Kargan’s Ward of Aegis flared to life but was just as quickly snapped out of existence by a powerful icy blast. Eldrin’s arrows flew, but a fierce gust of wind arose, sending them far astray. Bohemond charged forward with his shield, wrapped in a blue veil of Kargan’s Sacrificial Amor, but a wrapping of air and ice descended upon him, shattering the magic armor and blasting the Knight backward with ice encased on his armor.
Justin activated his Dandy’s Swagger, hoping to at least bolster the team’s morale, as he approached the mysterious figure. The mage was wrapped in some sort of frost armor and swirling wind, making it impossible to determine who it was. Attacking directly was probably suicide, but cornered as they were, Justin didn’t know what else to do. He had to attack somehow, and for now, the mage seemed to be focused on the others. Maybe he could get a hit in and knock them off balance.
Before Justin could set this tenuous plan into action, a dulcet melody drifted through the cave. Justin turned to see Lila playing the golden harp, a violet aura emanating from the instrument. The fight stopped as everyone looked at it in fascination, including the mage. Justin felt a sense of calm and peace that went beyond words.
But it was their attacker that seemed to be the most affected, its shield dissipating as it sank into the snow beneath.
Immediately, the wind and snow died down. No longer shielded, Justin could see the attacker was tall and vaguely humanoid, with thick, almost translucent skin that shimmered faintly like ice under sunshine. Blue veins stretched down its arms, while it wore a flowing white robe and a mantle of thick white fur. Its eyes were strangely large and glowing blue, with long black hair that contrasted with its icy blue skin.
It seemed to resist the strange lullaby, but in the end, it lost the battle. The mage dropped its staff, fashioned from the bone of some beast, before falling asleep in the snow.
Justin had so many questions. What was this thing? Why had it attacked? And more importantly, what was that song Lila had played? But he was afraid to ask and wake it up.
It was Lila who broke the silence. “Surprised that actually worked.”
“Will talking wake them up?” Kargan asked.
Lila shook her head. “It’s the Lullaby of Nyriss. It’ll put any hostile creature, person, or monster that hears it into a deep slumber until attacked or the spell wears off. It’s based on Charisma, so I guess mine won out.”
“That’s crazy powerful,” Justin said.
“It can be done once a day,” Lila said. “I’m sure there’s a chance it can fail.”
“And how long will they remain asleep?” Kargan asked.
“I don’t know. The description from the Vault didn't say.”
They gathered their things and were out of the cave in less than thirty seconds. Eldrin paused by the attacker, seeming to weigh their chances against it.
“So, what was that thing, anyway?” Justin asked.
“A Qilungik,” Eldrin said. “A high level one, too, by the looks of it.”
“Yeah,” Kargan said. “That ice magic was crazy.”
“Not just ice magic,” Eldrin corrected. “Air magic, too. I wouldn’t be shocked if he is a Cryomancer.”
So, this one was a male. Justin hadn't been sure at first.
“Is Cryomancer an Advanced Class?” Justin asked.
“It’s a Focus available to Elementalists,” Eldrin said. “Which means it’s at least level 10 but no more than 20. And from the spells he showed off, I’m guessing he's somewhere in the middle.”
“Question,” Lila said. “Why are we standing here talking about it?”
“Good point,” Bohemond said.
Bohemond raised his sword, ready to finish off the sleeping Qilungik when Justin’s eyes caught something small and out of place near the mage’s wrist. Just visible beneath the edge of his icy-blue sleeve was a simple, woven bracelet—colorful and clearly handmade, the kind a child might craft.
“Wait,” Justin said, his voice sharp enough to stop Bohemond mid-swing.
Bohemond glared at him. “What now?”
Justin crouched beside the mage and pointed to his wrist. “Look at this."
The bracelet was frayed at the edges, its once-bright colors faded by time. Of course, Justin couldn't tell if there was an enchantment just by looking at it. However, the clumsy knots and mismatched beads had clearly been strung together with care.
“That doesn’t look like something a dangerous mage wears,” Justin said softly. “This guy…he might have a family. A kid.”
“So?” Bohemond barked, his sword still poised. “What’s that got to do with anything? He attacked us.”
Justin met Bohemond’s eyes. “Maybe he had no choice. Maybe he was desperate. Maybe there’s more going on here than we know.”
Eldrin, who had been watching in silence, finally spoke. “It’s not unusual for even the most hardened warriors to have a family. They fight for them, just like we do.”
Lila glanced at the bracelet, her expression softening.
Bohemond lowered his sword slightly, a flicker of uncertainty in his eyes. “We’re just supposed to let him go? Risk him coming after us?”
“I don’t know,” Justin admitted, “but what if he’s not the enemy we think he is? Killing him might bring more consequences than we’re ready for. This isn't just a mindless enemy. He’s a person.”
