Stonewatch Timbers come heavy or don't come at all

@Astraeus @Raela 

Gent is challenging for the position of second in Round Stone Crest.
Astraeus should post next, and then any spectators can follow after.

YOU LEAVE YOUR PIECE AT HOME, THAT'S YOUR CALL
IT NEVER PAID TO BE MERCIFUL, COME HEAVY OR DON'T COME AT ALL

This was, in Gent's mind, the final precipice before reaching the pinnacle of what he'd wanted, what had been owed to him, since birth. Since Tokino's unfortunate demise, the rankings had shifted upward. @Lugh had been appropriately given his inherited position, while only one man stood between the three-legged herbalist-made-alpha and the Lieris heir.

Gent sought him now, Astraeus. He knew him to be friends with Raela, but with victory so close he salivated at the scent of it, the cobalt monster was not preoccupied with preserving his own forged bonds. This was the natural order, the only respectable way to take control and claim what was inherently his, and he would not be denied his perceived birthright any longer. Once Astraeus was knocked down to the third peg, Lugh could be reasoned with, Gent was sure of it.

And then he would be alpha. He would be at Minka's side, the first and only true King of Round Stone Crest. He would father her children as if they were her own, three little beating hearts that only added fuel to the fire. Everything was to be his.

Gent approached the den site as though the title was already his, for in his mind it was. Aeus was a large boy, but Gent had never once doubted his own strength and skill. Letting out an abrupt howl, he beckoned the final challengee forth. Only a fool could look at him and be at a loss for what was intended.


ARE YOU READY? I'M COMIN' HEAVY
I WILL PUT YOU DOWN, FOR KING AND FOR COUNTRY

(This post was last modified: May 05, 2015, 06:19 PM by Gent.)

First time on ROW rping a fight, yell at me if I'm doing it wrong XD

Aeus strolled through the forest, admiring the green buds growing on trees. For a new home, it wasn't bad. In fact, the burly man enjoyed the Crest. He was fond of where he lived and where he was heading. He aimed to have a little talk with @Minka about bumping up and offering some duties. Aeus was previously focusing in small hunting and the protection of their old home. He stood guarding the Downs, meeting new faces every once and a while. But now, at this place he yearned to call home- he was yet to find a roll. The man was at loss for jobs to complete. He cared for the pack and they were always in his best interest, but he felt guilty for not being able to offer his services. A strong howl erupted a little to the left, its pitch aggressive and restricted. He recognized the proud voice to be Gent's, and he knew it was time. Astraeus gave a loud snarl. Just the sound of the boasting voice kicked him into a gear he hadn't changed to for quite some time. He walked forward in slow strides, trying to stretch out his muscles a bit before the scuffle began. The swarthy man stepped into the light to where Gent stood tall. "Hello Gent, I assume we're here to settle?" He asked, his tone dripping with vexation. He swelled to his staggering full height and raised his tail so it hung above his inky back. He wished to be able to settle the dispute with posture- but he knew Gent wanted more than a pose. ”Speech”

Colourize-Stock @DA, ScifiStock @DA  & Dawnthieves.de - Table by PuppyThief

(This post was last modified: May 05, 2015, 08:28 PM by Astraeus.)

ITS NOT LIKE I WANTED US TO HAPPEN

May I inject some atmosphere for this match? ;) Rae will post irregularly, as she's just watchin'.

 

