They night had come for their raid on the castle pack. In the meantime, Sparrow had made her way around and found the members pleasant at least at first meeting. If at all possible, she would like to end this without maiming anyone unnecessarily, but if they decided to fight tooth and nail for their home, Sparrow would understand and would respond appropriately. "Alright guys, this is it, let’s try to not get our asses handed to us too badly. Match their energy, eye for an eye and all that, but we don’t got nothin’ personal against these guys yet so unless you think they’re being particularly vicious, keep it cordial. Y’know, match their energy and all that best you can while still winning." Sparrow smiled and turned towards the pack, venturing past the borders, "Heyyyy we’re here to use your castle for shelter! If you welcome us graciously, no one has to fiiiiiiight!"

I'm Trying to Find A Signal Fire

Pyralis donned her armor and weapons. Sparrow had mentioned face paint and she spread a few markings in white ash on her body, including a ridiculous smiley face on her left hip. She was ready to get some booze and snacks. Booze would be ideal but if not she'd settle for a nice hunk of meat. She'd been to the castle before, back when her son had dethroned Dragon and Talis was cast asunder. The moon was shining brightly as they arrived and she was itching and ready to get the party started.

Sparrow gave out instructions, dissuading the pirates from maims. Pyralis put on an exaggerated, pouty face.

"Awwwww…. but mooooom." She chuckled but soon focused on the task at hand as she strode confidently over the border and into the castle courtyard. She scoffed at the mention of shelter. "Screw shelter! We want booze! We want booze! Snacks and booze!" She chanted.

Hyacinth was drunk, had been for days now. He wasn't totally certain when he'd last been sober. Before Hyperion had died for sure but even as his body had recovered from the plague that had killed his brother his mind hadn't. Drowned in a wave of grief which he, in turn, was drowning in drink, numbing it, silencing the pain the coursed through him in the few moments of lucidity he got between hangovers and the next bottle. He had murdered his brother, not with teeth or claws but simply by being sick around him. The sickness that had coursed through his body had left him but it had killed Hyperion. So yeah. Hyacinth was drunk.

But he was here which was maybe more than Sparrow should have hoped for, or maybe it would have been better for her if he'd stayed home, wasting away in some corner somewhere until he'd numbed himself so totally he wasn't dependant on the pleasant buzzing in his head to feel anything anymore. But he was here, and he was going to get his ass handed to him but that at least meant feeling some pain that wasn't just the ache of his missing brother.

"Speech!"

TABLE & CODE © SKELLE 2021

Tamsyn had made a point of training at least every couple of days ever since the attack that killed Resin, keeping herself in shape and well prepared for whatever attacks may come. Perhaps it was a little bit paranoid of her, but she would rather be safe than sorry. It also just helped her stay toned and limber which helped plenty on her excursions with Kane and no doubt would come in handy just in case they were blessed with the children they were trying to have. That just so happened to be where she was now, running through the same drills and practice motions she had done since she began training with Sirius years ago, her armor and bracers that felt like a second skin strapped into place. She stopped mid motion when she heard Serenity's warning howl from the walls, her head popping up to listen.

Without hesitation she turned and hightailed it for the castle gates which put her at the head of the charge as some of The Hallows' other fighters came pouring out of the castle and the surrounding territory. Her mint gaze landed on the cluster of wolves approaching the castle, picking out the brown, splattered woman that seemed to be leading them. She blinked with surprise when she suddenly recognized the woman from a visit the stranger had made what felt like ages ago asking to see the castle—a request that had ultimately been denied. Well, it seemed like this time she wasn't asking.

Tamsyn ran ahead of the others, falling into her defenses as she went with her ears tucked back, eyes narrowed, lips pulled back into a snarl, head lowered as she charged. She wasn't concerned with why they were here or what they wanted. As far as she was concerned they were trespassers and that was not something she could just stand by and allow. With the other fighters at her back she ran toward Sparrow, dodging toward the leader's left side before lunging up with a snarl to aim a bite at the left side of her neck in the upper portion by her jaw. She also tried to kick her forepaws into Sparrow's left shoulder, attempting to claw into the skin there.

