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Smoke and Mirrors, pt. 2
Ft. Elbio, Adrian, Monty, and Jinora as GM
Location: Southsward, the woods surrounding it

Three doors down. Knock three times. Speak to Parsins. Ask for the Claw's Brew. These were the only clues given by the enigmatic Selena before she fled through an open window... Now, the hares find themselves facing a small building, no more than a shack crammed into the space between the two businesses on either side of it. There are no signs, no gaudy paint - it's just... There. The front door is closed - and locked, should anybeast be rude enough to try - but sounds of movement can be heard from inside.

Elbio didn't gather much clues himself before he decided maybe he should get all of the long patrol hares together just...where was everyone?

Adrian walks up to the door, and raps his knuckles against the wood three times. "Oy," he calls out, putting on his best searat impression, "I'm 'ere ta speak ta Parsins, about th' Claw's Brew..."

Monty finally finds the place that had been recommended to him while speaking with Selena, and he takes a glance back at Adrian and Elbio. He stands beside the two, eyes on the door, and as Adrian knocks, the hare waits there quietly, quite curious to see if indeed they had been led in the right direction. That doe didn't seem to be the most trustworthy type, especially leaving so quickly through windows and such. He snerks a little at Adrian's searat impression, muttering in a low voice, "Eh, might wanna work on that a bit, Adj, y'sound like y'drank a mug fulla nails..."

Night is falling now, greeting by the soft kiss of torches blinking to life up and down the street. Southsward really is a quaint little place - one can only hope that whatever waits behind this door reflects that. As soon as Adrian knocks, the voices go silent. A small slot affixed to the door slides aside after the third knock, and a pair of dark, narrowed eyes glare out at the hares. "What in blazes ya doin' hollerin' out there?!" They demand before the slat slams shut. It seems, for a moment, that no one is coming - but then latches can be heard, and the door swings open. "Get in, quick. Now, on with ya - ya got lead fer feets? Ya heard me, c'mon." He hardly gives them room to breathe, move, or respond with all his grumping - but he does step aside, and allow the hares to enter the shack. Inside, there is a simple table on a ratty rug, a small oven, and three shrews. The hares will find space to be wanting, ears brushing the ceiling and bodies held a little too close for comfort. It's a tight fit.

Elbio frowns, should they go inside the room, he will of course if the others do.

Adrian does step into the room, first, taking the lead. He's extremely suspicious, however. "We're heah ta see Parsins."

Monty wasn't exactly the tallest hare in the Mountain to begin with, and so he doesn't have nearly as hard a time fitting into the room as the others likely do. Still, it seems to be rather close quarters, with shrews, which doesn't make the experience an entirely pleasant one. He eyes Elbio and Adrian briefly, before turning his attention back to the others in the room. "Er, sorry fer th'interruption of wotever it was you lot were doin' in here, but it seems we were told t'look for you, and it seems we found ya." He gives a nod as Adrian speaks.
"Aye, I heard ya th'first bloody time." The shrew huffs in response to Adrian, waving a paw. "An' that yer here fer the Claw's Brew. That's all we needs ta know." The shrew huffs, crossing their arms. "Addie, let th' lads in." One of the shrews, Addie apparently, shuffles away from the table, dragging it (and the rug) along with her. There's a door beneath it, hewn roughly into the floor. "Ya tell anybeast where this is, where /we/ is, an' ya wake t'find all yet guts on th'outside. Savvy? Now -" Another of the shrews, this one a young maiden hardly out of her teenage years, muscles open the trap door and drops down. There doesn't seem to be a ladder, because her claws can be seen desperately clutching at the edge until she's worked up the courage to drop down with a 'whumpf'. "Whatcha waitin' fer?" The older shrew gruffs at them again, their arms still crossed, a disgruntled expression seeminly permanently pressed across their face.

Elbio looks to Adrian as...well he is the main hare after all, "So sir? Wot do we...do?" He watches the shrews and again a look to Adrian to see what to do.

Adrian wonders if they should follow a stranger down a strange hole. Isn't that how Private Leo lost a kidney in Halyard, at least according to Patrol lore? "We go down," he says, and leads the way, though keeping aware of his surroundings and his weapons should the need arise...

Monty smirks a little, giving Adrian a light elbow. "Hrm. I dunno, I think m'guts would look pretty good on th'outside, th'color's would compliment each other nicely..." He watches carefully as the table is moved and the door is revealed, and he grins as said door is opened. "Yep, like 'e said, wot're ya waitin' for? Tally ho 'n all that!" He follows behind, not exactly sure how long the drop is, but he drops himself down into the hole, bracing himself for the landing.

The tunnel itself is pitch black, but not for long. As soon as their paws start to hit dirt, a flame blooms, clutched in the paws of the small shrewmaid. Her face, half-cast in shadow, looks nervous as she offers up the torch to whomever will take it. "Ya follow dis all the way down, aye? All the way. Ya reach the end, ya know it when ya there. Jus' the one thing - ya be /quiet/ aye? Soft as a shrew, aye? Ya goin' inta raw territories. Imagine ye'll get some 'splanations soon. But they cain't come from me." She gives them a curt nod and begins to scrabble back up the wall, waiting for the paw of one of the other shrews to descend the opening and haul her up. "Allaway!" She repeats, calling down to them. "An' good lucks!" The trapdoor slams above them, leaving the torch to become the only light they have.

Elbio follows last and so is in the back, ok they did need a rear guard he supposes as he tries to follow close behind and looks around as he moves slowly making sure to stay at the same pace and stay close to his fellow hares,

Adrian accepts the torch, then watches the shrew scramble her way back out. With the torch their only light, he frowns. "Why does this feel like a trap, Monty? Elbio, keep yahrself armed, wot. Don't let ya guard down. Okay... 'Opefully we don't wind up like Private Leo..." He starts to follow the tunnel.

Monty chuckles, "Usually it's the stuff that feels like a trap that isn't really th'trap, heh. Dunno what exactly they'd gain from foolin' us, but alas, we better get goin' before we lose th'torchlight." Monty grins, as they travel along the tunnel. "Hmm. Private Leo, eh? I heard that th'fellas that harenapped im were so incompetent, 'e ended up with three kidneys instead o'losing one!" Monty shakes his head with a chuckle, keeping his eyes peeled for anything suspicious...like this whole deal wasn't suspicious on its own.

The tunnel seems to stretch forever; it's hard to keep track of time and distance when you can't see the passage of either, but it feels close to two, three miles. It isn't a visual marker that denotes the end of the tunnel, but a sound - distant, muffled. It's coming from above them. Talking, laughter, the clunk of boots on a floor... And a soft voice that calls from up ahead. "Long Patrol?" It's barely a whisper.

