It was clear that his cousin wasn't keen to fight for @Yūrei without a reason. Even though Adeodatus didn't know her all to well ( like her secrets ) and probably wouldn't mind fighting for her regardless. Ears twisting though whenever she began to speak about her talents, and the dark deity that she worshiped it seemed. How he would eventually find this land and cover it like a plague. Interesting as Adeodatus would wait until she was finished talking. But of course, what else could he really say beside, All talents that would be noticed in the Mire. Was he bluffing? Probably, he wasn't sure Alaric would want those talents but who knew.

@Gauthier

The American Nightmare

When night comes creeping My cruel hand will rock you to sleep I'm the American nightmare With American dreams Of countin' the bodies while you count sheep I'm the American nightmare Yeah, I'm living the dream I'm slashing my way through the golden age of the silver scream

code by corvus

You require a reason to fight? Her jeering incites nothing but the soft furrow of his brow, aloof to the weight of incredulity. Battling was a pleasure without a doubt, but why here? And why for her? He would spill his blood enough with or without her, it didn't matter whether she chose his ranks or that of an ally - the wheel would keep spinning, the wars would continue raging. At the heart of it, he will be reveling in the filth, and none of it for nothing, even if the simple delight of cleaving flesh.

With some musing, she deliberates the reason in detailing form: a spy, an assassin. Useful against enemies, if worth a keen eye to be wary of any backlash. And she was right, her stature and demeanor was one that wouldn't belie an immediate trace of betrayal - were she take care of her hand, she could slip behind the trenches of his foes. She may be fast in the hunt and — breeding? He tilted his head at that, but he would let it pass for the rest. Princelings were little of his concern, if they would only consume his time and energy.

And a dark god -- mercy.

What laughter unspooled from the very pit of his lungs, dark and deep! Hilarity suddenly sprawled across his devilish features. I do not look for mercy from gods. he bit, chilling and resonant, a dredged power kindled in his veins. It isn't insulting as much as it is only sure. He would not ask for mercy from the Naesarpe, from Caturix, from Maua, from Kivuli. But that is kind. tapered sharply, breath spun along the line of glistening fangs.

He hoped, one day, the gods would ask mercy of him.

The political talk had left him at an impasse - he had spent longer than the desired in one place on this godforsaken land-bridge, and he was convinced that @Yūrei could be a lucrative piece to the Caladanian puzzle, were she to hold to her word. He had a mind to leave then and let her choice be made of whether to follow or not; all bonds were made in the trust that either would keep their end, and nothing was certain, spilt blood or no. Oh but hell, would it be so terrible to test some theories?

Why not, he whispered as he thrust from his spot, making to charge Adeodatus. The air needed cleared after all, did it not?

He flattened his ears, bowing his approach, aiming to collide with his cousin in an upward jolt, propelling with jaws wide in the attempt to grab ahold of whatever fine facial facet he could secure, steeling his balance between three legs as his left foreleg made to attempt an open-clawed thrust against Adeodatus's right shoulder, intending to dig and shove. While he doubted he could throw his heavier cousin aside, the least he could do was try to steal a second of his focus if by slight imbalance or pain.

Gauthier vs @Adeodatus
for Science (Dominance)
Round 1 / 3
Hits:

Rolling 9d20: 6 + 5 + 20 + 8 + 9 + 11 + 3 + 4 + 7

Dodges:

Rolling 4d20: 3 + 4 + 7 + 14

Luck:

Rolling 5d20: 4 + 6 + 12 + 8 + 13

_{BG — ART — CODE}

Perhaps Adeodatus should've claimed her when he got here and this would've been over with but that wasn't him even though Alaric allowed it to happen, Adeodatus believed that freedom was a great thing in this world and claiming another for no reason was not something he intended on doing. He knew well enough that she could handle the world on her own without his help and currently she wasn't in any danger. But it would seem that his cousin had other plans and he was happy to oblige to them.

Movement was caught in the corner of his eye and it caused him to turn his head in time to see @Gauthier come charging at him. Claws dug into the ground as he would brace himself on his legs by bending them at the joints and lowering his head. A growl formed, knowing that this was more than just a dominance fight - this was personal in a sense - and Adeodatus was ready for it.

