Queen Winter

There is no mistaking what’s to come, these omens are signs of Winter. She is almost here we must prepare. One month from today the sky will darken all life will feel the chill of her gaze, and no man, woman, or creature will be safe from her unyielding hunger. Every 12 years she awakes leading an army of the dead ranging in numbers in the tens of thousands. What she is or how she came to be is unknown one thing we know for sure is she was here from the very beginning of time, she once told a story of how she fought the gods of old. She told that story to a town right before she slaughtered and ate every single one of them yet she left one alive to tell her tale right before she vanished. That story is a grim tale and not many believe it to be true.

“I am winter, Queen of the darkest reaches of space. I have fought many things in my lifetime, I have never been bested until I came across him. He cursed me to sleep in the night sky and protect his planet for eternity yet I have noticed that his magic gets weaker on the 12th Lunar cycle every 12 years allowing me to break free. When the sun and the moon rotate in perfect harmony the skies will blacken and I will be set free to wreck and destroy everything he has built. In the last cycle I was free for but a moment, this cycle I was free for 12 days, next cycle I will roam for months and I will bring my army, I will kill, eat, and demolish everything around me. Just like I did to this town, I give you the task whichever among you service the last hour will pass on my message. Do not try and stop me you will be as moths to the fire, do not hide from me the chills of winter reaches every corner of space, do not stand against me those who do become unwilling slaves, do not question my authority or you shall know my pain”. - Queen Winter

If the stories are to be believed she leaves behind one survivor each time as she demolishes town after town. Those who survive believe that she is in a weakened state and needs to eat to gain full power so fighting her will only help to strengthen her. others believe that she can only appear and move with the lunar cycles that is why she hasn’t conquered the world. Some belief it to be a combination of all tales. I cannot say for sure how true these tales are, but across NevaGart the tales of her army and her arrival are always the same. Heavy rain lasting 7 days eventually turns to heavy snow. Once the snow starts the fall the lunar event begins and that’s when you will see her army raise from the snow. The first of her troops are the Foot Soldiers they range in the hundreds, feel no pain, have no need to rest or sleep and attack without regard for their own lives. So soldiers even report seeing faces of their own loved ones amongst her numbers, above her Foot soldiers are the Riders, described as mages on horseback they specialize in hit and run tactics, a fireball here, a lightning storm there, and half the opposition is dead. The Riders are the least of our concerns because above them stands the WhispMothers. The WhispMothers are the aerial units and they are strong ice mages with the ability to divide into multiple different WhispMothers and use the name mage. Above those are the Forst Giants whose sole purpose is to protect Winter if you do not see a Forst Giant that means one of two things; Queen winter is not among her troops our she has split her troops to conquer more towns which means she has less time on NevaGart than she leads on.

Chapter One: Miss Fortune

It has been raining nonstop for the past 7 days my people are warry of this, this folklore. they believe in some magical creature called WInter, I have tried my best to tell them that these stories are just stories that are told of the coming seasonal changes and to explain the lunar event that happens once a generation yet no one will listen.

Soldier: My Lord the rain suddenly stops and in its stead snow heavy snow like non has ever seen.

King Anthony: Snow isn’t unusual this time of the year soldier just keep your composer and return to your post and keep watch.

Soldier: But my Lord the snow is heavy enough to be considered a bolder one of the men got hit by the snow and it bust his head wide open.

King Anthony: Let me see for myself what you are talking about, lead me to the soldier.

Soldier: My Lord.

We wall down the long halls and I can hear the snow as it beats against the stone walls and roofs of my castle, I walk and see my men once proud and fearless cower in the halls by the fire. Just as a walk outside I witness a man dead and covered in snow raise up and start attacking his fellow kinsman, just as he charges towards me he was struck down by his own wife with tears following from her eyes. she said that her husband’s last words were “Run she is coming, I can hear her voice.” No sooner did the wife faith and I had my men take her someplace safe did the weather suddenly cleared up, it was no longer snowing, and a wave of cheers echoed through my land as men, women, and children all left their home to celebrate. That’s when I saw it when I saw them, an army appeared from the snow numbering in the thousands, horsemen in the hundred, and ghost-like figures floating in the air. I got my men into positions and we watched and waited for hours.

