speech


He knew it would happen, a call would ring out, but it had happened at perhaps the worse possible time. Grunting with effort as he turned from one end of the Lagoon to make his way to the middle, he slowly walked, he was in no shape to fight today. Unfortunately. Lips would curl in frustration, cracking the thick scab that had coated his cheek and causing a few drops of blood to ooze through. He was not surprised when he arrived to find a circle already growing, what he did find amusing was the scent of so many Mire lions, one being in the center, he couldn’t make out the other just yet.

Quietly, he would make his way to @Nephthys, unashamedly brushing his shoulder against her side in a display of affection as he peered at the other lion. His ears would come forward, his sore body suddenly tensing as he focused on the challenger. Tinuviel. Forgetting himself, he would take a step forward, a flicker of protectiveness dancing in his eyes as his gaze shifted from the tiny healer to Tiamat. A low rumble vibrated in his chest, fur bristling along the nape o this neck and spine. He did not want @Tinúviel hurt, she was too timid, too kind. Despite wanting to death glare at @Tiamat the entire fight, his gaze would turn back to his friend, looking at her closer now. Something was off, she looked…the way he had felt after eating poppy seeds she had given him not too long ago. His head would shift towards @Nephthys, though he kept the combatants in his peripheral vision, vocals low, so the others would not hear. This isn't going to be good…Tinuviel shouldn’t fight…He trailed, concerned.

ooc: pls let Drifty post Lyle first if you intend to interact with Luther, thank u <3

A challenging call was always an exciting event, but not when it came from a woman that belonged to Ecrosia. Were they so terribly greedy to seek a role that did not suit a woman? The Mire took care of them, fed and gave them shelter - was that not enough? Why did this challenger decide to turn her back on Ecrosia for the taste of a little power? Even if this female won Luther was certain that her Queenship will not last long, a weak ally too in his books. Sighing, the yearling had awoken @Daphne from her slumber and instructed her to follow him. The girl had put on a bit more weight and Luther had requested a healer to see her often, so she was far more representable now. A perfect trophy to hang on his arm while he waltzed into the Lagoon.

He arrived to not one, but two Mire women. To his surprise, one of them was the meek tiny woman whom he'd seen once before. She stood in a weird daze in front of the other Ecrosian challenger, who seemed far more prepared to fight. What was this? His brows furrowed at the parody of a fight. "This must be a joke," he snorted at his albino companion, a sneer curling on his lips. His gaze landed on @Bruno ♔ who was also present. His brown sibling, as per usual, failed to hide his displeasure, batting at a tree like the petulant child he is.

The Mire Heir would've found a nice & cozy spot to watch this shitshow unveil if his eyes didn't do another tour of the audience. There, among them, he saw the scowling face of the little tick @Lyle. Oh, that's right! Wasn't Scilla his home? Or... err, was his home. Luther had put together two and two when the whelp had attacked him. "Come," he instructed Daphne, a smug smile already curled on his lips, his growing feet taking him confidently towards the smaller boy. "I'm surprised you're out wandering without daddy to protect you," he spoke loudly enough once he was close, halting but a meter away from Lyle. His eyes fluttered to the much bigger girl beside him. Hold on, wasn't that... the girl he saw at the borders? @Ezryn, was it? He imagined that her family left her to her whims, considering she was a rogue again. That wouldn't have happened if she'd come with him. "We can take better care of your friend than you can at Ecrosia." His eyes fell back on Lyle, expecting him to react.

luther vs ???
for Ezryn

He arrives like a slick coated demon, swarthy, untamed, and fueled with an sinister rage that remains concealed by his otherwise dead expression. Aging bones creek as the wood below the still beating heart cries out for penance. A martyr to the graves of angels, a cherub with their wings stripped. He seems to float amongst them, phasing unto the crowds gathering peculation unto their petty coats and shoving the brass collection of blood-shed unto their linen pockets. It seems almost uncanny - how the cycle repeats. Never to be broken, and always to die short of glorious as the loser shuffles away in shame. He would know. For he had taken a gamble with death and found much more than he had bargained for. It is almost unnecessary to entertain the congregation anymore, as each heretic shoves the same narrative down their throats time and time again. Power was reserved for only the most sanctified of it's ranks - and yet, the beast still lingers.

EXP Tracker
+10 Break a pride law (from the pride page)
+5 Observe a fight

code / art

code & bg-credit

Like so many, Tai too found himself lured in by the sound of a challenge. The young male was in no rush to beat the crowd, but as he arrived on the scene, it seemed he’d managed to sneak in early. There was a small crowd, yet nothing too bad. However, the lack of numerous bodies (behind which to hide) made spying @Bruno ♔ quite easy, and as he witnessed him take out his anger issues on a tree, the mauve yearling rolled his eyes. Well, now he knew where not to sit.

