may the beauty of the

fading twilight not be outshined by the rage of the scorned embers of the bleeding dawn

( 8 Years. Lvl 5 Ranger. +1 dice to hunt rolls. -1 dodge roll for prey. Gives every lion in the hunt a +1 to hit rolls. Counts as two lions in every hunt & Specializes in hunting African Donkey and auto-success a hunt with it as prey. )

The dawn had finally arrived upon the day when her grand Tournament of Spring was supposed to happen. For the past few weeks she had gone around telling many about it and hoped they would pass the word along. Pass the word to others of all kind. Fighters, healers, pride mates, friends and family. In all honesty she was just hoping for a fair turnout and prayed to the great huntress that this didn’t turn out to be a chaotic mess. Though the thought of the bloodshed that could happened excited her greatly. Though she did hope that the entry fee had also reached the ears of those wanting to fight. Food. Coming to the center of the Pits the Noble placed the small African Donkey she had managed to bring down about an hour ago to start the prize pile. It was also her entry fee in order to join the fighting. Standing tall she let out a roar calling forward everyone friend or foe alike to her location.

She would than wait until a sizeable crowd amassed. “Friends, allies, strangers! Fellow Amaryllis citizens! Here me I am Arjana Huntsong I thank you for coming to the Tournament of Spring! To those who seek glory in battle or just want to ripe into something it matters not the reason but I besmirch you to come forward to join me in the center. Place the entire fee upon the pile and come find your glory upon the battlefield.” She called out looking out over all the eyes looking at her. She was sure they where judging her but she didn’t care. “The tournament shall happen in four rounds of dominance fights. With the winner of each fight moving on to the next until two are left! The winner shall not just have the prize of all of the entry fee, but also bragging rights!” She roared out finishing her speech and waiting for those who wished to fight to come forward.

Preliminary matchups

@Walpurgis vs. @Odhgrimm
@Devil May Cry @Alizabeth vs. @Ursula
@Calypso vs. @Roan
@Calhoun vs. @Ragna
@Seraphiel vs. @Violarum
@Morrigan vs. @Kazimir
@Arjana vs. @Saga
@Escanor vs. @Leviathan

Edit: Alizabeth has replaced Devil May Cry due to her going inactive.

code by corvus & art by hinter

Morrigan had very much been looking forward to this tournament, especially upon hearing the prize was both glory and food she didn't have to hunt. Or at least no more than the boar she had slung across her shoulders to serve as her entry fee. Her jaws were wrapped around the leg of her kill, so she couldn't greet the rust colored woman until after she deposited the big pig alongside @Arjana's. "Well then, I hope you've got a good first fight for me."

Morrigan grinned before moving away to choosing a spot in the Pit, kicking away stray stones and other distractions as she waited for her opponent. She kept on her guard as she did so, almost hopeful her opponent might rush straight in without warning, just for the thrill of it. Her children were safe as home watched over by their other siblings, but she wondered if any of her kin would show up simply to watch.

table by ferus, art by mono

She had no idea about this tournament otherwise she would've joined but regardless, hearing a call from the red woman, Ástríðr was still going to show up and watch the show. Large paws carrying her from the tundra towards the pit where it was coming from and would lounge herself on the outskirts of the pit. She didn't go into the pit and the arena itself but up on the ledge. This was the perfect place to watch everything unfold. Of course, the first she spotted was @Arjana and then @Morrigan arrived and even though Ástríðr knew her, she'd yet to go to the Cove and see how they were doing since the big fight for Vermeda.

+5 Observe a fight
maybe more

code by javs

Walpurgis understood that there was going to be a lot of fighting and also that the higher ranked lioness wanted her to bring food. It was... doubtful... whether @Arjana really wanted Whopper to attend, but the variegated lioness could not be dissuaded either subtly or otherwise. Someone said fighting and she was a warrior. She could no sooner ignore the call than grow wings and fly.

She carried a yearling giraffe slung aside her side, gripping it by the long neck and letting the broken legs dangle. It was a mess of broken bones and scuffed up, empty eyes, but the torso was intact and that was where the meat was. She followed her pridemate's lead in putting it on a growing pile, for some reason, and then she moved away from the pile because that was what Arjana was doing, but all the while the clay female talked Walpurgis was staring at that food. Impatiently.

When it seemed Arjana had finished saying whatever it was she was saying, Walpurgis lurched up to ask So Many Questions. "Hey when we gonna eat huh? We gonna fight first? Or eat first? We ain't gotta hunt fer a long time! We can train an' fight all da time! Maybe...." she drooled, staring shallow in thought, caught between lust for battle and simple hunger. "I help carry da food!" Walpurgis didn't entirely understand waiting or the complicated mess of etiquette that constituted fairness. There was a pile of food. Lions were bringing Arjana food. And Arjana was in Whopper's pride so this was also Whopper's food.

