Redwall MUCK Forum

X; April 20th, 2022

Back in Halyard

LT Lossow & Elbio

By mid morning the day after the sergeant and retired lieutenant reunited, Lossow found himself anxiously watching the front yard from behind the curtain in the front room, a habit he had gotten into while at the Swiftbuck manor.

Elbio watches Lossow quietly before speaking "So why the sudden... dislike in Halyard? Did I miss something, which would be reasonable I suppose." He leans back in his chair.

"See anything, sah?" Private Sheen asks in a tone that makes it clear she's not expecting him to.

She stops, seeing Elbio as well and gives him a half heart salute. Lossow takes a step back and looks from the other buck to the private before turning back to the window. "There's been some tension racked up, mostly from that Zolomon's-" his eyes dart back to the other lieutenant, "From that creature's actions, and all the rest that was happening. It's been quiet for a while, but...." He shakes his head.

Elbio sighs as he goes to stand slowly, he seems to test his balance but does grab ahold of his chair, he manages a sort of half step before he has to balance with the chair and seemingly deciding to just stay seated for the moment. He hmms "I heard that he... well died. But not of much he did... well after..." He frowns now, but he does have a glimmer of hope. "I am actually recovering better than I thought I would."

"That's good, sah," Sheen says rather brightly, at odd with Lossow's deepening frown. "Well, after he was killed, seems like some beasts here sent word over the sea, as far as I can tell at any rate. Then those two great big ships arrived this month - surely you've seen them? Er," he steps fully away from the window rubbing the back of his neck, "I guess you might not be able to see the port from the yard, of course... But anyway, many, many beasts have come well armed and armoured- and they're arming Halyard too it seems."

There's a beat as he considers what to say next.

"Then," he begins, carefully, "I was to lead a scouting party with sergeant Swiftbuck. The two of us split off from the private here," he gestures to E. Sheen, "And another, Konner Attenborough. The private can relate what happened next best I'd say."

"Uh, right, sah! Well, Konnah an' I were waiting before following the officers into town when a vermin patrol came across us and thus we ran - Konnah split off from me down the alleyways and I've not seen him since."

"And after that, we met up to go look for him - and found that half of Halyard was too, apparently. After that we hid out in Adrian's home before trying to escape by this house...."

Elbio nods "Well maybe he made it back to the mountain." He shrugs "I... may not stay here either, even if I can't walk... yet anyways, I  just have to get to the docks or maybe just by some water. Supposedly the GUOSIM may be in Halyard, not that they would likely do much to shrews... hopefully"

"Either the mountain or the 23rd's base we've been making use of - I do hope he made it." Lossow nods. "But as for.... Gou-sim, did you say? I don't think they'll do anything. It seems their issues are solely with the hares Long Patrol and no one else, for now."

"And," he adds, "If you are planning on leaving, it might be best to go soon. I can't say how long Patrol hares - active duty or no- in Halyard will be left alone. Maybe there'll be no problem at all. I can't really say."

Elbio hmmms, "I could perhaps make a surprise visit to the mountain, it would be nice to see everyone." He goes into some thought "Though... sand is not gonna be fun taking a wheeled chair over, hmm how  to solve that I wonder."

"No idea." Lossow grunts. "But... I fear that if you do head to the mountain you might not be allowed to return to this village. I don't think beasts will ignore a hare coming from Salamandastron returning, be they in a wheel chair or not. I know that I don't intend to return to this place once Konner's found, 'less I'm ordered back, of course."

Elbio nods "I... want to go back to Redwall, they are likely wondering how I am. A letter I think was sent, but not many details. I was told I would likely never walk again... but then after a while I  was able to move a toe, then other toes and I can stand, well sort of for a few seconds."He smiles a little. "Maybe I can surprise Lt. Velm" He doesn't know of the promotion yet.

Walter raises a brow. "Redwall?" He takes a moment to recall. "Oh, right - you were the hare stationed there, right. I do know that at some point I am to go to Mossflower and presumably fill part of what your role was, alongside the rest of the 67th. But that's all been a bit delayed in light of recent events..."

"Actually, sah," Sheen gently corrects, "It's captain Velm now. He was promoted to chief healer back before he and corporal Donica got married."

Elbio blinks "Oh, hmmm guess I need to catch up on recent news "He nods"I seen post 67 briefly. It needs fixed up. I am hoping to still be able to help at Redwall."

"Well, if you do," Lossow dips his head, "You might be able to come with the rest of us out to Mossflower, when the time comes. Frankly I'm a bit scared command may have forgotten about it... Though I do know the new captain's excited - not cpt. Velm, mind you, but cpt. Lucia Cadwallader. She's one of those old retires pulled back into duty that the Patrol's fond to make use of."

Elbio says, "Well be best to head out by Autumn, get to the area by winter as travel in winter isn't  that great, least in Mossflower"

With a shrug Lossow replies, "I'm hoping we'll move out this summer myself. And I know too well traveling in winter is a terrible idea... I led sergeant Adrain and the others - Monty, Serena, etc - up north while facing winter. We lived, but by goodness I will never ever do that again if I can help it!" He laughs. Sheen had left the room for the moment while the two officers talked.

Elbio nods "Summer would be good. I would check in every so often at the base but mainly be at the abbey. It would be good to have a group of hares near the abbey, just in case of trouble."

"If captain Lucia has her way, Elbio," Lossow wryly grins, "I'll be making a trip between Mossflower and this shore at least twice a season in case we need to alert the rest of the patrol. I figure you at Redwal shan't be left alone too long, either."

Elbio chuckles "I won't be alone at the abbey but yeah...also traveling alone wouldn't be wise and who knows maybe Ciana will give the long patrol another try and join up, be at the 67th." He yawns "For now, need some sleep as I am guessing we head off when it when it's dark."

