ooc: open to interaction

Ah, a claim challenge. What better reason to leave the comfort of the brook than to watch a fight? It was another plus to the location of her home given the reasonable distance to allow her to hear the constant calls that emitted from the pit. Maybe it was time she threw the batch of yearlings in here. Test their strength against real opponents that wouldn't give them an easy time. As she is on her way out, she runs into @Arcania ♔ and drags her along. It wasn't very often that she got a chance to spend some one on one time with her and what better moment than a show they could gossip over? Once they arrive and take a seat, blue orbs immediately take note of the presence of Miaran and Aphrodite. She senses the tension and anger that seems to be riveting off of the Caladan leader, especially aimed at her mate. The words cannot be heard nor would they be understood given the language barrier, but the serpent is quick to sharply nudge her 'daughter' and jut her head at the group. "Seems like there's additional drama over this. I wonder who those two are then," Attention drifts to the battle between Alexander and Hakkon. Now, if only they had some snacks to munch on. She had forgotten to grab some on her rush over here.

html by castlegraphics; image by sanctuare

He's nothing if not curious - so when @Icefang ♔ and @Arcania ♔ begin to trek out of the Brook, clearly intent on something, he follows with a leisurely amble. Nikandr isn't keen on getting into a fight this time, so he makes a note to keep his eyes peeled for Parthena - and sit on her if she shows up. That little shit needed to get her ass kicked once or twice so she learned to stop causing such trouble. A Law child would have been thrown from a cliff by now for lesser crimes. He scoffs softly, ears cupping towards his sovereign as she speaks. I'll go scope it out. He murmurs, tilting his jaw minutely towards her. He may not be a sleuth, but he can certainly take himself into the thick of it and play up the bored, lazy boy role he wields so well. Partly because it's not really a role and more of who he simply is. Keep telling yourself that; you know you're a Prince. Without waiting for a response, he flicks his tail and meanders away from the two of them. He may still smell like Vermeda, but he's a stranger, still, in much of Amaryllis. As he winds nonchalantly through the crowd, tail tip furling and unfurling absently, his gaze flits from @Clara to @Mosrael - and his gaze narrows minutely. A child and a.... snow leopard? He's only come across one once, on his way through the Mountains to Amaryllis. It's curious to see her here, sitting so neatly to observe the madness that's unfurling around them. Eyes alight, the maneless male strides nearer and stretches out onto his stomach within a comfortable speaking distance. He never exactly appears threatening, but stretched out as he is, seemingly listless and bored, he hopes he comes across as even moreso. You know 'em? Nikan quips, finally, jerking his chin in the direction of the fight. They seem right angry. Haven't been in Amaryllis long, but I don't think I've seen a challenge start so rough. A dramatic wince as Alexander and Haakon clash together he hopes seals the deal.

art + code by spu

In the midst of watching the battle and sticking close to her sister, press tightly to her side, she doesn't see the pale wheat woman come up close to her sister, she hears the growl though and is immediately turning her head towards the bitch, her lip lifted in a silent snarl, and then she hear d a few of the words that are spoken as if they weren't a threat. Levana snarls, moving to curl around @Lilliana protectively as she glares at @Lagertha,

""If you try, your warrior losing will be the least of your worries." She notices Teodora arrive, she settled back, still wary but with support here, she was atleast able to make sure Lilli was safe.

More souls arrived to gawk at this very real disaster. But she could not rip her eyes away from the battle long enough to put faces to any of those gathered. Through the steady buzz in her head she could feel her sister lean into her. Could hear her question. The same words that continually floated around them all.

The subtle brush of another gets no response. At first. She, only assuming it to be more family. Until the words are hissed for her alone to hear. This causing the medic to jerk away, everything low, her attempted escape jostling her into @Karsa. Even with the protective presenses of @Levana and @Teodora, Lilli cannot help but look upon this unknown woman with fear. With shock. Those secret words not going unregistered. As guilty as she felt about not telling her family the circumstances, it appeared @Haakon had also failed to enlighten whoever else he had in his life.

