The promise of death lingers in the air like the tint of iron, yielded only by the overwhelming lot of flesh. The scene unravels so: into chaos, as it is oft to do on the claustrophobic island, wretched with the hungers and yearnings of a too many hearts and jaws. Without a dog in the fight, he second-guesses his true want to attend; but curiosity and an inkling of bloodlust draws him to their red mass. He held no grudges for either contender, his meetings too brief and his memory too careless and fleeting, but there is no doubt that it will be a sight for famished eyes.

What sores them instead is the sight of the overwhelming dead lingering on the sidelines, the peculiarity of their half-forms stunningly odd. One is a face too familiar, loping shortly behind the Illyrian queen.

It is his queen he draws to decisively, his eye turning to the form of @Haider at her feet and @Colsun at her side as Gauthier clambered to her resting form on the rocky throne. He pressed a fang-knit kiss to @Ludivine ‘s crown and remained on his feet, readied should any spat spill too closely to their company.

Marja was here, after all, spouting for all her admirable incoherence – to him, a sign of good things to taste come.

From there he would observe the raucous din that ensued, the jackal-calls of war stirring in the nosebleeds among familiar and unfamiliar faces abroad, a close eye on a distant Kireena that momentarily flicked to the fights that broke out nearby._{BG — ART — CODE}

+5 - observe a fight (aeistrios vs morrigan)
+5 - observe a fight (kvare vs seifrienriosa)
+5 - discuss a battle strategy (not bringing along allies)

karsa does not hide this time, confident enough in how much he had learned through training and observing to be able to hold his own, even if someone came after him. he slips onto the scene silently, recognizing some faces from challenges past, though his eyes linger on the form of @Isla ♔, who he approaches. "miss mountain lady," he says, to get her attention, head dipping with a smile. in all the time that had passed, he had not forgotten isla or her mother's visit to the mountain. "i hope she wins." karsa offers, watching as morrigan and the andal king collide together in battle.

as a yearling breaks out of what karsa assumes is her hiding spot to attack the cove king, who the yearling recognizes from the cove challenge against arkyn, his gaze swings momentarily to the two of them. the woman he remembers from both the old brook challenge, a child or niece of aeistrios perhaps? "it's strange to start something like this without allies around," karsa starts, brows furrowed together. "i would have thought he would have brought that rouge band along at the very least..." it seemed most of the valley stood against him but for the right price, maybe the mercenaries wouldn't.

ART BY X-ZELFA, CODE BY LARS

Underneath such a hazardous storm, he knew without a doubt those of Amaryllis would come flocking to his call. Little lambs - they all were, so eager to see blood spilled but so fearful to do it themselves; they had to find their entertainment in him. What will they do, should he die here today? Where would they satisfy their need to see such violence? None take to his attention - none are deserving of his gaze save for the woman he summoned to such a damning doom. Not even @Eisa roused the focus of the Saxe King. The one thing that did, was a small cub floating between his forelimb; speaking on how death welcomes him. The dots connected when the woman of the hour had shown, her words speaking a relation to him - and Aeistrios laughs. "You were too weak to even reach adulthood, child, we are nothing alike." And then it was the Illyrian Queen who had his attention. Everything else faded away as the storm waged on, his back pelted with the downfall of harsh snow and sleet, the bitter cold seeming to want to rip the skin off his bones so he may freeze to it's touch. Their eyes connect, and in this moment it is only them. The pit falls away into a blur, and the smile on Morrigan's face only entices the plum King further. Alas, the rage within her unfurls and their deal begins, a devilish emotion crossing over his features as Aeistrios allows himself freedom from all else in the fight. He was no father in this pit, he was not a husband - he was Aeistrios Saxe, and he sought death. Colossal frame attempts to charge forward at the same time Morrigan does to him, and her jaws wrap at his lips, covering his malicious grin and instead drawing deep lacerations along his snout. Claws pair with her bite, sharp talons digging at the tender and soft skin of his face right under his eye- worsening the wounds @Iofiel had just tried so hard to mend. The first of their blood is spilled, and he feels a deep growl emit from his chest. "My turn." The words are muffled, almost silenced by her jaws at his mouth - and Aeistrios attempts to bring his left forelimb upwards, aiming to slam his unsheathed claws into her side and hopefully puncture them right below her ribs, all the while his weight attempts to throw forward into her more, unrelenting in his assaults. He was determined to make sure there was hardly a hint of winter air between them. AEISTRIOS VS @Morrigan FOR DEATH 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Hits: Rolling 9d20: 8 + 2 + 7 + 5 + 13 + 19 + 1 + 9 + 16 Dodges: Rolling 4d20: 18 + 10 + 13 + 17 Luck: Rolling 5d20: 1 + 20 + 18 + 15 + 19 -- DMs waive wounded rolls!

art by era

The call splits the air and his fur bristles in response.

Others had come for his mother's crown before; others had lost. Surely this challenger would suffer a similar fate. Quietly he turns towards the Summit, intent on heading there to see the resulting challenge and morrigan's clear victory. But.... something's different.

