Beneath the crack of thunder came Cassandra's call to the throne, and though the challenge is expected to all who knew her well enough, there still comes the pang of anxiousness wonder that always rises in the face of potential war. It is a beautiful place, and he knows it all too well from his youth. Aquila was good to his family, and he held the long-reigning King of The Brook in high regard.

In his eyes, Vermeda should return to rightful hands; the ones who had both nurtured it and expanded within it's embrace. Of course, life is not so black and white. Today, blood would be shed, and he knew damn well who was rooting for. Cassandra had marched over-border, and Thrain brings himself just short - close enough to see the gathering, but not yet willing to be so brazen so as to tresspass.

_{art by yumpy —}

She was well aware of the consequences of her actions - but she had in essence been given permission by the very mother who had made that truce to go ahead and attempt to take the pride back for the Natives and return it to the rightful paws who deserved to live on these lands. Tail lashed around her as lions started to come up, more on her side than others. She could feel her cousin @Diomedeidae's gaze on her back, and was glad to know she had family here to support her quest to wrest the Brook from the control of those who had stolen it without honor. Thunder cracked overhead, and lightning flashed - illuminating a vicious expression on the Valour-Greyflood's face.

It would take some time for her opponent to show, and she had to suppress a snort of amusement. This tripod though she could rule the Brook? Had to be that plum bastard pulling the strings. Speaking of... he arrived shortly after her opponent. Both snarling about the truce being broken. A sharp laugh escaped the brown lioness. "I was given permission to return the Brook to its rightful inhabitants. My mother blessed my challenge - your words have no standing." And it was true - Morrigan had essentially given her the green light to go ahead and challenge for the Brook, to try to wrest it from the control of those who had stolen it from them. "You and yours will die before my family does. Your name will fade from history upon your death. My mother, will live on forever." She said, readying herself for the battle to come.

--Fight starts here--

As her opponent lunged forward towards her, Cassandra was quick to move to the side so that Renfri's teeth scraped her shoulder rather than getting a grip. The larger lioness would attempt to sweep the right front paw out from underneath the smaller lioness while simultaneously attempting to get a grip on the right side of her neck. She would fight viciously, and without mercy. She would not show this lioness any mercy, nor would her family receive any either. Hers hadn't, so why should she show them any either?


Cassandra vs. @Renfri
For Vermeda Brook
Round 1 / 5
Hits:

Rolling 7d20: 3 + 14 + 8 + 6 + 13 + 19 + 11

Dodges:

Rolling 5d20: 2 + 5 + 8 + 9 + 19

Luck:

Rolling 6d20: 19 + 16 + 4 + 5 + 7 + 20

text. "speech."

Art & Code by Zodiac

+10 Attend a spar or challenge to assess the wounds (2XP)
+10 Observe a fight (2XP)
+10 Maintain your weapons (2XP)

Rainhart is only a touch late to the call, recalling what had transpired on his last visit to the territory of Vermeda Brook. He had not healed well from his injuries, but he had healed all the same from the two enemies he had faced off with; though likely the right side of his face would never quite recover it’s original range of expression. But that was always a threat that came with battle and Rainhart was not the vain kind.

He is simply too big to hide amongst the shadows, even on that dark and rainy evening. His pelt lay damp as he emerges from the undergrowth past the Vermeda borders, pale eyes upon the two figures already locked in combat. Individuals he had seen at the raid, all those months ago but didn’t know the names of.

He watches carefully, both to assess the beginnings of injuries of the two parties and their fighting styles. Rainhart doesn’t settle, but does use the wet grass to clean his claws of clodding earth, his senses sharp and attune to his surroundings.

code © hinter

She had come upon a few of these now, each quite as chaotic as the last. Azhira had only really stuck her nose in this business because she was passing and heard the commotion. She didn't really have allies here and didn't know too many of the lions that attended. Truthfully, she was just in attendance to watch the drama unfold, to watch a fight, and to learn what she could of the situation at hand.

She was trespassing, but a lot of others were, too. Had she been politely asked to leave, she would have; but she wasn't going anywhere with several of the ones that smelled like the place shouting "out" at her. So, the tigress took up a comfortable seat upon a rock with a good view of the battleground. Her green eyes scanned the flat plains, looking for a friendly or familiar face.

Amidst the chaos, though, she also took to studying the lands beyond Vermeda's borders. It was nice here, and she wouldn't have minded calling this place home instead. The area around the borders was amidst the Grove's forest, but the trees were a bit thinner here. She could see further on that they thickened and the land elevated some, too. The air was moist and the lands were well-watered, which told her that there was an abundance of water, too.

