Touch of Winter
Something cold and sinister is spreading through the Sabrelands and the Forest of Frost. Winter. It is affecting the Spirits of the Old Beliefs and turning them against "civilization".
Causes
The Touch of Winter is something that can be bestowed by the Zima Spirits, and the tale of Morozko and the two Maids talks about how Father Frost rewarded the polite sister with gifts but punished the rude sister by freezing her to death with the Touch of Winter.
Symptoms
The creature’s alignment changes to evil and it gains the cold subtype.
Special Attacks
Numbing Cold (Su) Any creature hit by a winter-touched creature’s attacks (natural or weapon) must succeed at a Fortitude save or be staggered for 1 round. The save DC is Constitution-based.Treatment
The fading effects of the Touch of Winter can be held off by Lapti shoes, and a creature can be further bound into its domain using abjuration and holding spells, but it is not known whether there is a cure for the condition. Some believe that a wondrously good Healer might be able to surgically remove the shard of unmelting ice that encloases the spirit's heart. Others think the best course of action would be to discover the origins of the magical effect, and look for a cure at the source.
Show spoiler
The Snow Maiden who has been puting the curse on the spirits doesn't actually have a way to remove the curse personally, since her Family has never thought to remove the curse once placed.
The true cure is to find a source hot enough to melt the unmelting ice while magical enough to protect the spirit while heating it (perhaps a Zmei or the legendary Firebird).
The true cure is to find a source hot enough to melt the unmelting ice while magical enough to protect the spirit while heating it (perhaps a Zmei or the legendary Firebird).
Prognosis
The Touch of Winter initially puts the spirit into a hibernation-like state, where they are unable to observe their usual rituals associated with their domain. This seperates them from their essence, making them more volatile. If disturbed, the spirit will lash out at anyone who is not themselves a Spirit of the Old Beliefs (although certain magical, particularly symbolic items might protect a creature - for example the Rubakha of the Mushroom Kingdom protects Baboushka from the attacks of Winter-Touched Leshies).
As the separation takes hold, the unmelting ice crystal lodged in the spirit's heart has a chance of freezing the heart solid. This creates a permanent severing of the creature's animism bond, and if the spirit is not strong enough, it will fade out of existance (just as if it had left of its own accord) leaving only the unmelted ice behind. Wearing lapti shoes, or having a high enough will or connection to its domain, protects the creature from this late stage fading.
