The importance of preparation

Artorias saw the nervousness creep into Talyssa's expression the further he went into his explanation of their lesson and goals. He knew why it was there; she was still gathering herself from her last encounter with the purple bastard. This would be an important lesson for her on keeping herself safe, but this would also be a chance for Taly to empower herself to take back the control he had tried to deprive her of. She hesitated when he invited her closer, and Artorias offered his child a gentle reassuring smile. "Don't worry, they don't bite," he teased playfully, rapping a paw against the straw head of the dire-sized dummy. "They might be as empty-headed as that brute, but they're harmless." Waiting while Talyssa took her time inspecting the training dummies, Artorias waited for his daughter's keen response, and she proved to be as astute as ever. Weak points; exposed vitals and critical targets.

"Correct, Taly. These are the most common and vulnerable weak points on a wolf's body. When you're fighting someone—truly fighting them with the intention to do harm—these are the best points to aim for to inflict the most debilitating damage." Artorias began to slowly maneuver around the dummy, lifting a blue paw to point out each one as he addressed them. He started with the face. "The eyes are every wolf's most vital weak point that isn't fatal. If you manage to wound an eye, you will successfully disable nearly any opponent and put the odds of survival squarely in your corner. No wolf wants to test an opponent who is trying to blind them." He pointed to the throat next. "This is the most obvious. Our throats are our most vulnerable parts beside our underbellies. The skin that covers our veins and arteries is thin compared to the rest of the body, and it is easy enough to deal a mortal wound to a persisted foe with just your claws and teeth. Of course, with enough pressure, you can also subdue or knock out a foe without killing them." Next would come some of the lesser considered weak points. Art moved to point out the marks on the wolf's knees on each of its legs. "Although not always achievable, if you can land a strong blow to your enemy's legs at the joint, you can send them crumpling to the ground, or even dislocate or break their leg, giving you ample opportunity to put space between you and them. This technique is usually for the most nimble and agile of fighters—someone like you." Art gave his athletic little girl a proud wink. Lastly, he moved to the dummy's haunches and ducked his head, pointing out the mark between the dummy's thighs. "And lastly, if your enemy happens to be a male, never underestimate how effective a well placed kick to the balls is. It's like a total system reset for most brutes. It's also the technique I used when I bested your grandfather, the Warlord."

Artorias gave Talyssa a cheeky little grin as he wrapped up his lesson on the locations and effectiveness of a wolf's weak points. Talyssa was not a trained warrior the way some of her siblings were, but with these points and techniques she wouldn't need to be in order to be a reason for some degenerate to think twice about fucking with her. Moving back to stand beside Talyssa in front of the dummy, Art looked down at his daughter, then motioned back to the dummy. "Now that we know where we can aim on our enemy, can you think of some ways you might be able to land strikes on these points if you need to?" He left the question open, allowing Lyssa to approach the dummy and demonstrate as she saw fit. Of course, he had plans to teach her some techniques of his own too, but this was a paws-on lesson. Best for her to feel things out on her own as well with his guidance.

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