Attempting to shove the very shoulder that had claws digging into it and shoved towards the jaws that was coming close to his face ( why the face?! ) but he would allow himself to get pushed over towards his left, side stepping a bit but not losing balance before he would turn to face his cousin and thrust himself forwards in an attempt to try and get a grip of his cousin's face. Or whatever was close.

Adeodatus vs. Gauthier
Personal (Dominance)
Round one

hit;

Rolling 7d20: 8 + 11 + 1 + 10 + 13 + 7 + 20

dodge;

Rolling 3d20: 9 + 5 + 11

luck;

Rolling 5d20: 18 + 6 + 19 + 20 + 5

ART BY IRISH / CODING BY SENTINEL

He snarled as his claws met meat - cleaving with the force of his weight, Adeodatus giving slight in the momentum. Retaliation is swift, though in the flurry of movements Gauthier is unsure whether his teeth made any mark. The silver wretch leaned from force and he made to lean into it, though jostled with the suddenness of the shoving shoulder that loosed his claws' grip. He steeled his balance on the posted three legs, swinging his tail to readjust.

Gauthier attempted once more to grab ahold of the beast's skull - intending to wrap his jaws around the peak of his brow - in a malicious swoop as his opponent sought his own. A mirror game. He suffered the pinch of fangs buried in his mane, pulling heat along the fatty tissue of his throat. Simultaneously, the claws that had been dislodged from the shove of his shoulder sought their purchase once more, seeking to dig into the pry of flesh they had already made like a game of uncle.

Gauthier vs @Adeodatus
for Science (Dominance)
Round 2 / 3
Hits:

Rolling 9d20: 4 + 20 + 19 + 15 + 5 + 1 + 9 + 11 + 16

Dodges:

Rolling 4d20: 8 + 14 + 15 + 9

Luck:

Rolling 5d20: 14 + 4 + 13 + 17 + 8

_{BG — ART — CODE}

He felt movement off of his shoulder, felt like he had made some purchase but it didn't last long. His own claws didn't seem to make a purchase - such a disappointment - and claws dug back into his shoulder and he growled, jaws dug into his brow and he found himself in a tight position. What could he do to possibly get himself out of this position but there wasn't much he could think of currently. So with the only think he could think of, Adeodatus would attempt to lift up his right paw - regardless of the pain it may cause - and would aim to dig claws in the armpit of his cousin.

Adeodatus vs. @Gauthier
For Science/Dominance
Round two

hit;

Rolling 7d20: 7 + 18 + 3 + 15 + 13 + 9 + 4

dodge;

Rolling 3d20: 13 + 5 + 6

luck;

Rolling 5d20: 12 + 10 + 19 + 9 + 16

ART BY IRISH / CODING BY SENTINEL

The splitting pain of an armpit jab isn't to be taken lightly - and for Gauthier, is well remembered from earlier fights. He released his jaws' hold on Adeodatus's skull as he felt the claws dig into the tender flesh behind his elbow, suffering the sting radiating a torrent of bloody heat. It sprawled across the muscles taut against his ribs, pins and needles risen to his shoulder as the blood trickled.

Gauthier tried to adjust his body for a sweep to the right while trying to pull away from his hold on Adeo's shoulder, intending to rake the claws down as the paw was brought back to the earth. His right paw raised in an attempt to swipe full-clawed for Adeodatus's left cheek in the revolution as he moved to try and swing his hind end aside, attempting to pull himself from his cousin's digging claws in his armpit.

Gauthier vs @Adeodatus
for Science (Dominance)
Round 3 / 3
Hits:

Rolling 9d20: 12 + 2 + 4 + 11 + 7 + 18 + 15 + 10 + 17

Dodges:

Rolling 4d20: 5 + 9 + 3 + 7

Luck:

Rolling 5d20: 13 + 6 + 14 + 18 + 2

_{BG — ART — CODE}

His claws dug into his armpit and he would aim to replace his paw back onto the ground. Even though he wanted to tear more into the flesh, Adeodatus would stop for now. Right now was not the time to dig into the flesh of his cousin in front of another. Claws ran down his shoulder and Adeodatus growled, attempting to remove himself from his cousin and giving them space but it didn't stop the claws from cutting into his cheek. Blood soaked his cheek as he growled before thrusting himself forwards, aiming to face his cousin head on when he did so, that way he could attempt to wrap his jaws around his cousin's own right cheek with his jaws.


