somehow, challenges seem best when they're called for in the middle of a storm. at least, that seems to be what pride challengers think since almost every fight seems to be in the middle of the week's worst storms. karsa, for one, would like to know what all the hype is about. so he waits until the clouds grow dark and heavy over obsidian, waits until the sun is blocked out and the lightning begins to flash. when the roar of raindrops hitting the rocks outside and the rumble of thunder becomes near constant, the young savante lets out his summoning call.

he doesn't know how many will arrive to watch but assuming at least a few of the members would be lingering around the hollows bored out of their minds, the young man decides their meeting cavern in the center of the pride is the best spot for the fighting to commence. it's certainly not the first time these stones have seen blood. with eyes and ears alert for those appearing from the tunnels, karsa settles in to wait - either for an opponent or to be told off. a stab of anxiety tells him the position is for valerian or reti, both of whom had proven themselves when alexander had needed to take a step back. the shoes to be filled were impossibly big and karsa is not sure his father - or any of the others - will trust him to try.

karsa vs ???
for obsidian hollow heir
0 of iii

hits: [roll=#d20]
dodges: [roll=#d20]
luck: [roll=#d20]

coding by daanyen | art by fildgvey566

Was he surprised? Not. At. All.

Karsa had always been a very active presence and had a very strong social game. Not only that but the very moment that they had not been royalty anymore, he had taken up a higher rank soon after in an effort to help out (or so it looked). So for Karsa to challenge for the role of Heir did not begin to surprise Cosmin but nonetheless he let out a loud roar in support for his brother and made his way to him. Taking a seat dramatically so as to address that he was most certainly was not interested in taking the seat of Heir or Sovereign. Being a leader was not for him, this he knew without question.

ART • CODE

It seemed that the Savante continued to have a flair for dramatics even in the young younger generations. Juliette had been taking her time moving through the areas of the tunnel where she wouldn't get stormed on and yet the challenge she heard was meant to venture closer. Juliette had stepped down with her own personal reasons and she was happy to know that one of Alexander's children was looking to garner the position. Upon her exit of the leadership she had instilled upon Alexander what her thoughts were on lions that might be good to ask if they were interested. The one's that she had seen diligently doing their work and representing the pride in the best of ways. Karsa was one of them and so she spotted Cosmin, nodded her head to him, before taking her seat. Happy to see someone else shine for once.

^{ART BY AURORA, CODE BY CALA}

It was also not a surprise to him to hear the call. Hell, he'd suggested to Alexander a while back that Karsa would make a good heir, and he'd meant it. So he figured good on him for taking the initiative and making a go for it.

Cosmin and Juliette were both already there by the time he arrived, which was no surprise to him. He had to wonder if anyone would actually challenge Karsa for it. Surely someone wanted the coveted title? He supposed he could have done so himself, but he didn't, as a rule, fight family over anything and besides that he figured it would be better if Karsa held it over him. Alexander was worried about who would take over when he was too old to do so, after all. Considering he was much the same age, Karsa was the better choice now to get some leadership experience in before the time came.

So he took a seat over by Cosmin to wait and see what would happen.

Karsa had grown so much since she’d been living at the Hollows. Thella remembered fondly their first and only fight when she had sought his Barony rank in the very same cavern where he now called from; she’d won then, something she felt proud of, and so she knew well what it meant to challenge for something you desired and earn it. She strode quickly through the tunnels, hoping that he would gain that same feeling today for himself. @Cosmin, @Juliette, and @Angelo had already made their appearance and were all settled off to the side.

She headed over to join them, but not before offering a quick "good luck" to the Savante brother, and as she nestled in on Cosmin’s free side, she whispered in question, "Who of your family do you think might answer his challenge?" There were many Savante roaming their halls so there were quite a few possibilities.

art by moogle, code by lars

Dad, he offered as soon as @Angelo began his approach to the strawberry boy's side. Happy to have his father be near to him and give him a sense of belonging. Something he felt he was missing so often when it came to being surrounded by so many other younger siblings. Every so often he found himself thinking that he was underappreciated but really it was just his own boyish doubts. Well within his brain he knew that his parents loved each of their children no matter what but sometimes, that doubt just ate away at him until there was nothing left but sadness.

