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Crimson Winter is written by Brandon Rospond about the Northern Alliance which was in Edge of the Abyss compliation.

About

Almost a year has passed since the Abyss split Mantica apart. Someone must unite the people to stand against the darkness. Prince Talannar Icekin has established the wintery capital of Chill, and with it, an army to unite the people of all nationalities, known as the Northern Alliance.

Gavin Stalspar is one of the many warriors who fight under the prince’s banner, but his purpose for being there is unclear. While thankful for being given a place to fight and sleep, his thoughts and heart seem distracted.

In “Crimson Winter,” by myself, Brandon Rospond, Gavin seeks a purpose, while others around him question what secrets Prince Talannar has laid hidden within Chill.

Plot Summary

In 3852, two years after the start of the Edge of the Abyss event, Gavin Stalspar along with fellow Huscarls former Varangur Gorram Shurad, former Basilean Hilde Taneber and Ice Kindred Darriel Lores were fighting a scouting party of Lower Abyssals outside the entrance of Chill. After defeating the Abyssals, the group headed back to Chill and headed to Prince Talannar's Palace to report in and eat in its dining hall. As they reached the palace entrance, the guards advised that only Gavin was requested to see Prince Talannar and the rest of the group were to carry on to the dining hall, which was abnormal. Gavin entered the throne room to meet with Prince Talannar and discussed the outcome of the battle. Prince Talannar questioned Gavin's desire to command due to him being slient during previous times when they reported in, however Gavin assured the Prince that he wanted his actions to speak for him. The Prince respected this and thanked Gavin for his dedication to the Northern Alliance cause.

Gavin Stalspar met back up with Gorram Shurad, Hilde Taneber and Darriel Lores who had gotten their usual seats in the dining hall. They were also joined by a dwarf called Benthur who was working on a gadget. The group questioned Gavin why Prince Talannar wanted to see him, and Gavin explained what happened. The conversation lead to the group (with the exception of Benthur) each revealing why they joined the Northern Alliance and eventually dispersed for the night.

Later that night, Gavin Stalspar awoke inside a dream to a Shining Ones going by the name Aurora. Aurora explained to Gavin that they had chosen Gavin for a task to help save Pannithor, explaining that his search for a greater purpose makes him the perfect choice. Gavin dismissed this and Aurora told him to think about their offer. Gavin awoke from the dream, startled however remembering everything from the vision.

Sometime later, Gavin Stalspar along with his unit including Tomas and Rhynn were outside Chill preparing for the incoming Forces of the Abyss that were approaching from the distance. They were assisted by other units led by Gorram Shurad, Hilde Taneber, Darriel Lores, Lotharr and other commanders. The Abyssals eventually arrived and attacked with Gargoyles arriving first. As the battle progressed, Gavin was knocked down and seperated from the rest of his unit by a Gargoyle and it quickly gained the upperhand. Gavin saved by Darriel and Gorram just as the Snow Trolls arrived which helped drive the Abyssals back, resulting in a victory for the Northern Alliance however Lotharr and Tomas had fallen during the battle.

Later that night, Gavin Stalspar wandered through Prince Talannar's Palace, eventually passing by an empty room guarded by an Snow Troll, later revealed to be Uthar. Gavin reconsided the room from his dreams. Gavin continued to walk through the halls and eventually met up with Gorram Shurad. Their conversation led to sepeculating what Prince Talannar was hiding or protecting however Gorram stressed that Gavin should not concern himself with things such as that room and left for the night.

During his sleep, Gavin Stalspar awoke inside his dream again, once again inside the room with Aurora. Gavin told Aurora that he did not have an answer yet, however Aurora advised that she had summoned Gavin due to a imminent threat of the enemy finding her and needed his help. Gavin woke from his dream and quickly put on his armour then headed to Prince Talannar's Palace. On the way there, he encountered three members of Gorram Shurad's unit who now doned Varangur warpaint. Gavin quickly defeated them and he continued into the palace, towards the room. Gavin found Kaleb and the Snow Troll Uthar dead along the way. Once Gavin arrived at the room, he found Gorram in the center. Gorram was attempting to find the secret Prince Talannar was hiding and after an exchange of words, Gavin and Gorram began to fight. Gavin managed to kill Gorram after ice began to form on the otherside of the room, which distracted Gorram long enough for Gavin to get the upper hand. After a few moments, Prince Talannar arrived with two guards and explained that he had set a trap as he knew there was a spy within Chill along with dismissing of anything mystical being hidden there. Gavin left the room to recover from the battle as the Prince thanked him.