+10 Discuss hunting needs with another
+10 Host or participate in a group training event

He barely heard the call. He didn't know what it meant but it sounded fancy. Sounded like something he'd rather ignore, today. He just wanted to sleep and try to get used to so many lions being in the Band and being around so many lions all day. His nerves were on edge. Probably he shouldn't follow Astrid because he felt trouble burning between his toes, the urge to instigate shit with her or someone else. But, well, if he didn't do shit he shouldn't do then nothing good would ever be done. On some pretext but not really, the teenager idled south toward the Pit. He weaved his paws through the tracks left by... the leader or his sister... OK, more like he stomped them out into deep, untraceable grooves that looked more like an obese hippo than a lion. Grooves from angry, dagger trails of claws. Some mean hippo, whoever saw these.

His tail dropped and he slowed, his shoulders meek but his head high and alert, looking at other lions file in. All different scents. Some drama. He knew there was some bullshit drama about this place but he'd half believed Bhaskar was making it up. That guy wasn't here so he lurked up alongside Ástríðr. The fluffy female felt comfortable enough to lounge but he surely didn't. He remained standing, deliberately squaring his shoulders, and fluffed out his yearling mane the best he could. He grunted sidelong to her while keeping a lookout. His tail tuft lashed. "What is this pride bullshit? They gonna have a pride challenge?" Bhaskar had said something like that. "How about we change it up? Eating competition. Fattest cat wins." The gray male was obviously in a sour mood and although he wasn't yelling, he didn't care who heard him either. Claws flexed. Just give him a reason.

+5 Leave a trail of confusing tracks

+5 Observe a fight

She didn't know how a tournament would go for her, how it would bring something new to her life. But as always , the two faced woman didn't mind trying new things, she never her straight forward nature allowed her to simply do whatever she felt the wish to do. Never asking for others opinion just doing it. And as such, with those cold eyes walked into the pit, wondering how this would go. What a tournament meant. Herself would participate on it, excited but not showing that on her expression. But within she was dying to have fun. Fun in the Sigrun language. Which was exchanging blows.

She gave a quick glance to those who had come already, wondering who would be her opponent. She could go against whoever, winning ir lossing. Going a bit further she lied down on her side, watching in silence until it was her turn.

code by shelby | art by irish

she's been dormant long enough; her children are healing, her youngest are returning to the lagoon, and the war that lingers on the horizon seems promising. with sjórbjörn at her side and mrykvi as their heir, the sigrún empire is secure and saga feels less weight on her shoulders when she wakes in the morning. so when @Arjana promises a tournament, the high sovereign descends to the pit with a wild gleam in her hawkish gaze. a seal cub is clamped in her jaws, still warm, and as the gentry beckons she slides through the crowd to drop the seaside faire to the pile. she inclines her jaw in a quick greeting before shifting back to wait, eagerly, for her opponent.

her eye sweeps over @Morrigan as she meanders to @Ragna's side, tail curled in greeting to her ally. she leans to rub the top of her skull along her daughter's side, a purr rumbling briefly in her throat, before relaxing onto her haunches to wait.

table by ferus & lineart by eerien00dle

❝

This is the start of how it all ever ends. They used to shout my name, now they whisper it.

⚓︎it had been interesting news and an interesting concept -- calypso had known the pirates would take well to the idea of a tournament. especially one that was centered around fighting.

she came for the fun of it all, not putting too much weight in the outcome. it had been too long since she'd had a good fight, and if she happened to make it through a round or two even better.

her pelt of herbs is slung around her shoulder -- when the fighting is done she will be there to lend her aid to those that need it. it is tucked away beside a large stone, sheltered from prying eyes and hopefully going mostly unnoticed. calypso moves, then, to stand with the rest, her gaze sliding across the gathered crowd with interest.

she tenses and relaxes her muscles and bounces a little, doing her best to limber up in preparation for the first round.

** note: double exp active for all participants in this thread **

novi

So she was joined by @Aurochs and sea foam jewels would glance over in his direction. Taking in that he didn't settle like she did and began to talk about pride challenges and the viking would shake her head down. Relax Aurochs, there isn't going to be an pride challenges today. She would roll her eyes at the yearling and his grumpy self. This is a tournament of some kind. I had no clue about it or I would've joined to practice on my fighting skills. She would admit before glancing back at him when he spoke of changing it up. Causing her to chuckle at the thought. Good luck trying to get that meat pile out of here.

code by javs

It is his usual lumber, lax and indulgent only of laziness. He knows the pit all too well, but mostly with memories of fighting mature men with muscle and experience to burn - he'd have to pick on somebody weaker one of these days, just to replenish a dwindling ego (hardly). He had accepted the invitation with enthusiasm, always seeking more ways to prove his manliness; and when it was a woman who asked, he only assumed she would lavish at his toes should he win.

Violarum thuds haphazardly into the pit, and seeks to thump a burly shoulder against the ribs of a familiar face; @Calypso. "Sucks for you if we fight," it's a childish taunt as the clay beast comes to linger by the womans side, tail flicking idly, "I owe you a defeat."

_{art by kairi —}