Tamsyn vs Sparrow for Dominance
Round 1/2
Age: Over 1 year
Size: Medium
Build: Light
Offensive Battle Accessory: Thorn covered vines over leather
Defensive Battle Accessory: Bracers
Skills: Master Fighter & Master Navigator
Specialty: Knight

Tamsyn Carpathius

Giddy with excitement, Sunder bounded along beside his packmates as they invaded the Hallows. He wasn't as prepared as he would have liked to have been, but finding armor that fit him and didn't rub his skin raw was hard. So he was naked as a jaybird on this particular outing. Perhaps someday soon he'd find himself some suitably pirate battle jammies. He slid to a stop as the first of the Hallows' wolves burst onto the scene and stood with wagging tail, his gaze torn between the fighting women and the castle as he waited for the others who would no doubt come. There was someone in there for him and he was excited about the prospect. Whoever it was would get his biggest and brightest smile because, murderous intent on their part or not, for Sunder this was a dream come true. His first fight as a pirate. How exciting! He couldn't wait. ""

Úlfr trotted after the rest of the pirates, fully armed with his ravens patrolling the skies above him. A mix of dark ash stained designs upon his fur. The trek south was invigorating and when at last he laid eyes on the strange, stone form of the castle his excitement only grew. He shifted from the rest of the group a short ways to admire the ruins of the northeast wall of the castle. Slipping quietly past the wall and into Hallows territory he headed toward the castle proper, waiting for one of their warriors to intercept him so he could have he joy and honor of battle.

Avantika had been relaxing for once. She was curled up in her bed beside Audra, smiling at her girlfriend, her eyes closed although she wasn't sleeping. She felt soft and quiet. And then she wasn't. The call rang out; she threw herself out of bed without even a word to Audra. She didn't have the time. A raid. Ripping her mask off of the nail in the wall that it hung on and shouting mentally at Kaata to come with her, she sprinted out, forcing herself to wake up, wake up! She growled at herself. Why wasn't she patrolling? Why had she made this mistake?

She would rectify her weakness, no matter what it took.

Something was roaring in her ears--in her blood. Something angry and hateful and violent. No one was going to touch her pack. NO ONE! She charged at one of the wolves without a thought—the one with white markings, including a ridiculous smiley face. She shouted as she sprinted forward: "You have messed with the wrong pack!" She was going to rip that damn thing off of her. She was going to skin this woman alive. These wolves were trespassers and dangerous and they were going to pay. She tucked her head to her left side and shoved her right shoulder against Pyralis's chest as hard as she could.

Avantika vs Pyralis for Dominance
Round 1/2
Age: Over 1 year
Size: Large
Build: Medium
Defensive Battle Accessory: https://www.ardently.org/showthread.php?tid=35204
Companion 1: Sharp-shinned hawk, Female - Flying
Skills: Master Fighter & Master Intellectual
Specialty: Tactician

"Speech"

Serenity held a perch up on the castle walls which was where someone could find her if she wasn't out patrolling or hunting. But these days, or nights rather, had been hard to lay down and sleep. While the world seemed to come back around to normal again, she still had this lingering fear and anxiety. Everything unnatural had stirred feelings inside her she didn't know she had, and it was still too fresh to let it go.

While walking along the tops of the castle walls, she spotted a number of wolves traveling together across the plains heading towards the castle. It was immediate sense that the were not of The Hallows and trespassing over the borders. She didn't have to think twice before calling out for the pack, a sign of trouble.

By the time she made it down the stair wells as fast as she could without tumbling, a couple others had already made their way with brute force that was expected in a raid. Without much of another thought, she jumped forward towards the closet wolf, not even really looking them up and down to get a good look at them. A dark and yet bright star man, maybe not so steady on his feet. She had never been apart of a battle like this and while he may have seemed like an easy target due to his condition she didn't even notice.