Her sightseeing was interrupted by the sounds of speaking - amidst all of the arguing already going on. The two females, who Azhira assumed would fight, exchanged words. Azhira strained to hear the woman who came from within the Brook's words, and as she concentrated upon her face, she tried to watch her lips as she spoke, finding it easier to figure out what she was saying that way. Thankfully, she could hear the brown lioness just fine; her back was to her, so there would've been no way Azhira would've been able to decipher it.

There was some kind of broken truce here? The tigress had no idea what that meant, but she supposed if she lingered, she'd soon find out.


[sleuth xp] (doubled)
+20 Learn something about pride/group/family relations (Sigrun vs. Saxe / and allies)
+10 Study the landscape of an area
+10 Practice reading lips

-Azhira is trespassing, but also just an observer! She is open to drama, though, if you'd like your character to mess with her!-

her pride status is vague atm, but it can be noted that she smells like the beach!

code © cala

@Iritrios rushes forward and takes place near @Orei , both small boys holding such a fiery attitude that Aeistrios finds himself rather proud of. Even if it was dangerous for them so young, he was glad to see them show off what strength they did have. @Setri ♔ and @Seifrienriosa were with them, as well, Aeistrios found himself flocked by children. Such a far cry when it used to be enemies who surrounded him instead. Attention drifts back to @Kireena and it seems the Rainforest woman has even more of a bone to pick than Aeistrios knew why. As she goes on to speak with her unkind expression, Aeistrios finds the urge to rip that ugly half-mane right from her scalp. That is, until a laugh bellows from his lungs in a sarcastic manner as he aims it to the Firnen bitch, noting @Etain as well. A child is no longer a child when they decide to do adult things. He comments, defending himself as there was ground for it. Each fight he'd been in had been started by the kid - be it trespassing or charging him. Or lie. He adds as he finds his gaze locking on @Etain for emphasis; unsure what she had spilled to the Rainforest, but Aeistrios had never laid a paw on her, never even saw her beyond freeing her from his lands. @Aneistri attempts to curl into Elio and Aeistrios focuses on the two of them for a good moment, admiring his plum daughter and easily vowing to himself to place harm to anyone who got too close to any of his kids. @Cassandra ♔ speaks about being given permission and that her challenged had been blessed by Morrigan - something that catches his attention. "Then you know the terms of the truce, and what happens when you break it." He spits back, blessed or not her actions caused the truce to break and the bounty to be placed upon her mother's head. "She will live on forever... in the hearts of who loved her, and who will grieve her for your actions." Was the land worth it enough to her? Was the Brook so important to hold ownership over, that she'd dip a paw in murdering her mother? Aeistrios smirked at the idea, having full confidence in himself to bring down Morrigan.

art by era

( Aelynthi is hiding on the very outskirts caked in mud and in a bush, just enough to watch and is not interacting with anyone so skip over her please! )

It cannot be afforded to stand idle now -- not when Anaire depended on her, the pride depended on her, but at the same time, she cannot risk it all. Whether this would be closure of a regret or hers of not, the thunderous weather still allowed for her to hear the challenge rise up from the Brook, but she recognizes the voice this time. It was not simply a fight of strangers, but a battle to ensure that once more the native's home fell into native paws. It drives her forth from the Hollows like a moth to flame, after she had fed and tucked her only child into a safe place near the edges of her home. It would simply make for her retrieval to be faster, after all. Knowing the history of how challenges went, this would be something that she dipped in and dipped out for as her place as a mother now ultimately ruled over all.

She is no idiot though, having covered herself head to toe in mud. It plasters her half mane to her fur almost enough to hide it, the only give away of her identity being her hazy blind eye if anyone but friends could recognize it. She settles into bushes among the outskirts, anxiety riddling her as she watches Cassandra begin her plight to take back their home. Her attention goes to Kireena and Dio then, claws seeking purchase in the ground as she watches the tension build between her dearest friend and whoever the large purple-hued man was who so easily spit words of such venom in her direction. The charcoal druid could not afford to give up her position though, and so she waits, murmuring a breathy whisper of a prayer of her friends for their protection. " Maua, please... do not let my friends meet any harm today. If they are to be in battle, let them reign victorious. "


+ 20 - cast a blessing over a group (dio/kireena) (1/2)
+ 10 - pray on your own (1/2)

table by sentinel / stock

The storm had easily made it's way to the back of the line in terms of scary.

