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| “ | We found the place I saw in my dream - that hill on the shores of Baikal where Miller took me. A clean place, just like he said. Everything around is clean... We found ourselves a home. A home at the foor of a hill, overlooking a lake. A home where we could raise our children, who will be born not in the damp and dark tunnels, but under blue sky and bright sun... I would say we all go home... but this home seems too large for just us. You know, the Colonel once told me, he created the Order to save people - all of them. I say it's time we perform this duty. | „ |
| ~ Artyom, Metro Exodus (Good Ending) |
Artyom Alekseyevich Chyornyj (Russian: Артём Алексеевич Чёрный; born 11/1/2009) is the main protagonist of the Metro franchise. He serves as the main protagonist of Metro 2033 and Metro 2035; and also the main protagonist of the video games; Metro 2033, Metro: Last Light, and Metro Exodus. He does not appear in Metro 2034, which features a different man with the same first name; Artyom Popov.
He was voiced by Daniil Eldarov. In the non-canon English dub, he was voiced by Oleg Mirochnikov (first game) and Chris Parson (remaster and sequels).
Personality[]
In the novels, Artyom is depicted as a bookish, thoughtful, and well-meaning character, whose over-contemplation of things tends to keep him philosophical. However, his inexperience often leaves him helpless, for which he often feels guilty. Most of this is justified by his almost-hermetic life in VDNKh, since his knowledge about the rest of the metro is rather rudimentary.
Artyom likely has musophobia, because when he sees a rat, he panics and experiences nausea. He also became terrified when he saw a hallucination of Hunter as a rat. The cause of his musophobia is probably rooted in what happened to his mother and station as a child; his mother was eaten alive by rats shortly after the war, and his first metro home was later infested by rats.
In the video games, Artyom is depicted as a silent, blank slate for the player. Most of the game is narrated by Artyom with voice-overs during the loading screens, thus he only talks during loading screens (similar to Joseph Allen from Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2). Outside of the narrations, Artyom is nearly always silent, and in many ways, mysterious.
Appearance[]
Artyom's physical appearance is never fully described. The only known traits are that he is 175 centimetres tall (roughly 5ft 7), along with having a slightly darker skin tone than other people his age, as well as having visibly Russian features.
During most third-person cutscenes in Metro 2033, Artyom's face is obscured one way or another, such as when Artyom is being woken up to meet Hunter at the beginning, where he is sleeping with his arm conveniently concealing his face. However, in Sukhoi's office in Exhibition, there is a picture under a whiskey bottle that looks similar to the parts of Artyom's face shown in the game.
In an instance where Artyom enters Black Station, Artyom is seen in third-person, wearing an outfit similar to Bourbon's, albeit with his face still concealed. He appears to have black hair, suggesting that the photo in Sukhoi's office does show Artyom. Near the end of the game, a view can be gotten of Artyom through a helmet. All this confirms is that Artyom is Slavic, and has blue or light-green eyes. The view of his face is quickly obscured as you see the reflection of the missiles detonating.
It is revealed in Metro 2035 that Artyom received a tattoo from the Rangers, showing his membership. The tattoo has the phrase "If not us, then who?" (Russian: "Если не мы, то кто?", pronounced: "Yesli nye my, to kto?"), which is the Rangers' motto. Before the war, this phrase was often associated with the Spetsnaz of the Russian Federation.
Quotes[]
| “ | I'm all alone now. | „ |
| ~ Young Artyom to a Dark One |
| “ | I was filled with doubt. We had already scorched the Earth once. Now, the fire was in my hands, and I had to carry it through. | „ |
| ~ Artyom |
| “ | My mother told me I'd grow up to be a good man. 'Artyom', she said. 'My light'. And I believed her. When I spared a life, I believed her. And then when I kill, believed her. It was a lie. These things I have done. My hands are blackened with blood. My soul is damned to purgatory. If I could have my time again, I would, and then maybe I could become a good man. | „ |
| ~ Artyom, Metro Exodus |
Loading Screens in 2033[]
- Intro: "I was born in Moscow. But I remember nothing of that time. I was just an infant when the old world was destroyed in the flames of nuclear fire. I, along with forty-thousand others, was saved by retreating to the metro stations, deep under the city. Now, twenty years had passed, and going up into the embrace of an endless winter was left to a few brave souls. The metro was our home, and our fortress against the nightmarish mutants who roamed the tunnels. Still, we never gave up hope that we would return to the surface. But, one day, a new threat appeared, and we found ourselves in a war to determine the very existence of our species."
