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troll toll rolled 5 4-sided dice:
4, 1, 2, 2, 3
Total: 12 (5-20)
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 Posted: Mon Oct 25, 2010 3:34 pm
The blonde Reaver had no duties today. He wasn't patrolling the borders, and he wasn't out raiding. As Gunnar would have put it, he had no enemies at the moment. For a Stormborn, that wasn't an optimal place to be. He recognized the need for softer lions within the pride, but Gunnar was damned if he was going to sit around and chat with lawspeakers or god-botherers, or, worse, with the thralls.
There was only one thing a self-respecting Reaver should do when bored: hone his skills. That was why Gunnar found himself creeping through the grass towards Taraxa. The older Reaver was renowned for his skill in battle. Win or lose, it would be a glorious challenge all the same.
His eyes bright with excitement, Gunnar sprang from the grass with a roar. "I hope you're on your toes, old warrior!" He bellowed. Although his appearance was ferocious, Gunnar's tone was happy, almost playful. Yes, this would be a wonderful fight! There was nothing better than a good brawl with a fellow Stormborn.
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bipolar bee rolled 5 4-sided dice:
3, 4, 4, 2, 1
Total: 14 (5-20)
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Posted: Mon Oct 25, 2010 3:52 pm
Taraxa knew that voice, and knew it well. He'd known Gunnar since the boy was but a gnat, and was quite fond of the other. Gunnar was almost like a son to the older Reaver, and instead of going on the defensive like he usually would in a situation where he'd been taken by surprise, the older lion laughed boisterously when the weight of Gunnar hit him across the back.
"Gunnar! You sneak through the grass like a deceitful snake!" The words were spoken fondly, "Have you turned female?" With a rusty chuckle Taraxa freed himself from Gunnar, backing away from the other lion in order to gain some room between them. There would be little bloodshed; this was nothing more than a friendly brawl between good friends.
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Posted: Mon Oct 25, 2010 4:31 pm
Gunnar laughed at Taraxa's insults. The other Reaver must be in the mood for a duel. Perhaps his watch for intruders had been dull. "Just testing you, my friend!" That was enough banter for now, he hadn't come out here to chatter all day!
With a roar, the brown lion leapt towards his opponent, twisting in the air to strike the other with his shoulder, seeking to drive him down to the ground. He didn't use claws or teeth, not wanting to seriously injure Taraxa. There was no grudge between him and his friend; maiming his fellow Reaver was the last thing on his mind. He just wanted to administer a good thumping.
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Posted: Mon Oct 25, 2010 4:36 pm
The force of Gunnar's strike was felt deep down to Taraxa's bones. The jarring thump of the other's paw against his body, well, he'd been expecting it but Taraxa had discovered through many years of battle that one couldn't really prepare for the actual physical shock that came with such a strike. If Gunnar's claws had been bared, they would have flayed Taraxa's shoulder to the bone. Thankfully this was only a friendly tussle, and not one that was fought to the death.
Recomposing himself rather swiftly, Taraxa jutted out a surprisingly swift paw. Claws remained sheathed, and if he struck true he would land a bone-rattling thunk of his own.
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Posted: Mon Oct 25, 2010 7:57 pm
The younger lion grinned fiercely. He could tell that his blow had struck home. Ha! Even if Taraxa overcame him, he would remember Gunnar's strength for a while. The older lion reacted swiftly, too swiftly for Gunnar to move away in time.
Taraxa's blow was not quite full-force, but it still crashed into Gunnar's side hard enough to drive some of the breath from him. Staggering back a bit, the blond-maned lion tried to return the blow as quickly as he could. Off-balance as he was, it wasn't his best effort, but he didn't want to give Taraxa a chance to attack him again immediately.
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Posted: Tue Oct 26, 2010 11:31 am
Gunnar's blow scuffed across Taraxa's lower leg, not strong enough to knock him from his feet but enough to slightly throw him off balance. He shifted his weight, lips pulled back from his teeth in a ghostly snarl; if this hadn't been a friendly brawl, Taraxa would have used his teeth to maim the other combatant.
With a bellowing roar Taraxa rose onto his hind legs, large paws outstretched as he drove forward with the weight of his body, aiming at Gunnar's side in hopes of driving the other lion onto the ground.
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Posted: Tue Oct 26, 2010 11:37 am
Gunnar's plan to keep Taraxa back and allow him a moment to recover hadn't worked well. The blond-maned lion had barely caught a breath when the older Reaver attacked, this time trying to drive Gunnar down to the ground. Taraxa slammed into him, driving him down. He would have been in serious trouble had Taraxa been fighting to draw blood.