His paws pivoting below him, Tai circled around the sidelines, to sit directly across from his childhood nemesis. As he moved, he breathed in the scent of the Mire — and not from Bruno. Were these … supposed combatants from the Mire too? Was the rat’s nest growing too large, forcing them to expand? Ugh.

As he reached his seat, the young eagle dropped his rump to the sand and let his eyes — one bright, the other dull but no longer crusted over — wander through the gathered faces, searching for any that seemed familiar to him. However, when none really stood out, he returned his focus to the pair in the center of the battlefield, waiting for something to happen. He wanted to study them, to see how they fought. If they ever started, maybe he could learn a thing or two from the match.

Possible XP

	+5 Attend a spar or challenge to assess the wounds

	+5 Observe a fight (Tiamat vs. Tinúviel)
	+5 Observe a fight (Luther vs. ???)
	+5 Learn a new fighting move

As per usual it didn't take long for a flood of lions to wash onto the beach. And even more were bound to continue piling in as the fight carried out.
And it wasn't long until a familiar body scooted in next to him. This has happened before. Lyle responded to his sister amid a yawn. She hadn't been around the first time so he couldn't blame her for being worried. But he did give her a curious look. We aren't kids anymore, Ez. There's no reason to be sad about it. Besides, mom will be back for this place. There's not a chance in hell that sh-

Lyle cut off as soon as he heard what sounded like nails on rocks headed in his direction. His claws dug into the sand as he looked up and over to @Luther ♔ and his presumed sibling. Yeah? He growled. Well I'm just as fucking surprised my nose hasnt fallen off from all your Swamp Hags stinking up my beach Teeth snapping in the air before he made a face suggesting he had smelled something rank.

Lyle continued to lay there though, seemingly disinterested in a physical altercation. A truly surprising turn of events but it appeared one that would be short lived unfortunately. Luther's attention moved to @Ezryn and what he had to say caused Lyle to slowly sit up. Too bad. She's not interested in being covered in rot water. He snarled while finally coming to stand and take a step toward the older boy.

It would appear as though what little patience Lyle owned was now long gone. He took another step toward Luther, lip lifting and eyes enraged. In fact, why don't you go fetch those two whores of yours and you all just fuck right back off into that shit hole you call a pride.

Lyle v @Luther ♔
Major Maim
0/4_{BG — Cactus-v — CODE}

Days turn to weeks, and Daphne begins to resurrect. Her skeleton now has meat over it, albeit a thinner layer than what would be considered perfect. Her fur is not matted, nor does she stink of the ocean and rot. The contrast of the starving girl who arrived in the Mire and the girl she is now is stark, and @Luther ♔ seems pleased with her progress. He invites her out to accompany him, and she’s strong enough to keep up with his larger stride without struggling (too much - and when she begins to ache, she forces herself to ignore it and keep up). It gives her a chance to see this new world - his world - and Daphne cherishes the view.

They arrive at a Lagoon, following the sound of a woman claiming it. She’d ask if that is allowed, but it seems so, and she’d rather not look like an idiot on her first day in this place, especially not to Luther. And so she stays at his side, pausing only for a moment when her knight wanders off further from where the battle between two women seems about to take place. Daphne lingers there, looking over the other lions as they gather to watch, before scurrying after Luther’s bigger form.

She finds him being insulted by a younger male - and his words make Daphne blink in shock. A gasp is stifled behind pink lips as she moves to the prince’s side, but leaves a gap between them. She doesn’t doubt that the tension she feels will boil over, especially with a quick glance at Luther’s face. Between him and the boy, there is obvious history. She thinks her presence might calm things, that she could ease Luther’s injured pride and the insult @Lyle - the foolish young man - has directed at her knight. If she chose to, Daphne could perhaps end this before it begins.

And yet, she says nothing. She stands, eyes flicking carefully between the two yearlings - not in concern, not in worry, not in fear. There is a cold, intelligent calculation in the depths of her ruby eyes.

She wants to see what her prince is capable of.

Send some angels to find me

I keep losing my way

code by corvus

Carina followed after @Tiamat in quiet succession as the woman traipsed with confidence towards the Lagoon. It did not bother her in the slightest that her adult-friend was wanting to get out of Ecrosia and have something of her own. So the challenge did little to surprise her and she nestled in to a nearby alcove to spectate whoever came. If anything, she would be there to assist to her friend when she came out with wounds. Win or lose, she would have them. A pride challenge was a lot bigger of a fight than that of a claim for a cub. Well.. sometimes.

Though, the challenger that showed up wasn't much of one. All they did was promptly stood in front of her friend and admitted that she wasn't leaving. That she was going to stay right there. Was this ... normal? The looks from others was enough to prove that it wasn't but yet, Carina just allowed it to happen. Not like she had a choice. Tiamat would crush her.

