There was walking and then there was endless walking. The desert had never suited her and as she moved across the expanse of sand here she found her distaste growing even stronger for such areas. Her gaze was scrutinizing the landscape as she moved, tail hanging low behind her and ears laced back against her perfectly sculpted cranium. Chin was tilted high, a queen without a throne. Her very presence commanded attention, strong and unyielding. She should have been exhausted from the travel and deep down part of her was tired, but Nesta wouldn't allow a soul to see any weakness seeping from her pores. She was a Tollaire; her bloodline alone was one of the strongest to have graced these lands. A shame she hadn't come sooner but she had been preoccupied with her previous life. It was time to turn a new chapter though. With a chuff over her shoulder towards @Sindáriel she continued forward only a few more feet before stopping, allowing her sister to catch her breath. "This must be a place for recruiting, you can smell all of the different scents communing here." She comments nonchalantly before her sharp gaze was cast outward. "We wait to see who comes." Her decision was made and any representatives that approached them would be considered before accepting any offers. Politics had been engrained in the woman since she was a child, she would do well to weigh her options.


[ambassador exp]
+5 - Observe and study a new scent
+5 - Learn a character's name and rank

ART BY RIOT, CODE BY LARS

Forest green eyes opened when the chuff rang out, at first she worried it may be another challenge, but then shed realized the tone and off she was walking, her pregnancy had progressed and she carried herself with a sense of eased happiness. She'd gotten used to the feeling of the unborn babes, though some days were better than others. She came upon two lioness, greeting them with a dip of the head, looking one over then the other for any wounds, or any signs of pain, when her assessment was done she gave a soft smile.

"Welcome, I am Levana, sovereign of Firnen Rainforest, myking is high sovereign, were still trying to rebuild, so there's a ton of open ranks if that's your style, or whatever fancies you.." She speaks softly, "The rainforest is quite shady and lush to rest weary paws on." She added, sitting back on her haunches and allowing the two to decide amongst themselves, she would wait to see who else showed, eyes cast around every so often.

She is not far behind @Nesta, though where their other sisters have gotten off to is beyond the Tollaire. Her dark ears twisting forward when she calls out and indeed, as soon as Sindáriel tastes the air she recognizes the many foreign (some rather pugnent) smells mixed with the sea air and sand. But the idea of waiting leaves an itch in the womans toes; patience only went so far and in this case it lasted the great vast expanse of say... two seconds. "Hmmm..." She chimes, not yet speaking but giving her hip an exaggerated sway with one step to bump her hips against her gray counterpart teasingly. A silent and complacent act that spoke for itself - Fiiiiinneee.

Though they are not left alone for long and her teal eyes round on the stranger approaching. Thankfully at a distance her scornful glare would not be seen, for the time @Levana was closer; Sin was standing upright with her mask in place; a warm smile painted on her inky lips. Though the more this, Sovereign? Spoke, the more she realizes they are trapped! Oh yes, leave all the politics to her sisters, she'd rather not... but for the sake of her sister, her poise remains dignified and calm. A serpent beneath the cool surface of the water waiting to strike.

"Oh! harna, il harna, erain? Mani blether gar- cin ammen lye e'a seler'." (Sovereign, not sovereign, king? What nonsense have you dragged us into sister.)) Each word of their fathers tongue, and his fathers before him rolls over her velvet tongue with embellished charm and a smile. Carefully guarding the disdain as if she were delighted at the introduction. All the while her eyes do not leave the foreigner, quietly, intellectually stripping the woman bare and analyzing her behind the casual expression she wore.

ooc notes//
*language: Sindarin
*translation: "Sovereign, not sovereign, myking? What nonsense have you dragged us into sister."

Art by Riot | Table code by Zodiac

The Brook Queen made her way towards the Passage, ever alert for everything around her. A flick of an ear was given as she spotted three forms up ahead - one bearing the scent of the Rainforest. Cassandra arrived just in time to hear @Levana say something about being the Sovereign of the Rainforest. So this was the Zebra's queen. She seemed like she didn't know what she was doing. Mentally shaking her head, Cassandra made her way to stand proudly a short distance from the other three lioness.