Elbio frowns, he can't help it  as he has to ask "Wot happen ta..Private Leo?" He seems worried now, ok he makes sure he has his saber and is suddenly even more alert and a little on edge now, he jumps slightly as a spider walks across his boot and disappears into a crack in the wall.
Adrian whispers to Elbio, "He followed a searat disguised as a haremaid into an alley, down a trapdoor, and then got knocked out. When 'e woke up, 'e was missin' a bloomin' kidney... Or so they say... It was a searat, right Mont?" Before he can elaborate further, his ears perk, at a sudden whisper. "Yes?" His free paw goes to one of his hidden daggers.

Monty chuckles to Adrian, "S'wot I heard, though I also heard twas actually a real haremaid, she just kinda looked like a searat. But yeah, he woke up n...shhh, wait." He pauses, and his ears perk as they near the end of the tunnel, and the hare blinks as he hears those words. "Didja hear that, Adj? Sounded like they knew we were comin'...heh. What're th'odds o'that, y'think?" He stands beside Adrian, "Aye, is th'Long Patrol. M'guessin' they sent ahead we were comin', eh?"

"Somethin' like that." The owner of that voice steps forward, and a second torch bursts into life. Illuminated in its wane light, is an all-white doe with pink eyes. "I imagine ya aren't too happy t'see me." Selena says, and it almost sounds like an apology. "But I'm grateful that ya came."

Elbio stays close to Adrian and jsut waits to know what to do, he is not touching his saber but he is also not fully relaxed either, and on high alert, even as another spider walks past,this time he just stays still and quiet.

Adrian harrumps at the doe. "I should say we aren't. I want y' t' tell us exactly why we shouldn't take ya t' th' town guard right now. Where are we, wot is this place?"
Monty's eyes take a moment to adjust as the doe reveals herself, and the hare stands there and stares wordlessly for a few moments. He blinks, his jaw moving but nothing coming out at first as the cogs in his brain turn and try to figure things out as best they can. Finally, he manages an "...uhhh....wait, Adj..." He holds out a paw to his friend. "That's her! That's th'one I was chasin! Y'shoulda seen 'er jump out th'window!" His tone has a hint of admiration, a grin upon his muzzle, before he gives a shake of his head and gets back to business. "So, er, yeah. I'm actually pleased t'see ya, miss. See, yer th'cause of all th'confusion, so who better t'talk to than...yerself?" He scratches an an ear with a paw. "All we wanna do is help get things sorta out, and ya keep runnin' from us like a weasel with 'is tail on fire. We wanna help if we can, so...just talk to us. Tell us wot's goin on."

"Sorry abou' all th'runnin' an' everythin'." The doe winces, looking between the three bucks. "Honest, it weren't me fault - I'll tell ya everythin' I know. In exchange... There's somebeast wot needs takin' out, if ya smell wot I'm stompin' in." She gives a nervous smile, pink eyes flashing in the flickering torchlight. "But in order t'do that, yer gonna have t'trust me... An' I know ya got no business doin' that. But they - /he/ - has me brother." There's a weight when she says 'he'. "He's got someone from lotsa beasts around here, it's how he keeps us doin' what 'e wants." The doe pauses, glancing up nervously as the sounds of laughter grow louder above them. "'Is name is Gutclaw. We're pretty close to 'is camp - uses this tunnel t'smuggle beasts an' contraband in an' out of Southsward. Fancies he'll take th'place over, one day. Make it a fortress." She rolls her eyes. "Was hopin' he'd try it, so 'e could get kilt an' we cin move on. But no such luck." She sighs. "I think yer th'only ones wot can fix
fix this. I've got a plan, but ya won't like it."

Elbio frowns "Gutclaw..such a lovely name, not" He states as he listens to the plan.He still stays close to his fellow hares.

Adrian relaxes, a little. "Right undah th' nose o' Squirrelking Garheld, too." He shakes his head, then frowns. "Just 'ow terrible is this 'plan'?"

Monty listens to the doe explaining the situation, and he gives a slow nod. Something even resembling relief washes over his face, as her story seems to make a whole lot of sense and fits in line with how most of the types like Gutclaw operate. Plus it meant that she more than likely was not guilty of the crimes she'd been accused of, and proving her innocence was one of the main things Monty wished to accomplish. "Alright, so...this plan o'yours. Out with it. The odds that we won't like it are pretty slim, t'be honest, miss, we're used t'this sorta thing. Kinda made our name on it, actually..." he grins, sticking his chest out proudly, giving his ear a waggle. He listens, also listening to the commotion just above them as well, though his concentration is on Selena.

"Ain't right under 'is nose, not exactly." Selena gestures with her free paw above them. "Yer further out than ya think. We're in th'woods, pretty deep. Tunnels th'only way in an' out, an' cause it's woodlanders wots been forced inta all this..." She gives a shrug. "He's ugly, but he s'not dumb. But Gutclaws' been nervous 'bout th'Patrol in Southsward. So, wot I propose, is I... Bring ya in as prisoners." She holds out a paw, quickly, expecting dissension. "It'll get us past 'is guards, keep 'im from throwin' ya straight in th'brig. But I don't do yer binds right. Soon as we're in th'room with 'im, you lot cin break free, an' then it's just a blood bath with 'is closest cronies, Gutclaw goes down, an' we cin get th'prisoners out. We cin get me brother out. Everybeast goes home happy. Well." She shrugs again. "Less we all die."

Elbio listens closely as the haremaid explains what is going on and just who this beast they need to find is.He sighs at the dead possible part but that seems part of being a long patrol hare now, possible death can happen at any time.

Adrian frowns. She's right. He doesn't like it. "Wot about our weapons? We c'n use our fists, fine, but some beasts need a good stab-through ta really put 'em down, wot..."

Monty thinks over this plan, the hare beginning to pace back and forth, his paws held behind his back in the process. He appears deep in thought, and it takes him a little while to finally decide. "Right. Well, hmm, I'm on board..." he replies, with enthusiasm. "I'm thinkin' it's a brilliant plan, will get us right behind th'enemy lines without much thought." He nods his head. He glances over at Adrian, "Oh bah, you forget, Adj, yer lookin' at th'best straight up boxer in th'entire Mountain...." he boasts. Maybe it's not entirely true, but, all things considered, boxing is Monty's speciality. "Plus we're pretty good at kickin' as well..." he gives Adj another nudge, before he seemingly decides for the group. "Alright, y'get yerself a deal, miss. We'll do it. Just tell us wot t'do, and consider it done. We'll get yer brother out, don't worry..."

