Artamas is a collective organism, a colony of roughly 500 snails merged in a psychic gestalt. Owned by Gerald E. Mander, they were also summoned by the snailstone when he was. They seem to have some awareness of the snailstone and the Shrine of the Snail from whence it originates.

Interested parties may read more about Artamas at Of Kith and Kin.

Image retrieved from https://www.worthpoint.com/worthopedia/snail-moves-france-escargot-antique-238384570 on August 19, 2020.