The tundra's wind howled as Aelar Frostveil rode south at the head of his squad, the Crystal Palace a distant shimmer behind them. His dark blue frostweave armor rattled with each gallop, silver-white ponytail streaming, the rune-stone pulsing in his pouch like a second heart. Kaelith loped beside him, silver-streaked fur cutting through the snow, glacial eyes fixed ahead—twenty guards followed, their frost-bred steeds snorting, flanked by Elara Glintfrost and Torin Iceblade. Dusk loomed, the Frost Depths—a jagged rift in the ice—drawing near, its mana hum vibrating the air.
Elara rode at his left, her pale blue tunic whipping, staff strapped across her back, the Chimera core half fueling her sharp focus. She glanced at Aelar, silver hair glinting. "That stone's loud," she said, voice cutting the wind. "We're walking into a storm."
"Order's storm," Aelar replied, hand brushing the pouch. "Theron's right—seal it or fight it."
Torin flanked his right, his Frost Boar, Gruk, pounding the snow, icy spines gleaming from the core boost. "Gruk smells blood ahead," he grunted, spear ready. "They're waiting."
Aelar nodded, trusting their instincts—Elara's magic and Torin's grit didn't need his nudge unless the plan shifted. "Sylvara, scan," he thought.
Host: Aelar Frostveil
Ascension Tier: Exalted (Level 1)
Stats:
Strength: 100 Agility: 110 Intelligence: 80 Mana: 160
Skills: Frostborn Legacy (Innate, Level 7): Godlike ice affinity evolves. Glacial Chains (Level 10) Frost Bite (Level 3) Frost Shroud (Level 6) Mana Manipulation (Level 10) Ice Crafting (Level 8) Swordsmanship (Level 10) Beast Taming (Level 5)
Companion: Kaelith
Stats: Strength 70, Agility 60, Intelligence 25, Mana 50
The Order's Ambush
Kaelith's growl turned sharp, ears flattening—a dozen Order warriors burst from the snow, cloaked in black, veiled sigils flashing, led by a towering Ice Elf in spiked armor, his warhammer glowing with mana. "Frostveil ends here!" he roared, voice booming.
"Sylvara, analyze him," Aelar thought, drawing his sword.
Target: Order Hammer Lord (Unnamed)
Race: Ice Elf (Rogue)
Ascension Tier: Grandmaster (Level 8)
Stats:
Strength: 70 Agility: 40 Intelligence: 25 Mana: 50
Skills: Hammer Shock (Level 4): Ground-shaking strike. Frost Aura (Level 3): Chilling damage field. Iron Grip (Level 3): Enhanced weapon control.
Aelar spurred his mount, "Scatter and strike!"—no need to dictate more; Elara and Torin knew their roles. He charged, Frost Shroud cloaking him in mist, Ice Crafting a jagged lance mid-gallop—he hurled it, the Hammer Lord's warhammer smashing it apart, frost sparking. "Big swing!" Aelar taunted, Swordsmanship slashing his arm—armor dented, blood seeping.
Elara veered left, staff glowing—Frost Weaving conjured a frost lattice, not to trap but to tangle the Lord's legs—she spun, Mana Focus launching ice shards at his chest. "Slow down, ox!" she shouted, dodging a Hammer Shock—snow erupted, her agility keeping her clear as her staff cracked his knee with Staff Combat.
Torin rode right, "Gruk, ram!" The Frost Boar's Spine Charge slammed the Lord's side, spines piercing—Torin's Spear Mastery thrust, Beast Synergy piercing his shoulder. "Hit harder!" he roared, Endurance soaking a Frost Aura chill, Gruk biting his leg—armor cracked, blood dripping.
The Hammer Lord swung, Hammer Shock slamming down—Aelar rolled off his horse, Mana Manipulation steadying him as snow blasted outward. "Missed!" he yelled, Glacial Chains spiraling—not binding, but lashing his arms like whips, staggering him. Kaelith's Frost Howl stunned the Lord mid-swing, Blizzard Charge tearing his thigh—Ice Armor deflected a counter.