As he grows closer he realizes the call hadn't come from the summit at all. It's here, at the pit. A frown slants across his lupine muzzle, not recognizing the challenger at all. He's big and plum and wholly a stranger, but the woman he's fighting isn't. And neither is the ferocity she fights with. She's always been a warrior, but....

Something's wrong about this challenge.

Maybe he knows, deep down. But He's..... missing something, and it's never been more clear than in this moment. Quicksilver eyes shift to search for someone he knows ( and who might be able to fill him in), but he sees no one. Instead virgil stays where he is, His tail twines around his own back ankle, pulling tight -- searching for any semblance of comfort as he can do nothing but watch... and ignore the deep, gnawing feeling that something is horribly wrong.

LAVENDER

She had dared sleep that night. Lavender could not say whether it was one cacophony or the next that woke her – the thundering above or the audacious call of some anonymous enemy. She jumped into consciousness, breaths haggard and eyes wide as she gazed around her familiar, rocky alcove. She struggled for a moment to differentiate between dream and reality. Oh, but her dreams had been sweet!

The young princess made her way to that snow-gilded scene along with the rest of them, her eyes alight with a hesitant curiosity while they flitted across numerous bodies familiar and not. The falling snow whipped at her eyes mercilessly and did well to conceal anyone with too pale coloration: an unknown sister included. Suspicion began to settle into grim certainty by the moment; that rumored warcry was made reality, her mother's beautiful darkness locked in a fearsome brawl against another's frigid void.

"Somebody stop him!" It was a child's thought that spilled from her first. Lavender's face creased with horror as she stared helplessly at the scene, winter's chill utterly forgotten as her cheeks burned with desperation. Surely, they would not allow it.

Who were 'they'? What was 'it'?

Lavender could not bear to say.

---

|| february y11 | 1y - 3m | IS royalty | at the pit | open for interaction, dominance, or theft ||

code by flea, art by irish

She too is pulled from her home in the Brook, this challenge is one that would summon every creature forward. Her hair stands on edge, ears plastered tight against her skull as she moves towards The Pit. There had been plenty who had challenged her mother for her crown and plenty who have fallen by her hands. Tonight, tonight was different. She could feel the tension palpable in the air around her and her orange gaze shifts through the growing crowd. She spots @Cassandra and though she was tempted to stand beside her High Sovereign she instead catches a glimpse of @Virgil and makes a beeline for him. She is breathless with unbridled adrenaline when she reaches his side, brushing her shoulder against his own in a silent show of comfort. "What's going on? Why is he doing this?" She would whisper to him quietly, the shock of the situation settling like coal in her gut. She felt numb, she felt .. empty. She had only just begun to rekindle a relationship with @Morrigan; the fact that both she and Virgil might never have the opportunity to mend those fences with their mother was something that did not settle well with her. She hesitantly takes a seat, her claws kneeding the ground beneath as she watches the fight, analyzing her mother's movements. Praying to a God she'd never believed in to protect her. "Maua, please keep her safe one more time."


[paladin/medic exp]
+5 - Observe a fight (Aeistrios v. Morrigan)
+5 - Learn information about a potential threat (Aeistrios)
+5 - Attend a challenge to assess the wounds (Aeistrios v. Morrigan)

code

The Prince has only just barely begun to heal from the consequences of the disgraced Starke Heir's little stunt, before a call for death beckons him out from the tattered and blood-stained remnants of peace left in the Mire.

It's only natural that such a 'once-in-a-lifetime' event should capture his interest, morbid though it may be. But it is the trail of Solanum's perfume drifting out of the swamp that cements his decision in place, and he follows after her with as much dignity as he can muster past his aching muscles and fatigued stride. For once, he fully welcomes the numbing sensation of the swirling winter winds and the flurrying snow. The itch of his healing wounds is dampened beneath the icy touch.

He pauses atop one of the Pit's cold ledges, peering down at the tangle of bodies below with an inscrutable gleam in his squinting eyes. It was an arena for death - either for the Illyrian Queen whose existence had long irked him (if only because she had brought Isla into this world), or the Andal King who had so clearly revealed his true colors for even Ecrosia to see.

It seems that it would be a win for Hubert, no matter who won here today. And yet...Tsk tsk. Whatever would @Isla ♔ think, if she knew that he would rather see the man who'd become both Solanum's tormentor and Luther's ally cut down first? His path towards his chimeric lover takes him past the Heiress when he descends into the Pit, and he offers the silver woman an enigmatic smirk as he trots by. How tragic that they were all so distracted by the threat of the desert today.

I don't think you could have picked a worse day to pay this place a visit. It would have been wiser to remain hidden. He idly chastises as he creeps up to where @Solanum is currently nuzzling into the mane of a larger, older man. Her father, presumably, though the burn of jealousy still drips down his throat regardless. Not that it matters. He seeks to meet @Seraphiel's gaze with his own verdant eyes, his voice braced with confidence as he makes his promise. I will keep her safe.

