The Mischievous Cold Winds

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Drifting above the rooftops the wind carried the first flecks of snow for the night. The revelry had died down now and as people closed their doors and extinguished their lanterns, torches and candles the city grew quiet except for those up to no good, or those who attempted to prevent it. A gap in the window of the inn let the wind whistle through and with it the flakes of snow were pushed through the now darkened interior of the inn.

As more wind pushed through the gap the flake was forced up into the roof where it sought a way out of the building. Bouncing across the wooden beams it careened around the room meeting a window, wall or roof wherever the wind pushed it. But what was this, a draft, a way out! Surging forward as the wind hurried towards the draft past the bar, through the now cooling kitchen the fleck of snow crashed into a door on the floor.

Wedged between the door and the frame it struggled to shift, to move towards the gap in the splintered frame. But the mischievous cold winds caught the fleck of ice and urged it onwards. With a push the fleck of ice rushed through the gap, the splinters of wood reaching out to snare it like the claws of a hungry animal. But the wind pushed the flake of snow down and into the room beyond.

Dark, cold stone walls lined the room but the sound of snoring indicated that the room was not empty. The wind was calmer here, lifting and edging the fleck on further as it crossed over a low wall covered in goods. As it crossed the threshold a gust of warm air signalled the origin of the snoring and assisted the fleck of snow to flitter further towards the table. As the wind’s strength disappeared the fleck drifted down from the roof; it came to rest upon the table, but not quite upon the worn wood.

The flake of snow landed upon parchment. A large curled piece of parchment rested upon the cold and rough wood, empty tankards rested on their sides, heads of feet upon the table. The snowflake rested there and as the warm stone above it cooled and met the warm breath of the occupant of the room the snow began to melt. As the last bit of ice melted a deep inhalation of air took its place and the parchment disappeared. Fragments of a moment later an exhalation brought with it something else, something different altogether.

As the cold winds drifted over the city and the several snowflakes danced upon its machinations two creatures watched the city with utter delight. The winds rolled across their fingertips and as they whispered favours, tricks and ideas of mischief to the wind the currents obeyed. For these creatures were not like the men and women below the rooftops. These were the bringers of mirth, joy and laughter.

A few more centuries and the creatures below would take great glee in the visitations of these two but there were those in the city who wished this merriment to end early. Alas they would find themselves the ones being the focus points of joy, laughter and mischief as the creatures curled their hands towards them. The breath of cold wind danced back to the creatures and captured upon their colourful robes. The creatures lifted up above the rooftops, carried upon the winds as they danced and swirled amongst the snow that delighted them so.

The sun was rising and the calls of amazement, surprise and joy would ring out across the people in this gifted city. The creatures were always emboldened by the reactions their tricks entreated upon these people and tomorrow would be another day for fun, merriment and more mischief.

The City of Rimeglenn

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Rimeglenn started off as a small logging town at the bottom of the Rimeteeth – a series of mountains that have dense forests around them. Because of their location, a freshwater river and bountiful resources nearby the town quickly became a hub for forestry and reaping the bounty of the land.

The people of Rimeglenn expanded and found that they didn’t have the resources or trades available to cater for their rate of expansion. To address this they expanded into mining, smithing and more trade and very soon the city expanded past their initial humble beginnings. This, however, drew the attention of the creatures of the area and soon raids, attacks and worse started to occur in the city. The city then had to quickly form a militia to defend against the near constant onslaught from gnolls, goblinoids and worse from the mountains.

However this need for defence spurred on the creation of the Rimeguard – a hardened unit of grizzled defenders who fought the worst of the creatures from the land. This elite guard quickly expanded and formed a backbone of the defence of the city. After a few years the city was walled and defended by a guard of a few hundred but content in staying within their borders and focusing on their trade.

Due to the position the city is warm in the Summer with cooling breezes and fresh water that runs from the mountains. The time of great harvest with the crops being ready after the spring showers and with the animals benefiting from this the most. Being able to fatten up their herd animals so that they can replenish their stores before winter.

During the Autumn months many of the trees would lose their leaves and the game in the land starts to move to other places. This causes the people of Rimeglenn to turn to the river where a migration of fish and other creatures that feed on the fish occurs. The animals that fattened from summer and spring are ready for slaughtering or sale now and so the city goes through a period of feast and festivals.

Winter sees creatures coming down from the mountains to plague the city and they begin to rely on trade and what they have stored up over Autumn and Summer.

Spring is the season where this is a lot of hard work. Once the grounds are not frozen over the people of the city sew crops and tend to their animals. Animals start to come back to the land as well to feast on the new grass, the abundance of prey and familiar grounds to have their babies.