Come down, come down sweet reverence

The journey had been lengthy to say the least, but Jynn hoped it had been an eye opening experience to see such a diverse amount of terrain. They camped in various locations, eventually settling in the Redbud Nook. Summer was alive and well in Boreas and the warmth was a nice change from the wet, chill winter of Auster.

After breakfast and breaking camp it was time to invade Hemlock. The late morning sun stretched its rays across the mountain as the group neared the border. Jynn turned to speak to the raiding party. "It's time to begin. Remember, this is a practice raid, there is no place for maiming here. Carry yourselves with strength and with honor."

Jynn turned back to the border and called for Delphi and her wolves to meet Tojo's raiding party with her characteristic roar. Jynn then stepped across the border, trotting swiftly and deftly up the mountainside as if she were searching for storage dens to pilfer.

She followed the group through various terrain, many places she had never seen before. She had never really stepped foot beyond Tojo's lands save for once to the Boneyard, but oh how there was so much more to the world! She was in even more awe when they reached the lands of Boreas, the season shifting to the complete opposite of what was going on in Auster. No longer was it frigid and wet, but hot and sunny! She was at a loss for words if she were honest, and even during their camping and resting, she found it hard to settle when there was so much of the world she realized she was missing out on! But finally, when they came to their target, she listened quietly as Jynn explained that this was practice and to fight with honor. She nodded quietly before following the maned wolf into Hemlock's territory. Hinata

Prior to this the furthest from the bamboo Majima had ever been had been the bonfire. Now he was being exposed to quite a bit more than he'd ever even imagined... Part of that was his overall lack of imagination but a part was also simply not knowing what to expect. A part of his mind had drifted to Bancha with each new terrain he encountered. What was it like where they lived? Were they more used to the diversity of the world than he was? He wouldn't admit to hoping to meet them again at some point during the trip. No such luck prior to the raid however and as Jynn had gotten them up and fed and then marching towards their target Majima forced himself to focus on the task at hand. He followed behind her dutifully if quietly. He wasn't exactly the most social wolf but he'd kept a careful eye on her as she'd interacted with his less reserved siblings and had decided family or not she was good folk. Not surprising he guessed, he trusted his father's judgement unquestioningly. Jynn was a part of the clan blood or not and he would admit to being more than happy to follow her into battle. Even if the actual fights themselves weren't exactly going to be the type of violence a part of him craved. He refused to be the one to dishonour an agreed upon practice raid so much as he wished to really let loose Majima would keep himself tight laced. Only nodding as Jynn gave them a warning about not maiming anyone and then he pushed past the border behind her. Sneaking wasn't really easy for the boy, he was absolutely well and truely into the gangly teenage phase of his life and the sprawl of slightly too long limbs with little muscle to speak of certainly didn't do much to hide him, or let him move particularly well himself. Still he'd try his best, at least until he was inevitably spotted. "Speech"

Art by Dezigre

Keito padded along silently with the others, his lean frame moving easily over the rocky terrain. This journey had been a test for him, but he was more than ready to prove himself. The change in scenery had left him thoughtful, a deep appreciation for the mountains of Hemlock blooming in his chest. His pale eyes caught the sunlight as he listened to Jynn’s words. Practice or not, honor would be upheld.

The climb ahead didn't bother him, he had spent months tracking through the wilds searching for his mother. This was nothing compared to that. As they approached the border, Keito's gaze sharpened, falling on Jynn and then forward to where the raid would begin. With a curt nod to himself, he shifted into action, careful to balance stealth and precision. He wouldn't let himself fail here, not in front of his pack. It was time to make Tojo-Kai proud.

"Speech"

CODE BY SIN

Kaizen had a lot to learn, he knew that. In a lot of ways, he didn't feel ready- not just for the raid but being out here beyond the saftey for the bamboo. He'd left home a few times of course, but the mountain air felt thin, the rocky crags and stoic peaks were not what he used to. Not like home. Still, he knew what he had to do and if nothing else he could learn and grow from this, even if change in his mind was not always a good thing.