Eldrin nodded slowly. “And if he’s got a family, there may be others who come looking for him if he doesn’t return.”
Bohemond growled, frustration evident on his face, but he finally sheathed his sword. “Fine. But don’t say I didn’t warn you.”
“We need to go,” Eldrin said.
Without another word, the group moved on, leaving the sleeping mage behind. But the image of that bracelet stayed with Justin, nagging at the edges of his mind. The truth was, he didn't know if he'd made the right call. But if there was any chance this attack was a misunderstanding, he didn't want to be the one who killed. Besides, he was reasonably sure the guy couldn’t catch up to them with the benefit of Eldrin’s Pathfinder’s Pace.
Killing was a simple choice to make in a video game. After all, hostiles existed to be killed and looted.
This narrative has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road. If you see it on Amazon, please report it.
But this place was more than a game. Every death had consequences. This guy had a name and a history, a family. Was all that worth a few pieces of gear? Besides, the last thing Justin wanted was a bunch of angry Qilungit on their tail, especially if they were as powerful as this guy.
Given all that, Justin was glad Kargan hadn't managed to send off his new Knives of Fury spell. Then again, the Cryomancer might have had a spell to counter it.
He didn't like fighting mages. They were too dangerous and unpredictable.
“Let’s get one thing out of the way,” Justin said as they ran up the trail to gain some distance. “Is it Qilungit or Qilungik?”
“The first is singular, the second is plural,” Eldrin explained.
“That’s why everyone just calls them the Ice Folk,” Lila chimed in. “Loads easier.”
“Just don’t say that around them,” Eldrin added, in between breaths. “It’s always better to call a people by the name they choose for themselves."
“Maybe that’s why this one attacked,” Justin said with a smirk. “He heard Lila call them Ice Folk in the Everwood and just now made his move.”
Lila stuck her tongue out at him.
As they gained a lot of distance, Justin put the matter behind him. In an hour, or perhaps two, the guy would wake up and realize that his life had been spared, and he hadn’t been robbed. If Justin’s hunch was right, then the mage would probably be grateful and realize they weren't a threat. If not, well, they just missed out on a few pieces of gear.
After half an hour, they slowed to a brisk walk. The wind howled constantly, cutting through their layers of clothing, while the snow and ice crunched with each step.
Over the next three days, there was no sign of the Cryomancer. The landscape unfolded before them—a bleak, mostly flat expanse, occasionally broken by low, rolling hills. The Frostplain stretched endlessly.
They passed a few lone travelers, bundled heavily and always armed, as well as smaller groups. But most intriguing were the caravans, of which there were at least one or two a day. They were trains of heavily laden covered wagons drawn by massive, tusked beasts resembling musk oxen. Their thick, woolly fur rippled in the wind, and their heavy, curving tusks jutted out at least four or five feet. Despite their size, these creatures were calm, plodding through the harsh elements effortlessly, their broad hooves easily finding purchase on the icy ground. They pulled as many as a dozen wagons and were always accompanied by a couple of dozen guards, a mix of armored soldiers in heavy furs, mages, and crossbowmen. Occasionally, a heavily furred caravan master would give them a wary nod, sizing up their weapons and armor before moving on.
The first time they passed one of these processions, Justin turned around to look. “What are those things?”
“Frosthorns,” Eldrin answered. “You won’t find a hardier beast for these northern climes.”
Justin believed it. “And what are they carrying to be protected so heavily?”
Eldrin glanced back at the long line of carts. “Kaldrath is isolated, but it’s rich in natural resources. The caravans carry many things—furs from the Qilungit hunters, rare crystals, alchemical and enchanting components, whale oil, amber. And it’s one of the few places etherore can be mined in Serenthel. The Everwood may be far from here, but Kaldrath is where its bounty is sold, too. Those woods contain many rare herbs and medicinal plants that are useful for potion making.”
Justin had been mostly lost in a haze during their time in the Everwood, but he remembered the Ranger gathering a few ingredients from the forest as they’d traveled.
Eldrin continued. “Kaldrath is a hub for Enchanters, too. There is such a rich supply of rare components that many set up shop here, despite the harsh winters. I’m told Kaldrath is quite pleasant in the summer, though. It’s a beautiful city of stone, with towers carved from the cliffs themselves. But it’s famous for one thing especially: Ghostcliff Bridge.”
“Ghostcliff Bridge?” Justin asked.
Eldrin nodded. “Kaldrath is a city of two halves. One half is land-bound, perched on and within the northern cliffs, while the other half sits on an island rising from the Ghostly Sea itself, connected by Ghostcliff Bridge. That’s where the heart of the town lies.”
“Sounds like a lot of work to make something like that,” Justin said.
“True,” Eldrin agreed, “but the investment was worth it for the city. The northern cliffs are too treacherous for a proper harbor, while the island’s natural layout is the perfect haven for ships. It’s what allowed Kaldrath to thrive and control all the trade in these parts.”
