This Ver harvest was not like the others. First Blood might have kept the same rules and set up, the feast was as large as ever... but the table had grown by one chair. And those that could enter First Blood, had gotten more diverse. Rian knew it was quite the statement, watched as some of the men's feathers were ruffled, some outraged and stepping forward. But as a face met dirt, Rian's boot pressing their cheek to almost smothering pressure below him, others found a quick hold on their rage. The Parabolti were just as much a part of their strength as the rest of them.

The rules didn't change, there was no adjustments for the women. If they wanted to earn the respect, they'd earn it the hard way. Just like all the men who had before them. Rian sat in the middle of his table, looking down to the rings and there was a certain edge to him that could be seen as he glanced between all of those who were coming forward for First Blood. Still more boys, but there was a few more girls than he had expected lingering near the edges.

"This will be the First Blood to be remembered." He commented loud enough for those around him to hear, cutting his gaze two seats down to @catrin who had another female beside her. "A better turn out for the women than I had expected. I'm assuming you are prepared for any and all results?" It wasn't a taunt, but rather a gentle and stern reminder. This might not be pretty, but it would be the mark of something new.

Magda entered with her husband, looking every bit the ‘chieftess’ she fancied herself to be. She’d spent her life hanging on the arms of powerful men; making eyes at them and tempting them with her charm. But Rian was different. Rian was hers, and Coheed was his. As she walked alongside him, she imagined her father’s face beneath her every footfall. She’d won. Her father in the ground at her own hand, and Magda, standing alongside a man who she believed entirely under her spell. For certainly she was increasingly under his.

Including women in the First Blood ceremony was a victory for Nevermere, and Magda hoped it would be interpreted as such. Magda did also consider it a victory for the women of Coheed, who she’d strangely come to care for. They weren’t much different from herself, she thought. Trapped at a young age to serve men who had no consideration for their welfare. Who treated them as objects to be used and discarded. Magda was glad to see that change—as if that would bring her younger self justice.

Magda sat next to Rian, eyes scanning the crowd with her chin held high. She was by any standard a sight to behold—tan skin now lightly freckled by Coheed’s sun. Her husband’s comment drew her eyes and a smile, but it would seem @rian ’s eyes were not for her. Magda followed his gaze down to @catrin . She continued to smile, looking back out at the crowd and away from the warrior woman.

“These women have spent a lifetime preparing,” Magda responded playfully, “Whatever the results are, they’ll be honestly won—I have no doubt.”

Faylin had to admit that she was impressed by the festival Coheed had put together. It was a gathering just like festivals back in Nevermere, except much less... refined. She found she was almost more comfortable to be among this type of celebration, where it revolved around feats of physical prowess rather than around nobles showing off their wealth with expensive clothes and jewelry. Still, she had elected not to participate in any of the events so that she could simply observe and learn.

She had taken her place next to Magda at the table, glancing at each face that resided there in turn. She looked for a beat longer at the massive man that had been sat to her right. She knew who he was, Kaalim, the previous Chieftan, but she was certain she would never be used to just how large he was.

Turning her attention to the conversation, she remained quiet, simply listening and observing.

Catrin had watched women slowly line up to participate in the First Blood, her gaze marking each, already trying to decipher which of them would make the cut. She barely cared about the men who raised a fuss, it was to be expected, and it had happened every year since she had been among the first to participate, and win. She couldn't help the small smirk of satisfaction that crossed her face as she watched @rian put one particularly unruly man in his place though. It was good to see such outward support from the new Chieftain.

Taking her place at the table, @miriel beside her as her upcoming second, she picked at her food while her attention mostly remained rooted on the pit and any fights that included women taking place below. Only Rian's voice pulled her attention away, and she paused a moment to study his face before responding, "I am as prepared this day as I was the day I participated in my own First Blood. These women know what they are getting themselves into. And I am only interested in those who can hold their own."

Her gaze flicked to Magda Ivanova next as she offered her input as well, and Catrin dipped her chin in a nod of agreeance before turning away to watch the ongoing fights again. "As much of their lives as they've been allowed to," she murmured, mostly to herself.

(TW; death)

Kaalim sat most proud, he had done the most for the women of Coheed than any man before him. To see them in the First Blood was truly a sight and feeling to behold every time he saw them get into the pits for their fights, in fact Kaalim was surely celebrating the hardest of them all or so it of course appeared. He was knocking back large cups of meade as fast as he could get them poured but he was a beastly sized man and his tolerance blew most of those around him out of the water, he was just getting real good and buzzed.

