AW called it

Kaden,

Lion of Junior Member

Played by Max

---

Kaden struggled with the endless talking and lack of action behind it. He could wander around Aesseldar until his toes wore off talking with lionesses of what he intended to do, but it would not make him a king until he found a plot of land and pissed it up and down to his liking. After a few weeks spent in the land so that he was somewhat comfortable with the powers that be, he set out for his prize.

The lake was perfect. It was a tantalizing bit of land, fertile and open and teeming with life to utilize for his own purposes. Bitterly, Kaden wished his father could see just what an upgrade this would be over the pride land that had been ripped away from him. This was no waste. This would be his paradise.

Approaching the shores of the water and striking the pose he had been practicing all his life, Kaden spread his weight across each of his limbs and lashed his tail out behind him to aid in his balance and make it more difficult to throw him off balance. He noted the warmth of the sun against his pelt and the distant chatter of animals, finally belting out a disruptive roar to declare himself an owner around here.

-claim-

speech

Table by Naboo | @Zeir

Marcella,

Lioness of Prideless

Played by Twesh

---

From the North of the Steppe where Marcella had spent most of her time wandering and exploring came a call. The sort that was filled with intention, a purpose that resonated in her soul itself. She had no opposition to Kaden's claim and still like a moth to the flame she came- the matron driven by what might become of the scene and what she might take there for herself and her family. He was hardly a familiar lion to her; but he was less a stranger than anyone else right now. She was curious, she was driven and within a few minutes Marcella was at Kaden's doorstep with a curious look on her features.

She stayed her distance from him for the time being- her dark form stood out against the sparse backdrop behind her where the lake melted away into the Steppe beyond. Her green eyes flicked with judgement from him to what land rested beyond him- what he sought to take for himself. Should the fates be kind to him this day. It was evident that this land was sparse in population and just as evident that fact was rapidly changing... Hello again. She silently greeted him with a glance back towards his large form and a tip of her head.

@Kaden

Minerva,

Lioness of Prideless

Played by Ivy

---

The loneliness at bay Minerva was exploring the terrains with a newfound confidence. She knew of Barnabas' intentions, of the hunger that burned within him. And she fully respected those dreams of his. She would not stomp out that flame that flickered, no instead she would only encourage it. And part of doing so was keeping tabs on those around them. Who possessed that same hunger that he did? She knew there were others out there and only in time would they begin to rise up. Her gut instinct had been right as rain of course. As she moved towards the lake, her plum eyes searching she heard a call come about. The sound deep and masculine as it echoed towards her. Instantly her course changed, her long limbs stretching forwards as she closed the distance. And when the maned woman arrived she was greeted by two strangers, a man and a woman. She paused, halting silently, her gaze drifting from one to the other. "A claim, I see. And what shall this place be for you?" She asked the man, her gaze unwavering with bold curiosity as she waited for his response, a brief glance sent again in the direction of the lady before returning her attention back to him.



@Marcella @Kaden



""

_{code by naboo}

Kaden,

Lion of Junior Member

Played by Max

---

He held his stance for a good while, occasionally shifting his weight between hips in order to give varying muscles a rest. With how expansive this land had seemed during his exploring, Kaden figured that it would take a while for any challengers to approach if they were going to. Eventually, he saw a figure in the distance. He could only tell by scent alone that this was a familiar lioness--Marcella Faust, judging by that preteen-looking mane. She said nothing and so Kaden mirrored her, figuring it was best to keep alert while waiting for anyone to defy his claim.

The first voice he heard was a feminine one. Kaden turned his head slightly to see a goliath-sized lioness, this one with a similar mane to Marcella. Perhaps this was a genetic trait of the land. Kaden made a mental note to explore this idea more later.

"--a place to do whatever I'd like with it," he answered vaguely, though this was the bulk of the idea. Rather than an elaborate goal for some society he would like to build, Kaden had the goal of being supremely in charge of himself for the rest of his days.

speech

Table by Naboo | @Minerva

Alain,

Cub of Prideless

Played by Naboo

---

'Twas not the distinctive sound of the roar which had captured the child's attention. Though young he did understand the particular draw towards possession that the adults had. How they squabbled and fought, tore one another and formed alliances or rivalries based on their mere desire for a place. For him, these were inexplicable in the sense that he didn't feel the pull towards this particular adult outlet. It did not mean, however, that he would not come witness it. He had already explored the lake recently, though so many less trails and scents of lions had occupied it at that time, he was now surprised that his mother's distinct aroma was among them. His pace picked up as he sauntered towards her, placing himself at her side with a an eager press of his skull into her right forelimb, straightening up before watching the lions talk.

Minerva,

Lioness of Prideless

Played by Ivy

---

'A place to do whatever I'd like with it.' He spoke matter-of-factly and Minerva nodded in response to the words. "Very well, I wish you luck then." She said softly before reclining back onto her haunches to sit. Minerva decided then that she would stick around just a little bit longer to see if anyone would contest the man's claim. And although she did not know his name she would remember exactly what he looked like so she could supply Barnabas with as much information as possible. After all information was knowledge and knowledge was power. Briefly her attention was distracted however with the presence of a child. Her heart lurched in her chest, yearning rearing it's head for a moment before she collected herself once more. She sent a small smile in the direction of the child, a slight flick of her tail tip behind her before she turned her attention back to the man of the hour. And for now she would wait to see if any excitement would come about here.



