It’s a chill winter afternoon, but the atmosphere at Trotter’s Bar is as warm and welcoming as ever. You sit down at the front and order a hot apple cider from Barley Tender, who seems glad to see you.
“Hey there, I’m glad you showed up!” He says. “I got a letter from Yona Yak this morning, inviting me to join her for the annual Snilldarfest celebrations in Yakyakistan! She said I could invite a friend, so I was wondering if you’d like to join me.” You think it over as you take a sip of cider; it would be nice to get out of town for a day, and Yona’s told you many tales of the singing, stomping and smashing fun she’s had at Snilldarfest… So yeah, why not?
“Great!” Barley cheers. “Meet me back here first thing tomorrow!” The next morning, you grab your warmest jacket and a travel bag before setting out to Trotter’s to greet Barley.
“Oh, you made it! Great!” Barley reaches into his bag and pulls out a sheet of paper. “Yona included a map to Yakyakistan, so just follow me and we’ll be there in no time!” You pass the time by swapping jokes and discussing your plans for Snilldarfest, and in no time at all, you’ve reached the Yaksalot Mountain Range! But as you look to the peak for Yakyakistan, something feels… off. The entire peak is shrouded in a mass of roiling storm clouds, spreading ice and snow everywhere. You mention it to Barley, and he double-checks the map.
“Yeah, that’s Yakyakistan.” He sighs. “Well, it’s a good thing we dressed warmly. Come on.” Barley leads you to a safe landing halfway up the mountain, and together you march up the mountain path, into the blinding snow. The wind stings your face, and it’s hard to see the path most of the time, but with Barley’s help you make it to the peak, and stand before the Gates of Yakyakistan.
“Hello? Is anypony there?” Barley shouts and bangs on the gate. “Please let us in, it’s really cold!” You glance over your shoulder at the storm, and for a moment it seems as though a pair of cold, evil eyes stare back at you. You turn to warn Barley, but suddenly the gate opens, revealing a familiar face.
“Friends!” Yona cheers and pulls you both in for a rib-cracking hug. “Yona so happy to see you! Was worried that bad storm would keep you away!” Over her shoulder, you see a series of blazing bonfires, and yaks bundled in thick shawls; this must be a serious storm if even the yaks are getting chilly!
“Oh, we wouldn’t miss this for the world, Yona!” Barley says as he shakes the frost out of his tail. “But do you mind if we sit by the fire while we talk?”
“Oh yes, warm up!” Yona leads you to the nearest bonfire, and rolls over a large barrel, sloshing with liquid. “Yona make special holiday drink for pony friends! Hope you like!” Barley helps her to pour several mugs, and you each take a sip; the drink is surprisingly warm, with strong notes of apple and orange.
“Yona, this is terrific!” Barley says. “Is this a special Snilldarfest drink?”
“No, is mulled cider!” Yona beams proudly. “Nice apple pony give Yona recipe so Yona can share Hearth’s Warming treats with village!”
“Oh, that’s nice.” Barley replies. “Have you shared this with the other yaks yet?”
“Well…” Yona says cautiously, but just then a booming voice jolts you out of your seats.
“What this??” You turn, and come face to face with an enormous yak, bearing a fancy crown and thick orange beard.
“Prince Rutherford!” Yona gasps. “Pony friends, Barley and [Username] come to visit for Snilldarfest. That okay?”
“Perhaps…” Rutherford taps his chin. “But what this?” He breaks open the lid of the cider barrel, and gives it a suspicious sniff.
“Bah! This not traditional Jakdrykkur!” he snorts, and throws the cider, barrel and all onto the bonfire, extinguishing it. “No silly pony things allowed in Snildarfest! Only yak things!” You try to protest, but Rutherford turns up his nose and stomps away. In the absence of the bonfire, the storm seems to cut deeper than ever.
“What was all that about?” Barley cries. “He ruined your cider!”
“Yes…” Yona sighs. “Yona want to share pony holidays with yaks, but yaks not give Yona a chance.” She sits down at the fire’s edge and hangs her head.
“Well, that’s no reason to be mean.” Barley insists. “Why don’t we just talk to Prince Rutherford about it? I’m sure he’ll listen.”
“Well… worth a try.” Yona sighs, and the three of you trot into the village square, where Prince Rutherford is assembling a tower of tables, barrels and hay bales for smashing.
“Prince Rutherford?” Yona says. “Can Yona ask about holiday plans?”
“Hmph, plans are perfect!” Rutherford grunts. “See? Smashing tables are all ready to-!”
“No, not those.” Yona shakes her head. “Yona wanted to share pony celebrations with Yakyakistan, please. Ponies share gifts, and drink-!”
“This again?” Rutherford booms. “Pony holidays not allowed in Yakyakistan! Only Snilldarfest, and yak traditions are best!” He stomps his hoof, and shivers in the stinging wind. “And yaks need more fire! Snow getting too cold!”
“But Prince Rutherford, pony traditions good too!” Yona begs. “Ponies not smash logs, but share stories and joy with families, just like yaks! If Prince Rutherford just try pony ways-!”
“RUTHERFORD SAY NO!!” The Prince’s furious bellow sends you all flying into a snowbank, and you can hardly think from the ringing in your ears. But when you glance up into the sky, you see it again: evil eyes, and a sharp equine face staring at you from the clouds. Suddenly, it all becomes clear: the arguments, the storm, the ghostly faces, it all spells out… windigos.
You clamber out of the snowbank to rejoin Barley and Yona, and warn them of what you saw in the sky.
“Ghost ponies make big snowstorm?” Yona asks.
“Oh my gosh, you’re right!” Barley gasps as he peers into the storm. “They must be feeding off Prince Rutherford’s resentment for Hearth’s Warming! We need to do something before they freeze all of Yakyakistan!” Quickly, the three of you return to the village square, where many other yaks are looking to the sky in concern.
“You need to listen!” Barley begs them. “Those are windigos, evil spirits making the storm, and it’ll only get worse!”
“Spirits might go away if yaks try pony traditions!” Yona adds. “Please help!” The yaks look up at the storm, then back to Barley and Yona.
“Hm… no.” They grunt. “Yaks follow Prince Rutherford, and if Prince say pony traditions are bad, then yaks not want.”
“Then we have no choice,” Barley sighs. “We need to get Prince Rutherford to change his mind.” You charge through the snow, keeping your eyes peeled for Rutherford’s signature beard, and finally find him testing out a new smashing log.
“Please Prince Rutherford!” Yona shouts over the howling wind. “Evil spirits make storm because Prince Rutherford won’t let yaks try new things!” Prince Rutherford looks to the other shivering yaks, and then to the clouds. For a moment, you see his eyebrows twitch with concern.
“Hm… so what?” He growls. “Yaks strong! Yaks survive bad snow and evil spirits! Yak traditions are best, Prince Rutherford rather FREEZE than try silly pony celebrations!” He resolutely sits down in the snow, and sure enough, you see a thick layer of ice developing around his legs. The other yaks did likewise, even as their own bodies were slowly encased in ice.
“The windigos’ curse is setting in!” Barley cries out. “Pretty soon they won’t be able to move at all… and neither will we!” He added, as his leg got caught in its own icy cage. Barley and Yona both turn to look at you as the ice builds up around their legs.
“Yona scared, but Yona trust friends.” Yona sighs. “What best to do?”
