Frozen Flames

Frozen Flames is an Odyssey Event, and the forty fifth in the series. It is scheduled to start on February 14, 2016 at 8:00 AM (PST) and end on February 17, 2016 at 7:59 PM (PST).

Feature Changes

 * New Event UR (Discreet) Imperial Maven Laverna is available before the start of the event in the Ascension Saga Card Pack.
 * An Animated UR Card as a Mega Lucky Ranking Reward

Odyssey Skill Cards

 * Yurelia, Rebel Princess (UR) Test of Strength Card. Gives 2x the Items regardless of Skill level. Gives 3x the Items when evolved with maxed out Skill.
 * Imperial Maven Laverna (UR) Boosts the number of Event Items acquired by up to 1.2x regardless of Skill Level.
 * (Advising) Imperial Maven Laverna (UR) 1.3x boost.
 * (Causal) Imperial Maven Laverna (UR) 1.4x boost.
 * (Probing) Imperial Maven Laverna (UR) 1.5x boost.
 * (Feared) Imperial Maven Laverna (UR) 1.6x boost.
 * (Unwed) Imperial Maven Laverna (UR) 1.7x boost.
 * (Turndown) Imperial Maven Laverna (UR) 1.8x boost.
 * (Nonaligned) Imperial Maven Laverna (UR) 1.9x boost.
 * (Certain) Imperial Maven Laverna (UR) 2.0x boost.
 * (Hex) Laverna the Invisible Hand (UR EX) 4.0x boost.

Story
"Um, Hero... We are still heading north, aren't we?"

It was not the first time Elimval had asked you such a question, and you nodded once more even as doubt crept into your mind. Although the weather was far from balmy, you expected the conditions to downright relentless. Instead, drops of melting snow could be heard falling from the evergreens in the glaring sunlight and even the blustery winds had eased into a gentle breeze.

It had been ten days since you joined a caravan of merchants to the extreme north region of Neotellus as their escort. The horses and wagons they provided gave a pleasant ride, but as the temperatures dropped, they changed over to sleighs which were prone to swaying and jostling. Even so, it was a marked improvement over your usual method of foot travel. However, about three days ago, you noticed that the temperature began to climb rather than fall. The snowbanks also appeared to shrink, the water mixing into the soil to create mud patches. That caused the long runners of the sleighs to become stuck as they started through the forest. While the merchants sought help from a nearby town, you and Elimval stayed behind to watch the merchants' freight.

"I thought that maybe spring was approaching, but if you said that rarely happens so early this far north then perhaps..."

Elimval mused over the cause to herself, but the sound of nearing hoof beats distracted her from those troubling thoughts and she beamed expectantly.

"Have they returned with help?"

However, the horses that appeared were bearing knights clad in battle-worn armor. From their sharp, trained movements, it gave them the appearance of maneuvering to flank the enemy during a skirmish in progress. They naturally noticed your presence, and one addressed you in a stern voice.

"What are you doing here?"

Shielding Elimval as a precaution, you explained the circumstances of your plight.

"I see... We better inspect the cargo, in that case."

As the goods were not your own, you protested, but they attempted to reassure they meant no harm.

"Have no fear. We are soldiers of Our Lordship Erich."

"Erich? Do you mean the Infern...? *Gasp*"

Elimval clasped her hands over her mouth, but it was too late. The dismounted soldiers stopped in their tracks and glared at her.

Erich was known far and wide as "the Infernal Warlord." He had quelled the never-ending discord in the north by forcibly uniting the clans. He was as belligerent as he was inexorable, and notorious for beheading those who slighted him unintentionally or otherwise.

"Ah, what I meant to say was...!"

Elimval began to panic, for it was common knowledge that Erich's forces shared his aggression. Fearing they would attack, you moved a hand to the hilt of your sword, but the one who appeared to be their captain broke pretense and grinned broadly.

"Relax, Our Lord has actually taken a liking to that name!"

She breathed a sigh of relief as they guffawed. You found their teasing in poor taste, but they had not done any harm.

"All right, no problem with the merchandise. Next, time to check the girl."

"Excuse me?!"

You and Elimval faced off against a wall of lascivious smirks.

"Hold on, look at how scrawny she is. There's no way she's got anything under there."

"You'd be surprised how much you can hide in a dress, especially down the front!"

They drew closer, laughing as they exchanged coarse comments. Now thoroughly disgusted by their manners, you gripped your sword again when a dignified voice rang out from the forest.

"Looks like the rumors are true -- Furious Warlord's soldiers are a bunch of animals... though I think most animals would take offense being compared to you scum."

A woman unlike any you had ever seen stepped from the grove. Her dress was a brilliant red that reflected upon the snow, but so scanty that it appeared to offer no protection from even the moderate chill. Yet more impressive was her hair fluttering in the wind, the left side coated in a silvery frost and the right shining with the sun's gold. She appeared as a manifestation of balance between opposing forces which lent her beauty another layer of incredibility.

"Quidral! We finally got you now!"

The soldiers unsheathed their blades in unison, eager to fight the newcomer.

"I'm sorry you two got wrapped up in their hunt; they were actually searching for me. Anyway, it's going to get awfully dangerous to be here in a moment, so you'd better get moving."

"What? But we..."

You and Elimval exchanged glances, unsure what to make of the situation. Meanwhile, Quidral turned her attention back to her aggressors.

"That goes for you lowlifes as well if you want to live and leer another day! No one's going to blame you for running from an unwinnable battle!"

"You dare mock us?!"

