It was not something Morrigan was prepared for, nor something she could entirely see as good fortune. As she made the descent down the mountain toward the ravaged lands of Ecrosia, the devastation reaped on the kingdom was not one she would have wished on her worst enemy... and wasn't that exactly what Luther was? She had the dark thought that perhaps the gods had truly cast their judgment and Vellen himself had come to swallow the Rike King whole, but she doubted they could be so lucky. No, he had likely lived and would be all the more dangerous now he had nothing left to lose.

A small mercy then that she recognized both of those whom who sought to take the now vacant Mire throne. @Colsun she could not claim to know well, but she knew him to be one of Aliza's children and he smelled of Scilla. Both promising signs. And if there had been any consideration to leaving the destruction of the Mire to the vultures and remaining in the Summit, that was shattered by his opposition, a girl whom Morrigan had watched grow up, whom the Illyrian Queen had come to think of as her own ward in the years of her loyalty.

If anyone deserved to take the empty throne of the Rike, it would be all too fitting if it were @Zahra Sigrún herself. Fitting too, as Morrigan moved to sit at @Eisa's side upon noticing the other ruby cloaked Sigrún, that the Jarl herself was here. "Your Aunt would make a fine Queen, but I hope to claim an alliance either way this goes," she commented as she noted Eisa's scent now seemed to be unaligned, reminding her of the rumors of further change in the political landscape. "What happened to the Cove?"

table coding by ferus

The floods had come.

Water had rushed through the mire in a terrifying swell, and uprooted all the lions. He remembered the swirling and choking vortex of water- as he found his paws finally on dry land. Gryff had lain there exhausted, and too battered to seek shelter- instead he'd passed out where he lay against a dry bush. He had never thought to pray that the water wouldn't find him again.

He had never thought about what this may mean for him.

Had never thought to realize that in his attempt to escape the death that was on his heels he had made it out of the Mire- across the cursed borders.

When the waters receded and he heard the sound of a strange voice calling over the land that he was still so close too... he did not move towards it. It was not until he heard a voice that was so instinctively familiar to him... that voice of his mother.

Gryff's paws were hauling him to his feet, body aimed and primed to run in that direction because his mothers call was not one he could ignore. He moved towards it- and noted that it was not Luther who stood fighting for the Mire but two strangers, but they did not matter. Approaching his mother, his tail lashed- brows furrowing and muzzle crinkling. "Mutter." A greeting, in a nasally voice, tinged with irritation and frustration.

@Solanum

code by corvus|art by irish

She would watch, unaware of the relation with the ruby hued female. Yet, she was Sigrun- she knew Vellen and that made her an ally, as simple as that. She remained silent, looking when she is joined by @Morrigan and she aims to gently shoulder bump her grandmother in greeting. Her ears flick towards Morrigan, as she speaks, and she hums softly. "Aunt. Her name?" She asks curiously, but does not demand the detail from the Queen- more so... is curious. Her shoulders slump a bit as Morrigan asks about the Cove.

"What always seems to happen. Some female challenged for it, fought Yuna and won." She breathes out. "Don't know her. She said her name was Miaran Jisazith. Grey female." She gives the details as she remembers them. Eisa doesn't know where she is going now... but... perhaps here, if the Sigrun wins. "Who is the male, do you know him?" She asks curiously, content to sit and discuss politics with Morrigan- to just be with her grandmother, and watch.

ART BY YUMPY, CODE BY LARS

Dare he say he was enjoying it? It felt wrong. Macabre. But he is nothing if not Alizabeth’s son and he surges with adrenaline and greed for more, more, more. Fortunately, he's also a man who understands there is a time and a place for different types of violence. He had spoken honestly when he'd said they were not enemies and he hoped it showed in the way he did not try to maul the woman. It was a glorified dominance match above all else, just with a wee bit more bloodshed. Case and point, the splattering of her blood as he makes contact with his paw. Oof. His ears twitch backwards in regret, but there's no time to worry now. He attempts to let his paw drop back to the ground after the smack, finding no need to dig in beyond what he has already done. Her teeth and claws pierce his skin deeper and deeper, bringing forth fountains of blood and bruising. Ouch. The lion attempts to maintain his hold on her leg and then attempt to give it a few shakes of his head, caution be damned. Colsun vs. @Zahra Ecrosia Mire Round 4 / 5 Hits: Rolling 7d20: 2 + 17 + 3 + 19 + 12 + 20 + 13 Dodges: Rolling 3d20: 9 + 16 + 1 Luck: Rolling 5d20: 10 + 4 + 13 + 8 + 12

ART AND CODE BY SHAZ

Obsessive.

The creature would scowl as he smelled the scent of multiple lions of all sorts of prides lingering. 'Pride challenge?' The male would think to himself as he began making his way towards the source until he scented an herbal melody on the breeze. Ears would perk upwards — thickened tail sweeping with excitement as pace was picked up and stomach would brush against the ground as he dropped.

The creature would prowl over the boarders, his eyes flicking around the environment until they land on her. Tongue would slowly slide across his lips, muscles flexing under his form as he settles against the ground and flicks his gaze towards the fight and then back towards Bordeaux. Yes, watching her was far more interesting than watching Zahra and some unknown male fight.