The woman moves away to join the rest of Caladan but Lilliana's eyes do not follow; but her words play on repeat. Her warrior. Hers? Instead her eyes squeeze shut. The turmoil within herself causing her to feel ill. Too much. It is all too much. She was aware that perhaps she should be jealous. But her rational side, the poor thing hanging by a thread at this point, didn't want to simply jump to conclusions. Such things were certainly not getting anyone anywhere right now.

Morher help me..

With eyes still closed and her head hung toward the ground, Lilliana suddenly yells out for any that cared to listen. The first two words perhaps a horomne induced jab toward @Lagertha. MY husband! Will have his chance to explain himself! Perhaps that would answer that question that had been bouncing around. Perhaps it would be enough to stave off her relatives in taking their share of flesh once @Alexander ♔ was finished.
Please.. She tacked on, attention returning to the center of the pit. Deserpate for the anchor just seeing him might bring her. The word still clear and audible, but gentle. She was not an aggressive woman. She would not be able to protect Haakon in any physical sense. Nor did she have the authority to uphold her words. All she could do was pray that the male was granted some kind of courtesy from those around to explain his reasoning.

art by Deej

Waiting for a response from @Mairan that may or may not come Reti forced his breaths to remain slow, steady, by will alone stuffing his devil back from the edges of its cage of self control.

He had to remain ... reasonable. For the moment. Going into any request for answers letting anger control his tone and actions - would taint the whole point of giving a chance for explanations. Reti could NOT allow his control to slip. The mask must not fall here.

Mosrael's arrival was noticed, he worried not about her but a tad for her if things got out of hand. @Karsa 's arrival however soothed any flicker of concern for the leopard should violence erupt. Reti returned the nod of greeting, his lips slightly tight and lacking the usual upward curve.

@Thella ♔ approached him and Reti, taking note of her presence, shifted slightly and looked at the grey lioness allowing a faint smile to touch his expression for a moment before growing serious again. "I don't. Unfortunately." his tail twitched slightly a few times behind his ankles "If I did, perhaps I would know what the hell this is about." his voice was level, quiet, calm. Partly to keep himself level, and partly for her benefit. His weight shifts slightly as she sits beside him, subconsciously adopting a guardian stance.

@Aphrodite made her arrival known by approaching and brushing against him, taking the spot at his free side. His muscles twitched where she touched his side, a sign of his internal agitation but he did not reject her presence or the greeting. What did happen however was the inward curling of his toes and extended claws flexed into the hard packed ground beneath through shear force.

'You looked troubled.'

He forced his exhale to be slow, and took a breath in before turning his head slightly to regard his friend with darkened jewels, a shadowy fire beginning to light in the depths. "Because I am. Quite actually." did she honestly not know why? Perhaps it had yet to occur to the dark lioness, so he would speed up the realization.

"I was Hollows leader for quite some time Aphrodite. A member far longer. I care for her members. I consider a few as personal friends. Including Alexander. This -" he gestured with a sharp jerk of his jaws towards the battle while not taking his eyes off Aphrodite "...is rather pissing me off. You know, more than anyone, what my friends are to me." it was personal. As a friend, she knew by now what he would do for those he had a fondness towards. And he would do to those who screwed with them.

He was not yelling at her. This was...an explanation. This was him aiming to make his position and feelings extremely clear. He could not help the edge of anger beneath the words, but he was fighting to keep it controlled. "Did you know this was going to happen?" a pause and then he began a vital explanation "I spoke to @Miaran , did she tell you about our understanding regarding the Hollows? She knows I -" he did not have time to finish before the Cove High Sovereign in question made an entrance.

Reti's slightly narrowed gaze captured and held Miaran's glare, the faint fire lit within stoking to a blaze for a moment as his ears slicked back fully - but were still fully capable of hearing her words. Jaws clenched as the warrior's gaze flicked from the angry lioness, to the battling challenger, and then back to rest on Miaran.
Well that was one vital answer out of the way. The High Sovereign had not condoned this. But was it too late to knock this stamped of its course regardless? They would soon see.

