Guests of the Glacier #7: The Pestilence

             Born in a city eradicated by an unrelenting and devastating plague the Pestilence grew up under cruel and unfathomable circumstances, witness to the most extreme of human realities. Her family died while under quarantine and she watched as men in coats piled their bodies in the streets. Some tried to oppose the quarantine, but they were suppressed by gunfire and men in riot gear. It was chaos. Panic tore through the city and littered the streets with death by means of friendly fire and merciful self infliction. Meanwhile, the contagion spread like wildfire, leaving the stench of burned flesh in its wake.They burned the corpses, hoping it would it would stem the disease. There was no cure. The Pestilence alone survived the epidemic, but even she did not get by unaffected. She relived the nightmare every time she went to sleep. Many were surprised she was even able to cope at all after all she had been through.

Guests of the Glacier #6: The Poet

            Like the meanings of his poems the Poet’s background was layered and convoluted. Born out of darkness it always held a special place in his heart, eating away at his soul. Early on it protected him, but its aura was chaotic and uncontrollable. He knew if he didn’t restrain it that it would turn him into a monster. And so he suppressed it in the best way he knew how, channeling it through his poetry and letting it flow out onto paper instead of into the streets. There was no way of escaping it outright, but this way he was able to at least retain his humanity.

Guests of the Glacier #5: The Drifter

            An ever wandering spirit the Drifter grew up tormented and alone, unnoticed by the rest of the world no matter where he went. Yet he preferred it that way. His travels took him across the globe and back again. Never staying in one place too long didn’t allow people to get a beat on him. It was unclear just what he was after. He may not have even known himself. Nobody could make any definite assertions because of the shroud that surrounded him. He was a mystery quietly concealed beneath a hood.

           His arrival in the Frozen Abyss could not be any more rationalized than his arrival anywhere. He was a drifter. All that could be assumed was that he wouldn’t be staying for long… 

Guests of the Glacier #4: The Man

            Both a thug and a bully the Man grew up using people to get by. The ends always justified the means, and if they didn’t then he sold them out. It was really that simple. Everyone who was anyone chased after power and wealth and any other redundancies. To him there was no misdeed if it led to greed. And that was his motto. Whatever had to be done to get ahead would be. If he had to scour the entire globe to find a shiny quarter then he would scour it. And that is exactly how our story began.

Guests of the Glacier #3: The Librarian

         A bookworm since birth the Librarian grew up a collector of literature and a hoarder of tales. Whether be it fiction, nonfiction, fables, or myths it did not matter. Any and all stories were of value to the intellectual mind. And nothing passed the time better than the turning of a page. Turning the page in his own life though led him down a path of isolation similar to that of the traveling scholar. The only difference was that he was not a scholar. He just enjoyed reading and the art of storytelling. Sure, he read his fair share of historical texts and political documents, but only because he had run out of other things to read.

Guests of the Glacier #2: The Beacon

            Born with a compassionate heart the Beacon grew up trying to make the world a better place; a place free of judgment, persecution, and intolerance. That’s why it was especially odd when she joined the church. However, it was easy to see why they had a recruiting interest in her. She was influential, inspiring, and persuasive. Her voice carried weight and brought people together like few could. There was no person better at bringing hope back into the hearts of the hopeless than her. It was her gift and greatest pleasure in life. Being able to make a difference in people’s lives is why she joined the church in the first place.

Guests of the Glacier #1: The Innkeeper

            Having been born with a wild and untamable spirit the Innkeeper grew up a daring adventurer, never sitting still nor keeping quiet - unless there was mead involved. Then anything was on the table, including whatever parts of her you were willing to pay for. She wasn’t the gentle type, but she never disappointed either. That’s what those who acquired her services said (as a mercenary). She was the finest hired hand around. But her tongue was what she was most famous for. It had a way of exaggerating things. The whole world would have known her story had they known which version(s) to believe. Few were ever witness to the feats of her grandeur, thus it was impossible to tell truth from tall tale. Rumors of her exploits ranged from her being a simple sailor to the pirate captain that defeated the kraken and everything in between. It really depended on who you asked.

Guests of the Glacier (prologue)

          Although often depicted as a mere haven for lost souls, the town of Kaltbury was once something more; something greater than just a wasteland for the tormented and damned. Back when the rumors first spread of the riches to be found in the Frozen Abyss the town of Kaltbury was built with hopes of proving them true. Quickly it developed into a prosperous mining community, vastly exceeding even the grandest of expectations in a short amount of time. However, there was more than just minerals waiting to be unearthed in the icy climate of the north. There was a dark shadow looming over the tundra at all times. And although the city was more than just a mere haven for lost souls, that is not to say there weren’t a few lingering around…