He grimaced, but took the medicine, and she inclined her brow to receive his kiss, chuffing contently. At his urging for her to stay out of the way, Kalahari nodded, even as her concern was evident in her azure gaze. "Just be careful. This fight isn't worth your life--win or lose, I'll love you just the same."

And he would not be kept waiting long for challengers, although the first to step up had more vicious words than blows. Kala's brows drew together in concern, wanting to defend her husband's honor but at the same time wanting to understand what had compelled this woman to spit such hatred. A former resident of the rainforest, maybe? If so, her anger was...unfortunately understandable. Gwyn rumbled a threat at her, causing Kalahari to give him a sideways glance, although his words did serve to reveal more of the situation to her. Evidently, the raid had resulted in the death of Firnen's leader: a woman she vaguely recalled from the Passage, although she still wasn't sure just what had provoked the war in the first place. But it wasn't her husband that had slain Sangria. A small cub piped up to defend Gwyn's honor, causing Kalahari to look over at @Asteria curiously--where had this one come from? She would keep an eye on her, to make sure the child didn't wander too close to the dueling grounds.

Kalahari was prepared to step between @Gwyn and @CÉLESTE if necessary, but it would not be the Rainforest lioness who would challenge him today. The one who step forward looked oddly...soft, but she knew better than to assume martial prowess based on appearance alone. As the two combatants squared up, she backed away, murmuring a quiet "Good luck," to her mate in parting.

@Jewel was attempting to reach out to the woman who had hurled abuse at Gwyn, and Kalahari came up by the dark female's side, saying nothing at the moment, only wishing to hear the stranger--who she now realized appeared to be blind--explain herself.

table by saph

GWYN VS. CUPID FOR FIRNEN RAINFOREST
— RESULTS —

Gwyn Hits: 3 + 5 + 3 + 3 + 3 = 17
Gwyn Dodges: 1 + 2 + 1 + 2 + 2 = 8

Cupid Hits: 4 + 2 + 1 + 2 + 2 = 11
Cupid Dodges: 2 + 6 + 3 + 3 + 2 = 16

Gwyn Successful Hits: 1
Cupid Successful Hits: 3

CUPID HAS WON THE CHALLENGE FOR FIRNEN RAINFOREST!

Please allow the challengers to respond to the fight results first. As per the site rules, if 3 days go by without a post from the challenger(s), they can be skipped. Whichever comes first! Any posts made before this will be removed.

---

WOUNDED ROLL

performed on discord by @Squid

Gwyn is automatically WOUNDED for losing!

Cupid Wounded Roll: !1d5 = 5

Cupid is WOUNDED!

Profiles will be adjusted to reflect the wounded rolls, which, if received, reduce the character’s hits and dodges by -1 for an standardized amount of time. Any wounded rolls received from this fight are considered healed as of 09/19/2021, and are logged in the wounded log. Once healed, post in Trade & Dice Updates to have your dice returned to normal.

Gwyn can maybe count the number of times he has lost(and chooses to remember) upon one paw. Yet, as the fight ends, he knows this is one to add to his tally. Its a near thing, yes, but his previous injuries catch up to him. He stumbles slightly, the worst of his wounds from this fight, the gashes on his leg, causing his unfaltering stance to waver beneath the pressure of the other man's limb. The tug on his ear drags him further down with the loss of balance. He grunts, and pulls away, out, fur tearing from around his ear which is bloodied and tattered. Gwyn's entire face aches, and as his attacking limb comes down he simply stands and breathes. It had been a good fight, and the other man had won fair and square(he totally would have won if he hadn't been injured). When he was younger he may have been pissed at the other man. Now though?

Now he was more angry at himself.

Granted he did not regret challenging, no, the opportunity had been far too good to pass up. But he was pissed that this whole thing couldn't have happened a little later when he had been healed and at full strength. Was pissed he had missed out on his crown by so little. It was irritating yes, but, he would swallow the worst of his pride(but not all because this is Gwyn we are speaking of) and address the boy.

Naturally the demon had not a lot of diplomatic skill. However he had learned over time and now, while no silver tongued devil, he could hold his own.

