failure was not an option.

amaryllis was full of the elite, it seemed -- fighters that could more than hold their own. in alaric's homeland he had been one of only a couple of males, and he had held his position as head of his pride for years. coming here with nothing had been fine, to begin with, but now he wanted back the power and prestige that came with the crown. with cubs on the way it was all the more imperative, and he loathed to think that he might fail them again. fail her again.

he would deny the feelings he held for the woman until he was blue in the face, but that did not change the fact that Alaric cared for her. In his own twisted and masochistic way he cared, and this put an urgency in his step that could not be easily ignored. he knew they would not show themselves, here -- he sure as hell hoped that lesson had been learned -- and by all appearances he was alone as he approached the border of the mire. a swamp would not be his first choice of a home, but with a future to think of he would take whatever he could get, now. his future wife could not join him in the oasis, and so...

so he stopped at the borders and called for the king, a challenging roar that would carry easily to wherever @Jafar was.


Alaric vs Jafar
for Ecrosia Mire
0/5

the thunder of the drums, dictates

image by yumpy, code by corvus

With Saga on the mend, Myrkvi was opting to be the nosy representative. Someone had to keep a paw on the pulse of the land. Especially with this lion challenging again for a territory. However, it was in his best interest to keep a mindful distance since he had yet to see or hear any additional lions approaching. Myrkvi rolled himself in swamp mud to mask the scent of sea salt and lagoon. He ensured a thin coating before finding a place beneath heavy ferns and other plantlife to observe from the neutral side of the mire border. It was not safe for him to be in plain sight. Plus he wanted to see if any Rike decided to show their murderous faces or not.

*kvi is hiding

ART BY MOGGLE - CODE BY LARS

ASSASSIN
+5 Practice speed or stealth
+10 Successfully stay hidden for the duration of a thread(?)
+10 Sneak into another pride's territory without getting caught(?)

Again the bastard? Didn't he learned his lesson yet? Those were the thoughts Lotus had lingering on her mind. As she aimed to try be stealthy and hide the best way she could, wanting to be on the low hopefully for the duration of the event. She masked her scent with mud and covered her steps wanting to be as indetectable as she was able. Eyes narrowed in the same man that months ago had tried to steal Roans pride and she could see he was also doing so now. From the Oasis as she was told back then. That pride seemed to be hiding questionable individuals she was starting to think, and this was another reason not to trust in that pride at all. And even though this wasn't her pride the one being stolen now, she felt emphatic for this home. That now was on the mean man's eyes to steal from.

She hated that kind of men who thought they could claim stuff and don't think on those he was taking their home from but all she could do was watch hidden and perhaps use whatever she learned against the asshole. And like that she observed.

Lotus is hidden

image by moogle/code by saph

Tullia Valour

MEDIC:
+5 Attend a spar or challenge to assess the wounds

Now that she was feeling strong enough to move she was back into the checking of fights and challenges. Just to try offering her help to whoever could need it. She made her way but didn't trespass, taking a seat out of the borders, wanting to be respectful to the pride living here. She had brought with her a few herbs and concoctions, always ready to use them. Ears were flat but her expression proper and hiding away any concern or fear, which were hidden inside and alive. After her chat with Aquila she wanted not to worry anyone more, they had already been through hardship, including herself to be giving them even more reason to be sad.

She didn't approach others, feeling weary but knowing emotions should never interfere not stand on a medics way to save others even if her own situation wasn't the best to deal with.

code by corvus

It is not a challenge for him. But it might as well be.

In the depths of the Mire, he stirred into life, wakened from a dreamless sleep by the call. The ghoul rose from his den, amidst the mud and the filth that he had gotten so used to, stalking toward the summons with long, eager strides.

The obsidian giant is the first of his pride to arrive at the border, dark face twisted to scrutinise the man who supposed to try and take the swamp from Jafar. He realises then that it was not a call for war, but only challenge. Disappointed, Ransom peeled back his lips over readied fangs as he settled into a threatening stance at the border of Ecrosia territory. If only he could take on the large male himself.

"Where are your soldiers? Surely you brought some." He growled at the male (@Alaric), talons stretching into the soft earth.

code by corvus

BARD:
+10 Witness an event worthy of making history

Kinki walked happy through the mires lands, doing so with a big smile on her lips and eyes here and there without much order. So many to see and explore was overwhelming for her quick to distract self. She was growing, at least on age. She was small, never getting larger than a yearling if not younger. Small wasn't okay for others but for her it meant nothing. And there she sniffed the air with her fluffy bobbed tail curled up wards like a deer's.

She heard a call and ignoring any dangers from being to close to the borders she sat down to watch but giving everyone a glance.

Kinki

code by corvus

Indeed, failure was not an option.

