He had not seen such violence or chaos since the hunters had come for them while they slept. It had begun calmly enough, but as the minutes ticked by fresh fights broke out among the spectators. Sébastien was not familiar enough with the lions of the land to pick out the factions involved, but there seemed to be some old grudges mixed into the territorial disputes.

From his slight perch a small distance outside the border, he observed in silence, keen gaze soaking up the details. Today, either a king would be dethroned and replaced, or a challenger would be repelled, but more than that, there would be wounded on both sides and he stamped down the urge to slip into the crowd to indulge his hunger.

The scent of blood on the wind called to him, fresh and warm and inviting, but he sat firm. When all was decided, he could disappear into the night for a hunt.

Sébastien is outside the borders, observing from a slight distance, and open to conversation

Je repars à zéro

Non, je ne regrette rien

code by corvus

He was being nosey just for the sake of it at this point. The caverns had been close enough that he'd caught the distant sound of commotion, and resigned himself to crossing the stretch of desert to see what all the fuss was about. Too long, he'd been out of the loop, and he'd put off getting himself reacquainted with the locals for longer than he should have. But it was taking more and more energy to move too far from his den, and he didn't have his dear doctor around to tell him why. Probably something boring, like he needed to eat or sleep more if he wanted the level of energy he was accustomed to. Or something unpleasant like the creeping of old age.

Turned out to be quite the commotion, indeed. A pride challenge, but also several sideline fights. With a sigh, he settled himself behind a convenient boulder, settling in to observe how things might play out. He didn't have any connection to anyone involved, but it would still be good information to have, in the long run.

hidden - sleuth lvl 5 perk, cannot be found

You are the sea and nobody owns you

code by corvus

- outside the borders, observing -

such had the fighting become that it was impossible to ignore. there had been danger, like this, before - prides and their vendettas, holding smallscale wars against eachother, his family caught inbetween. this was different. it did not involve him, and yet he felt compelled to watch from a distance - reminded of the reasons he could not commit to the whims of kings and queens, sacrificing his family's happiness and security for someone else's political quarrels.

he knew that the savante had been nazonal's friends, officially. he had seen alexander at the snowball fight, of all things. the creature that inhabited the hollows king's body was entirely different now - as he clashed with a much smaller female, aparently enraged. beetle was glad he had kept his distance.

echoes drifted over the border - call him off, cease your attacks, you go through me, no don't hurt him- vaguely disembodied, and beetle pieced together as much as he could. two households, alike in dignity. his expression guarded, babydoll-blank, beetle tried to match together who and what side. he could not possibly pick out who the defending pride leader was, here, at this challenge, among all the fighting, but he could determine this: that the savante were at war, and it would not be safe to take his sisters to the hollows, no matter how good a friend alexander had been to secondstone. they would have to keep safe on their own.

double exp from keligan until 13/7:
outlaw:
+10 - witness drama between prides (savante & allies vs. dieudonne & allies)
+10 - learn something interesting about a pride or family

.Truthfully, he was surprised that she knew who he was without an introduction. She already knew he was her uncle. This made him tingle inside, slightly. Did that mean Recluse told his children about his favorite brother? Swooonn.

"Poltergeist Black, your uncle, though you already knew that. Did Daddy Recluse tell you all about me?" Yeah, drink it up. "Io," he tested on his tongue. Simple enough; he liked it.

She asked what her father's whereabouts were, and Poltergeist rolled his eyes. Typical of Recluse to leave everyone around him in the dark. "He's in Lorien Plains. Last I heard, a bunch of the family were going there," he answered, shrugging. He was even thinking of joining them, but he left that part out for now. "You smell like the Bluffs. Is that where you live now?"

Chaos was happening around them, and yet, he was focused on their conversation. He hadn't intended to find someone here that he was... well, related to, let alone friendly enough with... but here he was. He had come to fight for Amara, for Wolfbron, but... she didn't seem to need his support anyway.

@Io.

“No!”

Her voice breaks out over the snarling and roars and sounds of battle, reaching Dragos as he stares down at the Wolfbron queen. His heart seems to stop in his chest as ice-cold fear washes through him, anchoring him in place as his glare becomes wide-eyed and panicked. @Leila sprints from the dry scrub she’d been totally hidden in, sliding through the sand to press a round belly into his chest, her flank brushes against his shoulder.

“Don’t hurt him!”

A loud, pitched ringing starts to build up in the back of his head as things quickly spiral out of control. For all their talk, all their desperate attempts to keep Leila and their children safe and secret, is ruined. It is horrifyingly, terribly obvious now their sins, their mistakes - their disloyalty - brought to light in the most dangerous way. All that he has feared for months is exposed in the way they press into each other… and he doesn’t care. Not a second is spent worrying or fearful for his own safety or place among his family. They can do what they like to him for this - for his love. For Leila. Dragos finds himself pressed to the blade, and he doesn’t care.

All he cares about is her -

And she is in danger.

