ooc: Thella is using her sub-master pathfinder perk: Use the land to help a character escape from a pride once per 3 OOC months

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Surprisingly, Thella found herself more fatigued than during her last journey this far east. At that time, she had headed for the Lagoon and the bloody war that erupted upon its beaches. This time, her path took her even farther—beyond and into the heart of the jungle. The firm earth gave way to something softer, muddier, until the ground itself seemed to tug at her paws. To trap her in place. Guess I’ve made it, she thought. She shoved the fatigue aside, she’d figure it out later.

The Mire was quickly understood to be quite the dangerous place. Each step had to be careful, purposeful. She kept as silent as she could, moving through the vegetation and using whatever cover she could find. The winter air was not the same as it was in the arid west. It was still thick, heavy. It loomed over her, as did the ever presence of the Mire lions. Despite the late hour, not all were asleep. Several times, she spotted figures on patrol and it slowed her considerably to ensure she avoided detection.

It felt like an eternity before she finally reached what she had come for—a cluster of what appeared to be guards. She eyed the den behind them, wondering if that’s where she was. Their focus was thankfully elsewhere as they chatted among themselves, oblivious to her approach. She crept past, into the cover of the den.

The sight made her stomach churn, but she knew this wasn’t that same feeling from before. This was true disgust. @Eisa was in even worse condition than she had feared. Buried beneath layers of malnutrition and mistreatment. There was a cold fury building in Thella as she crouched low, moving carefully toward the maned lioness, all while keeping an ear out for the guards outside.

"Eisa. Eisa, come with me now," she whispered urgently. "I’m here to bring you back to your sister. To Analía." She extended a paw, cautiously, offering the only thing that mattered now: freedom.

code by scorpixia♡︎

This content might touch on topics that are sensitive or triggering for some readers. Trigger Warning for mentions of trauma, hallucinations, physical illness.

By all accounts, she is broken.

Her breath comes in ragged gasps, shallow and without any depth. She is sprawled at the back of the den, laying in filth and disgust. Her maroon fur clings to every bone, every hint of muscle and fat gone. She is emaciated, she is a shell of herself.

She is not alone.

The whispers have been there for years, at least... she thinks it has been years. (Not the mere months it truly had been). She can hear them, and they call to her. Small voices in the shadows- nothing more than auditory hallucinations. Nothing more than the splintering of her mind, as she is forced into isolation and pain.

Wounds have haphazardly healed, major wounds- that have been left without the care of Ana, whom had escaped. She did not blame her sister- and truthfully, her escape was the only flicker of joy that Eisa had to hold on too. All she had aside from that emotion, that tiny spark of joy -- was agony.

Eisa. Eisa. Come with me now

The voices whisper their promises of freedom- of escape. She knows it is lies, that she cannot go anywhere- that the guards near her prison will not allow her to go. Yet, she stirs in the shadows, an ear flicking- her head barely rising. "Not today." She whispers.

She wants them to go away, to leave her be. To let her sink back into the oblivion that was sleep. She wants to sink into nothingness. She wants to let go.

Had she been more aware, she may smell the subtle differences between the shadows and the speaker, and when they speak. I’m here to bring you back to your sister. To Analía. An eye opens, at her sisters name- a racking cough, sucks into her. Her head lifts fully, and she sees the shadow of a paw extended towards her.

Real? Is this real? Or is it the fever that has taken over her? Is it hallucinations brought on by illness?

Her own paw extends, to brush against that of the other, and she stumbles forwards and upright. Legs shaking, chest heaving. She is standing, her back brushing the roof of the den, her shrunken, broken frame finally holding her upright.

Then she is following- eyes fixed on this not shadow- this lioness, who knew her sisters name. Who came for her when no one else had.

When she exits the boundaries of the Mire, the first breath is lighter, and she follows- following the female wherever she may lead.

After all, Eisa was bent, not broken.

-exit Eisa from EM-

@Thella ♔

ART BY YUMPY, CODE BY LARS

This content might touch on topics that are sensitive or triggering for some readers. Trigger Warning for mentions of implied abortion, crude language, misogyny, sadism.

He had seen her the moment she'd placed a foot past his borders.

A grey thing, bulging at the sides, smelling of unborn bastards and the dampness of that shit hole that the Savante called home. Anger had bubbled in him, but eagerness too. Eagerness for what he's about to do to her when she is far and deep into his land.

This is where she'll meet her end.

And who had she come for? He had not expected the Obsidian lions to care for the Sigrun, and yet here she was. Going for the "Jarl" of the sea rats. Letting the red wench limp free. But Luther had a bigger catch in front of him.

