Zimno, God Of Cold
"Zimno’s will is the frost that claims all, unyielding, impartial, and eternal. In his cold embrace, we find the purity of stillness and the strength to endure."Zimno, The God Of Cold, is found in the desolate silence of eternal frost, a being of unyielding order and merciless precision. Revered and feared as the embodiment of ice and isolation, Zimno’s presence is felt in the biting winds of winter and the stillness of frozen landscapes. He is a deity of Lawful Evil intent, seeking to impose his vision of perfect, unchanging order upon the chaotic warmth of existence. Zimno rules from The Frostbound Expanse, a realm of infinite glaciers, swirling blizzards, and crystalline spires, where even sound succumbs to the icy grip of silence. His followers, a mix of frostpriests, silent ascetics, and frost mages, endure harsh trials to prove their devotion, viewing the cold as both a purifier and a test of resilience. Zimno grants his loyalists the power to summon blizzards, manipulate frost, and wield enchanted artifacts as a testament to his icy supremacy. To Zimno, life and warmth are flaws, chaos to be frozen into perfection. His ultimate vision is a world stilled by ice, where time halts, and all imperfections are preserved under his relentless frost. Whether revered as a protector of endurance or reviled as a harbinger of deathly cold, Zimno’s influence is a chilling reminder of the power and inevitability of winter’s embrace.
Realm
Zimno resides in a realm known as The Frostbound Expanse, a plane of eternal ice and unyielding cold that embodies his dominion over frost and isolation. The Frostbound Expanse is an endless, desolate landscape of snowfields, jagged ice spires, and glaciers stretching to the horizon. The skies remain perpetually dark, with swirling snowstorms obscuring the stars and creating an eerie, oppressive atmosphere. Occasionally, ghostly auroras cast faint, otherworldly colors over the frozen wasteland, illuminating rivers of frozen water encased in thick ice and cliffs of crystalline frost that shimmer like mirrors. The air is so frigid that it freezes sound, leaving an unnatural, heavy silence. Warmth and life are all but extinguished, as the cold saps the strength and will of those who linger too long. At the heart of this frozen realm lies The Glacial Crown, a towering, mountainous structure formed from millennia-old ice. Within its frozen halls, Zimno rules from a throne carved from a colossal shard of unmelting ice, surrounded by ever-shifting frost sculptures. From this seat of power, he commands the relentless cold and silence that define his domain. The Frostbound Expanse is home to creatures of pure ice and cold, including frost elementals, icy specters, and massive crystalline beasts, all of which serve Zimno with unwavering loyalty. These beings enforce his will within the realm and occasionally venture into the mortal plane to spread his influence. Access to The Frostbound Expanse is limited, as it is largely isolated from other planes and dimensions. A few hidden portals connect it to the mortal world, often concealed within glaciers or ancient, snow-covered ruins. These portals are heavily guarded by powerful frost creatures or sealed with intricate rituals, ensuring that only the most determined or foolish dare to breach the realm of Zimno.Divine Domains
Major Domains:
Frost And Ice: Zimno governs all aspects of cold, from freezing winds and ice storms to glaciers and permafrost. He embodies the relentless, unyielding nature of frost. Winter’s Embrace: Oversees long, deadly winters that halt growth and spread desolation. Preservation: Reflects the stillness and purity of cold, freezing things in time to preserve their essence or halt decay.Minor Domains:
Isolation: Symbolizes the solitude and clarity found in frozen landscapes, emphasizing the strength derived from standing alone. Polar Endurance: Represents survival in harsh, frozen environments, emphasizing strength, resilience, and the ability to endure extreme hardship. Reflection: Ice as a metaphor for clarity, distortion, and truth, seen through frost-covered mirrors and frozen visions."The ice always remembers. The snow carries his whispers. Zimno is never far, even in the thaw."
Holy Books & Codes
"Zimno does not rage, nor does he falter. His is the patience of glaciers, creeping forward until all that was warm is buried beneath ice."
