It seemed the common commodity around Amaryllis was pride challenges. The second that the dappled woman heard the sound of a challenge she found her paws leading her there. Brigid had no true interest in who was leading where but she knew at the end of the day that information was vitally important, especially for someone like her who didn't have her eyesight to depend on. She moved at her own pace, not necessarily rushing to make it to the Bluffs. It was harder for her to make her way through the territory considering it was damn near one ginormous cliff. However Brigid had no intentions of being seen so she slunk her way into the territory, remaining on the outskirts but just close enough to observe still. Moving as close as she felt she needed to be she lowered herself amongst a few boulders, settling for the show with ears flicked forward, listening.

Brigid is attempting to be hidden

+5 - Observe a fight (1/2)
+5 - Infiltrate a group thread without getting caught (1/2)
+10 - Sneak into a pride without getting caught (1/2)

GOD KILLS INDISCRIMINATELY AND SO SHALL WE

(right/right damage locations determined in member dice discord)

He managed to swipe across the pink one's chest, turning delicate flower colors to more glorious red. It was a greater badge of honor than this one deserved. His fangs scraped against the side of the other male's face. Whereas in his breast he first felt disappointment at the failure to seize a grip, his heart abruptly churned with triumph at his enemy's loud protest. Oh this one was a vocal fighter? "Pleure plus, bâtard!" ("Cry more, bastard!") He horked a laugh, his eyes glinting. The beast was as over-confident as ever, and unrelenting.

His ears still poised back, he attempted to sink his fangs into the right side of Zoticus' neck just behind the jawbone as his enemy's fangs slashed against his braced right shoulder. A surface wound, non-disabling in terms of muscle, but leeching down blood from moderate lacerations. Claws also raked down his right forelimb, an additional shot of pain that doubled for adrenaline and fury. These slashes were less likely to scar but they were longer, presenting a more foreboding picture at present. Feeling his balance threatened, he sunk his hindquarters lower to steady himself. With his left paw, previously raised, he attempted to press his own assault - trying to curl extended claws into the fattiest exterior of Zoticus' right shoulder, focusing on the attempt to gain a grip vs. flat out VIOLENT OVERKILL. For now. Verm could have a little patience sometimes. For one post. In one fight.

Vermier vs @Zoticus
Wolfbron Bluffs
2/5

Hits:

Rolling 5d20: 18 + 13 + 9 + 16 + 3

Dodges:

Rolling 5d20: 17 + 2 + 3 + 4 + 5

A low growl rumbled through her as the male started talking about things he didn't understand. @Beelzebub turned to her and her question caught Amara off guard. She looked toward the gathered group, those who had become her enemies in the blink of an eye. Bee joined her and Amara allowed the yearling to lean against her, something that was rare indeed but given everything Amara was able to control the ant crawling feeling she got while touching others. She started to explain when a known lioness moved in front of Bee and took up a stance against Sole. Golden gaze locks on the female and discomfort was clear on her face as @Saga claims Bee as Magnus's. She need to fix this error sooner rather than later it seemed. Saga turned toward them and her golden gaze locks with brown gaze as she waits to see what happens but then there was something, a slight nod. Amara's gaze widened for a moment before narrowing slightly with mistrust. The unknown lioness's family had ripped hers apart because of their loyalty to each other and was now acting like it was all ok? She shook her head slowly to focus back on Bee and spoke so those near them could hear, Saga included. Because they couldn't stop for a moment to see things as they are rather than how they see them. That lion, she nodded toward @Sole, speaks of Genya's challenge for the Mire. She fell when she lost and Verm jumped to protect her, another male attacked him. We thought that the lion was trying to harm Genya further and from there, any who moved in were seen as the same. Why anyone would say they were attempting to help when there was clearly an attack made against her already makes no sense to me. You know, we protect our own. She huffed slightly because it was all a misunderstanding but as normal males are too thick-headed to even start to think outside of their own little worlds, Verm included. Those who now have the Lagoon, didn't even know they were alive before that lioness challenged. When we stood together and showed our loyalty toward each other that clearly wasn't something that this Magnus understood. I can only guess what he was told but if he was a leader with half the loyal members as you and the others, he would have respected the outcome. She looked toward Saga for a moment, what would she have to say? Did the lion just not care about loyalty or had he been given a load of shit and decided he would eat it? @Úna arrived and seemed to have faith in Verm which Amara found slightly odd but didn't comment on it as @Cassine arrived and tossed her own words into the mix. Amara nudged her sharply in the shoulder with her nose. She was glad to see the yearling but wanted things to stay settled as long as possible. Settle. You will be staying with me after this. She whispered to her. She didn't want Cassine going back to the Lagoon now that she was out. @Mithros arrived and joined them and a feeling of pride started to grow in her chest, even after everything, they still chose to come to her. @Echo was the next one to join them and Amara gave her a long look before a slight nod. She had no idea where the yearling stood on things but she was here and Amara would extend her protection to them as long as they decided to stand near her. She watched the fight for a moment before looking to see who else had gathered. Nymeria, Roan, Hanneth were those she knew with a quick look and the others she could remember from the challenges that she had attended so far. She was quick to process them all before looking back toward the fight. While she knew that Verm was a skilled fighter she also knew that sometimes things didn't go well. Her own loss had proven that to her in a cold hard fact type of way. She flicked her gaze between the fight and those gathered, watching to see if any decided to add another fight to the mix with her or hers.

