Recluse had been less of a fighter in the past, instead being more of a strategist who would only fight when it was necessary. He had also been more cautious, even warning others of challenging him because of the potential repercussions in the form of illness. He was not like that now, he was a creature with anger burning deep within his chest. Could it be born of his gift? A feeling of betrayal? He did not know where the anger came from, but he knew how to release it.

Standing in the center of the pit, unperturbed by the falling rain, he would send up a challenge. He would prove himself, grow even stronger with each battle. It was important to practice in all manner of weather so that he not be at a disadvantage regardless of circumstances. A little more and he would be ready to bring collapse to those that stood on the doorstep of his family home for all this time._{BG — ART — CODE}

How long has been been at it? The hunt? The stalking? The admiration? The obsession? He lost track and yet the creature hunts — this time in the depths of the pit. He hoping that someone that she passed by would smell of her and lead him closer still. The creature would slide along the corners of the pit — inhale as he searchers for her.

What was that scent on the breeze? Citrus? Oleander? Memories crawl along the surface of his mind — war. A homeland ravaged by a disease intentionally released, bite by bite the Savante fell until exodus, empire destroyed and left to ruin. Fever, the singular thought shot through his mind and engulfed everything — safety thrown to the side as limbs quickened under his body as he lunged down the flight of stairs and heavily landed on the earth below.

Rocks and pebbles displaced as he landed — toes spreading with claws hooking into the fleshy earth. Ears would would push deep into the encasement of his mane as slitted pupils travel the distance between him and Recluse. "Who are you?" The words are drawled arduously towards Recluse — almost to Vladizmir's detriment. Vile carrier of a sickening threat was spotted, who was he going to send his regards too?

Mother Earth forgive him — he's about to sin again.

Something hangs heavy in the air and tangles around the space between Vlad and this unknown stranger that smelled of something so sickeningly familiar. "Do you know you're...sick?" The question crawls around the area as Vlad tears his claws against the stone to sharpen them. The tenseness that he felt rode him hard and traveled up to hackles that prickled and raised. Who was this male that smelled of his families death.


Vladizmir vs. @Recluse
for ...
o of III
Hits: [roll=#d20]
Dodges: [roll=#d20]
Luck: [roll=#d20]

Another would soon brave the chill of the afternoon rain as Recluse stood waiting. The plum male would appear even smaller now, as his damp fur was weighed down by the drizzle. He would look upon this larger beast with interest, defenses instinctively set. Limbered legs would shift back and forth with unspoken anticipation, an eagerness to release pent-up energy.

The dark male would descend into the pit with a thud, asking the smaller lion his name. Was it simply common courtesy or had Recluse read something more? He was unaware of the grim history between these lions and the branching family members he might have only glimpsed in his youth. Undoubtedly he would side with his own if a conversation ever occurred. Usually, his own blood were not prone to such violence absent being provoked. Recluse Black He would respond simply, clearly taking some pride in it.

Was he aware he was sick? He would offer a brief grin at this, as if finding the statement amusing. Should he tell him? Warn him? No, if he had smelled the plum lion and still approached it was his own fault. You needn't worry about me.. I am perfectly fit. He assured. Shall we begin? He asked impatiently, gaze narrowing, teeth exposed and claws digging into the sodden earth below him.

He would only hesitate a moment, giving this lion one opportunity to back out as his instinct surely encouraged. All at once he would lunge forward, hoping to come in low and fast, fangs aiming to bite at the underside of the lion's jaw, right forelimb trying to hook into Vladizmir's left shoulder, wishing to dig his claws deep into the muscle there.


Recluse vs. @Vladizmir
for DOMINANCE
Round 1 / 3
Hits:

Rolling 4d20: 15 + 1 + 6 + 7

Dodges:

Rolling 9d20: 13 + 3 + 18 + 10 + 19 + 15 + 8 + 17 + 20

Luck:

Rolling 5d20: 5 + 18 + 7 + 1 + 3

50% chance of going berserk (+1 to hit rolls for the next round, once per thread)

Rolling 1d2: 2

50% chance of buffering an attack (+1 to dodge rolls for the next round, once per thread)

Rolling 1d2: 2

50% chance of going berserk (+1 to hit rolls for the next round, once per thread)

Rolling 1d2: 2

_{BG — ART — CODE}

His nostrils would twitch sharply upon his face as the stench of the disease would claw at his senses. The memories of family laying up on the ground — a thick layer of froth covering their mouth, gurling, trying to breath, all while the Black scum crawled over their lands — punching their unclean fangs into the offspring of Mother Earth. All of them gave into it and those that where strong enough to endure or weren't infected yet fled the lands of their birth — a multitude of prides linked together to form an empire all broken intentionally by these Black plague bearers.

