Tower at the Edge of Ice

The Golems’ outpost lies beyond the ice frontier, on one of the few larger islands whose foundation is made of gray bedrock. To the Frostborn, this place feels alien and unsettling. They know no buildings made of stone—their architecture is shaped from ice, with bones used only for support or ornamentation. Everything they construct is broad, massive, and low to the ground. The Golems’ tower, by contrast, rises over twenty meters high: slender, precise, a structure that could never exist in the Frostborn’s world.   The stones of the tower are crafted with such precision that they appear almost unnatural. Each block is identical in height, width, and depth. As the tower narrows toward the top, the stones are perfectly adjusted in angle and size. There are no irregularities, no signs of tools or weathering. To the Frostborn, this perfection is unsettling—only mages working with frostglass could create something even remotely comparable.   The tower stands empty. On the ground floor, there is nothing but a spiral staircase of stone, winding upward along the wall. At the very top, beneath the roof, lies a chamber meant for receiving guests. It is sparsely furnished: a three-meter-long stone table flanked by two stone blocks serving as chairs. The chairs sit at either end of the table, far enough apart to feel safe, yet close enough for conversation. Two windows on the long sides of the room let in light—uncovered, unprotected by cloth or leather. Wind and weather pass through freely.   At the time of the Golems’ capitulation, it was agreed that the Frostborn would never cross the ice frontier. The land beyond belongs to the Golems. The tower was built solely for diplomatic purposes. Every 69 weeks, one Frostborn may enter the tower on an official mission—hoping a Golem will appear and speak. So far, a Frostborn has arrived at every appointed time, but never a Golem.   This diplomatic duty is feared and despised among the Frostborn. The chosen emissaries feel ignored, yet secretly relieved when no Golem appears. No one wishes for another war. Those selected for the mission approach the tower with mixed emotions: a sense of duty, deep mistrust, and a quiet hope that the tower will remain empty.