Location The Icewall Gates

[Tiki]

53rd of Fall, 511 AV, just before noon Sweat, baby, sweat. Tiki had been moving his booty through the wood and soon tundra to keep himself warm and find his damn way to someplay that wasn't covered in snow. Of course, the logic of going to the snow palace was genius as well. Rumors had taken him this far north, but hopefully fulfillment of them will prove worth in time spent. He was low to the ground trotting along on all fours, a sack slung over his paws and somehow fitting snuggly over his back. He was such a sight in the middle of the snow, a big black splotch against the white of the north. Soon he was finding such sights jutting out into the world too. Far off he beheld the glory of the icy gates. Logic lead his belief that this must be the way, Avanthal must be within reach. His pace doubled as he ran closer. By the time it was in clear sight the guards became all the more apparent. He slowed his pace in reach to be sure they wouldn't be alarmed. He transformed, some foolishly as the fur retracted to him all around. Not even the fattened booty of his was spared of the cool winds. He was a kelvic and his outer parts were on the verge of turning color. A deeper pink, moving toward the cool of purpose...the sight was horrid. His golden eyes glanced back and forth, some of disappointment, others approval, and others yet a sympathy. With a nod from one of the third he shifted back quickly, chook himself, and ran off toward the city as fast as his legs would carry him.

[Riley LaRose]

Fall 2nd, 511 AV

The Icewall Gates loomed tall over the small form of the Kelvic, concealed from the harshness of the wintery land under a cloak. There were massive polar bears standing side-by-side with Humans over-seeing the entrance into the Grand City of Ice.

Riley was certain she was far enough away from the arid desert of Eyktol now.

Licking her cracked, dry lips, the Kelvic stepped through the packed snow towards the Gates. One of the guards gave her a small welcoming smile, and she shivered with the memories of other times she had received such smiles only to watch them turn into something ugly and twisted. Her cheeks blanched under the slowly blooming cherry-blossom color of cold flesh. Her single visible silvery-green eye glimmered with thoughts and emotions she never openly spoke about to anyone, which was something she had sought to change.

"Name?" The second guard asked Riley. His voice was not cold nor impatient, and nor was it bored. He was asking a question in a tone that Riley couldn't quite narrow down. Perhaps he was asking it in a forced tone of polite curiousity?

"I am Riley." She responded. Her Common was filled with the cadence of Arumenic, a language she was taught as a slave where she had once lived. Perhaps, she hoped, she would learn the language of the people here and be able to forget completely about the multi-armed men and women down in their grand gilded halls. Before the guard could continue to his next question, she offered him half of a visible smile and spoke. "I am here to start a new life far away from my old one."

For a long chime the guards were silent, and so was Riley. Finally, the one who had smiled nodded, his polar bear grunted, and then he spoke. "Fair enough, Riley. You may enter. You should go to the Savintar Warrens and have housing sorted out for you. It gets very cold here, and you don't want to get ill, do you?"

"Thank you..." Riley murmured softly, hefting her backpack higher up her shoulder and entering Avanthal.

[Erin Hedge]

Day 50, Season of Fall, Year 511AV OOC : Is 7 weeks old at the TimeStamp Traveling in human form was much easier. It was a quicker walk compared to the way her short animal legs trudged through the powdered tundra. She had recently left the den where her parents stayed and had traveled for nearly a week. Before she left they had pointed her in the direction of Avanthal and told her not to stray and she would see it soon, she had done as they said but...nothing. No speck in the distance, just endless white. "Liars..." The irritable mutter was the only noise save for the crunching of her slippers. Glancing down at her toes she hoped she would soon reach the shinning gates they had spoken of. Slippers where not travel wear. Erin was near ready to fling her body to the ground and let loose the heaving sobs that bubbled in her throat when a bright rainbow of colors peeked through the thick folliage. Her feet being as cold as they were she did not think she would be able to run--at least not with her pack so full. but her burst of strength sent her sailing through the trees and sprawling on a patch of ice. From her position on the ground she could see the glittering gates in the distance. Not very far at all. Half running, half stumbling she traveled with haste to the gates of the city. Upon arrival she immediately asked for lodgings and where to buy the proper attire. She would not be staying in slippers if she valued her feet.

[Kroth]

Fall 10th, 511 AV

The relentless icy winds of Taldera struck at every part of the Jamoura’s massive body yet the giant carried on through the endless white sea. Struck with a dire case of hunger and exhaustion Kroth felt his muscles starting to give way as he swayed every now and again whilst ploughing through the thick snow. The ice gate that led to the grand city of Avanthal was now less than a few meters away and with every last drop of energy the Jamoura could muster he pushed himself forward.

Bewildered by the massive creature that now stood on all fours in front of them the guards shifted nervously for their weapons, even the famous ice watch bears were dwarfed by this black giant. Kroth breathed heavily, the icy mist escaped his mouth and nostrils like geysers of smoke, he nodded a huge head at the guards to let them know that he came in peace. The guards nodded back hesitantly as they removed their hands from their weapons allowing Kroth to pass through the gate.

