Valerian had not been here when the last challenge for the hollows had occurred, and is not about to miss another. Not when it had so drastically changed the course of the Savante’s presence in this island land. A duitiful son, Valerian is quick to approach once the cry goes forth. The underground borders of the pride are passed and he moves to observe.

A dark ear kept tilted to his surroundings, quiet but intently listening. They were not on friendly ground, and Valerian would not be taken off-guard. He was no novice warrior.

Valerian raises his voice to call out a bold support for @Alexander ♔. “Kulkesz arwaval—joηesz arwa arvoval, isä.” Go with glory—return with honor, father. is his deep chant, a greeting turned fierce blessing with intent willed from The Mother.

(open for interactions, fights, etc)

art © drifty

He hears the challenge for the Hollow - a sound he felt dissapoitment in. He had just tasked @Renfri with meeting up with Vermier, and he hoped the odd male wouldn't end up losing here today. He liked Vermier, liked his methods - wanted him to keep his rule for the chance of keeping a potiential ally. When Aeistrios arrives, he does so in confidence. He seems the gathering of frames, multiple faces, and his eyes spot @Levana for a moment. He smirks to her, ready to near her side, but then the wind brings him the sweet smell of Vermeda Brook. Attention turns, excitement starting to pulse through his veins - and he sees two of them. Cassandra herself, and one other. They sat outside of the border, and Aeistrios had no will to ignore her. Ever since she had bested him in his attempt to take the Brook, he had sought her blood. Ever since she and her pride had to gang up on him in the passage, he sought to make her life hell. He did so at the recent challenge she just faced - took a lioness from under her nose - and now, he would cause her even more trouble. It was, after all, her choice to leave the safety of her lands wounded. A low growl forms from his chest, and Aeistrios stalks near with a smirk to his lips. "Princess, did your battle wound your head, too?" A pause, his head tilting a fraction. "Only a idiot would leave their lands wounded with enemies crawling about." And that was exactly what she was, and he would be glad to take advantage of it. Attempting to charge forward then, Aeistrios attempted to barrel into her directly, unsheathed claws aiming to sink into her sides as he hoped chaos would erupt around him once again. Aeistrios vs @Cassandra for Minor Maim 1/4 Hits: Rolling 9d20: 1 + 4 + 18 + 20 + 10 + 12 + 9 + 6 + 14 Dodges: Rolling 4d20: 6 + 1 + 19 + 11 Luck: Rolling 5d20: 20 + 18 + 10 + 14 + 4

art by era

+5 Observe a fight (Alexander vs. Vermier)
+5 Observe a fight (Aeistrios vs. Cassandra)

Given what had happened at the previous fight for the Hollow, he probably shouldn't have gone. But, he didn't want it to be said that he didn't support Alexander, or that he shied away from a fight. Maybe he'd get a rematch today, and it would be Apollinaire's blood he tasted and not his own as his jaw was almost wrenched off his face.

...

Okay that kind of went back to the whole not coming here thing didn't it.

He joined Valerian, standing at the man's side and keeping an eye on their surroundings for when the Bluffs inevitably came out in force. It seemed they weren't the only ones getting on someone's bad side, as he watched someone go after an already beat up lioness. Wonder what that's all about, he commented quietly.

Dmitri wasn't far away either, but he left the tiger to his own devices. He could handle himself, and the longer he managed to go without being associated with the Savante the less of a target he'd have on his back... though he knew full well the Katona would very quickly show his allegiance.

She had already been on her way to Obsidian Hollow when the call rang out, a sound that was far less amusing to her this time around. “Damn.” She hissed, quickening her pace to see just who was calling out. Her knowledge of the current ruler of the Hollow was minimal, but she knew enough to know that she, and the other Plains leaders, wanted him as an ally. As she arrived, she saw @Aeistrios heading towards a brown pelted woman who smelled of the rainforest, but quickly diverted his path to go after Cassandra. She had heard they were on good terms with Firnen, and so she moved to go near @Levana, careful to stay on the unclaimed side of the borders. “Do you know the challenger?” She questioned in a low voice, keeping her gaze moving to watch for anyone that might try to attack. She didn’t know with whom the challenger might align himself, or if there would be any potential for an alliance here if Vermier wound up losing the fight.

Art & Code by Vasilia

Although she wandered often, Csitri would never miss her father's proclamation of battle. His deep baritones carried to her on the wind, and the leucistic medic would run dutifully toward them. The last time he'd challenged for this pride, Dragos had gotten maimed alongside several other family members. By a big bastard she didn't know the name of - yet.

Still, she would make her appearance with herbs at the ready. Her pack was tucked along her side as she went, another strap added to keep it fit to her form rather than waving about. She'd learned her lesson at the last pride challenge. The wounds on her face were still healing.

Once arrived, the woman would watch tensely from the sidelines, settling near @Valerian and his comforting form. "I hope it doesn't get out of hand like last time..." she'd murmur to him, brows creased with concern and anxiety.

[[very specifically noting he is not trespassing]]

What was that saying about trying something over and over again and hoping for different results?