Captian Johnson: My lord it’s been hours and they have not moved, we should attack while we have the chance there is no telling if they are waiting for reinforcements or if they are attempting to surround us. We can not wait to find out we must attack now.

Captain Johnson is a loyal soldier, my right hand, heir to the throne, but most importantly she is my daughter. Out of fear for her safety, I sent her with a detachment to get help from our allies and this will be the last time I lay eyes upon my daughter for the moments after her departure was hell, worst than hell, and it all started once she arrived on the battlefield. My beloved daughter if you have found my journal know that I didn’t expect you to arrive with help I sent you away for your own safety, a parent should never have to watch their child fall in battle, and though we have won many together I can feel it. This one will be my last, but it shall not be yours live long, fight hard, dream big I love you. Share this story with the world so they do not make the same foolish mistakes I have made allow them to read what I write next and ensure that you rebuild a legacy worthy of a Queen. Once my daughter left in the shadow of the night the next morning we saw her, as white as snow, with long crystal-like hair, her eyes were black as the night, she wore no armor, held no weapon, and spoke without moving her lips.

???????????: I am Winter, Queen of the Darkest Reaches of space, Surrender your lives to me and I shall let one among you live. Refuse my gift and none shall survive Winter.

King Anthony: Silence witch you shall die here this day, and those monsters that follow you shall fall, bested by my men, we fare man, woman, nor god. We care not for your silly banter, if it is war you want, then war you shall get.

Queen Winter: You shall know my pain.

She vanished and without warning her army came flowing like the river flows downstream.

King Anthony: Archors Ready, Draw, Aimmmmmmmm, Steady, Steady, Loose.

King Anthony: Reinforce the gates!!!, Shield Maidens to the wall!!, Archers what are you waiting on your death keep firing.

King Anthony: Lieutenant bring the men around to the front and have them set up a defensive position protecting the women, children, and elderly within the castle. have the rest of the able-bodied men take up arms and defend their family in the inner castle.

King Anthony: For god sakes men where is that oil pot we need them on the wall now!!

Soldiers: The Gates have been breached, The Gates have Been breached.

Just as soon as I ordered a retreat to the inner castle again I saw her just floating there watching, I believe she was crying but it was hard to tell. that image stuck with me in my last moments. Why would that monster attack us and then cry? What could we possibly have missed? Those few seconds as I jot down these last few entries I had more questions than answers, many of our men were slaughtered and then brought back to life to fight for the very people that killed them. I am unsure what magic this is, it is far too complex to be necromancy, no spells were cast, no enchantments, nothing they just die and raise to fight for their killers. I am unsure what is happening most of our man is unable to fight, their spirits just as broken as their shields but I will not waiver, I will not falter. My very last command that I will give may seem crazy and I do so apologize, my daughter, please do not see it as I betrayal, I hope one day you can look upon my legacy and be proud of what I have done this day. I will order the men to slay everyone and then kill themselves, I will end my own life as well. If you do not die to those creatures out there then we cannot be used as pawns in her game. I will gladly take my own life now than run the risk of taking yours one day. I am sorry. Please forgive me.

Chapter Two: Rage Clouds The Mind

I have looked through every page of this dusty old thing time and time again, I have seen his words, heard his passion, felt his pain, and I know of his suffering. I have waited twenty-four long years and yet she still dares to hie from my rage. If I cannot revenge my father then I shall die a dishornable daughter, not fight to walk through the golden gates of heaven.

Queen Johnson: Men ready the snow shelter, prepare the sky hooks, and for godshake some get this man sobbered up.

Soldier: Queen Johnson iF I may.

He blows his head in silence waiting, I can see it on his face, the fear or is it something else perhaps languorous has finally taking hold.

Queen Johnson: You may.

Soldier: twelve years ago we did the same retuine night in and night out, and Winter never came. Perhaps we were wrong about the gaps, perhaps we are trying to figure ut something beyond our comprehension. We are attempting to do battle with a God can we truly succeed were your father the former king failed?