She aimed to close the distance quickly, the front of her left shoulder moving forward with strong force and attempting to smash into the front of his own right shoulder. At the same time, her jaw opened wide and attempted to grab hold of his scruff on the right side of his neck. He was slightly bigger than her, so she knew she couldn't aim too high.

Serenity vs Hyacinth for Dominance
Round 1/?
Age: Over 1 Year
Size: Extra Large
Build: Medium
Skills: Expert Fighter & Expert Intellectual
Specialty: N/A

"Serenity"

Frankly Hyacinth wasn't really aware of much, fighting was starting to break out around him and it was only a moment before their shoulders collided that Hyacinth seemed to notice the grey woman who was charging him. He wobbled, pain lancing through his shoulder as they connected and through the haze of his drunkenness he realized he was under attack. Hyacinth blinked, feeling fangs digging into the right side of his neck. Instinct, hazy and a little hard to really grasp finally seemed to kick in then.

Hyacinth was not a fighter on the best of days, he was mostly just used to using his superior height to shove his family around a little, he wasn't really particularly strong, just tall. So honestly even at the best of times, he had no illusions about winning, especially not now. He grunted as the pain went through his neck, a forepaw lifting to try and slam his wrist into her throat, try to her to let go, his lifted paw lead to a wobbling in his balance and he stumbled towards her, uneven on his paws.

Hyacinth vs Serenity for Dominance
Round 1/2
Age: 1+
Size: Dire wolf
Build: Light
Skills: Advanced Intellectual & Novice Navigator

"Speech!"

TABLE & CODE © SKELLE 2021

Ulric heard Serenity's call from where he was standing in the castle's courtyard and with a frown he barked for his dogs to follow before he charged out to meet up with the other fighters that had rushed out to meet their attackers. He wasn't sure what to expect in the way of how many they would be fighting or what their prowess in battle would be—or really even why they had come here—but whatever the reason he wasn't going to let them simply waltz onto their territory. He was shortly behind Serenity as she jumped into a fight with one of the older women and with a quick scan of the battle he spotted a pale, gray marked male wearing a spiked helmet. He figured that was as good of an opponent as any and he hurried to charge the smaller man, quickly getting his basic defenses into place with his eyes narrowed, teeth pulled back into a snarl, and ears tucked back against his skull. One of his companions, Lieven, darted ahead of him to make the first contact, the dog skirting around the attacker to try and stay out of their reach before lunging in toward his left back leg to attempt a bite toward their ankle. Attempting to use that distraction to his advantage, Ulric came in toward the stranger's left side. He wanted to slam his armored chest into the shorter male's shoulder while reaching for his scruff with open jaws, wanting to quickly get a point to grim from and start overpowering his opponent.

Ulric vs Ulfr for Dominance
Round 1/2
Age: Over 1 Year
Size: Dire wolf
Build: Heavy
Offensive Battle Accessory: Spiked leather bracers
Defensive Battle Accessory: Reinforced leather armor
Companion 1: Belgian Malinois, Male - Battle
Companion 2: Belgian Groenendael, Female - Battle
Skills: Master Fighter & Master Intellectual
Specialty: Bard

Speech

Lillith was much more active at night these days, when she was younger the girl would go to sleep whenever the sun began to set. Now that she had Romulus staying up late became a common occurrence. She lounged easily on the balcony with him, content and satisfied from a day spent together. Lil was already debating about sleep when the call rang out. Surprising as it was that didn’t hinder her quickness in reacting.

Grabbing her leopard fur armor on her way through her rooms Lil raced towards the call to battle. She could hear the sounds of taunting voices as she made her way outside the gates, the young woman wouldn’t allow anyone to force their way to her home. Anyone was welcome when they came as friends, but this looked anything but friendly.