"Compris. Vous devez agir pour contrôler cela rapidement." (Understood. You need to act to control this quickly.) it was almost unheard of for him to use French in a public setting, yet he would use it for the first part of his response before flipping to English - for the benefit of those near him, and all those no doubt now watching and listening to the Cove High Sovereign.

"So you didn't know. I thought so." this made far more sense than a random heal turn to starting crap with the ONE group he had asked her not to do so with. "If your lion wins, make it right by releasing her to her family immediately. Perhaps the situation might be salvaged." Reti was then slightly startled when Miaran turned her anger onto Aphrodite.

Had Aphro given permission for this, or had the lion acted free of blessing? Reti figured he would find out shortly. However it would be a lie if Reti said he felt nothing seeing one wife snap at the other - deep inside the fallen god loathed it when mates were at odds, especially ones he was fond of and therefore wanted to see...happy.

More were arriving, he was aware. But his gaze was fixed on the ruling pair in front of him, standing in what he hopped was a comforting guardian position next to Thella - and trying to gauge the mood of the crowd primarily by sound.

@Lagertha entered the immediate bubble of Reti's vision and his gaze flicked to the lioness, taking in the cove scent on her coat and the question posed.

'Keep our name out of your mouth.'

The snarling voice, familiar in tone and fury resonates drawing a softly exhaled 'shit'. "Ne laissez pas cela devenir incontrôlable. Elle est violente et importante."
(Don't let this get out of hand. She is violent and important.) the words were soft, pitched as warning advice for Miaran's ears.

If the unknown (to him) cove lioness snapped back with more towards the Savante, or worse attacked there 'blood mother' than this would likely slip beyond true salvaging. Miaran and Aphrodite could not truly control what actions their members took, but they could give orders - an official stance - something to try and slow the spiraling energy.

@Levana 's words caused Reti's gaze to flick over and rest on the familiar lioness and occasional ally he had a friendly air with so far. Great. Another pebble of complication to add to this growing cairn.

He had no authority here pride wise, could not step up to try and resolve the problem himself. The extent of Reti's influence only rested on whatever weight friends and allies gave to his words. And what he could do with the strength of his blows when necessary.

'MY husband! Will have his chance to explain himself!' 'Please..'

Ah. Well. That explained .... SO MUCH. Reti could not restrain the sighing exhale. Good. Gods.

Love.

A great motivator. Healer. And inevitable destroyer.

Well if he were to entertain optimism for a moment Reti would feel relief and see a path to resolution.

But he was not a fool.

The odds were tipped more towards violence and tension. HIs instinct said this would get worse before getting better. However. Reti would hope to be proven wrong, and stand ready to do what he felt necessary if proven right.

code by corvus

Tedious.

The creature hauled his flesh from the ground as he heard the call for one of their own by a lion. Interest flickers both within and without, excitement almost tangible within the air as he cuts out from the enlarged darkened cavern of the Hollows and away from his pregnant mate. No, the beast only departed because of a presumptuous call; it was Lilliana today but it could be his own little heathens tomorrow.

Vladizmir was prepared, ready to clash as heated nature did drive him further from the Hollows and towards the familiar grounds of the Pit. Maybe if he was a better man he would have ignored the clusterfuck all together, maybe if he was a better man he would have just stayed curled and pressed against Serafella in exchange of all this. But he was not a better man, nor was he one to sit idle as one trifled with his family.

A family that seemed to lose all sense when it came to matters of the heart, of house and hearth. No matter, the beast had a job to do and he would do it. At least he thought he was going to do it until he saw Alexander already clashing with a strange looking male that dared think he could possess a woman of Savante lineage. Ungiven grunt stayed locked within his breast as he curved around the stands of the Pit, only to finally settle with haunches kissing the earth — he spectator of a dastardly accord; obscured by rocks and rubble as he lingered within the depths of the darkness.