Following Jynns lead, the small raiding party gathered. He had no quarrel with the idea of keeping it safe, no bloodshed, Hattori was not an inherently violent man and the same could be said for Kaizen. He would fight and do so to the best of his ability, of course but..would it be enough?

Úlfr had heard there'd be a practice raid coming up eventually though it was impossible to know exactly when. He just focused his mind on hunting and providing for the pack, in particular making hides from the season's bounty for the winter's ahead. It was while he was tanning a mountain goat hide that he heard the strange barking sound. Ahhh… that had to be Jynn. He'd met the strange creature before but still wasn't used to her kind. Still, he would show and do his best to honor his pack in battle.

Swiftly he donned his armor and weaponry, calling his ravens to his side. Striding down the mountainside he met the raiders, noting Jynn had a bunch of yearlings in tow. He grinned, teeth glinting in the late morning light. "Let us see how well these younglings do on the mountain terrain." Úlfr swiftly set his defenses, including pinning his ears and tucking his tail. His eyes landed on a large calico colored male. He'd do.

Úlfr kicked off hard, sending small rocks skittering down the mountainside, shifting a few steps to his left. Seeking to use his momentum Úlfr aimed to slam the front of his right shoulder into the crease between Keito's right shoulder and chest, hoping to jar the limb and maybe dislocate it. At the same time his jaws flung wide seeking to latch onto the right side of Keito's neck, just below the jawline.

Úlfr vs Keito for Dominance
Round 1/?
Age: Over 1 Year
Size: Large
Build: Balanced
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

Kina shifted her armor as they arrived at the mountain base. It had been an interesting journey so far. She'd seen more kinds of lands than she'd ever dreamed of and although she wished they could camp more frequently and explore they were on a mission. Already Kina could see that it would take a fair amount of preparation for a Boreas pack to raid Tojo. Likely they would need to rest nearby as Jynn was having them do before mounting an attack.

Jynn gathered them together and soon they headed up the mountainside, stepping across Hemlock's territory. This too felt strange, too so blatantly ignore another packs scent markings. As the pressed deeper into the pack territory an older male met them, charging for Keito. Kina held back, ears searching for sounds of other pack members as she watched to see how her brother would fair.

Keito barely had time to register the large wolf charging at him before Ulfr was upon him. His eyes narrowed, assessing the attack with a flash of adrenaline. The rocks underfoot shifted, but Keito's training and natural agility kept him steady, and he twisted his body to meet the assault. Instead of allowing the shoulder slam to land cleanly, Keito leaned into the hit, shifting his weight at the last second to absorb the blow into his own right shoulder, minimizing the impact. Pain radiated through his shoulder, but he pushed through it with a grunt.

Seeing Ulfr’s jaws aiming for his neck, Keito ducked his head, avoiding the lethal grasp just in time. Swiftly, he countered with his own attack; his jaws parted, and he struck out with a sharp bite, aiming for the soft tissue behind Ulfr’s left shoulder. It wasn’t a maiming strike, but Keito hoped it would deliver enough pressure to test the older wolf’s defenses.

His heart hammered in his chest, the thrill of battle filling his veins. Even in this practice raid, Keito was determined to prove his mettle.

Keito vs Úlfr for Dominance
Round 1/2
Age: Over 1 year
Size: Extra large
Build: Balanced
Offensive Battle Accessory: Tantō Dagger
Defensive Battle Accessory: Lamellar Collar Armor
Companion 1: Crested Serpent Eagle, Male - flying
Companion 2: Crested Serpent Eagle, Female - flying
Skills: Intermediate Fighter & Beginner Intellectual

"Speech"

CODE BY SIN

Code © Skelle/Witchdogtor DO NOT USE WITHOUT PERMISSION

Ochitsuki followed behind the younger wolves, hoping to be the last to fight so that she could observe their battles and learn the different areas where they might need improvement. The monochromatic fae padded along silently, nimble digits allowing her more control over her steps than the average wolf. She didn't bring her sword today. The objective wasn't to lop off heads, it was to acquire some practice. And practice, they would.

