Underland: Ash and Onyx Brawl (Duel)

**Kray** · May 6th, 2025 07:17 AM

The day he had appointed had arrived. No word from anyone on the matter but so what. The giant was settling a dispute the way lost settled such things. And the prospect of the violence solutions soon to come had salvia pooling in his mouth with anticipation he didn't just have violent tendencies he was after all an ogre, formed and shaped by the violence and cruelty of the gentry, behaviours that had become an undeniable part of him. As was the mixed curiosity only adding to the anticipation he had handed the wording of the duel oath over to the winter and was just as excited to see how that played out.

As he crosses into the Underland hollow from the tunnel, a small space of earth and stone and brick forming the clearing in the thorns the Ogre's rough long coat swirls with the momentum of his steps and the terrible jaw opens to let the deep tones roll forth. "I. Kray king of Autumn and Notary of the freehold of Sacramento challenge withers the Onyx king to a duel, we are in conflict and speak ill of each other, the winner shall have the right of the loser." His challenged issued first on paper and now declared to the wyrd.

The small hollow creaks and expands as the rough walls push back at the declaration giving more space for the fight to come the hedge responding to the impending violence.

Saber Sloth
Origins Circe
Sonnie Wu Abyssalstar
Withers Stray

stats and equipment

**Sonnie Wu** · May 6th, 2025 06:04 PM

Sonnie... didn't like this. Hedge Duels were notoriously deadly. For two of the freehold's monarchs to be engaging in one over... what? Petty insults?

As Spring Queen she had no standing to object, really. As Director... maybe? But she didn't see a reason to say no on that front, either. Her not wanting anyone to possibly die was not enough.

The Beast felt she should be here to witness it, anyway. So, here she was, standing by in silence, arms crossed over her chest. She'd never seen a Hedge Duel before, and she had to admit she was curious.

**Circe** · May 6th, 2025 10:11 PM

Circe could both approve and disapprove of having a duel over harsh words. As a Summer, totally for it. Her season demanded such insults be handled through challenge. As a practical Summer and Groundskeeper, disapprove depending upon the level of violence it got to. There was also her personal views on honor-a-gable combat, which in her experience often translated to the strong warrior with sword demanding that a weak worker try to shank her with a rusty piece of metal.

San Francisco turned her off of the concept. She'd prefer the Indiana Jones duel method.

Though she was uncertain to what degree this battle would be going to. Thus was she wearing a trench coat as she carried a first aid kit with her as she entered the Hollow with the group. She'd considered grabbing the bean bags and the double barrel, just in case someone needed knocking on their ass for being a sore loser. Or sore winner. Or for demonstration that they were not like Beanie Babies.

And the tunnels were, well, semi-secured. And then there was the Hedge as well. So, she brought the pump action.

When she arrives, the trench coat is ditched to cushion the shotgun. And this does reveal she'd brought a pair of pistol looking weapons. Her dart gun and her 45. And a bandolier of medical flasks. The kind Circe carried when she wanted to stuff healing fruit into them.

"Sonja. Kray," she nods, "Not sure how far you and Withers are going to go before someone quits. Call me paranoid," she waves her free hand to her chest, showing off the various holsters of medical flasks. Quit was a better choice than lose. It implied they chose to concede instead of being defeated. "The shotty if for any uninvited guests."

Circe didn't expect any. Expectations can be exceeded though.

**Kray** · May 7th, 2025 03:50 AM

As someone enters the hollow the Ogre turns terrible teeth on display in full shark smile its hard to tell at a glance if he is in a good or terrible mood as the reaction is the same for both. Seeing it is in fact Monarch although not the one he is waiting for a hand goes up to his hat and doff it for the ascendant sovereign. "Uh. Queen Sonnie." Hand coming back down on his head. "Hm. Come to watch? I didn't know if we would have an audience of not today." Hedge duels were not a dime a dozen and he had put the declaration on the freehold noticeboard so in theory every member of the freehold might show.

And as the next does the bulbous yellow eyes squint at the inclusion of the shotgun but it was Circe she had guns wherever she went. And so hand goes back up to tip the rim of his hat to the summer queen. "Uh. Queen Circe." It was a formal day and all the pomp and etiquette was being observed. "Ah. Like the declaration said till loss of consciousness. I don't plan on killing him today." But the hedge was a cruel place. "No. Just hurt him. Bad." And the ogre was not a good person. "Ah. I got fruits on me to shove down his throat if he is a frail as he appears." But he did keep his word and the challenge had not been to the death. With lost appearances were far from the entire picture.

stats and equipment

**Sonnie Wu** · May 7th, 2025 07:49 AM

Being in the Hedge, all her Hedgespun was active, so Sonnie was in full Spring Queen regalia. The usually chipper Beast's expression was serious, though.

"Only me and Circe should watch. It'd be bad for freehold morale for everyone else to see two of their leaders trying to... borderline... kill each other. But I won't stop anyone who shows up." That was her opinion, at least. "I'm here to provide healing, too."

