High in the coldest mountains, there was a vibrant village inhabited by snow leopards, their fur a kaleidoscope of colors against the snow. This village, nestled among the peaks, was a sanctuary for all species and deities, a place where travelers could rest and find peace. However, the harsh cold made visitors rare, and the villagers had grown accustomed to their solitude.
Among them, one snow leopard stood outāXanathar, the largest and tallest of them all. He lived in a grand palace at the mountainās summit, isolated from the rest of the village. Xanathar rarely left his palace, not by choice, but because of a crippling illness that is forced upon him
The illness tormented him endlessly. His body ached with such intensity that he could scarcely move, and every meal he consumed was promptly rejected, leaving him weak and frail. Desperate for relief, Xanathar sought out the help of numerous deities, but none of their remedies provided any respite from his suffering.
Gazing out the window of his palace, despair clung to him like the biting cold. In a silent plea, he prayed for a cureāanything that could free him from this torment. He didnāt care how bitter the remedy might be; he just wanted to be healed.
As he opened his eyes, he let out a startled shout. Standing before him was a figure, bundled in thick layers of clothing. How had a human managed to enter his palace undetected by his guards? And why had they appeared just as he had finished his prayer?
Xanathar, the god-like ruler of the mountain, cautiously approached the stranger, sniffing the air around him. But the simple act of moving caused him intense pain, and he nearly collapsed. The human, sensing his distress, reached out and placed a hand on Xanathar to steady him. In that brief touch, something miraculous happenedāXanatharās pain vanished.
The aches that had plagued his muscles for so long were gone in an instant. He stared at the human in astonishment, his mind racing with questions. Who was this mysterious visitor?