Except for one. An odd looking individual, hairless but it didn’t look unnatural. What was more, he wore a warm grin that drew her towards him. By far he was the most pleasant of the group and Lil felt her own grin cover her features as she approached the dog. Obviously choosing him as her opponent. There was no hesitation as she aimed to leap for him, always eager to get into a spar and feeling the adrenaline race through her at the high stakes fight.

The young woman aimed to slam her shoulder into his chest, trying to topple her slightly smaller opponent.

Lillith vs Sunder for Dominance
Round 1 of 2?
Age: 1+
Size: Medium
Build: Light
Defensive Battle Accessory: Jaguar fur coat
Companion 1: Pale Chanting Goshawk, Female - Flying
Skills: Expert Fighter & Advanced Healer

Lillith Adravendi

Somehow it felt like she slammed into a sack of bricks even while the drunk man wasn’t so sturdy on his feet. Serenity was a bit taken by surprise as the larger man’s paw struck her in her throat, nearly knocking the wind out of her and causing her to let go of her grasp. She knew she couldn’t just give up though, even while it was difficult to pull back in for air.

Her body had collapsed slightly, honestly he probably could have held her up in his arms from the reaction to the hit to her throat. So with her head hanging lower, she attempted to grab ahold again with her teeth around his right foreleg, her own right paw lifting and trying to grab from behind his left leg as if the pain in one and pulling out the other from under him would hopefully cause him to tumble. She knew she was at a greater disadvantage in this position though, at least with him seeming taller over top her.

Serenity vs Hyacinth for Dominance
Round 2/2
Age: Over 1 Year
Size: Extra Large
Build: Medium
Skills: Expert Fighter & Expert Intellectual
Specialty: N/A

"Serenity"

So much had happened since they'd gathered and decided to raid the southern pack and Artisan had nearly forgotten the plan entirely. He'd sat upon the beach sulking over his brother's loss - as he had been every day since being informed - and looked up at the full moon. There were many, many negative connotations that went with the full moon even now that the ooze was gone, but there was something else there too. Did he have a date planned for tonight or something? It took the drunken wolf many minutes to clue in to the fact that he and his pirates were supposed to be raiding on this night, but the moment he realized Artisan took off in a frenzied panic towards Auster.

Exhausted, drunk and panting, Artisan arrived on scene to see the fight had started without him. Damn. Well, this was a good moment to take a break, rest his weary paws, sober up his mind yada yada. Artisan sat his rump in the dirt and watched the battle rage on around him, keeping a careful eye so he'd be able to stand in time should a Hallows wolf decide to take the fight to him.

"Speech"

I'm Trying to Find A Signal Fire

Pyralis' supple body twined around a pillar etched with moss and decay. Her companions took off into the sky as she waited for an opponent. She'd seen the inside of the castle. She wanted a good, rowdy fight and a deep bowl of wine after. Luckily she didn't have to wait long.

"You have messed with the wrong pack!"

Pyralis grinned wickedly and licked her lips. Delicious. She couldn't wait to get started. Defenses flew up and she was in motion. Pyralis sprang forward and to her left avoiding the brunt of the shoulder throw, though the woman's shoulder still knocked the outside of her right arm. At the same time that she sprang forward she twisted her neck to her right, fangs lancing forward in an attempt to seize the flesh of Avantika's side, just behind right arm, in the delicate armpit area. Pyralis desired to sink her fangs deep into the sensitive area simply to cause pain.


Pyralis vs Avantika for Dominance
Round 1/2
Age: Over 1 Year
Size: Extra large
Build: Medium
Offensive Battle Accessory: Leather bracers with blades
Defensive Battle Accessory: Studded leather armor with cowl
Companion 1: Harris Hawk, Female - Battle
Companion 2: Potoo, Male - Battle
Skills: Master Navigator & Master Fighter
Specialty: Saboteur

Galinn croaked a rattling call and Ulfr turned to see a very large, scarred male charge toward him. Úlfr swiftly set his defenses and prepared to retaliate. One of the man's companions pulled ahead and slid past him. He watched the dog briefly from the corner of his eye but left it to his ravens. Their custom was general wolf vs wolf. Companions vs companions. Though his ravens might be smaller they were built to shred flesh, even flesh long dead and rigid. He trusted they'd have no problem.