"Of course..." The active lieutenant says, deciding to keep quiet about his own training at the 67th.... "Maybe she will!" Lossow gives small smile, having been distracted somewhat from the outside world. "Have a good nap, lieutenant. We shall - probably to the 23rd, if we can help it."

Left alone in the room he taps his elbow with his paw, looking around the small room. After a moment or so he drifts back to the window where Sheen will find him again by noon.

So, I'm going to be online from about now (7:21 EST) to whenever

I'll be one again this Saturday.

VI; April 11th, 2022

A reunion, four days following the loss of Konner & the night in the tavern.

Sgt Adrian, Lt Lossow, & Rt-Lt Elbio

Four days had passed since the disappearance of one Konner Attenborough and the return to the Swiftbuck Manor, and in those four days Lossow has not stepped a paw outside- he could tell from the windows that beasts have been keeping an eye on the place.

"Tonight, I think," he mutters as he creeps away from the curtain, "We might need to make a bolt for it. Can't stay here any longer, no sah."

Adrian huffs, as he leans against the wall. "If we c'ld just meet wi' tha' bloody mayah," he grumbles. "But... On th' othah paw, I agree wi' you."

"If you happen to write a personal invitation," Lossow replies with an arched brow, "Maybe that could fix things, wot?" Shaking his head he moves deeper into the house. "But on a more serious note; do you know if Halyard has anything akin to a sewer or catacombs beneath the streets? If so, we could, perhaps...."

Adrian ear-perks. "Well, we're near the coast, Loss. Not too many catacombs, I'm afraid. There is a sewer, though. I think I know of an entrance not too fah away."

"Right." Lossow dips his head, "Remember - that's lieutenant Loss, less you want me to go around proclaiming you as Aj or something!" He laughs. "But that's good, a sewer. We can maybe use that to get out, maybe. I only said catacombs because of the mountains, and frankly most cities and towns we've been too have been a bit, er," he pauses at the top of the stairs looking over his shoulder, "Well, a bit behind on their sewage, I guess I can say."

Adrian smirks. "Well, I'm pretty sure we're out of uniform right now," he teases. He lazily follows the other hare. "Remembah, Halyahd's been around f'r a bloomin' long time. It's probably one o' th' largah cities I've evah actually been to."

"Fair, I suppose." Walter shrugs, "But I suppose I should also request you don't call me any variation of 'Loss' unless we're caught, jailed, or otherwise failed this scouting mission more than we already have. Doesn't bode well, you see. Losing Konner - that, that doesn't count, either, mind you."

Going to the kitchen he spares a glance towards the back garden. "I suppose once it's dark out we can try jumping the wall back there, eh?"

Adrian laughs. "Ha. Y' know, I suspect that Konnah made it back t' th' 23rd," he mutters. "At any rate, I can't 'elp a certain feelin' o' familiarity since our time togethah." He comes down the stairs. "Tonight sounds like the best time."

"Indeed -" Lossow replies, not quite paying attention as he steps outside. The wall's here are high enough that no beast can see into the now slightly over groan garden. "Should probably find Sheen and tell her the plan - and speaking of the 23rd," he turns on his heel to look at the sergeant, "We'll make our way there, if we can."

That night the moon was hidden behind a layer of clouds which threatened to pour atop the three hares preparing to hop over the wall. Walter had his sabre on him though kept his uniform jacket in a sack, with the rest of his things. Private E. Sheen has done the same, though her long dirk was kept under a cloak.

"So, sergeant, any idea what's on the other side of this?"

"Back alley," Adrian says. "We should be unseen. The 'ouse to each side is mostly deserted." He looks at the other buck. "I'll lead ya true, don't y' worry, Sah."

"I wasn't," Lossow replies as casually as he can, "And I'm sure you will. Though what's that line of," he strains to tell in the dark, "Trees, across the way? Another yard of another manor?"

Adrian peers. "Should be. I don't think there's anybeast there, eithah," he says, looking back at Lossow. "Best t' keep our 'eads down, just in case..."

Lossow gives a single nod, and, spending a moment to look over the two hares under his command, he leaps up! Landing precariously on the top of the wall he spends as little time as possible up in the open before hoping down into the cobbled alleyway below.

"Clear, as near as I can bloody tell at least." He calls over, and soon the private is preparing to get over the wall as well.

Adrian lets Sheen go first, and then he hops over immediately after! "I'm comin'!" he calls quietly, before landing beside Lossow. "Nice form y' got there, ol' chap!"

Lossow had flattened himself against the wall by the time the others come down, and he gestures the others to do the same. "If we come across some beast, we might have to, er," he pauses, his voice whispers, "Deal with them, if you understand me. I doubt very much a trio of hares heading out in the dead of night wouldn't be something to ignore - if I saw it, say...."

Adrian looks at Lossow as he backs up against the wall. "I'm not sure I like wot yahr suggestin', Walt. We should aim to deal wi' them without any bloodshed, ideally."

Grunting in response, Lossow murmurs, "If we can, we will - but if worse comes to worse..." He trails off, shaking his head. "Come along." Not speaking further he begins slowly sliding along the wall, careful to avoid any light cast by the rare lantern...

Adrian takes up the rear, letting Sheen remain in the middle. "Sah." He says nothing more as they pass through the alley. "The sewer entrance is not far now."

In one of the backyards, someone is out and about. A close look shows it's female sea otter and she must live here or knows the beast that does. She was heading inside but then thought she heard noises,a frown as she edges away towards the other side of the yard where maybe someone is... sitting? But who is unclear at the moment.

"I imagine," Sheen pipes up as quietly as she can, "The entrance'll be when we hit a bigger street way, aye?"

