it was only a matter of time.

in the wake of blinding the jarl he expected the wolves at his door -- that didn't make his rage any less.

where he was from the challenges had come with more frequency than here, so he could hardly say he was surprised when it was his presence that was bellowed for. the wheat king took a moment to order his kids to stay back, demanding that erna stay with them, keep them away from the monsters who might give them to the sea. and then, with wounds still healing, he moved towards the call with fury in his veins.

the bitch was bold enough to cross the thick thorn bushes in to the mire, following one of the paths he had not fully blocked no doubt. alaric didn't care, didn't stop to think of it. he was annoyed that the mud was frozen if only because he could not use it in his favour.

he burst on to the scene with fire in his eyes, intending to emerge from the swamp brush and barrel towards cassandra's left side. alaric will not play nice, he comes with fire and brimstone and seeks to use his large size to his advantage. the wheat man attempts to slam in to her left shoulder with the point of his right, dropping his right shoulder and aiming for the joint of hers.

simulataneously he bares his teeth and attempts to sink them in to the top left side of her neck, near where it connects to her skull, and he does not hold back. a snarl wrenches from between his teeth and if there is one thing that is clear it's that the mire king is pissed.



Alaric vs. @Cassandra
for EM
Round 1/5
Hits:

Rolling 8d20: 17 + 1 + 18 + 8 + 2 + 11 + 10 + 20

Dodges:

Rolling 3d20: 5 + 10 + 6

Luck:

Rolling 5d20: 6 + 11 + 18 + 9 + 17

code by corvus

the whisper doesn't surprise him as much as he should and he tips his head up to smirk at her through the canopy. a tree-cat; how delightful. "shame." annie teases, tsking softly and shaking his head. he casts a glance down to the growing group, noting the tension in all of them that wasn't there during the challenge for the oasis; something here is far more personal than just a pride challenge. he's not wildly interested but supposes he can do his job ( plus, he enjoys the drama ) so he keeps one ear on the ruckus and the rest of his attention tilted up to the amusing girl above him. "if the mire is so low, perhaps you should just come back to the oasis with me, then." he entices, a brow lifting and his nose wrinkling. "we have plenty of babes in stock but not very many babes if you catch my drift." if she decides to just come with him it'll be oh-so much easier than having to officially challenge for her. he's lazy and he doesn't really want to exude the effort. but for @Zelda? he just might. something about her promises to be quite interesting.

BG CODE ART

zelda Indeed, quite a shame that she was their pride and joy when it came to babes. A breakpoint in their flowing and playful conversation as Alaric comes rushing out to greet the challenger without a moment to spare. Vicious is he to solidify that Ecrosia stay under his control and she believes he may just have the power to be the lioness that had called but stranger things had happened. Just as she was not all that surprised to hear @Antares offer her the Oasis in grand. Something tells me they won't just let me go. It was not only her confidence in being such a well-rounded social figure but also because, well, they didn't seem to enjoy having things taken from them. Should'a been at that Passage place so that you could whisk me away then. As Ronin had so poorly done but that was besides the point, especially since he had gotten the reward in the end. If Antares had been there, she would've likely chosen him without question. *quiet conversation with antares, just for him*

alaric's explosion is beautiful in its own way and he takes a moment to enjoy the sight - he's certainly not much of a looker but to see such raw ferocity is enticing in itself and the gentry feels his lips curve with a faint, dark smirk. @Zelda continues and his gaze roves back to her, the crown of his skull settling against the trunk he's sitting in front of. "i don't like that answer." he says sulkily, bottom lip sticking out dramatically. but there's a gleam in his eyes, now, that says he does like it. he likes the game, the chase, to be told no and do it anyway. more than anything, he lives for that. "come." he says, almost pleadingly, and lifts a paw to gesture at the battle before them. "if he wins, we'll offer a trade - or i'll fight to make it official. and if he loses, no one will even be aware." because even if the new leader doesn't let zelda go, she won't even know she exists - the dark-mawed girl could easily be assimilated into the oasis. antares can't quite say why he's so adamant that she come back to the oasis - it isn't quite all the enticement of being told "you can't." some of it, he thinks, is the desire to have another piece on the chess board that is just as snarky and taunting as he - someone to play the mental game with who won't be so dull.

