Into the Snow - A Primer for the Newlylanded

The first thing you notice when you regain your senses is the stark cold air touching your skin, sending shivers down your spine. What? Where?, slowly memories return. A dropping sensation in your stomach, as if you were falling. Then falling truly. A strange sensation, echoes in your bones. Just moments ago you were at home, not a care in the world. Well maybe some cares. Shortly before your impact the memories go blank. Now you sit in a small cave, surrounded by snow. A lone lantern swings from a low ceiling and a ladder extends to an exit, also in the ceiling. After a short breather, you emerge and are hit by blinding sunlight. Slowly, your vision clears and you see a freezingly cold tundra. The snowy cave you emerge from stands in the middle of a strange pavilion made from wooden logs and some blackish stone. In front of you, a path leads away from the pavilion, lit by lanternlight it snakes away into a spruce forest. Chiones Crest you read from a sign hanging from the pavilion roof above the path. Looking to your left and right, you see two more paths. The left one reads TEMPLE and immediately ends in front of a stair that leads up to a strange building of dark stone and orange-hued wood. The temple, you assume. Between the temple and the road towards Chiones Crest the treeline stretches out. To the right, the sign reads Lilac Farms and the road bends into a curve, before dropping out of sight as the ground descends a bit. In the distance you see trees unburdened by snow.

Hum, It seems my eyes didnt trick me after all! A new companion!

A voice speaks out from behind you and you turn around. There stands a strange humanoid-looking bird dressed in fine garments and wearing a dark metallic armor. You fully climb out of the snowy cave, and a gust of cold air hits you, causing you to shiver and stumble.

Easy. This weather is not the kindest for people who have gone through what you just have. Forced Interdimensional travel will knock the wind out of just about anyone.

The bird steps closer and lends you a feathered hand, leading you off the snow roof and onto the stone floor of the pavilion. They gesture to a chest on the floor.

We keep some supplies and leather clothes here in case there is new arrivals. Feel free to take some gear. Once you've found your footing and feel like you can, we always appreciate another pair of hands to keep the chest stocked, but nothing is expected.

A short silence passes as you recover a bit. You take a breath and try to find the right words or rather the right questions to ask the stranger. Before you do, they break the silence for you as if they had read your mind.

My name is Nino. I was one of the first outcasts here. Don't strain yourself too much with polite intentions and focus on getting your bearings. There will be time to learn your name and of your past later. For now focus that noggin of yours on figuring out your survival out here. Of course we will be there to support you, but some decisions must be yours to make. Like where you want to live.

A feathery hand extends toward the temple and then to the road to Chiones Crest.

If you head in between those directions there will be mostly snow for at least a thousand meters. Take it from an expert, the cold can get to you at times. But there is beauty to be found there too. That road there takes you to Chiones Crest, a settlement just on the other side of the woods. Lady Calypso is the one caring for it primarily, she also came up with the name. Apparently some deity from her homeworld? You'd have to ask her to know for sure. I also have a home next to the village, you just need to climb a bit of a mountain to get there. That being said, I am in the process of moving to warmer places. In fact if you dont mind, you could actually take over Crowspire from me. But no pressure. We also have a third neighbor Endrise, though I haven't seen him in a while. I wonder what he's been up to...

The bird - Nino - seems to be in thought for a moment, but then catches himself.

In any case, if you keep going in those directions, depending if its west or south or southwest, you can find some more people if you're lucky. Far south, when the snow has faded at last, there is Master Evisane, who can be considered a bit of a cryptid. I myself haven't been there in a while, so I cannot say what they have been up to. South-west, still in the snow flies the tower of Yonder, who is a wizard, if you'll believe me. Then, west beyond Chiones Crest should be where Mochi dwells. I believe they settled on a coastal island also beyond the snow.

At last Nino points toward the Road named Lilac Farms, north you believe.

If you are looking to find warmer places, you best head this way though. There is a river just below the ridge you can see from here. One direction takes you to the home of TJ, while the other goes towards Lilac Farms. Its run by these two lovely gnomes, but I doubt you'll meet them. They're experts at hiding and very shy around new people.

As you follow the way Nino is pointing, you notice a fourth path, heading eastward behind you and a large compounded building.

Lastly if you go east, there is Lannas Home right here next to the Spawn and the construction site. I believe Cero also has a home he built nearby, but I am unsure were exactly it is. I was actually on my way to drop of a present here, when I saw you coming down.
But. I think I am overloading you with information right now, aren't I? I'll let you process a bit and then if you have any questions, just ask!

Gathering your bearings, you scour your mind for anything you want to know. As you do, you notice a series of halfbuilt towers a bit further away to the south-east. What do you ask Nino?

Ask about this world and your current situation:

What is this place? Where am I?

Now that is an interesting question. One I do not know for sure at this point. What I do know I can share. This place is a world between worlds. We tried to figure out where exactly, but whatever knowledge we had of the arcane fails us in this place. It is a strange land, but one I believe you will be able to master.

How did I get here?

Once again we do not know for certain. But one thing gave us a clue. Yonder was also a wizard in his home world, and before he came here he heard some of the wards he had placed against foreign magic, sound in protest before they broke and he too was brought here. This leads us to believe that something, perhaps someone, which or who possesses intent brought us here on purpose. Maybe learning who it was will allow us to return home at last.
To explain the specifics of the how, we have deduced that a form of magick transposes us from our homes to this place. We always appear right here, which is why we call this place "Spawn". Usually we appear quite high above in the sky and before you ask, yes you did too. The reason why the roof of the pavilion is not damaged is because the form you have during your fall is intangible. We think this is to protect you from injury if you happen to enter this world falling. Only when you reach the snowy cave beneath us, do you become tangible. We decided to make the most of this situation and built the pavilion above the cave so you would have a little bit of protection if you appear when no one is around to welcome you.