"Cassandra Valour-Greyflood, High Sovereign of Vermeda Brook." She said, slightly emphasizing her title as she spoke. "We hold a title of being one of the longest standing prides on the land, and have been held by the same family for generations." She added on, glancing towards the lioness who claimed the title of the Rainforest's Sovereign. "The Brook is strong and powerful, with ties to some of the largest and oldest families in this land." Cassandra said, figuring she ought to add on that little detail.

@Nesta @Sindáriel

actions. "speech."

Art & Table code by Zodiac

"Mmm... Do I smell sisters?" he murmured, humming as he approached the small group in the Passage. It was etiquette to introduce one's self he supposed... before...

"Hey. Caelum, Noble of Scilla Lagoon. We have the beachiest beaches, and the sandiest sands, and we have our own pool in the middle of the Lagoon. How nice, right?" Then he switched his eyes between the sisters, ignoring the rest of the lionesses present. The one with the gray fur and the darker muzzle looked spicy. "You. Welcome to the Lagoon. You're coming with me, unless someone here would like to object?" he spoke, looking around to those present. There was the smallest pause, where he interjected, "Will your sister be coming with us, too?" Caelum tipped his head, ignoring the fact that he strode onto an in-progress scene and is now claiming one of them...

---

Caelum vs. ???
for claim of @Nesta
Round 0

ART

It had been some time since Alexander had been back to this place, but it seemed that the general theme here had not changed. No sooner than he had arrived on the scene did a male trot in and lay claim to one of them. His stomach churned, twisting tightly as his teeth flash, "I am certain she does not need my assistance, but I will offer it nevertheless." The beast snarls, moving forward in an attempt to close the space between them. His heavy weight barrels forward, attempting to slam his head into the left side of Caelum's face, against his cheek and jawline. Left paw raises, claws flashing as he attempts to rake them down the side of his opponent's shoulder, trying to curve them back toward himself with this motion in case the other tried to retaliate against that offending paw.

Alexander vs. @Caelum
For Nesta's Freedom
1 2 3

Hits:

Rolling 8d20: 16 + 19 + 2 + 10 + 7 + 17 + 15 + 8

Dodges:

Rolling 5d20: 2 + 5 + 11 + 18 + 20

Luck:

Rolling 5d20: 16 + 17 + 5 + 3 + 18

code + art

It thankfully did not take them long to be greeted by another. The first being a woman from the Rainforest, @Levana. Sovereign, not sovereign, king? What nonsense have you dragged us into sister. Nesta cannot help the low chuckle in response to her sister's dismay, indeed it seemed strange how they spoke around here. Perhaps this was just a different type of language, just as their own mother tongue would be foreign to these strangers. @Cassandra is next to join them and admittedly the Brook piques her interest considerably; allies and status were what they would need if they wanted to be protected and comfortable. Nesta wanted to be sure that @Sindáriel would never have to worry, would never have to lift a paw unless she wanted to. Mmm... Do I smell sisters? Hey. Caelum, Noble of Scilla Lagoon. We have the beachiest beaches, and the sandiest sands, and we have our own pool in the middle of the Lagoon. How nice, right? Already she didn't like him, mostly because he was so typically a man with his 'I must claim everything' antics. Her lip would curl as he attempts to stake a claim, but Nesta herself is surprised to see another man, @Alexander ♔, coming to her aide. "Díhen- nin sister." She would say to Sindáriel, wasting no time in ushering her behind her before she would move to join Alexander. The bull-headed sister would rush forwards, attempting to ram into the left ribcage of Caelum, meanwhile her right forepaw reaches upward in an attempt to slice downward against his undercarriage.

