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 Posted: Fri Oct 12, 2012 1:04 pm
Quote:  Like any good reaver, Lennart had gathered at the designated spot just before the time the duel was due to start. Settling in to one side he glanced back and nodded as Lucivar arrived, greeting his captain with a faint smile. Lennart was never one to overly expression his emotions but he was usually an easy going kind of guy. Today however, he felt the strain that had gripped most of the pride. Today could be the end of an entire chapter in the pride's history, and the start of anew era. He was no fool, he knew of the rumours that had been going around, and had heard for himself the discontent some lions had displayed recently.
This fight... he wondered if this was the conclusion to all those muted warnings...
As the battle got under way, he stayed quiet, sitting but still at attention, ready to step in if any of the bystanders got too rowdy or tried to interfere with the warlord and the challenger. Quote:  Lucivar had not been far behind his Second, nodding in return but not offering anything more than a quiet greeting as he took his place beside the bigger white male. Watching the warlord and the challenger start to fight, Lucivar compressed his jaw tight and flicked a glance around the pride. As a Captain, he was impartial to this duel, only concerned in so far as wondering how things would change if the leadership was overturned. As a lion.. he was concerned... he was not best friends with Aesir, but the warlord was a known quantity and Lucivar at least knew what to expect from him. This Njal fellow was not one he knew of, aside from the fact that he was rather anti-Aesir and was an accomplished fighter... Outside of that, Lucivar didn't know if the lion would make a decent Warlord and that concerned him.
Suddenly a commotion broke out behind him and and the unfortunately familiar grating tones of a certain reaver assaulted his ears. Scowling he rolled his eyes at Lennart before turning and snapping out a command to be quiet and settle down. Quote:  No way was he missing this!! Ever since he had heard that some reaver had challenged the warlord he had been virtually comatose with excitement. He held no love for Aesir, in fact he was really rather looking forward to watching that cocky lion get what was coming to him. Needless to say Samael was rooting for Njal.
The glare sent his way from a particularly annoying Captain made the dark lion glower. he hated Lucivar and his squad almost as much as he hated Aesir... why the heck did those fools need to be here and ruin his day? Scowling he snapped his teeth at the Captain's growl but obediently plonked his rump down and sat, fangs barred at the pair of warriors before turning back tot he fight.
This would be good!
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Posted: Fri Oct 12, 2012 2:18 pm
Akatta couldn’t help but to notice the odd reaction to her question so she did look a little curious this time. The other lioness seemed to be honest and her reply held little shock value so Akatta felt even more interested. But she wasn’t the type to push for a proper answer and Njal was fighting and so she remained quiet for a few moments, watching her husband work towards a better future for all Stormborn lions.
“Your sister? I don’t believe I’ve met her yet if she resembles you in any way…” She said at last, looking apologetic. “I’m sorry, I’m a little distracted.” She chuckled, blue flames watching the dueling pair intensely. “To be honest, I thought you looked a little like the Warlord’s kin. I was wondering if you were a long lost sister had never been introduced to the pride.” Well, an illegitimate child would’ve been her first option but she considered all possibilities. “So then you passed your askorun. I’m glad you were not injured.”
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Posted: Fri Oct 12, 2012 2:31 pm
 "She's larger than me," Aruná said, "Similar marking but darker, brown instead of orange..."
She trailed off, and watched the clashing lions. It must be frustrating for Akatta to sit here on the sidelines without any means to affect the outcome. Aruná was not good at waiting patiently, and she always felt better if she could use her own paws in some way. This lioness, her soul was old and wise and she might not be as hot headed, but it couldn't be easy to sit here.
"Huh," the lioness said and looked thoughtfully at the fighting lions, she could see the similarity, "His colouring is similar to that of the warriors of my old pride, but no... If we're related it has to be distantly. My parents died in a war when I was just born. I've only got my sister now."
She had two more siblings, but she wasn't sure if they were even alive anymore. And with them being raised as sacrifices they had never been very close.
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Posted: Fri Oct 12, 2012 2:57 pm
The voice beside him did not draw his attention until his name was said. He glanced to the side, meaning to immediately go back to watching the fight, but stopped when he recognized one of his half-siblings. For a handful of heartbeats he froze, his reaction unreadable. In times past, he would have likely hackled and growled, but he'd done growing up since that point. Now he swallowed his first reaction, stopping to think. This was... Ember, yes, that was it. Curiously, he'd seen next to nothing of her, and it took a few moments of wracking his brain to remember that she was training to be a priestess. Apparently she'd taken such training seriously, to be so wrapped up in it that they'd barely seen each other since the litter had arrived at Aesir's side.
