GOD KILLS INDISCRIMINATELY AND SO SHALL WE

petal request up

With his wounds and bruises recovered, his gashes knit up and shining with new flesh, he went to the seat of the enemy who stood longest and firmest. Fools were delicious but a meal tasted better when all the knives at the table were his own. The Bluffs would surely stand in the way of his family's vengeance against the Hollow - so let him cut them down while they waited in leisure, sharpening their knives and conversing with dull thought and poetry that would inspire nobody.

He did not believe that this majestic stone plateau deserved better because it was just a hunk of stone, but he did believe that his family deserved to rule all things and he did appreciate how beautiful this place was. Beautiful red. He missed the lagoon and the best den he had taken for himself, and the sunsets spent lounging with his kingdom under his eye, and maybe someday one of his own would rule it again and he could visit and jest and enjoy those sunsets but someday did not come without blood, nor did any sun ever rise without looking upon the twilight's dead.

The sunrise slanted on the east side of the Bluffs and he felt a chill wind come down. It felt like spring but once it passed he felt the summer heat return. He panted, giving his lungs the best advantage he could. Taste of the Bluffs, make it your own. He found an open space where the ground was firm and the brushy undercover was light, so that he could see the enemy approaching and (more importantly) they could see him. Their love was worship, their hate was worship, and he deserved it.

He roared for the pink, pathetic ruler of the Bluffs, letting full disdain drip from his tone. Cowards come out! A grin ringed his fangs as his skull lowered and he began to pace around, not leaving his back toward any direction for too long. He kept his tail low until it was needed, tuft fluttering between his hind ankles. His ears were back and eyes were narrowed. It was more preparation than the talk-king deserved but Vermier knew the value of display. @Zoticus was prone to talk and wheedle so Vermier portrayed himself as the opposite. Ready to throw down, no mercy for the majority.

Vermier vs @Zoticus
Wolfbron Bluffs
0/5

She heard the man before she saw him. That prick of bitter pill biting at her nape forced Úlla's lips to peel back in a frown as she made her way to the Bluffs. There was anticipation in her veins, hoping that Zoticus had already won. Alas, she was too eager for a victorious end to realize that @Vermier had just called for the king. When she came to, there was barely any lions gathered to watch. And knowing the wretch underneath Vermier's banner will come, Úlla decided to seek a particularly secluded spot. Her eyes locked onto the former lagoon king, her frown tightening at his image. Soon, others would join, but for now, Úlla watched with blood pumping into her ears. Using what she knew of the terrain to her advantage, she hopped onto a particularly high up perch so she may look down on the fight. Here, she did not wish to be bothered as green eyes focused on the ground that would become the battle ring.

image © argent 2021

The Bluffs where home. Her home. Their home. It was also being threatened and as she laid there with her babies she growled at the sound of the call. Tucking her babies away safely in the den she left to greet her old crush. Though the bastard was a crush no more. He had lost all his shine in her eyes when he had called her fat and beat her up while pregnant with her precious cubs.

Marching towards the scene she could smell the vultures swarming already. Their bloodlust hungry to watch the show. Arriving with her ears pinned and a growl ripping through her fangs she went to stand next to @Úlla but her eyes where narrowed on @Vermier. “You bastard first you beat on pregnant woman than you go after their home? Have you no morals?” She snarled a deep hatred aimed solo-y on the challenging lion.

“@Zoticus will rip you to shreds!” She added in a low yet proud and confident growl. Her claws digging into the earth as she started to shake. Some might assume she is scare like the last time someone went after the Bluffs, but no. Not this time. This time she was shaking with anger.

Art & Table by Autumn!

i lost myself into the night i clipped my wings and fell from flight

Vermier. And just where the hell has he been in all this? Off nursing his wounds, like a dog beaten? Not a word from him since he had fallen to the Hollows woman -- a ghost in the wind, only to turn up now at the borders of their enemy. She purses her lips and nudges @Ursula from sleep, having been spending an increasing amount of time in the den with her sister. She is the only sibling that Beelzebub still feels close to, and she clings to the shreds of their tattered family. She waits only long enough for her sibling to rouse before she slips out into the morning air, and makes for the Bluffs.

She has never been here before, but finds that it isn't without its own sort of wild beauty. Towering peaks stagger overhead, dwarfing everything else in their presence -- and here, even Vermier seems small. She doesn't say anything to her former king -- what is there to say? He had left them. Her ears flicker towards the furious red lioness, who spits her anger at the Dieudonne man as though he will give her the time of day.

"He doesn't care what you say," she mentions to @Arjana, though her voice does not host the same combative nature that it had before. Beelzebub is broken, but she hides it well today, plastering it behind a stony façade. She leans herself against the flat face of a rock, her mismatched gaze shifting back towards the man she had once called king.

table by sentinel / art

It was.... debatable as to whether or not he should be here. The High Sovereign was not at full strength - not by any means - and the road to recovery would be a long one. Still, he would not miss this. Vermier had crawled back out of the woodwork - a man that Magnus had ironically not met properly, and yet his reputation had cast a large shadow indeed - and instead of attempting to infiltrate his old home he would set his sights elsewhere. The Sigrún Jarl had not seen Zoticus since the strife in the Rainforest; while the circumstances had been tense, Magnus assumed they were still on fairly good terms - given his allegiance to both Ecrosia and Wolfbron, the titan suspected he'd acted completely within reason and therefore doubting himself was unnecessary.

