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.
5
Stories
4
Cast
Who you'll meet here
See all 4 characters →
Brin
Brin is a stout rope-and-rail inspector who stands as tall as a sled dog, with snow-dusted boots and a habit of humming to himself as he works. He loves the feeling of a proper rule being followed and can’t help noticing when a shortcut has been taken, which makes him a dependable but sometimes prickly part of Pine-Crank Iceworks.
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.
5 stories from this world
The Roofline Tangles
A flock of snow geese lands on the rooftop rigging and starts tugging at the hanging cable lines that help carry tools between buildings. The lines are swaying and tangling above the icy walkways, so someone must protect the workers below before a line snaps or drops something heavy.
The Canal Breaks Open
A group of sleepy seal helpers slips onto the wrong side of the salt-ice canal and cannot climb back because the path they used has cracked apart. With a cold tide rising underneath them, the day’s work stops until someone finds a careful way to get them across.
When the Waterwheel Freezes
The great ice-cold waterwheel that powers part of Pine-Crank Iceworks slows to a stop because a sheet of slush has jammed its turning blades. The whole factory is starting to lose heat, and the problem has to be solved fast before the pipes begin to freeze solid.
The Locked Supply Tunnel
A fresh snowstorm seals the main loading tunnel of Pine-Crank Iceworks just as a convoy of frozen fish and berry crates arrives from the harbor. The stores inside are running low, so someone has to figure out how to keep the food from thawing while opening a safe way in before the workers and animals get hungry.
Mira and the Hidden Keys at Pine-Crank Iceworks
Mira is carrying warm tea through the snowy walkways of Pine-Crank Iceworks when a gust of wind tips something loose and reveals three iron keys tucked out of sight. She must decide quickly whether to grab them, call for help, or chase the wind’s trail before the next bell rings.