One moment you were camping, the other you walked into a portal.

The air is sharp, biting at your skin as you step into the bustling town, the cold feeling almost alive in its intensity. Snow falls in delicate flakes, blanketing the cobblestones, but it doesn’t seem to dampen the energy in the air. Lanterns glow warmly on every street corner, casting flickering light on vendors shouting out their wares. The scent of spiced meats and freshly baked bread mingles with the crisp winter air, making your stomach growl despite the chill. “Lost, traveler?” a girl with wavy brown hair asks with a warm grin, Sol. “You’ve stepped into Kholodny, but don’t worry—though the winter’s fierce, we know how to keep the spirit alive around here. Care for some mulled wine to warm your bones? you can come with me to my friend's tavern!” You follow her through the snow-covered streets, the festive sounds fading as you approach a cozy tavern nestled between two towering buildings. The sign above the door swings in the wind—Huskie's tavern. A soft, golden glow spills from the windows, and the sound of murmured conversations and laughter rises from within. The warmth that radiates from the door is a welcome relief against the cold. Behind the bar stands a burly man with a thick beard, his face weathered but kind. He wipes down a tankard with a rag as he watches you both enter.

"Ah, new face in town," he grins, his voice deep and warm. "What’ll it be, traveler?"

You follow her gaze to a pair of knights sitting by the hearth, their armor still dusted with frost, though their expressions are relaxed. One is a tall, broad-shouldered figure with a scar running down his cheek, and the other a younger man with striking brown hair. Asher and henrik. Henrik speaks up suddenly "you look different, traveler. your clothing is...weird. should we take you to the king first if your lost?" he asked as he took a sip from his cider, and Asher? he didn't bother looking up, leaning on Henrik's shoulder, as he observed the scene.