**Circe** · May 7th, 2025 01:09 PM

Circe hums in approval as Kray confirms no killing. That was good, as Groundskeeper she'd have to objected to losses like that. "I THINK goblin fruit regrows teeth," she nods as brings that possibility up. Whether it be Kray losing them stuck in Withers' bones or someone losing due to a haymaker or shillelagh to the face, she wasn't sure which would occur.

Her tone and expression however remain dour. Just like Sonja.

Circe nods in approval with Sonja's thoughts on witnesses. "Excellent Sonja," was her input on that. If the goblin fruit failed, Sonja could do the dental work. After a moment she decides to clarify something. "12 gauge, even the beanbags, are not for Freeholders. This IS the Hedge. I also made some APs," she pats a pocket, "Just in case. And brought beanies in case anyone went berserk," pats a different pocket. "Paranoid," she gives a wry smile at the last word.

**Kray** · May 8th, 2025 04:59 AM

Starting to go through some warm up stenches and shakes to loosen up twisted muscles and lumpy limbs the ogre is quite animated today. "Uh. Whys that Sonnie?" Clearly not how he saw things. "Why would seeing an issued resolved and put to rest be bad for morale?" Surely it would have been worse to let it keep festering.

Goblin sure was convenient and the effort of harvesting still less of hassle them medical insurance. "So. Things are more then covered to stop anyone dying." All well and good if it made them feel better about it. "Ha. By anyone I assume you mean me more then him." He fought recklessly sure but by choice wrath rarely had much to do with violence when the giant inflicted it. "But. No don't plan on using that clause today either." Not that he even had it but it was what made ogres legendary when it came to fighting. "Ah. I got three objectives today and senseless slaughter isn't one." Sure not all of the m needed Withers alive but some did and that was enough.

stats and equipment

**Sonnie Wu** · May 8th, 2025 09:15 AM

The Beast was all business today, it seemed. "If I saw Rhodes and Sera, as Monarchs, fighting a deadly Hedge Duel over petty insults, I'd have to wonder how stable and safe the freehold actually is. I'd also have to question the stability of their marriage, but that's a whole different thing." Okay, maybe not 100% business. 95%, maybe.

She looked around, scanning for the Winter King. "Did Withers confirm he's actually going to do this?"

**Circe** · May 8th, 2025 09:49 PM

Circe scoffs at the idea, "I can't see those two fighting physically over anything Sonja. Punching me out for insulting their partner? Yes," she nods firmly. "Politics though I believe is what you mean here. For the noobs it'd cause worry. Unless they're Summer. Then they'd want beer and popcorn whilst they watch."

Circe may be more level headed than the stereotypical Summer. Yet, she knows Summer and the stereotype exists for a reason. Meatheads and frat bros with violent tendencies did love the Summer Court.

Circe chuckles, finding something to lean against so she can fold her arms as she looks at Kray. "Not necessarily Kray. You could get a tooth stuck and rip it out by accident." It'd be good to humor him. "Or Withers may have a Contract to pop out teeth."

Sounds like a Goblin Contract that should exist.

Before Sonja brings up a good question. "Uuuuh, good point Sonja. Did Withers agree to come?"

Accusations of cowardice might draw in Summers, maybe same Autumns. But Winters? The court for whom stealth and going unseen was a point of pride? They might not lose any standing within their own court for choosing to be hidden instead of fighting.

**Kray** · May 9th, 2025 05:29 PM

That makes the Ogre scratch his head and corresponding flakes of lichen to fall to the hollow's floor. "Uh. You do know being questionably sane comes with what we are right?" It would be more concerning if a lost was completely well adjusted. "Ah. Besides I wouldn't see a monarch or two settling a dispute as anything other then a good thing." That aside Autumn was the only court he knew of to duel just for the experience in addition to three big motivators. "Bah. And his words are not so petty as you say." If they had been the old darkling wouldn't be facing the risk of broken bones over them.

The summer queen gets his toothy smile. "Oh. He might well, might have alot of tricks. He has the oath for today. All kind of ways to tie me in knots." Part of what made it interesting and a sign it wasn't as rash as first appeared to challenge, knowing he had ceded alot of power to the Onyx king about what was going to happen here, put the Ogre at as much of a disadvantage as could be put into words.

A shake of that great head. "No. I heard nothing. But turning down hedge duels even ones you think your going to lose is bad form. The Wyrd and worse takes notice." That took the fun out of today, if Withers valued the traditions of the lost as little as the winter king valued his own words then well. On his head be it. "Ah. Besides after today I can put my hand on my heart and say I tried to resolve this in the way we resolve such things." Others solutions didn't come with warnings or survival chances.

stats and equipment

Underland: Ash and Onyx Brawl (Duel)

Gristlegrinder Troll

Steepscrambler

Gristlegrinder Troll

Steepscrambler

Gristlegrinder Troll

Steepscrambler

Gristlegrinder Troll

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