Rolling his shoulders, Grimshaw found himself centered amidst the battlefield yet again. He had been taking the time to travel here as often as he could, valuing what he had learned since deciding to take the trip a few times a week. There were plenty of opponents in the Armada, but it got boring fighting the same wolves all the time. Fighting new wolves with different skill sets allowed him to think about the fight instead of settling into a rhythm and letting his thoughts wander to exactly what he was trying to block out. Coming here and filling his days with fight after fight after fight was taking it's toll on him, but the muscle growth was already becoming evident as he trained harder than he ever had before. Without any more hesitation, Grim tilted his chin back and called for yet another challenger.

"Speech."

Alastor's paths didn't usually tend to lead him far from the band, what with his children still so young and so much to be done in preparation for Manea's eventual hostile takeover of some lands, but today they led him to a familiar location. The battlefield was quiet for the most part, stained with dried blood and littered with the bones of the long deceased. It was a comforting atmosphere for him; after all, the dead couldn't do you harm, so there was nowhere safer to be than surrounded by the deceased. Skirting the edges of the blood-soaked terrain, Alastor was making his way back down south from the north. He'd hunted a bear with Imperia recently and had such a good time he thought he'd do it again for sport, but alas, returned empty-handed.

When the call for a challenger came out from the battlefield, the dark dire paused mid-stride to gaze across the flat arid land. About midway across the fields stood a lone wolf. A warrior looking for a fight, no doubt. A slow grin split the wolf's lips; perhaps today wouldn't be a bust after all! He'd come out to test his skills on a bear, and judging by the size of the lad, he was a dire wolf too, and close enough to being a bear that he may as well have been part ursine. With an amused grin on his face, Alastor strode coolly across the fields towards the boy, abyssal eyes flashing with mirth. "Hello!" he greeted the other wolf in a smooth baritone and pleasant lyrics. "Seeking a partner to test some moves on? I wouldn't mind a dance if you're up for it." A light chuckle from the wolf of equal stature while he set his paws, cords of rippling muscle tensing and preparing for the start of a fight. "Are we using our friends and toys, or just what the gods blessed us with?"

"Alastor Mendacium"

Thankfully he didn't have to wait long and soon enough, an interesting older man approached. Friendly enough, more so than what he was used to here. Most others would come at him right away, but this man seemed to prefer pleasantries first. Grimshaw couldn't say that he agreed, but if it earned him the chance to spar someone new he would at least pretend to care. "Of course. I'd prefer without, easier to learn when I can feel what's happening." Small talk wasn't his strong suit, but Grimshaw managed and settled easily into his stance. He ushered the wolverine away with the armor after shrugging wrap off and removing the bracers. Eager for a break, the wolverine quickly moved the armor and itself over to the side to relax.

He didn't give the man another moment to speak before he was rushing towards the man. They were equal in size, Grim's youth the only real difference between their bodies. He was used to fighting other wolves his size in the armada, but at least this man was new and perhaps came with new skills or challenges for him. Eager to learn and soak up every bit of knowledge he could gain, this was better than any lecture from one of the mentors. As he approached, Grimshaw dipped his left shoulder as his head craned towards the right to prepare for ramming the man square in the chest.

"Speech."

Grimshaw vs Alastor for Spar
Round 1/2
Age: Over 1 year
Size: Dire wolf
Build: Heavy
Mutation 1: Elongated sharper teeth - Offensive
Mutation 2: Double upper canines - Offensive
Skills: Advanced Fighter & Advanced Hunter

The young lad preferred to fight without weapons, armor, or companions? Well, Alastor was more than happy to oblige! If anything, it would just make the fight that much more raw and interesting. Pure skill versus skill. Well, that, and those longer teeth he saw the boy sporting in his maw. "As you wish," Alastor remarked, tossing his crown of holly to the side like a frisbee and popping the steel caps off the ends of his fangs. Lastly, he turned to the tiny penguin that had been following him since his trip up north and snarled at it. "Will you kindly go the fuck away?!" The penguin made a squeaking sound and waddled off, but only far enough to collect the wolf's discarded crown. Alastor rolled his eyes, then focused back on his opponent.