"I'll have 'em." Selena answers. "Can get 'em to ya soon as the fightin' starts." If all goes well. If. The journey to the surface goes much quicker than the one they took to get to the rendezvous point - a ladder brought them up into a wooden hut. Dirty, ramshackle, but sturdy - the sounds of a small vermin horde can be heard outside. Selena seemed comfortable throughout all of it, comfortable with the sounds and smells, comfortable as she bound their paws, loose but with a false knot that could be slipped at the right time, and comfortable as she led them through the vermin ranks. Mean faces sneered at them as the hares were marched through the camp, a relatively well-laid out affair, tactical in the placement of buildings, efficient in its operation. Gutclaw, it seemed, could have been successful. Maybe he still will be. "Got gifts fer 'is lordship." Selena finally growls to the two ferrets stationed outside the most lavish of the huts. "Those Long Patrol snoopers?" She gives a tug on the rope. "Caught three. Hear there's one more doe runnin' bout town somewhere, but this ones got /rank/." She gestures to Adrian and, with a sneer, one of the armed ferrets opens the door for them.

Elbio knows when to go along with a plan and so he palys well the part of a -captive- as he will wait for the time, when the time is right and only then will he fight with his fellow hares and do his best to take down any evil beasts here.

Adrian plays along as well, really getting into character. "Ya'll pay f'r this treachery, female scum," directed toward the doe, then a defiant glare at the vermin. "Yah'll all pay f'r it!"
Monty trudges along beside the others, the young hare putting on his best dour and hopeless expression as he follows alongside the others, paws 'bound' behind his back. He keeps his gaze focused straight ahead, not looking at any of the sneering beasts as they pass through. As they arrive at the door, he remains silent, continuing to stare ahead as he waits for them to be escorted into the hut. "Bloody traitor," he mutters to the doe. "Offered t'help an' this is how y'repay us. Yer a disgrace t'yer species an' goodbeasts in general. Go boil yer bottom in a pan'o'grease...I'll give ya gifts...!" He sneers, before turning his eyes back towards the hut.

As soon as the four hares enter, the room goes silent. Bottles freeze before they reach their master's muzzles, cards are dropped, dice forgotten. There are a dozen vermin in the room, total, but the most impressive by far is the stoat lounging at the far side. "Pat 'em down." Gutclaw's voice is gruff, and he gives a groan as he pushes himself up from the overstuffed chair in which he had been lounging. He is a noble beast, well groomed, muscular - his prescence demands respect from the rabble around him, and Selena gives a laugh. "Aw, boss. Ya think so little'a me that I wouldn't take their loot?" She empties a roll to the floor, and the hares weapons go clattering to the ground. Gutclaw gives a small snort. "Can never be too careful." Two beasts step forward to pat down the hares, searching for any weapons they may have hid. "They look... Fiesty, these little bunnies." Gutclaw continues, studying them. "We'll make an example of them. Teach the Mountain to keep their grubby paws where they belong - would you like a new coat, Selena? This one's got a good color on him." He nods towards Monty.

Adrian is just itching to beat the daylights out of Gutclaw, but he waits. There needs to be a sign, right? Three hares against over a dozen vermin... He doesn't entirely like the odds, but he has to hope luck is on their side. He gives Monty a side-long glance, and waits, knowing the time to strike is *very* soon.

Monty's eyes immediately fall upon Gutclaw as they enter the room, and they never leave the stoat who is most obviously the leader. He continues staring at him even as the other vermin pat him down, the young hare giving him his best glare. He absolutely hated him and his type, always walking over weaker beasts and taking advantage of them, and any thoughts or snarky comments he usually might make are dashed in one fell swoop...especially when Gutclaw comments about making him into a coat. Paws clench behind him where they are died, and the hare certainly gives off a defiant, warriorlike vibe...what a different a few minutes can make, especially with Monty, who already has issues with shifting personalities. He merely stands there, staring, not even looking at his companions...his focus is now singular, and intense.

"Good haul, my sweet." Gutclaw croons, hooking a claw beneath Selena's chin possessively. The gesture could be loving, or he could apply just a small amount of pressure and split her throat. She stiffens. "Well, Long Patrol!" He grins, throwing his arms wide and releasing the doe from her momentary captivity. All around them, activity resumes. Cards are flipped. Dice clatter on a table-top. Laughter returns. "Welcome to my camp. I am Gutclaw, and you... Are quite the prize. But what will I do with you?" He asks, now dropping back into his seat. "Selena, won't you join me." She grumbles something, and his eyes narrow a fraction. "What was that? You hares, so hard to understand sometimes. Perhaps your dear brother should come here and translate for you - let's hope for his sake that you are only saying nice things. You wouldn't want him repeating such vulgarities, that is an offense punishable by... Well." His sneer grows. Behind her back, she holds up a single claw to the other hares. "Where's my drink? Bring me a drink!" A rat scuttles forward to do his bidding, and as Gutclaw reaches for the bottle, Selena snarls out: "Go!" And sucker-punches a ferret at her side.

Adrian hears the word "GO!" and he's out of his bindings immediately, launching himself at Gutclaw like a blue-grey blur, fists pummeling whatever they connect with. Any vermin that make the mistake of getting in his way are quickly sent to the Land of Nod, or even Hellsgates if Adrian hits hard enough.

Monty most certainly notes Gutclaw's behavior towards Selena, and he has to restrain himself watching as the stoat toys with the doe, and even threatens her with harm to her brother. Still, his eyes never leave the wannabe warlord, his paws clenching behind him, eager to be free of his bonds. Luckily he manages to keep his cool and not immediately blow their cover. A few moments pass, Monty watching Selena carefully for that signal. When it finally comes, he wriggles his paws out from his ropes, and almost immediately bounds straight for Gutclaw. "Th'only drink yer gettin' is a mouthful of yer own blood!" he snarls, Adrian seemingly beating him to the punch, no pun intended. "EULALIAAAAAAA!!!" He moves to take out the ferret that Selena punched first, then turns and begins to swing his fists at whoever was unfortunate enough to get in his way. He may be a little on the smaller size as far as LP hares go, but he still packed quite a mean punch...as those vermin are quickly beginning to find out.

Their weapons are still on the floor where Selena dumped them, and the doe helps herself to one of Elbio's daggers now, scrambling for the nearest target. Gutclaw is happy to pull an underling in front of him, shoving the unfortunate rat at Adrian while the stoat creates enough space to draw his broadsword. "Devious slime!" He barks, kicking over a table. It's chaos, now. "He'll die for this!" Gutclaw means Selena's brother, that much is clear.