That was until another that smelled of Caladan came in and approached Lilliana; the family's name upon her tongue followed with hissed words that he could not hear. Breaths later, @Teodora hissing fire and hackles raised; disapproval so close to the surface at this caladan woman who was now enemy o' mine. She — marked for death and destruction like the rest of Caladan kind. The upshift of his sister's lips; spelled their foul doom. 'Keep our name out of your mouth.' Death sentence woven into the tapestry of words — Blood Mother's decree.

But @Levana is next to hiss her words towards the Caladan woman, 'If you try, your warrior losing will be the least of your worries.' Was it a threat the Caladan lioness made? But why did no one carve their name into the offender's flesh if so? Perplex was his facial features as he watches the lack of action to go with hissed words, the allowance of a fool to speak to Savante without rim or reason and get away with it unscathed, unburnt...unburied.

Whiskers would fan forward, but it isn't until Lilliana flinches and recoils away that haunches rise from the earth and body dropped low, belly against the ground as molten gaze focuses on the offender, on the fool that breathed in the Savante's direction. She would go unpunished no longer. The only correction allowed to Savante were from other Savante, not the likes of weak whelps like the lioness that whispered something to Lilliana only to flee next to two of her breathern. In fear perhaps?

None of it mattered. Too long have their enemies gone unpunished, unmutilated, unmaimed. From that hidden spot within the stands his toes would spread wide as the beast dug talons against the earth for traction, limbs sprayed evenly apart with knees bent while hind paws attempted to push off from the earth — aiming to bring him near his opponent's left side with right shoulder aiming to slam into that spot just behind the insolent lioness's left shoulder - a bid to throw her off balance.

Insatiable, but in tandem with his shoulder the Shadow's head would try to surge forward with slackened jaws. His upper set of teeth trying to dig into the flesh just behind her skull; right near the spine while the lower set of his teeth attempted to lay siege to the left side — vile attempt to sever the connection of her head to her spine; relentless beast offering her death for the slight.

But the dance of hatred was not finished, his front left paw would too with shoulder, weight, and head try to lash out. His front forelimb trying to wrap about the front of her neck, while spread toes and fully elongated claws attempted to dig into the flesh about the left side of her neck, just below the flat of her shoulder to try to hold the woman in place for the killing blow.

The others might have mercy, but he would not.

@Vladizmir vs. @Lagertha
for minor maim
I of IV
Hits:

Rolling 8d20: 16 + 7 + 20 + 13 + 14 + 15 + 6 + 5

Dodges:

Rolling 4d20: 12 + 5 + 17 + 4

Luck:

Rolling 5d20: 9 + 12 + 13 + 19 + 17

Around the fight, chaos erupts, but Haakon cannot allow his focus to slip even though he might like to. His attention is half torn, catching the distant sound of snaps and snarls, roughly from where he’d last seen Lilliana. Is she alright? Is she okay? Haakon can’t see - this bastard’s mane is strangely long and thick. But thick enough to stop Haakon’s teeth? He doubts it, and continues to press forward, jaws opening wide in an attempt to clamp around the uppermost part of Alexander’s throat. His claws snap down on the big lion’s paw, and he attempts to dig his claws in at the same time. Alexander’s teeth rip into his scrunched, fatty flesh between his shoulder blades, failing to grip his scruff as he presses as close as possible to underneath the male.

Haakon vs @Alexander ♔
For @Lilliana
II of III
Hits:

Rolling 7d20: 7 + 18 + 8 + 20 + 19 + 12 + 4

Dodges:

Rolling 6d20: 6 + 19 + 20 + 4 + 18 + 2

Luck:

Rolling 5d20: 19 + 18 + 11 + 6 + 2

art © drifty | code © hinter

I’d let the world burn

The young baron made her way after those who'd set for the pit before her. The mixed scents were of the queens, her aunt, and a stranger. Odd, yet she followed their trail to the pits ensuring to roll herself in grasses and herbs along the way to mask her scent and leave her smelling prideless at least to those who didn't know her.