Lossow doesn't really answer, but eventually - he hears the movement from the other side of the wall. He flattens himself even more against the it, somehow, freezing.

And just a moment later, away down at what is presumably the end of the alley, a lantern reveals two beasts! Their spears glint in the light. What they're chatting about can't be heard just yet but if the hares don't move quick they'll be seen.

Naturally, Lossow breaths out the faintest of curses.

Adrian sees no other recourse. He decides that their chances are better in the garden than in the alley, so he tests the nearby gate with a paw. If it's unlocked, he'll push it open so that the three of them can get in. They'll deal with whoever is on the other side when they come to that bridge.

If it's a gate to the backyard where the ottermaid is, it's unlocked as she had not had a chance to lock it yet, she planed to do that once she went inside. The otter quickly whispers to another beast in the yard.

"Look like we're accosting whoever's the poor creature inside, then." Lossow mutters to himself, beginning to draw his sabre as he follows Adrian and Sheen inside. The two guards beasts are none-the-wiser.

"Look, I'm tellin' ya that that mystery 'are fellow the brass wanted up and poofed! They say that big fire mountain's magic, anyhow."

"You dolt," came the weaselly voice of his taller companion, a ferret, "That's just old tales. They've got riches and good metals, sure, but no magic - least none that me or m'granpapa or his gran ever saw or heard tell of, and we've been here for longer than the hares, so says I!"

Adrian slides in through the gate quietly, ready to face whomever is in the garden beyond. "I'm right be'ind y', Sah," he says to Lossow, readying one of his small daggers.

The two in the yard talk quietly "'Tis only town guards Nala. I know we can go inside, besides my daughter will be back soon with some items for soup that was needed."

Interrupting that quiet talk like a wolverine in a glassblower's shop, Lossow goes to tackle the otter and cover her mouth in case the guards hear - he hopes the others do something about whoever she was talking to. Sheen can't see the other beast in the garden so instead begins to lock the gate. If anyone could see in the dark, she was wagging her head.

Adrian turns and takes down the other beast, pushing him against the wall, dagger to throat. "Silence," he hisses.

The otter gasps and this causing the other beast to slowly stands, very wobbly stands and reach for the staff on his chair to help him keep on his footpaws. Then he feels himself hit the wall as he groans, the dagger he feels and, "Wait..." He gets out in a whisper, "Adrain?" The voice should be familiar, it's Elbio... beside him a couple feet away is his wheelchair.

"Shh-" Walter hisses. In that moment, he is almost prepared to quickly dispatch the otter if she makes more noise, but he doesn't otherwise move. E. Sheen has now moved away from the gate just before the guards' light reached it, casting shadows into the garden - luckily the two vermin were too deep into their argument about the longears mountain to have heard anything even as they pass right by. But that can and might change...

Adrian is still pushing the beast against the wall, dagger at their throat, until they speak. "Bloody 'ell. Waltah! Let 'er up! We c'n trust th' ottah!" This is hissed quietly as lowers his dagger. "Elbio, wot th' bloody 'ell? Hell's teeth, sorry." He stops pushing the other hare into the wall. "This is embarrassin'..."

Elbio slides down to a sitting position now and stays that way. "I'm staying here, for now with my daughter, Nala is a healer that visits couple times a week" He looks towards the light as it appears and then leaves, a frown and he looks towards the back door to the small house, may be good to go inside, even if  just a little while.

"Oi..." The weaselly voice cuts in, pausing on the far end of the garden wall, "Shut it, would ya? Thought I heard something. Woodlander speech, maybe."

"Well, I didn' 'ear a thing. Can't we just leave it? Soon as we've reach the end of this alleyway we can turn in for the night I'd bet."

Lossow looks down at the otter, meeting her eyes. "Sorry, Nala," he mouths, while keeping his paw covering her own mouth.

Adrian looks at Elbio. "Yes, c'n we please go inside? We 'ave a good deal t' discuss." He stows his dagger, and tries to help the hare up. "We're not very populah in town right now."

Elbio allows the help up, manages to balance and nods. He will quickly lead them inside before the two guards decide to go past again, and if not inside is likely best anyways. Once inside likely a chat will be needed on just... what the heck is going on anyways.

Even if either the retired lieutenant or active sergeant couldn't make out Lossow's expression in the dark, they might be able to see the rather frantic slashing motion over his throat that he's making with his free paw - the point is clear as they all begin to head inside. Sheen has moved forward to help the otter up and inside, not daring to say a word.

"It came from over here, methinks," said the weaselly voice. "Otherside of this here wall, I'm sure."

"Bah, think I recognize this place, maybe - that otter lass 'ealer, Nala, ya know 'er? I think this is the 'ouse she goes to, iffin I'm no' lost, that is. Least according t'me brother."

A long silence follows wherein Lossow can't even bring himself to breath even as he enters the house- but at least the light starts moving away again. "Well, I don't want to bother a villager none, if that's the case. 'Specially not one of the healer's beasts."

So, I'll be on for some time today in the Redwall area as John or Atticus, because there's a few ideas I want to RP! I can do some LP stuff as Terrence or spoofing hares if people want to RP on the western shore, too

Alright, so I'm planning on being online in about an hour (so around 7:30- 8pm EST), and I'll probably stick around for a few hours

Hey, I'm going to be online for a little bit today, as I have to get off by 5 MST (7 EST) at the latest

I'm online right now and plan on sticking around for a few hours to RP tonight

I intend to be online for the next few hours

Though the lord Urtas and his companion Atticus have travelled to Mossflower Country, the young mouse's father, Wulf, remained in Halyard upon the Western Shore with a considerable company of beasts.
The Long Patrol, naturally, are curious as to what is happening in the port-town, and so dispatched a small scouting party to investigate.