When he'd caught the call from some small distance away, he'd laughed to himself, and immediately given in to morbid curiosity. Though he had little desire to go out of his way to interact with any of the Savante, he couldn't help but be drawn to the fight. It was hard to resist an opportunity to witness one of them getting their ass handed back to them.

There was already a crowd by the time he arrived, and found a spot out of the way (and outside the borders - he and Vermier were friendly but he wasn't confident what sort of reaction stepping inside would receive) but with a decent view. He wasn't stupid enough to let his guard down and get comfortable, and wondered when the bulk of Wolfbron would make their way to the Hollows.

After a moment or so, he spotted @Levana among the spectators, and would move to join her. Because his player didn't check alerts before posting. He'd come up alongside her, but with room to move just in case, and shake his head at the whole thing, offering a glance and an arched brow as if to ask 'can you believe this idiot'?

No shackles on the demon in me

I'd rather be dead than average

code by corvus

Riordan would hear the bellow of his cousin, and come dutifully to observe and protect as necessary. Perhaps some healing would be called for as well. He'd noted first hand how wild these challenges could get. So it was with this in mind that the medic would peruse the land as he passed through. A couple of bunches of baby bush came into view and he'd grab them gently.

The fight wouldn't be over for a moment, so he had the time to cultivate them carefully.

Once that was done, he'd pad past the borders and spot his family clustered. Rio settled near @Angelo, bumping his shoulder at his in a playful fashion before setting his prize down at his own paws.

"Haven't figured out how to calm my cousin yet?" he'd gest with a sideways smirk. "He's ambitious as ever." a sigh. Riordan had his own ambitions, and they'd be made that much easier if Alexander took the helm of a pride.

He didn't like it when Cassandra left, yet another challenge rang out but to be quite frank Aquila didn't much care at first. It was for a pride he didn't know from someone he didn't know. But his family began to trickle out and he followed, head hung low and features twisted into a snarl. Off he went in her shadow, following down towards Obsidian and immediately into the cornucopia of scents and lions. One stuck one, one made him angry. Lorien. He had not missed their presence on Brook lands or missed their actions.

@Aeistrios launched towards Cassandra and Aquila made his way towards the other woman, one of the ones he'd seen on his homelands when the Brook was being fought for. His head lifted from its sunken position, bronze beast still with healing scars from Myra loomed forwards with clear intention to steal way Renfri while the King of the Plains was busy. This is how this works right? You'll have to forgive me I don't quite speak your language. He did not like these new rules that the monsters played by. But he was done being walked all over. Fine, let's play.

@Aquila vs. @Lorien
To Steal @Renfri
Round 0
Hits: [roll=#d20]
Dodges: [roll=#d20]
Luck: [roll=#d20] _{ART — CODE}

Oh, well … Damn.

A minor frown pulled on Léonie’s normally smiling, smirking muzzle as she appeared, lured in by the call. She hardly knew the challenger on a personal level, but she was very aware of how large his family was, and how much it would suck to lose the bulk of the Oasis if they moved on. She had no idea if it was safer that they stick together and remain united in the face of the enemy, or if it was better to divide and conquer …

Quietly, she arrived to find @Sedona already there. She had acquired a couple of companions, including a behemoth of a male. Finally, the imp smiled, amused with what she saw. Poor Sedona.

“Ohhh, who’s our prince charming here?” she purred as she approached the group, maneuvering her way in to join @Aurochs. She aimed to take his focus away from her sister-in-law, hopefully sparing her from his stories — and him from her brother’s temper.

artwork • coding

Vermier arrives, spitting insults - or what he could only assume to be insults due to the harshness they were said. Ears press back, brows furrowing heavily as the beast's blue eyes never left the form of his opponent. Brows knit together tightly, body bracing for possible attack. The Hollow's King was smaller, but that meant he may be faster. They had battled before, but Alexander was prepared to bring far more to the table. Vermier had been underestimated before.

Quickly did the battle begin and Alexander's muscles grew taut, limbs stiffened and spread to ensure his balance was evened out. A shoulder slams into left limb, jostling him and immediately causing a sharp soreness he knew would blossom into an assortment of bruises later. Alexander, however, would not let Vermier's attacks go undefended!

Jaws turn abruptly, attempting to try and meet the offending teeth of his opponent and causing his lower lip and chin to get struck by angry fangs instead. Blood bubbles, no doubt dripping into the Dieudonne's mouth as they would hopefully tangle together. Alexander attempts to lock their jaws; his overlapping, trying to get the upper part of Vermier's muzzle in a vulnerable state.

Alexander's hefty weight would attempt to push forward suddenly, using the power and muscle in his back limbs to try and stagger his opponent and make him back up. That limb aiming for his right leg would create lacerations, long and arcing downward as the Savante beast would attempt to lift that same right limb and retaliate - talons aiming for the left side of the Hollow King's broad shoulder, trying to rake down it.

Alexander vs. @Vermier
For Obsidian Hollow
0 1 2 3 4 5

Hits:

Rolling 8d20: 1 + 16 + 10 + 17 + 14 + 4 + 20 + 7

Dodges:

Rolling 5d20: 16 + 20 + 3 + 2 + 9

Luck:

Rolling 5d20: 10 + 12 + 15 + 19 + 20

code + art