The pit looms before her, the staining of blood catching the attention of her lantern-lit eye. The rain had let up, though her pelt was still damp from her travels. The stretch between the Pit and the Rainforest felt endless, her heart beating quick from the anxiety posed by the prospect of having to fight a stronger, more adept lion.

She settled in the middle of the battlegrounds and went to chewing the fur between her paws, no other outlet for her nervous energy other than pacing, and she wanted to conserve her strength as much as possible. Priory ripped a chunk of fur, leaving a bald patch between her toes, and the instant feeling of regret flooded her as she spit the fur out and watched it fall to the ground. Priory shook her head, ears flattening against the sides of her skull. The brindled lioness lifted her paw and licked at the bare skin before lowering it again, not wanting anyone to see her in this state.

A chuff escapes her lungs, calling for any other member of the Rainforest who might want to respond to her challenge. It was not the Creed way, but it was the way of the Rainforest. Sangria had explained the traditions and expectations to her on their travel back from the borderlands. Priory had listened intently to the colossal lioness, drinking up the information quickly so that she would know what was expected of her.

It seemed this was what was expected of her. Ambition.

Priory vs. ???
for FR Noble
0 / 3

She emerged on the edge of the pit and then descended, her footsteps slow and deliberate. Sangria had seen in Priory what the girl herself had yet to see. Inner strength and a power to do for herself. She had encouraged the girl to take her fate into her own claws..in the telling of their laws. To see her take the subtle between the lines to heart had her smiling internaly. Externally, the queen would find herself blank, waiting for another to arrive. Would any of those who still chose to dwell within firnen step up and challenge for noble? One that had lived there under roan and now her? The queen watched @Priory before she spoke. "If none come... we will fight." For the rainforest demanded her payment.

code by koi

In the end, it’s the challenge that makes the decision for him. Someone calls for blood, to prove themselves worthy of a rank. Roarke answers. Sangria had made it clear that should one the the few Firnen’s want a rank it must be earned, and there’s no better way. The giant finds himself more comfortable with the red queen’s laws; they are more familiar to him than the peaceful ones that had been before.

“That won’t be necessary,” the words are far from soft as he enters the pit, sunset tinted eyes alight as they flick from @Sangria to the lioness in the arena. His opponent. He’d seen her at the first meeting that I need to post to in a second. Roarke makes a point of stopping for just a moment, trying to ensure the woman is aware of his presence. Surprise attacks, gaining the upper hand, is all well and good in a proper battle. But here, for a rank, he can’t say that wouldn’t be frowned upon.

Besides, he only wants to show so much of his ability.

He wastes no more time, and no more breath. Roarke attempts to charge at the lioness head on, opening his jaws, and he starts simply enough - his left paw lifts a few inches off the ground and attempts to pin Priory’s right front limb, claws extended and trying to dig into the soft skin atop the paw. At the same time his skull tilts to his right, and teeth attempt to latch onto the left side of the lioness’s upper muzzle, just under her nose.


@Priory vs. Roarke
For Noble
Round 1/3
Hits:

Rolling 9d20: 6 + 16 + 4 + 20 + 1 + 12 + 14 + 19 + 11

Dodges:

Rolling 2d20: 15 + 5

Half-heartedly, she expects that no one would return her call and she would instead fight Sangria. However, hope is all she can do and it does not mean much. Priory lifts her head at the booming voice that enters the pit, quickly readying her defenses. Priory stands, digging her claws lightly into the earth, pressing her ears back against her head, tucking her chin and rolling her shoulders forwards so that her neck is protected against further attacks.

He is colossal, like Sangria, and while Priory wasn't small she felt puny in their presence. In the moment he gave her to prepare she already prepared her defenses, and he wasted no time lurching forward. Priory saw his left paw come forward with her one good eye, her right paw quickly lurching backwards. His claws catch her skin, dragging into her paw and quickly drawing blood. His head came forward and tried to latch onto the left side of her maw. Priory leaned her head backwards, his teeth catching instead on her nose, ripping the soft flesh. A small yelp slipped from her jaws and she repositions herself. Coiled like a snake, she rushed forward and attempted to latch her jaws around the left side of his cheek while her right paw came forward and tried to grab the left side of his neck, holding onto him. Meanwhile, the claws of her back paws dug into the ground to keep her balance, her left paw repositioning so she would not fall should he lurch backwards.

Priory vs. @Roarke
For FR Noble
1 / 3

Hits:

Rolling 5d20: 20 + 14 + 17 + 10 + 6

Dodges:

Rolling 3d20: 8 + 20 + 12

to be of the forest's chosen people, and not come to watch her strength flourish would be treason against her own. she is like a ghost. quiet and daunting as the blind wane navigates throughout each rumbling vibration that comes into contact with her feet. narrowing throughout the terrains with a steady gaunt and prowling eyes. she cannot see - but still wishes to join within the martyr to her beauties desires. "She seeks blood already." it is meaningful, rumbled through her heavy bosom as the mercenary slinks up to her colossal queen. finding purchase next to her with careful confrontation. "her strength is already showing." it had only been a few days, and yet this was the second challenge to grace the forests purgatory. the first being her own, and now those who scuffle among the pits for the crown.