Guards clashed with the Order warriors—swords met daggers, frost clashing. The Lord roared, "You'll rot in the Depths!" Frost Aura flaring—Elara's frost lattice froze it back, "Not today!" she snapped, ice spear piercing his chest—scales cracked. Torin's spear followed, "Stay down!"—Gruk's charge crushed his knee.
Aelar darted in, "Your turn!" Frost Bite sank into his arm—mana surged back, cold and bitter—Ice Crafting a massive hammer mid-air, Swordsmanship smashing his chest—armor shattered, ribs snapping. The Lord fell, warhammer clattering, blood pooling as the Order broke, six fleeing—Kaelith downed one, Gruk another.
Aelar panted, "Sylvara, update."
Host: Aelar Frostveil
Ascension Tier: Exalted (Level 2)
Stats:
Strength: 102 (+2) Agility: 112 (+2) Intelligence: 82 (+2) Mana: 165 (+5)
Skills: Frostborn Legacy (Innate, Level 7) Glacial Chains (Level 10) Frost Bite (Level 3) Frost Shroud (Level 6) Mana Manipulation (Level 10) Ice Crafting (Level 8) Swordsmanship (Level 10) Beast Taming (Level 5)
The Depths Revealed
The squad regrouped, mounts snorting, the rift's edge looming—a gaping maw in the ice, mana pulsing from its depths, shadows writhing below. Aelar dismounted, stone flaring in his hand. "That's it," he said, voice steady. "The Frost Depths."
Elara slid off her horse, staff ready. "Feel that? Mana's thick—beasts down there."
Torin grunted, patting Gruk. "Big ones. Gruk's hackles are up."
Aelar peered in—faint roars echoed, shapes moving: a massive serpentine form with glowing eyes, a winged shadow, claws scraping ice—Legendary-tier, sealed but stirring. "Chaos Dragons," he muttered. "Theron wasn't kidding."
Elara frowned. "Stone's waking them—how do we seal it?"
"Find the source," Aelar said, clutching the stone. "Down there—Order's ahead of us."
Torin spat. "Trap, then. They'll be waiting."
"Count on it," Aelar replied, smirking. "We're not here to lose."
Into the Rift
Aelar led the descent, Kaelith scouting—ice walls towered, mana humming, the stone's pulse syncing with the Depths. Elara followed, frost mist trailing her staff—Torin and Gruk took the rear, spear tapping stone. The guards fanned out, blades drawn, silent but ready.
Aelar thought, "Sylvara, scan the squad—just in case."
Target: Elara Glintfrost
Ascension Tier: Master (Level 8)
Stats:
Strength: 44 (+2) Agility: 62 (+2) Intelligence: 66 (+1) Mana: 108 (+3)
Skills: Frost Weaving (Level 7) Mana Focus (Level 5) Staff Combat (Level 4)
Target: Torin Iceblade
Ascension Tier: Master (Level 9)
Stats:
Strength: 68 (+2) Agility: 54 (+2) Intelligence: 45 (+1) Mana: 62 (+2)
Skills: Spear Mastery (Level 7) Beast Synergy (Level 5) Endurance (Level 5)
Companion: Gruk Stats: Strength 74 (+2), Agility 48 (+2)
"No spies," Aelar murmured, relieved—they'd act on their own, as they should. A cavern opened ahead, ice pillars glowing, a faint altar pulsing with mana—the stone tugged toward it.
Elara whispered, "That's the lock—stone's the key."
Torin gripped his spear. "And the Order's the trap—look."
Shadows moved—twenty Order warriors, cloaked and armed, flanked an altar, their leader turning—a woman with red eyes, mana crackling. "Welcome, Frostveil," she purred. "The Depths thank you."
Aelar drew his sword, Kaelith growling. "Let's repay the hospitality."
Night's Edge
The cavern tensed, mana thick—Elara's staff glowed, Torin's spear gleamed, Gruk snorted, and the guards braced. Aelar smirked, "No orders—you know what to do."
Elara grinned, frost sparking. "Let's dance."
Torin laughed, "Gruk's hungry."
The stone pulsed, beasts roared below—a fight to seal the deep loomed.