'Recluse Black.'

The words hang in the air as he digests it. Ears that were already lain against his skull bury further still - deeper as if they could crawl through his head, dig out the memories that were carefully lain there, and then leave through the other side. No luck for that to happen. Toes would spread further still, claws so desperate to tear through the center of the firmament to dig the Earthen Mother out — to demand answers.

Plague bearer.

Killer.

Criminal.

Unclean.

The Shadow's muscles went taunt under him, each one primed as he stares at Recluse as if his gaze alone could slaughter him — molten slitted blades of lava wanting to slice through his chest and carve out that rotten thing he called a heart. "You're better off dead," the Savante monster would spit tinged with unbridled fury — let the horses of the apocalypse run free.

'You needn't worry about me...I am perfectly fit.' Recluse tried to offer? Hand raised, smacking away the affirmation that he was fine. "Let's change that," heated hiss would snap as head lowered to align with his spine. Hackles would continue their treacherous climb upon his shoulders and spine. Toes would press down against the ground as hind paws pushed off of the cold damped ground.

'Kill him,' the words are a violent whisper against his mind, even if the disease started to work its way through his body — if he could kill one plague bearer and then hide himself away then he did his duty to his family. Stop the Black one before their sickness could take others the way it took the Savante so long ago. The feeling of rain against his pelt a reminder of all the crimes the Black's committed for power. Rain — tears of his ancestors.

Those disgusting fangs were pointed at him, and Vlad would not have it. As Recluse's teeth slashed along his bottom jaw; Vladizmir would shift his weight onto his hind quarters to try to slow himself and onto his front right paw as his front left paw came surging forward — toes spread and elongated claws and paw apd attempting to smash into right side of Recluse's bottom jaw — he attempting to break it with a full force momentum backed swing.

At the same time as his front left paw his head would surge forward with those unhinged jaws seeking and searching — his upper right tooth attempting to lodge deep within Recluse's right eye socket. Unfurled are his rampaging wings of retribution — Teodora had no reason to know of this. Vlad just had to do his duty and vanish, the family was used to him vanishing — it would be no different after this.

Vladizmir vs. @Recluse
for dominance
I of III
Hits:

Rolling 8d20: 18 + 12 + 2 + 13 + 17 + 7 + 8 + 1

Dodges:

Rolling 4d20: 8 + 12 + 4 + 1

Luck:

Rolling 5d20: 2 + 9 + 19 + 13 + 6

He had thought he'd seen something change in the lion's disposition when he came near enough to smell Recluse, but he had dismissed it. Now it was evident there was something there, so deep-held animosity turned murderous at the mention of his name. The Black family had their share of enemies in their old home, it was the reason their vast empire had weakened and proceeded to crumble to dust. Perhaps this lion was related to those who had aided in the destruction of everything.

Recluse was not afraid, he would meet the lion's rage, and unleash his own fury that had been building up inside. He would not let the anger blind him though, he had no intention of fighting until one of them couldn't anymore. It seemed more fitting in his mind that this lion should suffer. Given his age, he would likely suffer more from the fever than a lion in his prime.

The brute would aim claw and fang for the right side of Recluse's face, and rather than take the blow, for this lion had much more weight and power behind his attacks, he would use his agility. He would abandon the thought of sinking his claws into the lion's shoulder, jerking his head and entire body away. Tooth intended to blind him would instead cut along the right brow, claws aimed for the jaw slashing at his lower cheek.

With a furious snarl, Recluse would rapidly strike out with left left-clawed paw, hoping to rake them across the lion's face, perhaps take a turn of his own in blinding the attacker. Mouth would remain slightly agape, ready to fiercely snap at the lion's paw should he raise it to strike.