He mentally reminded himself that it was not her fault she had been born into such circumstances, and that she'd given him no reason to dislike her, apart from who her mother was. He took a slow, deep breath, then nodded his head slowly in greeting. "If you wish," he replied to the question he'd barely heard, turning his face back towards the conflict. Granted, he didn't usually consider her or her siblings his allies, but there were others within the crowd that he'd definitely not beside him just now. Tensions were high, and at least, or so he hoped, Ember was not likely to be rooting for the upstart who was seeking to become Warlord. He flicked her another quick glance. "I hope you are not here to cheer on Njal," he said in a soft and dangerous voice, nearly a growl. Heaven help her if she had.
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Posted: Fri Oct 12, 2012 3:30 pm
Aesir's shoulders and flanks bore scars from having used this face-to-face grappling technique for as long as he'd been bigger than the majority of lions around him - so for his entire life, basically. The fact that Njal's claws were able to slash at his shoulders meant that he would be bloodied and in pain, but it was a familiar, manageable pain that he was also turning back on Njal by digging in and tearing with his own claws as they latched onto his opponent.
Aesir kept his chin tucked to his chest, protecting his throat from Njal's teeth as he shuffled his feet to accommodate the new direction of his challenger's tactics. As familiar as he was with fighting locked together like this, Aesir knew about forcing an opponent down and to the side, and he wasn't going to be taken in by that. He merely shifted his lower body to the left and rotated the whole snarling, snapping fight clockwise.
But he was still fighting too much on the defensive, and they could not feasibly hold this position forever, and so as soon as Aesir has shifted his hind paws to stop himself being toppled over, he plied the exact same maneuver Njal had just used on him, continuing his side-stepping so that if Njal didn't keep up he would be dragged off his feet while at the same time pulling as much as he could with his forepaws to try to overbalance him from the top.
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Posted: Sat Oct 13, 2012 1:08 am
 Udongo was late for the fight, but she had had tasks to finish and she hadn't really been in any hurry. In fact, she hadn't been sure she would go at all - what difference could it make to a thrall who was Warleader or whatever it was called here, anyway? - but there had been such a buzz about it ever since the challenge had been issued that she couldn't help getting swept up in the mood a little.
Now she arrived to find the place thick with lions, and no possible way to find a good spot. That was okay, though. With her bulk, she could probably have powered her way through the throng, but that seemed unnecessary, when both combatants were such big, powerful lions and she herself rarely had trouble looking over other people's heads. She could see them well enough if she sat up straight and strained her neck a little.
She wasn't sure which one she ought to root for, but instinctively she liked Aesir. His colors reminded her of her sister. She missed Aruná. Ragnhild cursed her weak body for what must have been the hundredth time this day. She had wanted to be there for this fight so bad, but a sudden coughing fit had delayed her, and now there was no possible way she could make it through the milling crowd. Especially not since every little exertion still made her chest hurt.
Still, she had to get through. She had to see this. If nothing else then for Dalla's sake. She knew only what her sister had told her about the plan to challenge Aesir, and though she suspected her dear sister might have used gentle expressions for Ragnhild's sake, so as not to make her worry too much in her weakened state, she had a pretty good idea of the hard work, and the sacrifices, that dear Dalla had had to endure for this one, momentous day. She'd be damned if she wasn't going to be there to see the outcome, sickness or no.
She weaved her way through the crowd, enduring pushes and shoves until she had gotten about half way in, and found herself squished up between two big males who seemed completely oblivious to her presence. A faint cry of pain escaped her, but it was lost in the roar of excitement that rose constantly from the crowd around her. She hung there between the two thick bodies for a while, trying to catch her breath and fighting back another couching fit. The healers had told her she was getting better and she had felt it too, but right now, she felt worse than ever. Her head spun, her chest hurt, and she probably looked terrible. If only she had asked Dalla to come pick her up. Then they could have braved the throng together.
"Stupid, stupid...!"
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Posted: Sat Oct 13, 2012 4:50 am
Akatta looked perhaps a little too happy when it seemed that Aruná’s resemblance to the Aesirborn was nothing more than a curious coincidence though considering who her husband had challenged, that wouldn’t seem too strange, she hoped.