Not that he often did such a thing anyway.

Despite being wounded, Magnus managed to be one of the first onlookers on the scene. @Arjana and @Úlla stood together, and so naturally the Lagoon High Sovereign would make a beeline for them. He stood on the other side of his sister, wanting to question the huntress on her wellbeing and the location of her cubs - though no doubt she'd tucked them away safely - but knowing this was not the place to do it. Mentally he would prepare himself; should things go awry here, he would gladly assist the Bluffs refugees to safety, even in his wounded state. Even if it meant smuggling newborn cubs out of the reach of a potentially vengeful King. But Zoticus was a strong warrior, and he knew better than to let himself doubt before things had even started.

He certainly knew who he was rooting for, anyway.

Attention shifted briefly to @Beelzebub, but for now he would remain silent. What was there to say? It settled only momentarily on the Bezra girl before shifting back to the arena - to the vacant spot that he imagined the High Sovereign would soon be occupying.

GOD KILLS INDISCRIMINATELY AND SO SHALL WE

His claws itched for something to dig into. To shed blood pale and clean across the new earth. He kept his head low, growling when he spotted @Ulla. His ember eyes lingered upon her injuries. Apparently she could still eat despite his ravages to her throat but his savagery had stilled her tongue. His upper lip puckered over his canines; his gaze passed on. Still he turned and paced, restless for the pink king to show with or without his retinue. Ears twitched toward @Arjana and his face softened but it was in a mockery of mercy, it was all deliberate pudge of features and a raven-like coo. "Non. No moral, cheri." He flashed a grin, something intended to be taken as charismatic. "But you. For beauty. For please me, you be free." His heart had hardened toward her and he could stand to chain her but because his heart had hardened, he could be cruel. He could single her out from the herd to fan his image. He could be capricious, merciful - and when he won, others would be desperate to seek his mercy too.

He did not linger on her, but continued his watch. @Beelzebub arrived and she looked wrecked, not merely from her defeat at the shores but from unseen forces that had come after. She had served him - whether she had won or lost, it was no difference, she had obeyed his orders and that was service - and what had she gotten from it? Maimed yes; that was war. But dispirited? "Amara no reward you?" his words honed in, offense in his voice, poking at the possibility (though he doubted it) that anyone who served his family could ever be left hanging. Cassine's injury and healing would have taken precedence but Bee was de facto leader of the swarm and he was sure his niece, once she had recovered her nerve, would have ensured the Bezra's continued loyalty. Vermier did not even consider the possibility that Bee blamed him for abandoning them; Vermier was an instrument of the Dieudonné, king of happenstance until Cassine took over. It would not have done for him to be spotted limping about, weak before his servants, taking up resources that should have shored up those who were uninjured.

He recognized @Magnus. So huge, colossal, maneless; it was a blight upon the world that nature bestowed gifts of strength on someone so cursed by birth. Vermier knew the power of unnerving silence - so to this male, he returned it, flashing a knowing grin. Not today. His attention not wavering, he continued to pace, looking for the florid king among the summer-seared scenery.

Vermier vs @Zoticus
Wolfbron Bluffs
0/5

She heard the call and frowned. Jewel approached in silence as she made her way towards the red rocks of the Bluffs. She saw @Vermier standing and realized he was the source of the call. The once queen drew up beside @Arjana, noting the lack of a belly and hoping her escapades in the Firnen war hadn't caused complications.

She would draw up on the red woman's left side, murmuring softly, for her ears alone. "Best not draw undue attention to yourself....not when it's so obvious you've recently given birth..." Jewel had multiple litters.. she recognized well the heavy weight of nursing teats and how the body changed after birth while still caring for newborns. Her gaze returned towards the challenger, expression stoic and unfettered.

"He has attacked young children in the past.." truthfully she wasn't sure that her missing cubs hadn't run afoul of the dieudonne. Not after what the original founder of the rainforest had told her after rescuing her sons from his clutches. Jewel hoped that her words would calm the upset mother. But also to help her think. Unwanted attention from this lot would likely out her children in the crossfire.

"He won't win. You should have faith in your king. I know I do." Thought she wasn't in the Bluffs pride, she knew Zoticus and Circe well. "And if he falls, then he will have help to protect those that live here as well." She wouldn't be leaving without ensuring that the members of the pride would be safe. She would apologize go her rulers later.

---

"Speech"

Code by corvus. Manip by scarf

Well tell me what you want, I'm all ears.
I'll give you all I got, blood, sweat and tears

Since the war with Ecrosia, Zoticus had confined himself mostly to his lands. His wounds had been severe- having been in multiple fights had left the pink King in a weakened state. It didn’t make things better that with his mate’s birth to their four cubs, she had been faced with complications. It was enough for Zoticus to see her back down to Noble, not wanting her to suffer anymore from the stress of ruling. Not when she needed to focus on their children more.