As her paws hit stony ground she sinks low creeping forward trying to remain out of sight as she diverges from the paths others have taken to approach the gathered lions hopefully unnoticed. The baron creeps closer attempting to hide in the shade of a paler brown boulder as she watches, her ears tilted forward catching the words of Lilliana.

Husband?

Otter's gaze shifts to the fighting men and she wonders of whom she's talking. The smaller and paler man smells of the cove while the red and white giant carries a stony and earthy scent. The hollows, she decides before her eyes sweep the other lions who have gathered.

Both cove queens were watching along with Lagertha who didn't look all that pleased. Pretty much everyone else, including the lioness who'd called for her husband's explanation smelled like rock and earth, the hollows. There were so many here and quite a few had similar markings and shades. Of course, there were a few others whose scents were faint or washed out, but Otter didn't pay them much attention.

Rather the main fight held her attention at least until a large dark lion charged for Lagertha. Otter watches, she waits her attention drifting between fights and the many faces. Wondering who will win, wondering what this will mean for the cove and the hollows.

Neeha is attempting to hide

Rolling assassinhide 1d30: 9
You are successfully hidden!

July Y12 || The pit || Caladan Cove barony || 2 years

Potential xp
Assassin
+10 Successfully stay hidden for the duration of a thread
+5 Practice speed or stealth
+5 Practice covering your scent
+5 Gather information about a character (Haakon is Lilliana's husband)

Let the world burn for you

code by corvus, Art by Irish

Zahra arrives with great curiosity wondering what this was all about. Eyes resting in those around, from strangers to more known individuals. She sat down on her own spot watching quietly and being on the watch for danger or violence towards her.

War was coming and anything could happen.

She watches as another fight erupts seeing Vlad into it. She chuckles wondering why was this happening.

Her paws flexes letting her claws dig it more the dusk and soil of the pit. She didn't knwk hwo this will end but she knew it could be interesting to watch but with the idea of things going wrong for her too if she didn't pay attention.

+5 Observe a fight (Hakoon vs Alex)
+5 Observe a fight (Lagertha vs Vlad)

code by scorpixia♡︎ - Icon by CatAndCrowCreations

So, @Reti ♔ was at just as much of a loss when it came to knowing the circumstances as she. He appeared fairly calm about the whole thing, but getting worked up wasn’t an emotion Thella had seen on the chimera’s face. In her presence, at least, he was always calm and collected. And protective. The shift in his posture didn’t go unnoticed and, while she liked to think she could handle herself much more now than in the past, she appreciated it nonetheless.

Their brief back and forth was interrupted by a woman that seemed to know the other half of their duo and Thella peered around her former pridemate to get a good look; she smelled salty and sported an interesting red mane. Her arrival caused an immediate shift in Reti’s demeanor as well and Thella glanced up to see the agitation on his face as he lay bare his opinion on the matter.

And then another woman with the same scent as the first joined, speaking in a familiar accent, though the words meant nothing to her until Reti responded in the same language; she recognized the sounds as French, from when he’d spoken them to her once before. Thankfully, he resumed the common tongue, making it easier to follow along. So, the lion was under this woman’s rule. That still didn’t answer the question of who he actually—

MY husband…

Thella’s head snapped around toward Lilliana; she’d been so focused on the two women that she hadn’t noticed the ever-increasing crowd of lions that had gathered at the pit. It was no longer just Karsa with the Savante healer. She now had a whole collection of Savante surrounding her, most notably the red woman, Teodora, and the newly arrived relative that had sparred with Karsa. She stayed rooted next to Reti, but began to realize quickly that it might appear she was willing to stand against the Hollows lions by her proximity to the salt-smelling queen.

But her husband? This man that fought for her was her husband? Why not just ask for her leave then? What sense was there in going through all the trouble of fighting Alexander when surely he would have let her go without the violence.

art by moogle, code by lars