Seneca takes his time in making his way to the challenge. Alaric is a determined bastard, he'll give him that much -- but whether he is cut from a cloth made for kingship is uncertain still. Despite the months spent in the Oasis, he doesn't know much of his Gentry other than his like-minded love of bloodshed and that he has been a sovereign somewhere else -- in another world, another life. Not here, not where it matters. But the Stärke has the good sense to leave his allies alone, and that grants him the opportunity to be neutral, if not notably curious about the outcome. The swamp is a harsh contrast to his desert home, and where he may have once pined for such a place of darkness and shadows, he's grown quite fond of his kingdom. An idle glance passes over @Úlla as the only familiar (friendly) face here, offering her a slight incline of his chin, but the Miroslav opts to recline onto his haunches alone on the outskirts. The Caladan queen has company herself, and he has no prudent business with her for now. Shifting his attention to the bloody fight, he finds himself almost bored that this event doesn't have such an entertaining show on the side to distract everyone. This time, it's all eyes on Alaric, and none of them seem too pleased about it. That's always how these things go, though, isn't it?

image by k'sariya, code by koi

Jafar VS. Alaric FOR Ecrosia Mire
— RESULTS —

Jafar Hits: 3 + 3 + 4 + 4 + 3 + 2 luck = 19
Jafar Dodges: 1 + 2 + 2 + 2 + 3 = 10

Alaric Hits: 4 + 4 + 4 + 5 + 4 = 21
Alaric Dodges: 1 + 0 + 3 + 2 + 2 = 8

Jafar Successful Hits: 11
Alaric Successful Hits: 11

---

TIE-BREAKER

performed on discord by @Squid

Jafar Hits: 3
Jafar Dodges: 2

Alaric Hits: 6
Alaric Dodges: 0

Jafar Successful Hits: 3
Alaric Successful Hits: 4

ALARIC HAS WON THE CHALLENGE FOR ECROSIA MIRE!

Please allow the challengers to respond to the fight results first. As per the site rules, if 3 days go by without a post from the challenger(s), they can be skipped. Whichever comes first! Any posts made before this will be removed, unless you are posting to another fight.

---

WOUNDED ROLL

performed on discord by @Squid

Jafar is automatically WOUNDED for losing!

Alaric Wounded Roll: 1d5 = 4

Alaric is WOUNDED!

Profiles will be adjusted to reflect the wounded rolls, which, if received, reduce the character’s hits and dodges by -1 for an standardized amount of time. Any wounded rolls received from this fight are considered healed as of March 16, 2022, and are logged in the wounded log. Once healed, post in Trade & Dice Updates to have your dice returned to normal.

To be frank, the Casales male would've fought until his insides were dragging onto the ground. He would've fought until there was no chance in hell he could even lift a paw but as the fight progressed, he could feel @Alaric's weight pushing him down. Until eventually it felt like he was being suffocated from the inside out. His injured right front paw bending under his own weight as he struggled to continue standing. Loss of blood evident as his movements began to slow until he blacked out for a good little while. Twenty seconds was all it took for his body to crumple down to the ground with his eyes shut and his world empty. Once he awoke some seconds later he looked straight to the face of the audience. His eyes looking desperately for @Maia, for @Jewel and @Keir. He had never been very good at admitting his mistakes or his flaws, but somewhere in his eyes there swam a long and winded I'm so sorry. Jafar tried his best to stand, ambling away in pain should his opponent let him tend to his wounds in private. Ecrosia wasn't his anymore, as hard as he had fought. Being a part of a pride that you had physically lost a fight for? He didn't want to be any member of it, not like this. So he walked and bit through the pain in his body as far as he could, away from Ecrosia. Perhaps he'd go hang out around Aniadar Jungle, for now, near the Band's borders since @Gawain had always been a peaceable man. He had barely noticed anyone sitting next to the main three he had seen and thus couldn't be sure if his ally had been there, @Roan either. Now, he supposed, the compass looked to the Hollows where he would find his next home. A burning hatred in his gut that screamed give 'em hell. exit jafar.

art by torriyi // code // do not use without permission

When the opportunity rears its head he reaches out to snatch it -- and with it, a crown. Alaric feels the former King slip, sees him crumple, and for a long moment he simply stands over him. Breathing heavily, bleeding, but with his head held high and pride written in to every inch of his body.

He had done it.

Alaric waited until he was certain that @Jafar knew it, before he took a step back and turned to face the crowd. A final glance for the man he had defeated, a glimmer of respect in his venomous eyes. As different as Amaryllis may be Alaric had been taught to appreciate a good fight, and the Mire man had given him a good fight. There would be more than a few scars left behind, and he welcomed each and every one of them. His body was littered with scars -- what were a few more?