ART BY YUMPY, CODE BY LARS

The next familiar scent to be carried to Bruno's senses as he lay there was that of a certain arrogant heir. He flared his nostrils, giving the tree one more good strike to soothe his fraying nerves before pivoting with curiosity to try and see what the brute had gotten up to. There lingered the clouded storm of Luther's sour visage aside another plush white yearling, not relevant enough for Bruno to know her. The prince pursed his lips as he absorbed what context he could, Luther hissing contentious words until another, younger yearling hissed back.

Bruno cast another glance around the scene, trying not to allow himself to be taken by surprise. Only the wine-red of his own personal rival stood out to him, his coat almost that of a built-in warning against himself. Tai was there, and he was watching.

With a sniff, the dark prince allowed his attention to fixate back upon the contentious scene, attempting to close some of the gap between the brothers so that he could appear nearby. Luther could choke, for all Bruno cared, but he would be there to defend Ecrosia should it become necessary. It was all he had.

---

@Tai @Luther ♔
+10 - Maintain your weapons
+10 - Observe a fight
+10 - Observe a fight

_CODE

Her attention shifted to @Ronin as he arrived, noting the clear display of affection with some amusement. It would have been wonderful if Slaine and Alaric didn't happen across them at that moment, but she wasn't entirely sure why it mattered. Clearly everyone was over who they needed to be over, right? She and Ronin had somewhat of an understanding that they would never not love their first spouses, but that didn't mean Slaine was going to be enthralled by seeing her prediction come true. She had told Nephthys to take care of him in the same breath that she'd told her to stay away from Alaric, humorously. The Tollaire wondered what her thoughts were on him clearly canoodling with another lioness, or if she'd even care when she spotted Ronin with another woman. Perhaps she would find out shortly.

"You just have so many pretty friends, don't you?" she sighed, not even bothering to disguise the jealousy. Maybe it wasn't the place or the time, but Nephthys was the judge of that and she decided being jealous was appropriate. The lioness noticed the look of protectiveness in his eyes and shrugged. "She's an adult, she can make her own decisions. It does seem to be a bit of a waste that it's not either of us in her place, though." Would the small woman stand a chance against Tiamat? She hoped so if for no other reason than Tiamat had irritated her in the aftermath of their fight. Oh, excause Neph for having the audacity to challenge for a rank. It's not like it had been personal!

"Don't even think about getting in there to defend her, Ronin," she said with a frown. It was one thing to have friends, but Nephthys wouldn't stand for it if he decided to be chivalrous every single day and fight for everyone's honor.

code by shelby | art by irish

It was hilariously ironic that Lyle chose to surround himself with a giant of a woman. She looked like a freak of nature beside the tiny whelp. Lyle had some nerve, his insults doing little but to irritate the alabaster Heir. He’d thought of giving that boy another lesson in minding his own damn business, but now it was starting to get personal. “Swamp Hags? I think the Ecrosian ladies are far more dainty than your… girlfriend here.” Luther’s eyes fluttered briefly to @Ezryn to indicate he spoke of her. He had no clue the two were related. Could you blame him? One so tiny couldn’t possibly be related to the bearish… girl. Look at her – she was bigger than Luther. Who would want to take her for a wife?

His claim seemed to put Lyle to action, as the boy stood up suddenly to seemingly protect his friend there. He couldn’t help but grin at the idea of small Lyle jumping in to protect Ezryn. Oh, that would be just splendidly hilarious! “Did I ask?” He cared little what the girl was interested in. The muscle beneath his pale flesh twitched as he prepared for a possible attack. He thought Lyle was stupid enough to try his luck against the much stronger Luther. He was prepared to put him in his place again.

But the attack never came. The boy was spitting and snarling, insulting the women in the ring. Luther could care less what was being said about the two fools fighting for Scilla. If they’d known their place, this ridiculous shitshow wouldn’t be wasting his time. However, Luther’s ego was far too big to let this slide. Insulting the women? Who cares. Insulting his glorious Vater’s kingdom? Oh, definitely not. One look at @Daphne’s expectant stare was enough to solidify his intentions. “Ah, here we go again!” he faked an exhausted sigh with a roll of his eyes. “How many times do I have to tell you...” At once he charged forward with his right paw rising higher, unsheathed claws seeking to punch Lyle across the muzzle. “… to keep that shit-talking mouth shut?” He snarled.

Luther vs. @Lyle
for Major Maim
Round 1 / 4
Hits:

Rolling 5d20: 18 + 15 + 2 + 5 + 13

Dodges:

Rolling 3d20: 3 + 17 + 6

Luck:

Rolling 5d20: 14 + 12 + 16 + 13 + 1