[aliyaah]

HELKAER VS NEUTRAL WAR

decide your fate. 

Sly vs Laken

Climate:
It is winter, but it's a warmer day. The warring parties arrive early in the morning, just as the sun is rising. There is snow on the ground, several inches thick, and slushy - mixing with the mud it has happened beneath it. The sky above is cloud covered, perhaps it will snow later on, but if it does it will be light snow - pretty, despite the destruction that will be happening on the land below.

Battle Terms:
- 3 hits
- 1 dodge
- 3 days to reply, NO EXTENSIONS
- 3 posts each (an intro from one player, two battle posts each, and then one final post from the second player)
- 1000 word maximum

Other Info:
- Those siding with the Helkaer will have the Helkaer "fire brand" painted in mud/earth upon them so you can recognize who they side with.
- All other regular battle rules still apply so be sure to address the battle thread for rules. 
- Please see the main thread for any other info: Click. This includes info on how the groups approached the battle and what not, so be sure you read it over. 

Upon random draw, @aurelia will be posting first, followed by aliyaah. 
Good luck!

THANKS ANNECORDELIA

[Deleted]

name Laken
breed Pintabian
age 6
gender Mare
height 16.1hh
alliance Unallianced
health 90%

---

The last time Laken had come to the Battlefield, the bitter cold had been enough to stiffen her muscles before the fight had even begun. But today, under the barely-risen sun, Laken was warm as she trudged through a thick layer of slush, snow, and mud. It wasn't just the tendrils of sunlight snaking through the clouds that warmed the mare - no, the heat spreading through her limbs had far more to do with her anger. Her readiness to fight. Her fury. Until this point, until she had volunteered herself to fight on behalf of the Neutral Kingdom, Laken hadn't been directly involved in the war. She had been a bystander, collecting the little information she knew about the war from rumors and inferences. Initially, getting involved had seemed like a death wish - and maybe it was - but now, Laken knew she had to fight. She owed this to the Kingdom, to the place where she had finally found a home. Claiming Aquilon Valley as her own was the best thing that had ever happened to Laken, and the most security she had ever felt. The Helkaer were coming to end that security, to take away yet another thing from Laken's already empty life. Losing her home was the last thing she needed to happen, especially now that others were living in her herd. If the Helkaer won this battle, taking control of the Neutral Kingdom, Laken wouldn't only be failing herself. She would be failing Kalila, Barristan, Moonraker, and the rest of the horses who had found shelter in her valley. She would be failing Leandros, the stallion who had claimed the land before she had. Laken wasn't fighting here for fun and games, for a quick spar to see who was quicker or stronger. She was fighting for the only home she had ever had, and for other horses to have the right to a home of their own. Nobody deserved to live through the years of homelessness and abandonment that Laken had experienced. And she would do whatever it took to make sure that Aquilon Valley remained open to all.

The painted mare did not recognize the other horses lined up in the open field, but their alignments were clear. A row of horses with flames marked on their bodies - presumably the Helkaer - faced the others, a staring contest that would soon end in violence and bloodshed. Neither party appeared to be taking this lightly, and Laken took that as a good sign. They were just as ready to fight as she was. The mare carefully picked her way through the slush, walking behind the Neutrals. She had no idea who she would end up fighting today. Her battle with The Iron Bull had pumped a newfound confidence into her veins, along with the knowledge that she could take down an eighteen-hand draft horse, but her injuries from that battle still lingered. Simple, daily movements had only recently become easy again, with no aches as she cantered through the valley, but the twisting and striking and stretching that came with a battle could aggravate the damaged muscles along her back and left foreleg. She gritted her teeth in annoyance at the thought. If the pain arose, she would ignore it and deal with it after the battle. Pain was only a temporary distraction. It never lasted for too long. 

Laken took slow, deep breaths as she walked to an empty spot next to one of the Neutrals. She didn't recognize the horse, and didn't bother trying to introduce herself or figure out who they were. One of them could be dead by the end of the day. What was the point of building a connection if there was a chance either of them could die? Laken simply fell to a halt in the patch of snow, keeping her breaths steady as she stared directly ahead. Her differently-colored eyes did not blink, and not a single muscle in her body moved. All that was left to do was wait. 