The roar had caused his body to jump, eyes wide as realization began to set it. Already were so many of his siblings gone - his parents too. When Refieron arrived, there seemed to already be a stand off of sorts. Ears pinning back on his head, the swamp boy moved closer to @Orei , @Aneistri and @Iritrios . He noted @Setri ♔ and @Seifrienriosa afar too. However his focus was more inclined to his father, who seemed to be having words with a Firnen woman and the challenger. Eyes furrow as he observes, puffing out his chest and holding his chin high as he takes defense to his family. "Get em' Dada!" He mewls at Aeistrios' paws, wondering if his support had any weight to it or not.

art by vas/coded by sava

Of course they come for her home. Mongrels, the lot of them -- envious and heartless by any measure. She knows what the storm means; she knows what the call means... even if the why is beyond her. Aerith loved her mother and would never risk her life, certainly not for something as trivial as a crown. But these lions were fools. She approaches through the swelling storm, the press of impending rain and the sounds of beginning battle noted easily. Her father is here as are some of the younger children; despite herself, this makes her nervous. If the ountain lions would throw away their queen-mothers life so easily, then surely they wouldn't bat an eye to hurt a stray cub. Quietly she seeks to move close to the youngest ones, hues of blue and purple evident among the crowd. Stay close and stay alert, she murmurs to her siblings -- younger, but not always smaller. Her gaze turns, then, to her mother -- eager to watch her fight. Even if she knows this is the first battle of many.

code by shaz

i

have known anger before war or walking / i have known fear before i have known love

---

His gaze was hyper-focused on the battle sprawling out before them, Cassandra readily throwing herself at the Vermedan Queen. But it were not simply just a battle; there were far too many words exchanged, ones that the Caladan King might have been content to ignore had they not pertained to his sister. Immediately, the fur on the back of his neck rose, his fiery gaze narrowing. If Morrigan had truly blessed Cassandra's challenge, then it was a decision not made lightly; and though he'd always imagined the softer of his cousins to defer to the side of caution, to protect the lives of their own rather than vye for power, but Kvare was always open to having his predispositions challenged.

This would be a war. It were only just a matter of waiting for their soldiers to come.

And it seemed Vermeda's army were a bold gaggle of cubs. Kvare watched them from his perch, observed as they collected together in small groups and either talked amongst themselves in half-hushed voices or beckoned the intruders to leave their territory. A cunning smirk unfurled upon his lips as he found one stranded cub, appearing as if he is searching for the rest. While he could not obviously see Zephyr's blindness from this short distance, he could tell that the young boy were searching for something he could not find. Kvare would help him find it.

He aimed to come up from behind @Zephyr, attempting a seamless and silent motion, as best the beast could. A paw reached outward, attempting to scoop up the boy between his forelegs. Why not come with me, dilthen er? he smirked, turning his gaze down toward the boy, Your potential is wasted in Vermeda.

Blind or not, he was a spoil of war.

Kvare vs ???
for Zephyr
o of iii

Art by Rabbit, table by cala

She had not realized just how much her fear began to grow until @Kireena is at her side and Dio feels instantly ten times stronger. "I'm terrified." She admits in a quiet whisper to the Heiress, brave face slipping just a second before it's gathered back up and Dio stands ready still to support her cousin as needed.

And strangely although it seems perhaps might be needed... the reception from Vermeda was noticably small and young. There is not room for guilt in Dio's heart, that she and the Valour would stand to take away the only home they knew. The world is cruel, blazen across her face in scar and memories of painful hogweed. Let them learn that now, it was kinder the sooner that they knew that. Because with the monster that was their father it was inevitable that cruelty was in their blood and hearts... if they could inflict that pain someday let them suffer it now. There's no sense talking to them anyways.

Dio is mostly ignored in any case, but she stays supportive at Kireena's side while @Aeistrios ♔ faces the Rainforest heiress down. This was it? Dio felt the fear seep away into the earth, her body relax as she tsked her tongue on the roof of her mouth. Disappointed in what she saw. Not his actions, not the crimes he was accused of. Just... All of him was one big underwhelming disappointment. No monster, not even a truly ruthless fighter. Just a man, and barely one at that. It was admirable to try and keep peace, solve problems with words, it was equally admirable to fight it out in battle. But to do neither and just stand there blowing hot air?

"It's a better fate than what awaits you. I hope for you to find so very many people who will mourn you when you are gone... respectfully." Dio says flat and calm-teal gaze born down upon him with numbness, with the absence of fear and anger. Because even she, a vassel to the afterlife and bound to remember the dead would not. He would not even be a Boogeyman to tell her children about. He will be nothing in her world. He will always be nothing because he was ... nothing. Death awaited them all, and what a lonely one he will have.

"Pain doesn't make people. It's love that makes people. Pain is inconsequential. It's love that saves them. And you would know that but you have none around you."

code by dee, art by irish