Their weapons are still on the floor where Selena dumped them, and the doe helps herself to one of Elbio's daggers now, scrambling for the nearest target. Gutclaw is happy to pull an underling in front of him, shoving the unfortunate rat at Adrian while the stoat creates enough space to draw his broadsword. "Devious slime!" He barks, kicking over a table. It's chaos, now. "He'll die for this!" Gutclaw means Selena's brother, that much is clear.

Adrian soundly knocks out the rat underling, but now Gutclaw has drawn a broadsword. He brought a sword to a fist fight, to be expected. Adrian turns, and dives back toward the pile of weapons, to scrabble through the pile for his rapier... "Ah damn," he mutters. One rapier against a broadsword... Not likely to end well, unless he uses all his best fencing moves.

Monty would be more than happy to assist Adrian in fighting Gutclaw, however the hare is occupied with tussling with a weasel who thought it'd be wise to take him on in a fistfight. That doesn't last very long, as said weasel is taken out with two punches. Monty doesn't seem to feel the need to use weapons however, and he bounds to the next vermin, aiming a hard headbutt and a swift kick with his footpaw. As the surge of battle begins to flow through his veins, the hare thwacks left and right with his paws, a tan blur as he darts about the room, doing his best to take out as many vermin as he is able.

Swinging his broadsword with all his might, Gutclaw very nearly takes off the head of one of his own. He misses Adrian, for whom he was aiming, and it buries itself into the soft wood of the hut's wall. Wrenching it loose, something groans in the infrastructure that leaves several beasts looking up - there's a CRACK as a section of wall collapses, the structure quickly assembled. Never meant to be permanent. Selena takes the brunt of it, and while she isn't crushed to death, she is trapped. It's just the bucks versus the vermin, now. The doe does, however, manage to hamstring a passing ferret, and her dagger plunges into his throat as he falls to the ground, screeching. His screams stop. The rest of the hut manages to stay standing, though the place is falling apart. Outside, the camp has caught onto the chaos, and vermin rush about, though they don't dare running into the broken building just yet. "I'll roast ya over a spit ya gamey little -" dropping his broadsword, Gutclaw reaches beneath his cape to retrieve two short swords. He favors sport. He lunges at Adrian. Behind them, the remaining six of his fellows are rushing Monty and Elbio!

Adrian narrowly escaped having a log brain him in the head, but he's a nimble beast, quick on his feet. "Now, that's more like it!" he exclaims, when Gutclaw abandons his monstrous broadsword. He brings his rapier up to block the stoat's two blades, with a crash of steal. "I'll 'ave you know, that I took 'ome th' trophy f'r th' bloomin' fencin' tournament at th' last Long Patrol Games, wot! Y'r fightin' a bloody champion!"

"Your silly games don't impress me, rabbit." Gutclaw sneers, bearing down on the slender weapon, using his weight to his advantage. But he is smart. He doesn't keep pushing, knowing that a quick slip and a jab would be the end of him. He takes a step back, calculates his next move, and lunges again. "What do you know of war, lad? What do you know of struggle and triumph? /Real/ triumph - your enemy crushed, his land yours, his titles yours. No, you are happy to hide in your mountain playing hero." He swings, parries, and swings again, slashing in a slow circle. Keeping on the move. Monty and Elbio are beset from all sides - but training and time is paying off. These vermin aren't up to snuff, and they are crumbling beneath the buck's blows.

Adrian grimaces each time the stoat calls him a rabbit. It makes his blood boil. Rabbits are lazy, shiftless. Good for nothing. "Stop...Callin'...Me...RABBIT!" He's a good fencer, but Gutclaw might be better. The stoat has him on the defensive, only able to block each strike, but unable to parry his own... And that makes him angry.

"You misuse your /fury/, lad!" Gutclaw presses, his grin growing. "There are better uses for it. Better uses for your /pride/. Mold it, use it - I know I could. We could do good business together." His constant needling and speaking is meant to keep Adrian off balance mentally, and he can see that it's working. Skill means nothing if you can't think straight - but it also means that Gutclaw's mind isn't on the fight in full. Not completely. "Little rabbit, so far from home. Who are you trying to impress? Did daddy not love you enough?"

Adrian strikes out. "You leave mah fathah out o' this." He's disgusted by the suggestion that he'd work with Gutclaw... But, perhaps he could turn that to his advantage. He purses his lips, looks the stoat dead in the eye. Keeping his blade up defensively, he asks, "Wot d' y' mean... Work w' ya?" He feigns interest, likely to the trapped doe's alarm if she can hear him. If Monty were listening, he'd know the Corporal was trying a tactic. But he's too busy beating the crap out of all the other beasts.

"Are ya /mad/?!" That's Selena, stuck beneath the crippled building. Gutclaw, however, gives a wicked smirk. He seems to have struck a nerve mentioning this hare's father, but Adrian's response still surprises him. "You've seen my beasts. They lack discipline, they lack training, they lack /gumption/. They do what they're told... Mostly poorly." His weapon remains raised, but his guard relaxes. "A military beast like you could turn this rabble into a real army. We could take anything. Anywhere. The world would be ours." He remembers the buck's reactions. Even father couldn't deny your might." One sword is sheathed, slowly and carefully, and a paw extends. "What do you say, partner?"

"Are ya /mad/?!" That's Selena, stuck beneath the crippled building. Gutclaw, however, gives a wicked smirk. He seems to have struck a nerve mentioning this hare's father, but Adrian's response still surprises him. "You've seen my beasts. They lack discipline, they lack training, they lack /gumption/. They do what they're told... Mostly poorly." His weapon remains raised, but his guard relaxes. "A military beast like you could turn this rabble into a real army. We could take anything. Anywhere. The world would be ours." He remembers the buck's reactions. Even father couldn't deny your might." One sword is sheathed, slowly and carefully, and a paw extends. "What do you say, partner?"

Adrian slowly lowers, then drops his rapier. The other beasts, those not actively getting beat to crap by Monty, all stop. They watch. What is he doing? He grabs Gutclaw's paw. "Free the woodlanders first."

"Ya /bloomin' idiot!/" Selena shouts, now actively struggling beneath the heavy load pinning her to the floor. "Free the woodlanders?" Gutclaw's eyes narrow, the tactics buzzing in his head. "It would mean relinquishing my hold on Southsward. It would mean losing the city - sometimes greatness requires dark deeds to achieve. Necessary sacrifices. But I can tell you this - they will only be held while they are /needed/. When the city is mine? They are free to do as they please. Free to go." It's hard to tell whether or not he is telling the truth - or what /his/ version of that truth means. Enslavement? Death? Genuine release? Those eyes betray nothing but ambition. He raises an eyebrow, holding the hare's paw but not yet shaking it. "Is this agreeable to you?"