Even so when @Thella came to join him he feels relief and the doubts are cast quickly aside. Feeling eager to talk to his friend and smiling at her question with bright, shiny teeth. I'm not sure... but you could. It had been on his mind for a while — likely been on more than just his but he was just voicing it. You could be a really good leader, Thella. Whether that was challenging Karsa for the role of Heir or even being Sovereign. Juliette had stepped down voluntarily which left the spot open should she choose to think the suggestion over.

ART • CODE

@Cosmin's answer took her by surprise and she could do little but turn her head completely to look at him, nothing but shock written across her face. Even as he continued with his reasoning, she struggled to wrap her head around it.

"Me?," she whispered, her brows furrowing. She looked back out at Karsa as he waited for someone else—anyone else—to step up to his challenge. Surely, Alexander would want one of his own children as his Heir? "Oh, I don't know, Cosmin," she started, very unsure of herself. "That's very kind of you, but I'd imagine many of your family would like to keep it within the family." She'd been around in the Hollows for a while, but so had Reti. She thought back to his moment of temporarily leadership and how ill-received it was in Alexander's absence; as much as she adored Cosmin and had positive relationships with many other Savante, she still wasn't sure they would take it any better if it had been her in that position.

But, on the other hand, no one had ever said anything opposing Juliette's position as Sovereign; at least not that she was aware of. Alexander had made the appointment himself, as he would do here at the conclusion of this fight. Would that be the difference in the pride's acceptance?

art by moogle, code by lars

The now yearling is driven by the call from her older brother Karsa who was aiming for the heir position beneath their father. She had no qualms at the challenge so she had come just as an expectator, just to learn by watching instead. Even though she was finding her interests in the healing arts, fighting wasn't too far from her desires. Fighting could be good to defend daddy right? So she arrived with the wish to observe, she lied down on her own spot watching or waiting for the fight to begin. A big smile rested on her splotchy face as she stretched to get a more comfortable posture to observe., wondering if there would be many ouchies or not.

+5 attend an spar or challenge to asses the wounds.

Clara Savante

code by loki

Yes, you! he shakes his head as though he can't begin to fathom why she could not see how awesome she would be as a leader for the Hollow. She might not be a Savante but Juliette had been a very consistent lion at the borders and a constant hunter even before she had become Sovereign. Thella was that and then some, she would be a good non-Savante representative alongside his father and brother. He could see no better lion for the position. It is in the family, still. My dad is at its head and no one seems to be challenging Karsa so he'll probably be Heir. So really it's just you helping them out. A Sovereign had little to do with taking over the pride and everyone knew how hard @Thella worked to keep the pride functioning even as just a ranked individual. Sovereign would only give her a bit more responsibility but he knew in his heart that she was worthy.

ART • CODE

For Mircea, the promise of blood echoing out amidst the roar of the raging storm seems to carry a distinctly ominous tone to it.

But he cannot ignore it.

The presence of his kin keep him steady. He will bear witness to the making of an Heir. 

Karsa's dedication can be neither denied nor doubted. If the ghoul is surprised, it is not by the boy's ambition, but rather by the delayed realization that perhaps there is a reason he has yet to cross paths with Valerian since his return.

The ghoul emerges slowly from the darkened tunnels, dappled coat breaking away from the shadows like strands of swirling mist, nostrils flaring as his copper eyes swept intensely across the cavern to study those who had already gathered to his nephew's summons.

Juliette and Angelo remain steady presences, just as he always expected them to be. Cosmin's presence at his brother's challenge is entirely unsurprising, though his attention currently seemed focused upon a petite grey lioness that Mircea thinks he distantly recalls seeing walk these halls before. The remaining youth is not entirely familiar to him, though her red-ringed spots and pale splotches identified her clearly as family.

For once, it seems he's arrived relatively early.

The dappled beast would move to take a seat near @Juliette, inclining his head towards her politely before returning his gaze back to @Karsa. Should he catch his nephew's eye, Mircea would offer him a deep, silent nod.

The youth may be bold, indeed. But wasn't that precisely how their young were supposed to be?

code x art