Borealis's Breath

The sting of the blade in her back took her by surprise. The opponent in front of her merely grinned, spreading their hands wide.
"Ah, opportunity presents itself."
"S-Scum!"
The blade pressed deeper, the chill of the steel invading her body so much greater than the bite of the snow into which her fingertips sunk. At some point she had fallen forward onto the ground, the strength of her legs stolen by that venomous strike.
"Leave her, we have our mission."

A snarl curled across her lips, frustration and anger sending adrenaline through her veins. Surely she could right this. Surely she could bid her body to rise so she might strike down the dishonorable dogs who dared sully vitreous combat with their underhanded tactics.
But her hand no longer seemed able to close around the spear fallen to the way side. It was a struggle to even keep her eyes open as the warmth leaked into a pool beneath her.

A breath.
Everything was cold..so cold.
For just a moment...she just needed to close her eyes for a moment and regain her strength.

No second breath came.
The sun was the only witness to this lone warriors death and as it slowly sank below the horizon a soft flutter of snow began to fall, like gentle tears to mourn what was lost. Soon darkness took the sky and the falling snow became indistinguishable from the twinkling stars. Slowly the moon rose, but it would find itself witness to something entirely different, as a second breath came.

Summary

Borealis's Breath is a phenomenon that occurs when a solider falls on a snow covered battlefield and is returned to life to fulfill their lingering ambitions. This process is notably different from other forms of undeath: the risen retains all sense of its former self and appears unbeholden to any will but their own. Many denizens of Kurinko believe this to be merely a myth; a story told to comfort warriors who worry their deaths will be meaningless.

Historical Basis

Borealis - the namesake of the tale - was a warrior of great renown in ages past, not just for their prowess in combat but also for how deeply involved in politics they were as the Empress' defender. With no known rival, Borealis was able to disrupt a number of attempted coups, much to the frustration of the Empress's detractors. Desperate to dispose the Empress, two factions joined hands in trapping Borealis and in the end the limited stamina of a mere mortal could not compete against sheer numbers. Borealis was killed dishonorably, their battered body left to freeze in the bottom of a gorge, denied even a proper burial.
Two nights after Borealis's death, with the Empress still mourning the loss of her champion, the nefarious traitors aimed to strike her down. Yet before the final blow, they were attacked by a creature with opalescent skin, glowing eyes and hair as white as fresh snow. It was Borelias, risen from death by their unwavering devotion to the Empress.

Spread

Most, but not all, provinces are aware of this legend but there are a precious few who can vouch for its authenticity. Those who have crossed paths with a Yuki, one who has risen in such a manner, are unlikely to speak of it.

Variations & Mutation

The most common variation of this myth are the tales of artinixes. These creatures are strikingly similar to phoenixes, born of snow and cold rather than flame. Artinixes are believed to be the souls of those lost in snowstorms, reborn as icy birds to guide anyone trapped in nature's tempestuous grasp to safety.

In Art

In the imperial castle there is a tapestry woven from the finest silks that depicts a white haired warrior with blue skin and purple eyes wielding an Ōdachi. It is the pinnacle of historic craftsmanship, created by a weaver whose complex and ancient techniques have since been lost to history

Related Items

• Snow Maiden's Veil