The Winter Artifact

[The Beggar]

The Winter Artifact

By: Evalyn Ravenwood, Adventuress

These accounts are factual. This artifact has been studied and examined by myself, and I claim all hypotheses and theories as my own.

Chapter 1 - The Approach

The object was placed in a mountainous region of the island, approached by an overland route leaving the main gate of the city and heading out through the lower grasslands and up the hills, into the more rocky and waterfall laden region. From there we headed west up, traversing a long and ancient staircase chiseled into the reddish stone cliff face. Half way up an ancient façade was discovered again chiseled into the Cliffside, apparently decorating the mouth of a pre-existing cave that we were told leads to a feral pack of stargazer Halflings known as the Flayers. The design and wear of the stone indicate it was not a recent build, and not placed, or formed stone as in formed mud brick or daubed additions to the cliff face as would be appropriate for the reports of the Flayers. Rather this likely predates the tribe, or, the tribe may have enlarged or moved to envelope this site. It is unlikely they, in their current state, chiseled such a fine reflief.

From the location and the architecture I surmise that this site was once a shrine, or place where an oracle had lived. Certainly a lot of work went into both improving the primary site and the access to it. The relief stairs into the cliff side would have taken many years to complete.

Continuing travel up the staircases the mist became more evident as we rose. Warnings should be known, that primal beasts roam the area and a capable retinue of guards should be taken on any journey this far outside the Ziggurat. Through a short cave at the top of the pass you enter into a high valley covered in snow and ice. Bitter cold, elemental protection was needed to not succumb to the frigid temperatures. Of note however was an ancient statue, androgenous in form, holding aloft a large globe and overlooking the steep descent and across the island to another peak. A plaque reading something to the effect of “Behold the majesty of our Creation” was still visible under the crusting of ice and hoar frost.

Through a cave is found another high valley, sheltered from the mountain winds and with evidence of past crop production. Numerous farm buildings dot the area, with well preserved fencing around the gardens which would indicate as well that these people had livestock. The climate here is now frigid, the buildings and ground frozen and covered in hardpack snow and ice crust. A number of bodies in the area were found frozen solid, usually in the act of attempting to start a fire. From facial expressions it appears that the drop in temperature surprised them, and caught many unawares. This hypothesis is supported by the high degree of preservation of the wooden structures and planted crops, the full stalks and produce still preserved in ice. A flash freeze overnight is likely and would produce effects such as this.

A small cave located to the west of the village center as you enter it is encased in ice, another man found struggling to light a fire, his frustration and fear held for any to see because of the nature of his demise. Be forewarned that through this cave our group faced an enormous earth elemental. Immune to the cold it likely had taken refuge in the quiet and dark caverns, and was more than a formidable opponent. After it however, a door is approached. Large, heavy, metal, with a raised metal face in decoration on the door. The lock is extremely complex, and despite my training it took the use of a very fine compliment of picks as well as gloves to aid in the steadying of my hands to reach the last tumbler and open the lock. Past this door was the artifact in question, and to which I will now devote the remainder of this text.

[The Beggar]

Chapter 2 - The Artifact and it’s Surrounding

In the center of a small circular cave stands the Winter Artefact (see detailed sketch below). Standing approximately 3 feet in height, and approximately twice that in length, the artifact itself is represented by a glowing blue spindle held firm by two foot like stone pedestals which both encase each spindles end. Across the spindle itself continually dance blue waves of energy, and the object radiates cold. Likely to touch this object would be tantamount to freezing a limb at the least. Within the artifact, from time to time, one may see faces of a ghostly or spectral quality floating in the waves of blue energy, though no sound is heard from the object. On our expedition the face of a young girl was seen. Her face was fearful, with a pleading quality to her eyes and behaviors.

Surrounding the object proper are three large ornate and glowing blue arrows equidistant from one another (forming the corners of an equal triangle), all pointing directly into the center of the artifact. Over one of the arrows lies a frozen, well maintained corpse of a human male.

In the small room, around the edges are found intriguing and telling items. A small table with a frozen decanter of unknown alchemical liquid (blue in color), notes, and an ancient log book which is only partially legible. A stack of book lies off to the right side of the table, dealing with magical themes, nature of the elements, and other writings. Of note is recorded (paraphrased) below, from the most recent journal entry on the table:

To harness the elements themselves, seemingly simple task, yet meticulous experimentation was required. I scarcely believe any but I have the intellect for the task.

