Penrose continued to watch the two teens brawl from the secluded safety of the sandbank, his face going cold at the sheer brutality of the fight. The ghostly white male had locked his maw onto the younger teen's nose, blood pouring out in streams to paint the pristine white sand with crimson. The victim thrashed and flailed before eventually toppling over and falling silent. The metallic smell of blood was heavy and intermingled with the stench of the Mire. Was he witnessing someone's death? A mere yearling's death, at that?

His heart beating a mile a minute, and his chest tightening in fear and disbelief, Penrose's gaze searched the beach — but no one intervened, nor cast a concerned glance. The smell of the Mire was overwhelming. The situation only solidified Penrose's knowledge that Ecrosia Mire was rooted in values of pure evil. You know the Mire will have your back. A scarred man — Alaric — addressed a cream-furred woman. You are welcome in the Lagoon anytime, she replied. With this knowledge, Penrose knew it was time he leave this blighted beach.

Images of the bloody teen flashing in his head, Penrose silently scrambled across the sand and darted away as fast as his paws could carry him.

exit Penrose

+10 Observe a fight
+10 Gather useful information on a enemy lion or pride
+20 Remain undetected in a large thread (5+ characters)

Double exp from Amara's presence

Lyric sniffed a hint of a laugh, refusing to remove her gaze from the chestnut lioness even as she raved on about the "fucking weird" fight. This was not the first time their implications had been lost on a spacing dame, and it would not be the last. Then, she flickered her gaze of vermillion to Lyric's olive, an electric shock there illuminating their intent. Oh, yes.

She pulled her mouth into a crooked grin, eagerly taking in the way the lioness flustered and fumed. Finally, Lyric averted their own gaze in favor of watching the last of those fights – the pride claim, which devolved into nothing, and the fearsome brawl between boys. The shared compliment was so hesitant she almost missed it. Lyric flicked an ear down at the small lioness, piecing together the words after a few moments of processing. “You, uh- you have pretty hair.” They trailed their gaze downward once more, snickering again though they lacked the malice of teasing.

"Thank you," simple acceptance, though it was not long before the girl was fleeting away with a rushed goodbye. Lyric shook her head with amusement, rising to her paws and leaning back in a cracking stretch. Perhaps she had made up her mind the moment she saw the lionesses echoing their calls of claim, or perhaps it was a moment of impulsivity. Lyric attempted to approach the sandy victor, steering clear of the fallen woman at her paws, ignoring any others she spoke to in favor of waiting for their turn. They cleared their throat.

"If I get drunk, can I join, too?" The shaggy lioness questioned, a glimmer of amusement shimmering in their gaze. "Forgive me – I'm Lyric Shavara," she introduced. "I'm a fan of your work. Are you yet taking recruits?" They glanced at both the sleeping bear and the one before them, subconsciously slumping somewhat to appear less of a threat.

---

@Olive @Tiamat
+10 - Observe a fight
Double exp from Amara's presence

_{BG — ART — CODE}

code & bg-credit

This fight hadn't even been a fight at all. It was the most disappointing thing that Khelthrai had had to witness to date. He had seen plenty of different challenges in his short seven months of life and out of them all this had to be the most pathetic he'd seen. If anything, it only solidified to the Devorre that the Lagoon would never be a true threat to the Mire or his family members. Still, it wouldn't be smart to turn a blind eye on them. Instead, the youth would make a mental note that these individuals were ones to watch - if only to see what it looked like to be true disappointments. An ear would flick in the direction of @Tanaz as she beckoned for him to follow and the boy would oblige, always obedient after all. He would take his leave, still mulling over the fact that this hadn't even been a challenge. It had been a waste, but then again, this smelly saltwater area wasn't all that prized to begin with. No great loss there.

exit.


[ambassador & barbarian exp/double thanks to amara]
+10 - Observe and study a new scent (2/2)
+10 - Observe a challenge and learn the results (Tiamat vs. Tinúviel) (2/2)
+10 - Observe a fight (Tiamat vs. Tinúviel) (2/2)

Well, that had quite possibly been the most disappointing and pathetic thing that Vera had ever watched. She had been hopeful that the women might have been able to pull somewhat of a show out but much to her dismay nothing happened except for the drunken one collapsing in the sand. It was honestly kind of sad considering all things, but it was none of Vera's business. If anything, this put the Lagoon on the princess's radar, perhaps she could come back later and snoop around a bit. They didn't seem all that capable of keeping things around here so it would be too good of an opportunity to pass up. Rising quietly from her hiding place Vera would make her way back out of the Lagoon, chuckling to herself all the while. None of them could keep this place like her Auntie Alizabeth had, that much was clear.

exit.

