Treasure Hunt (RAID)

Artorias heard Serenity's warning call from deep within his sleep, fiery amber eyes flying open in a heartbeat. A night alarm was never a false call, nor was it a training exercise. The Hallows was under attack. Like a bolt of lightning, Artorias hurled himself from his bed and dashed across the room to snatch his armor off of its stand, slipping it on and fastening it shut before reaching for Embershard on reflex—and pausing when it wasn't there. Ah... that was right. Disheartened, but not deterred, Artorias snarled his frustration and threw the door to his chambers open, paws thundering down the hall as he ran for the stairs. "Get up! Get up!" he shouted as he ran past bedrooms of sleeping wolves. "We're under attack! All Vanguards and Knights to the courtyard!" As he passed the last room in the hall, he could already hear doors slamming open as wolf after wolf came sprinting out to follow him down the grand staircase and into battle.

The moment his paws hit the foyer floor, the Aegis turned to Ulric with grim severity on his face. "Ulric, lead the Vanguard into the fight. I have to grab a weapon and I'll be right there. Do not let them inside the castle!" The last sentence he shouted from over his shoulder as he was already running down the corridor towards the armory. All the while, Artorias cursed himself for losing his sword so recklessly. It had left him ill-prepared for an attack on his pack! He wasn't picky when he stormed into the quiet armory, selecting the first sword he could find and running back for the door. He had to get in the fight, lead his pack and support his family. As the alpha brute came marching out the front doors into the courtyard, he made a solemn vow. No enemy had ever set foot in his family's home. That would not be changing tonight.

The night was dark, but the moonlight as well as the braziers they kept lit on the gatehouse helped provide illumination enough to see the fray. Artorias saw Serenity already beating the stuffing out of a bright violet wolf, who was fleeing with his tail between his legs. The wolf his mother had engaged with was one that made the young alpha furious to recognize. Sparrow, the wolf that had been poking around his borders, whom he had offered aid to. Treacherous bitch. He'd make sure she regretted this stupid decision and paid for it dearly. Tamsyn had just subdued Sparrow and Tika had taken down another, half of the pirates now out of the fight. Steely amber eyes moved across the battlefield, watching his wolves as they worked. That was when he spotted the blue and gold wolf sitting off to the side, barely upright as he swayed and panted, a ridiculous looking hat lopsided atop his crown.

Artorias heaved a disappointed sigh. This was a joke of an attack. Poorly coordinated, poorly prepared, and just an insult to the Hallows. Had Sparrow thought this through or did she simply not care about her wolves? Well, her recklessness would be her penance. Artorias approached the wolf, already smelling the alcohol exuding from him, and drove his sword into the ground. He leaned his larger form across the crossguard and looked the wolf over, a strange sort of pity inside for the wretch. "You don't look so good, friend," he spoke in rumbling baritone to the wolf, gesturing with his head to the rest of the failed raid. "I'm going to give you a choice: surrender and I won't have to hurt you. Try to flee if you want, but I doubt you'll get far if you can't even sit up right." The choice belonged to the pirate. Would he flee, would he surrender, or would he try to fight in his state? Either way, Artorias knew what message he wanted to send to Sparrow. And a hostage sent a hell of a message.

Artorias vs Artisan for Force Claim
Round 0/2
Age: 1+ years
Size: Dire wolf
Build: Medium
Offensive Battle Accessory: Damascus steel sword
Defensive Battle Accessory: Reinforced leather cuirass
Companion 1: Common raven, Male - Flying
Companion 2: Silver cross fox - Battle - Boosted
Mutation 1: Stronger teeth and jaws - Offensive
Mutation 2: Thicker fur - Defensive
Skills: Master Fighter & Master Navigator
Specialty: Weaponsmaster

"Artorias" | "Carpathian" | "Corbin" | "Argent"