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Description
+15AP (861wc = +3, sh hs +2, sh fb +6, partial bg +1, scb +1, storyteller +2) to Prax

Change.
The past few days had brought unexpected change.

Hira had been so preoccupied since her child had been taken, something Praxitelles obviously couldn’t fault her for, yet it had severely impacted the herd. Himself and his fellow Shields had picked up a lot of extra work. Their main work was attempting to cover up for their War Lord. To say the Stone Circle were having explosive episodes over it were an understatement.

This was made no easy task by the winter being so brutal. Some farms were holding on just fine while others were struggling desperately and so far Hira had done nothing except sit in a room mulling over her options, while still being half distraught and distracted about Grigori. Meanwhile the Valkyries had been running rampant all over the place, one even being culled due to unrestrained behaviour, thus proving the instability of Hira’s ridiculous idea of an all mare fighting squad. They were unsure what to do with themselves without the War Lord’s specific instruction.

Then came the day Lykos and those Bloody Flanks stepped onto their Skeldr Town soil, fueling doubt in the hearts of the War-Forged and tempting them to a corrupt side. That was the last straw for Prax and it didn’t appear the other Shields were keen to do anything other than protect Hira, which he supposed was their job after all, but still.
So that night Prax sat down with his wives and told them what he planned to do. They had faith in him and gave their blessings with love and support.

Challenge.
The morning after the Bloody Flanks intrusion, before the betrayal of the Forged could settle in, Prax called for Hira. When she finally arrived outside, prompted further by the Stone Circle, Prax called for a Formal Challenge. The Shield could still remember the challengers that Hira fought when she first became War Lord and Prax knew it would not be an easy battle, even after all these years. The challenge was set in two parts. First a strategy task for a battle of the wits, then an all out brawl.

Strategy.
The task was set by Hemlock, a game of Stones. Where two coloured stones are placed on a grid and the task is to gain more territory than your opponent with the rest of the stones in a turn based sequence.
One could say Prax had the advantage due to being Hira’s Shield for several years, therefore having insight into how Hira thought and to Prax it was indeed just another link for his chainmail.
It was a close game but by a single point Prax had won.

Battle.
When it came to the physical battle, the terms were agreed that death would not be brought, there was too much respect between them. It would just be until one party yielded. Weapons and blessings were permitted, but armour was not.

If Prax was being honest, his adrenaline for a fight hadn’t been this high in quite some years. Hira may have been significantly smaller, but that was more likely in the seasoned warrior’s favour. Hira equipped herself with her hammer, Earth Manipulation on her side. Prax with his club and Tremor Sense.
Both read each other exceptionally well, essentially it was another strategy game. Reading the Earth, Prax made sure to gain the upperhand before Hira could strike him, but over time, using extensive energy bursts, he became a little sloppy and Hira got in some brutal blows, namely to the knees and underbelly. However, Prax had been on the field of battle much more recently than Hira had, his stamina a thing of great attribute. As both equines became desperate to hold onto what energy scraps they had left, their blows became more vicious, horns frequently coming into contact. Both of them were drenched in blood and sweat, fur getting matted together, the only places not matted were lacking significant patches of fur.

Victor.
The battle lasted over an hour and left both breathing heavily like Alya had no more oxygen to give. The final result was Prax having pinned Hira to the ground with his weight, club to her throat, Hira too exhausted to fight back with the earth. It came as a forced grunt, but Hira had to accept her fate and called Yield.
Praxitelles had done it, he was the War Lord. Struggling to his hooves, Prax had a significant limp, nothing he couldn’t get over. He offered Hira a helping hoof but when she was standing, let her know she needed to be out of the fortress come the setting sun.

New Rules.
The gruff, threatening tone in Praxitelles voice gave clear warning that no one would succeed in a challenge with him within the next twenty four hours.
Wanting to set boundaries early, Prax made a quick motion to let the Valkyries know he was not cruel, he wouldn’t kick them out of the fortress, but made it clear they were no longer Hira’s special warriors. He sent word with the scouts to inform the outer territories that there was a new War Lord and a stallion was back in charge.