---

words 671
tags aliyaah
notes three hits, one dodge, three days to reply. No extensions. Three posts each (an intro from one player, two battle posts each, and then one final post from the second player), 1000 word maximum.

hits remaining three
dodges remaining one

[aliyaah]

Name- Sly
Breed- Anglo Arabian x Quarter Horse
Age- 8
Gender- Mare
Height- 15.3 hands high
Alliance- Helkaer (Dark)
Health- 100%

    Despite how much time she had spent thinking about this battle in days past, her mind was quiet as she paraded towards the battlefield. She knew what she had to do. She had to take things one step at a time – she could not risk getting ahead of herself. Thinking about what could happen as a result of these battles, instead of what was happening in the present moment, could be costly to her should she become distracted - despite how eagerly she awaited the outcome of these feuds. She had to be adaptable and attentive enough to react within mere moments to what was happening. Battles happened very quickly, and that meant that if Sly wanted to be successful in her fight, she would have to move even quicker. She had to be ready. She was more than prepared – this was the kind of chaos that she lived for. This was the strife that she had hoped to achieve, and that which she had trained for. Now, it was simply a matter of remaining focused, and following through on the task at hand. If she did what she knew she could, and if she made no mistakes, certainly she would end this day as a victor.

    The Helkaer and their allies marched towards the battlefield, united, under the light of a young sun. Despite the winter season, the air was warm against her russet pelt – but that warmth was nothing compared to the heat from fire she felt within her, that which fuelled her fury. Oh, how she wished she could bring that fire here, to set these lands aflame as a background to the epic saga which was about to take place. But that would be far too risky considering the volume of equines here facing combat, particularly to those fighting for her brotherhood. However, even without the fire, Sly knew that this day was going to go down in history, and it would be a story told for the ages. But with the warmer weather that the morning offered them, also came tribulation. As Sly proceeded alongside her allies, she felt her daggers slide upon the slick surface. The snow that had blanketed the battlegrounds was beginning to waste away beneath the balmy air, leaving the terrain slippery beneath her flints. It didn’t matter – she would adjust, and nothing would stop her. She pressed on, her vivid copper frame moving with confidence, her forces beginning to draw dangerously close to their foes. Just a few more moments and soon enough, it would begin. And so, Sly took those last few seconds to prepare herself both mentally and physically for what she was about to do. Then, drawing a careful and even breath, she came to a halt – and looked up to see who her opponent was for the first time.

    Their eyes met, and there was no time to waste. Sly could not jump into this blind, and so she took the briefest of moments in order to assess the creature who stood before her - a mare, painted, several inches taller than Sly but more slender, pelt nearly untouched which demonstrated a lack of experience. And that was enough for Sly. Without hesitation, she launched herself into action, using powerful hindquarters gifted to her by her Thoroughbred ancestors to propel herself. She flew towards her adversary, movements planned and sure. She expertly drove herself forward with force until the last moment, where she utilized her agility – passed down to her from an Arabian lineage – to dive laterally, sending her more to the mare’s left side just slightly. Then, closing the distance between them, Sly shoved forwards towards the other equine's hind left leg. Already at an advantage by being shorter than her foe, she was closer to these appendages naturally, and so Sly reached out with the aim to sink her teeth into the mare's stifle. If she landed the hit and was able to bite into the muscle, it could severely hinder the mare in her movements. Sly would just have to see if the creature was an adept enough fighter to react quickly enough to save herself from the danger. Otherwise, the damage dealt could be crucial should the Neutral sympathizer try to use the limb again.

---

BATTLE TERMS
- 3 hits
- 1 dodge
- 3 days to reply, NO EXTENSIONS

- Words: 720/1000
- Posts: 1/3

- Attacks: 1/3
1) Sly aims for Laken's left hind leg, hoping to bite down on her stifle and hinder the mare's use of her this leg. 

