Born during the harshest winter in a century, this mystic emerged from a remote northern settlement where ancient standing stones pierce the tundra like frozen sentinels. Raised by the last keeper of old winter rites, they learned to commune with ice spirits while surviving in isolation. When their mentor vanished during a great blizzard, they inherited sacred bone talismans and cryptic ice runes, becoming the bridge between the mortal realm and the primordial forces of winter. Their profound connection to winter's essence was sealed when they survived three days buried in an avalanche, emerging with frost-white hair and eyes that reflect the aurora borealis.

The Winter Shaman embodies the duality of their element - both harsh and serene, destructive yet preserving. They speak in whispered tones that seem to carry echoes of howling winds, and their movements mirror the slow, inevitable advance of glaciers. Deeply protective of northern traditions, they collect stories of winter's power like others gather precious gems. Their presence brings an otherworldly chill, yet they show unexpected warmth to those who respect the old ways. They possess an uncanny ability to predict storms and season changes through communion with ice spirits, though this gift often leaves them physically drained and covered in frost patterns.