Description
+15AP (861wc = +3, sh hs +2, sh fb +6, partial bg +1, scb +1, storyteller +2) to Prax

Change.
The past few days had brought unexpected change.

Hira had been so preoccupied since her child had been taken, something Praxitelles obviously couldn’t fault her for, yet it had severely impacted the herd. Himself and his fellow Shields had picked up a lot of extra work. Their main work was attempting to cover up for their War Lord. To say the Stone Circle were having explosive episodes over it were an understatement.

This was made no easy task by the winter being so brutal. Some farms were holding on just fine while others were struggling desperately and so far Hira had done nothing except sit in a room mulling over her options, while still being half distraught and distracted about Grigori. Meanwhile the Valkyries had been running rampant all over the place, one even being culled due to unrestrained behaviour, thus proving the instability of Hira’s ridiculous idea of an all mare fighting squad. They were unsure what to do with themselves without the War Lord’s specific instruction.

Then came the day Lykos and those Bloody Flanks stepped onto their Skeldr Town soil, fueling doubt in the hearts of the War-Forged and tempting them to a corrupt side. That was the last straw for Prax and it didn’t appear the other Shields were keen to do anything other than protect Hira, which he supposed was their job after all, but still.
So that night Prax sat down with his wives and told them what he planned to do. They had faith in him and gave their blessings with love and support.

Challenge.
The morning after the Bloody Flanks intrusion, before the betrayal of the Forged could settle in, Prax called for Hira. When she finally arrived outside, prompted further by the Stone Circle, Prax called for a Formal Challenge. The Shield could still remember the challengers that Hira fought when she first became War Lord and Prax knew it would not be an easy battle, even after all these years. The challenge was set in two parts. First a strategy task for a battle of the wits, then an all out brawl.

Strategy.
The task was set by Hemlock, a game of Stones. Where two coloured stones are placed on a grid and the task is to gain more territory than your opponent with the rest of the stones in a turn based sequence.
One could say Prax had the advantage due to being Hira’s Shield for several years, therefore having insight into how Hira thought and to Prax it was indeed just another link for his chainmail.
It was a close game but by a single point Prax had won.

Battle.
When it came to the physical battle, the terms were agreed that death would not be brought, there was too much respect between them. It would just be until one party yielded. Weapons and blessings were permitted, but armour was not.

If Prax was being honest, his adrenaline for a fight hadn’t been this high in quite some years. Hira may have been significantly smaller, but that was more likely in the seasoned warrior’s favour. Hira equipped herself with her hammer, Earth Manipulation on her side. Prax with his club and Tremor Sense.
Both read each other exceptionally well, essentially it was another strategy game. Reading the Earth, Prax made sure to gain the upperhand before Hira could strike him, but over time, using extensive energy bursts, he became a little sloppy and Hira got in some brutal blows, namely to the knees and underbelly. However, Prax had been on the field of battle much more recently than Hira had, his stamina a thing of great attribute. As both equines became desperate to hold onto what energy scraps they had left, their blows became more vicious, horns frequently coming into contact. Both of them were drenched in blood and sweat, fur getting matted together, the only places not matted were lacking significant patches of fur.

Victor.
The battle lasted over an hour and left both breathing heavily like Alya had no more oxygen to give. The final result was Prax having pinned Hira to the ground with his weight, club to her throat, Hira too exhausted to fight back with the earth. It came as a forced grunt, but Hira had to accept her fate and called Yield.
Praxitelles had done it, he was the War Lord. Struggling to his hooves, Prax had a significant limp, nothing he couldn’t get over. He offered Hira a helping hoof but when she was standing, let her know she needed to be out of the fortress come the setting sun.

New Rules.
The gruff, threatening tone in Praxitelles voice gave clear warning that no one would succeed in a challenge with him within the next twenty four hours.
Wanting to set boundaries early, Prax made a quick motion to let the Valkyries know he was not cruel, he wouldn’t kick them out of the fortress, but made it clear they were no longer Hira’s special warriors. He sent word with the scouts to inform the outer territories that there was a new War Lord and a stallion was back in charge.