Ears would flick upon his head, catching the tail end of a nearby conversation, but it mattered not. Molten gaze would pin upon Bordeaux, he watching her from the thick underbrush and shadows of the mire.

-vlad is hiding/being a creep-

[exp]
+5 Gather information about a character
+10 Successfully stay hidden for the duration of a thread
+5 Spy on an individual exchange

[tag]
@Bordeaux

It seemed that the spiderweb of their kin had stretched a bit too far for @Eisa to have been acquainted with her aunt, but then @Zahra had never had reason to be in the Brook like Myrkvi had. "Zahra Sigrún, younger daughter of Magnus and Nadia. I've known her since she was a child and she's been loyal to me for a long time, even moreso to Vellen. You should meet her," she suggested before Eisa explained the downfall of what they had known as the Cove.

"A shame. I didn't know it was Yuna's rule in truth, but I met her, fought her. She has promise. I don't know anything about her usurper. I've never heard of her or that family. Perhaps I will have to go and learn more." She returns the affectionate shoulder bump and looks at Eisa, sensing the disruption at the very least this likely had been.

"Sometimes I think Khal had it right when he joined Kireena's band. At least they do not have to fear this," she said looking around once more at the destroyed Mire but referring as well to what had happened to the Cove and others too often recently. As for her question on who the man was Morrigan shook her head, "I can't be certain. It's been a long time and I'm getting old, but either way he is from Isla's kingdom so that bodes well for us, I hope."

table coding by ferus

Blood covered the side of her face from the claw marks left by the male but under the influence of her determination and adrenaline, she wasnt paying attention to her pain and worsening wounds, she was not going to give up, at least until the end, she needed to do this regardless of the outcome, and and in both results she was okay.

Besides the mire wasnt that suitable in terms of her preferring the beach, but she knew she was taking it from a rike scum, so if she were to become queen she would give a low blow to the wreched family.

His bite remains firmly on her leg, and when he shook his head she felts her skin and tendons torn a bit along with a sensation that that her bone might be close to breaking but she hopped not. Grunting she attempted to return the favor by shaking her own head while she tried to keep her bite on the side of his head.

Zahra vs @Colsun
for EM
4 of 5
Hits:

Rolling 8d20: 5 + 14 + 19 + 4 + 20 + 17 + 18 + 11

Dodges:

Rolling 5d20: 12 + 19 + 3 + 20 + 8

Luck:

Rolling 5d20: 1 + 13 + 15 + 16 + 5

art

When the waters had swept through the Mire, she wondered if she would die there.

Would her life be lost before she could really live it?

Somehow, she had been swept through the floods and made it to something dry and safe, and she... hadn't died.

Luther's reign had ended in a flood, when in her mind it had began by fire.

She was free, and yet... she was bound to the land. Wandering through it, she looked for anyone she recognized- anyone who was hurt... just wandered aimlessly. She hadn't... known what to do now that she could leave.

The call of a challenge provided some direction, some purpose. So she approached the sounds of a fight, and stood on the edge to watch, to see who would win... so she could question what kind of pride they would run here. Would she remain in the Mire, or go elsewhere? She did not know.

ART BY KIM, CODE BY LARS

She is late to the fight. It has started and she can see the end drawing near but it doesn't stop Aphrodite from trudging through the muck and into the crowd that had formed. Her black fur was thick with the Cove scent - though she was still officially of the Oasis for now - as she walked through the Mire. It was a scent she had known. Ruled by someone that she had wanted to rip the head off of but it seemed that nature had done that for her. Removed the male who had harmed and forced Ciara to stay here when she wanted to leave with her family. It had never set right with her. But as she got closer to the group and took note of @Morrigan sitting with another she would move towards the Summit woman.

She liked Morrigan and found a fondness from their first meeting. As she got closer, she heard part of Morrigan's statement about the Cove and how she did not know who Miaran was and Aphrodite could only assume that the other who was sitting beside her was a former member who believed Miaran to be an usurper. Aphrodite would click her tongue and teeth together in order to get the Mountain woman's attention. Then perhaps you could hold your judgement on the woman I shall rule beside, hm? Violet jewels flashed to @Eisa for a brief moment before back to Morrigan. May I? It was a question of joining her to watch. If she was not welcomed she'd leave.


+5 Observe a fight

code by corvus

Yeah, yeah. That went about as well as he thought it would. Colsun hisses in pain as he shakes his head, only furthering the damage done to his cheek. Blood pours freely now and the lion cannot help but want to shake her leg more vigorously, but he refuses to lose himself to the adrenaline. Instead, as she cements her hold onto the side of his face and begins to shake from side to side, the Valentine braces himself for the pain that envelopes him in waves. The pain is white hot as it flashes down his face and neck and he wonders whether or not it would be easier if she just tore the whole cheek off as opposed to toying with him like that. He can only think of one last thing: a repeat of his last attack as he attempts to swing his paw upwards at her face to exacerbate the wounds already there. This time, he wants to hook his claws into the tender flesh and give her a taste of her own medicine. Let go, yo! Colsun vs. @Zahra Ecrosia Mire Round 5 / 5 Hits: Rolling 7d20: 2 + 15 + 8 + 7 + 20 + 5 + 3 Dodges: Rolling 3d20: 16 + 14 + 1 Luck: Rolling 5d20: 5 + 3 + 14 + 11 + 4

ART AND CODE BY SHAZ