Nesta & @Alexander ♔ v. @Caelum
For her Freedom (Claim)
Round 1/3

Hits:

Rolling 5d20: 16 + 12 + 8 + 18 + 19

Dodges:

Rolling 3d20: 9 + 1 + 2

Luck:

Rolling 5d20: 11 + 6 + 7 + 4 + 2

ART BY RIOT, CODE BY LARS

This was his first time to the passage since he had strolled on through it entering Amaryllis. His time here had been dull and uneventful. No welcome party trying to recruit him. That was just fine the meathead had found his own way and it had landed him on his current path. He had ended up at the Lagoon. First as lead fighter and now gentry.

He wasn’t much with words so recruiting probably wouldn’t be his strength, but it was part of the job. So that was why he had ended up at the passage today just in time to miss what started the fight but soon enough to find his pride’s noble in an uneven fight. "I don’t know what sparked this but mind if I cut in?" He snarled as he ran forward. Ears pinned and chin tucked. His eyes narrowed scrunching up his face as he attempted to barrel into Alexander trying to push the other lion away or at least off balance. Tail straight out behind him for balance.

Dagge & @Caelum vs. @Alexander ♔ & @Nesta
For Nesta
Round 1 / 3
Hits:

Rolling 7d20: 12 + 17 + 1 + 14 + 7 + 18 + 2

Dodges:

Rolling 5d20: 12 + 19 + 6 + 11 + 2

Luck:

Rolling 5d20: 15 + 6 + 13 + 3 + 4

"SPEECH"

code by scorpixia♡︎

Truth be told, he expected some resistance to his claim, but not from another male that wasn't even part of the group. He had heard the lion coming before he attacked - being rather large and all, his footfalls were heavy. As the male attempted to headbutt him in the face and lash his claws out at him, Caelum bounced away in an attempted dodge. The male's head merely grazed his chin, and the maroon male's claws did find his shoulder, but only causing a superficial scratch that drew only a little blood. Caelum was more preoccupied by the other oncoming attacker than to worry about how much his shoulder stung.

Caelum saw a brown shape with a tan mane come barreling in, barreling towards the maroon male - a somewhat familiar color scheme for a certain lion in his pride. It was at that point he stopped worrying about the maroon male and focused all of his attention on the female.

When he thought he had been out of the woods so to speak, he felt someone headbutt into his ribs on the left side. He curled into the impact, feeling a bruise forming and lasting even as he tried moving away from her, and then he felt the sting of her claws as they made a swipe for his underbelly. With the proximity of the two of them, he lowered his head and attempted a bite for her scruff, intending to latch on and hold on. He also attempted (with his right paw) to claw at her right side.

---

Caelum & @Dagge vs. @Nesta & @Alexander ♔
for Claim of Nesta
Round 1 / 3
Hits:

Rolling 8d20: 5 + 6 + 12 + 7 + 20 + 11 + 8 + 18

Dodges:

Rolling 4d20: 2 + 16 + 7 + 14

Luck:

Rolling 5d20: 1 + 3 + 4 + 17 + 15

Notes for Clarity: Caelum dodged Alex's attacks, which caused his head to graze his chin and his clawing to be very shallow; he didn't attack back since Dagge came in; Caelum went for Nesta's scruff + tried to claw her right side.

Edit Okay'd by @Anyu // I put the wrong round -facepalm-

ART

The last time he had fought alongside his brother similar to battle like this, had been under Ryker's rule in the Oasis. Such memories were cruel to his mind, and he remembered the failure of losing - the freedom cost of the lioness who deserved to see the world.

So, as his brother's scent became strong on the air, he wasted no time in catching up to see the fuss among the strangers. He heard the claim thrown out, came in time to see the battle take charge - and Anthonius did not hesitate beyond a breath. His charge aims for @Dagge , a paw lifting as he aims to try and swipe it down upon the male's side.

Anthonius & @Alexander ♔ & @Nesta vs @Dagge & @Caelum
for Nesta's Freedom 1/3

Hits:

Rolling 6d20: 19 + 14 + 17 + 1 + 8 + 7

Dodges:

Rolling 6d20: 1 + 15 + 9 + 11 + 8 + 10

Luck:

Rolling 5d20: 17 + 1 + 14 + 15 + 18