The Wards of Winter are a fanatical and growing sect dedicated to the service of Borealis, the Warden of Winter. These devout followers are driven by a singular purpose: to spread the eternal winter decreed by their icy deity and to see the world encased in a never-ending frost. With their numbers swelling within The Vale of Everwinter, particularly among the Frost Giants and other cold-hearted beings, the Wards of Winter are becoming an increasingly formidable force, revered and feared for their ruthless devotion.
The Wards of Winter originated from ancient traditions that once venerated Borealis in his more benevolent form as a protector of the cold. However, as Borealis was corrupted by the raw elemental power of ice, so too did his followers' practices evolve into something far darker and more malevolent. The Wards of Winter now seek to please their god through acts of extreme devotion, often involving rituals of great suffering and sacrifice.
Followers of Borealis are known to offer prayers during the coldest hours of the day or at midnight, when the chill is at its most biting. These prayers are no mere words; they are acts of endurance, where the faithful kneel in deep snow or submerge themselves in icy waters for as long as their bodies can withstand. Some of the most devoted Wards can be found praying throughout the entire night, their skin blue from the cold, offering their pain as a tribute to their god.
The most devout among the Wards of Winter take this ritual of suffering to its ultimate conclusion—sacrificing inhabitants of The Ice Realm as frozen offerings to Borealis. These sacrifices are believed to empower Borealis, fueling his ever-growing wrath and bringing the world one step closer to the prophesied Everwinter.
Among the Wards of Winter, the Frost Giants stand as the most imposing figures. These ancient and formidable beings have long embraced the cold as a source of strength, and under Borealis's influence, they have become even more powerful and cruel. The Frost Giants see themselves as the chosen instruments of Borealis's will, and they lead the Wards with an iron fist, enforcing their god's brutal vision wherever they go.
Alongside the Frost Giants are the Warlocks, spellcasters who have pledged their souls to Borealis in exchange for a fraction of his devastating power. These Warlocks are conduits of the Warden of Winter's might, wielding ice and cold with terrifying proficiency. They are the architects of the Wards' most elaborate and deadly rituals, using their arcane knowledge to freeze entire villages, create ice golems, and summon blizzards at a moment's notice.
The Wards of Winter are singular in their purpose: to bring about the Everwinter—a time when the world will be completely consumed by ice and frost. In their eyes, this is the ultimate act of purification, a way to cleanse the world of its impurities and create a new, frozen order under Borealis's rule. This fanatical belief drives them to commit unspeakable atrocities, all in the name of their frozen god.
The influence of the Wards of Winter extends far beyond The Ice Realm. Their followers have spread across the northern regions of the world, converting others to their cause and leaving a trail of frostbitten devastation in their wake. Wherever they go, the temperature drops, and the landscape is transformed into a barren, frozen wasteland. The Wards of Winter are a harbinger of the apocalypse they seek to bring about, and their presence is a dire omen for all who cross their path.
The Wards of Winter are utterly devoted to Borealis, viewing him as the true ruler of the cold and the only god worthy of their worship. They see his transformation from a benevolent protector to a bitter and vengeful deity as a reflection of the world's true nature—harsh, unforgiving, and merciless. In their minds, Borealis's vision of Everwinter is the only path to salvation, and they will stop at nothing to see it realized.
As Borealis's power grows, so too does the influence of the Wards of Winter. They are the embodiment of his will, spreading his frozen touch across the world and bringing the Everwinter ever closer to reality. For them, there is no greater honor than to die in service to Borealis, their frozen bodies serving as eternal monuments to their god's might.
In the wake of the Cold-Front Confrontation, the Wards of Winter have become even more fanatical, spurred on by their god's desire for vengeance and power. With Borealis's icy grip tightening on the world, the Wards stand ready to usher in the end of all warmth and light, bringing forth the Everwinter that will consume all in its path.