Adeodatus vs. @Gauthier
Science/Dominance
Round three

hit;

Rolling 7d20: 10 + 13 + 3 + 20 + 18 + 1 + 8

dodge;

Rolling 3d20: 4 + 6 + 13

luck;

Rolling 5d20: 4 + 16 + 20 + 11 + 3

ART BY IRISH / CODING BY SENTINEL

@Gauthier VS. @Adeodatus FOR DOMINANCE
— RESULTS —

Gauthier Hits: 3+5+5+2 luck = 15
Gauthier Dodges: 1+2+0 = 3

Adeodatus Hits: 3+3+3+7 luck = 16
Adeodatus Dodges: 1+1+1 = 3

Gauthier Successful Hits: 12
Adeodatus Successful Hits: 13

ADEODATUS HAS WON THE CHALLENGE FOR DOMINANCE!

Please allow the challengers to respond to the fight results first. As per the site rules, if 3 days go by without a post from the challenger(s), they can be skipped. Whichever comes first! Any posts made before this will be removed, unless you are posting to another fight.

On the contrary, Gauthier had always loved taking pieces of those he fought with, cousin or no. To some it may have been wrong, scandalous and perhaps even sacrilegious, but to the Devorre Heathen, nothing has ever felt so right than butchering. So it is to his great dismay that he does not procure his pound of flesh today, but for the simple tastes that bloodshed can share so lightly.

Wearied and weighted, he pulled away from his hold on Adeodatus and the clasp of teeth that plucked the skin of his un-scarred cheek, though making the grim smile wider wouldn't have been such a travesty. The younger male did not deserve that much flesh from him. Not yet. Not if he could not have his own fill.

Relent to a panting impasse, the scales tipped ever slightly in the Grey's favor, Gauthier wiped the trickle of blood from his face against the back of his paw, feral gaze not leapt from @Adeodatus's own. He has lost too much in his life to not know humility - so he does not lose sorely, a graceful adversary win or loss. It wouldn't be the end of their troubles after all, the mounting tension of each reunion had made that certain. And he had learned enough to satisfy himself for a day, considering his cousin's favored moves and counters, rolling the event to every fine breadth of calculation (as he would do for another hour after in the privacy of a solitary walk).

To the Mire then, he chuckled aside to @Yūrei, assuming her indecisiveness would now find its course. There was no loss in an ally gaining a number after all, even if it was at the expense of a familial discord. Alaric will be grateful for your prowess. Clicking his jaws, he made back to the path he had already worn with no great rush. If the swamp was not to her liking, she could find the path easily enough herself had she the keen senses boasted.

exit.

+5 Complete a spar or fight
+5 Lose a spar or fight_{BG — ART — CODE}

In all honesty, Adeodatus was surprised that it was he who had come out the victor between them. His cousin was older, perhaps stronger and had more experience than he did but to come out on top gave him some confidence but in the back of his mind he knew that it wouldn't be the same the next time they fought. Their eyes never unlocked and Adeodatus was fine with that as he began to control his breathing. The blood that trickled from his wounds was never wiped away like Gauthier chose to do. Later he may do it but not now, not in front of his cousin but once Gauthier left and out of sight would his attention turn towards Yurei.

If you wish to go somewhere else I will escort you there. Alaric may encourage claiming but my family values freedom. He would state to her even though he had thought about claiming her so his cousin couldn't have her but not now.

+10 win a fight (Spars not included, defaulted or judged)
+5 Complete a fight

The American Nightmare

When night comes creeping My cruel hand will rock you to sleep I'm the American nightmare With American dreams Of countin' the bodies while you count sheep I'm the American nightmare Yeah, I'm living the dream I'm slashing my way through the golden age of the silver scream

code by corvus