"Good fight." he begins, the most congratulatory phrase he could utter. It wasn't much and wasn't exactly cheery, but he had truly appreciated the challenge. Heavy skull lifts, the effort far greater than he made it appear. It took much of his willpower to stand proud, but he did. "I fought for my family to have a home, and I presume you did so too?" he continues, making a wild guess. He wasn't sure and he had no idea @Cupid had an adopted son(much like his semi sorta... saph and Shan have to get round to it... daughter). "I propose an alliance between my family and yours. I have experience leading. I can advise you as your co sovereign or heir." he continues, laying out his case in a blunt manner. Again not a silver tongue with alliance shit. Insulting was easy, intimidation in the back, wielding words to bridge peace not so much. "You've, we've seen the result of someone without enough alliances, without enough support today. Let me help you prevent what happened," he continues, flicking his muzzle to the nearby war which, he can hear still going on, "here to you." he finishes. Pistis would be proud, and Kalahari might be impressed no? It was an actual speech, and it was rather persuasive. The all too still bodies of the fallen lions, and the wailing of their family simply emphasized his point.

Gwyn had lost the battle, yes, but as he faced down his opponent in another arena, he thinks he has done enough. Surely the boy would not turn down his offer. It was fair. They could hammer out details when they weren't on display to everyone, it would work. Now he waits, his awareness of the watchers around him growing slowly with each moment. Only he holds onto the thread of battlers, of the tension between them. He wants the younger man to consider his offer and so he attempts to hold the man's attention between them.

-------------------------------------------------------------------------
I'll have him to react to everyone next post, he's just focused on cupid right now

image by Scarf. Code by Saph.

He is breathless, panting and feeling beaten himself by the end of it. The blood dripping fresh from his wounds — especially his cheek and elbow — stinging in a way he hadn’t expected it to be. With the motion succeeding in causing his opponent to stumble, Cupid retreats — releasing @Gwyn and making space for them both to breathe. He flinches at the weight of his left limb touching the ground again.

It takes longer than Gwyn realizing his defeat, for Cupid to understand the weight of what just happened. A crown now sits upon the spotted former Gentry’s head. Certainly, this had been the goal; this is what he fought for and yet, it seems as if he never expected to win in the first place. Cupid swallows down, attempting to find words for the situation — and sorry, Gwyn, it’s the Firnen members in the background that he first looks to. He finds @Roarke sitting next to someone he doesn’t know — can only assume to be a former resident here, too.

He wants to see the draconic man’s reaction — to hear his praise. Yet where he expects him pleased, he sees a murderous rage instead. Dark ears flatten back — stone eyes widening to display a look that screams kicked puppy. He… has explaining to do. Before he is able, however, Gwyn speaks up — Cupid returns his attention to his former opponent for now. Feeling restless, despite how fatigued he is. He can feel every pin-prick of grass on his injured limbs… he wants to itch at them, wants to do anything but have the spotlight right here on his frame that suddenly feels… too big.

There is no Bellona or Lyle to hide behind.

“You as well,” I guess. Cupid can’t say he enjoyed this fight — spars are different, wherein he could throw in fun, and doesn’t actually have to hurt anyone. It is his mentioning of reason, of fighting for family and the assumption that Cupid, too, fought for his, that has him carefully narrowing stone eyes again. Instinct curls that it is a threat, despite nothing about Gwyn coming off as one… right now. His protectiveness of Riptide is stronger than it ought to be — like a tigress ready to throttle.

But it is a peace offering in ways that he asks for instead; requesting that he be a leader within the new Firnen in exchange for alliances. The chaos around him going on… used as a pivotal proof of what happens when others get too greedy. Except Gwyn is mistaken to think Cupid is one man alone. He has Wolfbron — or at least, hopes he does, and each one of them, he would fight for, and assumes they might just do the same for him.

“I… hear you, Gwyn, I really do,” he pauses, “The last thing I want is to create more of this bloodshed. But I don’t know you. This is the first time we have met. I appreciate your experience and desire to secure a safe place for your family.” He assumes that there are members of it amongst the crowd right now. “I just… can’t hand that sort of power over to someone I don’t know.”

After all, what if they do not get along? What if Gwyn and Cupid have completely different directions in which they want to see the Rainforest go? Part of the reason why Cupid now stands as High Sovereign is because he is tired of this conflict. He does not want to splinter what he has now worked hard to build; just as he is certain Gwyn would not want the same, had he won this.

“That said, I do understand the importance of allies. Sometimes I think we act before we think too often, but other times, it is critical to have muscle to protect people whose freedom is otherwise stolen from them.” He thinks of Scilla Lagoon and Bait — of the claim by Ulla on Iskander and Madelina. If the Hollows were not allies with the Bluffs (or had Magnus chosen to break it), there would have been trouble by one action a single individual made. “If you want to… try Firnen, and see if it makes sense for you to call this place your home, then I wouldn’t deny you or your family from joining me. Rest assured I will never hold anyone here against their will.”

