“Reti is his name,” the dark imp revealed as she slipped through the dry grass, her charcoal paws bringing her close to @Olive and her entourage. She wore a smile that was hardly kind, which was in no way directed at the tiny queen. Rather, it was the situation that she was unhappy with. She liked Reti, yet she was frustrated that he had (hopefully by chance rather than premeditation) chosen to challenge for the pride of a well-liked acquaintance. He could’ve done everyone a huge favor and challenged any other asshole for their territory but he had decided on the Plains.

Her attention wandered to Ghyslaine as the lioness moved to address her opponent, and she wondered if it would do any good. Reti was reasonable, however power had a way of making fools out of everyone. “Reti was once a member of the Hollow. Seems he left,” she observed. “He was pretty level-headed whenever we had to work something out, so maybe this won’t turn into a total shit show.”

CODING

There was no mistaking the tone of the call that would resound across the plains of Lorien on this particular evening.

Ilarion bristled immediately, rising from where he was playing Big Spoon to @Kazimir's Little Spoon and moving to the entranceway of their den. The irony; just as ambitions hot breath curled around the back of his own nape, another would aspire to take their home - and all its prospects - from underneath them all. Lorien was not a large pride, but in some ways it made the challenge feel all the more a personal slight. "Come on," Ilarion called over his shoulder to Kazimir with a morose expression. He could choose to see this as a good thing, if he was a glass-half-full sort of guy; it was certainly one way to see Ghyslaine's capabilities as a leader first hand. Still, any silver lining he might've been able to salvage from this was far outweighed by the negatives that would come about with the disintegration of the Plains' current leadership. Ilarion did not know Ghyslaine well, but as he arrived on scene the Rurik would note that he knew her better than he did this guy - a complete stranger. And the unknown was what concerned him the most. There's a fair amount of lions gathered by this point, and as @Reti ♔ and the wheaten Queen face off against one another Ilarion would exchange glances with his husband before inevitably moving to join the familiar faces he had noted, and then some; judging by scent and their familiarity, these must be the ones that made up the rest of Lorien's ranks. It was good to meet them, despite the circumstances.

May we remain pride mates for longer than the next few minutes.

For now, he kept silent, offering a nod of acknowledgement to @Elodie or @Dorset - those he knew better than the others - should they look his way; a steely, somber sentinel that loomed toward the back of the group. Whether or not Reti would accept Ghyslaine's welcome - and the potential that came with it - or his reach would extend further and seek to seize her crown, remained to be seen. All they could do now was wait.

ART BY KIM, CODE BY DEE

The call isn't a surprise-- he knows this is how these lands work. The clans ( prides, he reminds himself ) were not meant to be permanent. Life churned on here like the tides-- ever changing, ever shifting. They'd experienced it time and time again, where one leader fell beneath another. And with the challenge in the air, It seems like they'd find out if their new little queen as strong as she seemed.

He lumbere after his mate with little worry-- only a sliver of curiousity. Already a sizeable group had gathered to see, and he notes all the youth. Well, they'd been told that half the pride was babies. As for the other half... he spots @Dorset in the crowd, ruby gaze lingering on him for a moment, before reclining at @Ilarion's side. Posture loose and easy, even if his gaze sweeps across the crowd more than once.

Even if he remains aware of those gathered around.

Tipping his muzzle to the side, he leans in close to whisper to his mate: what do you think? Because surely ilarion had already sized up the challenger, and he's curious to pick his brain about it.

ART BY KIM, CODE BY DEE

+5 - observe a fight (reti vs ghyslaine)
+5 - learn a new fighting move

the call that rings out is both a familiar and expected one.

not long before he had left obsidian, reti had filled karsa in on his future plans of taking a pride and naturally, the young savante had been incredibly supportive of his good friend. of course, he hadn't expected that it would be lorien plains that reti would challenge for. that much was an unwelcome surprise. it sends a pang through karsa's chest, remembering the last time he had met lorien's kind king as a youth.

he knows violarum does not live there any longer and in fact, has not seen the man in quite some time but with no challenges for the plains, karsa can only assume the man's family and kin still occupy the lands. knows they are on good terms with the plains as well. a frown is etched across the young man's face as he approaches the fight, stopping before he crosses the border to keep eyes on the fight that is surely only moments from starting. his body remains tense and karsa does not call out support for either side yet, instead letting his eyes flicker from one opponent to the other in anticipation.

code by corvus

While the battle was always something Reti looked forward to, the suspended time before big matches kick off are far less his 'thing'. Atleast, not when he was on the side of combatant rather than spectator.

Although, he had to admit these moments did allow a glimpse into Lorien structure - the amount of members arriving to watch, the moods they showed and words spoken. Possible pride allies and potential detractors who settle in to witness impending battle.