- Prologue: "The tunnel grew colder - Miller and I were close to the surface now. Soon, we'd climb up into the howling wind, to find our way through whatever nightmares were waiting there. My long journey was nearly at the end. But would I have the courage, the will. to see it through?"
- Hunter: "Life was never easy in the tunnels, but it was our home. There was comfort in its routines, in seeing the same people day after day. But, since the mutant attacks had escalated, fear ruled the station. I had just turned twenty, and could never have imagined what would follow on the morning that my stepfather's friend, Hunter, arrived at the barricade.
- Exhibition "Hunter did not return. It wouldn't be easy to find an excuse to leave the station and travel to Polis, but I had given my word. I learned that the Caravan was heading to Riga the next day, and needed guards. I signed on for the ride."
- Chase: "It was the first time I had left the safety of my home station. It troubled me that I hadn't told my stepfather the truth; I would not be heading straight back from Riga... but Hunter was depending on me."
- Riga: "Riga Station was only the first stop on my journey, but the caravan went no further. So, before parting ways, we drank to celebrate our survival. The vodka didn't drown my fear of travelling on to Polis alone. But I was about to find myself with an unexpected and notorious partner."
- Lost Tunnel: "As I entered the abandoned tunnel with Bourbon, I wondered if I'd been wrong to trust him. But the station gates were still sealed, and there was no telling when I would have another chance to leave Riga."
- Bridge: "Our bloody skirmish with the bandits was over. I had expected mutants and monsters... but how many more of my 'fellow humans' would try to kill me before I reached Polis?"
- Lost Catacombs: "Market station was just a little further, but Bourbon warned me that our path went through the 'lost catacombs'..."
- Market: "I'd never seen a market like this - you could buy almost anything. But, Bourbon owed money to the Hanza sentries, and was anxious to leave."
- Dead City 1: "When we emerged into the ruins of Moscow, I felt both fear and sorrow. But, after a life underground, I also saw strange beauty in the dark skies and frozen landscape. "So, that's the dead city..." grunted Bourbon. "Welcome home, Artyom.""
- Dry: "As we went underground, it struck me that my city was now a foreign and hostile place. I felt safe here, in the darkness of the metro - more so, when Bourbon claimed to have friends at Dry Station."
- Ghosts: "Khan's appearance caught me by surprise. Although, while fighting the bandits, I did sense someone helping from the shadows. Khan assured me that Bourbon's fate was not tied to my own. But I regretted his death."
- Anomaly: "Khan was an unusual man... but I suppose he was also a man of his time, moving between the dark and light, searching for answers buried in the rubble."
- Cursed: "Khan led me into Cursed Station. The name was no accident - its people were locked in an endless war for survival."
- Armory: "Armory Station was where most of the weapons in the metro were made. There had been an arms factory located above, and after the nukes fell, many of the workers settled here. I was looking for Andrew the Smith, but he found me first."
- Front Line: "Even the apocalypse didn't stop us from killing one another over ideology. I was about to go through the front line between the Nazis and the Communists. I've heard they once fought another war, and that the Nazis lost."
- Trolley Combat: "When I came to my senses, I lost all hope. Nazi prisoners were used for slave labor... or target practice."
- Depot: "After our firefight with the Nazi trolleys, it seemed we would have an easy road ahead. Once again, I was wrong."
- Defense: "After Pavel's death, I was on my own. Somehow, I had to reach Black Station. Ulman would meet me there and take me to Polis."
- Child: "I worried that my home, Exhibition, would share the fate of Hole Station. But within that nightmare, I met a young survivor, who was very brave, and very talkative."
- Outpost: "I went up again, to the gloomy charm of post-apocalyptic Moscow. I was warned in Hole Station about a new squad of Nazi rangers on the surface. But, I meant to fulfil the last wish of the dead commander, and send his message to Polis."