Although he was on the ground, slightly dazed from the impact, Gunnar's reflexes were good. He twisted, kicking up at the other lion with his hind paws, seeking to keep Taraxa away from him while he was still vulnerable and allow himself a few precious seconds to regain his feet.
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Posted: Tue Oct 26, 2010 1:25 pm
Taraxa couldn't help but chuckle loudly at the sight of Gunnar kicking out like some unruly cub kicking out during grooming time. He moved away a bit, giving his brother Reaver some time to rise to his feet and recompose himself before Taraxa went in for another blow.
This time Taraxa lifted a paw and moved to strike it against Gunnar's hind end. With intense power behind the move, the slashing motion Taraxa made would throw his comrade off balance once more.
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Posted: Tue Oct 26, 2010 4:31 pm
Again Taraxa was on the offensive, and again his blow truly struck home. Crafty, striking at his unprotected flank! If Gunnar had been a lighter lion - a weaker female, perhaps - he might have been spun around by the force of the blow. As it was he staggered and lurched to the side, barely keeping his feet. No, he wouldn't allow Taraxa to knock him down again!
His lips curled back in a snarl, and Gunnar leapt. The lion was tiring now, having suffered two truly punishing blows in a row by his comrade. He knew he wasn't hitting with full force now, but he swung at Taraxa's head with all the strength he could muster. Hopefully rattling Taraxa's brain a bit would give him an advantage over the older lion.
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Posted: Wed Oct 27, 2010 11:01 am
The blow did indeed rattle Taraxa's brain, and the large lion had to take a moment to recuperate. Shaking his head as if to settle his brain back in place, Taraxa wibbled on his feet ever so slightly before bracing his paws wide, his stance bracing him against the dizziness that threatened. Despite it all Taraxa grinned at Gunnar before he set in motion with all the power of a herd of wildebeest stampeding.
Straight ahead, sights set on Gunnar, Taraxa didn't slow and didn't make any definitive movements. His entire body was being used as a weapon, and the force behind his forward motion was astonishing.
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Posted: Wed Oct 27, 2010 4:00 pm
Gunnar might be tiring from the battle, but he was still alert enough to dodge the oncoming attack. If Taraxa ploughed into Gunnar with all his considerable muscle, Gunnar would be down for the count. He leapt aside as quickly as he could. With his strength failing, Gunnar didn't manage to completely avoid the attack. Taraxa crashed into his abused hindquarters once more, making Gunnar stagger around in a dizzy circle.
Mustering all of his remaining strength, Gunnar returned Taraxa's attack. He jumped, aiming to land on Taraxa's hind end and hopefully knock Taraxa down.
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Posted: Wed Oct 27, 2010 4:10 pm
By this time Taraxa was slowing from exertion. Breath rushed through flared nostrils, and though his breathing was harsh it was obvious that the excitement from their friendly duel had not yet drained. He was not as tired as his rival; Gunnar might've been younger, but Taraxa had been on many raids and that showed in the lithe muscles that rippled under his brown coat.
Gunnar's attack did hit Taraxa on his hind end, and he slid a bit but didn't exactly fall. It was evident that the little brawl was over, and since it had been done in fun there was no real winner in the fight. Taraxa grinned at his friend, straightening to his feet as he drew in a heavy breath. "A good duel, friend. Had this been a real battle, no doubt you would have drawn my blood!"
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Posted: Wed Oct 27, 2010 4:18 pm
Gunnar backed away from Taraxa, drawing in a deep breath of his own. If it had been a real duel, he thought Taraxa would have bested him. Or perhaps not ... things might have been quite different had the lions been using fangs and claws instead of just blows. It was a good thing they weren't true enemies!
Gunnar grinned, pleased by Taraxa's praise. His own father hadn't been much interested in him as a youngling, and Taraxa had been quite a role model for him. Now that Gunnar was a Reaver himself, dueling with his role model was even better than simply admiring him. "You would have drawn mine as well, friend." He laughed. "I am glad we fight on the same side, Taraxa!"
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Posted: Wed Oct 27, 2010 4:31 pm
Taraxa clapped a paw against Gunnar's shoulder, still grinning. "Ahhh, as am I, Gunnar." He gave a sour look to the other, though his eyes still gleamed with both affection and humor, "I must go check on the cubs, now, friend. Those daughters of mine will be the death of me, I fear."
Taraxa loved this pride with every drop of blood that ran through him. He was a proud Stormborn, through and through. He considered himself lucky to have so many sons and the beautiful daughters he'd brought home with him, and he was lucky to have good friends like Gunnar, as well.
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