+5 Attend a spar or challenge to assess the wounds (1/2)

Gemma is hidden.
With the change in leadership in the activity that seemed to begin to stir, Gemma could not help but feel the whole blood in her body boil. A few moments here and there where she itched to do something but so long had she been at rest that it was hard to get going. Instead, with a challenge called for Noble upon the dusty landscape of The Pit, Gemma decided that it was in her best interest to observe and to do so under cover.

The dark woman let herself hang on the higher ledge near to the Pit, her eyes just barely peaking over the edge to see who had gathered. The initial challenger was easily picked out, though Gemma did not know her name but was beginning to at least recognize the scents of her pride mates. Next came @Sangria whom she did know (because at this rate, who wouldn't?) and then a gray male with red spots that decided he wanted to take a swing. Only as the two engage in a swift battle, beginning with the initial charges does she see another Rainforest lioness enter. Bright red eyes dancing to @céleste as she came to the colossal high sovereign's side, though words were hard to pick up.

+5 Infiltrate a group thread without getting caught
+5 Learn something interesting about a character
+5 Observe a challenge and learn the results

_{© LARS}

((Being slightly vague in case he stops her at the pride meeting))

She might not care for the rainforest ruler, but she did care about her captain, and so when his scent led to the pit she would follow. Seemed he wanted to challenge for a rank within the pride of traitors. She couldn't say she understood his reasoning behind staying, but it wasn't her place to question him lest she become the very thing she hated.

She did chuckle in amusement when she saw the tiny thing (in comparison to him of course, the woman was still bigger than her) he was fighting, teeth bared in a grin as her anger of the past week or so was set aside at the sight before her.

"Just sit on her, captain," she said with great mirth.

@Roarke came out of the forest - making his way to the pit and wasted no time in throwing himself against the smaller female. Bi-colored gaze narrowed slightly as she focused on the fight. Sangria didn't expect either lion to hold back - but she would need to know what to expect from the noble that would leave this pit - and the Gentry of the other. She would give both a rank as both were showing ambition. @Céleste spoke, and she nodded. "Life has started to return to the trees of our home...And those two down there will help pave the way for more." She was highly interested in the battle below and watched blows as they exchanged with laser focus. "Roarke - the male was here before me. I had wondered if he would be making a go at the ranks.." The beast was similar to her in their beliefs - and she hoped that they would continue to get along. Ear flicked as @Tueta spoke about sitting on her and the Sovereign couldn't hold back the faint snirking sound. "Can't say it's not a tactic I myself used in the past.." The sovereign returned her gaze to @Priory and the fight below. "When I invited her- I saw a strength in her. We will need to encourage it to grow. She stands and fights a male three times her size - and does so admirably. It's a good quality to have in a woman." Her tones - while mostly still stoic and emotionless had an edge - a tilt of pride to them as the queen watched the battle. To see the girl taking charge of her life with her own claws made what she was trying to do in the Rainforest that much more important. Empower the weak - see them grow to something better..Something that they could be proud in themselves of - even if it was the non-battle arts. Strength came in many forms.. and she hoped that Priory and Roarke both would grow today.

code by koi

Claws rip through skin and teeth nick the delicate flesh of her nose, drawing a yelp from the girl. Roarke snarls, less in frustration and more in annoyance that a little blood would make her cry out. If she wanted a high rank, she had to take the responsibility that came with it - and that meant fights, blood and pain. He pulls his head back, narrowed eyes focused on her movement as she rushes him; as her jaws come for the side of his face, Roarke attempts to slam the left side of his muzzle into her to counter the attack. Her claws dig deep into his mane, securing their hold, and his right paw lifts and attempts to grapple her left shoulder, trying using his momentum from the counter and his formidable weight to attempt to push Priory over onto her right (and hopefully unbalanced) side.

@Priory vs. Roarke
For Noble
Round 1/3
Hits:

Rolling 9d20: 17 + 16 + 10 + 2 + 19 + 11 + 4 + 1 + 3

Dodges:

Rolling 2d20: 6 + 8

The claws of her right paw dig into his mane, grabbing hold, but her jaws miss his muzzle and he rams it forward, making contact with her shoulder and causing her to release her grip on his mane. His right paw comes up and makes contact with her left shoulder, causing her to lose her balance. She falls to her right with a thud, wincing as her body comes in contact with the earth. She had heard his snarl and Priory hissed in return, more of an exhale as her body hit the ground. Quickly, she attempts to reposition herself onto her paws and latch her jaws onto his right paw, attempting to dig into the tendons and flesh of his lower leg.

Priory vs. Roarke
for FR Noble
2 / 3

Hits:

Rolling 5d20: 7 + 19 + 18 + 13 + 15

Dodges:

Rolling 3d20: 17 + 9 + 1