"Speech!"

Ears perked up at the sound. She knew that call! It was a call for a raid! While she and Gimli had only recently returned home, Brida gathered her things anyway and got ready. She was hesitant though. And she couldn't lie to herself with the fact she felt she wasn't as good as she thought she should be. Even with all of Gimli's efforts, her confidence wasn't quite there. Still, she wouldn't waste an opportunity to get more experience. No matter what, she had to keep trying. Even if it meant she kept failing. Taking a deep breath, she charged down the mountainside toward the pack that was coming to raid them, their scents unfamiliar but still, they needed to be deterred. Since their recent return, she had no idea if this was the real deal or not, but as she observed more, she noticed majority of them were yearlings. Huh...well okay then. Maybe it wasn't as serious as she thought, but she still couldn't be sure. Taking a deep breath to steel herself, she started down the hillside again, heading right toward a black and red splotched young male with horns protruding from his head. She aimed to come head on, shoulder forward and chest out as she sought to crash full weight into him and knock him down the hill. Brida vs Kaizen for Dominance - Raid Round: 1/? Age: Over 1yr Size: Dire wolf Build: Balanced Offensive Battle Accessory: Bear Claw Gloves Defensive Battle Accessory: Grizzly Bear Armor Companion 1: Raven, Male - Flying [Perception] Companion 2: Raven, Female - Flying [Perception] Mutation 1: Bear paws - Offensive Mutation 2: Saber Fangs - Offensive Skills: Expert Fighter & Advanced Hunter "Common Tongue"||"Dwarvish (ancient tongue)"

Ahaha! Music to his ears! The call for a raid sounded in the air, and while they had recently returned home, Gimli would not pass up this opportunity! He quickly finished the work he was doing on a piece of steel, however reluctant he was since he missed his forge, but alas, the call to arms was priority! He swapped out the leather workwear for his battle gear, calling for Knut to join him before the pair made their way down the mountainside. There were many young face he did not recognize, but of course he wouldn't! He hadn't been around in a while now, had he? Plus, he'd never really been to see other packs, so these wolves were as foreign to him as anything. Already Brida had shown up and was charging toward a young male, but Gimli decided to hang back first, as much as he wanted to fight...he wanted to observe what she did for a few moments before he got engaged into a fight himself. "Gimli"||"Knut"

Kaizen's eyes snapped wide as he saw a rush of blue movement, fast approaching with no intention of stopping. His postured stiffened, hackles raising in surprise- didn't even have time to think to dodge before the blue defenders form slammed into him, hard enough that there was no way he'd be able to maintain his footing. Even if he had time to brace, even if he'd dug his claws in, any wolf would have been knocked over regardless. But in the tumble of falling, Kaizen reached out with his maw, jaw arcing open as he fell, aiming to grab onto something, any bit of loose fur or skin, anything that'd give him enough leverage to yank and drag them down with him as he fell, keeling down hill.

"Speech"

Kaizen vs Brida for Dominace
Round 1/2
Age: over 1
Size: Dire wolf
Build: Light
Mutation 1: Eagle Talons (Offensive)
Mutation 2: Antelope horns (Defensive)
Mutation 3: Lengthened tail (Agility)
Skills: Expert Hunter & Advanced Fighter

Úlfr's shoulder slammed into the youth but not in the location he intended, instead it struck the meatier front portion of the yearling's shoulder. His bite missed, fangs snapping shut over empty air as the yearling countered, fangs digging into the flesh behind his left shoulder. Úlfr grunted at the pain but swiftly retaliated. Kicking off hard he sought to drive the point of his left shoulder up into the tender flesh underneath the yearlings lower jaw, hoping to cause main and dislodge his attacker even if it meant worsening his shoulder wound. At the same time his jaws lanced forward, fangs seeking to dig into the tender flesh between the boy's right shoulder and chest.