“Careful, Njal.” Akatta whispered. Being in the middle of a conversion led her to speak out her worries more openly. She paused again, letting the other lioness’ words sink in. She was always a little apprehensive regarding female Outlanders, finding it strange that a lioness could win an askorun against one of the pride’s well-trained males. If that said something regarding the weakening of the Stormborn blood or showed the strength that dwelled outside of her world, Akatta couldn’t say. But she didn’t particularly like it. “I’m afraid I don’t remember anyone with similar markings. Maybe because hers are not quite as striking as yours, I assume. Now that you’ve started learning our ways, have you decided what rank to pursue?” For the first time since their conversation had started, Akatta turned to fully face the other lioness, both eyes fixed on Aruná like a hawk. Despite the softness of her voice and her polite words, it was clear this was an important question to the Freeborn.
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Posted: Sat Oct 13, 2012 9:26 am
Ember watched as many emotions skittered across her half-brother's face, feeling her stomach sink as the moment stretched on into an uncomfortable silence. She never had known quite how to approach her half-siblings and so had tended to simply nod at them in passing when she did happen to bump into one, but she had never tried to seek them out, having been busy first adjusting to the pride's ways and finding out how she fit in, and accepting that she was quite different to most of them.. and then her studies took over.
Just as she was about to turn away and find somewhere else to sit, he gave her permission and she looked back up at him, her half smile slightly wry and yet grateful. Giving him a slight nod she turned and settled at his side, catching one of her brothers arriving out the corner of her eye. She made a note to go find Herryk after this match was over.. it had been some time since she had been able to collar her brother for a chat since he spent most of his time up in the forest with his ghost-wife. Truthfully, Ember would have lived that life as well had the priestesses not fascinated her so much. Turning to watch the battle raging before them all, she suddenly caught Hroarr's comment and whipped her head round, fangs revealing themselves as her maw dropped open in shock.
Baring them in offended anger she gave her half-brother the same flinty-eyed glare that she turned on miss-behaving reavers when they irritated the young priestess too deeply. "Say that again and I'll rip your head off." She snorted in return, huffing grumpily as she looked back at the two fighters. After a moment she glanced back at Hroarr, her tone quieter. "He is going to win this... right?" She sounded worried. Who knew what would happen to her father and his blood if the challenger actually managed to win this fight.
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Posted: Sat Oct 13, 2012 8:12 pm
He kept up with Aesir without much problem, but Njal knew if they stayed in this position much longer the Warlord would have the advantage. Somehow he had managed to get into the higher position here, which didn't bode well for Njal, as it meant he was supporting quite a bit of his opponents weight.
Done with this hold, he stopped keeping up with the pace, tucked his chin and pulled himself backwards at the same time as he ducked. It would hurt to yank away from Aesir's claws like that, but it was a better option for Njal at this point. He might get bloodied up, but it would be infinitely worse if Aesir managed to topple him. At least this way he got back down to all fours, much more stable.
Despite not as smooth a start as he might wish, Njal wasn't frustrated. He did not imagine this would be easy. He was a warm-blooded male, but too much was at stake here for him to grow impatient. Besides, he had never expected this to be easy.
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Posted: Mon Oct 15, 2012 1:57 pm
Now this was what strength was, Karm thought to herself watching. Watching them move, their movements, so strong,agile, fierce. Her red eyes hungered with desire wishing that someday she might prove her worth in such a manner. Yes, to fight was to live, and to survive.
However, her counterpart, sister in friendship, not blood, watched quietly, ears tucked back, huddled close to the ground. Just like her pelt, she was light, soft, naive. She bore no scars, knew nothing of a heavy strength, she had been captured easily when Karm had tried to defend. Fen'li hulped and watched on, unsure of what she felt. She wondered if she would have any worth if she could not bring herself to fight as those here had.
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Posted: Tue Oct 16, 2012 9:22 am
He had watched her intently for her reaction, and when it came, he was both surprised and pleased. He hadn't expected such ferocity from a priestess, nor so much dedication from one of the illegitimate litter. Unexpectedly, in that one growled, defiant answer, he found himself immediately warming to her. Perhaps it would not be so hard to judge her on her own merits after this. But to her question, he sobered, the warmth that had grown in his eyes vanishing. His eyes returned to the fight, watching as the muscled upstart pulled away from their father. He lashed his tail wordlessly for a few silent moments before replying.
"I wish I knew."
