Rebuilding the Grand Gates (Open)

[Kroth]

AV 512, 28th of Summer

A mass of cole black fur heaved and grunted through the thick snows of Avanthal. Gouts of steam bellowed from it’s nostrils to dissipate in the air as the creature moved forward on its hind legs and one of its massive forearms. The other held three massive blocks of ice against its broad, impossibly huge chest as it trudged on. The blocks of ice weighed roughly a hundred kilograms each, just one of the blocks would have been challenge enough for two fully grown men on either side yet the Jamoura carried three without pause. When the reclusive giant finally reached the ruins of what had once been the pride and joy of Avanthal the two ice watch guards gaped in disbelief, even the kelvic polar bears seemed surprised. Kroth placed the ice blocks down carefully as not to sink too far into the thick snow. “By the gods... you carried three of those by yourself!? I knew you were big but... but that’s something else entirely!” One of the guards exclaimed. “Aye, at this rate we'll been done with the gate in no more than a week!” The other guard pointed out. The bear beside him seemed to growl in approval.

Kroth grunted in response, his comprehension of the Vani language was improving quickly however he struggled to piece the musical notes together. Something about god's and being big... the wall will be done in a week? he managed to sum up in his head. “I... I am happy to be use...” The Jamoura’s low voice rumbled across the snow and echoed off the ice, far from musical. The guards looked to one another. “Happy to be of use? Keep this up and you’ll put us out of business!” The two Vantha chuckled heartily at each other. These are a strong hearted people, even after such destruction they have the will to laugh... The Jamoura tried his best to smile yet it only ended up looking more like a frown. “Well guess we shouldn’t be slacking either... grab that end of the block I’ll get on the other side...” The guards shifted into stance on either end of an ice block and with great effort pulled it out of the snow to move it closer to the ice gate. “Its bloody freezing!” “Course it is fool, it’s made of icerock!” The guards grunted and complained as they placed the massive block of ice down on the ground.

“I get more...” The Jamoura growled as he turned back toward the city. “More!? You’ve been at it all morning, take a break!” One of the guards shouted behind but Kroth was already on his way back to the city. His two great forearms moved like pistons as he sprinted across the sea of white. The air was cold against his face and his fur was beginning to crust yet it didn’t bother him, for now he was enjoying the simple rush of adrenaline within his body. The city grew larger and larger as the Jamoura approached closer until finally he was there. He halted at a built up pile of ice blocks, the same ones that he had been carrying back and forth all morning. He moved to pick one up but someone or something suddenly emerged from behind the mound of ice rock...

[Nate Frostfawn]

Nate had been out in the reaches all morning. He hadn’t been hunting, just simply examining the environment. A short while ago he had learned a few new things about tracking, and he had been eager to apply them practically. Of course, his bow and arrows had gone with him, along with his dog Ashca, just for protection.

He had found some rabbit tracks imprinted in the snows and instead of following them, the boy had looked at the area around the prints. He had found some downy white fur snagged on a branch and had spotted a few snapped twigs on a low bush. Nate had never looked for these signs before, but now he appreciated the finer details of observation.

That was this morning though, and Nate was now back in the city. He wanted to find someone to tell about these new discoveries. He;d looked for his mother - for as a Frostfawn she too had an interest in hunting - but she had been too busy with her falcons to pay much attention.

As it was, he ended up meandering through the city. The Icewall Gates were still being rebuilt, and the blocks of ice had been collecting near the city center for a while now. Nate headed in their general direction. He had tried to help out with the gates rebuild, but he only had once mark from Morwen, and as such was in no way as useful as those with a secondary mark. Most people told him to go and hunt down some animal running loose in the city instead, and they hadn’t always said it nicely.

He moved around the huge pile of ice, and stopped dead in his tracks. Before him was a huge...ape? Nate couldn’t help the shock that glinted in his eyes as he looked at the creature before him. It was easily over 8 foot tall, probably closer to 9 and he had never seen anything like it before in his life. He realized then that it had been reaching for a block of the ice. Nate’s brown furrowed in confusion, but the shock was still painted on his face.
”I...I, uh...”

[Kroth]

Kroth stood face to face with a human that looked no more than a boy in the eyes of the massive Jamoura. A creature of canine descent stood by him, it looked equally as startled. The expression of shock was plain across his face, it seemed Kroth had a knack for surprising the smaller creatures of Avanthal. Words began to escape the boy’s lips suddenly yet they came out as mumbled, unintelligible noises instead. The boy and the giant stood in awkward silence for awhile, the only sound was that of the icy cold wind blowing relentlessly against the walls of the city.

Kroth knew by now that most Vantha had at least a basic knowledge of the common tongue however his stubborn persistence to know and understand the Vani language caused him to speak otherwise. “I... I no mean to scare... don’t be scare...” The Jamoura’s voice boomed, a low rumbling sound that seemed to echo off every possible surface. As much as he tried to lighten his tone he often found that his voice alone was enough to frighten children and sometimes even startle adults.

Kroth’s dark eyes studied the boy curiously, he seemed to have lighter coloured hair and a darker shade of skin than most humans that he had encountered in Avanthal. “Do you come to help gate?” He analysed the youth’s physique, a healthy looking human for sure though he had his doubts about the boy being able to transport the heavy ice blocks across the thick snow by himself.

Not really having much more to say Kroth picked out the heaviest looking ice rock from the pile and shifted its weight between two massive, black arms. The block itself was freezing to the touch, almost to the point of burning however, his thick black fur seemed to dull it down if only a little. “Do you need ride?” He gestured in the general direction of the ice gate, his Vani far from the musical tone of voice that it was usually spoken in.