[sleuth exp/double thanks to amara]
+10 - Infiltrate a group thread without getting caught (2/2)
+20 - Sneak into a pride without getting caught (2/2)
+20 - Remain undetected in a large thread (2/2)

_CODE

@Luther ♔ vs @Lyle FOR Major maim
— RESULTS —

Luther Hits: 3+2+2+2+3 luck =12
Luther Dodges: 1+2+2+1=3

Lyle Hits: 0+0+1+0+8luck=9
Lyle Dodges: 3+1+1+2=7

Luther Successful Hits: 5
Lyle Successful Hits: 3

Luther HAS WON THE CHALLENGE FOR Major maim!

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.

---

WOUNDED ROLL

performed on discord by @Ice ★

Lyle is automatically WOUNDED for losing!

Luther Wounded Roll: 2

Luther is NOT WOUNDED!

Profiles will be adjusted to reflect the wounded rolls, which, if received, reduce the character’s hits and dodges by -1 for a standardized amount of time. Any wounded rolls received from this fight are considered healed as of 2/10, and are logged in the wounded log. Once healed, post in Trade & Dice Updates to have your dice returned to normal.

NOTE: Rabbit has my permission for Luther to “claim” and take Lyle to The Mire!

He had hit the ground with a hard thud, his mind far too preoccupied to notice what had happened to him as gravity had pulled him against @Luther ♔.
The grotesque sounds of ripping fell deaf to his ears. Adrenaline numbed him to the pain he should be feeling. But it would undoubted come soon enough. That eruption of agony. For now though, Lyle simply sat up. Slow and shaking. A confused look was given to his father @Ransom. And then slowly he turned to find @Ezryn. His forelimbs buckled as he tried to stand but the boy went rigid and froze completely as his eyes cast down. The sand at his feet was so deeply saturated with blood. It was still dripping and running down the front of him. Blood even sputtered from where his nose should have been every time he exhaled. And something… Something was hanging from his chin…

Lyle made a feeble attempt at hooking whatever was clinging to him with his paw. To try and pull it off, not understanding what it was. He also could not understand why there was so much red on his face. He could barely make it out with his eyes but of course he would never get a clear view unless looking into a reflection.

Failing at detaching the hanging skin that now left most of the muscle and tendon of his frontal face exposed to the elements. It made his face feel cold. Colder than if it had been winter.

Eyes trailed up to find Luther. His mind trying to piece it all together and figure out if he had won.. Did he? Did he win this time? But not sooner did their eyes meet did Lyle’s begin to roll back. The adrenaline that was keeping him drunk and protected from reality was wearing off. Hid nervous system was waking back up and in a desperate attempt to further protect itself, his brain shut down. His body soon following.


/Exit to unconsciousness


(Double XP From Amara)
+10 Barb participate in fight
+10 Barb lose a fight
+10 Paladin Defend a lioness or cub from claim_{BG — Cactus-v — CODE}

Luther's paw snaked forward, dark talons grabbing and pulling on the boy's limb as simultaneously he held his jaws tightly locked around the smaller boy's nose. His spine stiffened the moment he saw @Lyle tumbling down, purposefully keeping his skull in place so he can worsen the damage that was inevitable.

He doesn't expect flesh to remain between his teeth.

Nor does he expect the outpour of so much blood as it seeped between his jaws. He realizes that Lyle is no longer in his grasp, and when the Mire boy looks down he sees--

Red.

A grotesque sight - so bad that even Luther couldn't imagine it - the whelp's face is a complete mess, but even fatigued and disgusted Luther couldn't help but feel the surge of adrenaline. The surge of pride after a grand victory. His sides heaved, the blood of his opponent and his own marring Luther's once-pristine pale furs. For a minute he is frozen, sides heaving as the fury of the battle remains locked on his bloodied features, cruel eyes boring into the mutilated boy at his feet.

I did that?

The thought is a strange one. It feels like he dipped his feet in cold water on a hot summer day. At first, his mind seeks to pull away from it, its touch ice cold and unbearable, sending shivers crawling down his spine. But the second time he feels relieved, the ice cold water was now lukewarm and comfortable. Slipping into it gets easier with every consequential dip to the point it became satisfactory.

Blood trickles down his chin and just then does Luther realize that his jaws hung open. He shut them as Lyle's eyes peered up, then rolled back.

I did that.