IV; March 19th, 2022

Upon the Western Shore & to Halyard beyond

Sgt. Adrian S. & Lt. W. Lossow, hares
+ Pvts. Konner A. & E. Sheen, spoofs

Master sergeant Terrence's instructions were simple: Walter Lossow was to lead a small group of volunteers to the dunes outside of Halyard and spend two days observing the town in the sand. After the time was up, they were to report to the 23rd before returning to the mountain.

And so here Lossow was some 26 hours into the mission, his green coat off so as to better blend in with the shore and his small telescope in paw.

Adrian had also been assigned to this mission. Not nearly as exciting as his last long-term mission, mind you. But, he was getting used to the rigid structure of the mountain again. Even if he WOULD rather be rescuing slaves from a dank fort up north again, instead. "Well, Loss, see anythin' e'en remotely interestin'?" he asks as he drops into the sand alongside the younger buck. "Any fair maidens bein' kidnapped, or p'rhaps some maraudin' pirates? E'en a random bandit would liven things up a bit..."

The look the sergeant earns from the officer is not one of amusement, let's just say. "If there were, I'd be sure to tell you, trust me. The only activity in town today is around those two great big ships in the harbour, there-" he points even if the ships are clearly visible enough from where they are. "Beasts in armour - I assume at least, because it glints in the sun, keep going too and from."

Adrian is immediately all business. "Soldiers, y' think? Knights, o' some kind?" He squints at the ships in the distance. "Lemme see y'r spyglass... This doesn't bode well." He rubs his chin. "I only know o' a couple o' islands across th' sea that 'ave knights like tha'. One o' which was a bunch o' wild cats ruled by a fella named Rigor Mortis, or somethin' like that. But tha' was LOOOONG ago, an' th' beast were overthrown by an army o' ottahs. I remembah readin' about it in an old book in th' library. Hrrm..."

Handing the spyglass over with a shrug, Lossow murmurs, "It's a bit too distant to quite make out, but my money's on soldiers of some type. Maybe we should get closer." He moves back down to the base of the sand dune where two privates - Konner and Sheen - are sitting under a makeshift shelter. "Time to pack up! We'll be moving close to town now - and be careful about being seen, too."

Adrian peers through the glass, but true enough, the distance is too great to get any more detail. After getting his fill of the view, he slides down after Walter. "Right. Let's be quet, please," he says, looking at Sheen in particular. "We don't want a bloomin' repeat o' our last "stealth mission," now do we, Private?"

The haremaid raises a brow as she's singled out, giving an air of mock hurt. "Whatever do you mean, sergeant?I wasn't the one who poked the seagulls nest - that was private Harolds. I was just an unhappy witness." As she speaks she's helping Konner take down the half-tent and clean up the small campsite, and her grin is hidden by her back being turned to Adrian.

Lossow is already moving away to search for a closer observation spot. Those must have been soldiers of some type, same as yesterday. He didn't like it one bit.

While Lossow goes on ahead to scout a closer spot, Adrian stays behind to keep observe the privates cleaning up the camp. "Well, whichevah one o' ya it was, let that be a lesson."

Both Konner and Sheen share a look. "It's probably for the best Harolds was on sentry duty back home," the former mutters. "Alright sarge!" Sheen says in a bright tone when they finish cleaning up the admittedly light camp, "We're ready to move out, sah!"

Their current commanding officer, Lossow, is nowhere to be seen - but his tracks are clear.

Adrian nods at the two. "Well, let's follow th' tracks, but make sure y' make no sound. Use tha' famous hare light-footedness, shall we?" He takes off following Lossow's tracks.

Whenever the three hares catch up to the officer, they will find Walter Lossow still without his coat lying on his belly atop a dune. He's already at work looking through his spyglass.

Pvts. Sheen and Konner toss their sacks on the sand at the lowest point among the dunes below, beginning to once again set up camp.

Adrian lets the younger hares set up the small camp as he joins the Sergeant. "See anythin' clearah from 'ere?" he asks, squinting against the sunlight. "Those are awfully lahge ships, so I doubt they're typical pirates..."

"They're the same ones the master-sergeant reported seeing when he came back from the 23rd," Lossow murmurs, passing the spy glass again, "I'm sure of it. The most common sigil on the flags is that mice, lizard, and - stoat? I'm not sure, really," he shakes his head, "But anyway, it's close to the sigil that was on the letter Cpt. Harthwill got, if I'm not mistaken."

Adrian looks through the telescope, watching the far-off activity. "Mmm. I may need a remindah as t' th' lettah y'r referrin' to," he remarks. "Was it a threat?"

"Not quite." Lossow mutters as he slinks back down the dune slightly. "More a declaration of Halyard being there's and all that, wot, though I'm foggy on the details. Happened right after we got back, I believe."

Through the spyglass Adrian can clearly see an assortment of all sorts of beasts clad in helmets, though many seem like locals. Those that are the professional soldiers stand out even from this distance however - they all wear a matching bright cuirass and similar helmet, a variation on the sallet. Officers are marked out by the exotic feathers on the top of their helmets. The beasts are mostly a mix of vermin and woodland creatures - though all of those that are armed are of larger species like hares, stoats, or, most notably, six monitors, at least. Those seem to be an elite troop....

Adrian frowns. "Halyahd is s'posed t' be an independent city. Hellfire, I grew up right ovah in tha' house ovah there." He points toward the more residential part of the town. "I mean, they seem peaceful 'n' all, but a takeovah is a takeovah, no mattah wot way y' wrap it all up." He zeroes in on the monitors. "Lizahds. I 'ate lizahds. I've dealt wi' carnivorous monitahs before. Nasty business."

