"Ice contains no future, just the past, sealed away. As if they're alive, everything in the world is sealed up inside, clear and distinct. Ice can preserve all kinds of things that way—cleanly, clearly. That's the essence of ice, the role it plays."
— Aslanth, the Lord of Ice, Cold, and Winter
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Aslanth, the merciless god of cold and winter, is worshiped mostly in regions that are affected by deep winters. Folk propitiate Aslanth with offerings and prayers for mercy. His priests warn others to prepare for winter, and to stock extra provisions in order to have some to spare as offerings to the god.
Few favor Aslanth except for those who make their livelihood from winter or those who truly love the season. His rare priests tend to be folk who would, but for their status, likely be outcasts from their communities. They practice celibacy and remain aloof from others when not serving in their official capacity.
In Illaon, visitors gather at the Winter Cathedral to watch the frequent "wet runs", a ritual in which supplicants don garments packed with ice.
They then journey between six white pillars known as the Armaments of Aslanth, which are dispersed throughout the city. The worshipers move from pillar to pillar, chanting prayers to the god. Upon reaching a pillar, a supplicant must climb it and then "slay the lord", crushing the monument to Zekiel at the top.
In winter, these events resemble frantic footraces, with the added risk of frostbite and injuries caused by falling from the slippery pillars. The parade runners are cheered on by patrons who come out of nearby taverns to place bets on the stamina of the participants. Those who finish the race are thought to have helped make the winter easier, and they rarely have to pay for food or ale all winter long.
Depiction
Aslanth takes the form of a young teenage boy, draped in clothing designed to protect against the biting cold (taking cues from Zyraitixian fashion). His hair falls below his eyes in an enchanting black, and his glowing blue eyes are representative of the chill of winter.
He is often described to be "an ice queen", due to his expressionless and cold nature. Whether this moniker was given to him by Zekiel is still up for debate.
Enemies
Aslanth's primary enemies are those under the banner of the Betrayers. Despite this, Aslanth rarely engages in discussion that involves the organizations, mostly due to the fact that he considers himself A above such "useless debates", and he only joined Oath in the first place as a result of Ceres's suggestion.
Beyond that, Aslanth has declared his archnemesis is Zekiel, the Lord of Life and Shadows. Likewise, Zekiel has returned the favor, expressing Aslanth to be his rival. It appears their mutual dislike of the other was born from some argument in the distant past, although it appears both would like to keep that aspect of their history a secret.
Commandments of Aslanth:
- Though the winter is long and harsh, it is not altogether evil.
- With the coming of winter, frosts are harsh dangers and frigid creatures arrive not found in the summer. It is your duty to protect the innocent from these perils.
- While your goal of preserving the entire world is your greatest cause, your allies must be preserved as well. Your wounds will heal, theirs might not.