There was value in the wait as well he supposed.

It was also allowing him to count his own allies and friends, taking not off whom made the effort to come at his call for the Plains. @Thella ♔ . @Jun . @Aphrodite. He made not of each, a smile twitching upon dark lips as he glanced for a breif moment. He would remember this.

@Olive 's flashed grin earned a breif little grin in return, and an understanding nod. Its good to try and keep things professional.
Even a pretense of good sportsmanship could keep a tough situation from turning... far more unpleasant. He got it. Inwardly she was probably ticked. But he suspected she was trying to make the best of it.

Then after a few minutes patiently siwaiting at the ready, what he suspected (and was proven correct with her words) was the lady of the hour arrived.

Lifted head, Brave stance, Small, petite, uniquely marked, fully mature and in apparent good shape - his gaze appraised swiftly as Reti's defenses remained in place , stance and expression alert - but not aggressive while listening to her speak.

'I am Ghyslaine Olympe. High Sovreign of Lorien Plains. I believe you should know whom you are to challenge for these lands.'

With a slight smile on dark lips he tipped his crown a bit to the side and down a fraction, a politely acknowledging aging her words and giving a greeting of sorts.

'If you're sure that this is what you wish to do, rather than simply come live among us, and rising to challenge for rank- then I wish you luck, but I would ask to know who I am to fight.'

He watched with an almost eerie outwards calm as she set her defense, waiting for her to prepare fully rather than launching a preemptive assault while she spoke. "I am Retnuh Hodari, I go by Reti." It was a pleasure to meet her - situation aside. "This is something I must see through-"

Reti adjusts his own stance slightly, defenses adjusting a bit to suit the new style of fighting stance he adopted. "- however I respect a leader willing to use words as well as teeth. Should I win you are welcome to stay as Co-leader. An equal."

For as long as she proved trustworthy, she would be welcome to remain as a leader to her people. If she found it agreeable, and he won, they could always discuss details after the battle while cleaning up and getting wounds patched.

This was how all legendary ties begain, with blood and adrenaline? No? Just him then? How did others make friends hmm? XD

Ears pressed back into the thick fully grown waves of his mane, jaws parting slightly as his chin tucked over the male's windpipe, tri hued gem toned eyes partly veiled as lids drop protectively to half mast. His limbs are bent slightly at the joints, extended claws lightly gripping the grassy soil.

"Shall we begin?" It was a rhetorical question of course, but he was giving her a couple extra moments to respond to his words and prepare. Before exploding forward, his inner fire no longer willing to be tethered. Not fully.

Although he would -try- hard to avoid strikes that could result in permanent damage - as should he win and she join him leading it did no good to have both leaders more seriously harmed than the necessity of the fight demanded.

But he would not take it easy on her. He could not.

This was how Reti could get the answer to an internal question, one he must have for his own sanity. If he did not give it a full measure, then there would be no answer...only a lingering maddening 'what if'.

--- Fight starts here ---

Pushing off powerful hind limbs Reti would attempt to lunge forward, attempting to approach head on. His tail flung out behind him as he moved for balance. He would not attempt to ram her, not this time.

Small fighters tended to dodge and twist a good bit, and he needed to keep the ability to adjust quickly rather than primarily rely on brute force and weight at this stage of the battle.

His jaws would attempt to find purchase in the flesh of the left side of her face, aiming to bite into and grasp the meat of her left cheek an inch and a half or so bellow her eye.

Simultaneously his right front leg would lift and attempt to slam the center of his right front pawpad into the outwards facing portion of her left front elbow joint an attempt at applying driving force.

Right front toes would aim to curl inwards -claws attempted to curve around the back of her left elbow joint and hook into flesh seeking purchase.


-------
Reti vs. @Ghyslaine
Pride Challenge
Round 1 / 5
Hits:

Rolling 8d20: 20 + 16 + 4 + 6 + 1 + 7 + 10 + 3

Dodges:

Rolling 5d20: 10 + 9 + 16 + 2 + 20

Luck:

Rolling 5d20: 20 + 13 + 4 + 14 + 18

code by corvus

+10 - cast a curse or blessing on a character (reti)
+5 - listen to a living character’s problem and try to help them (?)

she hears the call and follows it towards the grassy oceans of the plains. sorin is not as well-acquainted with reti as much of the hollows are, having been gone on her great adventure while all the business with the throne of obsidian had occurred. however, much of her family seems to hold the man in rather high regard and thus the yearling feels bound to attend the challenge.

sorin's steps are light as she approaches the group gathered to watch, respectful enough of their allies in lorien to not brazenly cross over just to catch a glimpse. "mother bless his claws, may they strike through." she whispers to herself while still far enough away that there is still no one around. as the yearling nears, multi-colored eyes rest immediately on reti and ghyslaine as she finds company not far from the others from obsidian hollow such as @Thella ♔ and her older brother.

