Ambition had been a quiet thing in him for most of his life, as Ed was fairly content with his place among the crew. He knew his work, and his worth, and trusted his Captain to lead them right. Without that support system, he'd gone adrift, and much time had been spent indulging in more impulsive behavior - mostly consisting of spending the night with every pretty face that would have him. But the roads had led him back to the last place he'd known his crew to make a home, and age led him toward finding a place to settle. And settling meant finding new purpose, though he was sure he'd never truly leave the pirate life behind, it was a core piece of him and he could no more carve out his heart and leave it landlocked.

Sand shifted under his toes in a familiar sensation as he walked the beach. Was there a designated spot for what he had planned? Ah, it didn't matter, really. Pausing, he trailed a claw through the sand, giving himself time to think it over and reconsider. It was a step that marked his willingness to stay in one place, and he had to be certain of it.

Finally, his head would lift, a roar to summon whoever might care to answer him. And if no one did...well, he'd deal with that. In the meantime, he settled into a ready and defensive stance and tried to tamp back the shadow that blanketed his mind in battle.

Edward vs ??
Noble
0/3

ART COPYRIGHT IRISH

lilija saw the big man with the scary markings first and prowled after him. she giggled and tried to pounce in the air just to stop, but then she realized mama would laugh at her if she continued do make-believe stuff so she stopped. instead, lilija focused her attention on the big adult @Edward, before she made her way over. "why you here?" she asked, attempting to weave between his legs and go under his belly. "where your mama? are you hungry?" lilija had lots of treats dug into the sad for her and her siblings to eat. one of which was near here so she took it out. unfortunately, it was just bird poo that had dried. "'here! lili feed you!"

@Edward VS. NOBODY FOR SL NOBLE
— DEFAULT —

Due to nobody posting within the allotted time, this fight has defaulted.

@Edward HAS WON THE CHALLENGE FOR SL NOBLE!

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.

A bone-rattling roar splits the silence, rending the quiet winter air. This time, it comes from inside the lagoon, and as the sound shreds away and hangs over the islet like a battle flag, he saunters his way towards the source of the noise. When he arrives, he quickly recognizes the one responsible for the disturbance.

He stands there, bold as brass and as black as a raven's wing, and a fond smile plays across Ambrose's features upon realization. The delightful pirate he took from the passage not long ago, making clear he won't settle for a common rank. He then notices @Lilija, weaving underneath @Edward's legs and seemingly using him as a beach umbrella.

The hyacinthine girl breaks out old, dried bird poop, and to his horror, offers it to Edward. "Did you just—scrape that off a rock somewhere?" Arrant confusion knits his brow. She's her father's daughter, in any case. And then it clicks. Where did she get the poop from? Certainly not the den. "Hold on. How long have you been going on field trips, young lady? And no lying. I'll know if you're lying."

He doesn't like pulling rank, but if Cirilla finds out they haven't been staying inside the den, he's going to get an earful. He turns his attention back to the pirate. "Sorry about that. Taking care of four two month old girls is a circus." His circus. "Rank's yours. I know you won't let me down." Optimistic conjecture; an indication of faith.

code by shaz

It wasn't an adult challenger who found him first, but a small cub. Though he maintained his ready posture, the serious and expectant face he wore softened to a smile as the girl approached and boldly wove herself under him, "Oh...ma's a long ways away..." If he'd had one. His first memories were with the crew, raised and trained with other cubs. He had to have had a mother, right? How else would he exist? But he had no memory of her, and no knowledge of where she was or if she still lived, or what had happened leading up to his absorption into the only family he'd ever known. Hell, for all he knew, he'd been unwanted and left with them just to get rid of him. Or maybe he'd been very wanted, cherished and expected, and some tragedy had befallen his mother. Ed never really thought too hard about it. He had a life he liked, and a family he'd follow into hell without much of a second thought.