Table by Ice. Graphic by Lars.

Well tell me what you want, I'm all ears.
I'll give you all I got, blood, sweat and tears

Through the scent of blood and battle, he could smell them. Ecrosia. Anger pulsed through his veins- of course the enemy would come to such an event. Of course they would take this chance to trespass onto his lands- such sickly vultures the Mire lions were. Zoticus would see to it that the score was set even- King or not. They would be punished for touching his soil.

Vermier spoke through their clashing bodies and Zoticus kept his focus centered on him. Vermier attempted to go for Zoticus’ neck, but the King angered his head away and with his thick mane- felt only mild scrapes form along his jawbone, trailing down to his thick mane. Zoticus didn’t manage a grip on his shoulder like he had hoped- but he drew blood nonetheless. “Coward. Too afraid to battle me at my best- so you come for me at my worst.” He growls in an angry exhale of breath, head reeling back with a sneer. Claws were able to cut at his forelimb and Zoticus felt a thrill jolt through his wounded body. It was short lived as Vermier’s claws sunk into his shoulder- one that had been wounded and mangled before multiple times. “Let it be known, my revenge will be deadly should you take my land.” He hissed with venom, swearing it into the air as his head attempted to lower and try to chomp down on Vermier’s leg that was currently gripping at Zoticus’ shoulder with his claws.

Zoticus vs @Vermier for WB
3 / 5

Hits:

Rolling 9d20: 8 + 10 + 2 + 15 + 18 + 6 + 12 + 13 + 16

Dodges:

Rolling 3d20: 1 + 15 + 13

(+1 to hits due to pride tier)

coding by werge | manip by vasilia

He's never been up here, to the bluffs. The terrain is rockier than he'd expected and his little muscles burn with the effort -- he was made for flatter, smoother terrain. But the challenge call brings him, a satchel of herbs clutched close. He is leery of these challenges now, after witnessing not one but two deaths -- senseless acts of violence that he hadn't expected here. A mistake he will not make again. Quietly he joins the growing throngs to witness the challenge, watching with a disappointed look as claws and fangs tear into willing flesh. A sigh is rumbled but otherwise he stays quiet -- ready to flee at a moments notice should this crowd, too, prove too volatile.

She lurks like a shadow, like a wraith -- wide paws pressing easily into the unfamiliar soil. This place was a strange outcropping of stone and violence, an electric crackle that hangs in the air. She is keen on avoiding the group as a whole and so she keeps to herself, sticking to the shadows when she can. A trespasser, but aren't they all? And she, at least, does not try to go far -- just far enough to find a seat obscured from easy view. Slivered gaze, then, turns towards the challenge at the center of it all. Their bloodied dance was a dizzying one; it didn't matter that she didn't know either of them. Anyone could enjoy the show, and enjoy she would. Hiding

code by irish

Slow, silent steps bring him forward. He still isn't sure what role he will have to play here on this island -- if Sol himself knew, then he was keeping it close to his gargantuan chest -- and so Lucian feels the need to snoop on everything. Everyone. Let no stone go unturned until he gets his bearings -- either for this master, or his next. The call for a challenge is the perfect cover and so he comes quickly, not wanting to miss anything. The main challenge was evident ( though he could not name either of the men, nor this territory that they fight over ), but the sidelines too are brimming with tension. Snarled, snapped words fill the air and his gaze lingers over all them in turn. Marking each of them and their anger, mind already trying to piece together this puzzle without any of the pieces. Some are familiar from the raid in the rainforest but ultimately he lacks context. So instead the jackal watches intently, waiting for something to click.

CODE BY LARS

GOD KILLS INDISCRIMINATELY AND SO SHALL WE

His fangs only clipped along the back edge of his opponent's jawbone as the king feebly turned his head away. "Coward!" he snarled back, delight and mirth in his tone. He enjoyed insults just as much as he enjoyed fighting. Each a game with delightful rewards. Coward seemed to be the king's most poisoned insult and therefore the one that Vermier would most mangle back at him. His left paw sunk its claws into the king's right shoulder and Vermier attempted to use the granted grip to try to shove the king backward, using his other three grounded limbs as leverage and flailing his tail out for balance. Naturally, he would attempt to keep his seized grip, flexing his own claws to try to worm deep. "You say you kill Manes - Manes live! So, say you kill me - say very much, I live very much, very long! Eez good life for has coward for enemy!" If this guy was the worst enemy the Dieudonne had then they would live long and prosper. Sangria had been better competition. Even the Casimirs, stupid as they were, had wives who dared to fight his sister one on one. Vermier wouldn't complain. Maybe he should. But he liked the loud, squealing ones.