Recluse vs. @Vladizmir
for DOMINANCE
Round 2 / 3
Hits:
Rolling 6d20: 10 + 3 + 11 + 20 + 12 + 8
Dodges:
Rolling 10d20: 17 + 13 + 16 + 20 + 8 + 1 + 15 + 12 + 7 + 3
Luck:
Rolling 5d20: 7 + 19 + 12 + 4 + 3


(permission to edit round count by Squid)_{BG — ART — CODE}

If only Vladizmir knew he was in the dark — he would have laughed.

How his insides where scorched from his own wrath. 'Black, Black, Black.' It seethed from inside, and he would blacken the ground with Recluse's blood. Mercy was not something Vladizmir held within that rotten cage of a heart. The plague that this vile opponent carried could potentially be enough to wipe out the Savante like it did back in the old Empire.

"Stop running plague rat," The titan would hiss at Recluse from between those slavering jaws. 'Kill him now before he starts biting others,' The thought was there, murderous intent wafted like a cut of fresh meat between him and this Black. This plague bearer could not be allowed to walk around free and unchecked. Something would have to break.

But his opponent was slippery, fast, and too nimble for Vladizmir to really get his teeth into — his teeth only slicing above the other male's right brow instead of him gaining the satisfaction of taking an eye. His claws also ended up slicing into the male's cheek. No matter, his chest would attempt to twist sharply to his right with front left paw attempting forcefully smash Recluse's face down towards the ground.

Recluse's claws would drag along his right cheek, cutting deep and lacerating the flesh but the pain is ignored in favor of adrenaline. The creature aims to tilt his head so that the top of his head would attempt to tilt slightly to the right; head trying to lurch forward — upper fangs trying to find a home against the left side of Recluse's nose, and his bottom teeth attempting to close around the right side in a predatory kiss of death.

Vladizmir vs. @Recluse
for dominance
II of III
Hits:

Rolling 8d20: 19 + 2 + 13 + 11 + 14 + 12 + 16 + 18

Dodges:

Rolling 4d20: 1 + 11 + 18 + 4

Luck:

Rolling 5d20: 20 + 10 + 11 + 13 + 16

The lion would call Recluse a plague rat, which made it further evident that he knew of the plum lion's kind, of the power they possessed from the bite. It was not many that could within the Black line, but even one was enough to leave a lasting impression. It's too late for you, this plague rat has already won. He sneered, a touch of amusement and satisfaction on his face.

Just to be sure, he would see his fangs sink deep into flesh and let them linger there if given the opportunity. With the lion snapping at one side of his muzzle with fangs, a paw raised to meet on the other, Recluse would be forced to recoil again, trying to pull back and out of the way of the pincer. He was not quite quick enough, cuts dragged along the skin along either side of his nose, claw marks on one, fangs on the other. He would lunge back in again, this time seeking to latch viciously on the lion's face along the right cheek.

He had a theory that the closer to the brain one could manage, the more rapid and potentially detrimental the effects of the bite might be.. it was only a theory though, and this lion a must unwilling participant in learning the answer.


Recluse vs. @Vladizmir
for DOMINANCE
Round 3 / 3
Hits:
Rolling 4d20: 13 + 6 + 20 + 7
Dodges:
Rolling 9d20: 8 + 15 + 3 + 20 + 5 + 7 + 1 + 13 + 12
Luck:
Rolling 5d20: 6 + 15 + 14 + 18 + 10


(permission to edit round count by Squid)_{BG — ART — CODE}

This content might touch on topics that are sensitive or triggering for some readers. Trigger Warning for mentions of torture, slavery, mutilation, murder, general unhingeness.

Relentless.

Vladizmir violently hound Recluse's steps, each movement meant to prosecute the other lion for the sins of his ancestors. Each exchanged below from him to Recluse an attempt to maim or kill this plague rat before he could potentially harm the other Savante. 'It's too late for you, this plague rat has already won.' Vladizmir finds himself inwardly sneering at the words. Did Recluse think he walked into this fight not knowing of the fever that would take hold a few hours, days, or months from now?