Ah, but then the girl was digging something up and presenting him with in, and Edward laughed lightly. "Now that's a nice gesture, lass, but that, uh...that's not food." Attention, here, was drawn by @Ambrose's voice, and he laughed again, "This'n yers then?" and, he would assume, the other three in that four mentioned.

Brows lifted in light surprise as the man just handed him the rank, though. "Oh? Yeh don' wanna test me?" He hadn't expected it to be so easy, but he wasn't offended, either. Just meant he'd have to make sure he didn't embarrass himself somehow. "Well, alright, then. Anythin' specific expected of me outside th'usual?" He supposed his days would be filled, now, with patrols and whatever other little tasks to help keep the pride running smooth and ensure they were as well-defended as they could be considering the small number that seemed to live in the area.

@Lilija

ART COPYRIGHT IRISH

Cirilla is late. She, too, had been following her girls round relentlessly, trying her very best to keep them out of trouble and out of harms way. It was proving impossible, and now the brown lioness was beginning to understand how her own mother felt when she had been running riot at a young age.

I want you to prove your worth before you walk away today. The woman remarks as she enters, hearing the back end of @Edward's comment to @Ambrose. She might not be High Sovereign, but she sure as hell was still a Queen. She needed to know, for her children's sake, that this man would protect them should the need arise. Like Ambrose said, the rank is yours. But I want to test your capabilities as a warrior - as a protector - before I trust you. She pauses, studying the other man carefully. You also need to go out and recruit, help us grow the place a little more. But - enough of the formalities. Come on, show me what you're made of.

Cirilla spreads her legs evenly across the sand and allows her claws to flex in and out of the granules, shaking off the debris that had attached to her upon her travels. Cirilla does not wait for Edward to begin, or to accept such a fight - it was going to happen. Bursting into a jog and certain to close the gap between the pair, Cirilla would attempt to shove her left shoulder forcefully into the centre of Edward's chest. Simultaneously, with splayed claws, she would raise her right paw and attempt to slash it down the left of Edward's stomach.

Cirilla vs Edward
for Dominance / (prove your worth)
Round one of three

Hits:

Rolling 7d20: 16 + 12 + 1 + 4 + 3 + 5 + 2

Dodges:

Rolling 4d20: 3 + 1 + 12 + 5

Luck:

Rolling 5d20: 20 + 8 + 9 + 19 + 17

artwork • coding

Before much else could happen, his attention was diverted by the arrival of a new pridemate. Interest flickered across his face - the way she spoke made him wonder if she was someone important he should have met already. "Oh? An' who're you, then?" Good natured and curious, just a desire to know who he was about to fight and what authority she might wield.

He turned to face her as she spoke, flowing back into a defensive stance as easy as breathing, and was ready for her before she finished. Again he fought the rise of the shadow that so often drew over his mind in battle, reminding himself this was nothing more than a quick test of skill. Nothing serious. Nothing to lose. No lives or property on the line. Like a play fight - defend, don't maul.

He'd wait until she drew close, those last few precious inches where correcting course would be more detrimental, and quickly pivot his rear end using his front left limb as an anchor point. Instead of the center of his chest, he'd present the front edge/side of his left shoulder - not quick enough to fully shift to a true perpendicular stance, but enough to angle them more than head-on. Bruising was a small compromise if it kept him breathing easy.

Claws bit into his skin leaving a stinging path he'd inspect later, and Edward's head would swing toward the woman's, aiming teeth at the left side of her face - generally the brow/ear area but anywhere that might encourage her to back up a bit.

Edward vs. @Cirilla
Dominance/Test
Round 1 / 3
Hits:

Rolling 6d20: 11 + 15 + 8 + 14 + 13 + 19

Dodges:

Rolling 5d20: 9 + 14 + 18 + 16 + 19

Luck:

Rolling 5d20: 18 + 19 + 9 + 20 + 8

ART COPYRIGHT IRISH

@Cirilla VS. @Edward FOR Dominance
— DEFAULT —

Due to Cirilla failing to post within the timers, this fight has defaulted.

Edward HAS WON THE CHALLENGE FOR Dominance!

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.