Altus Amulet - Preorder

In the orange heat of the Western desert, life was dependent on the Lady of the Sky, She patiently tended the drifting clouds, waiting until they were swollen and grey with cold rain. Then she would expertly unpick their seams with the only dagger sharp enough to pierce a cloud, allowing the rain to fall.

Between precious showers, the desert sun burned so hot that the fine coating of sand on the mountains had melted into shimmering glass. And at the top of the highest peak there lived a giant, whose obsession for treasure ran deep. One night, he strode down from his mountain in 7 great steps and stole away the cloud dagger as the Lady slept. He took it back to the top of his mountain, knowing that none could climb the glass-slick cliffs to take it back.

Before long, the clouds were full and the sky was dark, but without her dagger the Lady was helpless. A desperate drought set in across the land, and despite many heroes setting out to challenge the giant, none were able to reach his lair.

But one unlikely champion could reach where no man could. For many nights a tiny snail climbed the mountain. It needed no handhold; inch by inch it scaled the vertical cliff until it finally reached the Giant’s lair. Unable to lift the dagger alone, the snail crawled over its hilt, coating it in a shimmering, glossy varnish. When the Giant awoke and picked it up, the dagger slid straight from his hand and off the side of the mountain, piercing the clouds as it fell.

The rain finally returned, and the Lady of the Sky wore her dagger on a sparkling chain around her neck so it would never be stolen again. And to this day, when the earth grows damp, the snails emerge to wander the silver paths they once paved to save the world.