Instinctively, his eyes fell across the boy's flank, seeking for signs of life in the slow rise and fall of his side. Not dead. Alive. The muffled sounds around them become clear again, and Luther glances first at @Daphne, then at @Ezryn. "Help me pick him up," he commands, but his tone is smothered by exhaustion and well-crafted concern. He looks apologetic. Yes, this was simply a fight gone wrong. Very wrong. He begins to bend over and pick up the bleeding mess that was his opponent. Plans and schemes spinning their webs in his mind. "Quick!" he growls. This one was real. "We have healers in the Mire. He won't survive if we don't take him there." A lie, for he had no idea if Lyle would survive even if they tended to him. The sand was drenched in red.

He'd never seen so much blood.

And I will do it again.

exit w/ Lyle & co.

It happens fast - too fast. Ezryn is no more than a few feet away when the fight ends, and it ends in red. In blood. In her brother’s body crumpled at @Luther ♔'s feet. Broken and small and fragile and so, so red. Ezryn screams, unable to hold back the fear and dread and horror as the Mire prince ruin’s her brother’s face. She screams, and she runs, forgetting her father’s call, forgetting the tiger at her side. She can only see Lyle and all that precious blood spilling, draining his life away.

"I’ll kill you!" She hardly even glances Luther’s way, however, falling in the sand at Lyle’s side, gingerly holding his face with her big, awkward paw, pressing it to slow the bleeding. "I’ll fucking ki --"

"Help me pick him up."

Ezryn blinks.

Wide, purple eyes manage a half-second glance up at the grey lion, lips curled back in a warning snarl when she sees he hasn’t backed up, but dared to inch closer. She’ll rip Luther’s eyes out before she allows him to touch her brother. He can try that putrid, maggoty look on her all he wants. It won’t work on her.

"Don’t. Touch. Him." Ezryn snarls, shifting to move protectively over his body, now glaring down at Luther.

"We have healers in the Mire. He won't survive if we don't take him there."

She can’t argue with that. She can’t, and has to swallow every ounce of pride and every sliver of anger and hate. She bites down hard on the inside of her cheek until she tastes blood. A healer can save her brother. A medic. Someone. She can’t - she can’t even help their dying father.

"I’ll carry him." She snaps, and then snarls when the white bitch with the prince moves as if to help her. Gingerly, and so carefully, Ezryn shifts her brother onto her back, and her plush coat stains red with his blood as she follows the prince into his lair.

Exit with @Lyle & Luther.

"Where is your wife?" Broad skull rotated to glance at the red maned behemoth at his side, a heavy and pained sigh blew out through tensed dark lips. "She is missing." He replied to @Roarke as anger rolled through him, visible to all who cared to look. "Someone must have taken her." The ghoul added, surveying with burgeoning malice all those now gathered at the challenge, certain now when it had only been a suspicion before.

Perhaps the lion would have asked for Roarke's help to find Alizabeth and formulated a plan, if that was, the event before them had not taken a drastic turn for the worst.

Cerulean stare would watch, in disbelieving slow motion, as flesh and nose are ripped from @Lyle's face as he crumbles to the ground. Air evaporated from Ransom's lungs and blood rushed to his ears, roaring, deafening him to all but his own pulse.

He had encouraged this. The guilt crested like a wave, realization hitting that it was his fault. He had not considered the pale boy much of a challenge.

Those mismatched cerulean eyes found the white hide of @Luther ♔, rage building that he breaks into a forward march. Claws unsheathing as he moves with purpose. Every intention of wiping the yearling bastard from the earth.

@Ezryn darted before the murderous giant, causing him to pause, if only briefly.
"We have healers in the Mire. He won't survive if we don't take him there."
His daughter helped the devil to lift her brother and remove him to the Mire. Their actions happening in a matter of seconds to the obsidian ghoul, who blinked, watching as they left. Stupored by shock.

Gathering himself, though not quite his senses, the dark male set off after them. Watching the trail of blood on the earth left in their wake. And while fearing for his son, murder most present in his mind.

-Exit after Ezryn, Luther and Lyle-

I got this feeling, yeah, you know

Where I'm losing all control

code by corvus

It was a slight disappointment that there was no fight, but he'd get over it. @Tiamat was offering him high ranks in her kingdom and the freedom to take and pillage what he sought. He planned to bring her some members, but... He'd do it his way. And that didn't mean sitting in the passage and begging them to come live with them. No, no, no... That wasn't how he operated.

"Noble. Give heir to your children someday," Caelum grunted, but his eyes switched to the sleeping woman in the sand. He hoped she'd wake up and sober up and prove to be something else entirely.

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