Artemis was abandoned in a city as a hatchling, and lived off the streets until a little human girl took him in. She lived with her grandfather, who was a great artificer. He worked as their pet and assistant, and he absorbed every textbook the artificer owned.

As the daughter got older, she ran for a government position, but a political opponent accused her of witchcraft, and corrupt officials executed her. Her grandfather went mad, and kicked Artemis back into the streets, as he reminded him too much of his granddaughter, and his failure to protect her. The artificer passed from grief shortly after.

Tibek meanwhile hatched under the servitude of a pair of blue dragons. He learned alchemy during his stay there. Perhaps the male overextended on an excursion and was slain. The female then lashed out at Tibek when he made a mistake crafting her a potion, due to his poor eyesight, grievously wounding him, taking an arm and a tail.

Artemis and Tibek both met up in the city and lived together in a basement for a time. Artemis used his artificer skills to build Tibek that prosthetic rig. Also gave him some glasses! Some time after, they received a rumor that a few chromatic dragons arrived in a neighboring town by ship. Artemis was eager to meet dragons, having never seen one in person before. Tibek couldn't convince him to not go with them.

Turns out the dragons were pirates, searching for servants, and that famous artificer. They took in Artemis instead when they learned that the artificer passed away, and that Artemis was his student. Their captain, a fierce red called Blackhorn was looking to upgrade his galleon.

Artemis spent grueling months with other slaves building a steam engine for the galleon. The dragons were cunning enough to interpret his blueprints but lacked the expertise to create.

The dragon pirate crew lacked cohesion, however, and one day, while docked at land, a fight broke out. Artemis escaped and scattered from the other slaves, taking advantage of the chaos.