[CONFLICT] The Old Nord Way...

[u/cthulhuh00p]

Zizi arrives in Ivarstead, just days after her diplomat was murdered. She calls from atop a hill, "Torygg! Come face me! You shall duel me in the way of your people. No weapons, no magic, no Thu'um. This is to be a fair fight. If you win, my soldiers will leave the Rift. If I win, the Rift shall become a legal part of the Republic."

As she finishes speaking, her guards back away, and she waits patiently for Torygg to come face here.

[u/thewildryanoceros]

[Well that's what's about to be clarified.]

Torygg dismounted, and called forth witnesses. Fifty of his elite guard stood at attention. "Ivar," the King called, "step forward."

The commander of the Guards stepped forward, and Torygg walked away from Zizi to address his men. Loudly, he declares, "All bear witness: In the event of my death, I name my cousin, Ragnar Lothbrok, as my heir, and interim King until a new King can be elected."

[Secret]

He leans slightly forward and whispers, "If she slays me, put the beast down. She is a warmonger, not fit to rule."

Ivan was shocked, "My king, there is no honor…"

The King interrupted, "I would rather slay one honorlessly than let thousands fall on a field of battle. Do your duty, soldier."

Begrudgingly, Ivar nodded, "Aye, my King."

[End Secret]

Torygg turned and walked back to Zizi. The large beast intimidated him, but he was honor bound to fight her. "Let us dance, then."

[u/cthulhuh00p → u/thewildryanoceros]

She steps back a few paces, waiting for Torygg to make the first move.

[u/thewildryanoceros → u/cthulhuh00p]

Torygg stripped of his overcoat until his bare chest showed.

He approached the cat, "A fair fight?" He asked. "You're a fool girl. This is no fight. You are twice my size and have razor claws. You think yourself clever for challenging me to a duel? You are pathetic. You shattered peace to protect people who you do not rule, and only brought more pain and suffering to them. Further, your rash actions have led to a war that would've been avoided if you had been content with two nations rather than three. There is no happy ending for you. You are not a benevolent savior of the Rift. You are a warmonger, a liar, and a shame on your father's legacy!"

"Attack me, cat, and let us be done with it."

[u/cthulhuh00p → u/thewildryanoceros]

"I did not wish to harm you. But murderers must be punished. For the lives of my diplomats, the countless lives of the people who burned in Riften that you did not save, for the lives of all you have doomed by perpetuating this war, I find you guilty of murder. And when I'm finished with you, your men will most likely kill me and allege that you won, as would any scum of your ilk. So I name my wife Joneshii as my successor and heir, the one who will finish the rehabilitation of the Rift if I should pass. So, in the old Nord way, let us fight."

She lunges at Torygg, dragging a paw across his chest, and circling around behind him.

[u/thewildryanoceros → u/cthulhuh00p]

Torygg stumbled as the claws cut through his skin. He turns but drops to his knees, and says, with fire in his eyes, "By what right does the lion judge the wolf?"

He stands, and waits for Zizi to strike again. When she does, he falls beneath her strong arm, and grasps the pit of her arm, then used it to drag himself quickly onto her back, and held on for dear life.

[u/cthulhuh00p → u/thewildryanoceros]

She rolls over, crushing him under her weight and clawing at his face.

[u/thewildryanoceros → u/cthulhuh00p]

Torygg managed to roll onto his shoulders, and place a boot within the lion's maw. He grasped her jaw, and pulled with all his might, unhinging the jaw, and removing several teeth. He snatched the longest of the dislodged teeth, and jammed it deep into the lion's throat. She roared, and briefly took pressure of him. He used the time to stand, and regain his bearings, body aching from the uneven fight.

Before the cat can respond, Torygg collapses, unconscious. His guards immediately spring into action, quickly surrounding the great cat, and burying spears and swords deep within her.

[u/mewtwo928 → u/thewildryanoceros]

"STOP!" roars a voice, a mist coming together. A mage, Breton with short hair, followed by an argonian female, are rushing toward the scene. Around them, the source of the voice, a blue mist

"All of you, stop this nonsense!"

The argonian rushes toward the cat, hands glowing with healing magic. The Breton, meanwhile, rushes to Torygg, her glowing hands wafting over him.

"This is not a fair fight. Both of you have done dishonourably in this whole affair! You should both live, and solve this in a way that you are evenly matched. And no treachery. Zizi, you seek to solve this bloodlessly but this will only cause more war! In fact I do not see this ending without war. You have invaded his kingdom, and while you act for the good of the people there, this is not the way to do so.

" Solve this in debate. Or diplomacy. Something where you are evenly matched!"

/u/cthulhuh00p and Ryan are tagged. Hope this post is okay! I tried to be neutral and call out both sides. Hooray for plot devices? The mage is Lysayna btw

[u/thewildryanoceros → u/mewtwo928]

Torygg's wounds closed, and he rose slowly, still in pain. His guards helped him to his feet as he spoke, looking to the cat rather than the mist, "You have no right to take land that rightfully belongs to the Kingdom of Skyrim. You claim to do this for the good of the people, but any fool with an eye and an ear could see that Riften has suffered tenfold under your control than under mine. Unless you agree to leave, and accept the status quo, there is no diplomacy to be had."

He looked around, addressing the crowd, "And I admit, there is no honor in what I did. But there is no honor in war. My honor, and the honor of all Nords, lies in Riften. And we will get it back."