Tenets of Faith
Holidays
Divine Goals & Aspirations
Known Goals:
Spread Eternal Winter: Zimno seeks to expand the reach of his icy dominion, covering the mortal world in an unending winter where all chaos and life are frozen into stillness. Enforce Order Through Cold: His followers know him as a god who desires a perfect, immutable world, where the purity of frost ensures unchanging order and eliminates the flaws of warmth and life. Test The Worthy: Zimno believes only the strongest and most resilient deserve survival. He imposes harsh trials of endurance to separate the strong from the weak.Secret Goals:
Eliminate The Flame Of Creation: Unknown to most, Zimno harbors a deep vendetta against deities and forces tied to fire, life, and warmth, seeking their annihilation to remove the possibility of chaos and change. Freeze The Divine Balance: Zimno aims to usurp the natural balance of the planes, replacing the cycle of creation and destruction with eternal stillness, freezing not just the mortal realm but also the divine and cosmic order. Revive The Primordial Frost: Zimno works to awaken an ancient, primordial force of cold that predates creation itself, intending to use it as the ultimate weapon to impose his will on all existence."The silence of winter is his voice, and in that stillness, he waits for the moment to seize the world in his icy grip."
Physical Description
General Physical Condition
Appearance
Zimno's avatar may appear differently to different people depending on his mood and circumstances, however he is often depicted as a tall, gaunt figure with an aura of cold, unyielding power. His skin is pale, almost translucent, with a faint bluish tint, as if frost has seeped into his very essence. His angular face is devoid of expression, with high cheekbones and sharp features that evoke an otherworldly precision. His eyes are piercing glaciers, glowing faintly with an icy blue light that seems to freeze the very soul of those who meet his gaze. Long, silver-white hair cascades down his back like frozen threads, and his breath is visible, a mist of frost even in the warmest climates.
Zimno’s attire reflects his dominion over ice and cold. He wears a robe woven from frost and snowflakes, shimmering like ice crystals under moonlight, edged with jagged patterns that resemble the fractals of frost on glass. A crown of frozen shards sits atop his head, glimmering with the cold, harsh light of distant stars. His hands are slender but strong, tipped with claw-like fingers that freeze anything they touch. Around his neck, he wears a pendant of solid ice containing a swirling storm within, a fragment of his divine power.
Alternate Forms
The Frost Titan
In moments of wrath or overwhelming power, Zimno transforms into a massive humanoid figure of solid ice. Towering over mortals, his crystalline body refracts light, creating blinding flashes of blue and white. Shards of ice protrude from his back and limbs like jagged armor, and frost storms swirl around him, obscuring his form in a haze of snow and sleet. In this form, his movements are deliberate and heavy, like glaciers grinding across the land, embodying the sheer destructive force of winter. His voice becomes a deep, resonating rumble, echoing with the sound of cracking ice.
The Frostbear
In his animalistic form, Zimno takes the shape of a colossal Frostbear, an immense bear covered in a coat of icy blue and white fur that shimmers like frost under starlight. His body radiates an aura of intense cold, freezing the ground wherever he steps. His claws are as sharp as ice daggers, and his massive maw exhales clouds of icy mist capable of freezing foes solid. The Frostbear’s eyes are twin glaciers, glowing with a piercing light that chills the soul. This form embodies Zimno’s relentless strength and the raw, crushing force of a glacier advancing across the land. His roar is said to shake the heavens and summon blizzards that ravage entire regions.
The Glacial Specter
Zimno can also manifest as an ethereal, ghost-like figure of swirling frost and shadow. In this form, his features are indistinct, his body appearing as a shifting mist of cold air and icy particles. This spectral form allows him to glide silently across the ground or through walls, his presence marked only by a sudden drop in temperature and the formation of frost on nearby surfaces. He uses this form to infiltrate or haunt, embodying the stealth and inevitability of creeping frost.
Mental characteristics
Morality & Philosophy
"In the stillness of frost, Zimno speaks. His silence is a command, his cold a test. Only those who endure may call themselves worthy of his gaze."