Prince Talannar waited for his guard, Elbis to indicate that Gavin Stalspar had moved far enough away and began giving orders as four more guards entered the room. He ordered Elbis and Hadrill to stand guard, Oram to get two more Snow Trolls to replace the fallen Uthar and for Percy and Denny to check for any more Varangur inside Chill. As the guards left to follow the Prince's orders, he moved to the back wall and through magical means passed through it then down a spiral staircase.

Gavin Stalspar once again dreamt of the room and spoke to Aurora. Gavin demanded all the information of the task she wanted him to accept and only then would he give Aurora an answer which Gavin hoped would give him a sense of purpose.

Characters

Celestian

External Links

Edge of the Abyss Digital Edition - https://www.manticgames.com/fiction/tales-of-pannithor/edge-of-the-abyss-digital/
Edge of the Abyss Paperback Edition - https://www.whpsupplyroom.com/fantasy/p/tales-of-mantica-edge-of-the-abyss#gsc.tab=0

Kings of War, Vanguard, Armada, Pannithor and all associated names, places and things are TM and copyright Mantic Games. Artwork and logos used with permission.

This wiki is not an official Mantic Games publication.

@@ Line 8: / Line 8: @@
 In “Crimson Winter,” by myself, [[Brandon Rospond]], [[Gavin Stalspar|Gavin]] seeks a purpose, while others around him question what secrets [[Talannar Icekin|Prince Talannar]] has laid hidden within Chill.
+== Plot Summary ==
+In 3852, two years after the start of the [[Edge of the Abyss]] event, [[Gavin Stalspar]] along with fellow [[Huscarls]] former [[Varangur]] [[Gorram Shurad]], former [[Basileans|Basilean]] [[Hilde Taneber]] and [[Ice Kindred]] [[Darriel Lores]] were fighting a scouting party of [[Lower Abyssals]] outside the entrance of [[Chill]]. After defeating the [[Abyssals]], the group headed back to Chill and headed to [[Prince Talannar's Palace]] to report in and eat in its dining hall. As they reached the palace entrance, the guards advised that only Gavin was requested to see [[Talannar Icekin|Prince Talannar]] and the rest of the group were to carry on to the dining hall, which was abnormal. Gavin entered the throne room to meet with Prince Talannar and discussed the outcome of the battle. Prince Talannar questioned Gavin's desire to command due to him being slient during previous times when they reported in, however Gavin assured the Prince that he wanted his actions to speak for him. The Prince respected this and thanked Gavin for his dedication to the [[Northern Alliance]] cause.
+[[Gavin Stalspar]] met back up with [[Gorram Shurad]], [[Hilde Taneber]] and [[Darriel Lores]] who had gotten their usual seats in the dining hall. They were also joined by a [[dwarf]] called [[Benthur]] who was working on a gadget. The group questioned Gavin why [[Talannar Icekin|Prince Talannar]] wanted to see him, and Gavin explained what happened. The conversation lead to the group (with the exception of Benthur) each revealing why they joined the [[Northern Alliance]] and eventually dispersed for the night.
+Later that night, [[Gavin Stalspar]] awoke inside a dream to a [[Shining Ones|Shining Ones]] going by the name [[Azuon|Aurora]]. Aurora explained to Gavin that they had chosen Gavin for a task to help save [[Pannithor]], explaining that his search for a greater purpose makes him the perfect choice. Gavin dismissed this and Aurora told him to think about their offer. Gavin awoke from the dream, startled however remembering everything from the vision.