- Dodges: 0/1
-Tag: @aurelia

[Deleted]

name Laken
breed Pintabian
age 6
gender Mare
height 16.1hh
alliance Unallianced
health 90%

---

The significance of the looming battle had not gone unnoticed to Laken. When she had fought The Iron Bull in these very lands not long ago, it had felt as if Laken's entire life was on the line. She had been fighting for the one home she had ever had, for the safety and security she had worked to build for herself for so many years. But the stress of that battle was insignificant compared to this one; the idea that Laken could have been at all anxious then was laughable. This was so much more than two horses kicking at each other over a missing herd member, a stolen lover, a land challenged for. This was a war, the deciding factor in what would become of the Neutral Kingdom. Today, Laken wasn't fighting for herself. She was fighting for every horse in Aquilon Valley, every horse in the kingdom, every horse who sought refuge with the Neutrals. She was doing this for them.

The words ran through her head like a mantra as Laken stood still, watching the mare who could only be her opponent approach. She was a chestnut, slightly smaller than Laken but far more muscular. Her russet coat was heavily scarred - from years of experience fighting in one way or another, surely. But the most notable of her features was the mark emblazoned on her shoulder. Laken may not have recognized the mare, but the flames branded into her pelt told no lies - this mare was a true Helkaer member, not just one fighting on their behalf. Laken stiffened at the thought - she was so new to these lands, so inexperienced, so young. What kind of wild fighting machine would she be up against today? 

Her question was answered only moments after her adversary reached her. The mare lunged towards Laken, diving towards her left side. Teeth bared, her neck reached toward Laken stifle, ready to land a bite. Laken instantly darted forward, her instincts taking control of her mind before any logical thought had a chance. Her hind legs dug into the snow-covered ground, using what little traction they had to propel her body forward and away from the mare's head. Her haunches swung away from the mare, assuring that the bite would not land where it had been intended to. Many years ago, Laken had been on the receiving end of a similar attack from a stallion who had attempted to capture her. The deep bite in the sensitive stifle area had destroyed her use of the limb for over a month, and occasional twinges of pain had continued to arise for far too long. Knowing that she couldn't afford to take another injury to that fragile muscle, Laken figured that dodging the attack was necessary. It was foolish to play this card on her adversary's first move; it would instantly establish her position as the weaker one, not to mention eliminate the opportunity to dodge a later, more severe attack. But hopefully the decision would pay off in the end.

Dodging an attack saved Laken from an injury that could have debilitated her for the rest of the battle, but it hadn't bought her any time. If she was going to establish dominance over this mare, to prove that either of them had a solid shot at winning this fight, she had to make her move now. Quickly running through a few possible attacks in her head, Laken jumped toward the chestnut, taking as few steps as possible to avoid slipping on the wet earth. She planted her haunches and reared as she reached the mare's shoulder, hoping that she could pull this off. It was a risky move, especially given the questionable footing. Attempting to use her opponent's neck and shoulder for balance, Laken bared her teeth, tilting her head towards the mare's crest. Ideally, she would land a bite on the poll or crest, but any movement from the mare could move the point of impact to the neck or shoulder - or even worse, cause the attack to fail altogether. A move like this was a tricky one with a high risk, but if it were to be successful, the reward would be great. Laken desperately wanted to overtake her opponent today, and she couldn't afford to hold back. No matter the risk.

---

words 722
tags aliyaah
notes three hits, one dodge, three days to reply. No extensions. Three posts each (an intro from one player, two battle posts each, and then one final post from the second player), 1000 word maximum.

hits remaining two
    - Laken reared up next to Sly's shoulder, attempting to balance against her and bite into her poll or crest, hindering head and heck movement. The bite could also land lower on the neck.
dodges remaining zero
    - Laken cantered forward and out of Sly's reach, followed by swinging her hindquarters away from Sly.

injuries none

[aliyaah]

Name- Sly
Breed- Anglo Arabian x Quarter Horse
Age- 8
Gender- Mare
Height- 15.3 hands high
Alliance- Helkaer (Dark)
Health- 92% - while for the most part unchanged due to having dodged the attack, Sly begins to feel the strain from the effort of fighting. 

