fley ok fagrar árar

Artorias had known the vikings were coming for a visit. Some time beforehand, Víðarr had sent him a missive informing him of the good-natured raid he intended to launch against the Hallows. Honestly, it was a pleasant distraction to all the darkness and despair that seemed to be growing across Ardent lately, and the Lord welcomed it with open arms. Stakes were set through secret discussions—a stash of high quality wines set aside in the cellars with Heiðinn's name written on it—if they could take it, that was. That was why when the call of the Konungr resounded across the lands, it came as little surprise to the Carpathian brute. A daring smile flashed across his muzzle, a fiery twinkle coming to life in amber eyes. As nice as they were, the Hallows was definitely going to make Heiðinn work for its rewards today.

Artorias responded to the threatening call with a summoning howl of his own, rallying the Hallows' warriors to action. Artorias donned his armor and took Embershard with him as a show of force, though there would be no using of their blades against the vikings today. He wanted his wolves to fight with all the ferocity in their souls, but risk none of the consequences of true warfare. This was as much about having fun and shaking off the gloom as it was for practice. With his battledress equipped, the Lord of Cinder headed out to the castle courtyard to wait for his wolves to assemble in the beautiful spring daylight. "Knights! Vanguard! Rally to me! I want everyone to fight with all your hearts and courage, but stay your blades and mind your fangs. We will be meeting force with force today." A simple command—no maims or killing or unnecessary bloodshed. They would test their mettle and show it off to Heiðinn. This exercise was meant to hone skills and strengthen relations, not damage them. "No invading force has ever set paw inside Hearthstone. That is not going to change today!"

With his short speech to inspire his wolves, Artorias led the charge out of the castle gates to intercept the Heiðinn wolves before they could cross the threshold into the gardens. Artorias spotted them closing in on the gates with Víðarr expectedly at the head of the group. Eyes of fire glistened as they met the fellow alpha's arctic gaze, and he greeted his peer with a lopsided grin. "Welcome to the Hallows, Víðarr," said Artorias, drawing his sword and driving the blade into the earth like a marker. "You'll go no farther than this today." Still grinning like a pup at play, Artorias bared his fangs and growled as he set his paws, then lunged for the viking king, charging the other alpha with nimble paws zipping across the lush grasses. Artorias aimed to rush Víðarr, keeping his body low so he could seek to lunge upwards at the other brute's neck, aiming a bite right where the neck and shoulder met while powerful forelegs aimed to grapple underneath his opponent's shoulders like a wrestler.

Artorias vs Víðarr for Dominance
Round 1/2
Age: 1+ years
Size: Dire wolf
Build: Balanced
Offensive Battle Accessory: Damascus steel sword
Defensive Battle Accessory: Reinforced leather cuirass
Companion 1: Common raven, Male - Flying - Boosted
Companion 2: Silver cross fox - Battle - Boosted
*Companion 3: Common raven, Female - Flying
Mutation 1: Stronger teeth and jaws - Offensive
Mutation 2: Thicker fur - Defensive
Mutation 3: Enhanced vision - Perception
Skills: Master Fighter & Master Navigator
Specialty: Knight & Fleet-footed

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