Visiting Astraeus was something the subordinate often found herself doing in between work. She was fond of the dark chocolate and coal brute, and he was easily her closest tie at the moment. The girl's step held the spunkiness that came with anticipation of seeing a good friend. She didn't know what the man was up to, but knowing him it was likely a leisure walk disguised as a scouting mission; the likes of which she often undertook as well. It was something she really enjoyed about him; his ability to appreciate the world as she did. Now, as she followed his scent and the muffled rustling of his walk, Raela was sure this was exactly what the charming man was doing. The seasoned observer in her took note of the current atmosphere as she approached. While it was awfully gusty up on the little mountain today the sky was a bit more pleasing. Holes in the cloud cover were allowing brilliant patches of sunlight to cascade down among the great pines, lighting sections of the earth as the brutal wind hurried them along. All in all it was a nice day.  The harsh bursting of Gent's aggressive howl jerked the woman's head sideways. It carried clearly on the wind, filling her head before another gust chased the noise away. He had called for Aeus specifically, and the request was not cordial. The sound caused Raela's adrenaline to pump, spurring her cream-colored legs into a gallop. Aeus was out of eyesight but his snarl still registered in her ears. It was a familiar call. Many times before that summons had rang out in her territory. It was a challenge, no two questions about it. Memories flooded in, widening her eyes with fear. These were very serious back home. Her pack mates had even killed each other over rank. What kept the girl from calling out or panicking outright was her knowledge of Gent and what he'd been doing. She knew about the fights he'd caused, and none of his opponents were much worse for wear. Gent had also vowed never to harm his pack mates, and she believed him. Still, it was Aeus on the great beast's business end now, and she couldn't help but fear for his safety. Really she was worried for them both. Rae crested the mountain with the wind whipping through her pelt. Her paws collected themselves, drawing to a stop a safe distance from the site of the impending quarrel. The woman's breath hitched in her throat as she examined the both of them. She'd thought Aeus to be a large wolf when they'd met, and Gent was certainly colossal, but now that they were standing there, she could clearly see the muddy-colored defender's disadvantage. Gent was a monster. She recalled his bristling appearance from their encounter with Kajika, not at all unlike the one he held now.  Honeyed eyes traversed Astraeus' form with reverence. In this moment he was every inch a fighter. Something stirred in her chest at the sight of him, now growing above his normal size. She'd caught the mahogany-eyed man's words just before coming upon the scene. Even in the face of the black volcano he was unshaken, and well-spoken. Rae began to wonder if Aeus was ever shaken enough to let his words falter. Firmly rooted to where she was, the lithe bodied woman looked on nervously. She was in no place to intervene but she damn well would try if it got ugly. Aeus was her most trusted friend, and Gent had been so kind to her just days before, when she had crumbled yet again. It was a horrible conundrum. Who was she supposed to cheer on? Her heart moved predictably toward brown-black instead of blue-black, but the rest of her only wanted them both to come away without wounds. Another rough gust of air surged over the mountain, forcing her to squint as it brushed into her eyes and parted the hair on her side. Still the great black creatures were rock solid, staring each other down. She had a feeling this was going to get intense.  Image © Chris Smith Photography Manipulation © Jenandra

(This post was last modified: May 05, 2015, 10:38 PM by Raela.)

            

There are several fresh rabbit tracks in the mud. Hunt Opportunity

Immediately in response, Aeus' aggressive snarling tore through the air to assault the challenger's ears. Gent watched carefully as the other man approached, taking every coil and release of Aeus' muscles into consideration, assessing the way he moved and his composure. It was clear from the stiffness of his approach to the bitterness adorning his words that the challenge had the Taranath man, well, pissed. This only gave Gent reason to smirk back, however. Go ahead, get angry, he thought to himself, only kicking the cocky demeanor up a notch. If Aeus grew heated enough, perhaps he'd become sloppy as well.

"And I assume you're going to stand your ground," he responded, lips twitching upward. While Aeus' form consisted of pure agitation, Gent looked like he was about to have the time of his life. Truly, he was enjoying these little challenges. "Good."

Of course, their one and only spectator happened to be the woman closest to Aeus and whom had given Gent such a tumultuous time their last few interactions. He glanced to her, offering a softer smile. Hopefully, she was trusting him to keep the tussle tame as it should be, and not nervously shaking inside with fear of what might happen. Hopefully, his moment of weakness had completely settled her doubts.

Without wasting any more time, Gent lunged forward. His move was routine, standard, for he wasn't trying to win with fancy footwork or cunning, but brute strength to prove his dominance. He attempted to barrel into Aeus and grab hold of his scruff, and if successful would then attempt to force the other man to the ground.