@Kaden @Alain @Marcella

""

Eoin,

Deity of Deity

Played by Staff

---

@Kaden 's claim is successful! If you haven't already please let staff know your desired pride name and color. Following your rank change you will need to set up your pride page with your ranks and rules, let staff know if you need assistance doing so.

Arsynia,

Lioness of Prideless

Played by dusk

---

Arsynia Tollaire had watched from afar, curious to see if any should bare their mettle against Kaden's claim; and yet, despite the gathering group of lions, none dared to step forward and challenge him. As the long-drawn moments came to pass, and Kaden's claim remained unchallenged, Arsynia realized that there would truly be no chaos at all. Interesting, she contemplated quietly. Both she and the new King had anticipated more of a fight, but it seemed that ambitions continue to lay silent among their peers. Only then did Arsynia step forward, and shouldering her way quietly through the crowd, she came to face Kaden head-on. There was little merit in her challenge—she'd no intention of ripping the crown from the new King's head—but Arsynia would not leave so quietly. She had, after all, been promised a show.

“Congratulations, King,” she crooned, a small smirk slipping onto her dark lips, “but I believe I was promised a show.” Her claws flexed along the ground, disturbing the soft earth underfoot. Her chest heaved with every anticipating breath, her eyes narrowing, and a new sort of fire blistering within her breast. In those moments that came to pass, Arsynia Tollaire wondered if Kaden would accept her challenge.

Arsynia vs Kaden
for spar
o of iii

Art by soar

Kaden,

Lion of Junior Member

Played by Max

---

He eyed the lioness with a blank stare, half-wondering if she would deny him what he was claiming for himself. Instead, she accepted the information and wished him luck. Kaden grunted his acknowledgment and nodded to her as he looked back over the small gathering of lions, noticing a small child to be among them and huddling against Marcella's leg. He briefly remembered his conversation with the mother and how she had apologized for even bringing up the subject of cubs when he explained that he no longer had any. The emotion behind the sentiment made sense to him at that moment.

This was all that was spoken for a while longer. Kaden stood in waiting for someone to call out or perhaps even lunge for him wordlessly though neither of these events came to pass before the allotted time of defiance.

"These banks belong to me," he called out flatly to those gathered, sealing his own position as owner. He flexed his claws into the fine mud beneath himself as if to hold the place closer.

This was all he said before the arrival of the familiar figure of Arsynia. Kaden lashed his tail behind him like a whip, azure gaze observing her demeanor carefully. While she had claimed to support him if he was strong enough to earn it, it remained unclear to the lion just how to demonstrate the strength she claimed to require in an ally.

"Grand Sultan, actually--has more flavor," he corrected with the arch of his brow. Still, the notion of a show intrigued him. He flared his nostrils thoughtfully and stretched a grin across his leather lips in response. "Very well--a show you will get," Kaden consented in low tones.

Having remained in a defensive stance as he called out the claim of these lands, he was poised and ready to pursue as Arsynia challenged him. Kaden stalked forward with his head lowered in parallel with his spine, the lioness having come to approach him head-on already. He parted his jaws wide open and tilted his head to his own left, attempting to snap his jaws at the flesh of her right shoulder in a greedy grip. Shifting his weight to balance evenly on three of his paws, Kaden lifted his front right forelimb with his claws extended, attempting to slap it forcefully against the flesh of her outer left shoulder. He would not be going easy--not on a demanding lioness or anyone.

speech

Kaden vs. Arsynia for spar, round i/iii
100/100 HP

Table by Naboo | @Arsynia @Marcella @Alain @Minerva

Arsynia,

Lioness of Prideless

Played by dusk

---

Grand Sultan, actually--has more flavor, Kaden replied, and Arsynia's smirk widened. Very well--a show you will get. Arsynia did not care if she'd win or lose; it was a true test of mettle, and Kaden had already a divisive advantage of being far larger and far older, but it would not stop the young Tollaire Matriarch from feeling the invigoration of battle, the blisteringly sweet pain of bloodied fists and gnashing teeth. She was a winner either way, and could only hope to put up enough of a fight that she could contest with the new Grand Sultan, or hope to overtop him as a clear underdog.

And—what bliss—he'd not held back.

Arsynia had braced herself against his impending attack, neither slacking the rigidity of her stance nor attempting to dart away from Kaden's approach. Thus, when the agonizing reality of his jaws clenching deep into the flesh of her right shoulder and his claws digging into the brunt of her left, she gritted her teeth and could only just hold fast against the weight of his approach. With his head to her right and his foreleg lifted to reach toward her left, his height left before her face the frizzle ends of his mane, and the start of his own right shoulder. Their close proximity allowed Arsynia little movement, but she tipped her chin downward slightly, and clenched the tiny distance between them to try and grapple her own teeth around the brunt of his right shoulder, where it began to meet the length of his foreleg.

Arsynia vs Kaden
for spar
i of iii
75/100 HP

Art by soar