Winter has plagued man for the last three hundred and fifty years with no end in sight. Civilizations have fallen, and the hope of summer has long since even been a dream. But some hope remains. The goddess Nantosuelta, who loved Sucellus, whispered to her most loyal follower, an archmage kept alive from a previous age and told him what he must do.
Kylorin was unique among men, the first to be trained in the art of magic by the evil goddess Ceridwen, whom he later betrayed to follow Nantosuelta. Directly instructed by both the evil goddess of conjuration and the good goddess of enchantment he was the most legendary figure of his age, and for now he is the most legendary figure of another age as well.
For decades he has spread knowledge, learning, and civilization among the Amurite tribes, leading them from the cold darkness of ignorance, to the warm light of enlightenment. Yet among all his teachings he left behind something more important; his children.
Born of the various tribes of men, and elf, the Children of Kylorin have slowly been gathered by Kylorin's own follower Saeldur of the Sylvanhel. Some have willingly joined the quest, while others have broken away on their own paths.
Kylorin has vanished but winter has taken a slight down turn, and the signs in the sky aligned, Kylorin's plan is in motion, and he must now rely on his children to pick up his torch and burn away the frost.
This is the tale of one of those children, struggling to do good in the cold harsh world without the guidance and knowledge of his father, his siblings, or even the prophet Saeldur. This is the tale of Egbert Hawkeye, Guardian of the Stones of Lugus the Everwatchful, Amurite of the Mammoth Tribe.
Over the last decades the Order of Lugus has seen many changes among the Mammoth. An order of warriors and shaman who fougth for glory it has evolved over the years into an order of protectors thanks to the guiding hand of Kylorin during his stay among the Amurites. The warriors became more refined, and the shamans more learned and among their militant order the light of knowledge spread. Lugus became known as the Everwatchful and his protecting light and warmth spread over his followers. Still filled with traditions of the old ways the order is a mix of new teachings and old traditions, but one thing remains constant. Those of Lugos protect their own from the cold and dark of Mulcarn and Agares the Black the Goddess of Night.
Today is the eve of one of those old traditions still honored amoung the Everwatchful. For three days a small party of Mammoth Tribesmen have left the safety of the Vale of the Skyreach and travel to a place known as the "Giant's Folly". It is a sacred site of an ancient battle where an unnamed hero of Lugus defeated in single combat a Frost Giant of Mulcarn. The site of the battle is visisted each year by young warriors of the order to test their mettle against one another, and against the cold of Mulcarn. This year those choosen to make the four day trip (one way) are few, but among them is Egbert Hawkeye, and half a dozen other young warriors. Leading them is Grethos the Lightkeeper, one of the Elder Shaman of the Mammoth and Uncle to Egbert.
The procession of young warriors and the one Elder Shaman and their mounts have stopped and set up camp for the night. Excitement races through the young for tomorrow around midmorning you are expected to reach the "Giant's Folly" and there hold battle with one another for your and Lugus' glory. the warrior that comes out on top during this trip has always excelled to greatness and it is s true honor to win this competition. The camp is set, a small collection of hide tents, a single camp fire burning warmly. Egbert has been given guard watch at this time, and stands alone on the edge of camp while the others prepair the evening meal, fetch water, stoke the fire, tend to the Branta, and do other camp activities.
Beyond the edge of camp lies a vast tundra of snow covered hills dotted with pine forests as far as the eye can see to the east, north and west. To the south the hills and mountains of the Skyreach rise up into the cold dense bank of clouds that surround their rocky peaks.