- Black Station: "It was clear that Black Station was occupied by fascists, but Ulman had said he'd wait for me there. I had to risk it."
- Polis: "It's hard to describe my feelings at that moment. Exhausted, yes, but joyful - I had made it. Once I delivered Hunter's message, the rescue of my home station could be decided by those stronger and wiser than I. And my task would be over."
- Alley: "The Council's decision shocked me, but Miller's plan gave me hope. Once more, I climbed up to the bones of Moscow, to search for the secret of D6 and a way to awaken the horde of missiles."
- Library: "Upon entering the Great Library, I was in awe. It seemed like a fairy tale castle, and as in the old stories, its treasures were guarded by monsters."
- Depository: "I was alone again... and soon I would look into the eyes of fear - literally."
- Archives: "The underground depsitory was a frightening place, and I had no idea where, or what, to search. But I refused to think that all my efforts would come to nothing."
- Driving to Sparta: "I had found the D6 documents, but Miller had not yet returned. Without his help, I wasn't certain I could get out of the Library alive... but everything depended on it."
- Dark Star: "Dark Tunnels, wheel rattle, and the smell of death. That's how our journey to D6 began. But, our goal seemed closer, now."
- Dungeon: "The chaos of the tunnel was locked away behind the airlock gates. They seemed invulnerable... and, at that moment, so did my comrades."
- Caves: "It was one loss after another. And for every one who died helping me save my home station, I felt a needle in my heart."
- D6: "We were close to D6 now. It was hard to believe that we'd found the legendary Command Center. But, was it worth so many lives? Soon, we would know the answer..."
- Biomass: "Going down to the heart of the ancient citadel, I felt a chill in my soul. What man had the right to name himself the master of D6, and the devastating weapons it controlled?"
- Separation: "By fire and sword we'll take back our world...' Miller believed this, and was ready to die for it. But I was filled with doubt. We had already scorched the Earth once. Now, the fire was in my hands, and I had to carry it through."
- Tower: "Miller and I left the train, then climbed up the tunnel to the Korolev Performance Hall. We were close to Ostankino Tower, now. In the frozen streets, we joined the other Rangers in the furious battle that began my story."
- Top: "The elevator delivered us to the top of the tower. For decades, news was broadcast from this place. But whether today's news would be good or bad, depended entirely on us. Once we installed the guidance system, our mission would be over. But plans were made to go wrong."
- Enlightened Ending" "H. G. Wells once wrote, "If we don't end wars, wars will end us". And somehow, I stopped my war. At the time, I couldn't say what had made me spare the Dark Ones. But, I came to realise that the strange visions that haunted my journey were their attempts to reach out to us. I don't know if I was the first to communicate with them, but I will not be the last. And the future - our future - stretches before us like an endless Metro tunnel."
- Ranger Ending: "A wise man once said, "He who leads a war for the love of his fellow man, will defeat his enemies". I led my war protecting my family and friends, protecting my home - the Metro. We had won. But, to this day, I wonder: when we burned the Dark Ones from the face of the earth, was something lost as well...?"
Loading Screens in Last Light[]
- Intro: "When asked how it all started, I always tell that it all began that day when we went to Botanical Gardens. 'We' meaning yours truly and two of my friends. Whose idea was it to visit the abandoned station? Who persuaded the others to go? I always tell them that I don’t remember. I always lie. It is a safe lie, for there’s no way to ascertain the truth. Both Vitali and Eugene are dead now. The massive airlock doors shrugged, and opened with a grinding sound, opening a road to Hell for us, and a road into the Metro for the demons. But, in fact, it all started that day when Mother said we should take a walk in the Botanical Gardens, and go there by the metro. I remember how we took a short escalator to the surface, how we exited a spacious glass pavilion and saw a street buried in green. I remember the small clouds moving across the limitless sky, and soft, cool wind on my face. Mother bought me an ice cream. That was the last time I tasted it. That day, humanity was executed. The righteous and the sinful were called to be rendered according to their deeds. And we hid from God’s sight in the metro, and we were saved from His wrath, and He apparently decided that flushing us out wasn’t worth the trouble. Then, He went about his business or, perhaps, died. While we stayed on this used up and discarded Earth and continued just going with it... Going nowhere. I remember so many random, unnecessary things. Yet, I don’t remember the most important one: my mother’s face. She died very soon after the war started. All that remains of her is that day in the gardens. How I wish I could recall her face. The way she looked at me. The way she whispered that I have nothing to fear. I’d sell my soul just to recall that. I’d do that any day, any time. And I did."