"We may well have to deal with more of those types, Adrian," Lossow sighs, "If I recall rightly, the letter handed to ol' Greg was made of bloody hide, it was." The lieutenant spits. "I'm not eager to see how they have that stock. How many lizards?"

There are beasts as well, dressed in rich and rather absurd (to the Patrol's sensibilities) clothing. Merchants and workers, it seems. And with them is clearly a band of servants who diligently go too and fro - and like the armoured creatures, these are a mix of vermin and woodlander alike.

"Six," Adrian spits out. "Six monitahs, all wearin' plate armah. They must 'ave a good blacksmith on staff, eh wot." He keeps watching the proceedings. "Those ships look sturdy. Wonderin' if there wasn't some way we could commandeah one. I wagah they've got maps 'n' chahts aboard that could lead us right back t' their port o' origin." He sighs. "'Ide, y' say? Barbaric. I wouldn't do tha' even t' a vermin. It's just unnatural."

"Certainly, but apparently they wanted to have peaceful relations with us, if they could help it." Lossow says grimly, beginning to write down the details of the numbers. "As for the ships, we're to scout, sergeant, remember that - and I'm not sure of the patrol's sailing prowess. Those aren't the average slave galleys, near as I can tell. Though I've been that familiar with ships, wot. Though...." The officer pauses, "Getting a'hold of some of those maps would count as gathering information and scouting, I bet. Only problem is the mass of fighting beasts swarming the place."

Adrian looks away from the scene. "Well, I wasn't suggestin' we go try t' take one o' the ships by ourselves. But 'm reckonin' it could make f'r a logical suggestion t' th' Gen'ral." Looking through the telescope again, he peers. "The ships are swarmin' with beasts now, but I reckon they'll be more lightly guarded aftah dahk. They've got 'ares in their company, too. IF we could swipe a set o' that armah, we could get a spy in an' out with 'em none th' wisah."

The two ships are possibly larger than any had ever seen in that part of the World since at least theme before Lord Sebastian ruled the land, a frigate and galleon. The color clothing of the nearly every armoured beast - save for the lizards - is almost reminiscent of the Patrol's own, as are the weapons present. Halberds, pikes, sabres, and even a group of long spadone swords are visible. There is a clear uniform among the creatures and a level of organization uncharacteristic for most vermin groups....

"Still, I feel like the risk of aggravating them - and the town itself - is too high. I don't think command, or they, despite all those pokey things they're waving about, want a fight.... Hmm."

Adrian frowns. "They don't want a fight because they're tryin' t' lull us inta a false sense o' security. Call me paranoid, if y' wish. But s'pose tomorrah they suddenly decide they want Aclidia, too? We don't exactly 'ave good relations wi' th' Aclidians (they're all vermin that still practice slavery, for example), but they lie t' th' Mountain's south. We'd be surrounded, then. An' then s'pose the day aftah tha' they decide they wanna spread inland. Oy, that Mossflowah forest looks mighty nice, don't it? Eh, wot, look at that pretty red buildin' there. Might be a nice second 'ome, wot." He looks over at Lossow. "This reads as the prelude to a largah occupation, an' it doesn't bode well f'r us or anybeast else righ' now."

As Lossow's grasp of western shore geography was tenuous at best, he wasn't quite sure of the details of Alcida - or what the Patrol's history was with the city. So he trusted Adrian's assessment of the place. "Sounds a proper evil, it does. But as for Mossflower - I'll certainly have to bear witness to whatever they're planning for that place, if they are of course. But regardless of the danger of us being surrounded, if we attack them first nothing'll hold them back from striking at us, wot! And I feel they may have more beasts and more tricks up their sleeves than what we've seen...." He shakes his head, rolling over to look up at the sky. "Perhaps-" he begins, his ears standing upright as a thought occurs to him, "Perhaps we could ditch the uniforms and go in the town as civilians, see what that might merit us, eh?"

Adrian looks over at Lossow, a smile crossing his features. "As I said before, mah fam'ly' 'ouse is right ovah there. The Swiftbuck fam'ly is well-known in Halyahd. We're one o' most established fam'lies there, goin' all th' way back t' when Halyahd was mostly 'ares. So yeah, a long time. I c'n go in an' out quite easily." He scratches his chin. "I reckon I could get y' some civvies in our 'ouse. I even know a way inta town that'll keep us outta sight till we get there."

"Do you suppose, though," Lossow looks the sergeant over, "Anyone might recognise you after all these seasons? I'm not sure if most of the town folk are to be trusted, frankly."

Adrian meets his gaze. "That's why we're takin' th' back way in, through th' back alleys. Once we're in civvies then it won't mattah. One 'are is as good as anothah t' most folks there. Back when Halyahd was founded it was originally mostly hares, plus a few othah woodlandahs. To 'ear mah fathah tell it, vermin weren't even allowed t' dock in the 'arbor for a long time, eithah. Not sure why tha' all changed, but anyway..."

"Truly?" Lossow raises a brow. "I'd not heard that before, but my family were always mountain dwellers themselves. I've always assumed the vermin were a part since the start." He slides down the dune. "But no matter, sergeant, sounds like we have some work to do!"

Adrian nods, and slides down after him, then addresses the Privates, "Waltah an' I are sneakin' into th' town. Two 'ares will draw less suspicion th'n four. I want y' two t' stay right 'ere for now. If Loss an' I don't return by tomorrah, go t' th' 23rd. Is tha' undahstood?"

In the moment Adrian began to follow the other hare, the sun peeked out from behind its cloud cover - just barely catching the brass of the spyglass before it disappeared behind the dune in the paws of the sergeant.

