. Snickers

• March 26, 2013




Age: 37

Gender: Male

Species: Unicorn

Appearance: Master Artix is a broad, powerfully built stallion with piercing gold eyes. His dull gray coat used to be dappled once, but with age he smoothed out and somehow became even better looking. He has a thick, swept back black mane, a small goatee, and a similar tail, which he keeps carefully maintained. Above all things, his trademark black cloak is always drawn about his withers, giving him the appearance of an even larger pony. While he’s certainly handsome, his golden eyes are often tinged with madness or crossed slightly, giving most people an unsettled feeling.

Cutie Mark: His cutie mark is a thundercloud with a lightning bolt, and it’s rarely seen because he always has his cloak on. It appeared on a stormy night when he was quite young, when he had tried to run away. Unlike most parents, his mother and father had let him wander in Las Pegasus, taking in the neon signs and stale scent of fried food; it was a miracle he didn’t get mugged or kidnapped. But when he finally came back after three hours of deep, careful thought, he stood in front of his father’s hotel, the Pink Pony, and realized he didn’t want to run away after all. He liked the hotel – his parents weren’t tethering him to his home, but the hotel itself was. A crash of lightning had nearly struck him, and the poor colt raced bleating into the hotel, convinced he had been burned to a crisp, only to discover that his cutie mark had appeared on his flank.

Personality: Even before the death of his wife, he was a withdrawn and solemn pony. Keeping mostly to himself, he’s very private and usually plays his cards close to his chest. Back in the day, he was a shrewd businessman and downright cruel when it came to business deals. He’s very concerned with appearances, and his handsome salary allows him to indulge in his whims, including regular hoofacures and mane styles. After the death of his wife, he became even more pensive, and it used to be difficult to draw him into a conversation. Now, when he talks, it’s often in riddles or cryptic quotes, randomly switching conversations to the needs of his cracked mind. Artix is also very determined, and will stop at nothing once he sets his mind to it.

Backstory: The manager and owner of three of the largest hotels in Las Pegasus (The Bellagio, the Gold Dragon, and The Pegasus Lounge), along with several gentlecolt’s clubs in the city. He used to be one of the most respected and well-known ponies in all of Equestria, although he preferred the wild Las Pegasus to the calm Canterlot. His wife, Buttercup, was the polar opposite of him – sweet, demure, and a down-home farm pony from Ponyville itself. They had been the Yin and Yang, and after her supposed murder, Master Artix went into a seething rage. After a few months, the rage simmered to a quieter insanity, a feuding determination which leaves very little room for conscience.