The Song of Winter's Mistress Once a Vernal infant Slept 'tween greening boughs a'swayin' With eyes dimm'd but far sight giv'n Her fate tied to watchin' Killian's Gate A life promis'd to keep balance a'weigh'n She sees what cannot be spied And kens what cannot be know'd Standin' fast 'gainst the risin' dark tide She walks where the Frost Heart is sew'd Grew to Summer's child Frolic'd 'neathe the warm sun a'shinin' Came up a carefree an' wild beauty Nev'r mindin' what was said or done Her unbrok'd spirit with her people align'n She sees what cannot be spied And kens what cannot be know'd Standin' fast 'gainst the risin' dark tide She walks where the Frost Heart is sew'd Left an Autumnal bride Lain 'midst a bed of brown leaves a'fallin' Her love tak'n early by Sovereign hand Writ plainly in the pages of Heaven's book A solitary life's work a'callin' She sees what cannot be spied And kens what cannot be know'd Standin' fast 'gainst the risin' dark tide She walks where the Frost Heart is sew'd Raised to Winter's mistress Aegis 'gainst the icy wind a'blowin' With her family's ancient Index guid'n And her solemn monks at the ready The days gone an' comin' she's a'knowin' She sees what cannot be spied And kens what cannot be know'd Standin' fast 'gainst the risin' dark tide She is Winter's Mistress, our fortress abode There is a story the people of the Northern Marches tell. The story of Winter's Mistress: a blind Sovereign Lady, gifted with telekinesis, whose defiant spirit has kept the mountainous region free from Sovereign control for decades. She is a direct descendant of Lord Killian himself and is the last Keeper of Lord Killian's Gate. With her devoted monks, and assisted by an ancient sentient artifact named Index, she safeguards the mythical inter-dimensional portal, concealing it from all who would use it for their own nefarious purposes. Watching over the region from her mountaintop citadel, she ventures forth when need arises -- bringing food and supplies to snow-bound villages, protecting settlements from barbarian raiders, healing the sick and wounded. To the people of the Northern Marches, the sight of her airship, Wanderer, approaching is a most welcome sight. To the Sovereign, Lady Killian is something completely different -- a treasonous rebel who openly defies the Sovereign Emperor and his expansionist agenda. Known to them as the Bitch of the North, she and her monks are the sole reason the Sovereign lost the gruesome Battle of Black Metal Ridge and were ultimately defeated by The Uprising. The telling of the story of Winter's Mistress ends with a description of a rare and beautiful flower the people of the Northern Marches call the Frost Heart. The flower appears in early Winter, after the first snowfall. Pushing its blooms through the snowpack, the hearty flower claims its place amidst the bright Winter sunshine and prospers. This is the defiant spirit that is embodied in Lady Katrin Killian -- Winter's Mistress. #Steampunk #TheAirshipAndalusia