The High Sovereign would proceed in introducing both herself and her companion; while he already knew @Ashelia by name, he had not known of a @Mirza. He would commit it to memory, acknowledging with a nod. Well met. His dear Sovereign would resume the chatter, and Magnus was content to remain silent until there was something worth saying. Despite their long-term friendship, the Azar matriarch was quick to assert that more would have to be discussed before an alliance could be formed. Good.

While it was nice that his wife-to-be had a personal relationship with another monarch, he would not simply forge ties with anyone willy-nilly; friendship or no friendship.

The titan's ears would twitch at mention of Sidonie. He had not known that the piebald woman had been so quick to offer her services - not that he'd needed to. It wasn't as if she'd been patching up an enemy. Then he would've had an issue. Sidonie is one of our Gentry, the melanistic brute rumbled after a moment's pause. She is an asset to us; I am glad she was of assistance to you. As good a character reference as any. Magnus was not exactly charitable himself, but the fact that he housed beasts that knew when to be helpful and when not to bother.... Well, it all bode very well. It remained to be seen why exactly the healer had reached out, but it didn't really matter. Her motivations were her own - Magnus suspected that he would not find out. Certainly not anytime soon, anyway.

I have ruled for half a year, the King offered, feeling it to be helpful context - Ashelia had done the same, after all. @Nadia was more than welcome to elaborate on any points she felt necessary. We are allied with Jewel in the Cove, Nymeria in the Brook and Avreya in the Rainforest. All Queens - was there a pattern forming here? How I rule and what I expect of my members is simple. Loyalty, obedience and respect for allies. I allow claiming, but those who do it must justify their reasons and defend it if challenged. It made sense to be upfront - if Lady Ashelia and hers took offense to his stance on it... well, best to overcome that hurdle now, as opposed to tackle it months down the line. We are a tight-knit unit; I don't take in slackers. Everyone contributes in their own way. He'd been known to scoop up the odd waif or stray, but only if there'd been something in it for him. Only if they'd had some sort of promise. He'd shift his attention back to Nadia, leaving the floor empty for anything she wished to add. She was more of a talker than he was, anyway.

+20 Join in a discussion to establish pride or family relations - 2/2
+10 Discuss pride or family relations with another character - 2/2
+5 Learn about another pride’s laws or culture - 2/2

an ear tips forward, considering. the piebald healer was gentry, and that bode well for this man and his pride. she was glad to see that they valued both talent and initiative — things that were sought after in andal, too. he was seemingly a long-standing ruler, his half a year of ruling put her piddly few months to shame. her head tilts slightly at that, nodding. so the hollow was stable, content, and most importantly: functional. his list of allies, too, is impressive and ashelia feels a strange pang of something churn in her chest. andal currently does not have any allies, she says easily enough, her smooth tone covering any insecurity such words might bring. she'd been in talks with gwyn of scilla and zoticus of wolfbron, but both talks had stalled or failed. she would rather have a few, but stable, allies than flimsy connections. still, though, perhaps she would have to visit these three prides — if magnus found worth in them, then she might as well.

ashelia listens intently as @Magnus continues, easily explaining his leadership (his, she notes, and not @Nadia's), and the way his pride operates. it all sounds eerily similar, and she smiles once she realizes it. i fear we have similar ruling styles, she says with a smile and a small dip of her head. even the claiming bit — something she's yet to make use of officially, and so have had little issue with. and as for her pride... andal is small, but self-efficient and we are growing every day. benedict had proved that they could catch their own food, and plenty of it — almost too much for the small pride. iofiel had plans of planting whatever herbs he could along the oasis itself, though she has less experience in this field. she couldn't, and wouldn't, offer things she wasn't sure they had, or could spare. we do not have many bodies to spare, but we have supplies and food that could be shared, if necessary. winter was coming but hopefully the desert would be spared the worst of it. the other lands... maybe not so much. her head tilts then, considering. i am unsure of what alliances typically look like here, so — what would you ask of us? what could you provide? she looks to @Mirza then, head tilted — leaving her sister plenty of room to chime in if she so wished.

code; background; art;

"We rule..." words spoken so casually despite the weight behind them. They had not gone unnoticed by Mirza, and caused her chest to fill a bit. It seemed Ashe had heard her when she had mentioned the fact that a Pride looked stronger with two at the head, even if she hadn't officially given Mirza the rank she desired. She continued to listen intently as the Monarchs began to discuss the idea of an alliance. What could this pride possibly offer them, she wondered. She doubted there was an abundance of resources tucked away underground... and their dark coats made her doubt they'd be able to come running should Andal ever need an extra set of paws for anything. She couldn't help but raise her brow as the conversation continued, hearing how many allies the underground Pride had caused her to reconsider her stance. She cleared her throat softly and turned to the ebony male before her when her sister glanced her way.

"A good word with one or more of your allies could go a long way in forming a bond between our own Pride and yours I'd say..." Of course, the Hollows must have something to offer, or they wouldn't have so many allies to begin with. But, in this instance, networking may hold more value for the girls than anything else he might have. Her gaze moved to her sisters after she spoke, unconsciously checking to be sure that Ashe had been pleased with her contribution. She didn't like feeling like she needed her sister's approval but was trying so hard to play the game Ari's way. Looking back at the male, she waited to hear his thoughts on the matter.

Now we're in the ring, and we're coming for blood

There's a hummin' in the restless summer air And we're slippin' off the course that we prepared But in all chaos there is calculation Droppin' glasses just to hear them break You've been drinkin' like the world was gonna end (it didn't) Took a shiner from the fist of your best friend (go figure) It's clear that someone's gotta go

code by corvus