Winter

**Winter** is a resident of Neqville and owner of The Frosty Flagon, the local tavern. Although he has only been within the kingdom for a few years, he refers to himself as a "veteran" of the area, this is due to the fact that a supposedly large portion of the people in Neqville are travelers.

## First Impression

Winter is seen almost always in a tired and weak slump due to his body's level of decay, and his voice is similarly raspy and short breathed. One who approaches him will feel a chill in the air that emanates from his body, and a closer look reveals the continuous ice that forms around his feet at every step.

## Personality

Blunt with his statements and cold with his tone, Winter isn't the most joyful, carefree or optimistic person to be around. He can be quick to judge at times and remains stubborn on his views, especially with the stranger people that enter his tavern and, even worse - demons. Winter has a difficult time containing his dislike for his own species as a glare is sent to most that dare enter his vision. Otherwise, he can actually be quite the quiet type. He treats his customers just fine, even if it's with a tired and/or moody frown, simply getting on with his work.

## Background

Rok was left to fend for himself in early teen years. He found a mentor in a demon named Das, who he quickly overtook in power. He learned and mastered the most powerful elemental spells, specializing in devastating ice magic. Rok quickly became one of the most feared murderers in northern hell, earning the nickname “The Cold Warlock”. He was responsible for The Great Massacre of the North, where he slaughtered countless, deserted an entire town and made a large portion of the land uninhabitable. Not long after, his bodyguard Das betrayed him, stabbing him in the back and heart before leaving him to die.

However, his days weren’t over yet. As a spirit he possessed his cold, dead body and took revenge, shortly after collapsing and remaining motionless for a long time. Thus, his name and legacy slowly faded and quieted down, as he was presumed dead by all. He only rose to his feet again once he heard an angry voice in the distance...

He soon escapes to earth, roaming it in a zombie-like state.

## In Neqville

As he was still known as Rok Sallow, he certainly was troublemaker at first, although his abilities were heavily limited due to his rough state. He found allies, and even some friends through his terrible first influence on the kingdom. Through many hardships, betrayals, wins and losses, conversations and realizations... Rok slowly began to deter from who he had always been. Perspective had changed and he began to realize what exactly he stood for. Mischief wasn't fun, violence was unnecessary, Rok had a select few people he cared for and wished to protect in the future.

Thus onwards, with inspiration from Stargazer and a nudge from Jack, he decided to leave the name Rok Sallow and all that name stood for in the past behind. He became Winter, a man with new aspirations and goals. Although he may never be able to entirely escape his past, he surely does his hardest to mend and move past it.

Now, behind the counter of Neqville’s tavern, you will find this icy demon in an exhausted, grumpy hunch. Winter’s body has been on an endless slow decay, and he currently has much struggle with even standing. His movements are slow, heavy and sluggish, making it difficult to perform his job as owner of the Frosty Flagon.

He seems to hate the kingdom he resides in, calling it “hell on earth”. However, it is the only place he has found himself to be accepted in, making it where he continues his undead life. Though he may never show it, the Frosty Flagon is all he needs to remain happy and content with his life and himself.

## Magic/Powers

Exceptionally skilled at ice magic, though controls magic of all elements. He has a range of spells he has learned throughout his years, which makes him very versatile in his abilities. His favourite use of his magic is forming his signature blade of ice to wield. With nothing being innate, every spell he performs is done with an incantation, however a few of his most used he has learned to incant in his mind.

## Relationships

### Das Huerta

Das Huerta is Winter's ex-bodyguard and tutor, and is responsible for Winter’s death when he betrayed him in the days of Rok Sallow. This leaves Winter to forever despise the guy, even if he took revenge upon Das immediately. He fears the ghost of his former partner in crime will come back to haunt him, which has once been proved may be the case - though not with any reason for fear.

### Wolf Sallow

The father of Winter, who was under the impression for a long time that his father had been killed in The Great Massacre of the North, though was proven wrong when he found Wolf had strayed close to Neqville by chance. The two severely dislike each other, and blame the other for all the wrong that has happened in their lives. Truth is, neither of them are in the right, which creates an endless quarrel neither can settle, which they don’t even care for or wish to mend.

### Serea Vanelcia

Serea and Winter are ex-lovers turned friends, though their relationship was barely even healthy to begin with. Winter continues to hold feelings for her even as he accepts the relationship should remain as is currently, whilst Serea seems quite over him and is happy where they are at now. Serea allows Winter to visit and stay at her home in Neqville anytime and likewise Winter allows her free access to the tavern's spare rooms. Winter is aware of the asshole he's been in the past and therefore lets Serea poke fun at him freely and without much complaint.

### Itchigo

Itchigo was Rok's best friend. Winter's? Not so much. While they got along when Winter was more chaotic and destructive, his transition didn't suit well to Itchigo. She didn't undergo the same change he did, so their views were now drastically different and their relationship broke altogether. Just when Winter was ready to accept that the two wouldn't get along ever again and that they should just go their own ways, Itchigo made it very personal when she burned and destroyed the Frosty Flagon from inside out. Now it appears their business won't ever be finished until either side has vanished from Neqville.

### Catherine Hale

There is nobody Winter respects more. Catherine, with some little help on the side from former king Jack HeartThorn, are the people Winter has to thank for his transition away from Rok Sallow and into the person he is now. His relationship with Catherine has been a long journey from where it started, as he formerly resented her on multiple occasions about the topic of who and what he was at the time. While they don't see each other all the time, when Winter partakes in conversations with her he does it with an otherwise rare smile.

### Mrithun Webb

To Winter, Mrithun passed off as a regular customer seen within his tavern, but the neutral relationship took a turn when Mrithun destroyed his property and wounded a close friend. Winter is aware that the man has far changed since then, but refuses to forgive him for what he has once done. This makes Winter question his hypocrisy, as he was a bad man who underwent change, too. Things don't get much better with Ghosty, although the icy demon is left more confused with that one.

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*Author: Giragira*