The enraged men charged at her recklessly, but in the next moment, a massive roar shook the timbers before a creature the size of two humans came barreling through them. It was covered in thick, bluish fur and forked antlers protruded from its head. Though its cranium was shaped like a deer's, its teeth were unmistakably that of a carnivore.

"It's the Dardorf! What's it doing here?!"

A soldier shouted in frightened disbelief. It was a feared monster of the north dubbed "the ruler of the wastelands." Roaring once again, it pounced upon the soldiers with astounding quickness, shredding the bodies of two of them with a single swipe of its claws.

"R-retreat!"

The captain shouted the order while running to mount his nervous steed and the others turned to follow. As they struggled to calm their horses, the Dardorf poised itself to leap again. However, you ran to its side and slashed at a hind leg before it could attack. It bellowed in pain as it collapsed to the ground, but quickly righted itself to face you.

"Why'd you have to go and save them?"

Quidral spoke with bewilderment, and Elimval explained:

"That's what the Hero does."

"Ah, so that's one of the legendary Heroes. I see..."

She gave a cunning smile as she watched you square off against the Dardorf. The beast sprang forward with a snarl, but you rolled to the side and swiped out in retaliation. Unfortunately, the thick pelt of the creature had protected it from the edge of your blade. Digging into the fur was akin to plunging your sword into a mound of soft clay. Now keenly aware of the challenge it posed, you readjusted your strategy. Nothing short of a solid blow to its vitals or its exposed extremities would cause injury, so defeating it would require creating an opening and striking with all of your might. But to your dismay, the Dardorf's nimble movements meant that you were rarely presented with the opportunity to do so.

"I believe in you, Hero! You can do it!"

Elimval offered her encouragement, possibly aware of your struggle. As your mind continued to race, the monster's head was abruptly engulfed in fire. It started to paw at the scorching flames in a vain attempt to extinguish them.

"Now's your chance!"

By the time you heard Quidral's cue, you had already taken action. As the beast faltered, you dove at its midsection and attacked with every ounce of your strength. It moaned in pain and buckled to its knees as it swept blindly with its claws. Your mercy in sparing the finishing blow was evident as you instead dodged its weakening slashes, but the rage in its eyes revealed it was yet unwilling to flee. However, after glowering at you for a moment, it bounded back into the forest. You remained on alert should the brute decide to leap out from behind cover, but the rustling of the brush spoke of its retreat and you were finally able to relax.

"Getting a beast revered as a god to turn tail was no small feat, you know..."

Soon after Quidral commended your efforts, she suddenly dropped to her knees, her face drenched in sweat and her breathing labored. Elimval immediately stooped down to check on her.

"Oh dear, are you unwell? You must be freezing in... Ouch, you're literally burning up! What's the matter?!"

She had brought a hand close to Quidral before reflexively jerking it away. It appeared her skin was hot enough to burn flesh, and the two of you gaped in awe as the snow melted around her.

"I'd suggest not getting too close. The fire within me has grown too strong."

"So were you the one who ignited that beast?"

"I didn't want the Hero to lose, that's all... but maybe my help wasn't needed."

Quidral smiled weakly before struggling to speak again.

"Actually, I thought that using my excess heat would relieve this pain, but that seems to have had the opposite effect. You see, I hold the powers of both flame and ice inside myself and I use them to keep the conditions of the land stable. However, my fiery side flared up even more when it started to get too warm around here. I knew right away who was behind it -- Erich. He commanded his wizards to begin gathering fire essence as part of some deranged plan to expand his territory."

"Would that explain why there's so little snow, too?"

Elimval looked back at the mud-bound sleighs.

"Exactly. He's completely destroyed the elemental balance, thawing the land much earlier than natural. Meanwhile, there isn't enough heat outside of the borders, so winter there has become abnormally harsh."

"But why would he do such a thing?"

"That's what I'd like to know myself. Maybe he's trying to freeze the few holdouts who refuse to join him. That definitely sounds stupid enough to be his idea, at least."

It appeared her opinion of him was rather low.

"I take it that you happen to know Erich... Is that right?"

Her reply was full of acrimony.

"I know he's nothing but a pig-headed tyrant. I warned him not to keep all of the heat for himself, but that fool won't listen to anyone whose tongue isn't dry from licking his boots. He called my advice "the ravings of a mad witch," then one thing led to another, and now there's a bounty for my capture."

Though Elimval seemed intrigued by the truncated details, she decided to restrain her curiosity.

"If this continues, then the winter outside will grow worse, which will cause all of the monsters there to migrate somewhere warmer..."

You and Elimval gasped in shock. That consequence had not occurred to you.

"How horrible! Is there any way to stop Erich or is it already too late?"

"I need to go to the largest volcano in the region, Mount Gehenna. It's source of all warmth here, and where the wizards are storing the gathered fire essence. I should be able to release it if I can get there, but I'm afraid there are already monsters on the move, not to mention other bounty hunters wanting to collect the price on my head. I'm not sure if I can make it there alone in my condition..."

"What do you think we should do, Hero?"

Elimval looked at you. It appeared she did not want to leave the merchants' caravan before it reached its destination. Yet while you weighed the options, your employers returned with a team of strapping men to help move the sleighs. Reassured that they found aid, you decided that helping Quidral should be prioritized, as doing so would avert widespread disaster. The merchants also agreed to your departure, and so the three of you started towards the volcano.

Chapters/Quests
* Energy * Encountered every 25th Footpath after reaching Footpath 100.