Several times Kaalim would rise from his seat giving certain winners, both man and woman, a loud hollering of approval remembering their faces or telling the little Nevermere woman beside him who they would be most impressive (he liked the word; @alys had given him a book to read when he discovered it) as a warrior. During intense close fights Kaalim was literally up out of his seat out from around the table, and leaning his massive frame over the railing shouting down his approval of the first blood fight.

The current fight was between two young women both of great skill, this particular fight had been going on the last ten minutes the longest fight so far, and Kaalim was throwing one back when the tides had turned for one of the women: she had grabbed tightly onto the others throat crushing it - the first and hopefully last death of the day; a death on a first blood was a rare occurrence and it must have meant something for the large former Chieftain as he jumped up from his seat throwing his chair into one of the many servers constantly switching out foods.

"YESS!" Kaalim roared loudly he was jumping and clapping, shaking the entire frame work of their still very sturdy platform he came to a stop in front of the rafters cupping his hands on each side of his mouth yelling down at the winner, "OH AH PARABOLTI! HAHAHA! BE PROUD WOMAN" his enthusiasm was greatly unappreciated by most of the gathered crowd, because they heard him clearly approving the new warrior woman but it caught the girl in the pit differently l as the girls arm was raised she gave a deep celebratory growl pumping both arms in the air in victory, she was proud and for Kaalim to have been so enthusiactally appreciative of her fed this victory, "Tell your Mother to be proud! Tell your Father!".

He finally turned back to everyone on the platform smiling, "The Parabolti this season are some top stock! Catrin you will have some very fierce, bold, deadly women to train! Clouds weep I haven't seen a good death in a first blood since mine! Oh do you remember it Rian? Izen?"

Rian did, probably because Kaalim always brought it up when a death did happen. Izen too, their Father had never been prouder even if he never did say outloud.

"Jacobi! I remember his name, thirty five seconds was all it took," be boasted loudly as he climbed back unto his large chair. He didn't watch as the dead girl was dragged from the pit a single spot of blood drying now on her cheek in her last death throw, didn't care Coheed was on the up and up plus deaths in a first blood were rare again this was an anomaly. To Kaalim it just culled the weak, when he had killed Jacobi at just thirteen he had said as much.

Men or women, only the strong survived their battles, both physical and mentally.

He would let them go on with their discussions turning his attention to the Witch beside him, "I entered the games, are you....Sergeant Valana?"

Magda’s eyes fell on @miriel : her darling, her little pet. The cheiftess witch smiled, looking at the woman as if they were the only two people in the world.

“I do not doubt it,” Magda purred before looking at @catrin and then back to @rian again, “This is a new age for Coheed. Your daughters’ daughters will not remember a time when women did not wield weapons at first blood. And what a glorious day that will be.”

Faylin sat with her utensils half raised, staring with slightly wide eyes at the outbursts that continued to erupt from him. Even Kasper in his most drunken state was not as loud and rambunctious as this man. She eventually shook it off and turned to picking at her food. That is, until she was addressed specifically by the same man.

She blinked in surprised, her gaze flicking to Kaalim. "No, I chose not to participate this year. Since it is my first time here, I simply want to observe and learn as much about the festival as I can. I look forward to seeing you compete, though." She wondered if she would actually enjoy it. From what she had seen already, the fights here were much more brutal and unforgiving than even the fighting pits back in Nevermere.

She shifted in her seat again, looking to her other side as Magda spoke to the other women at the table, noting the smile she shared with Miriel, but agreeing with her sentiment. "It is a great thing to be able to witness this turning point in history for Coheed," she interjected slowly, eyes resting on the Parabolti at the table.

She barely acknowledged the compliment Miriel offered her, her attention far too fixed on the first blood fights happening. Only Kaalim's yelling was enough to draw her attention away, the smallest of amused smiles lifting the corners of her lips. It widened only slightly as he commended this years newest Parabolti members, followed by Magda's observation of the future of the women of Coheed.

She nodded, her back straightening and chest puffing out a bit with pride. "We still have much work to do, but you are right. And each year will only be better." At this she looked to @rian, holding his gaze for a moment before turning away again.