Bruno landed awkwardly in the dense foliage, sticks and thorns scraping and tugging against his pelt even as his claws punctured wine dark shoulders. He snarled a pained cry as he smashed his nose forcibly into the hard skull of his opponent, electric agony shooting up from his nasal cavities all the way to the back of his head. It was no surprise a steady stream of crimson ran freely from damaged caverns. It was enough that he hardly felt the claws slashing ribbons upon shaking ribcage as adrenaline and fury threatened to overtake him completely.

He attempted to slash his claws all the way down the larger lion's legs as he regained his footing, trying to plant his right foot squarely upon his opponent's left in a brutal stomp to buy himself time as his dizzied vision cleared.

---

BRUNO vs. @Lucifer
for FIRNEN RAINFOREST
Round 2 / 5
Hits:

Rolling 8d20: 13 + 15 + 1 + 20 + 18 + 2 + 5 + 4

Dodges:

Rolling 5d20: 13 + 10 + 6 + 9 + 12

Luck:

Rolling 5d20: 13 + 11 + 18 + 16 + 4

Oni

A k a i

The Oni were aware that two had disappeared from their little group. That two had wandered too far from their lord's side. So he followed, at a distance, hidden, concealed. His eye-catching red coat dulled with mud, dried into dust. Not an easy feat with winter's cold grasp on the land but one he had taken care to ensure was upheld. But it did its job in making him less noticeable, both to the eye and nose.

So he slipped through the rainforest quietly stalking the trail and tracks of the concubines. Though @Kozue's pawprints and trail grew muddled and obscure along the way he had no doubt she had been heading towards the rainforest. Could she be going unseen? It would make her a dangerous woman whose skills resembled those of an Oni too closely. But an oni would not marry a lord, an oni would not gain such freedom... right?

The red Oni lowered his colossal frame further as he tried to hide among ferns and rainforest shrubbery. His odd purple snake eyes swept the crowd of lions, noting the fighters but recognizing only the purple geisha from the passage. So he remained hidden his eyes eventually settling on @Nagi a frown taking to his brow. The concubine should not be here without an escort, even if he was here she was unlikely to know it. Which meant his lord's woman had wandered into another lord's domain unprotected and unaccompanied. A scandalous move, or a reckless decision. Akai didn't know, it wasn't his judgment to make but lord @Himura's. And their lord would come to know of his concubines little excursion to the rainforest.

Akai is attempting to hide

Febuary Y13 | Firnen Rainforest | Rouge | 2 years

Potential xp
Ranger
+5 Study and track footprints
+5 Practice concealing your scent

Assassin
+10 Successfully stay hidden for the duration of a thread
+5 Practice speed or stealth

code by corvus

When that familiar voice had sounded over the thick canopy of both the Mire, Firnen, and the neighboring jungle, Luther had paused mid-step.

Crows flapped dark wings, startled by @Bruno ♔'s claiming voice, showering snow down on the Mire monarch from the low-hanging branches of snowed-in swamp trees. He was frozen momentarily, but in that moment like a train thoughts of anger, disgust, and surprise all rushed past. But Bruno was not coming for the Mire, which was all the more shocking. What, had he seriously been telling the truth when he'd said he had no interest in the Ecrosian throne?

But Firnen, of all places? It was no coincidence. No. It was a calculated move.

Grinding his teeth, the Rike King prowled toward the borders of the Rainforest, displeasure obvious on his features, Swampland gave way to the jungle until Firnen's thick forestry revealed his young brother battling it out with @Lucifer, while the usual onlookers gawked. He settled near the borders but did not cross them out of mutual respect for the Rainforest's High Sovereign. Not that he knew him, but it was a calculated move should the man remain King. He must.

While Bruno may fighting again the Sigrun, against Alaric, Luther would rather trust a snake than the curly-haired second son.

The rainforest is hauntingly quiet. Even the birds ceased singing.

Then a harrowing, echoing call sends them flying from the trees.

Dread sinks deep in her belly. She's on the opposite end of the forest, sunning herself within that small, grassy patch of forest she'd spent talking with the king—her friend—what felt only days ago. And by the time she's made her way to them, @Lucifer is already engaged in battle.

She watches as @Rhett engages another in battle near the sidelines, and he is the only familiar face among a sea of strangers. But as her gaze finally falls upon the challenger himself, his is a face much less vague. Distant, perhaps, and only in passing; but when he'd left their pridelands that day, all her parents seemed equally pleased with themselves.

Firnen is home now, however, and Cree can't play nice when she's promised Lucifer she was on his side. Even if she couldn't do anything. She is just a girl among a growing crowd of nosy interlopers, who could hardly pick up a sword without trembling.

---

Cree is open to interactions!