    Disdain coursed through her veins as she felt her incisors grasp nothing but air – missing their intended target. Sly’s opponent had darted swiftly out of the way when she had recognized the danger, cantering forward and out of the reach of Sly’s bite. When her jaw closed, she hissed out of frustration, then quickly rounded upon the dual-toned mare once more. Her russet voids were wild and deadly as she spied her foe, who had transitioned hastily and was coming towards Sly. Trusting her instincts and her skill, Sly stood patiently still – waiting to see what her adversary had in mind. She tensed her muscles beneath her copper pelt in anticipation, ready to move as soon as needed. It wasn’t until the other creature was only a few feet away that her intention was made clear – she had firmly set her haunches upon the terrain, fore limbs lifting from the ground to set against Sly’s shoulder. The Helkaer vixen had witnessed the mare’s façade – stretched out, fangs barred. She rapidly veered her skull to the side and out of harm’s way, firstly in an attempt to dodge the bite that evidently heading towards her crania. Subsequently, she pushed off of her front pillars and lurched sideways, desiring to shake the mare from using Sly as a support for her weight. She hoped she would be so lucky as to throw the mare off balance, seeing as she had so unexpectedly removed the Neutral sympathizer’s foundation. That would only be an added benefit to what she aimed for next. Now turned away from her rival, Sly tried to plant her own daggers into the slushy terrain. It took her a moment to gain adequate footing, and perhaps that moment lost would cause her next move to be less effective, but she pursued it nonetheless. Throwing all her weight into the anterior portion of her bodice, she elevated her hind legs from the earth and snapped them back towards the other equine. She suspected that the mare needing to steady herself after dropping from Sly's shoulder would leave her vulnerable to attack. Nonetheless, Sly ventured to cast her hind flints high enough to be able to crack against the mare’s skull. If Sly made contact with the part of the mare's scalp that protected her brain, she would be done for. If not, Sly would settle for her jaw as well, for that would hinder the use of her bite. Unsure as to whether or not she made contact, Sly slammed her hindquarters to the ground and swung them behind her, so she did not linger with her back turned to her opposition. Staring with hatred at the being before her, she took one moment reprieve to catch her breath, as the effort she was putting in had left her short of it. That moment was short lived, however, for she then promptly threw herself into her next attack.

    Sly was malicious, and she was merciless. For her next attack demonstrated that she was not here to play nice. She was not here because of a sense of duty, or to try to do right by others, to support them. She was here because of her own selfish desires. She craved the bloodshed, feeling the hot liquid pool within her mouth as she sank her ivories into the flesh of another. She longed for the screams of pain that her foes would emit when she came down upon them. It was an unnatural hunger for equines, but it was something that circulated so firmly within her, compelling her to seek out this kind of destruction. Driving her to revel in it. Her muscles spasmed from the demand she was imposing upon them. Her breath labored from the exertion. And yet, the adrenaline spurred her onwards, the addiction urging her to do more. So as she shot forward, she let that lethal part of her take hold, catapulting her towards her opponents most vulnerable point – her jugular. Peeling her lips back over dentition, she exposed her maw as she aimed for a precise and powerful crunch. She could kill this creature right here and now and not even flinch. Yet as she was dashing forward, once again the environment came into play, and she found herself struggling to find purchase on the slick footing. While it may have slowed her progress, it did not halt it, and soon enough she was in reach of her rival. Sly would see whether or not this being would be able to save herself – or if yet another would fall to the wrath of the Helkaer.

---

BATTLE TERMS
- 3 hits
- 1 dodge
- 3 days to reply, NO EXTENSIONS

- Words: 769/1000
- Posts: 2/3

- Attacks: 3/3
1) Sly aims for Laken's left hind leg, hoping to bite down on her stifle and hinder the mare's use of her this leg. 
2) After twisting out from underneath Laken, Sly then turns around and tries to kick her hind legs out at Laken's head - hoping to hit her skull, but could hit just her jaw instead.
3) Sly charges at Laken and aims to take a bite at her jugular.

- Dodges: 1/1
1) Sly lets Laken put her weight on Sly, but then firstly tosses her dial away, and then twists out from underneath her.

-Tag: @aurelia
-OOC. Obviously I don't expect Sly to kill Laken, so while she'll be biting something deadly, don't feel the need to make it actually deadly lol. That's just her deadly desire talking. Ignore her. Lol. In any case that's why I talked about her slipping as she was coming at Laken, so maybe you could explore how that would make the bite less effective than deadly.

EDIT: edited this post a minute after I posted it because my table coding messed up. Sorry!

[❅ Icy Dragon ✩]

Due to @aurelia not posting within the time limit, Laken has forfeited this battle. aliyaah with Sly are the winners.