- Ashes: "Just a year ago, I stood on top of the TV tower and saw missiles rain on the Botanical Gardens, turning flesh into ashes, smelting metal and glass. Nobody and nothing could survive that inferno. Yet Khan did find a Dark One there. Now, my mission is to find and eliminate it. To finish what I started."
- Pavel: "The creature I met in the burnt-out remains of the Gardens looks like a Dark One... and it was able to enter my mind, dragging the innermost out of me... But it was also just a baby, and I am sure that... it recognised me. And got scared. It also left me knocked out for sometime... Just enough for me to get captured."
- Reich: "My escape from the Nazi prison could be entitled "The Enemy of My Enemy is My Friend". This friend's name is Pavel. He led a Red recon team wiped out by the Nazis. I never liked communists much, but Pavel acted like a real hero."
- Separation: "We pulled off the impossible... Now, I have to inform the Order that the Dark One is missing. Which means to acknowledge that I've failed my mission, but now, when he's down in the metro, I won't be able to find him alone. I have to get to Polis, the Order's HQ. Pavel will show me the way."
- Facility: "Pavel's almost certainly going to hang. Who knows what would have happened to me, had he not released me? Red, blue, yellow - what difference does it make? He risked his life for me. You don't get that much in the metro. I can't just walk away from him."
- Torchlight: "I dragged Pavel out of the noose, and he says he's going to take me as close to Polis as possible. Then, I'll contact the Order and report on everything that has happened. The path to the legendary Theater lies through the catacombs. I've never been here before, and without my new friend, I'd probably be completely lost. I hope he knows the way."
- Echoes: "We're almost at the Theater now. The metro entrance should be pretty close. But, however small the distance is, we'll have to cover it on the surface. And there, every step you take could well be your last."
- Bolshoi: "Our short visit to Dead Moscow, the phantom of the past, is over. Pavel and I helped each other out again and are returning down to the metro as real partners now. You can't survive the wastelands any other way. But now ahead of us lies a populated station, the Theater. It's very close to Polis. If Pavel manages to lead me through the Red Line guard posts, I'll be home in less than an hour."
- Korbut: "That was so stupid of me. I bought that talk of friendship, the stupid musketeer saying... Just you wait. I will get even. I wonder, though, why did Pavel go through the trouble of trapping me?"
- Revolution: "Now I am in REAL spider-infested catacombs... where the General secretary Moskvin does not look like the head spider, that title clearly belongs to General Korbut... I sure would like to know what's on his mind. Why did Lesnitsky bring him from D6? What's going to destroy the enemies of the Revolution? Only questions, and no answers. The only thing that is clear - Pavel has information on the Dark One, which makes him my current target."
- Regina: "I was able to send a report back to the Order via my old acquaintance: Andrew the Blacksmith. At least Miller will know I'm alive - that I haven't completed my mission, but I haven't resigned from it either."
- Bandits: "Pavel's group is advancing towards Tretyakovskaya, also known as Venice. They have a few hours' lead on me, and are moving via frequently used tunnels... but I will catch up. I can't afford not to."
- Dark Water: "The snow on the surface starts melting... The familiar railcars are now joined with boats... and fishermen. One of them appeared just in the nick of time. Soon, we'll be docked in Venice. Pavel is most probably already there."
- Venice: "The subterranean Venice... An island on the dark waters of underground rivers. You always hear rough stories circulating about this place. I hear it is all one huge den of thieves. But there is something I know for sure: Pavel reached Venice, and if I'm not late, he's still here. Finding the Dark One is still my main mission, but now I see I must also uncover Korbut's plans so that I can warn the order about them."
- Sundown: "If I'm lucky, our people will be waiting for me at the outpost in the abandoned church. I will tell them everything I know - about Pavel, about a test of some kind they're going to conduct - and will continue on my way to Oktyabrskaya. The Dark One is there."