Across the way, by the harbour of Halyard, this brief glint catches a weasel's eye, who mentions something to his fellow, a rabbit, who in turn mentions it to one of the solider beasts, who then reports it to his officer. There's a small discussion and some time passes with little else happening....

Lossow rolls his shoulders. "I wonder if we shouldn't take the pair of them with us, Adrain. I think Sheen grew up in the town as well, right?"

"That's right, sah," she responds with a quick nod. "Though we moved to Salamandastron back when the Lord Ciocan took over when I was leveret, so it's been a while."

Adrian hrrms, looking at Sheen. "Do you know the Swiftbuck home?" he asks her. "We all four shouldn't go togethah, tha's too obvious, but if we split off in pairs that'll draw less attention. I'd need ya t' take th' alleys. If y' get stopped by a beast in armah, tell them y'r lookin' f'r th' tavern, an' y' got lost. It's a flimsy excuse, but it may work. The tavern is s'posed t' still be neutral."

The haremaid narrows her eyes, thinking. "I think I know the place, sarge. Over on the north side, right? With all the officer houses with gardens and the like."

"Wait at least half an hour before following us into town, too." Lossow adds. "We can all meet at the Swiftbuck's house in an hour, maybe."

The weasel who had reported what the villagers had seen to his superior was now paired up with a rather mean looking fox. Both had spears and side-swords as they began to trek through the sand. "It's somewhere out 'ere, according to that coot. But there's a lotta ground t'cover."

Adrian nods. "My mothah would normally be there t' meet us, but she's at th' 23rd with Fathah, I'm afraid. Y'r right on th' money, though. Quickly take down th' camp, we don't it t' be found while we're gone. I'd suggest y' two 'ead toward the edge o' the treeline ovah there near th' 23rd while y' wait t' follow us." He looks back at Lossow, completely unaware that they are currently being tracked. "Okay, we circle 'round that dune, there, t' the north. We shouldn't be seen while go 'round th' far side o' th' dune."

"Understood," Lossow says, letting the sergeant lead him onwards. "I'm not going to be much help navigating here, I'm afraid - I can count the amount of times I've been to Halyard on one paw."

For their part Konner and Sheen immediately begin packing up (having only half unpacked everything earlier), and are soon ready to leave. So they sit and wait.

The vermin pair are still a ways off, especially compared to the lieutenant and sergeant. In fact, the two vermin quite the opposite way that the two hares are moving, searching the dunes slowly. But they are steadily getting closer to the pair of privates waiting....

Adrian nods, as they begin to swing around the dune, heading toward the northern part of town. "Unless it's changed massively on me, I know those streets like th' back o' mah paw... Though I've been told it was conquered a while back, an' that's wot led to mah Fathah's... Condition." He looks at Loss. "I've only spoke t' 'im once since I got back. Thankfully 'e remembahed me, but 'e doesn't remembah mah mission, an' 'e thought I'd gone AWOL... Like mah brothah." As they near the outskirts of Halyard, however, he drops his voice, slipping into an empty alley when it presents itself. The danger to Sheen and Konner unknown to them both.

As the two hares slip into town, Lossow is rather glad he's left his uniform jacket behind with the rest of the equipment at camp. The green cloth would have stood out immediately when compared the attire of most Halyardians. "Well, at least he recognised you..." Walter murmurs, peeking around the corner. "I'd heard about that too- last summer. We lost a lot of hares apparently, though no one I know was really involved beyond the likes of your... father..." He trails off.

Fortunately these back alleys are mostly deserted, so the two hares can pass through toward the residential district mostly unimpeded. Looks like the strange soldiers haven't bothered to come to this part of Halyard yet. "From wot Greg tol' me, 'e faced th' vermin leader one-on-one, at a distinct disadvantage, not once, but twice. The first time he provided a distraction f'r the rest o' th' 'ares t' escape our destroyed fort. Honestly... I don't know that I've evah seen tha' side of 'im mahself."

"Did he indeed?" Lossow mutters, "Well, I suppose that explains why he's still - er was, and active duty officer. I'm not sure what to call currently. But that brings up something else-" the younger hare says, brushing his paw against a nearby building. "Most of this place looks rather well put together considering such a large fight took place and a horde had its way with the place. They must have put a lot of effort and money into fixing everything." He rounds a corner, meeting what can only be described as a boarded up old ruin. "And then there's these every so often - why hasn't anyone touched these places up?" 

Adrian looks at the boarded up building. "No idea. I think Halyahd's fortunes are wanin'. Most of the prominent Patrol fam'lies that used ta live 'ere 'ave moved t' Salamandastron. There's only a few 'old outs, like mah Da 'n' Ma, an' a few othahs in the north paht o' town. I reckon it was when more 'ares stahted movin' toward th' mountain an' our influence waned 'ere, tha's when th' vermin stahted t' move in." He passes the abandoned building. "We're not too fah now. An' luckily I ain't seen any o' those weirdos yet, eh?"

"If you mean those regular-looking beasts," Lossow allows himself a grin, "I think you might be in danger of tossing a stone in a greenhouse, wot. Their uniformity reminds me of the Patrol to some degree."

So far, only three creatures have the hares passed - a hedgehog baker (who shakes their head as Lossow and Adrain pass, recalling their last interaction with a pair of hares, a gruff old one-legged hare followed by a tall one), a rat moving crates behind their shop, and a mouse beggar crouched against a wall.  "I'd heard tell Halyard was on the decline even before the old badger lord Blackstripe came to the mountain, after a great big storm or something like that. Though storm or decline and whatnot, the town's not as bad as I'd expect."