Initial changes unsuccessful, negative energy required to change the season. Thorntu was happy to provide his life for summer, although I doubt I will find anyone else willing.

It is a shame to have to depart when work is yet unfinished, yet I fear the Empire has greater need of me than this valley.

Extending clockwise around the room is next found the skeleton of a human, lying next to a frost covered sun dial. Further clockwise is a pile of human appearing skulls encased in a pillar of ice. Around the room are six ice pillars, equally spaced, appearing to be more structural than anything.

Certain party members released a ray of negative energy at the device, the room chilling slightly. No other intervention was attempted with the artifact at that time.

[The Beggar]

Chapter 3 – A hypothetical analysis of facts

A timeline for the artifact as derived from what I have observed is listed below, revised as new details are found:

Artifact Origination (Ancient Netherese) --->
Settlement of High Valley by Netherese, possibly artifact handlers --->
Fall of Netherese Empire --->
Degradation of Artifact --->
Attempt at control of Artifact to maintain seasonal change by wizard --->
Attainment of Summer by wizard --->
Wizard leaves, artifact degradation leading to catastrophic freeze

The wizard studying the artifact in his analysis is unaware of the exact functioning or control of the artifact, therefore it can be theorized that he was not alive in during the creation or original settlement of the region. Perhaps a netherese wizard in the decline of the Empire. He did seem to have an interest in the citizens of the valley, so it is likely that his motivations were racially driven. I believe him at this moment to have been Netherese, in the declining era of the Empire. He obviously had help and backing of the villagers, and lived in a time when life was still possible in the village.

From preservation of bodies, crops, and structures in the High Winter Valley I hypothesize that it was an abrupt, acute change in temperature brought on by the Winter Artifact, and that this change was not escapable.  This likely occurred after the wizard had left the area, since in his last entry he discussed giving “one summer” to the area in a present, expectant tense.

Also, in the room there are a number of skulls clean of flesh and encased in ice, as well as a clean skeleton. These are in stark contrast to the other frozen and well maintained human corpse in the room. Since the frozen bodies had not decayed, what then was the time of death of the boney remains. I would offer that their time of demise was at the latest during the last summer that the High Valley experienced, since the heat would have allowed the flesh to decompose. This also gives rise to the question of why there are so many boney remains in the small cave. It has no grave markers. I hypothesize that the settlers of the region in an attempt to maintain fair weather for the area sacrificed themselves or others in some manner to “fuel” the artifact. It is known that pure negative energy drops the temperature in the room. Perhaps the positive energy within a human body, or soul, can fuel it to lessen the temperature.

On the functioning of the artifact are numerous interesting observations as well. One could say it radiates cold, but one could on the other side of that statement say that this artifact absorbs heat, causing cold. I offer this due to the placement of the artifact, as it is in a high, mountainous region of the island that would be prone to colder temperatures in the first place over the valley where the Ziggurat and the primary Netherese colony was located. Why place a cold producing artifact in an already cold place. One answer could be to study the elemental effect of cold, but that too does not agree with the data found. The records indicate that the small village had been prosperous for some time, why live in an area that would be perpetually cold.

If infact my hypothesis is correct, this artifact represents an Ancient Netherese attempt at climate control by removing cold energy from the peaks and the region, thereby increasing planting and growing seasons to allow for expansion and growth beyond what the island could normally provide. If this is true, there should be other climate stabilizing artifact located at strategic areas around the island, as one would not be enough to supply the low valley with a temperate buffer. This argument is somewhat supported by the current climate of the low valley where the main Netherese colony is located—as it is perpetually temperate.

The spectral vision of the face of a girl in the energy of the object is concerning as well. Possibilities include sacrifice of the positive energy in the bodies of those people to the artifact to allow for continued climate control in the waning days of the Empire, when the artifact was less understood or cared for.  If correct, it would account for the presence of the skulls and skeletons in the ice in the room, as these people would have died during a temperate time in the High Valley.

Until studied more, however, only these conclusions can be drawn. Further expeditions will need to be mounted.

[The Beggar]

Addendum: Sketches made at site