- Nightfall: "I made quite a lot of noise pushing through the marshes. If there really are our people in the Church, I will soon meet them."
- Undercity: "For some reason, I was genuinely glad to see Anna, my pain-in-the-ass partner... She finally stopped those wicked jokes of hers. Looks like she's ashamed of having left her partner at the battlefield."
- Contagion: "All the roads lead to Oktyabrskaya. The Dark One is there. Anna is there now, too. In the hands of my enemies. The hands of the traitor, Lesnitsky."
- Quarantine: "The pieces of the puzzle are falling together into a horrifying picture. The Reds have infected Oktyabrskaya with a deadly virus. Then, their mop-up squads eliminated everyone. Anna and I could be infected, too..."
- Khan: "In some other time and place, what happened could be life changing. But, there is no time but present and no place but the metro for us, and we must do everything we can to save it. I have to hurry and catch up with the Dark One. Anna has to tell her father of what Korbut and Moskvin are doing. Anything else is a luxury we can't afford right now."
- The Chase: "I never believed him, and that is no surprise, but Khan's words were true. This strange river took me to the past, the moment I sent out the signal and destroyed all the Dark Ones. And then it dropped me off at the place where I can find the last survivor of that race - a helpless and harmless child... Khan called him the Last angel."
- The Crossing: "Of course I could not kill him. And while I am alive and my heart is beating, I will protect him. Khan says we'll be able to use him to stop the war... Yes, he can make miracles happen... But I don't want to use him. His war was over when I targeted the missiles at his home, his family."
- Bridge: "Whatever my intentions concerning him might be, the little Dark One just does not seem to care. He keeps following me as if I never was going after him, as if we were tied together by fate..."
- Depot: "We are coming to Polis. Together. Come what may. The Little One did not want to leave. Something is holding him... I don't yet get what. Nevertheless, I'm glad it is, because he is helpful."
- The Dead City: "He who sows the wind, shall reap the storm. A peace conference is being held at Polis. Laughable, the war has already started. All trying to stop it could just as well try and stop a tornado with their bare hands. I have to reach Polis to denounce the liars... and face the storm."
- Red Square: "I know only one way into Polis from here - through the Red Square. The Order keeps an outpost in the Saint Basil's Cathedral. I'll get in touch with our men and tell them all I know. And my goal would be just a step away from there. It will all be over soon."
- The Garden: "We have to make it to Polis in time for the peace conference. There isn't going to be any peace... Just war. The last war! Now, I know the answers to all the question. Pavel's head proved to be a real treasury of Korbut's sinister plans."
- Polis: "He is not alone... He's not the last! I understand his excitement and his wish to immediately meet the others. To free them and wake them up... but... he has agreed to wait a bit longer. First, he's going to try and help us. If we make it to the conference, the Dark One will be able to open up the thoughts of Moskvin - or Korbut himself! Perhaps... make them stop this madness! This is our last chance."
- D6: "He is gone. He did what he could... And now he has gone to meet his kin. I can't judge him for that. the remainders of humanity are finishing each other off in their final fight - it is not his war. I hope he was able to forgive us... me... for what we did to his brothers and sisters. His mother and father."
Trivia[]
General[]
- According to Mel'nik, Artyom is the best scout in the Order.
- It is shown in Gospel According to Artyom that he sustained several facial scars on his journey through the metro.
- Artyom's blood type is A- in the book timeline, but it is AB+ in the game timeline, fortunately making him a universal recipient in the games, as he needed frequent blood transfusions to combat radiation sickness.
- In the game timeline, the Redemption ending of Last Light is canon. In the book timeline, an altered version of the Redemption ending is canon (as confirmed by Metro 2035), where Artyom and Anna are married, whilst Mel'nik is alive but crippled.
- In the Swedish translation of the book, the spelling of his name is "Artiom". Moreover, an alternative spelling of his name is "Artem", which is a transliteration of "Артём". However, the correct way to pronounce the name is equivalent to "Artyom", because the letter "ё" is pronounced like "yoh" (with a silent h).
