Location The Icewall Gates

[Abel Whitevine]

Winter 91, 512 AV The fact had never been explicitly laid out before the young man's eyes before; yet as he trudged along in the icy landscape, the realization dawned upon him. There was an extreme difference between being a native of the north...and simply being the son of a native. Though the mother of Abel Whitevine had been born and raised within the wonderful city of Avanthal, her son had only been exposed to the harsh cold one before in his life...and therefore he was not especially thrilled with the freezing temperatures that greeted him with every step. However, just as his strength began to fade and his resolve began to wave, a shimmer caught his attention and held it firmly. He drew near to it, forcing himself to move closer and closer until the towering walls of ice came into his vision. Despite the cold ravaging his lips, a smile formed upon his countenance as the Icewatch moved forward to greet him, welcoming him with open arms to admit him within their fair city. At long last, he had made it...he had made it to Avanthal.

[Jevan]

1st day, Spring 513

A chill in the air? That was not even the half of it, she may have grown up here but most of her life was spent out in the unforgiving realm of salt water with a bloodstained gut from the years of taking innocents away from their friends and families. Over the years she has lost many people she has grown remotely close to. Her father being one of them, maybe he was still around? Maybe he was waiting at home, then again maybe she had just missed him. It's been way to long, and as far as she knew her father thought her dead. Hopefully his lover is long gone by now.

The air seemed to sting her lungs as she inhaled, she was not used to this weather any more. Troia, the woman who raised her as a daughter, released her into the city expecting her to go through some kind of rite. Everyone on the ship has proved their worth some way or another, and now it was her turn. She was unsure of what exactly she was supposed to do, but then again none of the others did either. Jevan was not going to let a little thing like uncertainty stop her from attempting to prove herself to Troia. It was only fair, with her head held up high and her cloak wrapped tightly around her, she made her way towards her fathers home.

[Cian Silvertooth]

1 Spring 513AV

There it was. Up ahead he could see the icestone walls of Avanthal. He smiled and ran a hand through his hair, picking up his pace. He wanted to be inside the walls before nightfall, find somewhere to get a nice thick piece of meat and a pint of ale. Then he'd lay his head down on some threadbare mattress and fall asleep.

Tomorrow, maybe the next day, he'd try and find work. Maybe he'd ask around, find some travelers looking to move with the spring thaw. Maybe he'd find some work at a smithy, or maybe he'd just petch around and hunt, bring in meat and furs. He doubted the Frostfawn would take kindly to that, but why should he care?

A man had to make a living one way or another.

He passed through the gates, nodding at the Icewatch Guards, and entered the city proper.

[Tythos Everstorm]

OOC: Taken from the start of the thread Warm Comforts where the post continues. Timestamp: 1st Day of Summer, 513 AV. The long trek from the Spires towards Avanthal had turned into a brutal quest for survival once he had ventured past the familiar coniferous forests of Southern Taldera and into the barren Tundra of the northern reaches. As he trudged through the deep snow his legs sunk into the cold slush to slowing his momentum before he could even gain any speed. The constant need to pull his legs out of the snow had caused them to grow sore after only a few mile while also trying to focus on keeping warm in the cold, frigid, and fierce wind. The glimmering image of the sun reflecting off The Icewall Gates proved to be an inspiring site that caused the Isur to work through the annoying ache of his thigh muscles. In Typhos’s mind he compared the constant need to pull his legs out of the snow to performing a set of squats and lunge exercises to make his legs stronger. From his distance from the wall the guards that patrolled the gates curiously watched the being heading towards them, wondering who it could be. Their slight confusion as to whether they would stop the visitor or not stemming from Ty Typhos’s attire. Too withstand the chilling frost which the wind brought with every gust the isur wore his normal clothing which consisted of brown cotton pants and a linen shirt. However, that wasn't what caused the guards to take interest in the Isur as he trudged closer to the icewall. Typhos’s main source of his warmth came from the thick cured hunters hide which was wrapped around his body. The thick medium armor hide made mimicked a black bear as its fur provided insulation. Attached to the hide was a bears head that protected his head like a helmet. Over his armor the stocky five foot, two hundred eighty five pound isur wore a black wool hooded cloak with the hood resting over the top of the hide bears head. Underneath the cloak hanging from his back was his backpack which made it seem as if he had a hump-back; especially since his tent was rolled up horizontally across the top of his pack making the hum even larger to obscure his true body shape under the cloak . Thus, the curiosity of the guards believing a walking bear was heading right towards them as the nose of the cured hides head covered his face. The ice watch glancing to each other, and more interestingly gaining the attention from the Ice watch kelvic polar bears at the sides of the two fellow Ice watcher guards. Once he was close enough Typhos lifted his head to cast the gate guards a huge grin that went from ear to ear. This hadn’t been his first time to Avanthal as he remembered the last time he laid eyes onto the Ice gate. If the layout of the city hadn’t changed since he last visit, he would need to find the Savintar Warrens to rest for a few days and find a job. “Pleasant day to you all.” Were the only words he spoke to the guards as he nodded to each one before lowering his head again to keep in as much warmth as possible while entering into the city.