Adrian grunts. "Weird in that they're employin' Monitahs," he replies, but that is a valid observation, he realizes. "I suspect tha's why th' townsfolk are entertainin' th' idea o' workin' wi' these guys, though. No doubt they've made grand promises of reversin' Halyahd's decline an' bringin' more trade an' business back. It's th' age old story." As they pass the beggar, Adrian pauses, and fishes into his bag for his money pouch, handing the unfortunate beast four gold coins. "There, mate. Tha' should be enough f'r a hot meal an' a bed at th' tavern f'r a few days..." He sighs. looking back at his fellow hare. "Honestly, I can't blame 'em, eithah..."

"No, I suppose not." Lossow comments, watching Adrian hand the coin over. "It does seem to me the Patrol has never much cared about this town much, leastways not since the war in Mossflower." He sighs. "Whatever the reason be though, I'm not fully sure the town is completely against the Patrol, or if even the presence of the monitor employers means that, either... How far to the house, by the by?"

"Just around the next block," he replies. "Far as I can tell, it was tha' big storm you mentioned that did it. It wiped out a significant portion o' the residential district. A lot of the Patrol fam'lies just decided t' move ta Salamandastron instead of rebuild 'ere. Honestly, as long as Hannah still owned th' tavern, it still felt like an extension o' the mountain. She was retired Patrollah. Owned th' tavern since afore I was born. She was still runnin' the place a season or two before Monty an' I left. I guess she passed away, though? 'M not sure. It was before we left, though. Once th' tavern stopped feelin' like a Patrol 'angout, the atmosphere kinda changed... I think it's vermin-owned now, alas."

"Hannah..." Some early memories stir. "She was getting pretty darn old when I was a leveret, and that's probably the only time I ever saw her - or the tavern, really. We went to the tavern once, myself and my parents. Though I have not a bloody clue who owns the place now, so can't be much help there."

Every time a side alley branches off from the one they're in Lossow takes a moment to check around the corner. But besides a couple more workers and an otter hanging up their laundry, it's empty.

They pass into the residential part of town, finally, and pass several modest cottages and bungalows. As they follow the street, however, the homes get grander, larger and more well-appointed, though a few are obviously unoccupied, some still showing damage from a storm many, MANY seasons ago. "There, on the right." The house he points to is set behind a low wall, that keeps it isolated from the street. Moving toward the front gate, Adrian fishes a key out of his pouch, and unlocks it, ushering Lossow in, then closing and locking the gate once inside. The house is two stories, built of brick and aged stucco, looking as if it has stood there for countless seasons, but also bearing a homey, lived-in touch. Adrian leads Lossow to the front door, which he unlocks. "This property has been in mah fam'ly f'r generations. Welcome."

Lossow steps inside, looking around with wide eyes. "Is quite the difference to a stuffy pair of rooms in the mountain, isn't this? You said your mother - lieutenant Olivia, I mean, still says here when she can, right, so she's not here now- I suppose now we just have to wait for the privates to arrive then, eh?"

Adrian hehs, letting Lossow into the front hall, where a large portrait of an older buck in Long Patrol dress uniform, just laden down with numerous medals, stares down at them. "Say 'ello t' Great-Great-Great-Great-Grandfathah Cassius Severus Bilkington Fortenberry Swiftbuck VI. He was apparently a hero in Mossflowah." He chuffs, looking around, himself. "Aye, we c'n wait, or we c'n get changed."

Adrian says, "Oh, and as recently as a season ago mah youngest siblin's were still livin' 'ere, too. But now they're recruits at th' Mountain."

"Oddly enough I feel like I've met several of your great great grandfathers in the flesh hanging 'round the mountain and the 67th-" Lossow cuts himself off, looking almost horrified. "You have younger siblings? I- I suppose that makes sense, but goodness. I'd never have guessed. But, er, yes, we should get changed now, I think. Or soon, at least, then wait."

Adrian laughs at Lossow's reaction. "Wot, y' thought I was th' youngest? Mah youngah brothah is named Tobias, or Toby. Mah sistah is Petunia, but we all call 'er "Pete"." He chuckles, and guides the other hare up the stairs towards the bedrooms. "Think y' c'n wear mah size, or should we check Toby's room?"

Lossow blinks, unsure how to process the information. "Uh, sure, yeah." He says, not really aware of what he's agreeing to. "I did think so, yes."

Adrian nods, and leads his friend toward his old bedroom, in that case. Pushing the door open reveals a tidy room that bears the signs of a young Adrian. Drawings are carefully stacked on a desk by a window that shows a view of the sea. A wooden sword rests against the foot of a bed. "Ah, I used to spar with mah brothah wi' tha' thing. 'E always let me win..." He opens a draw, and starts pulling out clothes. "These should still fit. I ain't grown tallah since I left. Go on, try these on." He tosses a blue tunic and brown pants at Lossow.

Making no comment on the stuffed animals or baby pictures, Lossow begins pulling the tunic on. "You're lucky! At the mountain, my friends were vicious - only won if if you bested 'em, which I did on occasion. Though," he struggles to find the hole for his head, "I'm not sure what happened to most of them. Reuenthal was part of the main patrol when I left for Mossflower, and so was Dav. Redford's part of the healer staff..." Tunic on, he grabs his sash to tie about the center. "I think I might be safe to keep the green trousers on - they're not the typical patrol colors, and I doubt anyone in Halyard is familiar with the 67th - and those that are are not going to endanger us I bet."

Adrian shucks off his uniform top, and lays it out on his bed, standing bare-chested as he rummages through the drawer for a tunic of his own. "Sounds like it made you toughah, eh?" He pulls out a red tunic, and starts to pull it on. "Lookin' good, though," he says, teasing the other hare. "I doubt anybeast 'ere 'as evah even 'eard o' th' 67th."