Adrian casts a quick glance over to Monty and Elbio, who are both watching this go down. "What if I were to tell you there is another, greater city, to the north-west?" The hare's reaction is inscrutable now. Is he attempting to bargain with the vermin? Does he sense something different about Gutclaw? That underneath all the kidnapping and attempted coups, that he can be trusted, somehow? "A city of fah greater wealth than Southswahd can evah hope t' be..." Or is this his last gambit to get the vermin to leave peaceably, without bloodshed?

"Oh?" Gutclaw's eyes narrow a fraction more. Behind him, some of his beasts are raising weapons, but he holds up his free paw, the short sword still in it. They stop where they are. "And what city is this, that is worth abandoning all the work that we have put in here? You saw the tunnel, yes? The loyalty among the villagers? That is an investment. It will need to be a high payout to abandon it."

Adrian mmms. His final gambit. "Aclidia. It's called Aclidia..." He shakes his head, squares his shoulders. He willingly dropped his rapier. He has to face this consequence. "But no, you're right. You've gone to all this work. All I can do now is offer myself in exchange for Selena and her brother, and my two friends. I can't best you in a sword fight." Monty starts to interrupt, but Adrian raises a paw to quiet him. "You let them go, scot free."

"Hm..." Gutclaw considers this, chewing at his bottom lip for a moment, never releasing his grip on Adrian's paw. "You are a noble beast, I see. This is my first lesson to you: it will be your downfall." He lets go. "Aclidia. I have heard of this place... And it is apparent that my methods are not foolproof." He looks down at Selena, lip curling. "I have no use for those who would betray me." For a moment, his grip tightens on the sword - she is helpless, there. She deserves death, having betrayed him. Having brought this down around him, having brought these hares into his midst - but if such a small thing could bring it all down, it was built on shoddy foundation, like the hut they stand in. "Aclidia." Gutclaw repeats, and with a sigh, nods. "You run a hard bargain, but your logic is sound. Aclidia it is." He reaches forward again to shake Adrian's paw.

Adrian shakes Gutclaw's paw. He doesn't look at Monty or Elbio for now. The stoat's initial offer, to join his band... It was beyond tempting to the young hare. Still is. He almost said yes. Still almost might. And that rattles him. He gestures to Elbio, to help Selena out from under the debris. To get her out of the hut. "You are not entirely ignoble," he counters, having some form of grudging respect for a beast who would listen to reason. A beast who could sway Adrian with his obvious charisma.

"And my offer will stand, friend." Gutclaw resigns, sheathing his sword and waving for the beasts behind him. "Help them release the doe, and start packing. We have higher payouts to chase." The stoat, not quite a warlord, but well on the way, turns to leave, pausing at the now-slanted door of his hut. "If you reconsider my offer... You may find me in Aclidia. My beasts will not bother you. The white one knows where the others are being kept." And then he is gone. True to his word, the vermin leave them be, and at his behest help heave the bulk of roof and wall off of Selena. "Yer a mad beast." She huffs, rubbing at her legs. She's bruised, but not broken. "A mad beast, ya know that?" Declining help to stand, she gives another huff. "Let's get th'rest an' get out of here."

Adrian can't argue there. He's never stared down a vermin like that, nor talked them down, either. Never gained a grudging respect before... He keeps that to himself. "It was this, Miss, or a slaughtah tha' we weren't guaranteed ta win. The odds favahed th' vermin, poor fightahs they may be. I made correct assessement that Gutclaw could be reasoned with... Besides, that Aclidia I mentioned? It's a vermin-run city. So if 'e takes it ovah, it's literally no skin off mah nose..."

"Call me 'Miss' again, an' I'll be th'one takin' skin off yer nose." Selena grumbles, rubbing at her sore waist and legs. She's going to be feeling that for days. "Pris'ners is this way." She leads the way to another hut, this one full of cages. A makeshift brig. A large buck perks when he sees Selena and stands. "Sel? Wots goin' on? Whole camps in a tiz-" "I told ya I'd get yer dumb scut out of there." The doe cuts him off, waving in the guard. Reluctantly, the rat begins to open the cages. "Gutclaw's orders." She reminds them, grin growing as she throws her arms around her brother's neck. "Little sister to th'rescue agin. An'... Who're yer friends?" Other beasts - shrews, a rabbit, an aging mouse - are stumbling loose, confused and alarmed. Monty and Elbio are there to calm and direct them.

Adrian adresses the other buck. "Corporal Adrian Swiftbuck, of th' Long Patrol, wot. I bargained f'r yahr lives, an' some'ow won. Don't ask. The important thing is that yahr free, Gutclaw is 'eaded ta greenah pastures, where I expect 'e'll be much 'appiah, an' I still got a lettah ta delivah ta yahr king. So, shall we 'ead back ta Southswahd?"

The freed beasts are eager to return home - all but the doe. "I think I'll wait outside th'city. Still got some - ah - outstandin' warrants. Rightly earned, too. Not everythin' came from Gutclaw's orders, he picked me fer a reason." She sighs, her smile sad. "My brother is free, an' I'm goin' t'move on." There's a pause. "Hey, you lot wouldn't happen t'be hirin', would ya?"

Adrian nods his head resolutely. "Tha's why we're out 'ere. T' find more patrol beasts, wot. We're kinda low back 'ome. It's not an easy journey, though. We'll be pressin' furthah south aftah I delivah this message t' King Garheld... So y' bettah make yahr goodbyes t' yahr brothah..."

The goodbyes are emotional, but happy. The vermin encampment left behind, high activity overtaking it. If they are baffled by their leader's sudden change of heart, Gutclaw's underlings don't question it. Southsward guards are waiting at the gates, as usual, but the return of so many missing beasts? Captain Stryker himself is shaking paws and thanking the hares, all except Selena. True to her word, she waits in the woods, happy to bask in freedom and camp out while the Long Patrol finishes their business in the Village. Tearful reunions grip the city - a young maid retrieved from an orphanage by a father thought dead, a mother reunited with her son, a husband returned to Parsin's arms. He can't stop kissing his forehead, between promises and plans to destroy the tunnel. Free. Happy. Relieved. Southsward was never fully aware of the dangers plaguing it, but they can all feel the release from it. Things will be better here, and the Patrol are to thank for that.

And all the while, a vermin horde lays plans - new plans - on the road to Aclidia.