He would look from Gwyn to the crowd around them — to those who are not engaged with battle. “That goes for anyone here that is… interested in returning home, too. I… I know I was not a member here prior, and I cannot say I knew Sangria well, but I could not see your home get taken away from you.” Not like his was. He knows it is not his place; understands if they hate him for taking it upon his shoulders to intact this “revenge” for them. If his eyes rest on Roarke near the end of his words, well… it is to be expected.

I fought for you.

It is an improper place to speak in a crowd of his private feelings — he dislikes feeling vulnerable as is. And oh, how often he has crumbled lately in the eyes of others. He wonders, for example, if Namara thought him pathetic for becoming a mess at the side of his ward. He wonders if Roarke will think him foolish for fighting this challenge just so he does not see the titan get hurt again. Cupid may feel guilty, if the man ends up hating him for it, but will he regret his actions? Likely not.

He knows if he fast-forward to before the fight even began knowing the outcome it gave, he would do it all over again. There is a sliver of hope, however, that everyone would come to understand him — foolish and childish as it may be.

table by sentinel / lion + rainforest

It is not Roarke that steps forward as the bard had expected to challenge the dark-marked claimer. No, it is a pridemate: Cupid. Not the first Roseate would've expected to battle for the right to such a territory. But he doesn't know much about the pale man and he finds himself watching just as raptly as the battle unfolds before the spectators. Maybe he's living a little through them.

As the dust settles and the combatants part the victor becomes clear; it is Cupid. Roseate can't help but be surprised. Hadn't this dark-marked stranger maimed that large Scillan, weeks ago? He had only seen the tail end of it. He's impressed.

He watches as they engage in conversation; theres's things being said and Roseate realises the new potential laid out here. The bluffs were busy, and although he liked many of the people there, Roseate now wondered if there could be new opportunity for himself.

But mostly, he now steps forward because of the uncertainty he sees in @Cupid. Seemed like he needed the charismatic pick-me-up only a balladeer could give. "Congratulations!" he grins with his loud, projecting sort-of voice as he steps forward from the audience, "I could use a change of scenery. I don't suppose the rainforest has room for a bard?" He would figure it out with the bluffs later.

+10 Witness an event worthy of making history
+5 Attend a challenge
+10 Learn a pride or family’s history

Perhaps she should act with more caution, it's true; Lexa barely even knows @Roarke, and her petite stature could easily make her a target. She more than makes up for her size in a personality alone, and there is a fire that burns within her, vehemently refusing to be contained -- on most days. She can feel the tension in the herculean man when he makes contact, unexpected but not unwelcome; her inner ear twists towards him, keenly picking up the quiet explanation he offers. A soft hmm can be heard in her throat as she considers his answer. While she would hardly be the type to engage in such a serious battle, Lexa has met others before who would. She doesn't seem surprised.

She half glances to the other woman that Roarke addresses, seemingly some sort of leader figure to her. That's a question that will have to unanswered until later; this is hardly the time or place to press the man more about himself. Nosy as she may be, Lexa is not an idiot, and knows when not to speak her piece. A part of her finds herself missing his close proximity when he draws away, but she makes no noticeable protest.

The fight comes to a conclusion with the smaller of the men ending up victorious, and she can't say that he looks particularly pleased about any of it. It prompts a curiosity in Lexa, and a desire to know what had driven him, especially when his gaze settles heavily upon Roarke. The grey titan knows more than he lets on, but it's no matter -- she'll figure him out one way or another. For now, her curiosity rests more impactfully on @Cupid, whose valor and genuine nature do not go unnoticed by the spotted lioness. When first she had found herself wishing to wander this island alone, Lexa now feels the desire to settle, if only so that she may learn more about the lions who live here. And if he will not forcibly make anyone stay, then what does she have to lose?

"This wasn't my home prior to today's events, but I would like to stay, if you'll have me," she speaks up from beside Roarke, meeting Cupid's gaze. "My name is Lexa." The softest of smiles touches her lips, a hopeful olive branch extended, and despite her typical nature, Lexa finds herself falling for the idea of somewhere so beautiful to call home, even when it has been soiled by such violence. She's always rather enjoyed watching the bloodier side of things, after all.