There’s a voice in his ear and Dragos did not even notice @Alexander ♔ slide to his side until he speaks, his order one of… protection. Care. He can’t be blind to Leila’s scent, her condition - yet his father’s voice is a whisper that lacks the hate Dragos had expected if - when - he learned of the younger male’s love.

"Take her, go..." Protect her, Alexander is saying. Leave, with her.

Dragos manages to glance from the corner of his eye, searching his king and patriarch’s face for something - struggling to find the words to say in this moment "Father -"

He hadn’t noticed his cousin arrive, snaking up to Amara’s side to snarl petty words in his direction. @Levana, with @Ryker trying to needle his attention. It takes everything to ignore the pair of them hissing petty words in his direction. Dragos sees only threats, hears only threats, and he wants to eliminate everything that might hurt his family - and Leila. Her touch keeps him anchored, controlled, as his gaze snaps between the three. Amara, Levana and her mate, and the feeling of being outnumbered overwhelms him. Dragos has never run from a fight in his life - he has faced worse odds, and survived, but he’d never cared if he didn’t - he never had a reason to care.

And then Alexander lunges at Levana.

Dragos knows how this goes. He’s seen war before, seen how it brews and builds. He’s seen his father and his rage, and how unstoppable it is. There is nothing he can do now.

"We have to go. Now." He murmurs to the tiger pressed against him, wanting so badly to stay and protect his family, but his choice is made. His father had all but given his blessing. The family in Leila is his priority.

"Blame him."

Dragos looks up - another male had taken Amara’s side while Ryker was gone, out of Dragos’s sight. The words reach him, and then the giant, unknown male is charging toward them, head-on. Toward -

Leila.

"NO -" The beast bellows, stepping over Leila and shoving her back behind him with his shoulder, twisting so his side is facing the oncoming attack and he is between them. There’s no time to do anything else; the stranger barrels hard into Dragos’s shoulder. Pain blooms, red-hot and staggering, as blood under his skin begins to spread from the impact site.

"Leila, run." It isn’t an order, it isn’t a shout. It’s a pained, begging whisper thrown over his shoulder as Dragos attempts not to fight back, but simply shield his love from this man who sought to crush and kill her. Through the pain, through the shame, Dragos finds his voice, and calls to his family - "Segíts nekünk!"

Help us.

Dragos is attempting to escape

Rolling 1d10: 4

ART BY DRIFTY, CODE BY LARS

He had not arrived at the beginning of this mess. Had not even thought about it but when someone summoned the Savante for help he was there. Like a viper coming from it's little huttle of a rock and come out to serve those that are needed. Ears twisting as he got close to the carnage, closer to the chaos that had already started before. Mismatched jewels looked around as he entered the Oasis and immediately looked around for what was happening.

His father was attacking his cousin, the one who was disgraced, pushed out for something he had no knowledge over but that didn't matter to the Savante Prince. If his father had made the decision then that was alright that mattered to him. But it was @Dragos who had called and it was Dragos who Zsolt took notice for and how he was protecting another. A tigress that he hadn't had the privilege to meet up until now and those she didn't smell of the Hollow, if Dragos was protecting her, then she was important. And it is them that he moved closer to.

Clearing out his throat softly, he would come up to the pregnant tigree (@Leila) and would gently nudge her. I do believe it would be safer for you to be away from the battle. She seemed to care about Dragos she'd remove herself from the battle grounds, even as Dragos was trying to escape the hell hound before him. Glancing around to see if there were other enemies that may attack, or allies that could help them. He took note of the nearby tiger, (@Za'ire) and nods, knowing that the tiger had been apart of their family for some time now.

Zsolt didn't know who the man was that had attacked Dragos and didn't care at this moment since he was trying to get Leila away from it. His claws outstretched and readily digging into the ground as he waited for movement or anyone to come and attack him for even trying to remove the tiger.

Zsolt is attempting to remove Leila out of the line of fire and is opened to a fight

+10 Observe a fight (Aiestoris v Dragos)
+10 Observe a fight (Alexander v Levana)

we have come into the night

plunder & raise & war are nigh

code by corvus

He does not touch her - the tiger. She is not his object of foucs, his desire of revenge against those who harmed an alliance to his pride. He actively does what he must to avoid her, everything about his attacks screaming his target to be @Dragos . What happened to the mighty shield he was just pretending to be before? He would of laughed if he had been able, but he was distracted. No blows were thrown back to him, and instead he was whispering out for the tiger to run - and some odd words he couldn't understand a meaning to. "She is not the target," Aeistrios rumbles, attempting to swipe an unsheathed claw down upon the male's side, maybe if his blow landed the boy would learn it was him who Aeistrios sought to harm... and so far he was a pretty poor excuse of an opponent. Aeistrios vs @Dragos for minor maim 2/4 Hits: Rolling 8d20: 9 + 1 + 19 + 6 + 7 + 17 + 10 + 3 Dodges: Rolling 3d20: 3 + 2 + 1 Luck: Rolling 5d20: 18 + 2 + 3 + 10 + 15

art by era

Anthonius was never an idle figure, never content to stand around and play in the shadows.