I'm bad at describing and anything concerning rules- yell at me if I did something wrong XD

The simple, "Good" made the man bristle once more before reining it in. He needed to be calm in order to win; a level headed fighter is a victor. He breathed in long dragged out sighs, relaxing his body to be able to move limberly. He faced his opponent's crystalline blue eyes- but found them looking elsewhere. Aeus turned to see Raela's lithe form in the bushes, her eyes wide. Part of him wanted her to leave- not wanting her to see him like this. But the other part wanted her to watch, he intended to win but if not at least make a mark. He turned away just seconds late, not veiwing the barreling figure before him. Gent made contact with his shoulder and deeply grazed his withers with a set of sharp teeth. Aeus shot by him, not letting the man tumble him over- he had higher standards then being forced to the dirt. The Taranath breathed through the pain in his shoulder, small tufts of fur loosening with every movement. He lunged to the right of the man in his quick recovery; swinging his body at brute, intending to make contact with his back side and hopefully cause a muscle spasm. Aeus banked a hard left making a wide loop, hoping Gent would fall for turning to the right like he did. The Taranath skidded to a halt and then rocketed off to head butt the upper hock- if he was successful, the ruddy night would be at ease in his attack. The fight had begun and he was drunk on the thought of victory. ”Speech”

Colourize-Stock @DA, ScifiStock @DA  & Dawnthieves.de - Table by PuppyThief

ITS NOT LIKE I WANTED US TO HAPPEN

Gent hadn't meant to break any skin, but of course such things happened when attacks went awry. As his hulking mass connected with Aeus', the man moved just in the nick of time to pull Gent's target out of reach and nearly evade him completely. Unfortunately for them both, Aeus' shoulder clipped Gent's lower jaw, cracking his teeth shut and pinching an unfortunate chunk of Aeus' skin between them. Speed was definitely not the man's strong suit he was finding out quickly, as all the men he challenged turned out to be much swifter on their feet. Gent paused a moment to pinch his eyes closed and spit out a clump of Aeus' fur along with his taste, disturbed by the small metallic taste tinging the side of his tongue. In this time, Aeus connected once more with his left hindquarter, causing him to stagger slightly.

Blazing blue eyes shot open once more, barely catching sight of Aeus. Gent's legs slid out several inches, stabilizing him against whatever the Taranath man threw his way. Naturally, he launched a quick glance to the left in hopes of seeing where his foe dashed off to; upon spying not hair nor hide of the other man, Gent immediately turned to the right. A second later, Aeus collided with his right back haunch. His thick skull did well to harm Gent, nearly causing his legs to buckle. That spot would certainly form a nice, painful bruise. However, Gent was quick to react and lash back. He allowed his rear to sink down with the impact adding to his momentum, twisting his front to curl around and strike at Aeus.

He maneuvered so as to grab at Aeus with both forelimbs, attempting to wrap them around the man's neck and latch on. From there, he would attempt to gain some kind of solid hold on him, whether by encircling his limbs the best he could or grabbing hold of any lose skin in order to eventually force a pin.

A slight smirk adorned on his muzzle, the small rush of satisfaction was gone all too quick. Gent turned the tables with a clever  twist. He let Aeus crash through the meticulously set cards. A loud growl sounded from his chest as his back made contact with the dusty soil. Gent tried to get a grasp on his shoulders, just enough to pin him down. Aeus wasn't about to cower to, in what he saw- a fool. He payed little attention to the cerulean eyes that were aimed to pierce his own and instead found focus on Gent's forearm. With a rock to his right, he got enough room to swing- then taking the momentum to swoop over and lock jaws on the left leg laid out so perfectly before him. If it was enough to sway the giant before him, he could use the remaining force to get up and take a quick breath. The fight was only minutes in and he was already a bit winded- it had been a while since he had sparred. The last time he could recall "fighting" had been with his deceased brother. Either way, he wasn't going to give up. He would take the win and take the loose like a champ- what a hero. ”Speech”

Colourize-Stock @DA, ScifiStock @DA  & Dawnthieves.de - Table by PuppyThief

ITS NOT LIKE I WANTED US TO HAPPEN

Gent's planned course of action went far better than anticipated. Unintentionally, he put in enough momentum to not just slam into Astraeus but knock him completely onto the ground. A glint passed through his pale eyes as he saw victory in reach. To solidify his advantage, he strategically placed his paws to set his legs as four pillars around Aeus' body; one above his right shoulder, one above his left, one to his left flank, and one to his right, keeping the current Round Stone Crest second viably trapped under him. With a click of his jaws and a unable-to-be-held-back smirk, Gent was sure that he had won. It was a familiar situation; he had been squarely on top of Bane when he'd been decided victor of the third position within the pack.