[Daroes Murphy]

Daroes Murphy walked on his four paws with a brown bag on his back. He was freezing from the cold winds he had come accustomed to over the while he stayed in the region, the unforgiving snow burning his limbs. He spotted the gates he's been looking for, he finally decided that he, the Kelvic who is scared of humans like shadows are of light, would enter the human city. The gates were becoming closer as each step.
"Guards at the gates will be unpleased as well as the town folk i suppose if I were to walk in like this," The Kelvic muttered to himself, he stopped his walking toward the gates and headed off the path toward a more private area with a little bit of vegetation.
He walked behind the almost bare bush and bowed his head and lifted his left arm and let the bag drop into the white snow. He focused his energy and morphed back to his humanoid form and grabbed out the pants and boots putting them on hastily. He grabbed his shirt and lifted his arms flipping the shirt on to his cold bare chest. he bent back down picking up the cloak he held so dear to his survival in this cold barren region. He threw it over his sholders and flipped up the hood, he reached back down and grabbed his belt and his heirloom Kriss of his grandfather.
He put the belt on and carefully placed the curvy dagger just behind his right hip bone. He picked up the bag flipping it over his shoulder, he grabbed the edges of the cloak with his opposite hand and headed for the gate, "well this is going to be, an adventure." Murphy decided for himself. He walked in past the guards with the Polar bear companions, who by the site were also Kelvic, "Oh my brothers and sisters, only if you knew how it felt to be free" He whispered to no one but the open ears of the wind, as he passed them into the cold city.

[Kaito]

28th Day of Fall 511 AV Kaito pranced over the snow heading back towards the gates of Avanthal. The small fox loved to explore the area outside the wall, it was where she met the wild foxes and had learned so much. But it was starting to get dark and even though she had her thick winter coat, she knew better than to stay out after dark. Nearing the gates, she detoured slightly, heading down a small path along the side of the wall before reaching a small hole in the snow. Sliding her way down, she reached the inside of the fox den before biting down on her set of clothes and working her way back out. She thought herself quite smart wrapping her clothes within her cloak and then tying the laces of her boots together so her small form could drag her items underground to stay warm. She pulled everything out of the den before setting it down on the cold snow. Shaking the signs of the tundra off her white coat, she sat before turning back into her human form. The cold air bit into her skin as she pulled on her clothes. It didn't matter much though. She had been doing this quite often, so icy chill upon her bare skin was nothing new. It would be over soon. Standing, the small girl wrapped the black cloak over her shoulders before she grinned as she turned and headed back towards the gates. The wind blew her white hair as her blue eyes scanned the wall next to her for the entrance. There. she thought as her ears twitched towards the sound of footsteps. Walking a bit further, she reached her destination. The guards nodded in acknowledgement of a fellow Vanthan as she passed heading deeper into the city. This cold place was her home and though she loved it, she couldn't wait to see the rest of the world.

[Kaito]

29th Day of Fall 511 AV Kaito grinned as she and Yuki neared the gates. She could barely contain her excitement; finally, the world outside of Avanthal would be seen with her own eyes! Slowly approaching the gates, she mentally ran through her route once more. If everything went as planned, she would be out of the snow by nightfall, a good thing for Yuki. "You leaving?" asked one of the guards in Vani. "Yep." she replied happily. "I'm finally off to see the world!" The guard shook his head as the antics of the young Kelvic he had gotten to know from her constant excursions outside the wall. "Be careful then and good luck!" he replied. "Thanks! I will!" she yelled back as she headed south.

[Yuros]

72nd of Fall 511 AV

As the gates grew closer Yuros began to slow his pace, taking a curved path so that his sudden slow down would not jar his passenger. Tossing his head once more, the stag cantered in place for a moment as he waited for the horse to catch up. Snorting the kelvic looked back at the glimmering gates of icerock.

Yuros could feel Alea shifting on his back as he turned and began walking through the gates. On either side the human guards looked up at the Kelvic with expressions of mixed nervousness and amazement. Their bear companions, however, paid little attention to the sight of a Talderian Stag. They themselves were a sight to behold, and Yuros felt a bit of nervousness when he saw their large paws and, when one bear yawned, their sharp canines. His muslces trembling slightly, Yuros continued on through the gates and into the city of Avanthal.

[Spencer]

Spencer yawned as he woke up in his wolf form and shook off snow that had coated his fur during the night. His dog Blu, was still sleeping soundly in the snow beside him. Walking to his backpack that was near a tree, He shapeshifted back into his human form and shivered as a cold breeze blew by, quickly he put on his T-shirt and pants. He grabbed his backpack and slung it over his left shoulder. Whistling for Blu, he trekked through the forest. As Blu jolted awake and came running by Spencers side, Spencer got out some fresh fish for Blu and some pears for himself. Blu grabbed the fish and carried it in his mouth, eating little pieces at a time. Spencer looked ahead, biting into his pear every so often. He started to Daydream about his past when he came across The Icewall Gates of Avanthal, he had been traveling for a long time to get here and, though hesiant, entered Avanthal.

[Olek]

78th Day of Fall, 511 A.V.

The soft new snow crunched underfoot as the now damp youth sidled his way to the gelid gates of Avanthal. Though cold and icy, they promised a warmth and welcome that many a traveler found irresistible when confronted with the unrelenting viciousness of the frigid north and all her dire spawn. Olek glanced nervously up at the Icewatch sentinels and their massive kelvic bond mates, vigilant as ever. He stepped softly past them, eyes down toward the damp snow.

Olek hiked the few meager pelts he carried higher onto his shoulder by way of showing the Icewatch his intent in entering the city. As the shapeshifter stepped between the great gates of Avanthal for the first time, garbed in his simple grey cloak and wool clothes, he looked especially insignificant compared to the undying majesty of that portal to the City of the Aurora.

Upon entry Olek frowned, the action bending the scars on his cheek and making them shine. He had no idea where he could sell his pelts. He would have to work up the courage to ask someone, perhaps a Vantha youth, youths were less likely to be hostile. If all else failed he was prepared to simple sit there by the Gates and peddle the pelts away in the numbing snow.

Under the meager protection of his hood Olek began searching for someone interested in some furs.