He settles himself down beside them, his attention straying only to carefully survey the lions around them. Besides Illyria and Andal, it seemed Wolfbron had also come in force. To support the Summit, mayhaps? Interesting, he thinks with a sneer. And perhaps his eyes linger just a little bit too long on a certain hulking, ebony form amidst the snow, sitting with a group of lions that he is slower to identify. Now, whatever was @Colsun doing with the Rainforest?

Perhaps Hubert should pay his neighbors a visit soon.

ART + CODE By Dee

Wherever there was bloodshed he would undoubtedly be there; whether ontime or tardy. And it seemed he wasn't all that late. A lot of faces where here but hardly anyone had so much as a scratch on them yet.

Cassius had moved toward Amara, eyes flicking over toward @Elaine ♔ and @Faustine. The latter recieving a knowing and cruel smile. He takes a bold seat near his High Sovereign like he belonged there. His icey gaze lingering upon each unfamiliar face. Even if he had known that most of them were Kings or Queens, Cassius still wouldn't have balked. He had been born a Prince. To be what each and every one of them currently were was his birthright.

His stare is left upon the brown female and reddish male for a tad longer than the rest. What was she saying to him? What secrets? What plots? If it had anything to do with tearing someone a new ass, let him in on it! But alas he finally plants his attention on the only real brawl happening. What even is this? He asks @Amara, almost bored. Not enough fighting. There needed to be more. Point your claw Amara. Unleash him.

code by loki / art by duudlin

Kireena smiled at @Etain, nudging her shoulder before she leaned into @Sybil. When @Eisa made to leap into the fray, the red giant let her gaze meander over those gathered. She spotted the Firnen lions and glanced at her daughter. "You should go to @Amara... We don't know what side of this war you and I will be on, little love. You don't need to be caught in unneeded crossfire." She knew well enough that should something happen and Wolfbron and Firnen be at war- standing with her daughter would only put Etain on the radar of her violent leaders. "We will meet after and discuss mmm? Just know.." Her voice lowered only for those that stood near her.. Sybil and Etain. "If Morrigan falls - I'll be going to help. I owe her.." And she would do her best to get involved to save the dark warriors life.

"We should go, love.." She gently sought to nip Sybil's shoulder affectionately before she tried to do the same to Etain. The red giant would then turn, intending to slowly make her way along the ledges towards where @Ludivine waited with @Haider crouched before her like a cowed dog. The sight made her stomach roll - but she couldn't do much about it. To the side of the cannibal queen stood the Sovereign @Gauthier. And with them, the dark form of @Colsun.

She approached, tilting her skull towards the leaders before coming to stand at Colsun's side with a bemused grin. "See you made it - welcome to the Rainforest." The red woman's bi-colored eyes sought those of the younger male before she returned her attention to the battle in the center of the pit. Her gaze meandered along the others gathering and saw how prides were often sitting together.. and felt the hair on the back of her neck rising as one of the plethora of plum children made herself known. Did he have other allies hiding in the shadows?

Kireena didn't voice her thoughts on it - knowing better and instead stood silently, talons slipping to knead lightly at the rocks beneath her feet. She could hope that Morrigan would reign victorious - that Etain would stay out of the worst of the bloodshed.. But who knows how things like this would go?

---

Kireena is open to any and all fights just DM if you're not sure, or ping me on Discord if you'd rather!

ART BY DAWN, CODE BY LARS

They came, flocking from across the lands to witness the battle to come. She had instructed her children to stay hidden, to allow this moment the gravity it deserved. It hadn’t been intended as an olive branch, but a chance for peace, even if short lived, was once again quickly cast aside. Another one of the Saxe’s attempts at civility earned nothing more than a spit in the face, but she supposed that was no surprise to her. They may think themselves righteous, but at the end of the day they were all just as bad as everyone else. Some just didn’t have the guts to own what they were. They were searching, and she couldn’t help the clenching of her stomach when her daughter was found. The temptation to step forward to help her daughter was there, the instinctual urge to protect her young, but if she was taken today there was far less she could do to protect them. Her daughter would have to be okay on her own. If Aeistrios fell, it would be up to her to lead the Oasis and the Saxe, to continue to raise the next generation, and hope they got farther than their father did. When the claim was made for her, her lips curved. It was a clever play, to try and take her so that the Oasis would fall, their children left abandoned, if Aeistrios won. But that would only work if they could find her. She couldn’t stay here and risk them poking and prodding for her still. She had to leave. It was the only way she would be able to try and piece things back together once this was all over. Keeping herself hidden, she slunk back, trying to slip out of the immediate area unnoticed. Renfri vs @Cassandra For Renfri R1 Escape attempt 1 of 3: Rolling 2d10: 6 + 9 Sleuth Level 3: Can roll an extra dice when attempting to escape Sleuth Level 5: Can't be discovered if actively hidden in threads

Art by Navarre - Code by Vasilia