But where did that leave him?

Exhausted. While his wounds had scabbed over and with the help from the pride medics - healed fairly okay this far - him constantly patrolling and upholding the duties of the pride we’re wearing on him. Even more so when a majority of the pride had left his lands. Divided they were, numbers went to Andal, more went to Firnen- people were leaving without even telling him and Zoticus felt the blows from it. Now he was a wounded King, a new father, and barely anyone to help keep the pride afloat.

It seemed it was all on his shoulders.

Hearing the call upon the air caused Zoticus to rise. His head lifted from @Circe , eyes gazing out of their den. His muscles tended and a stressed sigh parted from his lips. “I knew this would happen.” He mumbled to her in the privacy of their home. With how weakened his pride had become, why wouldn’t someone try to take advantage? Gazing to his mate, his expression softened. “Keep them safe, while I keep all of you safe.” His head extended to try and nuzzle into her, breathing in her scent and comforting himself for a moment- and then he stood. Walking to the exit of the den, a limp in his stride, he looked back to her. “If I lose… try to get to Firnen. Cupid will help you.” The fact Zoticus even spoke of such a thing was a true sign to how tired he was. The King was usually confident, ready to face battle without a doubt of seeing victory- but there was hesitation to his eyes. Fear he would let his mate and children down.

He was only one man. He could only do so much.

Taking to a jog, Zoticus neared to the challenge. @Vermier was bold to be coming to his lands like this, looking to steal his home- and slowly did he feel anger pulsing through his veins. Good. Zoticus needed that anger to fight. He needed the rage. The bloodlust. Eyes would narrow to slits and jaws would remain shut. There would be no speaking to the enemy. He only desired his blood.

Acidic eyes came to land on Vermier and with a deathly silence did Zoticus charge forth, hoping to close the distance between them. Aiming to interrupt Vermier’s pacing, the King aimed to lunge and try to tackle the male from his side, claws unsheathed as they aimed to dig into any open skin.

Zoticus vs @Vermier for WB
1 / 7

Hits:

Rolling 9d20: 5 + 11 + 13 + 12 + 18 + 6 + 15 + 17 + 3

Dodges:

Rolling 3d20: 2 + 4 + 3

(+1 to hits due to pride tier)

coding by werge | manip by vasilia

The call woke her, still weakened from the birth that took a large toll on her. Immediately her heart began to beat faster- god dammit why did this have to happen now? Was it not bad enough that she found herself in this weakened state? Her children were healthy and for that she was incredibly grateful for those who'd been there by her side through the difficult process- but even they were merely days old, perhaps just a week?

Her deeply unsettled blue eyes, for once showing a greater sense of fear and worry for the outcome of this, met his. She couldn't tell him to not lose for their sake, not after everything that had happened to them- to him. While she'd taken a toll from birth, he'd taken a massive toll from the war. The both of them were not in a good way, and her husband was right in one regard.

Of course someone would come to challenge them. She just didn't think... It would be the former leader of Scilla doing it.

As he turned to leave, she extended her paw to very briefly stop him and draw his attention back to her. Something of desperation pleaded in her eyes. "Don't lose yourself in this. I... I'll find a way to get us out. Just please come back to me."

Losing Wolfbron would be hard, but losing him? It was nowhere near worth it. Not a chance. It was only after she made that known that she finally let him go, greatly trying to ignore the shake in her legs as she tried to stand. So much blood had been lost bringing her four children into this world... But she would spill so much more to keep them out of Vermeir's claws.

Leaning on the side of the den's entrance, looking briefly back at her little loves, she finally decided to do one thing she had never sought to do before. Never had she seen the deity that others spoke so fervently about, but...

Maua, give me strength. Please...

@Zoticus

lineart by moosehoof | coding by werge

Call it her protective mother vibe she was wearing like a perfume or her dumbdumb self but Arjana wasn’t worried about Zoticus losing the pride and even if he did well they’d cross that path if it happened. There was enough friends there surely they could help her and @Circe sneak cubs out of the Bluffs. Hopefully. Honestly she didn’t trust Vermier to not find and eat them. Where would they go though? The Oasis was closer than the Rainforest, but both places had their drawbacks. One they weren’t her home. Both would be close to an enemy. Though she still hoped to find away to patch things up with Kiton. She would also have to sneak @Mina out as well.

Standing there her eyes moved from Vermier to @Beelzebubs her words made her snarl at the girl. “No one asked you trespasser.” She hissed at the teenager. Feeling her temper raise she gave her a look daring her to try something. Though than her attention was pulled away by Vermier’s words. Looking back at him she stared him down. No she wasn’t scared she was very much pissed off. She had seen @Magnus out the corner of her eye on the other side of Ulla but said nothing to him.

As @Jewel arrived and spoke to her she looked at the dark woman with a fury in her eyes but listening to her helped her see reason. She had to be careful for her babies so she went quiet. Still she kept an eye on Bee before she finally saw @Zoticus arrive. “Kick his ass Zoticus! You got this!” She roared her support proudly for her King. So much for listening to Jewel and not drawing attention.

Art & Table by Autumn!