Initially, the wildcat had slunk her way into the rainforest to try and steal dinner, using the brawl as her distraction (which was perfect, because it meant she didn't actually need to have one).
As she crept her way past the border, Vriska's gaze caught sight of the commotion - there were actually multiple fights happening, the clashing of claws and tearing of teeth a display that left the lioness transfixed.

Dinner could wait, she was used to the hunger, anyway. Wanting to get a better look, and stay out of sight, Vriska perches herself on a nearby branch, back against the rough bark of the tree, and watches the chaos unfold from the canopy.

Vriska is attempting to remain hidden!
Assassin:
+10 Sneak into another pride's territory without getting caught
+10 Successfully stay hidden for the duration of a thread

_{BG — ART — CODE}

This was a new home for the clan and it was already being threatened. Sighing he made his way to stand next to @Nagi. To make sure his third wife was safe. He knows more of the clan is around but for now he didn’t seek them out. For now he just shifts and sits down to the left of his wife. Eyes turn to look at the lioness and he speaks. "Nagi. Thoughts?" He asks as he turns his gaze to watch the main fight. He hadn’t met the king yet, but had planned to only for this other fellow to challenge. Though he had no loyalty to either man it was the land that he wanted to house his clan. He would talk to whoever wins this battle.

BARBARIAN;
+5 Observe a fight 1/2

family, honor and loyalty

And everything feels so different now

code by corvus & art by rabbit

His first thought, when his skull collided with the stranger's nose, was something along the lines of 'How the fuck had dad done that so often?' Felt like a shockwave down his spine and left him squeezing his eyes briefly closed against the spots in his vision. The pain of claws raking down his shoulders had them opening again soon enough, though. His raised right paw found the ground again to allow his left to rise, avoiding the crushing weight of his opponent at the cost of shifting the path of the man's claws - allowing them to slice across his forearm rather than follow the full path of his limb.

Lucifer's teeth would aim to clamp down on the left side of the stranger's face, abnormally long fangs seeking to puncture whatever soft flesh was in range - cheek or eye was preferable. At the same time, his rising left paw would seek to hook claws into the other side of the man's face, seeking the eye on that side and hoping to sort of trap the guy's head between fang and claw.

Already, he was cataloging things to tend to later, and things he wished he had a healer on hand for. Such as the wounds wrapping from his right shoulder and down his limb from the dark male's claws. Lucifer had learned poisons and antidotes, not medicines. Maybe he should change that? Not really the time to be reconsidering his specializations.

Lucifer vs. @Bruno ♔
Firnen Rainforest
Round 2 / 5
Hits:

Rolling 6d20: 6 + 12 + 17 + 7 + 13 + 8

Dodges:

Rolling 5d20: 5 + 7 + 1 + 14 + 12

Luck:

Rolling 6d20: 17 + 9 + 16 + 10 + 4 + 18

Sleuth Master Perk: Watchful eye (use the Sub-Master perk of another trade once per 3 OOC months)

• Ambassador: Home-turf advantage (+1 luck to pride-mates and allies when fighting in their pridelands)

Bring your big nerves

But stay wild if you do that

code by corvus || art by drifty

the rainforest is not far from the summit, not really- and when he hears the cry for a challenge -- gryff is quick. his surefootedness brings him down the side of the mountain and across the grove- towards the rainforest. he moves through the pines as they shift to jungle, and brushes against leaves- mud, and other things to cover his scent as he approaches. he creeps among shadows and brambles, crawling onto his belly as he finds a hiding place and begins to watch. two lions battle it out, and he doesn't recognize either of them -- not really. it is a bystander he sees in the distance, a pale male- that he does recognize, and he remains tensely hidden in the shadows- a careful eye on the king of the mire, or at least who had bene king when he'd been prisoner... and an eye on the fight.

watch and learn.

gryff is attempting to remain hidden

code by corvus|art by irish

@Rhett VS. @Wilson FOR Dominance
— RESULTS —

Rhett Hits: 2+3+4+5 Luck = 14
Rhett Dodges: 0+1+1 = 2

Wilson Hits: 3+2+2+7 Luck = 14
Wilson Dodges: 3+2+3 = 8

Rhett Successful Hits: 6
Wilson Successful Hits: 12

Wilson 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.

ooc:

With her snack hanging in her jaws, she would move to walk the borders of the forest curious to see who was defending their pride. Isolda knew nothing of the politics here, she didnt know the blood fueds and what have you going on in Amaryllis. And so with her little snack, a baby bird, in her jaws she would move to lay down across a tree srump. Mindful to not cross any borders and give herself a opening to attacks. A peaceful observer is what she was today, nothing more.

ISOLDA IS ON THE BORDERS NOT TRESPASSING FEEL FREE TO INTERACT

code | image