With his guards securing the borders and his members lurking in the night this wench must be truly mad to waltz in, round as a ball at that, and think she would go unscathed. As if it worked that way. He watched until he could hold himself back no more. That is when Luther's pale form emerged from the thick canopy, seeking to position himself behind @Thella ♔, the stench of the Hollows making his nose scrunch in disgust, fury twisting his face in a snarl.

"You must be the biggest fool out of all of them," his deep voice hissed low, one step and he was closer still, claws already biting at the ground. "I have no use of the red wench anymore - but you?" He grinned like a wolf about to devour a plump lamb. "You've saved me the hassle. Two birds with one stone, hmm? Or perhaps five birds?" He pointedly looked at her sides, before lunging in an attempt to knock into her with full force. She had walked into certain peril willingly, and that would be her greatest mistake. What sort of man allows his pregnant wife to leap into the lion's den? It only further proved Luther that his enemies were a gaggle of dimwits. Not an ounce of testosterone between the bunch of them.

Luther vs. @Thella ♔
for Thella
Round 1 / 3
Hits:

Rolling 7d20: 11 + 19 + 1 + 4 + 3 + 2 + 8

Dodges:

Rolling 4d20: 17 + 20 + 8 + 9

Luck:

Rolling 5d20: 14 + 12 + 17 + 7 + 3

He'd followed her. Of course he had. She was his Sovereign, and he would do all that he could to protect her. Eisa was out, it hadn't taken long. And as expected, the King came to take something back in return for what he'd lost. The issue being, none of them belonged to him to begin with.

A snarl erupts from his jaws as he does not hesitate to erupt from his hiding space. He would move to try and intercept his attack against Thella's side, wanting to ram into him just as hard or attempt to. Teeth would snap toward his face, "Step off, boy. This isn't a fight you want, I assure you." He would not sit idly by while this pathetic boy tried to play King and man.

He wouldn't call for anyone else just yet, not unless this suddenly became a dogpile. Then he would feel the force of the Hollows.

Alexander, @Thella ♔ vs. @Luther ♔
For Theft of Thella
0 1 2 3
Hits:

Rolling 8d20: 4 + 9 + 19 + 20 + 10 + 13 + 6 + 17

Dodges:

Rolling 5d20: 11 + 8 + 19 + 4 + 18

Luck:

Rolling 5d20: 6 + 12 + 17 + 14 + 20

table by aurora / art

The red woman all but ignores Thella at first. Her words came out a mumbled mess and she didn't even look at her. Until whispers of her sister seemed to stir that desperate need inside of her, filling her with a sense of purpose that had long been driven out. Once she realized what's happening, she was quick to her feet, shaky but determined, and Thella wasted no time in leading her out.

They didn't make it far before they were no longer alone.

Her heart sank, a cold dread beginning to wash over her. She had hoped to avoid confrontation, hoped she'd been careful enough that their escape would go unnoticed. Eisa deserved that much—a clean escape, a chance to reunite with Analía, free of this nightmare. But of course, the odds were stacked against them.

Before her, blocking her own escape, was the white lion himself. Thella recognized him immediately. She'd seen during the bloodbath at the Lagoon. But now, up close and with his focus on her, she felt smaller than ever. This is not a fight I can win. Panic clawed at her but she had to buy @Eisa time. She urged the Sigrún lioness on with a shout, "Keep going for the Hollows! Your sister is there waiting!" before shuffling back with each menacing step forward.

"If you think I'm an easy catch, you're sorely mistaken," she retorted. Her words were shaky and her chest heaved in barely-contained fear, but she wasn't about to lie down and take anything from him. Not when Eisa still needed her. She leapt sideways, trying to dodge his advances and caught sight of a blur of motion out her periphery. "Alex!" He appeared from nowhere, cutting between her and the Mire king and meeting him head on. She stood frozen in shock, her mind struggling to process, until instinct kicked in and she turned to bolt after Eisa with whatever speed she could muster.

@Luther ♔ @Alexander ♔


Thella is attempting to escape and is using her Pathfinder Lvl 2 perk: Knowing the lay of the lands aids in escaping (+1 dice when attempting to escape)
8 or above is a success

Rolling 1d10: 7

Rolling 1d10: 8

code by scorpixia♡︎

What was with all the yelling? Some lions were trying to sleep, but apparently that didn't matter to whoever was running around the Mire. Akuji considered ignoring it, but given his new position within the pride he figured that wasn't a good idea. He was supposed to care about what was going on. So he sighed and got up, waddling his way to the source of the chaos. He got there in time to see Thella running out, but the fight between Luther and some enormous male was just getting started. Akuji prowled around the perimeter of it, trying to see if there was an in, and also just making sure no one else leapt out of the underbrush to get into the thick of things. That and giving himself the best view possible.

art + code by spu

Something was happening.