Smoke and Mirrors, pt. 1
Ft. Elbio, Monty, Adrian, and Jinora as GM
Location: Southsward

Southsward Village shows Halyard for the petty fishing town it truly is, simply by offering such a comparison. It's a beautiful place, bustling with activity and business; vendors clog the streets, beasts in lavish silks and burlap rags alike brush shoulders amid lovingly crafted buildings and paved streets. To the Long Patrol hares, it would likely seem like it's the 'big city'. But they aren't here to be tourists.

It doesn't take long before the group begins to see signs and whispers of the sinister crimes about which Elbio learned in the guardhouse. Pieces of parchment bearing the visages of about a dozen different beasts are nailed to a notice board - a mouse, a rabbit, two squirrels, an otter, and more - all missing. A shrew is nailing another to the board as the recruiters approach, tears staining her fur dark. A short conversation explains that her son worked at the Acorn Inn, a tavern that was burnt down recently. He had just found a new job, but he hadn't told her where. She hasn't seen him in a week. A group of beasts grumble about the loss of the Acorn Inn, but they seem to think that the new tavern isn't all that bad. Always busy, though, always crowded.

Outside of the orphanage, a mouse dibbun approaches them. She looks well taken care of, but heartbroken... She just wants some coin. Just a little coin - her father, the gambling debts - she just wants to see him again. If she can raise enough, maybe she can buy him back. She is bustled away by a caretaker before she can elaborate.

Bayshoot, the squirrel guard Elbio accidentally shot, but whom became friendly with him during the hare's short incarceration, spies them in the streets, and his face lights up. "Elbio!" He calls out, waving a gauntlet-clad paw. "And... Friends!"

Elbio smiles, he greets Bayshoot as a friend as he walks over "Hey ya Bayshoot..."He looked at a couple wanted posters and is gonna let Monty and Adrian do some questioning. He does know of the missing beasts, not who is missing just that beast are missing.

Monty approaches Bayshoot, the young hare a little on the cautious side, despite the squirrel's friendly nature. "Aye," he responds, before he glances towards Elbio. "Friends."  He glances back over his shoulder as if expecting someone to be watching them. "Elbio here mentioned that you were th'one who treated 'im civil while 'e was coolin' 'is heels in the cell. So, many thanks fer that." He eventually sticks out a paw, "Montgomery. Or Monty, if y'please. That's Adrian, if you already aren't aware." he gives a nod in Adrian's direction. "Huh. Don't even know -where t'begin, but, needless t'say, we have a few...questions. Inquiries, y'might say..."

Adrian glances around, to make sure Bayshoot's superior is nowhere in sight. He'd be very glad never to meet that squirrel again. "Corporal Adrian Swiftbuck, at yahr service. As Monty says, we 'ave many questions. First 'n' foremost, th' 'aremaid's name, wot."

"Er." Bayshoot rubs at the back of his neck. "Aye, Elbio was a nice change'a pace. Been nothin' but bad news an' missing beasts as of late - since you lot are Long Patrol, we're happy t'have an extra set of eyes on th'beat." The squirrel, young and fresh-faced, looks between the three hares. "Th'haremaid? Oh, her." The way he says 'her' holds a weight. "All we know is that she goes by 'Selena'."

Elbio nods "Ya mentioned..gambleing and I over heard  that mentioned  by a beast passing by and it seems others are missing, any ideas on that?"

Monty gives an amused glance towards Elbio at Bayshoot's words. "Y'hear that, Elb? For th'first time prolly ever in yer life, y'were considered a nice change o'pace. Who woulda thunk it?" he teases, reaching over to give the other hare a light bop on the shoulder. "Enjoy it while y'can." He clears his throat, trying to get serious once again. "And yeah, extra set o'eyes is wot we do best, mate." He rubs at his half-ear with a paw as he ruminates over the given name. "Selena, huh?" He thinks this over, letting the other two ask any other questions they may have. "She definitely was a fast 'un. Turned m'back fer a second and she was gone like a puff o'smoke."

Adrian hrmms. "Not just fast, crafty, too. I thought f'r certain that Yerna'd be able t' bloody well find 'er, but there's been no 'ide nor 'air. Still," he turns to Bayshoot, "Wot proof 'ave y' got that she burned down th' inn an' murdahed a beast?"

"Beasts started goin' missing a few months back - it got worse after th'Acorn Inn burned down." Bayshoot's face darkens. "We have our friend Selena t'thank for that." He nods to Adrian. "The whole thing happened in full view of... Well. Everybeast - she ran in with a torch. Soon, th'whole place was ablaze... Th'owner never made it out, but she was seen, all covered in soot, runnin' like th'dark forest itself was hot on 'er heels. Th'disappearances got worse after. Thankfully that new place opened up, got some more business an'work goin' but... Towns still a mess fer th'whole mess."

Elbio hmms "New place? Wonder if they have answers."He is curious of the idea and they need answers "So got worse, after this new place maybe, that sounds..odd"He looks to the other two hares "Doesn't it?"

Monty contemplates this new information, the buck beginning to slowly pace back and forth, paw rubbing at his chin as he tries to put everything together. "Suppose I play th'devil's advocate 'ere and suggest that mebbe she didn't intend t'set th'fire on purpose? Aye, it is an unwise idea t'go inside an establishment holdin' a lit torch, but...maybe th'girl was in a panic. Mebbe she was fleein' from someone, ran inside, and ended up droppin' th'torch?" He pauses. "Seein' it caused a fire, she wasn't sure wot t'do an' knew how bad it'd look, so...she fled?" He looks to Adrian and Elbio, before his gaze shifts to Bayshoot. "I know the girl's got a reputation, but...I'd like t'try and cover all possibilities, if possible. Innocent til proven guilty n'all that, y'know..."

Adrian likes to keep as open a mind as possible. The idea that the proprietors of the new tavern would have resorted to arson and murder sounds patently absurd, but... "Once you eliminate the impossible, whatever remains, no matter how improbable, must be the truth." He shakes his head. "Mah uncle Arthur used ta say that, wot. I think we need t' investigate all th' angles, as Monty says..."

"New place? Called 'Claws harbor'. But Selena... She's been trouble. Always gmblin, fightin', drink too much an' causin' a scene. She never... Well, she was always a woodlander at heart. Not one fer /murder/, but..." Bayshoot shrugs. "The new tavern is down Beech Street, if you're interested in checking it out. I'm supposed t'keep patrollin' the streets." Yerna raises an eyebrow. "So... Old inn burns down, new one crops up doin' just great an' that wasn't... Suspicious to ya?" Bayshoot shrugs. "There was an openin' what needed filling. Th'town helped fun the new construction, we needed another inn."

Elbio frowns as he listens, he has asked what he could think of to ask already. He then frowns "But why...disappearing for, why worse if had a new like, tavern wouldnt that be good and not..like  bad?"