Justin watched another caravan trundle past. “So, Kaldrath’s some kind of trade hub of the north, I take it?”
Eldrin nodded. “It’s the hub for this entire northern region of Serenthel. Humans, Orcs, Qilungit—they all come to Kaldrath to barter. The Qilungit bring their rare wares and hunt for goods to trade, while the Orcs provide strength and security for the caravans and operate the mines. Normally, they’d ship most of this out through the port, but with the Ghostly Sea freezing, the caravans are the only way to get goods south in the winter. Those frosthorns are built for this kind of travel. Without them, Kaldrath would be cut off completely as the weather turns foul.”
“And they go through Thalgar’s Tunnel?” Justin asked.
“They will be now,” Bohemond said, adding his own knowledge. “The clearing of Thalgar’s Tunnel has been a project long in the making and should bring great wealth to both Windfall and Kaldrath. Unfortunately, that kind of wealth attracts bandits, which is why you see these caravans so guarded.”
Justin wondered if that was the reason they were attacked. Did that Qilungik mage assume they were bandits? Certainly, that cave in the lee of the two hills would have been a prime ambush location.
Bohemond continued. “In the times of my grandfather, when the tunnel trade was in full swing, it’s said one of every five caravans was lost to either bandits or goblin ambushes. Many skirt around the Seraphims, braving Draegor’s Pass in the east, or the Kurath Pass in the west if they’re going to the ports of Daeloria. Of course, that adds weeks to the journey, and just makes the goods that much more expensive in the south.”
Justin took another glance at the caravan, impressed by the size of the operation. “Sounds like the city has got a lot riding on its frosthorns.”
“Absolutely,” Eldrin said. “Without the caravans, Kaldrath wouldn’t exist. They’re a lifeline. But despite the city’s great wealth, most of it is channeled to a few families.”
“What country controls Kaldrath?” Justin asked.
Eldrin smiled. “That’s the thing. They are independent. It’s far too difficult for any one country to control a place so unpredictable, especially with the weather. And the Qilungit have a tribal structure. They welcome the gold and the trade, but they value their independence more. If anyone tried to conquer them, they’d just retreat into the ice and tundra further north, and many people would lose access to the rare commodities they rely on.”
“I see,” Justin said. “Maybe we can join one of these caravans for protection.”
“Perhaps,” Eldrin said, his tone slightly impressed, as if Justin had correctly guessed his purpose for coming here. “Seeing so many caravans is a good sign. A lot of goods will probably go south this winter, especially with the opening of the tunnel.”
“And travel by ship is impossible at this time of year, I assume,” Lila said.
“The Ghostly Sea is probably already freezing over close to the shoreline,” Eldrin said. “The waters are incredibly treacherous even in warmer seasons. You’d have to find a brave or foolhardy captain to attempt the journey now. I wouldn’t be surprised if the Iceward Barrier is already up.”
“What’s that?” Justin asked.
“It’s a system of chains and towers built right into the mouth of Ghostwater Bay, designed to keep icebergs from drifting in. It gives them a few extra weeks to trade by sea, but if it’s already up, there’s no chance we can get out on a merchant vessel.”
There were just a few weeks too late then, but maybe that was a good thing. Justin didn’t like the idea of sailing in waters filled with icebergs, and possibly even sea monsters.
They continued their journey. The relentless whiteness of the Frostplain really took its toll. Each day felt like an extension of the one before, with no end in sight. Kargan’s Ward of Aegis shielded them from the worst of the wind, but even he couldn’t keep it up for long without draining his Life Force. More often than not, they had to endure the icy blasts and biting cold and could only count of brief reprieves to warm up every half hour.
By the fourth day, the air grew even colder, and the wind carried a sharper edge. Despite their best efforts to press on, fatigue set in, and the vast, unchanging landscape offered little hope.
But by evening of the fifth day, as the sun had set and the wind had calmed, they finally crested a low, rounded hill. Under the brightness of stars and multicolored aurorae, they could at last see where the land ended and the Ghostly Sea began.
Eldrin slowed his pace, scanning the horizon. “There."
Justin squinted, trying to make out the shapes in the dimming light. It was hard to see at first, but as they moved closer, the outline of a city took shape. Dark stone buildings rose from the cliffs, perched above the half-frozen expanse of the Ghostly Sea. Icebergs drifted sluggishly in the far distant horizon, a rare moment of clarity allowing for the visibility. The Frostmarch Path stretched out before them, leading straight to the city’s black stone gates. From here, Justin could see a wall protecting the outer edges of the city, with a few scattered watchtowers peeking out from between the buildings. From this vantage, at least, Justin couldn’t see the aforementioned island or bridge just beyond the walls.
“Kaldrath,” Eldrin said. “We’ve made it.”
They headed down the path, and within five minutes, had entered the city’s sheltering embrace.