Why am I here?

We asked us the same question when we first arrived and I believe I have an inkling about the why. All of the people brought here by that strange magick were people of a similar type in their homeworlds. Inquisitve. Creative. In some shape or form artists. I don't yet know what this means, but it's a pattern I would be foolish to ignore. That reminds me: is this true for you also? Do you consider yourself an artist of some fashion? I need to know if the pattern still persists.

What should I know before I set out?

Very good question! I think you will be able to learn most things at your own pace. For now I would advise you to figure out where you would like to live and to construct a makeshift shelter. I can give you a compass that points to where we are right now if you struggle with your orientation. If you would like any further assistance with this in some shape or form, I would be happy to help you, as I am sure the others also would. Make sure you have some stable food source. Beyond that beware the darkness. There are beings in this world, some might call them monsters, which are inherently hostile to living beings. I hope you know how to defend yourself to some capacity. Once you have advanced a bit, there is a form of magick here which persist of memories and knowledge. If you need help with understanding it, I am once again at your service. Beyond that I think I have filled your head with too much new information already, so I will save it for another time, no?

Ask about the mentioned locations:

Whats the Temple?

That was one of Lady Callypsos ideas, I believe. If you worship any gods, you are welcome to add their likeness and a short explanation to the hall of the temple. And even if you dont, like me, you can come there and learn about the beliefs of the other survivors out here.

What's Chiones Crest?

It's a village, just east of here. If you follow the road through the forest. It's populated by people native to this land. We don't understand their language yet, but that hasn't stopped us from working together. Lady Calypso constructed a castle right next to the village and we have learned how to trade goods with them too.

What's Lilac Farms?

Its a large agricultural farm, and home to two other native people, but you'd be lucky to ever see them. We do know they are there though, because they are supplying Chiones Crest with food and new lumber. Otherwise the village could never sustain itself in the snowy place it is.

What about that construction site to the south-east?

Oh, that is the big project that Calypso is currently working towards. I don't know if I have all the pertinent details, but it is going to be a huge library eventually. Seven Towers, each meant to house all the knowledge on a specific type of knowledge we can gather here. There is more to be said about it, because there is something fascinating going on in this world. But I think that is a talk for another time.

Ask about the mentioned people:

Who are you again?

The Bird chuckles and gives a deep theatrical bow. In doing so you can get a better look at him. The bird has deep black color, from skin to beak to feathers, which have a nice sheen to them. His eyes are of a deep orange, which repeats itself in accents across his armor and the wings which sprout from his back.

Well, allow me to refresh your memory. You may call me Nino, and I am Lord of the Mountain, though that title is selfproclaimed. Then again, who's to stop me, right? I am a bit of an adventurer and scholar, and I was one of the first people who were stranded here. Originally I lived in Crowspire, the Fortress next to Chiones Crest, but I have been spending more and more time away from there recently.

Who is Calypso?

Ninos features soften fondly

Ah yes, the Lady Calypso as I call her. Her real name is Calle Fiyere I believe. She was also among the first outcasts in this world, and I am happy to call her a good friend. She is often still in the area, as she takes care of Chione's Crest and still works on that library project of hers. You best ask her directly thouhg, I am sure you can easily find her.

Who is Cero?

A talented craftsman, I can tell you that much! He and I have worked on one or the other project together, and I quite enjoy the company of someone who knows their stuff. I'm not sure where he lives, but if you go exploring, who knows? Maybe you'll run into him.

Who is Endrise?

One of the first few who landed in this world. A bit of a hermit. He took residence in the Ice Spires just west of Chiones Crest, though it seems he is always out and about exploring and never home when I try to visit...

Who is Evisane?

They're a bit of an enigma to me I'm afraid. The distance means we don't see each other all that much. What I can say, is that they're quite close with the villagers. There is talk about improving their villages and increasing prosperity, though at this point the project is only just started and its stalling a bit.

Who is Lanna?

Lanna lives just over there, as I said. As you can see from the magnificent home, she is quite the builder. We are actually in the process of setting up some roads in the other dimension, though thats maybe a talk for another time. I believe she and Cero are married?

Who is Mochi?

Our newest member, well before you that is. Just recently arrived in this world. They have also taken a liking to the villagers but I think they're more interested in creating a new settlement from scratch. If you keep heading west you should be able to find them and see how far they've come.

Who is TJ?

He's another one, who is a bit of a hermit. His small cottage stands north-west of here, just follow the river that way and you should be able to reach his home.

Who is Yonder?

A bit of a crazy old coot, if you ask me

Nino chuckles, though there is no malice in his voice.

He is mad in a good way though. Very interested in the arcane. You should see his tower if you dont believe me. The whole thing floats in the air above a large crevasse. And it is quite remote. The easiest way is likely to head to crowspire and then use the flying contraption Yonder created to connect his tower to my fortress.

Once all your questions are answered, Nino rises to his feet with a flourish and gives your a nod.

It was very nice to meet you! I hope you won't be a stranger too much. This world is vast and can feel lonely at times. The next time we meet I wish to learn more about you and where you came from. Oh and once you have established a foothold please let me know where. I like to drop of presents from time to time, to remind you all we are in this together. If you ever need me, just call.

Then he spreads his amber and raven wings, and with a burst of speed rises into the sky. There he glides eastward until you can no longer see him above the spruce trees, leaving you to your own devices. Which leaves a question: Where would you like to go first?

Head north

Toward Lilac Farms or up the river