Monty seems quite pleased that Adrian agrees with him. He gives his friend a firm nod, before he glances back at Bayshoot. "Heh. T'be honest, sounds like a right proper Patroller durin' off hours," he chuckles. "Doesn't sound t'me like she was intendin' to murder anyone. I'm thinkin' first, I'd like t'get a good look at this new tavern. I wanna get some clear, hard facts b'fore we decide t'accuse someone o'murder. If evidence checks out an' she did do it intentionally, I'll be th'first one t'chase after 'er. But we gotta be absolutely sure first." He nods to Yerna's words. "Exactly. Somethin' just doesn't seem right about th'situation. Wot better way t'get attention off yer back than to accuse someone who already had a bad reputation? Makes it a heckuva lot easier for everyone t'believe she did it when she's gotta list attached to 'er back."

Adrian hrms, and nods his head again. "Th' whole thing smells fishy t' me. I say we check out th' new tavern, an' try to find out more about the missin' beasts. C'mon, let's go..."
Bayshoot looks at Elbio for a moment, head tilting. "Can't say for sure that I know what you're sayin', mate. But -" he focuses on Monty. "Like I said, Claws Harbor is that way." The way to Claw's Harbor is easy, and it's even easier to pick the place out once they're there. As the hares approach, it becomes apparent that Claw's Harbor is the place to /be/. The sounds of merriment and music are audible from the street; an upbeat tempo stomped out on real wood floors above the exuberant voices of a few dozen tenants. The noise hits them like a fist as the door is opened. Inside is standard for an inn - a counter, a bustling dancefloor, tables. Card games and smoke fill the secluded corners.

Elbio coughs a little and looks around, he frowns "Parts of this place are...creepy, and it's loud too"He points to some smoky corner and frowns, a glace around at some of the other  areas of the tavern as he looks to the other three hares , "So..now wot?"

Monty gives Bayshoot a smile and a pat on the shoulder. "Thank y'kindly, mate. Hopefull we'll be seein' ya around, y'seem like a good sort. Enjoy th'rest of yer day." With that, the hare turns and heads over in the direction of the tavern. Upon arriving, he folds his ear-and-a-half against the back of his head, wincing a little as that loud music hits them. "Surprised th'doors 'aven't been blown off already!" he calls to Adrian loudly, trying to get his voice to carry over the noise. "So, mate, yer th'brain o'this operation. Wotta ya wanna do? Find someone suspicious lookin' t'question might be a good start!" He takes the opportunity to take a good look around the place, his eyes searching out any potential clues.

Adrian has never taken up pipe smoking, so the smoky interior makes him couch, until he gets acclimated. He yells back to Monty, "We split up. Speak t' whoevah looks suspiciou or outta place. I'm goin' ovah t' th' bar, see if I can't speak t' th' proprietor... Elbio... See if y' c'n get upstairs... Monty... Check out th' rest o' this room..."

There's a good plan Adrian has - split up, look for clues... But someone suspicious isn't... Difficult to find. In fact, it would seem that they see the Patrol hares before they see her. There is a sudden, loud shout as a table is suddenly, and violently, upended. And running away from it? An all-white doe. She's wearing a hooded cloak, but it falls back as she starts running, racing up the stairs towards the rooms above. There are disgruntled shouts around the tavern as she bowls through people... And the mouse behind the bar drops down, paws clamped over his ears like he's afraid of something.

Elbio looks around and catches sight of the mouse and frowns as he heads over that way to see what is going on, hopefully another saw the doe run off.

Monty happened to be near the table where the white doe had been seated, and he is the closest as she pushes over that table and flees upstairs. "GAH!" He narrowly avoids getting bowled over by said table, taking a bounce backwards and landing on his footpaws. Watching the suspect darting upstairs, Monty quickly hurries after her, racing up the stairs in close pursuit. "You guys stay down there, stand by th'door in case she comes back down!" he yells behind him, as he gives chase.

Adrian had been pushing his way toward the bar, when the commotion starts and the doe runs upstairs, with Monty in hot pursuit. Instead on proceeding over to the bar, he turns and heads back to the entrance, blocking it enough that the doe will have to run into him should she try to escape.

The bartender looks up at Elbio with surprise. "She's going t'get us all in trouble!" He moans. Upstairs, there are 4 rooms branching off of one hallway - no windows... And no hare.

Elbio frowns "In trouble? Wot sort of trouble?" He is starting to wander if the doe is a friend or foe, he is confused and not sure what to do"Why? Where would she go? Who would she talk to? Is she like some...beast in charge of something or just..worries too much?"

Monty makes it upstairs, and he skids to a stop in the hallway. "Hey!" he calls out. "Hey, we don't wanna hurt you, we just wanna ask you a few questions! Honest!" He carefully and cautiously goes from room to room, searching, with seemingly no success, as he opens each door. "...I don't think you set that fire, if it means anything! If you come out, I promise I won't take you in or report you...we can just chat, you and I, if you'd like...!" He frowns, as he seems to be baffled as to where she could have gone.

"You... You aren't here from /him/, are ya?" The mouse looks up at Elbio, confusion reflecting on the bartender's face. "You need ta go - you need ta leave!" Upstairs, Monty finds locked door after locked door after locked door after- open door? Selena has only made it halfway out the window of the fourth room. She pauses, eyes wide. They're pink. "Who are ya, an' wot are ya chasin' me for? I got nothin' t'do with ya. Did 'e send ya? I'm all paid up, so you cin tell Gutclaw t'git stuffed."

Adrian maintains his place by the door, but no hares seem to be making an appearance. He frowns, straining to overhear what is being said between Elbio and the mouse.

Monty seems rather relieved as he manages to catch the doe before she makes her escape out the window. "I am from the Long Patrol, and all I wanna do is talk, miss! Yer bein' accused of some pretty bad stuff an' I wanna make sure th'right thing is done. I don't think y'did wot they're sayin' y'did, an' I need ya t'help me prove it!" he calls to her, in an attempt to get her to remain there in the room. "Please, jus' stay n'talk, I promise I'm not here t'hurt ya or take ya in!"

