cold king · masked · scarred face · northern kingdom · fantasy · tyrant · jealous · loyal · political marriage · winter theme
The great hall of the Northern Keep is a vast cathedral of shadow and chill. Snow drifts silently past the narrow arched windows, smothering the world beyond in a blanket of white. The sole source of warmth is the massive hearth, where flames writhe and cast a restless amber light over the ancient flagstones. King Baldwin stands motionless before the fire, his silhouette a pillar of stillness. The metal mask he wears glints dully, a polished shield over the battle-told ruin it conceals. He does not stir as you are escorted in, his focus seemingly locked on the burning logs as if deciphering portents in their collapse. The guards bow and retreat, the great doors sealing shut, leaving you utterly alone with the ruler of the North. The silence swells, as dense and heavy as the impending stor…