He sought justice, he sought what was right - what was needed. He had no idea why Alexander assumed a ceasefire with monsters would smooth over well, no idea why none of the family had been consoled for such a large decision; or was it only him who his brother had avoided approaching?

He can hear @Amara order Alexander. Ordering him to get his attacks to back off their male - such a similar sound to how Ryker had once demanded the same of them in the passage. His attacks land, his fangs leaving deep marks in the brute down his forehead. The angle the male had was an advantage, and he feels jaws snag around his throat; at the very base of his neck where his mane ended. The blood pours, pain lighting up his frame, and then-

Alexander turns into Ryker.

He did not listen when Ryker commanded him off from justice before, why did his brother think it would be different now? This was justice. This male had harmed many, had hurt too much of his family - and his brother was delirious enough to want to play nice with them?

No, not Anthonius.

A paw raises, and he attempts to slam it upon his opponent's side, looking to cause harm with his claws.

The fight would continue.

Anthonius vs @Apollinaire for minor maim
2/4

Hits:

Rolling 6d20: 19 + 12 + 10 + 13 + 15 + 18

Dodges:

Rolling 6d20: 1 + 20 + 9 + 8 + 2 + 5

Luck:

Rolling 5d20: 15 + 10 + 8 + 5 + 3

code | image

Over the years, the wars, the battles fought Amara knew that there would always be a level of unknown. That there would be things that would happen that she wouldn't be able to see coming and this battle was no different. @Dragos steps in front of her as @Alexander ♔ calls to the male who was attacking her son-in-law. His words were of fire and a snarl rips through her. I want nothing to do with you boy. He didn't lead the family and it wasn't his word that would change anything. Amara would fight him if needed but she wanted @Alexander ♔. Her claws dug into the sand as her own blood slipped through her fur and dripped soundlessly to the ground. Her golden gaze locked until @Leila jumped into a protective nature over the boy in front of her. Amara looks a little startled and steps back for a moment as she looks the tiger over. Fuck. Fuck. Fuck. She was only slightly aware of @Levana and @Ryker joining her as she looks at her lead hunter. Was this the one in the Oasis that had helped her? Had knocked her up by the now heavy scent that was lingering around her? It wasn't until @Alexander ♔ moves to attack that Amara is broken from her attention on the tigress. She moved out of the lion's way, at first thinking he was coming to her then looking quickly toward the target. @Levana was clearly the one and Amara could remember a little, she had been apart of their family when she was in the Bluffs had she not been? She looked at @Ryker to see what the male was doing before she shook her head sharply. Amara couldn't keep up and looked back to @Leila. You need to go. I won't touch him. She told her lead hunter and would keep her word, others of the family though didn't have that protection. She stepped toward @Leila, trying to calm herself the best she can in the moment to get the pregnant female out of here. She couldn't think about allies and enemies in the moment. She needed to handle one thing at a time. @Aeistrios arrives out of nowhere and Amara snaps her gaze to him for only a moment before he moved toward @Dragos. Amara's snarls and snaps at the lion who is also moving toward her member but misses. Dragos manages to step over the tigress and gets her mostly out of the way and Amara moves in quickly as Dragos is yelling for @Leila to run. She didn't disagree. Get away from her. She said sending a glare at @Zsolt. Come on. Amara spoke quickly as she got close to the female. He may have been trying to help but Amara wasn't about to let anyone else touch her member. She looked back to Dragos who wasn't fighting. I have her. Fight your fight boy her golden gaze seemed to say as she looked back to the stripped female. Let's get you to a safer place and then I will come back to deal with things but he will remained unharmed by me. It was the only thing she could offer and it was a huge offer considering everything that was happening.

Table by Ice. Graphic by Lars.

Hunger was an all consuming force, sending shivers down his spine of exhilaration. Teeth meet flesh, rendering asunder and letting blood run free. It tasted bittersweet. Where was Angelo? Apollinaire will forever reminisce about that delicious taste. Gone, now, replaced by a dissapointing meal.

Well, a meal is a meal. He will eat regardless.

The madman persists, attempting to wrap his teeth tight around the same spot that he'd just snagged. Trying to gain a solid grip so he could drink with no care.

He is unwilling to waste this advantageous position and therefore pays little heed to the claws that strike his way. As a result, Anthonius' claws slam into his side, pain immediate. They dig into Apollinaire's right shoulder, leaving deep red marks that pulsate down the length of his limb.

Apollinaire vs. @Anthonius
Minor maim
Round 2 / 4
Hits:

Rolling 7d20: 5 + 18 + 14 + 4 + 11 + 16 + 9

Dodges:

Rolling 5d20: 1 + 20 + 14 + 13 + 2

Luck:

Rolling 6d20: 19 + 15 + 5 + 1 + 3 + 7