A call for a challenge, a kingdom at risk of being upturned. It was enough to draw her in, but the resounding silence that seemed to follow was even more interesting than what she would have expected. Even challenges for unclaimed territories were typically met with some form of opposition, ambition never in short supply. There was plenty of coverage here, and it took her little time to find a patch of foliage to hide in to watch what happened next. Without a big all out battle for the crown, it seemed things were close to wrapping up, but she arrived in time to watch the end of a fight between a massive male and a child. That in particular caught her attention, the amount of force being used by the male surprising for such a young opponent. But, everyone had to learn eventually, did they not? -Evadne is attempting to hide-

Curiosity got the best of her. After everything had happened she had mostly stayed back and minded her own business, keeping herself safe from the many enemies that her pride had created. But this time she couldn’t help but cross the borders of her safe haven, creeping forth and venturing towards the Brook. The land was supposedly full of enemies but as she approached she couldn’t help but notice the lack of fighting.

Was it safe?

Carefully she would hide behind a thicket of trees, her pumpkin orange gaze watching carefully as she did so. It seemed that the noble of the Plains had staked his claim on the Brook. The former King had not shown up. Why? She wondered to herself.

code by scorpixia♡︎

She did as she was told, and so she remained in the den when her fathers went to see what was going on. She didn't like all the calls that had sprung up within the last few days, because she knew bad things happened at them. She was old enough to understand that, but not old enough to understand why they were happening.

She did, at least, understand what was meant by "we're leaving" when her parents got back and informed them as much. She wanted to ask where they were going, but since it seemed like such a serious moment she was quiet even with her family, even when Seraphiel asked her if she'd seen her older sister that day, she simply shook her head. No, she hadn't seen Solanum for a little bit, actually. And then they were gathering up their things and leaving, and that was that.

-exit sariel-

@Freyja VS. @Aeistrios FOR Minor Maim
— RESULTS —

Freyja Hits: 2 + 2 + 2 + 2 + 10 luck = 18
Freyja Dodges: 0 + 1 + 0 + 1 = 2

Aeistrios Hits: 3 + 4 + 4 + 4 + 9 luck = 24
Aeistrios Dodges: 1 + 1 + 1 + 2 = 5

Freyja Successful Hits: 13
Aeistrios Successful Hits: 22

Aeistrios HAS WON THE CHALLENGE FOR Minor Maim!

---

WOUNDED ROLL

performed on discord by @AbjectTerrier

Freyja is automatically WOUNDED for losing!

Aeistrios Wounded Roll: 4

Aeistrios is WOUNDED!

Profiles will be adjusted to reflect the wounded rolls, which, if received, reduce the character’s hits and dodges by -1 for an standardized amount of time. Any wounded rolls received from this fight are considered healed as of July 16th, 2023, and are logged in the wounded log. Once healed, post in Trade & Dice Updates to have your dice returned to normal.

In official wars and raids, fight result timers and posting restrictions are negated. Posting may continue, but the results of this fight cannot be acknowledged ICly until either both challengers have responded, or if 3 days have gone by. Whichever comes first!

and we don’t need saving

We’re hell raising

No one came to fight this new comer. Aquila wasn't there, his scent had long since faded and she had taken notice of it since before this one came for the Brook. So when @Lachesis spoke about the Brook being his and that other's were free to go. Her heart sank. It showed, physically as Ygritte heard those that she held close and dear to her heart began to make their thoughts known. That they wanted to leave and while she would stay and be left behind, Ygritte felt like everyone was abandoning the Brook without even thinking about it. She felt like she was left in the dark. A small sigh formed on the heavily pregnant woman's lips as she gently nibbled at @Cerberus' leg. I will be staying in the Brook, and returning to our den. She made it clear, and spoke loud enough for his brother (unknowingly to her) that she was staying and would later seek him out to speak about keeping her position.

exit

code by corvus / image by kim

Things seemed to wind down as members left - and others stayed . Kireena remained off to the side - noting how the crowd dwindled - but still she found that it appeared the fun - as it were - was over. Turning slowly, the red giant would slip away, returning to her home. She would have some things to think upon having seen this challenge .. why hadn't the old king risen to defend his home? It put the previous Sovereign in a poor light - however, had she known that this came immediately after his previous pride had raided and attacked them.. her ire would be more directed at the newly crowned king for his timing. Yet - she knew no such things and as such, left with more questions than answers. //Exit//

code by koi

"Θα?" Glory? Once, it had been a question whether or not the Peitho name would even continue to exist. Only the resolve of their pious humility had granted them the right to persist. The reward for their submission. For so long, the Hound of Hades had strived to comply until the act of turning his nose up at the riches not meant for them had become as easy as breathing.

Had they not all strived for mere acceptance, once upon a time?

