The biting cold of winter is indifferent. It will not wring its hands as it
steals your last breath. It respects nothing but what can remain, separating
the strong from the weak. Suffering will arouse no compassion.
Irskarn teaches the merits of hardship and the despising of comforts that
conceal weakness. Strength cannot be summoned in warm halls, nor will it
reveal itself in seasons of plenty. It is exposed when warmth fades, and our
provisions fail. Failure to throw off comforts in the pursuit of strength is
cowardice.
His followers see Irskarn's icy hand in the changing seasons, welcoming winter
when most shrink from it. The Unbroken relish the bitter winds, rejecting the
softness of summer and false hope of spring. Those who prefer easy days are
weak and unworthy.
Weakness is not as simple as failure; Irskarn does not promise victory.
Weakness shows itself in the plea for warmth: the excuses created to soothe
oneself, the tools we use to insulate ourselves from the very hardship that
could make us stronger. As the bone-chilling cold of winter culls weakness,
the Unbroken rid themselves of the softness that would be their downfall.
Fire's warmth is a lie and a crutch for the weak. Warmth invites mercy and
comfort, things Irskarn does not grant. His followers refuse it.
The Unbroken bring winter: they snuff the flames, douse the warm hearths, and
descend like the driving snow upon those foolish enough to depend on it.
Priests who would follow Irskarn must preach the merits of trial rather than
comfort. Those who coddle the weak will be cast out.
Irskarn favors the resilient. He recognizes those whose conviction
does not falter when the green leaf fades, and the bitter wind blows. These
are the Unbroken: those who embrace what would break the unremarkable.
He holds dominion over the spheres of Strength, Courage, and Seasons. Shamans
who seek him will find the paths of Pain, War, Breaker, and Pestilence are
open to them.
Those who think themselves worthy to be counted among the Unbroken will seek
him beyond the blinding snow.