Everwinter

Everwinter lies hidden deep within the mysterious Feywild, an eternal winter realm where magic and frost weave together in a beautiful, but often perilous, landscape. A twilight sky casts a soft, bluish glow over ancient pine forests, frozen lakes, and jagged mountain ranges dusted with snow. The air is filled with the faint sound of chimes, as if the wind itself whispers secrets from the land. Everwinter feels timeless, a place where the past and future meet, blending into an otherworldly present that never truly changes.

Inhabitants

The people of Everwinter are as diverse as they are enigmatic. Chief among them are the Snow Elves, pale-skinned with hair as white as frost, whose affinity for cold magic makes them both powerful and reclusive. These elves have an innate ability to blend into their surroundings, moving through snow and ice almost as shadows, their presence often only known by the sound of crunching snow or the shimmering trail of icy footprints. They inhabit ancient, ice-carved halls in the mountains, bound by a code of hospitality and secrecy.

Alongside the Snow Elves, Frost Fae flutter about the land. These tiny, blue-skinned faeries are mischievous and playful, often seen around the enchanted springs and crystal groves. However, their pranks can range from lighthearted to dangerous. Frost Fae are rumored to be able to freeze intruders in place, or cast spells that cause travelers to lose their way. They are often accompanied by Snow Fox Spirits, ethereal creatures resembling foxes with gleaming fur that seems to capture the light of the northern lights.

The realm is also home to Winter Wisps, ghostly entities that float across the landscape in swirling clouds of mist. They are drawn to warmth, feeding off of life energy, and although harmless in small numbers, they can swarm and drain the unwary.

Enchanted Creatures and Dangers

In the wilderness of Everwinter roam the fearsome Ice Giants, ancient beings towering over the trees, with skin like cracked ice and eyes that burn with cold fire. They are guardians of certain mountain passes, awakened only when something threatens the balance of the realm. They see themselves as protectors, but their rage is terrifying, and they wield clubs that can shatter even the thickest of ice.

Beware the Frozen Shade, a silent hunter that preys on lost travelers. These shades are said to be the spirits of those who fell victim to Everwinter’s cold and treacherous terrain. Cloaked in darkness, they wait in the shadows, striking when their prey is at its weakest. A touch from a Frozen Shade can drain the warmth from one’s body, leaving them frozen in place.

The landscape itself holds magical but deadly Frost Blossoms, flowers of ice that release a captivating fragrance. Their scent has a hypnotic effect, luring creatures and travelers close, only to sap their warmth if touched. Once drained, the frost blossoms close over their victims, preserving them in ice.

The Magic and Mysteries

Everwinter is permeated with powerful, ancient magic. Its springs and lakes are enchanted, some leading to hidden realms within the Feywild or acting as portals to other places. One legendary spring, called the Mirror Lake, is said to reveal the future to those who look into its still waters. However, the future it shows is often tragic or twisted, and many who seek knowledge from the Mirror Lake leave changed, bearing marks of what they have seen.

Snowstorms can also manifest as Ice Maelstroms, fierce blizzards that come with little warning. These storms are sentient and can sense those who enter Everwinter with ill intentions. Trapped within the storm, intruders may find themselves facing visions of their deepest fears or even glimpses of their own doom.

At the heart of Everwinter stands Grimhild’s Spire, a towering crystalline structure where the Queen of the Witches, Grimhild the Witch, is said to reside. She is both a benevolent and ominous presence, revered and feared by the Snow Elves and Frost Fae alike. Some believe Grimhild protects Everwinter from those who would exploit it, while others say she simply revels in the mystery and chaos that the realm breeds. She is known to befriend those who show humility and respect, but her wrath is legendary.