Frost Maiden

Overview

Frostmaiden are one of the few powerful people in the Northern Realms besides the Ember Lords, the male ones, blessed with the power of fire from the Ember King. The Frostmaidens are - if deemed worthy - sent back to life with the powers of wind and ice.

There are only a few, but their powers are strong. And the sacrifice to get them as well. You might want to read a bit about it when you pay the Frost Queen a visit.

Training

The Frostmaidens are occasionally up to five women from each of the villages surrounding a Frostmaiden who isn't working in the field but providing lessons and guidance, mostly one of the older Frostmaidens. They train the younger women in different areas of knowledge, mostly things of the body, crafting, smithing - yes, smithing - tending to the wounded, writing and reading at least three languages and other things which might come in handy.

After roughly ten years the women are brought before the Cold Maiden, the oldest and wisest of the Frostmaidens. She will choose the women who might be ready to die and to get chosen by the Frost Queen.

Becoming a Frostmaiden

Yes, you read correctly. To become the final version of a Frostmaiden you need to die. The process of dying is simple: drown. It is harsh and final enough that only the toughest and strong-willed trainees are pushing through.

After the Cold Maiden has chosen the women who are going to die they set a date and a place, mostly a frozen lake, sometimes a cave and on rare occasions a river.

The task is easy: go into the cold water, start to breathe and die. Most trainees instantly drown because of the cold water, others struggle for a while.

Preparations are simple. Get your things in order and bring some clothes with you. At the shore of the lake/river/cave the Cold Maiden and her assistants prepared a hot bonfire, drinks, foods and blankets. For what comes out of the water after the resurrection process. The entire process is described in the article covering the Frost Queen, seen above.

Most soon-to-be Frostmaiden choose to die in her favourite undergarments and dresses so they are pretty for the afterlife if they don't get chosen. Some are going into the cold water naked so they have warm clothes when they are coming out of it. And if not, well... in the afterlife are only women, so no need to hide anything.

"What are you doing?"
"I... don't want to get my clothes wet."
"That is why we have the fire."
"Yes and when I come back the mead and my clothes are warm."
"You might need them."
"Eh, we are all women there, so why do I need them? And if the Frost Queen can't provide a dress for me she isn't my queen after all."

Life after resurrection

If a Frostmaiden is chosen by the Frost Queen and sent back to the mortal realm, the woman has drastically changed. Her skin has turned to a slight blue, her eyes are blue - if they weren't it before, they are now - and her body temperature has decreased by around ten degree celsius which is normally a hyperthermia. She even feels a bit cold when somebody touches her.

The powers of a Frostmaiden are trained in an isolated area with another experienced Frostmaiden. When she can control her powers - which may take between three months to six years - she gets her first and sometimes only assignment from the Cold Maiden. That varies from being an advisor in a remote kingdom, gathering knowledge, defending the Northern Realm or become a Mortal God to slay the enemies of Koria in the Spiral. They are free to take on their assignment in their own way and time.

A Frostmaiden in action is a sight to behold when an entire army is swallowed by a blizzard. In the desert. In broad daylight.

Type

Arcane