Frozen Coffin

Arxen will leave its mark. Salyah is certain of that. She may be on her way out of the scorching desert, having overcome her greatest challenge yet - but the scars it left her with will take a long time to heal. Her body may be bleeding and bruised, though her soul suffered the greatest damage. Her survival had a price, a price which now plagues her heart with grief.

Dragging her exhausted feet through the sand dunes she found Tylian's previously unwanted companionship not just more tolerable, but necessary. His own hardship now becomes more understandable - more relatable. After a night of ceaseless traveling through the sea of sand they would get lost, but would find their salvation in the most unlikeliest of places, the most unlikeliest of persons. The barely believable legends of Tarconian knights have proven to be the truth, for their salvation came in the form of a third generation knight called Petrusio - a man of war, a creature of rage, a soldier of slaughter, and by all accounts a monster in a shape of a noble knight. He could have killed them, quite easily in fact, but this monstrous warrior has also proven to be a man of honor. In exchange for keeping his whereabouts a secret, he agreed to lead them out of the desert and into a seaside village on the edge of the Arxenian eastern border.

There, they would meet another individual seeking a life away from Valnessean eyes - a beautiful woman named Arisandra, the leader of a Valnessean criminal underground. With her armed bandits, she would imprison Petrusio to ensure her own safety, before offering a deal to Salyah. Having found out that Salyah is a member of the Silver Co., she offered her and her companions a spot in their caravan, one which will take them into the mountains that create the Arxenian border. Arisandra's goal is to reach an abandoned village just below the summit, but Tylian's goal is to avoid the impossible journey around the mountain. He advises Salyah to take the deal, for this climb will not only ensure their survival but shorten the travel time by a large margin. Salyah is unwilling to travel with criminals at first, but once realizing what is on the other side of the mountain she relents. A county where her ultimate destination lies - the HQ of the Silver Company.

Deal struck, Salyah prepares herself for the opposite extreme in temperature. The journey will be rough. Nothing she can't survive, though she is concerned about their departure once they reach the top, for Arisandra doesn't seem as keen on letting them go as she is leading on. She found solace in Tylian's genuine promise to keep her safe, but also in the companionship of two odd twins, an oddity of this criminal organization. Kind souls, inexperienced, somewhat annoying, but endearing. Petrusio, now a chained up prisoner of Arisandra gives Salyah a promise as well - a grim one. He will be freed, one way or another. It is up to Salyah to decide whether she will be his enemy when he does. With the plan for the journey set, Salyah and her companions take the road into the frozen mountains. Her final destination is only a climb and descent away. Soon this nightmare will be over at last.

Alas, a shadow cast by the mountain foretells a promise more terrifying than what Petrusio gave. She felt it even before their climb began. Something about this abandoned village sets her on edge. She is certain this will not be just a walk, but something darker - something that would make even the knight shudder. What's worse, another shadow follows their trail. An echo of Arisandra's past, and yet another promise for Salyah's future. Whatever it is, she will surely meet it in the abandoned village of Nielryn.