Sylus with hair as dark as a raven's feather and as soft as silk took the path of the blade early in life. Seeing the affinity he had for swords, Bremmen, his father, apprenticed him to one master after another. By the time he was in his middle teenage years he knew more about combat than any other person his age. Though he was taught to use all forms of weapon, he came to prefer the scimitar. However, not wanting him to be ignorant, his mother put him in the care of a local wizard to make sure that he knew not all battles could be fought with steele alone. It was evident he had a natural instinct and adeptness for spells as well. Taking on the belief that the future could take what you have away from you, Sylus lives his life from day to day, treasuring every waking moment. Like those that came before him, he too had an animality, the beast lurking within this knightly hearted man is the wolf.
Then there is the younger brother, Artemus. This blonde haired, gray eyed cynic was born two years to the day and time after Sylus. Unlike his brother who took the path of the blade, Artemus went the way of the mage. Though he was taught to use a sword, Art's true passion was manipulating the aether. It was evident in his childhood that he would be a spell caster, and not a sword slinger. He had a gift for sensing when disaster was approaching. Seeing his gift for magic and his attuned nature with the animals and the land, his mother apprenticed him to a druid of Mielikki, the goddess of the forest. He studied dilligently under the strict teachings of the druid. Using his own beast, the leopard, a creature of the forest, Artemus soon became quite proficient at tracking and following animals. He even tracked an elf by pure accident, a ranger no less. Sensing he was ready, his master annointed him in one of Mielikki's holiest groves. From then on he devoted his life to the goddess of the wood, he even met the goddess, though he knows not why she chose to show herself to him. Over the years, he became cold and calculating, despite the efforts of his family and teacher to keep him pure.
Though their minds were polar opposites, Sylus and Artemus were closer than they let on. Planning their own fates, the pair chose to go their separate ways for a time. Leaving their aging parents, the boys left for separate parts of the world. Sylus headed for the city of Kelvar to make a name for himself, and a name he made. His sword skill soon brought him into the attentions of the royal family. Doing their bidding, he did what his lord had not courage to do....he killed all who opposed Lord Anglemar.
Meanwhile Artemus traveled the world, learning its secrets and many of them he wished he had not. Through his many adventures Artemus' power grew as did the number of spells he had at his disposal. On one of his travels he came across an interesting felpur. His senses told him that this being was different from it's kin. It had an unusual jewel embedded into it's chest. For no reason at all the creature attacked Artemus. Tears in his eyes, the younger Kurgen slew the felpur and took the jewel from it's chest. Something told him it would be important in the future. How right he was.