Divine Symbols & Sigils
The divine symbols of Zimno reflects his ethos of cold perfection, unyielding strength, and the harsh beauty of frost. They are used by his followers in rituals, carvings, and personal totems to invoke his power and protection.
The Fractal Snowflake: Represents the intricate, cold precision of frost and the beauty found in frozen perfection. The snowflake's unique, symmetrical design reflects Zimno’s ideals of order and purity.
The Icicle Dagger: Symbolizes the sharp, piercing nature of cold and its ability to strike swiftly and lethally. It serves as a reminder of Zimno’s merciless justice and his role as an enforcer of harsh, unyielding order.
The Frozen Eye: A stylized, frost-encrusted eye signifies clarity, reflection, and the still, watchful presence of Zimno. It also evokes his ability to see through deception and impose a chilling, inescapable judgment.
The Glacial Crown: A circlet made of jagged ice shards represents Zimno’s dominion over cold and his status as the eternal ruler of The Frostbound Expanse. The crown embodies his authority and the icy purity of his rule.
Religious Artifacts:
The Crown Of Eternal Frost: A jagged circlet of unmelting ice that radiates an aura of intense cold. The wearer gains control over frost and snowstorms and the ability to freeze enemies with a touch. However, it slowly drains their vitality, replacing it with Zimno’s unyielding will.
Said to be forged by Zimno himself in The Frostbound Expanse, before any mortal civilization. This crown is worn by champions of Zimno during times of great conflict to extend his influence in the mortal plane.
The Heart Of Winter: A massive, glowing crystal of pure ice encasing a pulsating, frozen core. The artifact exudes an aura of freezing cold that extends for miles. It can summon blizzards, freeze entire cities, and drain warmth from the environment.
This is Zimno’s own creation, gifted to mortals during the Age Of Bitter Frost. It is worshipped as a relic of immense power and destruction, the Heart Of Winter is hidden deep within a temple in The Frostbound Expanse, protected by frost elementals and powerful enchantments.
The Frostbound Grimoire: A large magic tome bound in frost-treated leather, with pages of enchanted ice that never crack or melt. It contains forbidden frost magic, divine hymns, and rituals dedicated to Zimno. Those who read from the book gain immense magical power but risk losing their humanity to Zimno’s influence.
Written by Deljarik Iceview, grandson of Frostseer Alnarik Iceview, the author of The Frigid Testament. This text is revered as a sacred relic, it resides in the Frostblood Order’s holiest sanctuary, brought out only for the most critical rituals.
The Icicle Crown: A small, jagged crown resembling icicles. It grants the wearer enhanced resilience to cold and the ability to summon frost elementals. However, prolonged use begins to turn the wearer’s body into living ice.
Crafted by the Chillifiers as a tool for their frost mages. It is often passed between leaders of the Chillifiers, this artifact symbolizes their commitment to Zimno and their mastery of frost magic.
The Glacial Mantle: A flowing cloak woven from enchanted frost and snowflakes that shimmers under moonlight. The wearer becomes immune to extreme cold, can summon ice storms, and moves silently across icy terrain. The mantle binds the wearer’s soul to Zimno, ensuring loyalty and devotion.
Crafted by the Silent Blizzard as an offering to Zimno during their rise to power. This cloak is worn by the High Frostpriest during important ceremonies and battles as a symbol of divine authority.
The Shard Of Stillness: A crystalline spear made of pure ice that never melts, capable of freezing anything it pierces to the core. The Shard leaves behind trails of frost and ice with each strike, and its presence can still storms and calm waters.
Crafted by Frostmage Sinnapyr under divine guidance. It is used by frost mages and warriors of Zimno in battle as a symbol of his dominion over stillness and frost.
Worshipers Of Zimno
The Frostblood Order: The Frostblood Order is Zimno’s primary religious organization, consisting of devout followers who enforce his will and spread his doctrine. The order is structured hierarchically, with Frostpriests at its head and Frostblades, warriors who have sworn their loyalty to Zimno, acting as enforcers.