BG CODE ART

She figured her boldness would not be well received. Especially by those who called this land their home. But she needed to do this. Without even looking behind her she knew Myrkvi had followed her - he typically did. And especially with what she was doing, she wasn't surprised he had made sure to follow her for this. Her mothers showed up next, and she could see the surprise clear in both of their gazes. However, their support for her was clear, and Cassandra knew they'd have her back whether she win or lost this fight. Internally, she flinched when Saga appeared, not knowing how the Sigrun Jarl would take her bold move. Oh well - what was done was done and she's take whatever came for it.

Others unfamiliar to her filed in, but none of them made moves towards her so she knew none of them would dare take their king's place. She hadn't seen the wheat male show up yet, but she was aware it was only a matter of time before he did so. She would be patient, and it would seem she had chosen a perfect time to strike her challenge. The mud within the Mire was frozen, and thus wouldn't hinder her movements in battle. Settling into a defensive position, the Valour girl would pin her ears against her skull and spread her paws out a bit - ready for whatever would occur from this.

And then - the man of the hour came rushing from the swamp brushes. He came quickly, and with purpose - barreling towards her left side and dropping his shoulder in an aim to slam it into her left shoulder. Holding steady, she felt his shoulder ram into hers, and it hurt, and she slid backwards slightly as his momentum slammed into her still frame. Gritting her teeth against the pain, Cassandra opened her jaws while moving her head towards his face in an attempt to grasp at his right cheek with her teeth - intending to rip at the flesh there. Feeling breath coming near the base of her skull on her neck, Cassandra aimed to quickly move to the right so that his teeth missed gripping deeply but rather only scraped at her skin - leaving scrapes down her neck where his teeth would’ve found purchase otherwise.



Cassandra vs. @Alaric
For Ecrosia Mire
Round 1 / 5
Hits:

Rolling 6d20: 7 + 14 + 10 + 6 + 11 + 16

Dodges:

Rolling 4d20: 20 + 12 + 19 + 2

Luck:

Rolling 6d20: 16 + 20 + 15 + 17 + 2 + 8

actions. "speech."

you should see me in a CROWN

Art & Table code by Zodiac

he feels the reverberation of his slam, pleased that she had not bothered to try to move away from his initial attack. some might think it brave -- he thought she was rather stupid. the wheat king even feels her move a little and he knows it was a solid hit -- hopefully enough to hinder her movement.

a man could dream.

the woman managed to move quickly away and his teeth did not strike as deeply as he had wanted, but he was pleased to leave even some scrapes in the wake of his attack. her own teeth flashed towards the left side of his face* and alaric instinctively ducked away from the movement. cassandra did not manage to tear as she might have wanted, but in the wake of her attack there are shallow scrapes. they bleed immeidately (as face wounds tend to do) but alaric barely seemed to notice. once more he parted his jaws and struck towards the left side of her neck -- aiming to bite lower down her neck this time, as he had ducked away from her earlier attack.

at the same time his right paw lifted from the ground, seeking to use his t-position (as he had struck from her left side) to his advantage. right claws extend and strike towards her left side, attempting to sink in to her belly just behind her ribcage. it is a downward strike as the beast aims to make it as painful as he can, clearly thinking nothing of the woman's well being.

whatever may come of this battle there are none present that could say he did not fight tooth and nail for his home.






Alaric vs. @Cassandra
for EM
Round 2/5
Hits:

Rolling 8d20: 17 + 13 + 7 + 1 + 3 + 15 + 4 + 18

Dodges:

Rolling 3d20: 7 + 2 + 16

Luck:

Rolling 5d20: 17 + 18 + 7 + 6 + 13

code by corvus

Violarum is not an inherently violent man. Nor was he the sort to hold grudges. Though, the only part of the male that could boast to be hot-headed was masculine instinct. Guarding what was his. Fighting for it. He is aware there are trespassers here, but he does not pursue them - it would take a little more than a Sigrun, Alaric's enemies (not his), to spark the male into violence.

Though, never one to turn down a fight for good enough reason, it is a multi-hued Oasis male that grasps his attention. His mannerisms with Zelda are enough to interest, but flirtation is not a crime, especially with a teenager so willing. Yet, Violarum manages to catch enough of the words exchanged to deem the situation more serious, more threatening, than first interpreted.

This kid was on a high horse, and that had consequences.

His entrance was inconspicuous, lazy as always despite the magnitude of the challenge, but it changes readily. Violarum lopes, attempting to approach Antares where he was seated at the base of the tree - from his right-hand side. A jutted left shoulder will seek an impact at the piebald males right ribcage, just behind the shoulder, whilst his jaws would attempt to bite the youngsters right ear.