Although hidden, her impatience for this challenge was strong. Erna was uneasy, understandably so. Alaric had to win today. It was his one chance to earn her, as Odhgrimm had placed it so eloquently, otherwise, it would put their unborn children at risk. There was no backing out now. She was already swelling at the sides, and the pregnancy will soon be evident. "If you turn up with a belly full of pawns, you'd best be asking for an abortifacient." The Jarl's words ring clear among the drumming of her heartbeat. There was no room for negotiation. Her opinion mattered little. Alaric, however, had a clear opinion: he will fight for the whelps.

A game of chess between two men. And her fate was in the middle of it.

Her loyalty to her kin was strong, but she feared Alaric just as she feared Odhgrimm. The bearish woman chewed on the inside of her mouth as she stalked in the shadows, finding a comfortable hidden spot to observe the challenge. She cared little for which pride fell, as long as they ascended. The stakes were high. Erna was at crossroads, and all she could do was stand and watch the men decide her future & the future of her children.

Erna is hidden

_{ART — CODE}

It was not uncommon to hear cries for challenge. Calling kings and queens alike to defend their home. While Jewel herself had never been forced to answer a challenge for her home when she had ruled The Cove, and her brief time with the Mire... It still roused the female from her den with a low pitched growl. Rising to her feet, the dark noble would nudge @Silverlight to her feet, knowing @Vysemala would likely be in attendance as well. "Come, sweetling. You're going to remain here with me.". She wanted the girl underfoot and under watch in the event the child made herself a target.

Moving towards the call, she spotted @Ransom and smirked at the hard edges of his words. Twin tails twitching at her haunches, the female sought to brush her shoulder lightly against his much larger one in greeting. Since the discovery that he was likely one of her own lost children, Jewel saw no problems in showing him the same affection she would want of his siblings . "Well said, my son..."

Her singilar gaze landed on the challenger, lips peeling back to bare fangs yellowed with age, and strained with the blood of countless battles she had fought. The story told in the scars lashed upon her hide. "Should you manage a win here..your rule will be decidedly short. Turn around now before you regret your decision."

There was a low rumble to her voice, the snarl growing from deep within her chest as it dropped out with her threats. Yet, despite the threats bristling with her words, her stance was collected...calm. a warrior waiting for the gunshot that would explode into violence. Jewel knew that though the Mire was small, it was comprised of many that would not hesitate to strip his bloodied crown from his skull should he even manage to obtain it.

Jewel knew this was the way of things. And she had faith in @Jafar. But, should the Casales king fall, it would not be a reign this would-be usurper would want to cling to. She would wait, standing by the hulking form of her dark son, watching...waiting. guaging.. and she found that though this lion from the Oasis had stories upon his own pelt..she found him lacking.

---

"Speech"

Code by corvus. Manip by scarf

"speech."

A call had rang out, a challenge. For a moment the rogue would pause, debating on if he should remain just a ghost in the land or if it was time for him to learn more about these lions he walked amongst. It didn’t take long to decide, he could never pass up the chance for blood. It had been too long that his claws had been dampened with the sticky substance, too long since his tongue had tasted the flesh. If there was a chance of that…he would be there. Turning, the Rogue would make the short journey to the call, his stride slowing as red and blue gaze shifted among the forms already in attendance. An excitement stirring in his belly as his limbs bent, crouching into a low stalk so that he could remain hidden among the dense foliage of the mire- for now. His dark brown pelt blended in well with the surrounding flora, although he was not too pleased with the dampness of the mud. Who would want to live here? In the muck and mud… Nostrils breathed in the damp earthen smell along with the scents of lions, those that smelled similar he assumed were of the same pride- this pride. How would they handle the usurper if he won? He couldn't wait to find out.

Ronin is Hidden


Barbarian:
+5 - observe a fight {1/2}

Sleuth:
+10 - sneak into a pride without getting caught {1/2}
+10 Learn something about pride/group/family relations {1/2}

code by corvus

+5 Spy on an individual exchange
+5 Gather information about a character
+10 Successfully stay hidden for the duration of a thread

Huh, well, this sucked. She supposed she didn't care who was in charge because it wasn't going to be anyone she preferred to be, but she also would have liked it if Jafar could keep his title since he seemed content to stay out of her way. And he'd given her a rank so she supposed she ought to be somewhat grateful towards and loyal to him.

She also supposed she ought to make it obvious that she was there as a show of support or whatever, but that wasn't really her thing. If they wanted to ask where she'd been later, she'd take them to the shrubbery she was currently nestled under, letting the shadows and her dark coloration do their work as she watched both Ransom and Jewel talk to the man.

Also, the hell? Ransom was her kid?? Wow, she didn't know if that improved her opinion of Jewel or made it worse. The tiny, bitter part of her pointed out that was probably why she'd come to watch the fight for noble. Maybe so. She'd ponder that as she continued to watch.