Updated: June 28, 2024, 6 a.m.
Elminster Aumar, the legendary Sage of Shadowdale, trudged through the biting cold of the Great Glacier. His breath misted in the frigid air as he pulled his cloak tighter around him, the fabric offering scant protection against the relentless winds. In his hand, he clutched an ancient artifact — the Sundial of the Sun God, Amaunator. This was the key to fulfilling a prophecy that had echoed through time and space, whispering of a destiny only he could complete.
The prophecy had been revealed to him in a vision, delivered by the goddess Mystra herself. "Seek the Sundial of Amaunator," she had said. "In the heart of the Great Glacier, your destiny awaits. Only when the sun's first light touches the sundial will the path be revealed." The words had haunted his thoughts ever since, driving him to this frozen expanse where few dared to venture.
Elminster's journey had been arduous, fraught with peril and hardship. He had battled frost giants and evaded the deadly traps of ancient, long-forgotten civilizations buried beneath the ice. Now, as he neared the summit of a towering ice cliff, he could see the faint glow of dawn on the horizon. The time was near.
With a final effort, Elminster ascended the last of the icy steps and stood atop the glacier. Before him lay a flat expanse of ice, glittering in the early morning light. In the center of this frozen plateau stood a stone pedestal, upon which the Sundial of Amaunator would find its place. He approached the pedestal with reverence, carefully setting the sundial atop it.
The sundial was a marvel of ancient craftsmanship, its golden surface etched with intricate runes and symbols dedicated to the Sun God. As the first rays of sunlight crept over the horizon, they touched the sundial, causing it to glow with a radiant light. The runes began to shift and realign, forming a new pattern that Elminster recognized from the prophecy.
He watched in awe as the light intensified, spreading outwards from the sundial to illuminate the entire glacier. The ice beneath him began to tremble and crack, revealing a hidden chamber below. Elminster descended carefully, finding himself in a cavern filled with relics and treasures from an age long past. At the center of the chamber stood a colossal statue of Amaunator, his hands outstretched as if in blessing.
Elminster approached the statue, feeling the warmth of the sun's power radiating from it. He placed his hands upon the figure's feet, and in that moment, he felt a surge of divine energy course through him. The prophecy was fulfilled; the power of the Sun God now flowed through him, imbuing him with the strength and wisdom needed to face the challenges that lay ahead.
As he emerged from the chamber, the glacier began to close up behind him, sealing away the treasures once more. Elminster looked out over the icy expanse, feeling a sense of peace and purpose. The prophecy had been fulfilled, but his journey was far from over. With the power of Amaunator guiding him, he knew he could face whatever trials awaited him in the days to come.
And so, with the first light of dawn still painting the sky in hues of gold and pink, Elminster Aumar began his descent from the Great Glacier, the Sundial of the Sun God safely in his possession and the weight of destiny lifted from his shoulders.