[Nassella Poinsettia]

Season of Summer, Day 6, 513 AV Nassella had traveled almost nonstop. Moving quickly as she could in an attempt to reach the Icewall, she did stop various times to note creatures that had odd variations of their usual look, or even different activities the creatures went about. She tried to waste as little time as possible on things like this though. The citizens of Avanthal could most likely tell her all there is to know of these creatures anyway. Continuing her journey towards the city, the walls came into view and her vigor was renewed. As she approached the walls, Nassella noted two guards and two polar bears. They were most likely kelvics, though it was possible they were just domesticated bears. Unsure of whether or not the guards would take a disliking to her, Nassella decided to just seem as nice as she could, even if they were of lower blood. She didn't want to make trouble with those she would stay around, so as she approached the gates, and gave a slight smile and wave to the guards. At last, she had finally reached Avanthal.

[Xelic Snowsong]

Timestamp: 2 Summer 513 Xelic pulls the brow of his hood further over his head, shielding his face from the icy chill of a light summer breeze, seemingly unwilling to let go of the cooler spring days. His eyes, a midnight blue with hints of a dull yellow, unblinking against the chill wind, stare at Avanthal's Icegate as it draws ever near. Slowly, he dredges through the snow, unable to lift his tired legs more than enough to put one foot in front of the other. He didn't wander far from the city, cognizant of the dangers outside, but he had to get outside the gates. He couldn't visit the port, not today; today was different. Today, he had to get as far away from his surroundings as was safe, he had to get away from the memories. For hours he walked outside the gates of the city, but not outside of its protection. He had to let his feelings go. He had let them out, but near enough at anyone could see or hear as talked things out to himself. Xelic often did that, talking aloud, as if to some unseen companion to hear his thoughts and lift his burden. Xelic slowly opened the hood of his cloak, lowering it for the guards to see him true, stoic and unsmiling. This was not a day for pleasantries, this was the coming of summer, marking the 10th anniversary of Selwynn's untimely death and the 11th anniversary of his parent's inexplicable murder. This was a day for solemn contemplation and fasting, reconciliation without resolution. Xelic gave a solemn nod of his head to the guards as he passed, raised his hood back over his head, blocking the brightness of a setting sun, shining directly into his eyes. It was time to go home. Time to rest. Time to forget.

[Mendar Snowsong]

Mendar Snowsong crested an icy ridge, steadying himself against the edge. He peered out over the barren landscape, wincing as a gust of cold wind stung his exposed face. He drew his cloak tight about his neck, shielding himself from the snow and ice that bit at his skin. A few hundred meters ahead, a giant wall of ice rose from earth, shimmering as gloriously as Morwen's Lights. These were the Icewall Gates--the imposing edifice that protected the citizens of Avanthal from threats without. Mendar had seen these gates many times in his 23 years of life in Avanthal, but they never ceased to amaze him. They were a testament to the rich history of Vantha culture and the skill of Vantha architects. The gates were built with Icestone, a rare form of ice only found in the vicinity of Avanthal. It was impervious to heat, holding its shape against even the most extreme temperature changes. Mendar descended a precarious slope, balancing himself against several jutting ice spikes. Moments later, the Icewall Gates loomed before him. Mendar called, and after a pause, the Icewatch guards answered him.

"Hail, Mendar Snowsong!"

"Hail, Udrain Iceglaze!"

Mendar didn't need to ask for entrance. Udrain was an old friend of his. Life had become fairly routine in Avanthal, at least for Mendar, and it was starting to take its toll. As Mendar entered the city proper, skidding across the Icestone streets and greeting old friends, he considered what he was going to do next. He needed to find his sister. He would stop at nothing to find her. And he was prepared to leave his whole life behind to do it.

[Seth Armstrong]

Seth had walked for half of the day threw the snow which had been a beautiful sight now was the one thing he hated more then the serpent man! He was so angry that he didn't relize he was already at the gates. I took a bit but, he finally relized he had made it "where here blaze now all we need to do is find him." Seth said to his horse as they walked threw the gates.

[Nira Frostfawn]

Timestamp: Summer 513

Nira could see the twinkle of the gates off in the coming distance. Her heart beat fast through the center of her chest; she was excited. The long, slow trip down from their Frostfawn settlement had only given her time to think about her beloved Avanthal, recalling those bleary old memories from her youth. She remembered the trips she took with her mother to visit Morwen's Ice Palace, or when she followed her father down with a few reindeer for trade, usually with a big group of huntsmen. They even stayed in the city a couple of times, up in the cozy Hold rooms where everyone had a story to tell old Odal Frostfawn's little girl. She could taste the Winterflame's soups, fresh and hot from the stormgems. The memory brought her back to reality as Nira noticed how cold it was, and how much she did want a hearty bowl of soup after this journey.

The gates were here now, just a hundred feet off. Boreas, her Frostmarch under her, strode on at his easy pace. As the horizon curved, Nira spotted the two Icewatchmen standing guard. As she and Boreas clomped closer, her heart stilled. She would need to compose herself now, and forget all of those dusty memories. She wasn't a girl anymore, and no one was in the city waiting to give her hot soup. When she came up to the great gates she slid easily off Boreas, grabbed his reigns, and led him past the Icewatch. They gave her no great notice, not even a nod; she was Vantha. She belonged here.

[Zisien]

Timestamp: 90th of summer 513

Zisien slowly made her way back to the gates. She had just finished hunting and made a lucky break and caught a pup seal this morning. Now feeling quite full and slightly lazy, she needed to make it back to the Icewatch barracks. Still in her dire polar bear form, she lumbered along until she reach the magnificent icestone sculpture that made the city walls and gate.

Zisien shifted back right at the gates so the guards currently on watch would know it was her. Not that a polar bear walking into the city would cause alarm just so they knew she was back and mark her off the list of having gone out and now returned. Completely nude and comfortable as such, despite the frigid temperatures, she nodded in their direction and walked through the gates.