Pine-Crank Iceworks
Pine-Crank Iceworks sits in a sheltered bowl of snowfields at the edge of a frozen inland sea, where tall pines lean over stacked ice blocks and the whole place smells of frost, sap, and hot tea. The buildings are low and broad, with dark roofs weighted by snow and long sheds connected by covered walkways. Frost paints the windows from the inside out, and pale light slides across metal rails, wooden ramps, and the shallow grooves worn by boots and sled runners. Every morning, hand bells and creaking winches echo through the yard as workers move between the sheds, the drying racks, and the little stove rooms that glow amber in the blue cold. Puffins are absent here, but ravens hop along the fence posts, and white fox prints sometimes cross the back path before dawn. The wind can sweep loose snow into drifts against the doors, and the ice near the shore cracks softly at night, making the whole place feel awake. It is a place of narrow passages, slippery edges, warm corners, and many careful routes through the cold.
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Stories
3
Cast
Who you'll meet here
See all 3 characters →
Mira
Mira is a quick-eyed ice runner who stands about as tall as a crate, always darting between the sheds with her scarf tucked tight. She loves being first to notice what the cold is changing, and she hates feeling like important things can slip past her unseen.
Orin
Orin is a broad-shouldered tea room keeper who stands as tall as a doorway, moving slowly and carefully through the warm stove rooms. He enjoys quiet order and has a soft spot for anyone who is trying their best, even when they make a mess.
Tavi
Tavi is a lanky young worker who fits inside a grown-up’s shoulder reach, always climbing, balancing, and peering over railings for a better view. He is cheerful and bold, but he often acts like every problem is a game that can be won by moving faster.