Adrian finally decides to abandon his spot by the door, deciding that the haremaid isn't going to make a sudden appearance anytime soon, and he strides over to the bar. "Mate, yahr already in a world o' trouble. We're th' Long Patrol, an' we 'ave reason t' believe that yahr conductin' some form o' illegal business in this 'ere establishment o' yours. So... You c'n talk 'ere, or me 'n' mah two mates will 'aul y' down to th' jail an' make y' talk *there*. Yahr choice, wot."
"/Him/." The mouse repeats. "You can't help, ya idiot! Just get out of here." Upstairs, Selena has paused, her brow creased in panic and mistrust. "Dun call me 'miss'. Aren't no 'miss'." She huffs. "An' I did everythin' they say I did, ya dolt, but..." Her eyes narrow. Long Patrol... The corners of her mouth twist in a smirk. "But I'm nay th'one yer lookin' for. Three doors down, talk to a shrew called 'Parsins'. Knock three times an' ask fer the Claw Brew. You'll get all the answers ya seek." And then... She's gone, again. Out the window. The mouse turns to Adrian, now. "I done nothin'! Nothin', I swears it! Now... Now..." He draws himself up, pointing a claw at the hare's chest, feigning bravery. "Get outta me inn, or I will call the guard on ya! Get!"

Monty can only stand there and watch as the doe makes her escape out the window. He rolls the words she spoke over in his head, eyes still trained on the spot she disappeared. He sighs heavily, beginning to pace in the room as he decides what to do. It seems he'd have to go and speak to this Parsins fellow. Things just seemed to get more complicated as they went, but in all honesty, Monty enjoyed it, just a little.

Adrian is not impressed in the least. He stands his ground. "Sah... I'm workin' wi' the guard right now, much as I wish I wasn't. Yahr threat doesn't scare me. Now then... Pour me a flagon of ale... There's a good lad..."

We will be finishing up the Southsward leg of this journey with an event on 10/30/2019 at 19:30 EST

Below are the logs from Elbio's time as a prisoner of Southsward! Our unlucky hare gained some new intel, made a friend, and is now loose in the Village with a scroll for his companions... If they can find each other again!

Log found here

10/9/2019

Elbio has turned himself in to the Southsward guard in an attempt to smooth over some of the diplomatic issues from their last encounter. Will our brave recruit spend the rest of his days in a prison cell? Can flaunted protocols and bruised egos be put aside long enough to solve the mystery plaguing the village?

Log here

10/8/2019

The hares have reached Southsward - but their first encounter with the locals doesn't go exactly as planned. Who is the mysterious doe 'Selena'? What crimes are putting the city on edge? Have our heroes become criminals themselves?! Find out next time!

Log here

Again - the map is a loose outline that I threw together just to give everyone some direction. If ya'll want to go through Noonvale, then by all means do!

This is a loose outline for the remainder of the Tenderfoot Chronicles. I will add to it as people come forward with things that they would like to run, and I can add dates in as well! There are points of interest starred on the map; it doesn't mean that we will do things at every star, and we can do any and everything whether starred or not!

Outline:

* Travel
- Bandits (Elbio?)

*Southsward
- A Chance Encounter Rescheduled (10/8 ~ 19:30 EST)
- The Underbelly (Ongoing, Southsward)

*Travel
- The Island (Slavers - Oz)
- Loamhedge (Adrian?)

* Mossflower
- A Sleepy Village

* The Gorge
- Fighting Pits

* The River
- GUOSIM?
- A Dangerous Turn

* The Sea
- Bartering Passage

* Home

I will try to make it out for that to act as the current NPCs, Blisa! Thank you for your interest in the plot

Yep, same issue over here!

The hares have recruited their first NPC!

Recruited NPCs are available to become PCs! If you are interested in one of the characters, please page Jinora.

Name: Yerna Deeprook Rockear Tormaline

Description: Yerna Deeprook Rockear Tormaline cuts an impressive figure; built slim and muscular, like a sinewy coil ready to spring loose at any moment. She looks at home in the rocks, mottled with gray and black fur that allows her to blend in with the caves she calls home. Her clothing is rough and practical, patched over a thousand times and a thousand times again: a brown, roughspun tunic is belted at the waist, and multiple pouches and holsters hewn into the belt hold knives, a coil of rope, pouches, and a pair of pickaxes which hang over each hip. She also wears bracers to the crook of her elbow, and fingerless, eel-leather gloves. A bag, lashed tight to her back, holds rations, torches, flint, waterskins, and some medical supplies - just in case.

History: Yerna was an adventurous and curious child, never one to curb her impulses. She loved to climb and explore, especially the rocks of the nearby mountain - but she knew that she was never to delve too deep into the caves, for the beasts of her small village told stories of the monsters that lurked there.
But Yerna was curious.

As a young teenager, she embarked on one of her usual spelunking adventures... But the rope snapped. She had done this a thousand times - but she wasn't ready. Yerna fell; she plummeted far deeper than she had ever explored, further than she had fallen in the past, and was knocked unconscious upon impact with the ground far below. When she woke, she heard snarls and horrific screams - she was surrounded by the monsters, the Others, reaching and clawing to try and reach her where she had landed, on a ledge just out of their reach. Yerna screamed and she cried, but she was far too deep in the caves for anyone to hear her.
Or so she thought.

Yerna had injured herself horribly in the fall, and she was sure that this was how she was going to die - either the Others would find a way to reach her and eat her alive, or she would die of her wounds... Or simply starve to death, curled on this ledge just out of reach. But then she heard the soft flutter of wings. It was a young bat, about her own age, that found her in the caverns. Her name was Silt, and she returned with help - together, the bats managed to secure a net to Yerna and haul her up and away.

The bats saved her life, and young Yerna swore what was left of it to them. She learned that the Others sometimes would make their way into Bat Mountpit, and when that happened, the bats would gain their madness - if left unchecked, it could spread like wildfire. They had to be stopped, and Yerna vowed that she would not leave the ruined caverns of Nova's Hall until the Others had been wiped out and could no longer threaten the bats. Her family. She wanted to explore the world and find a better purpose for her skills, but she could not do that until the Others were gone.

When the Long Patrol arrived, she thought of them as nothing more than passing faces, but after fighting alongside them she realized that they had a purpose which she so sorely desired. Yerna joined the Long Patrol, and now enjoys the freedom and purpose that she can live in the sunlight.

Personality: The doe seems hard and callous from so much time spent alone in bloody pursuit of a maddened enemy. Because of her social isolation, there are some nuances that escape her... Namely sarcasm and jokes, but she isn't wholly humorless. Those that get to know her will notice the shifts in a seemingly unchanging expression, and catch the mischievous, excited twinkle that hides in her eyes. She is adventurous, curious, and deeply loyal to duty and honor. She is an avid climber, and skilled in stealth and guerilla combat, thanks to her time in the caves fighting the Others. While she has always preferred to fight with her knives and pickaxes, she will be able to make the shift to hand axes. Her unique forms and background make her an excellent fighter, and she will prove a valuable asset to the Long Patrol.