Winter, Day 49, 511 AV
Shields. Petching things. Designed by some foul god to infuriate warriors the world over and drive them to the brink of despair. All of Mizahar's finest combatants, dropping their weapons as they wept with impotent fury, metal plummeting to the earth with the same crushing weight as fallen hope.
He really did not like shields. No real skill invovled in their use, no elegance in their design. Someone had likely been deep in their cups one day, spied a wall and thought, "My! Wouldn't it be grand if we could carry walls around with us!"
He wanted to punch that someone in the face. Repeatedly. With vigour.
His own weapons, the twin grosse messers that were, as ever, bound to his sides, were rendered completely ineffectual when faced with a large and brainless slab of portable metal. His spar with Rhuryc had made it painfully clear that he may as well be hurling two large sticks at an unfeeling cliff face, for all the effect attacking a shield had. So, he had decided to go forth and find a weapon of sufficient brutality and power with which he could equal the blunt stupidity of a shield. A giant hammer, he had thought, would do nicely.
And so, he found himself wandering through the milling crowds at the Frozen Falls market. It had been quite some time since he had last visited the market, but the sight of the waterfall from which it drew it's name was as spectacular as ever. No matter how many times he laid eyes upon it, he suspected it would still have enough stunning impact to take his breath away. He found it difficult to imagine any other city matching the frozen beauty of Avanthal. But then, he was very much aware of the fact that he had never traveled far from his homeland, and knew relatively little about what the other cities had to offer. Who knew what wonders they possessed?
He waded through the sea of people like a great, pale ship parting the crowd as he went, drawing one or two curious glances in his wake. He stood head and shoulders over the majority of the people in the market, bar the occasional Akalak or other exceptionally tall foreigner. He barely even registered the fact that he towered over his fellow Avanthalians, well grown used to the vast difference in height between himself and the average Vantha. He kept a sharp eye out for any Iceglaze stalls, as they would by far be the Hold most likely to have what he sought. He was in no rush, however, and he took his time perusing the wares that caught his interest upon occasion, enjoying the chance to relax and soak up the affable atmosphere that permeated the market. He would have purchased quite a few items and trinkets that day, but he was mindful of his ever dwindling supply of mizas. A job of some sort would be necessary. Perhaps the Icewatch would hire him on as a weapon instructor. It would be good practice, put him on friendlier terms with the Icewatch, and he could really use the coin.
It did not take him overly long to find a stall suited to his needs. A burly fellow presided over a small hoard of weapons, from daggers and spears to things he'd never even heard of, never mind seen. If he was going to find a weapon suitable for fighting a shield, he'd find it here.
Noting his interest, the burly Vantha inclined his head towards him, sweeping a hand across his array of merchandise. "I see by the swords at your waist and the look in your eyes that you already know a thing or two about combat, friend. What brings you to my humble armory?"
Flicking a glance up at the merchant, Amondaris gave the man a polite nod, clearing his throat quietly before he spoke."I have recently fought someone who employed a shield, and found it to be most..Aggravating. I'm looking for something with enough punch to render a shield useless. Suggestions?" The stocky fellow, likely a blacksmith of some sort, nodded absently as the huge white hunter spoke, the man's trained eye roving over the weapons placed atop his stall. Reaching forward, he grasped a medium sized, club-like weapon forged of metal, with four vertical edges. "Flanged mace. Works a charm against armour, and leaves flesh an unsightly mess, to say the least. How about it? Twelve mizas."
The younger, taller male studied the proffered weapon intently for a moment before giving a quick shake of his hooded head. "A fine piece, but...I'd like something bigger. More brutal, that can break a man's arm if he blocks with a shield. Do you have anything capable of such?" Chewing his cheek absently, his brow furrowed in thought as he pondered his customer's query, the man fell silent again. A long moment passed, Amondaris waiting with patience expectance, and the man finally gave a slow nod, turning to rummage behind him amidst a steady clatter of shifting metal. Rising, he lifted a simply enormous hammer into view, heaving the gargantuan thing over the stall so that the white-clad man could take it from him. "It's called a Rock Crusher. Biggest, meanest weapon I can think of. Weighs a ton, but if you're strong enough to use it, one swing will break a man's back, never mind his arm. Can't get much more brutal than that."
Grasping the wooden's lengthy wooden shaft, Amondaris hefted the immense weapon consideringly, testing it's weight carefully. A fine weapon, well made, yet savagely built. The head was rectangular and made of solid metal that was engraved and etched with death motifs in an impressively tasteful manner. Small, sturdy spikes studded the flat sides where one would strike with, doubtless intended to ear flesh and grant purchase. A truly giant weapon, the haft gave it enough height to almost equal Amondaris himself, and he was no small man. As he was, he doubted he could use the hammer effectively, or wield it at all for very long. He was tall enough, crtainly, but he would need to bulk up considerably to even think about using it in a real fight. It was perfect. His eyes flushing with a warm gold, he set the hammer's brutal head on the ground and fished around in his coin purse. "Delightful. How much is it?"
After extracting fifty mizas from his dwindling supply, he raised his new prize over his shoulder, and strolled off through the crowd. Funnily enough, they gave him a wider birth this time around. I think I'll call it..Judgement.
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by Amondaris on April 20th, 2011, 5:22 pm 