- In Metro 2035, Artyom's official full name is given as Артём Алексеевич Чёрный (Artyom Alekseyevich Chyornyj). His patronym "Alekseyevich" was given after his foster father Aleksei since his biological father's name is unknown. The surname "Chyornyj" was chosen by Artyom himself to always remind him of what he did at the end of Metro 2033, as Чёрный means "Black" in Russian (since the Dark Ones are known as the Blacks in the Russian language versions of the books and games).
- According to TV Tropes, "Artyom is the Russian masculine form of the Greek name Artemisios, relating to the Greek goddess of the hunt. She obviously had to have excellent aim, as Artyom himself is said to have by Hunter... but two of the possible Greek cognate words for "Artemis" can also be read as 'safe' or 'butcher'. [...] Another source of this name is Greek artemos (of perfect health) which pretty well fits the fact that Artyom is a good and sensitive man and thus capable of being directly contacted by the Dark Ones."
Games[]
- In the bad ending of Last Light, Artyom dies in March of 2034. In the bad ending of Exodus, Artyom dies on 22/12/2035.
- In Metro 2033, he states he'd just turned 20, despite being 24. In Metro Exodus, his birth year was retconned to match the books.
- In Last Light, Artyom states that he dislikes communists, saying that he only liked Pavel Morozov because he acted like a real hero.
- In the Metro 2033 level "Depot", when Artyom is knocked out of Pavel Zorin's railcar and it is about the fall on him, Artyom says "Fuck..."
- Hunter knows of Artyom's marksmanship and tactical skills (in which he mentions Artyom's "dead eye shot" abilities), which is probably why he trusted him with the mission of getting to Mel'nik.
- Artyom knows how to play the guitar, as a guitar can be found in both of his rooms at Exhibition and D6. In Exodus, he has at least three chances to play a guitar; twice on Aurora's passenger car, and once with The Admiral.
- As seen in the beginning of Last Light, Artyom had quickly earned the respect of his fellow Rangers, but there are still people (most notably Anna) who are still unimpressed by his actions. One of Artyom's motivations to kill the little Dark One was to finally prove to everyone that he deserves to be a Ranger.
- In Last Light, survivors of the conflict at Frontline can be overheard having witnessed everyone from both sides having mysteriously died (obviously referencing the player's actions in the first game), as well as stating that they heard of someone being smuggled in there with a railcar, though they claim this is the work of "The Dark Railtracer".
- When drinking at the Venice tavern, a woman at the bar becomes more beautiful with each drink Artyom has - from an older woman to a beautiful young girl. If Artyom downs three shots of the Bullet drink, he blacks out as he throws his mug at the bartender, later waking up laying on a bedroll next to the woman, who has now reverted to her true older form and has a content expression. This is the first of two times in the game that Artyom has sex.
- In Venice, when sneaking behind Pavel, Artyom is interrupted when he is offered a dance by an oblivious stripper, almost getting Artyom caught before he forcefully covers her mouth and pushes her into an empty cubicle. Artyom unhands her when Pavel leaves, and the stripper still offers him a dance, in exchange for 3 MGRs per dance. This stripper looks just like Snezhana (or Nikki) from Metro 2033 Redux, who can rob Artyom after he meets Bourbon.
- In the Venice stripper's room, there is a hookah that Artyom can use. Smoking from it will affect the screen with a blur and psychedelic colours, while Artyom coughs and chuckles. If Artyom does this three times, he will pass out and wake up down by the river, with the pipe gone. This is the second time in the games that Artyom is seen to consume drugs other than alcohol or medkits, with the first time being a hookah hidden in the left most box area in Metro 2033's Dry level. though he is mentioned in the Metro 2033 book to smoke pot in his teens to deal with his trauma.
Licensing[]
This article contains content derived from the "Artyom" article on the Metro Wiki, licensed under CC-BY-SA.
External Links[]
- Artyom Alekseyevich Chyornyj on the Inconsistently Admirable Wiki
- Artyom Alekseyevich Chyornyj (2033's non-canon good ending only) on the Ultimate Good Wiki
- Artyom Alekseyevich Chyornyj (non-canon path) on the Near Pure Good Wiki
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