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Posted: Tue Oct 16, 2012 11:45 am
It had been fleeting, but she had seen that emotion in his eyes, a tenderness she had never seen from him before. It was a surprise to be sure but she suddenly found herself incredibly grateful. Maybe there didn't need to be such a distance between herself and her siblings, and those of her father's younger litter.
After a moment of watching him, she took a chance and shifted over, leaning her shoulder against his larger form. He might strike at her, but right now she needed the comfort of family as she watched their father fight so brutally only yards away from them. Knowing there was nothing either she or her half-brother could do.
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Posted: Tue Oct 16, 2012 12:16 pm
When Njal didn't go crashing down onto his back, Aesir gave a mental shrug and moved on to his next tactic. The middle of a battle was no place to brood over failed strategies. There would be plenty of time to review the fight and examine his own mistakes and those of his opponent after he won. In the meantime, it was vital that he keep his attention on the fight and not allow anything to distract him. He had years of experience in this, and for the most part Aesir was able to discard unnecessary thoughts while fighting, but in this most crucial of battles his thoughts kept returning to his daughter giving birth in her den with her mother, his mate assisting. He hoped his dragon daughter was all right.
When Njal pulled away from him Aesir dug in deeper with his claws, knowing that he could not with just his forelimbs keep a determined opponent from pulling away, but he could at least score his shoulder deeply in the process. Aesir intended to make Njal pay for every decision he made in this fight. It wasn't personal. He just knew that sometimes it wasn't a matter of delivering a single devastating blow. Fights could be won sometimes by dealing the opponent a sufficiency of smaller wounds which would compound and wear him down over time. Aesir still would be pleased to land a devastating blow and thus end the challenge all at once, but he would also be content with chipping away at Njal's strength. The important part was the victory.
Aesir did not drop immediately to the ground once Njal had done so, but instead plunged forward in an attempt to sort of fling himself on top of Njal and bear him to the ground that way. It was difficult to win a fight against a maned lion from that position, but damage could still be done, particularly along the flanks, and a lucky slash might even manage more.
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Posted: Tue Oct 16, 2012 2:42 pm
This wasn't a question Aruná had anticipated, and she didn't know to answer it. She hadn't made more detailed plans than to find her sister and make a run for it. She decided that telling the truth would be her best bet. Leaving out the tiny "find sister and run away"-part.
"I'm not sure ," Aruná said, "I guess I haven't thought much about it yet. I know I'm a good hunter, and it turns out I can hold my own in a fight too. What does that make me?"
The rank system seemed much more complicated here than in her old pride, but that might be because she was used to dividing people into heart, blood and claw. The reavers, captain and warlord were fairly similar to the claw, and the mysterious priestesses could perhaps be compared to the heart. The large freeborn population was confusing to her. A bit like followers, but not really. They had a higher status, and some seemed to have other tasks and interests that still fit in the freeborn class. And the thralls... Like their slaves, she supposed, but there were so many of them!Quote:  "Quite the fight, huh?" he asked, not really expecting an answer. "I bet we'll sing about it for a long time. Ohh... good move." Bifrost enjoyed the view from the spot his brother had "saved" for him, but he wasn't about to stay in the same spot through the entire fight. Half the fun was working the crowd and meeting people. He knew that Torbjörn found his presence annoying, so he wasn't going to torture him forever. Time to move on perhaps... "Well," he said and rose from his sitting position, bumping into various lions in the process, "It was fun, got to go gather some more inspiration now."  Torbjörn was not going to let Bifrost's attempts at chit-chat throw off his concentration. He wanted to be able to re-tell the fight blow for blow later. It wasn't strictly necessary, but it was a great memory exercise, and he had a little bet going with one of the other Lawspeakers about who could make the most accurate re-telling later. Memorizing things for fun... His brother would never understand the fun and challenge in that.
"I suppose we will," he said, never taking his eyes from the fight. It was a good one, and while he wasn't sure what move had impressed Bifrost there was a lot to be impressed by. But no one expected a challenge like this to be bland.
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Posted: Thu Oct 18, 2012 12:30 am
Bousvor was aware faintly of little eddies that went on among the crowd. Some talking, some moving around. Most of it was in the background for him. He was more interested in the fight. Both lions were taking damage. Aesir had a good handle on the fight as he deftly outmaneuvered Njal’s attempt. He was impressed with the tactics of the two lions. His keep green eyes taking notes for future reference.
With a wince he watched Njal pull away from Aesir. Smart, but painful. He did not envy the challenger those hurts when it was over. His neck craned as he tried to watch. It looked as if the Warlord had pounced on Njal.
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