Already the other dire was charging full speed at him. He was like a bull fixated on a target, and Alastor aimed to use that to his advantage. He held his ground, muscles coiled and tensed, waiting for the right moment. Once the yearling was upon him, Alastor swung his body weight to his right, pivoting his body while his opponent's shoulder grazed across the broad side of his chest, moving like a matador would dodge an oncoming bull. Now positioned around the lad's left side, Alastor used his momentum to try to plow his body weight into the side of his opponent, aiming to try and throw him off balance so he could then wrap his forelegs over the other wolf's neck to grapple him.

Alastor vs Grimshaw for Spar
Round 1/2
Age: 1+ years
Size: Dire wolf
Build: Heavy
Skills: Expert Fighter & Master Hunter
Specialty: Bloodletter

"Alastor Mendacium"

The other male snapped at his penguin to go away and Grimshaw smirked. Once upon a time he and his wolverine didn't get along too well either, but after spending time together (mostly the little dude following Grimshaw around everywhere) they quickly bonded. He didn't say anything to the man before charging off, though, as it wasn't any of his business. The penguin seemed fine, anyway.

It was no surprise that his opponent would pivot away, positioning himself perpendicular to Grimshaw at his left. His own left shoulder had barely brushed upon the mans chest, but before he could reposition to try again the other male was already pushing himself into him, trying to force him over and topple his weight. Grimshaw wasn't an easy man to topple, but with his opponent being just as large it wasn't impossible. With his body braced tight and his legs spread to try and keep himself balanced as his opponent pressed, Grimshaw reached with an open maw towards the mans left forelimb. His teeth were much sharper than he was used to, so he tried to refrain from using too much force and just attempting to hold the mans leg with enough discomfort that his opponent won't want to push him any further.

"Speech."

Grimshaw vs Alastor for Spar
Round 2/2
Age: Over 1 year
Size: Dire wolf
Build: Heavy
Mutation 1: Elongated sharper teeth - Offensive
Mutation 2: Double upper canines - Offensive
Skills: Advanced Fighter & Advanced Hunter

Alastor was surprised at how easy it had been for him to grapple with the other wolf. He'd expected some sort of resistance or pushing back from the yearling, but the stranger took the brunt of his force like a champ. Al knew he had his work cut out for him if he wanted to get this wolf into a pin, given that they were both the same size and physique, so it would come down to outwitting or outmaneuvering the other. With his weight across the other brute and his forelegs grappling around the wolf's neck, Alastor tried to throw his weight to the side to take the other wolf down, but the yearling had planted his legs firmly and was stable. That was when he felt the bite of his opponent's jaws around his left foreleg. Alastor gave a snarl as the sharp pricks of the wolf's shockingly sharp teeth gripped his flesh, threatening to tear through skin and sinew, but that was exactly what Alastor wanted. Pain was pleasure to the demented brute! Leaning in with open jaws, Alastor sought to grasp the stranger's scruff while preparing to throw his weight to the side again, hoping to use the new leverage to throw his opponent to the ground and claim victory.

Alastor vs Grimshaw for Spar
Round 2/2
Age: 1+ years
Size: Dire wolf
Build: Heavy
Skills: Expert Fighter & Master Hunter
Specialty: Bloodletter

"Alastor Mendacium"

And the winner is...

Grimshaw

Alastor must give up by submitting, fleeing or passing out. Totals: Grimshaw: Attack Roll: 72 Defense Roll: 66 Agility Roll: 85 Perception Roll: 98 Total: 321 Attack[72] + 40% Bonus[28.80]: 100.80 Defense[66] + 5% Bonus[3.30]: 69.30 Agility[85] + 0% Bonus[0.00]: 85.00 Perception[98] + 0% Bonus[0.00]: 98.00 Total[353.10] + 15% Bonus[52.97]: 406.07 Alastor: Attack Roll: 52 Defense Roll: 13 Agility Roll: 48 Perception Roll: 21 Total: 134 Attack[52] + 35% Bonus[18.20]: 70.20 Defense[13] + 5% Bonus[0.65]: 13.65 Agility[48] + 0% Bonus[0.00]: 48.00 Perception[21] + 0% Bonus[0.00]: 21.00 Total[152.85] + 35% Bonus[53.50]: 206.35