No, the creature knowingly threw away his safety for the attempted murder. The bottom that he would hit when the fever took was something that etched the first traces of fear along Vladizmir's heart; the selfsame fever that destroyed almost his entire fever. Some sacrifices had to be made. "I'm going to drain you of all your wretched blood. Then I'm going to smear it all over this fucking land as a warning to the rest of your kin," Vladizmir would state with this frigid coolness that spoke not of fear, anger, or even retribution — a simple fact, a simple fate that he had in store for Recluse and his wretched bloodline.

"But I think before I do that, I'm going to rip off your limbs one by one and leave them at the four corners of the world." The feline would seethe finally against the curve of his tongue. "After that, I'm going to find your sons, castrate them, enslave them, and then kill them after my kin gets bored listening to their agonized screams." After all the Shadow all unadulterated violence, unshackled from his leash and collar. The devil often gave mercy through death, but Vladizmir was no normal devil, hell's designs were nothing compared to what the creature had in store for the Blacks.

"So you BETTER hope I die from your bite, plague rat." 'Because I will ruin you and yours, even if I have to turn over every stone and haunt every shadow to do so.' There was no satisfaction as tooth and claw managed to lacerate their targets. No, not until Recluse's breath stopped and he laid as a corpse at his paws — he could not be suffered to live.

Weight would slam back onto his haunches as his right paw attempts to push down upon the ground as Vladizmir tries to rear back as his opponent comes snapping at his face; leaving those plague ridden teeth lacerating the top of the center of his chest. Chest would attempt to wrench to the left and then to the right — his front left paw would lash out with it, backed by potential momentum as his inner claw aimed towards Recluse's right eye and the rest would attempt to lodge deep into the plague rat's right cheek.

Vladizmir vs. @Recluse
for dominance
III of III
Hits:

Rolling 8d20: 20 + 5 + 9 + 7 + 13 + 10 + 16 + 18

Dodges:

Rolling 4d20: 8 + 4 + 3 + 6

Luck:

Rolling 5d20: 8 + 5 + 10 + 7 + 13

@Recluse VS. @Vladizmir FOR Dominance
— RESULTS —

Recluse Hits: 1 + 3 + 2 +4 luck = 10
Recluse Dodges: 6 + 6 + 4 = 16

Vladizmir Hits: 4 + 7 + 4 + 3 luck = 18
Vladizmir Dodges: 1 + 2 + 0 = 3

Recluse Successful Hits: 7
Vladizmir Successful Hits: 2

Recluse HAS WON THE CHALLENGE FOR Dominance !

The results of this fight cannot be acknowledged ICly until either both challengers have responded or 3 days have gone by — whichever comes first. Any posts breaking this rule will be removed.

He had not intended it, but Recluse could not help the brief spasm of laughter as the lion spoke, fuming with a hatred like Recluse had never seen before. Who did he think he was to threaten the spider? What had occurred to make him so angry to begin with? He knew of other branches of his line, though he had never met some of them, nor was privy to what activities they got up to. Apparently they had made it their mission to drive this brute to madness.

You are insane oldtimer. I don't intend to give you that opportunity today. You would be wise to let this go.. I would be happy to return the favor. Surely there is someone you hold dear that you don't want to see dying slowly of illness because of your grudge. He warned, though he didn't imagine it would do much to deter him. Recluse just wanted it to be known that if he started this, Recluse would finish it.

The plum male felt the claws slash at his cheek, fangs cutting at his head as the male stood over his smaller stature. He would like to believe he had done @Vladizmir greater injury. What was to stop this fight from continuing until they both had nothing left to give? Perhaps he should see this lion into the ground given the threat, but was it worth the gamble? He might just die anyway if he succumbed to sickness, it was something to hope for, even if recovery was possible.

A loud pop and a crash of lightning seemed to want its own say in the manner. Accompanied by a torrent of heavy rain, the white streak of electric light would strike the ground nearby. Recluse would jerk backward with surprise before returning attention to his opponent. This fight was done, he would not loiter here any longer. A smirk would flicker across his face, then he would turn and hasten away, confident that the elder lion was too slow to follow him.

/exit Recluse unless stopped_{BG — ART — CODE}