However, Aeus clearly wasn't finished yet. Gent had made to further enforce his dominance by trying to pin the other man with his forelimbs, and that had given the Taranath a target unforeseen by the displaced heir. A snarl clawed at the back of his throat, but Gent gritted his fangs and refused to let the sound reach his opponent's ears. Pain shot up his leg as Aeus' teeth sunk in and pulled the limb sharply in its socket. As expected, the black brute's body followed and he crashed onto his side, but not without tightening his grip around Aeus' shoulders. With a hiss, Gent opened his deadly mouth wide, shoving his teeth into the other man's face to jaw spar with him.

To regain the upper hand, Gent attempted to swing his hindquarters back under himself and upright his body to once more stand above Aeus. However, he refused to relent on the locked grip his forelimbs had around Aeus' upper half, making his attempt a bit awkward. If he could surpass the other man's strength, however, he would be able to achieve his goal.

OOC: -spectating intensifies- 

Gent's taunting words made her spine grow cold. The only thing that dampened her suppressed chill of fear was the ebony male's smile. There was no condescension, no malice in it at all. His promise rang in her head then as she met the great wolf's eyes. He still meant it, that much was clear. She returned his expression of reassurance with a weak smile of her own. It was then she noticed that Aeus was now looking too. Their eyes met, but there was little time for any form of wordless engagement; Gent was making his move. Wrapped up in his gaze, Raela noticed Gent's lunge too late to be of any use. She jumped, feeling horrible that her presence had made the chocolate-furred man unaware of his opponent's advance. Swiftly Astraeus lurched away; gaining only a scrape it seemed. From there everything seemed to spiral.  Her hackles bristled disobediently; all the relief from Gent's promise pushed aside by the sight of her two friends locking horns. Subconsciously she took note of the mahogany-eyed brute's “signature move” as he had called it; a dive for the hindquarters. Eyes darting about the mass of fur and teeth; she watched helplessly as her secretly favored champion crashed to the ground. A paw lifted reflexively, halted only by the woman's self discipline. Gent wouldn't hurt him. Gent wouldn't hurt him, her mind chanted over and over as Aeus' pearly daggers lashed about wildly. Gent was above him now; clearly dominating the match, but the brown-black man wasn't out yet. A gasp lodged itself somewhere between her chest and lips as the great charcoal beast toppled to the earth beside his rival. The cacophonous growls and yelps of jaw-sparring made it to her clearly through another vicious gust of mountain air. It seemed the windy weather wasn't bothering the boys in the least. Forced to lower her head in the harsh wind, again she squinted at the mangle of dark fur and limbs. No blood had been shed as of yet, and for that the girl was truly grateful. It was a much tamer version of a rank challenge than she had witnessed before, but her heart fluttered nonetheless. It seemed Gent had the advantage, as even she could see Aeus' heaving chest and hear his panting. The man was clearly tiring, while Gent appeared steady as stone. It was an unsurprising outcome given the younger combatant's increased size, but she still cheered for Aeus deep in her heart. Standing there watching the battle, a slow realization crept forward before slamming to the forefront of her thoughts. This was a battle for leadership. Lugh was in no condition to fight let alone best Gent, and Tokino was dead. Gent had a clear shot at being an Alpha if he could take down Astraeus. She nearly scolded herself for not noticing earlier. Gent was very clearly power-hungry with the way he'd been climbing the ranks, and at such speed! Suddenly she was nervous. What kind of leader would he be? What would Minka think? These thoughts only had so much time to fester in her mind before the gladiators drew her attention to the drama at paw. This fight was crucial.  Image © Chris Smith Photography Manipulation © Jenandra