Grunda Beastfriend

Grunda Beastfriend was born to a hill giant clan that valued strength and aggression. However, Grunda was "too gentle"—she preferred animals to raiding. Mocked as weak, useless, and a disgrace to giant-kind, she was rejected by her clan and driven out at age 21.

She lived alone with a wild horse herd for 13 years. The herd accepted her and protected her. The Cabal found her living peacefully among wild animals and offered her a place where gentleness is valued. She has worked at the Academy for 13 years and finally belongs.

As Stablemaster, Grunda cares for Academy horses and riding animals, manages visiting mounts (parents, guests), tends griffons when they're grounded, helps students learn animal care, and coordinates with Wilhelm on pasture management.

The stables are enormous to accommodate her size, immaculate with animals clearly loved. Students volunteer to help just to be around her. Her gentleness teaches them compassion.

Natural Affinity

Animals trust Grunda instinctively. She can calm frightened horses with a touch, communicates with animals somehow, and even aggressive creatures are gentle with her.

Grunda and Wilhelm Mountainfoot share a special bond as fellow "too big/too small" outcasts. Both are gentle souls rejected for not fitting expectations. They have a quiet friendship of mutual understanding—sometimes sitting together in gardens without speaking. She brings him carved animals he makes to the stable, and he grows special herbs for her animals.

Her teaching philosophy: "Big doesn't mean mean. Strong doesn't mean cruel. Gentle is its own kind of strength."

• Hill giant rejected by clan for being "too gentle"
• Preferred animals to raiding, mocked as weak and useless
• Lived alone with wild horse herd for 13 years
• Animals trust her instinctively, even aggressive creatures gentle with her
• 10'2" tall, surprisingly graceful movements
• Kind face, gentle eyes, braided hair with wildflowers
• Manages Academy stables with immaculate care
• Special bond with Wilhelm Mountainfoot (fellow outcast)
• Students volunteer to help just to be around her
• Teaching: "Gentle is its own kind of strength"