As the dog launched for Úlfr's hind leg, Galinn dove to intercept, attempting to latch his talons over each of the dogs eyes. Úlfr pivoted to his left, quickly kicking his hind legs behind him and out of the way of the companion battle, to keep himself head on with Ulric. The warrior charged and so did Úlfr. Keenly aware of his lighter build he shifted to his left seeking to slide past Ulric's right side. As he did so he could feel fangs snag the back of his cowl where his neck and scruff had been moments before as well as the thud of Ulric's left shoulder knocking against his right shoulder as he struggled to get out of the way of the chest throw. Úlfr threw his head to his right seeking to rip his fangs into Ulric's upper right arm in a move meant to leave lacerations more so than gain a solid hold.

Not one to be left out, Glámr joined in, diving low and seeking to goose the female dog by sharply pecking her left butt cheek.

Úlfr vs Ulric for Dominance
Round 1/2
Age: Over 1 Year
Size: Large
Build: Medium
Offensive Battle Accessory: Bladed bracers
Defensive Battle Accessory: Spiked helmet and cowl
Companion 1: Raven, Male - Battle
Companion 2: Raven, Bale - Battle
Skills: Master Hunter & Master Fighter
Specialty: Cooperative

Sparrow watched and waited as the other pack came forth, spilling about like ants when you stepped into their bed. The excitement built in her chest, gods she hadn’t been this excited since her last fight with Azure. She wondered who would choose her, and in the end it was a woman with distinct markings and scars. Shame, the one that went after Hyanwas kind of a cutie. Still, the one at her left was her opponent, and Sparrow thought they oughta at least give it her best shot.

The woman launched at Sparrow’s left and Sparrow reciprocated by flinging her jaws to her left, hoping to catch the woman’s jaws in her own, to let their teeth clash and lock in a battle of pure force. As the other’s paws landed on Sparrow’s left shoulder, sharp scratches going through the thin fur still growing back there. Sparrow leaned into the woman’s paws, hoping to cause her to have to backpedal against the weight.

Sparrow vs Tamsyn for dominance
Round 1/2
Age: Over 1
Size: Dire wolf
Build: Heavy
Offensive Battle Accessory: Sword
Defensive Battle Accessory: Reinforced pirate hat
Companion 1: Harlequin Macaw, Female - Flying
Companion 2: Capuchin monkey, Male - Battle
Mutation 1: Cat claws - Offensive
Mutation 2: Bone spurs - Defensive
Skills: Master Fighter & Master Navigator
Specialty: Knight

His wrist hit the other woman and then thumped back down onto the ground to stop himself from keeling over. Hyacinth might have otherwise given chase to her slight retreat but he was in no state of mind to try and capitalize on his success. Instead he stood there a little lamely, screwing his eyes shut to try and keep the world from spinning too much as his head started to pound. The last thing he wanted to do right now was be too much of an embarrassment, but it was honestly probably too late for that.

Fangs dug into his foreleg and instinct had him stumble a little, trying to pull away before he realized he might as well let her pull him over, and simply hope he trapped her under himself, and so he did, letting himself topple towards her.  

Hyacinth vs Serenity for Dominance
Round 2/2
Age: 1+
Size: Dire wolf
Build: Light
Skills: Advanced Intellectual & Novice Navigator

"Speech!"

TABLE & CODE © SKELLE 2021

The raven that dove in for Lieven's brow forced the dog to have to abandon his attack, ducking to avoid the worst of the bird's talons. He yelped a bit as the sharp claws scratched at his skin and fell back a bit to regroup. Meanwhile, Ulric's charge was moderately successful as he made contact with his opponent—his teeth catching the cowl that the man wore and their shoulders knocking together. The pale man immediately launched an attack of his own, swinging his head toward the upper portion of his right foreleg. Ulric winced as the bite made contact, tearing moderate lacerations across the skin there. He released the hold he had on the man's cowl, instead trying to reach for his opponent's muzzle as it bit at his leg, not trying to grip and hold his muzzle as much as just leaving some lacerations of his own.