Perhaps so much time away has made @Lachesis forget his place. "Προσέξτε να μην καείτε στις φλόγες που ανάβετε." Oh, but if Cerberus is honest with himself, he knows well that the honeyed taste of freedom has lured them all astray from the path once laid before them within a gilded cage. The evidence of his own vice made plain for all to see when he welcomes @Ygritte's presence at his side, her stomach beginning to round out in a way that could be neither denied nor ignored. The hound's tail brushes against her blue flank in a subtle display of possessiveness, though his gaze does not stray from his brother's features.

He expects violence. For the tranquility of the grove to be shattered once more by the jagged edges of rage and blood. And yet...there is nothing. Not here in the center. Not where it matters. The Brook's ruler does not show and so the crown passes on, as is the way of mortal things.

Perhaps it is fate. The gifts of their bloodline had always favored Lach more than they did him.

When he finally pulls his gaze away from that pale face, it is only so that he might rest it upon Ygritte instead, the beginnings of a question building up upon his tongue. She will not be trapped here within the shell of her home, that much at least is certain. Yet in the end, he does not even need to speak. The seeress has chosen to remain, and by extension, Cerberus's choice too, is made.

"Go, then." He murmurs quietly for her ears, with a nod that brushes his chin briefly against the crown of her head. "I will be right there." One by one, the lions of the Brook move to take their leave, but the den he shares with his soulmate shall remain occupied another day.

There is something like contemplation resting within his lavender gaze when he glances at Lachesis once more, a weight that hints towards all of things yet left unsaid. A heaviness that he shall continue to endure for a while longer. "I will speak with you again soon, brother. Προσπαθήστε να μην εμπλακείτε σε έναν άλλο πόλεμο πριν από τότε. Χμμ?" And with that, the hound would turn away from the dissolution of the home he'd been invited into, trailing after Ygritte through the shadows.

The past has caught with him yet again. But this time, he finds that he has nary a clue as to what that shall come to mean.

/exit Cerberus.

---

1. Will you?
2. Take care that you do not scorch yourself in the flames you ignite.
3. Try not to will yourself into another war before then. Hmm?

ART BY SCARF, CODE BY LARS

There was no surprise to him when victory was bestowed upon him. The cub was weak, and that was mainly her genetics fault - for being the offspring of Cassandra. Aeistrios aims to tear a piece of her ear, before discarding her to the side and focusing back on the main entertainment.

Lachesis taking Vermeda!

Already were people making moves to leave, and he didn't fault Lachesis for giving them the option to leave. After all, this was victory. Why keep members would would only look to kill them in their sleep? He had heard the words shared while he played around the cub, and he looks to catch @Amara before she departs.

"Vermeda was taken down within a few seasons, raided and left defenseless. How long you hold a land doesn't matter, it is how you defend it against things other than challenges." A roll of his shoulders, feeling the ache from his wounds in addition to his old. Man, he was beat up.

He finds his eyes moving back to @Lachesis , who was no longer his Noble; but a man of his own power. A low rumble of approval from his chest, and Aeistrios attempts to limp closer to him, aiming to nudge along his mane. An innocent, friendly act by the looks of it between comrades; but there is something deeper in the touch he attempts. "The Plains are in alliance with you, the Brook." He states, and of course details could be squared away later...

He returns to @Eisa not much longer after, grunting down to her. "Are you still in a hurry to return home?" He nods to the land that was just taken over, curious for her reaction.

art by riot/coding by riot

Now that Cassandra was no longer on the throne, it all fell apart. Everything fell apart. She felt so abandoned by Aquila. By Myrkvi. By Cassandra. Aquila never answered the call. As it became clear that @Lachesis was the new King, she heard the words of whoever wanted to leave could. Stepping out from the tree line, the once Lead Hunter looked to Ygritte who decided to stay before turning to the new King and to @Eisa with a small frown that was saddened. I will be packing up my den and leaving. Where she was going to go, she didn't know. She was going to save Darcy, she was going to fix things. But she didn't know how yet. Moving out of the sights, she went back to her shared den to clean it out and stashed it in the Grove, in her old den she once made home in.

Exit, Leaving VB

SUBMASTER: AMBASSADOR
(double exp from Raizel)
+10 - Observe a challenge and learn the results (Lachesis vs Aquila for VB) 2/2

No one came. No one answered the call and thus Lachesis became the new crowned King of the Brook. Orange gaze glanced around from her hidden spot as one by one, members either took their leave or they stayed. She sees Aeistrios with the red crimson lioness he had stolen during the Raid. But she makes no move to be closer to her own King. Instead, she groans softly as the Lead Scout makes her way slowly and painfully away from the scene. She waded through more toxic plants and mud on her way out. Not wanting to be followed or found as she made her way out of the Brook towards home.

EXIT

MASTER: SLEUTH
+10 - Practice hiding your scent (toxic plants and mud) 2/2 (double from Keligan)
+20 - Remain undetected in a large thread (Reins of Fate - VB Challenge) 2/2 (double from Keligan)
+20 Learn something about pride/group/family relations (VB/LP) 2/2 (double from Keligan)

coded by flea + background credit