Although I am the queen, and I am asking my subjects to do battle with an unfamiliar power. My mentality is not pall with rage though that is the emoton I present to my subjects to conceal my worries, I believe this to be immense than revenge, father noted that he witnessed tears stream from her cheeks, she even requested for us to submit. I have never known true monsters to have such qualities as empathy much less the willpower to carry out such a intricate sensation. I cannot inform them that we are but instruments to be sacrifice in the pursuit of knowledge. Knowing that may break their will before the battle even begins, yet I discern that I may be repeating your blunders father. Leading our men to perish just to protect the few, its is a burden that was solemn on your heart I burden I now bear.

Queen Johnson: Glance upon my face and witness the frenzy that shrouds every inch of it. Vengeance is a far better remody than forgiveness. We will make preparations for Winters arrival and if she dare not show her face, then be grateful you live to witness eleven more years. Do not pitty yourself for I have no need for self doubt.

As I walk away I cannot help but doubt myself, fear as surely taking us all yet many of them stand strong with their heads help high. Ready are we to lay our life on the line for our love ones, but I have no one, I am alone in this world, yes I am a motherless child, a daughter with no home, no brothers to defend me should I fall, no sons to carry on the legacy should the god of war call me home.

Queen Johnson: Ready the cannons, bring the shield bearer to the front, spear men behind them, archer on the roofs and walls. Men you all know the signs; first we get the heavy snow then they raise from the fallen, we have experience the heavy snow and weather the storm. This is no time for you to loose your manly hood. Remember we are the first line of defense, when we fall we let thousands upon thousands of man, woman, and children die.

Queen Johnson: Ready the Torches for ignitions, Archers your main objective is to blow the bridge, and burry as many of them as you can but blow the bridge. Once the bridge is blown change targets to the Whispmothers, take them out and we control the battle.

Queen Johnson: Swords men grab your sky hook now you will provide hit and run tactics as needed. Your sky hook is your life lose it and death will surely come to you.

It is just as father describes ; out of nowhere appeared this woman crystalized in appearance , with long flowing but stiff hair, tears running down her cheek as she spoke.

Queen WInter: I am Winter, Queen of the Darkest Reaches of space, Surrender your lives to me and I shall let one among you live. Refuse my gift and none shall survive Winter.

Queen Johnson: Men do it now launch the net trap, and set it a blaze.

Trap she may be yet she doesn’t seem concern with the ropes nor the flames. Her tears crystalise and that when the look on her face changes, and before the flames could reach her they to turn to ice as she gaze into my soul I heard her voice she spoke I am sure of it, but why am I the only one to hear her this time. Her words they are words I have heard many times before while growing up.

Queen Winter: You lack disapline and you are far to rash. You fail to full grasp the situation before making a move and in your haste you brought forth your own failures.

Those are the same words my dad use on me when teaching me the Art of War. How does she know these words? What did I possible missed? Is it that fire wont harm her because her bought is made from crystal? I am so lost father please tell me what to do.

Queen Winter: I should have to tell you what to do, you are the queen now and you need to be more careful with your plans. Have faith in yourself and do not let dispear be your down fall.

Queen Johnson: Why are you lecturing me, I ask not for your opinion, why give it monster?

Queen Winter: You may not have asked it out loud but asked you did. I too was once a parent so it felt right to give to you the same advice I once gave to my beloved boy. Do not be so eager to meet your own end that you forgot how sweet the fruit of life truly taste. You remind me so much of him, thank you so bring back so beautiful memories of my boy, if you’ll excuse me I am in need of a good slumber.

She turns around and disappears yet again and with her the army standing outside our walls vanish. Now I add to this dusty book just has my father once did, what should I make of all this? why did she leave without a fight? Her son? Fruits of Life? Sweet? Things are so strange just when you think you know all the answers, more questions present themselves.

Chapter 3: Knowledge is Power

The page to this book was removed. Possible to prevent us from learning who we no longer received attacks from Queen Winter. Whose to say her secrets wasn’t jotted down and kept within these pages, now we will never know for sure if the attacks stop, or was there a delay.