He... didn't understand it. Couldn't possibly fathom a reason why strangers were flitting in and out of thr mud that belonged to his father. There were voices too, and most of them were angry. the sound of it makes his spine hunch and ears pin-- nervous energy welling in his chest. What was happening? Toddlijg steps bring him closer to the action, where he finds his father wrestling with someone. The noises they make though.... rose petal eyes widen as he hunkers down in the mud, unsure of what else to do besides watch.

code; background

Hollows. Sister.

He knew, then, who his next target will be. The Sigrun were crafty roaches, little maggots digging into the corpse of a larger being, using them for their gain. How pathetic, truly, the Rike's enemies have become. It was not a Sigrun that came for Analia, nor for Eisa. No. Apparently, they had lackeys.

He wasn't sure to laugh or to rage.

"If you think I'm an easy catch, you're sorely mistaken," The audacity! To come in the depths of his land and steal under his nose! Oh, how he will love to bury her ten feet deep in the mud!

He lunges, but he misses. She may be fat, but she is quick. Instead, another voice catches his attention and he turns only to face @Alexander ♔'s charging form. Hollows. Again. Infuriated, he choked out a laugh. "Boy? You get off your high horse, scum," he spat, lips peeling in disgust at the stench of trespassers. "You're nothing but a doormat for the Sigrun zealots. Get the fuck out!" He practically trembled with fury. He could not help but wonder how many more Hollows lions were in the shadows, now. Was this war, then? A raid? He knew it. He had expected it! The Rike monarch called for his members to be on guard, to ensure they snuff the roaches out of their land.

Next time he will be the one treading deep into Obsidian territory. But, unlike this duo, he would be prepared. They seem to forget that revenge was best served in numbers.

He sought to meet Alexander's charge head on, the duo colliding as Luther allowed his shoulder to take the brunt of it, sending him skidding back from the force. Pain engulfed him, rattling him down to his bones. He sought to use his skull and crash it into Alexander's chin so he may try and block the oncoming teeth.

Luther vs. @Alexander ♔
for @Thella ♔
Round 2 / 3
Hits:

Rolling 7d20: 8 + 16 + 15 + 17 + 1 + 9 + 5

Dodges:

Rolling 4d20: 15 + 5 + 11 + 6

Luck:

Rolling 5d20: 9 + 15 + 11 + 6 + 13

Rolling barbarianberserk 1d30: 29
You have failed to go berserk!

Rolling paladinbuffer 1d30: 1
You have managed to buffer the attack! (+1 to dodge roll for the next round of your fight)

a dream of spring

The sounds of violence were something that had become very familiar to Grîsa. Ordinarily she would avoid the altercation altogether, but decidedly this was too much noise for her to ignore. The grey yearling picked her way across the muddy expanse. Her lilac eyes widened as she observed her vater tangled up with a ginormous lion, one she certainly didn't recognize. But what she noticed as well was the small form of @Nicodemus huddled into the mud. She wasn't aware that he was one of her many half-siblings; she wouldn't have cared one way or another who he belonged to. He was tiny, needed protecting. She makes her way over to the boy, settling herself beside him but placing her own body slightly in front of him just to be safe. "Hello.. what do you think of all this?" Her voice was quiet, meant for only Nicodemus to hear so it wouldn't bring more attention to the two of them.


MEDIC EXP
+5 - Attend a challenge to assess the wounds (Luther v. Alexander)

code by loki

CREATOR OF MY OWN MASS DESTRUCTION

The commotion drew him there, but truthfully, there was an eerie silence to the Mire all morning that had his hackles on an upright even though he tried to go about his day normally. Now, the commotion was quick and the theft was even quicker. Swept up by a rightly breeze, Thella had come for Eisa and the two high-tailed it out of there before he could even try and stop either of them. When he arrived, he could see them running out of the territory -- too far for him to catch up with now. Grimm eyed the vicious fight between Alex and Luther and he assessed the situation. Blue eyes sweeping over his pride that had already gathered, he bellowed, demanding, "Vhat happened?"


@Akuji @Griša

I SET IT ON FIRE AND WATCH IT BURN

code x art