He held his ground, fixing his feet in a stable, widened stance like a wall of wolf. He attempted to use the contact between their shoulders as a point to shove from as he pushed into the other man, attempting to throw his side into Ulfer's and hopefully throw off his balance. His other companion, Arlise, was standing by, waiting to jump into the fray, when one of the circling ravens dove for her, pecking at her butt. She jumped with a yelp, scowling at the raven as it flew off again and she turned her attention back to her master's fight. In retaliation, since she couldn't exactly reach the ravens where they flew in the sky, she instead dove in to take it out on their master. She tried to bite at the man's tail, trying to crunch the appendage between her jaws.

Ulric vs Ulfr for Dominance
Round 2/2
Age: Over 1 Year
Size: Dire wolf
Build: Heavy
Offensive Battle Accessory: Spiked leather bracers
Defensive Battle Accessory: Reinforced leather armor
Companion 1: Belgian Malinois, Male - Battle
Companion 2: Belgian Groenendael, Female - Battle
Skills: Master Fighter & Master Intellectual
Specialty: Bard

Speech

The strike she tried to make at the left side of Sparrow's neck was blocked by the larger woman turning her head and snapping her jaws in the way of her own, but Tamsyn withdrew from the attempt before it could land her in some sort of clash of teeth with the leader of this motley crew. Instead, Sparrow's jaws snapped closed just shy of her own, her teeth catching and scratching the upper part of her muzzle near her nose. She focused on her claws which scrapped down Sparrow's shoulder and when the larger woman attempted to push into her paws Tamsyn took that as her cue to move before she got knocked to the ground and shoved off of the woman's shoulder—attempting to dig her claws in a little harder as she went—and she got all four paws back onto the ground with a quick spin that got her facing Sparrow once more.

Tamsyn was quick on her paws and darted to position herself alongside Sparrow, facing the opposite way as her opponent. She tucked her tail in as she went so it couldn't be a target and then tried to give a hard lunge of her shoulder into Sparrow's left side past her rib cage—nearly into the soft area of her belly with their height difference. She tried to use the long thorns of the vines attached to the shoulders of her armor to stab her opponent's side while also reaching with her jaws to try and bite at Sparrow's left thigh. She kept the rest of her defenses in place all the while, bracing herself and widening her stance just in case to prepare herself for whatever other attacks the larger woman might have in mind.

Tamsyn vs Sparrow for Dominance
Round 2/2
Age: Over 1 year
Size: Medium
Build: Light
Offensive Battle Accessory: Thorn covered vines over leather
Defensive Battle Accessory: Bracers
Skills: Master Fighter & Master Navigator
Specialty: Knight

Tamsyn Carpathius

And the winner is...

Serenity

Hyacinth must give up by submitting, fleeing or passing out. Totals: Serenity: Attack Roll: 84 Defense Roll: 69 Agility Roll: 89 Perception Roll: 31 Total: 273 Attack[84] + 5% Bonus[4.20]: 88.20 Defense[69] + 5% Bonus[3.45]: 72.45 Agility[89] + 0% Bonus[0.00]: 89.00 Perception[31] + 20% Bonus[6.20]: 37.20 Total[286.85] + 30% Bonus[86.055]: 372.905 Hyacinth: Attack Roll: 37 Defense Roll: 24 Agility Roll: 94 Perception Roll: 12 Total: 167 Attack[37] + 10% Bonus[3.70]: 40.70 Defense[24] + 0% Bonus[0.00]: 24.00 Agility[94] + 10% Bonus[9.40]: 103.40 Perception[12] + 15% Bonus[1.80]: 13.80 Total[181.90] + 0% Bonus[0.00]: 181.90