Violarum vs @Antares
Minor Maim - Round 1 of 5
Hits:

Rolling 8d20: 15 + 12 + 1 + 8 + 6 + 7 + 13 + 11

Dodges:

Rolling 3d20: 17 + 13 + 16

Luck:

Rolling 5d20: 3 + 4 + 5 + 14 + 19

_{art by kairi —}

This battle would be fierce - she knew that much when she started the situation. He was larger than she was, which would be interesting. She was smaller than he was, which made her more maneuverable - but it gave him in advantage in power and strength. Cassandra knew her shoulder would smart later on (as it was it ached with dull pain now but that was beyond the point right now. She’d deal with that later). The young Valour had expected nothing less than for this male to fight hard for his home - she would’ve done the same. But she was fighting to make a home for herself too, and she was fighting as hard as she possibly could as well. Her teeth made purchase against his cheek, though not quite as deep as she hoped to have grabbed on his face. He had ducked away, but not quite fast enough to avoid the traps of her jaws there.

Her smaller size made her more maneuverable than her larger opponent, and as such made her lucky enough to avoid those teeth grasping at her neck for the most part - he had left shallow scrapes on her neck at the base of her skull with his initial attack that started to well with blood. They had shifted to where they were in more of a T-position after the initial attack, and she felt the hot breath on her neck once again as his jaws once again sought purchase there. Aiming to yank herself to the right, the wheat king’s jaws caught the side of her neck a bit deeper and lower down than the previous attempt had while his claws scraped down her belly just to the side of her ribcage - though not quite as deep as he had intended because she had scooted to the right. They still hurt a lot though 0 but adrenaline was dulling the pain for the time being. Lifting her own front left paw, Cassandra aimed to rake her claws down his left cheek in an attempt to cause pain to his face as much as possible while a snarl left her muzzle.


"Cassandra vs. @Alaric
For Ecrosia Mire
Round 2 / 5
Hits:

Rolling 6d20: 16 + 6 + 14 + 1 + 8 + 20

Dodges:

Rolling 4d20: 17 + 10 + 9 + 1

Luck:

Rolling 6d20: 14 + 5 + 3 + 17 + 12 + 8

"

actions. "speech."

you should see me in a CROWN

Art & Table code by Zodiac

zelda There is some vague mental play amidst the two of them that she can swear she sees those gears behind his bi-eyes turning wildly. The small hints of not liking the answer while also secretly living for it. Though, she would be a fool to be alright with being given what almost sounded like a demand. Zelda wasn't big on being told what to do even if @Antares did look quite lovely in doing so. She was still a respectable woman and was going to hold onto that but it was the follow-up pleading look that ultimately squashed her "i'm an independent woman" moment. With a few extra seconds that she hoped made him twist in his seat, itching for her response, she takes what looks like a wild and moody exhale. Lifting herself to her feet upon her perch and just as she was about to make the leap and potentially taking the deal, @Violarum swoops in unexpectedly and she halts with her claws ripping into the branch. Quickly concealing herself a bit more so that others wouldn't spot her amidst this sudden outburst and attack. A part of her mortified that two friends were fighting but the other ( and arguably stronger) part of her feels that puff in her chest that knows that they're fighting over her. Maybe something more but she was content with feeling that this was all for her so she attempted to lay herself back down upon the branch and watch. It was a shame that it wasn't a fight to keep or take her but it was one hell of a start.

After his conversation with @Cassandra, seeing her passion and feeling her fire first hand, he was more prepared and expectant of this than any other challenge that could have rung out over the air. The pride she struck at was the most surprising bit of it, not that he was going to complain. He would have put money she would keep one of the coastal prides in her line of sight... but no, this was perfect. Alaric stripped down their ally here for his pride and Aquila would enjoy seeing young Cassandra rise up here.

He only paused back in the Brook long enough to make sure his children were tucked away tight. He followed, without hesitation he burned a trail down through the Jungles and towards the Mire where his family's scents already began to build. Over the border, not pausing, boldened by the fact Zoticus in the north had fallen even the Sigrun's war did not frighten him now. He would come into the mix near @Morrigan, @Talisa, @Saga and @Myrkvi. Deep voice grumbling guttural growls and sounds ready for action, ready to throw himself against anyone who came their way or looked wrong at Cassandra... His eyes roved the surroundings, waiting for a reason to snap.

" Aquila has approached the Brook lions/Sigrun and is actively looking for anyone to fight "

ART BY NICOLEXV , CODE BY LARS