Úlfr vs Keito for Dominance
Round 2/2
Age: Over 1 Year
Size: Large
Build: Balanced
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

Keito felt the satisfying give of flesh beneath his fangs, but it was short-lived. Ulfr was quick to retaliate, and Keito caught the movement too late. The sharp jolt of Ulfr's shoulder slammed into the underside of his jaw, sending a shock of pain through him, forcing his teeth to release their hold. He staggered back, his mouth filling with the metallic taste of blood from the impact, but he refused to falter.

Seeing Ulfr’s fangs darting toward his right shoulder, Keito swiftly twisted his body, allowing the older wolf's teeth to glance off rather than latch onto his flesh. The sting was there, but the blow hadn’t landed fully. With a growl, Keito immediately dropped lower, seeking to use his youthful frame to his advantage. He surged forward, jaws aiming for Ulfr’s exposed underbelly, attempting a quick, decisive bite that wouldn’t break the rules of their practice raid but would send a clear message: he wasn’t an easy target.

Keito vs Ulfr for Spar
Round 2/2
Age: Over 1 year
Size: Extra large
Build: Balanced
Offensive Battle Accessory: Tantō Dagger
Defensive Battle Accessory: Lamellar Collar Armor
Companion 1: Crested Serpent Eagle, Male - flying
Companion 2: Crested Serpent Eagle, Female - flying
Skills: Intermediate Fighter & Beginner Intellectual

"Speech"

CODE BY SIN

Seiko spent much of the journey to eastern Boreas in silence, though such a thing wasn't surprising thanks to so many of their siblings being the stoic sort. Though they'd gone farther than some of their brothers and sisters, they'd never crossed into the continent to the north and they were rightfully awed at the sights along the way. It was incredibly how quickly the terrain changed - not just the lands, but the weather itself. these lands felt far warmer than back home did right now.

The journey was a long one and a rest was in order. By the time Jynn ordered them to get moving and head toward Hemlock, Seiko was itching to get going. Though they were eager to engage in a good fight and show off what they'd learned, they felt strange being so far from home and were just as eager to get back home. They nodded along with Jynn's words, fully intent on following her instruction. They wouldn't dream of dishonoring their family's name, anything like that was entirely off the table. They would show off their family's strength and honor, nothing more or less.

They moved swiftly up the mountainside, waiting for their opponents to arrive. A few were swift to jump into the fray once they did arrive, though Seiko hung back and waited, always the type to wait and assess the right moment to strike before blindly attacking.

table coding by bunni ♥

So maybe her attack hadn't been well thought out. In fact, she hadn't even really considered the possibility of what might happen should she make contact, and that would be made very clear to her. She did make contact. And with that contact, the young male managed to grab a hold of the side of her scruff, his weight falling down also working against her as he dragged her down with them. They tumbled and rolled, the world spinning as they went down the hill. She swore she could hear Gimli laughing somewhere around her! When they finally stopped, she hit the ground pretty hard and felt the air leave her lungs. She tried to jump back to her feet, stumbling as the dizziness of the fall took over, though she did find her opponent and half-lurched, half-stumbled toward him. She had a hard time focusing, however, and was seeing double. Still, she lunged forward, jaws snapping in an attempt to grab one of them. And hopefully the right one. Brida vs Kaizen for Dominance - Raid Round: 2/2 Age: Over 1yr Size: Dire wolf Build: Balanced Offensive Battle Accessory: Bear Claw Gloves Defensive Battle Accessory: Grizzly Bear Armor Companion 1: Raven, Male - Flying [Perception] Companion 2: Raven, Female - Flying [Perception] Mutation 1: Bear paws - Offensive Mutation 2: Saber Fangs - Offensive Skills: Expert Fighter & Advanced Hunter "Common Tongue"||"Dwarvish (ancient tongue)"

The blue wolf recovered before Kaizen did, a disoriented tangle of limbs on the ground. Things were not going as he'd anticipated at all and the unfamiliarity of the situation was deeply unsettling, a bit in his stomach that was collapsing in on itself, growing deeper and deeper with each passing second. He shook his head sharply and though it did nothing to help solidify his senses, a frustrated growl rumbled in his throat as he kicked out, hoping to keep the attacker at bay as they made to grab for him.