His gaze swept the crowd, settling briefly on @Maia and @Jewel and @Ransom. They were the most vocal (especially the woman) and the ones with the most hatred in their eyes. "Leave," he grumbled, with a wave of his wave of his paw to the border they were at. Alaric had not crossed in to Ecrosia to issue his challenge, so they would not have far to go. He noted the presence of @Roan, too, mildly surprised to see the same dislike in the male's eyes.

This was the way of the world, and Alaric still found it odd that so many held his ambitions against him. Was he so wrong for wanting a home, just as they had? Was he so wrong for wanting that security?

He shrugged this off, and then addressed the rest. "My name is Alaric Starke, and despite what you may have heard I am not the monster that goes bump in the night." A wry grin twisted his lips, for though he may be old school he was not evil. At least, not to the general public. His wife may have another opinion all together.

"Those who do not wish to stay are welcome to leave. Take your children and go. If you can respect what I have done here then you are just as welcome to stay. I can offer you safety and security, and rest assured I will fight to my last breath to maintain it." Alaric spoke clear and true despite the exhaustion that weighed on his shoulders, now. The fight had taken its toll, and some of his injuries still bled freely. But he would not show them weakness, and stood tall before the assembly. It was clear, too, that he would not leave until they had all filed out -- his watch began now.

the thunder of the drums, dictates

image by yumpy, code by corvus

keir

He watched on baited breath with the last few minutes he had to watch until it were over, hoping that @Jafar would come out as the victor once this was all over. But as he watched his leader crumble at the weight of the other would the realization that the Mire would be led by this challenger become apparent. He would feel a knot form in the pit of his stomach as yet again a place he called home would be ripped from underneath him. It was heartbreaking, especially since there had been a recent litter born here that now needed to be rescued and evacuated from the change of leadership. Eyes would widen as he watched Jafar look over toward him of several faces, seeing the sorrow and guilt in his eyes, and as the former King took his leave would Keir feel a fire begin to rage within him.

With an inhale of breath would he straighten his posture, standing tall and rolling his shoulders forward. Eyes would look over his pride mates, watching them with a newly steeled expression. "Ecrosia, follow me." He would call out to them before turning on his heels, tail lashing behind him. He couldn't stand on the sidelines and allow for another to take his home with so many loyal members anymore, even if they weren't the largest pride in Amaryllis. They were small but they were mighty, and Keir would be damned if he would let them bend peacefully.

exit Keir.

art by drifty // coded by novi

Gawain watched, tense, as his friend battled and fell. These challenges were not going his way lately. But he remained where he was, shouldered squared, as the new leader ordered @Maia and @Jewel to leave. He watched and @Jafar limped off in the direction of his own home.

He kept an eye on @Roan as well, an ally that he knew he needed to visit. Because he was no longer allied with the Mire, and that concerned him. The two prides nearest his band had been overtaken, and he wasn't sure what that would mean for him. Soon, he would catch up with Jafar and Jewel, make sure that both were alright. But for now, he needed to make sure everyone he cared for made it out safely.

CODE BY LARS & ART BY MOG

Her steady eyes watch the battle, claws digging in the mud and debris beneath as her muscles itched for the same action her husband was partaking in. Occasionally, her gaze trails to the sidelines and the audience, studying their faces and hearing the loudest of their words. A grey pelted woman declares Alaric an enemy to the Mire, which makes Erna believe that must be @Maia, the current Sovereign and @Jafar's wife. The bearish Rike imagined digging her teeth into her neck, feeling the bitch's pulse die out between her jaws. How wonderful would that be? Her voice was repulsive.

It wasn't as if she took offense to her words, not at all. She could care less how Alaric exercised his power - it was his right, after all. He was a man and they were but women. This one didn't seem to know her place. And oh, how she despised squealing women. There were other faces who sparked an ancestral ire within her wretched soul. Sigrun. She could see them from here, sitting mighty tall as if untouchable, as if they couldn't bleed too. Erna could imagine jumping from her spot, taking the distance between her and them as quick as lightning, digging her talons in their grey and black pelts. But you cannot. And she didn't.

A wild wolfish grin split her muzzle, tugging on her scarred lips, as @Alaric rose triumphantly. He did it. He did it! She felt her world spin with joy, relief washing over her. Mildly she wondered if Odhgrimm was watching if he was seeing their her plan succeed. Weight fell off her shoulders and she was overcome with a sense of arrogant pride. Her confidence rose from the ashes like a phoenix, giving her a false sense of fearlessness and certainty that she could obliterate anything that stood in her way.