The brute turned his head to slice deep lacerations into Vermier's left forearm, a rush of pain that was indistinguishable from the pleasure of opportunity. He felt blood dripping but moreso the thrill of anticipation. The larger brute had lowered his head to do so, and therefore Vermier attempted to lunge his jaws directly for the male's left eye, trying to sink his upper fangs into the socket while lower fangs tried to hook into the flesh of the left upper cheek. His own eyes were studiously protected and his ears pressed back. Like a striking snake, all teeth.

Vermier vs @Zoticus
Wolfbron Bluffs
3/5

Hits:

Rolling 5d20: 17 + 5 + 18 + 4 + 8

Dodges:

Rolling 5d20: 13 + 19 + 12 + 20 + 6

Unsurprisingly, Soren is not far behind @Nymeria and @Gareth. A stalwart piece of the tight-knit trio. It would have been easy enough to stay behind and keep an eye on the Brook - on the children - but they grew larger and more independent by the day, and Vermeda had plenty of members capable of watching it. And so the Lead Fighter would cross the border of Wolfbron Bluffs, swallowing thickly at the sensation of nostalgia; once upon a time, he had called this place home. Once upon a time, he had lived alongside Zoticus. And now the man fought to defend his home. He chuffed quiet greeting to the High Sovereign and the Lead Advisor, moving to sit on the other side of the palomino Taur. The atmosphere was undeniably tense, and it had the Larsen on high alert. "What a mess," the Larsen rumbled, in a far more dour tone than he would usually adopt. The situation called for it, after all.

In the moments that followed, @Vermier remained unattended. Prompt arrival wasn't to be expected - Zoticus was probably not in the best shape, given the brawling between the Brook and the Mire. And so the eccentric Frenchman would busy himself conversing with the onlookers; Arjana first, and then Beelzebub. Magnus remained silent all the while, merely watching the interaction with neutrality. That was, however, until he felt red eyes shift and lock onto him. Aha. Recognition, then, finally. The melanistic brute rocked back on his haunches, slowly turning his head so that it was no longer his peripheral that favoured the Dieudonne; it was full, undivided attention, albeit only for a moment.

A lip curled in morbid amusement.

And then a flurry; it would all happen so quickly. Zoticus would march onto the scene, a trail blazed of determination. Jewel came close, murmuring something to Arjana - presumably some sort of encouragement, though Magnus had no way of knowing. The raucous cheering of the clay pelted woman that followed would certainly attract attention; again, though, not particularly his problem. He'd protected her during her labour - he'd done his kindness. Attention shifted to @Beelzebub, as she piped up; of course she did. The Sigrun's lip curled unpleasantly, beady gaze shifting to track the yearling and her sharp responses to the Wolfbron maiden.

Oh, good.

It escalated quickly enough, and the opportunity to step in and diffuse the situation - or, perhaps, escalate it further - would be so brief that Magnus blinked and missed it. Instead, who else but his old opponent - @Amara - would float in and whisper sweet words (presumably) to the rowdy Bezra child. Still, the damage was done, and another man - one smelling of the Bluffs - would step forward to verbally challenge the brunette troublemaker. Saga would step in, quick to say her piece, and Magnus would stand, leaving Ulla's side in order to stand beside the chimeric woman. Unsurprisingly Arjana - perhaps still fuelled by the hormones of childbirth - does not take well, and rounds on the Scilla Noble. It was getting out of hand.

The melanistic brute's lip curled in warning, seeking to quell all who stood in the vicinity. "Settle. The Lagoon is mine now," he rasped, attention focused on @Arjana and @Sole as he spoke. "You will face no more trouble from the sympathisers of the old regime." Their army of brats. "Not the ones that live beneath my control, anyway." He then focused on @Cassine. His words were directed only to those that had spoken up, but the ire of his stare would pass over @Beelzebub, @Úna and @Echo too. He did not care how they banded together - he and his would not stand for insolence. Especially not when he'd already felled @Amara once in battle - surely you do not wish to be torn asunder again?

"You will be silent," he warned, "or else I will make you." He snapped his jaws in the air before him, spittle flying. The aggression was palpable, and radiated off of him in waves. His outburst should make his feelings on the Bluffs clear, as well as his current opinion on anyone who should speak out against him. Be careful. Be very, very careful.