God's Garden Altar

The magical autumn that had come suddenly across northern Auster had originally struck Artorias with a sense of dread. After his encounter with those fireflies in the cave, he feared that this might be a resurgence of the plague the Long Night had brought about almost two years ago. He feared for his newborn children's safety, and stayed up many a night wondering what sort of terror might be coming back to the world. But when he woke up one morning and was greeted not by the cold snows of winter, but a bright and vivid fall that covered the castle and the surrounding plains, Artorias found himself... strangely at ease. The sudden shift in the seasons was still cause for concern, but this... this didn't feel anything like the horrors they had faced before. Hallows scouts had come back, reporting a bizarre statue appearing overnight in the God's Garden amongst the growing foliage and herbs, and both Aegis and Queen had decided to go investigate. His first trip out, Art had seen the small critters tending to the statue of the mother wolf and her pups, cleaning and maintaining it, asking the alpha for tribute to their patron. Strange, but who was he to deny the will of the gods?

Artorias returned with Briar and Zephyrus, bearing gifts and offerings from the Hallows to the deity. As they arrived, he noticed a few other wolves had left some things for the patron. Amber eyes scanned what had been left while he slid the satchel around his neck off and began to rifle through it. From the bag, Artorias produced two plush toys that he had made from excess fabric found in the castle and stuffed with alpaca wool from their herd, one for each of the pups. He had made a set of these for his own children, and now he would offer them to the deity's offspring as well. Artorias placed a toy between the paws of each pup, then returned to his bag, where he pulled out three cloaks made of the same warming alpaca wool, one for the mother and one for each pup. "You brought autumn back to us as my children were born, and for that I thank you," he spoke in reverence to the statue. Perhaps its patron would hear his words and know his gratitude that his pups wouldn't be greeted by snow and ice for their first season alive. "Winter will always follow fall, and being prepared for it is crucial. As a father to a mother, I know you understand." With the help of the critters, Artorias got the cloaks tied around each of the statues' backs. Now they would be protected from the cool nights, the elements, and the coming winter.

After one more look to inspect the statue and the tributes left for them, Artorias smiled and bowed his head. He bid farewell to the familiars and returned to the castle with Briar and Zephyrus. He couldn't explain it, but being near the statue, it had made him feel... calm. Safe. Like everything was going to be okay. It reminded him of the way he felt whenever his mother was around. He really needed to call for Tamsyn soon. He missed her.

"Artorias Carpathius" | "Carpathian" | "Corbin" | "Eira" | "Argent"

NPC:

Three ferrets admire the cloaks as Artorias ties them on. When the small plush toys hit the base of the statue, animals clamber over them. A few try to take bites, disappointed that they're not edible, but most seem content for the latest addition. "Awfully crafty, you two, are ya?" One of the ferrets nods to Briar and Artorias.

You have received:
157 Gems & 10% Bonus Fight Score Pass

Gemstones added to credit.

Staff: note when claimed