It was for the best that Hattori was not here, he would be ashamed and rightly so.

Kaizen vs Brida for Dominace
Round 2/2
Age: over 1
Size: Dire wolf
Build: Light
Mutation 1: Eagle Talons (Offensive)
Mutation 2: Antelope horns (Defensive)
Mutation 3: Lengthened tail (Agility)
Skills: Expert Hunter & Advanced Fighter

A raid! Maki still wasn't much of a fighter, but that didn't mean she wasn't a trier! She hurried along, noticing that the attacking wolves were dapply like her, familiar in a way that made her go hmmm. She knew she had family around of course, that her mysterious Grandad and his kin lived in Auster with Akito but- oh right, focus.

Picking a target at random, she made a beeline for a grey and browny looking wolf. There were already fights going on and she saw no reason to interrupt or gang up on anyone, least of all when it didn't seem overly serious. That she could tell anyway. Letting out a boof of warning, she shifted her weight and whipped around to face her opponent butt first, fancy ninja kick attack! Like a horse, she kicked out with both of her hindlegs, the rest of her weight shifting to her front paws to counterbalance.

table coding by bunni ♥


Maki vs Seiko for dominance
Round 1/2
Age: over 1
Size: Dire wolf
Build: Light
Companion 1: Variegated Fancy Rat, Female, Battle
Mutation 1: Antelope horns (Offensive)
Skills: Expert Fighter & Expert Intellectual

When the call sounded out, unexpected and surprising, Delphi was away. Strai cursed silently under his breath, knowing what that would mean. While silently hoping she would hear the call and make it back - and knowing she wouldn’t be able to - he hurriedly grabbed what he needed.

He pulled his armour on, hopping as he walked and pulled until he had everything in place. Someone needed to ensure the wolves were organised. He knew Delphi would expect it of him, though leadership was a skill he lacked. He tore out into the maw and saw the fights beginning. His eyes zeroed in on the one that had led these wolves here. With the strange not-wolf in his sights, he charged. Leaping towards her as he sought to bring them into close combat.

Astraios vs Jynn for Raid
Round 1/?
Age: over 1
Size: Dire wolf
Build: Light
Offensive Battle Accessory: Small dagged with sheath
Defensive Battle Accessory: Protective bracers
Companion 1: Snowy Owl, Male, Battle
Companion 2: Snow Leopard, Male, 25"
Mutation 1: Cheek Bone Spurs (Defensive)
Mutation 2: Retractable Claws (Offensive)
Skills: Master Fighter & Master Hunter
Specialty: Knight

"Speech"

If this was just meant to be a practice, well... Maybe Steig had missed that memo. Charging down the side of the Maw, braying donkeys on his heels, he had been napping when the call first went up. Not allowing his lateness to the party to deter him, he picked out the closest target, a girl that didn't even really look like a wolf at all. He only skipped a single step taking in the strange scaly growths on her legs and the long dangly things hanging off her face like some sorta catfish... Maybe... What if it was contagious?

But the thought was gone as soon as it had arrived, the empty space between his ears filled with wind that whipped the thought away. He smiled with reckless abandon, the dark lines that ran up over his eyes stretching the expression seemingly wider than should be natural. He slapped his paws against the snow and bowed low to show it was nothing personal before he sprung forward, paws wide to grapple the white pelted fish-girl.

"speech"

Steig vs Hinata for dominance (raid)
Round 1/?
Age: Over 1 year
Size: Dire wolf
Build: Light
Companion 1: Female minature donkey, Battle
Companion 2: Female minature donkey, Battle
Skills: Intermediate Fighter & Intermediate Intellectual