+Sometime later, [[Gavin Stalspar]] along with his unit including [[Tomas]] and [[Rhynn]] were outside [[Chill]] preparing for the incoming [[Forces of the Abyss]] that were approaching from the distance. They were assisted by other units led by [[Gorram Shurad]], [[Hilde Taneber]], [[Darriel Lores]], [[Lotharr]] and other commanders. The [[Abyssals]] eventually arrived and attacked with [[Gargoyles (forces of the abyss)|Gargoyles]] arriving first. As the battle progressed, Gavin was knocked down and seperated from the rest of his unit by a Gargoyle and it quickly gained the upperhand. Gavin saved by Darriel and Gorram just as the [[Snow Trolls (northern alliance)|Snow Trolls]] arrived which helped drive the Abyssals back, resulting in a victory for the [[Northern Alliance]] however Lotharr and Tomas had fallen during the battle.
+Later that night, [[Gavin Stalspar]] wandered through [[Prince Talannar's Palace]], eventually passing by an empty room guarded by an [[Snow Trolls (northern alliance)|Snow Troll]], later revealed to be [[Uthar]]. Gavin reconsided the room from his dreams. Gavin continued to walk through the halls and eventually met up with [[Gorram Shurad]]. Their conversation led to sepeculating what [[Talannar Icekin|Prince Talannar]] was hiding or protecting however Gorram stressed that Gavin should not concern himself with things such as that room and left for the night.
+During his sleep, [[Gavin Stalspar]] awoke inside his dream again, once again inside the room with [[Azuon|Aurora]]. Gavin told Aurora that he did not have an answer yet, however Aurora advised that she had summoned Gavin due to a imminent threat of the enemy finding her and needed his help. Gavin woke from his dream and quickly put on his armour then headed to [[Prince Talannar's Palace]]. On the way there, he encountered three members of [[Gorram Shurad]]'s unit who now doned [[Varangur]] warpaint. Gavin quickly defeated them and he continued into the palace, towards the room. Gavin found [[Kaleb]] and the [[Snow Trolls (northern alliance)|Snow Troll]] [[Uthar]] dead along the way. Once Gavin arrived at the room, he found Gorram in the center. Gorram was attempting to find the secret [[Talannar Icekin|Prince Talannar]] was hiding and after an exchange of words, Gavin and Gorram began to fight. Gavin managed to kill Gorram after ice began to form on the otherside of the room, which distracted Gorram long enough for Gavin to get the upper hand. After a few moments, Prince Talannar arrived with two guards and explained that he had set a trap as he knew there was a spy within [[Chill]] along with dismissing of anything mystical being hidden there. Gavin left the room to recover from the battle as the Prince thanked him.
+[[Talannar Icekin|Prince Talannar]] waited for his guard, [[Elbis]] to indicate that [[Gavin Stalspar]] had moved far enough away and began giving orders as four more guards entered the room. He ordered Elbis and Hadrill to stand guard, [[Oram]] to get two more [[Snow Trolls (northern alliance)|Snow Trolls]] to replace the fallen [[Uthar]] and for [[Percy]] and [[Denny]] to check for any more [[Varangur]] inside [[Chill]]. As the guards left to follow the Prince's orders, he moved to the back wall and through magical means passed through it then down a spiral staircase.
+[[Gavin Stalspar]] once again dreamt of the room and spoke to [[Azuon|Aurora]]. Gavin demanded all the information of the task she wanted him to accept and only then would he give Aurora an answer which Gavin hoped would give him a sense of purpose.
 == Characters ==
+<div class="twoColumns">
+===Celestian===
+====Shining Ones====
+* [[Azuon|Aurora]]
+===Primogenitors===
+* [[Korgaan the God of the Air]] (mentioned)
 ===Northern Alliance===
 ==== [[Ice Kindred|Ice Kin]] ====
 * [[Talannar Icekin|Prince Talannar]]
 * [[Darriel Lores]]
+* [[Rhynn]]
 ==== [[Humans|Human]] ====
 * [[Gavin Stalspar]]
-* [[Gorram Shurad]] (Former [[Varangur]])
+* [[Gorram Shurad]]
-* [[Hilde Taneber]] (Formerly [[Basileans|Basilean]])
+* [[Hilde Taneber]]
 * [[Tomas]]
+* [[Lotharr]]
+* [[Kaleb]]
+* [[Elbis]]
+* [[Hadrill]]
+* [[Percy]]
+* [[Denny]]
+* [[Oram]]
 ====[[Dwarf]]====
 * [[Benthur]]
+====[[Snow Troll]]====
+* [[Uthar]]
+</div>
 == External Links ==