high achiever, don't you see? nothing comes for free

table by sentinel / art

It was quick. Perhaps a little too quick, as Ulla never really absorbed the finer moments of the battle. Though disappointed, she was nonetheless eager to watch the aftermath. She was surprised that @Gwyn would ask @Cupid to become his co-leader or an heir. And she couldn't say she wasn't surprised to know that the latter rejected Gwyn's offer. How arrogant must the bronze lion be to suggest an idea to a man he didn't know? Ulla would've rejected him on the spot. She didn't even think she'd have the kindness Cupid had to invite him into his pride. Still, she was curious as to where Gwyn would go next. He proved to be ambitious and thirsty for power. If ever she held a high rank again, she would have to watch out for him. Finally, with all said and done, Ulla left the rainforest. [exit]

code by corvus | image by rabbit

the lionness that shouted at gwyn didn’t seem to have much more to say, even as gwyn gave his own response. asteria nodded with what he said and counted it as a win.

as the child watched he exchanged a moment with a lionness she did not know, and she tipped her head with an interested expression. was this his mate? asteria could only assume so, and watched the woman as she moved aside to let him fight. what was she like? she seemed nice enough, and very pretty! (ah the trivial concerns of a child). unlike asteria she had stripes everywhere and the child thought that was neat - she had noticed that the lions here seemed far more unique and interesting than back at home. her own black coat was rather plain here.

the fight quickly erupted and she took note of the fact that gwyn directed her to two others, his apparent mate and another. her gaze briefly locked with @Kalahari and then skittered away, more focused on the fight before her than anything else going on. there was a lot of discussion - much of it unhappy - but asteria could not pretend to understand all the intricacies of what had happened. two had died and clearly that left an empty throne - that was enough for her to know.

it seemed over before it had barely begun - with both bloodied and tired. the one who stepped up to answer gwyn’s claim emerged the victor and the small child was surprised. of course she did not know @cupid and her thoughts had been biased heavily towards gwyn. clearly Cupid could hold his own. asteria remembered, too, that gwyn was injured already, and wondered if it would have played out differently if he had not been.

asteria made a move towards gwyn but before she could he spoke up, addressing the victor. the words again surprised the child, but she turned a hopeful gaze to cupid as she waited for him to respond. it was a swift rejection, though, and quite suddenly the child didn’t know what to do. would gwyn be angry? her gaze shifted from kalahari to Ulla (who asked the question she also wanted to know) before it returned to @Gwyn. what now?

Table by Amanda

Hovering protectively over @Asteria, it's hard to watch this challenge.

Two others have died tonight and others still remain locked in battle -- and yet there was another challenge. He wants to leave ( flee with his tail tucked ), but he's been given a role to play and he won't abandon her. Her question gives him pause, ears shifting forward as he looks down at her, trying a smile. Will he be a king? Maybe. That's what they're fighting for, he agrees, but it's impossible to tell who will win the crown. We can cheer him on, okay? He says, hoping she'll be focused on this fight rather than the others that rage on behind them.

@Gawain's arrival is, blessedly, swift. A nervous purr rumbles from his throat as the pair is joined by the brown-pelted brute. With the smell of blood so prominent in the air, and surrounded by the din of battle, Elijah seeks to press a shoulder to Gawain's, seeking this small moment of comfort should Gawain allow it. The medic isn't above begging, but the words stick in his throat as @Gwyn begins his battle. Elijah jerks forward as Asteria bounds off to others -- though he recognizes @Kalahari as one of her intended targets. Surely that was fine?

A nervous sound thrums from him as the fight continues and winds down, and it's clear that Gwyn is not the victor here. Elijah had been watching the battle carefully, mindful of gwyns previous injuries -- he was certainly wounded again, but he'd be alright after a quick patch job. Unlike the others behind them... I know him, he explains to gawain in a quiet voice, tearing his gaze from where gwyn and the new sovereign talk. I don't want to be here anymore, but -- he continues, voice dropping softer -- now that asteria was with others, he didn't feel forced to stay. Aside from, of course, a misguided sense of duty. I just want to make sure he'll be okay. Once he was, elijah was keen to leave this place ( and the smell of blood and death ) behind.

code; background; art;

+5 Explore the borders of a pride or group
+5 Practice covering your scent
+10 Explore a territory and find something useful in it

---

Pandora watched in silence, making no attempts to socialize with those around. She had her scent covered with the dust under her. And like that, she observed each contender, each lion who came to witness what could be a routinely challenge. Challenges were a common trait of Amaryliss and by now Pandora was used to them. But never into such drama herself, and she hopped it would never be the case for her, it was better to be out of everyone's eyes rather than being the center of interest. She preferred the secretive and solitary life of a nomad.

All done, the lighter colored male won the match and not wanting to stay any longer the white lioness stood up and began to walk away. But before she left, she finished with both the land's exploration and checking the last sections of this pride's borders, finding water and other useful things for a future use, and done with that she just left. Exit Pandora

image by moogle/code by saph