Winter Eko

> "This feeling, It's a new high! I am the pinnacle of mortal power, an ascension of what defines a man!"
>
> Winter, to Ethiron shortly before landing the blow that sent him into submission.

## Relationships

### Other:

Lance Drameus (Best Friend)
Katara Jaegen (Close Friend)
Augest Vendet (Close Friend)

## Description

The Felinor founder of the Ruin Hunters. He's the last remaining member of the founders to still be active outside of the Depths, with Inari Ixatoki dead and Lance Drameus working with the Divers. He founded the guild in 1288, making Inari and Lance of equal rank to his to keep a checks and balance system. They set their focus on helping those in need.

## Early Life

Winter was born to Adrian Calico and Ashley Eko. His father died quickly after before marrying Ashley, leading to him taking his mother's last name. He grew up with an innate sense to detect harmful creatures, and speak with them on a spiritual level. He began training with a great sword under the watch of Etrean guards. When he was twelve his mother died due to a raid from authority, leaving him orphaned. He turned to crime to survive, getting exiled from Etrea. He was saved by a band of pirates, who he joined and began training under until he was seventeen, when the pirates were attacked by an Etrean ship. They lost the battle and he woke up on the shore of Etrea, now stranded in a nation that hates him, but doesn't remember him.

## Before First Era

At eighteen, he went on a solo expedition to Erisia, where he stumbled upon Duke Erisia's manor, and exploring it while being overzealous, he stole one of the artifacts from his lair, and attempted to escape, but was punished and thrown in a pit with golems, but they never attacked him, allowing him to escape. On his way back to his dinghy to place the artifact on to give to an antiquarian to examine it, he bumped into Inari Ixatoki. They got into a fight, in which Winter won, then they became friends. They began terrorizing Erisia as a powerful duo. They eventually ran into someone named Lance Drameus, who joined their little group. They named their group the Ruin Hunters, which eventually formed into the guild. There first recruit into the guild was a Katara Jaegen, who didn't travel with them yet, but stayed in Erisia, due to having interests there at the time. The trio sold the artifact to get money for a new ship, and used it to weather the storm and travel deeper into the Luminant, eventually setting anchor at Songseeker Isle. After a month of stay and training, Katara found her way there and regrouped with the three.

## First Era

They eventually departed Songseeker and travelled to Starswept Valley. They travelled the desert for a few weeks, weathering the constant berating sandstorms and nests of Threshers. They eventually travelled deep into the island, discovering a cave containing a massive spider. They killed her in a large valley nearly costing Winter his life. They recover from the injuries over a two week period, then continue back, discovering a shrine infested with Threshers. They clear it out, dealing with a King Tresher in the process. Finding a fountain in the facility, they feel compelled to wash their faces, doing so. They see no incentive in staying in a baron desert, they backtrack to leave the island, and upon getting back to the road in the fork, they take note that the massive door was now open. They enter, and stumble upon a fountain, which when observing they were brought to the presence of Greathive Aratel. They were welcomed in with looks, they didn't appear to be very trusted, yet gained trust as they helped around Starswept valley for around two years. A messenger was from Etrea was sent, warning them of a rise in Megalodaunts population, with Winter being requested to return due to being a big name in Etrea. Winter brought the rest of the Ruin Hunters to deal with this issue. Upon arrival Etrea was in despair, being ravaged by Megalodaunts. Lance, Inari, and Katara fought while Winter utilized his Mute Regalia to save countless lives that were buried in crowds of Megalodaunts. They met back up after the majority of Megalodaunts were killed, resting for a week before being summoned before Lord Regent. They were tasked with dealing with the Duke of Erisia. They are given the key to his manor, bringing Winter back to when he broke inside. They go there, and fight there way to the Duke, a massive fight erupts, causing their retreat. While escaping, the group came to the consensus Regent had plans that didn't include them. They thought that Lord Regent wanted to use them, and decided to escape to Miner's Landing to escape the watchful eyes of Etrea. Inari splits off on her own to gain power in the Crypt of the Unbroken Tomb at Minitrysa, wanting to get gear for the rest of the group to be prepared for what lies ahead. The rest of the three begin laying low in Miner's Landing, before hearing news from a guild member that was around Minitrysa that Inari was killed during a raid from Lord Regent's elite squadron. Winter leaves Lance and Katara on his own to go meet with Lord Regent after Inari's death. He arrives and fights his way to Lord Regent's presence. They have a chat about Lord Regent's ambitions, before they break out into a fight. Winter forces him on the retreat, and the fight ends with Winter getting stabbed through the back by a Royal Guard member, giving Regent the opportunity to hit a lethal blow.

## The Depths

Winter woke up in The Depths for the first time, he had heard tales of it but had never visited until now. Weighing his failure, and the death of his fiancé, he stared into the pitfall to the side of the central island. He saw other islands in the depths in the very far distance. He spent weeks travelling through the depths, eventually stumbling across a massive abandoned city, walled in. He began exploring it, before stumbling across bells all around the city. He began ringing them one by one. After ringing the last bell he heard a loud rumbling, and explored before finding a massive gate now opened. He entered and stumbled onto the elevator. He flipped the lever and ascended. He reached the top and godly voices spoke to him, calling him special. Another called him detestable. He was given an offer by these gods, they claimed if they could survive a trial, he could return to his body. He agreed, and immediately a species he recognized appeared, a Mudskipper. He killed it with ease, questioning if this was a joke. After a moment a light shined and a white and yellow creature spawned, it was also a pushover. Next was a Megalodaunt, and then a Thresher, and then a Dark Owl, after that a mechanical humanoid appeared, putting up a decent fight before falling. The god's scoffed at seeing him not struggle at all on their typical hardest enemy. They improvise, and a creature with a large bone for a head appeared, putting up a fight, causing Winter some harm. But it too fell. Lastly, a creature considered a nightmare of the world appeared. It was a yellow Nautilodaunt with a purple aura, lightning enveloping him. He let off a purple gas as he looked at Winter, tilting his head. Before Winter could prepare, the creature was in his face, dealing massive damage. Winter began on the counterattack, taking off one of it's limbs in the process. His sword was broken and he began exchanging blows. He fought back decently before the creature broke one of his arms, evening the playing field. Winter as a last resort made a Binding Vow with a part of his soul that concealed him from the Song, removing that part of his soul in exchange for a burst in power. This allowed him to kill the creature, leaving him severely injured and missing a part of his soul. The voices spoke to him, allowing him entry back to his body. He woke up with barely enough energy to get to the Guild's base, before entering a comatose for months.

## Second Era

Half a year later, he woke up in the guild base, missing a major part of his power.