With a crashing of frigid air in the Northern Mountains and an ominous
swirling of flakes, the ice skulls which had recently plagued the Basin
of Life returned, sending the cities and communes scrambling after.
Greeted first by the warriors of Glomdoring, amidst them Talan Ysav'rai
and Viynain Erid'in, the skulls were routed, the survivors vanishing
into the peaks and valleys of the mountains. Not long after, however,
reports of ice skull sightings resumed, indicating they were furtively
searching for something as yet unrevealed in the stony passes.

While battles continued in the Northern Mountains with the elusive ice
skulls, many of which were evolving into fully formed ice devils,
another drama was unfolding in New Celest. A merian youth called Agitho
Merule had traveled from a mountain retreat to the City of Light.
Swathed in furs and weary from his long journey, Agitho encountered
Grandmistress Rayen of the Tahetso and Zynna Val'Andra. With a tale of
trouble from a place called Saint Gathlyn's, and a request for aid from
the Celestines, Agitho soon found himself the focus of much interest and
many questions.

But before he could answer the questions, Agitho fell ill from his long
journey. The boy was relocated to the Aquamancer's guildhall to rest.
Through the masterful healing talents of Azula Vivalde, a remedy was
discovered, and the citizens of Celest swiftly martialed to gather the
ingredients from near and far for the ailing lad.

With the remedy mixed, Agitho recovered and was ultimately able to lead
the gathered Celestians into the Northern Mountains, where he revealed
the stairs ascending into Saint Gathlyn's Orphanage for the
Dispossessed. Within, the residents swiftly asked for succor and
salvation from the wintry spirit known only as Frost Spite.

A brief sally of Magnagorans and Serenwilders passed through, only to
depart at the arrival of the Dawn Brigade, let by the Lady Malicia
La'Saet. With the threat to the Orphanage banished, Nydekion La'Saet and
Azula set about aiding the residents.

Through the chill of winter and the despair of the residents, the
Celestians worked tirelessly. At last, the wards of Saint Gathlyn's were
raised, and the orphans and their guardians gathered to perform a
ritual, driving back the spirit and the snow alike. But as the ritual
reached a crescendo, the figure of Frost Spite rose above the peak of
Mount Wend, speaking cryptically to the remaining ice skulls and ice
devils prowling the snowy wastes.

"We may yet be distant cousins, but I owe you nothing," said the Frost
Spite. "But complete the pact and I will do my part."

With these final, ominous words, the Frost Spite was sealed away, and
the Orphanage saved from the wracking winter. But how long will the
Frost Spite stay sealed? What type of creature is the Frost Spite, whose
powers are akin to those of the Great Spirits of Nature? What were the
ice devils seeking, and what was the pact the ancient spirit spoke of?
And what more lies beneath the snowbound wastes of Mount Wend?



Penned by My hand on the 18th of Kiani, in the year 295 CE.