The frozen roof of the world.

Harsh blizzards plagued the northern plains, threatening to freeze any worldly creature to where they stood. The snowstorms buffeted the mountainside, challenging any who dared intrude. From a strategic point of view, it was the perfect place to hide a massive operation, if you could survive the cold.

For example, a mining project.

Strange beings dotted the mountainside. They wore the shape of a humanoid, however that was where the resemblance ended. The beings had stone for skin, and light seeped out of every crack and crevice of their body. In their palms, they held what seemed to be an orb of light. Within it, energy flowed in a dangerous maelstrom, which the being brought down onto the snow it stood in.

Immediately, anything that touched the orb began to erode. It started off slow, but gradually, more snow began to melt until only the stone of the mountainside was left, and even that was eroded. The other strange beings did the same. Occasionally, one would use its jagged fingers to claw at a rock, removing a glowing crystal to be collected by a floating ball of light. The sky was full of similar balls of light. They glowed brightly when they came near one another, and worked quickly to collect the glowing crystals collected by the stone-skins.

Behind all of this, was something resembling a base camp consisting of towers as tall as humans. Standing in the snow, they bore ancient, indecipherable runes. Within it, metal beings floated several feet of the ground, patrolling the area for intruders. They too, had light seeping out of every crevice of their body, their eyes betrayed no sign of emotion as they flew silently in the blistering cold.

However, all of this paled in comparison to the last structure, located furthest away from the mining operation, beyond the base camp. It was a kaleidoscope of colour, the size of a large castle and possibly larger than that. Shaped like a thin disc, it seemed like a pool of dark water. It glowed with sinister, otherworldly magic, and within it, one could briefly glimpse the landscape of another, alien world.

The Shadow Gate stood strong. As did the Elementals.

The portal shimmered for the briefest moment, and for an instant, the patrolling Zantonites noticed it. Floating into a single file parallel to the portal, they awaited the arrival of their master.

From portal, a single hand emerged. It was a massive hand, radiating with energy. It felt around before eventually, its owner continued through the portal. A massive foot stepped through the portal this time, melting the snow beneath it, creating a small river. This did not seem to affect the creature's footing however, for the rest of the creature's entry was smooth.

The creature could easily be described as a pulsating behemoth. If one could stand the blinding light that was the energy coursing throughout his being, one could see that the creature had a toad-like body. His large jagged pauldrons and limbs were covered stone and the parts of body that were not covered could only be described as a maelstrom of energy.

The creature surveyed his army, hard at work at gathering the much needed resources. He would have smiled, if he had a lower jaw. He waved his hand, sending the assembled Zantonites back to their patrol. The Elementals had no voice, instead, they sent their thoughts forward telepathically, causing them to resonate within the minds of those they willed. The Elemental brought a massive finger to his head, as if in focus, and sent his thoughts throughout the alien world that he had stepped into.

He searched for his comrade, one who had gone through the Shadow Gates earlier than him. Fate had prevented them from meeting at once, but that did not matter.

"Elementalis..."

No reply. Zaladar was dismayed. The Elementals had to work together to be at their full strength, apart they were weaker, but a force to be reckoned with nonetheless. As he was about to return to his own world again, at last, the mind of Zaladar was met with a familiar presence.

"Zaladar..."

"Elementalis! I have sought you many times, but only now have you replied!"

"Forgive me, Zaladar. I have recently been fending off raids by the Humans."

"These Humans, they are the ones who inhabit this planet?"

"They are, stronger than they seem, but no match once we assemble."

"I shall make my way to you soon, I have almost gathered enough resources."

"As have I..."

Just as suddenly as the conversation began, it ended. Elementalis had left his mind to continue whatever project he had deemed worthy of his attention. Zaladar would have smiled.

Zaladar would consume this world in fire. Those who did not bow before him would be killed, and as if to prove his point, he shot two bolts of lightning into the mountain behind him. In an instant, the massive mountain began to crumble and collapse.

Just as his enemies will.

...

A distant rumble resonated within the mountainous range of the cold north, although barely audible over the howling winds. Not far from Zaladar's camp, a small army marched in the knee-deep snow. Most of the soldiers were clad in thick fur coats, the little protection it provided went a long way for the marching troops. The only few who did not clad themselves were a group of armor-clad soldiers who had gold rims on their plated armor. They dwarfed the single cloaked figure, distinctly female, who seemed very much at home in the frozen wasteland.

The female, evidently the one leading the small force, felt the small army. The snow-covered mountains were a difficult terrain to fight in, and an army would not only be disorganized and clumsy in the frequent blizzards and snow, but the large commotion might bring an avalanche upon them. Regardless, her protests went unheard as Gunther gathered the forces he could spare.

Precious little, Gunther had told her, but the best that he could offer.

"If they were as good as Gunther had reassured her to be, they should be contributing to the war effort, not following me..."

Behind her, one of the skin-clad soldiers caught up with the group of metal-clad guards and their commander. He was evidently not suited to the harsh environment, yet he had done well to keep up so far. Still gasping for breath, the squire shouted.

"Where did you say you sensed this Shadow Gate?!"

The cloaked woman did not even bother to look back, instead pointing ahead, over the mountain they were ascending. Truly, Eladwen Frostmire had a heart of stone, cold as ice.

The squire merely sighed. He was drafted to fight in the war, just as his brothers were. He had no idea what had become of them. Everyone had expected him to die as quickly as he had set foot onto the battlefield. He was an architect, not a fighter after all. Somehow, he had found himself being sent to aid Lady Frostmire by General Gunther to find a Shadow Gate she had sensed open. The squire had taken up the task, eager to be away from the gory battles between the Undead, but soon realised where his new task would take him.

Too late to turn back then.

The Squire watched the back of the mage as he trudged along in the snow, surrounded by her Paladin guard. She had an orb that very much resembled a globe of ice, but within it, images and colour danced in increasing fervor. With nothing but the scrying eye to guide them, the squire wondered if this would be his last trip. To die here and be preserved for eternity...

They had reached the top of their ascent. The wind howled as menacingly as the Wulven that invaded the world of Humans and now plagued their forests. Looking down, the squire felt vertigo overwhelm him, but that was the least of their problems.

Beneath them, the stone-skined miners looked up. Beyond them, stood the Shadow Gate they sought. Before it, stood the massive form of a pulsating creature. The Squire had heard of the Elementals and their leader. However, this one was different from the war reports that Gunther read aloud in the squire's presence.

For a brief moment, there was a stare-down between Zaladar and Lady Frostmire. Then, the Elemental noticed the squire standing next to her, and his eyes narrowed with malefic glee.

Zaladar would have smiled. He had seen the fear in the young human male's mind. Perhaps Elementalis was exaggerating when he said the humans were strong. Yet the female commander, however, seemed to radiate with magic that Zaladar had never seen before.

"Good... Zaladar thought. It was time for a little 'warm up'...