She came out of her hiding, her dark shape cutting through those gathered like a dark horse bringing a promise of destruction. The smirk didn't fall from her lips, strolling down the swamplands as if she walked on a red carpet. Erna took Alaric's side, purposefully pressing her flank into his bloodied pelt. A demonstration of her loyalty and a subtle claim of her position as wife. She watched them disperse, noting their angry faces. It's not over, she knew that. Those fools will gather up their forces and try to retaliate. "Sag es einfach," she didn't let her gaze wander from their departing forms. "— und ich werde ihnen jetzt die Kehle aufreißen." Alaric has her, he has finally earned her, and she was going to fight for him until her last breath, just as she would fight for the Rike.

"One is Jafar." He responded to Tullia's question, hi muzzle tilting in her direction so he could be more clearly heard over the battle's symphonic cries. "His wife Maia-" He gestured towards the grey woman. "-came to the Brook not long after we took it back to establish an alliance." In truth his recollection of who exactly Jafar was, was less sure. He and the lion had both been in Ecrosia at the same time but beyond that he did not know the High Sovereign of the Mire. But at least his wife he could identify, her reaction would tell enough who was who in the end...

He knew the feeling of helplessness, of just watching the fight not able to do anything but hold your breath and grab the ground for dear life. He was not unaware this could be his home still if things had been kinder to Kiton and the Hodari. His safety and security could be threatened... as if it hadn't just been.

As the conclusion came, the victor declared himself, Aquila felt himself leaning lightly into @Tullia. His body vibrating with a low growl- a snarl over his face as clear display of the Brook Lion's feelings on the outcome. Without further words Aquila turned and began to trail along the vacating Mire lion's path. Effort put in to hid the limp and healing of his wounds Aquila currently bore from his own fight. He spared one last look to Tullia, apologetic and guilty he might undo some of her hard work...

/exit

ART BY NICOLEXV , CODE BY LARS

What began as childish excitement fueled by the tensions in the air quickly morphed into full-blown panic. Sedona watched as her father was bloodied by the pale brute, the ferocity of their motions and the guttural sounds beaten out of their chests filling her tiny body with utter terror. She flinched with each movement, finding herself inching closer to her mother with each moment that passed and finally feeling as if she might jump out of her own skin when she was greeted by an older cub. "H-Hi," she stuttered in an uncharacteristic show of nervousness, sweeping her silver gaze over the other cub's striped and shaggy pelt and failing to notice just how similar they were in their small stature and bobbed tails. It seemed she lacked awareness of her own uniqueness against the larger scape of Amaryllis, having only met a few other lions outside of her immediate family. Her attention was robbed easily by her elder sister's pleas for the violent scene to stop and Sedona shot her head in Maia's direction, wondering what their mother would do to accomplish such a thing. To her horror, it only stopped when their father fell. "Papi!" Sedona cried forlornly, taking a single jutting step forward as if to save him. The realization of her own feeble size came second and a frown pressed firmly down against the edges of her mouth as she watched him hobble away from the scene, the saddened air around her and his defeated demeanor hinting at some horrible conclusion the babe could not yet understand. "W-Wait! Don't go!" She cried out, finally darting to try and keep up with the large predator in his retreat. -exit- @Jafar @Maia @Thrain @Amandil @Kinki @Bijoux

art and code by Cloudy

"speech."

Lying hidden, the rogue would observe. It would seem that this challenged angered many and not all were part of the Mire pride. The scent of other places clung to several of the lions present…allies most likely, but prides come and go, why was there so much hostility? This was the way of things. The weak were usurped and a younger, stronger lion would take their place. Amaryllis was a strange place indeed. The two fought hard, neither wanting to give to the other but eventually one did fall. He would limp off, leaving the challenger the new king. Normally, this was where Ronin would slip away, but the hostility in the air kept him rooted to the ground, mismatched gaze drinking in the scene that unfolded. The challenger spoke, telling three to leave, and then introducing himself. Alaric Starke. He made bold claims of safety and security, that he would fight til his last breath for those that remained with him. Ronin’s eyes would roll at this, everyone said that. The rogue was sure that the beaten beast had declared the same and had that happened? No.

Another male would not stand for the challengers success it seemed, telling the pride to follow him and it seemed some had followed him. The lion stalked off, but not too far, just safely on the other side of the border before looking to see who followed. It seemed Alaric would have all the chances in the world to keep his promise, because whatever this was- it was not over. A bearish lioness would appear as everyone took their time deciding what to do, pressing against the wounded King in such a way that even Ronin couldn’t mistake her unspoken words. ’Mine’, it said. She would utter words to the king that Ronin did not understand, but her gaze and posture was unmistakable. She wanted bloodshed.

Ronin doubted anyone would attack the King now, the rest was family drama…something he had no interest in. The rogue would rise, staying low to the ground until he was safely on the other side of the borders and then he would raise to his full height and leave- for now. He would return once the dust settled.

--exit--

Barbarian:
+5 - observe a fight {2/2}

Sleuth:
+10 - sneak into a pride without getting caught {2/2}
+10 Learn something about pride/group/family relations {2/2}

code by corvus