+5 - observe a fight (reti vs ghyslaine)
+10 - successfully stay hidden for the duration of a thread
+10 - sneak into another pride's territory without getting caught (lorien plains)

another pride challenge rings out across amaryllis' borders and manon is immediately drawn in to watch. her wolfbron scent is naturally covered on the way to lorien in the earthy stench of the earthy ground and the pungent flowers that she so hates. amongst the tall grasses of the plains, it is easy for the yearling to find a hiding spot. manon peers through the shadows of the grasses, red eyes focusing in on the fight that has just begun before the audience. she is certainly eager to see who wins amongst the two opponents, seeing allies of the bluffs amongst those who have also gathered to watch and the rogue woman that she had run into some time ago. though now was not the time for mingling and so manon remains in her hidden spot for now.

manon's scent is covered and she is hidden and observing

coded by flea + background credit: TLK

(Syanna is absolutely open for interactions, but no fights pls)

Well well, wasn't that something? The shadow had left the comforts of her den, originally to find herself more stock of a few specific plants. But what did her ears catch? A quite familiar voice calling for a challenge. There was a hint of satisfaction, a subtle smirk on the shadowed Viper's features. So she'd been right. Oh how good that felt.

A low purr rumbled in her throat as she changed her path to move towards the Plains instead, her slender frame rubbing against trees and foliage in her path to fully rid herself of the scents of her pride and smell of only neutral territories. Gracefully, but quickly she arrived, pausing for a moment at a distance. Oh how regal she could look standing tall and proud, silky fur all neat and clean. A beautiful creature in her own right. Vibrant sapphires observed the already gathered crowd before she moved again.

Though she'd seen them, she didn't join those of the Hollows already in attendance. Instead, she'd silently moved to simply sit nearby. She'd found herself a rock outside the borders and settled upon it, paws neatly placed in front of her, maintaining her regal posture as she watched.

+5 Practice covering your scent (smells of only neutral territories to appear as a rogue)
+5 Tell a lie without being caught (potentially)

A face that hides a secret

Dark lying mirror

code by corvus

Lead Scout Perk:
+1 luck to all pride-mates

the arrival of @Olive was welcomed - elodie grateful another lead figure was here, soon followed by the unexpected @Peregrine, who elodie sighed visibly at - her whole body relaxing into his shadow. "hi, penn." the familiarity of bravado from her peers was reassuring, comfortable, despite the anxiety that made her eyes glassy, shining with the threat of uncomfortable stress-tears, which she was determined not to allow. @Sage arrived, then, and he was familiar - warm tones and a handsome face - although mute, and she still did not know his name nor his relation to anybody, so offered a sweet smile in return to his startled expression. maybe he couldn't talk? in any case, he ran away, quite flushed, and she watched after him curiosly, eyes flicking back to peregrine with the intention to ask if he knew who he was - when her friend responded to olive's statement with a crestfallen exclamation of his own.

she had never seen penn's ears fall so low, nor his expression so pained. concern laced through her entire being as she put a single delicate paw to his shoulder, trying to meet his silvery gaze. "ghyslaine is your mother?" why didn't she know that before? there were others arriving, now, too - @Léonie nearby, and @Maeve, who she had seen at hunts and in passing at meetings, also calling ghyslaine mum. how many people here were related? duckie took a fraction of a step back, almost a stumble, as she gazed around. ghys herself had arrived, and @Dorset, and @Ilarion, and she couldn't keep track so easily anymore. she considered running away to the sidelines herself (maybe sage had the right idea). hopefully this would be over quickly.

_{art by drifty • table by hush}

ooc: Ves is on the borders observing feel free to interact!

Silently he moved sticking to the shadows casted around him, muck covering his body dried and deepening the already dark brown color of his pelt. It also made him smell of earthy tones, not the usual musk he carried. What drew him here was the sound of a commotion, and unable to resist the sounds he found himself tracing the borders of the Plains. Careful to not overstep across the invisible line that would make him turn from casual observer to intruder. The teen had grown into his bulk and was filling out nicely, his mane was but a mohawk with fluff upon his cheeks and skull. But soon that too would fill out and shield his throat from would be assailants. Carefully the youth moved until he found a good vantage point to observe the fight from afar, this would suffice for him for now until he could gain the battle confidence of entering someone else’s territory. Reclining into a seated position on the borders of the Lorien Plains Vesemir watched the fight unfold, his ears twitching in case any came upon him.


"talk"

code by flea, art by irish ♥