Members believe in the purification of the world through cold, embracing endurance and stillness as divine virtues. They frequently conduct rituals involving frostmarking (carving ice-like sigils into surfaces or their own bodies) and extreme endurance trials. The order is said to be based in The Frosthold, a grand citadel carved into a massive glacier of Bluice, said to be sanctified by Zimno himself.
The Silent Blizzard: A monastic cult devoted to the ideals of silence and isolation, believing that stillness brings one closer to Zimno’s divine presence. The Silent Blizzard is composed of ascetics who take lifelong vows of silence.
Members dedicate themselves to meditative practices in freezing conditions, aiming to reach spiritual clarity. They are known for their eerie, silent processions through snow covered towns, spreading Zimno’s teachings. Though less militant than the Frostblood Order, they are highly respected among Zimno’s followers for their devotion and perceived spiritual purity.
The Chillifiers: A secretive sect of frost mages and sorcerers who seek to expand Zimno’s influence by using their mastery of ice magic to shape the mortal world.
They see themselves as Zimno’s chosen agents, working to bring eternal winter. They conduct experiments with forbidden ice magic and create enchanted artifacts imbued with frost. Often infiltrate kingdoms and cities to sabotage warm climates and disrupt governance, paving the way for Zimno’s influence.
Opposition Of Zimno
The Sunguard: A militant organization dedicated to combating Zimno’s influence and preserving the warmth and life of the mortal world. They revere gods of fire and light and see Zimno as a grave threat to creation.
Sunguard warriors and pyromancers engage in battles with Zimno’s followers, often targeting Frostblood Order strongholds and thwarting ice magic rituals. Their main fortress, Lavalight Bastion, is an enormous citadel built atop a volcano, radiating constant heat to protect against frost attacks.
The Radiant Dawn: A religious group devoted to gods of the sun, life, and growth, the Radiant Dawn believes that Zimno’s eternal winter would extinguish all life.
Members dedicate themselves to rituals celebrating light and growth, including planting sacred groves and summoning solar magic to combat Zimno’s frost. They serve as both spiritual leaders and defenders, offering hope to those affected by Zimno’s influence. Their priests actively counter Zimno’s worship with sermons of warmth and renewal.
The Fireheart Covenant: A coalition of fire mages and elementalists who see Zimno as a threat to elemental balance.
They aim to disrupt Zimno’s reach by extinguishing Frostfall rituals, destroying icy artifacts, and combating frost creatures. The Covenant believes the balance of fire and frost is essential, and Zimno’s ambitions threaten the survival of the world.
"His cold is not merely physical, it seeps into the soul, freezing courage, hope, and love until all that remains is the stillness he demands."
Rumors
The Frozen Prison: It is whispered that Zimno’s eternal winter is not simply his nature but a punishment imposed by other gods who feared his power. Some believe The Frostbound Expanse is a prison designed to contain his ambition.
The Primordial Frost: Many claim Zimno was not born among the gods but is a fragment of a primordial force of cold that predates creation itself, giving him an ancient and terrifying authority.
The Silent Pact: It is rumored that Zimno secretly bargains with mortal leaders, offering them protection from his harsh winters in exchange for servitude, slowly spreading his influence into their realms.
The Glacial Slumber: Some say that Zimno himself is asleep deep within The Glacial Crown, his power seeping out as frost and cold, with his followers working tirelessly to awaken him fully.
The Frozen Heart: Legends tell of a mortal hero who once carried Zimno’s frozen heart, granting them immense power but slowly transforming them into an icy vessel for the god’s will.
The Whispering Winds: Travelers speak of hearing faint whispers carried on freezing winds, said to be Zimno's voice, offering power to those who dare to follow his will, or warning of impending death.
It's always interesting to read about a Lawful Evil deity. I don't think I would be a very good worshipper of his, I'm not great with the cold lmao. I love his different forms, and how in depth his worship is. Enduring trials in subzero temperatures sounds like my idea of hell!
Explore Etrea | WorldEmber 2025
Thank you. He was fun to create. I like it cold, but not this level of cold.