"Aye, same to you-" Something on the street had caught his attention, and Lossow's laugh is cut short as he moves to look out the window. "I think that might be private Sheen down there, it is!" Turning on his heel he bolts out of the room and practically leaps down the stairs, leaving the door swinging slightly.

"Wait! I gotta unlock th..." But Lossow is off, so Adrian chases after him, down the hall to the stairs, and then down those to the front door, fishing his key out quickly.

Lossow had made it to the door before Adrian (obviously) and had smacked into it. He stands aside rubbing his shoulder as the other buck unlocks the door, but as soon as it's open he's rushing outside.

"Priv-" Lossow begins in a loud voice before thinking better of it, "I mean, miss Sheen, what are you doing? It's only been a few minutes since we got here - where's Konner?" He asks, sharply.

"I dunno sah, we were followed by two of them armoured beasts and we agreed to split and run-in the alleyways - I lost them, at least. I don't think he knows his way around Halyard though, even if he claimed so, sah."

The conversation is had through the gate, as it's presumably still locked as the front door was.

Adrian is hurriedly fitting the key into the lock even as those words are exchanged, and as soon as the lock clicks, he swings the gate open so they can usher Sheen into the yard, before he pushes it shut and locks it again. "Damn. 'Ow on earth are we gonna find 'im? We can't exactly go around askin' beasts if they've seen a Patrol 'are wanderin' around."

"Hell if I know, sarge," Sheen squeezes inside, looking between the two and rather glad she's out of the open now. She's still somewhat out of breath, but as soon as she catches it she speaks more. "I think he might be alright, though - the fox and er, stoat, maybe he was, went after me rather than Konner, though I think that's because they saw me run first. But I lost them back by that little hole in the wall food place, with the pastries, and I spent a few minutes rushing through hall the alleys that I could before I got here, sirs."

Lossow raises a brow at Adrian. "Welp, how well do you remember Halyard? Can't just leave him out there, I should say. Though this makes me wonder.... Maybe we could ask about a patrol hare - after all, we're hares ourselves and Halyard's not all that anti-patroller just yet, wot, they might think we're relatives... Even if the two of them were chased.... Hmm..."

Adrian looks at Sheen. "Well, first, let get 'er a disguise. Upstairs. Second door on th' left. Mah sistah's room. Should be somethin' in yahr size in the drawers." Turning back to Lossow, he says, "I know it pretty well. I suggest we make this our base o' operations while we're 'ere in town. We c'n eithah split up, or go togethah, tha's y'r call, Sah. But if we do split up, we should meet up back 'ere by dusk. We c'n staht our investigation o' the strangahs tomorrah mornin'... Wot say you?"

"Right, sarge," with a half hearted salute abandoned halfway because of who could be watching, private Sheen heads inside. Lossow watches her go, mulling over Adrian's word. "Well," he turns back with a wry grin. "I have not a bloomin' clue how to get around Halyard, so leaving me one my own would only end up with another hare to find, wot. So perhaps we should stick together. Safety in numbers and all that- or the private could stay here, because she was seen earlier." He looks up at the sky. "I don't know about you, sergeant, but I've got a bad feeling about this all."

Adrian mmms, nodding and rubbing his chin, then he smiles at the buck. "I think that's best."

Concerning the 23rd - because of both my own and Varus' player's general inactivity over the past few months there's not been much RP in the area (or the LP as a whole). Both the IC and OOC plan was to fix it up and make it a new headquarters for the LP to keep an eye on Halyard. It's been over two months since the work started, so we could do stuff with hare characters being sent out there for a week or two.

As for any other RP idea: If you have an RP that you want to do, a heads up is great and all but most importantly please just RP it! Don't feel like you have to wait on me or someone else to do stuff with the LP (...as long as you aren't killing off droves of hares).  For the past half year it feels like most RP in LP has been almost exclusively because I start it/prompt it - especially since the new year. There are a few problems with that: Firstly, I'm only around so often and it seems almost no one else in the LP gets on on Saturdays any more.

Secondly, it's honestly tiring and not really that fun to always be the one running things! My hare characters are basically glorified spoofs at this point XD (this is mostly my fault, tho, I'll admit - in an effort to get others to RP I tried having my characters taking a backseat and encouraging role)

Lastly - because of how I can pretty much only do a few RPs with the LP a month, the amount of RP happening with the LP isn't much! We need people to RP, please, and do not feel like you have to have me or someone else present to RP.

To hammer home the point, Velm is a captain - sure, he's a healer, but the player is highly encouraged to run their own plots and TPs!
To quote the LP Rank Page:

So please feel free to make RP in the LP happen! Also - anyone in the LP in general is highly encouraged (by me at least) to start RP and run plots if they want! As long you aren't doing something like killing off droves of hares for no good reason or doing something OOC for the LP, I'll be happy to see RP taking place. So please, just start RPing!

(Also also, if anyone is trying to avoid getting in the way of anything I myself have planned in RP, please don't! Pretty much everything I want to do for my plots would actually benefit from having other people's RPs happening at the same time - be they serious, light hearted, or whatever, it doesn't matter! I can adapt )

*****

Anyway, I am currently online and I am hoping to do a scouting mission with Lossow today- as he's basically the closest thing the Lp currently has to a scout, he's leading a small group of volunteers (ie anyone who shows up XD) to do some observation stuff in Halyard. And who knows, there might be some surprises.

II; March 12th, 2022

Atticus, Blisa, Patch, & Snarlfang

Ferravale is filled with the sounds of hammers, saws, and singing workbeasts.  All around the village, crews are working on repairing buildings prior to the Spring rains hitting the area.  Blisa is standing near the entry with Ferdinand and Hank, Valerie having volunteered to help in the Infirmary just in case anyone hurts themselves.  The Chief and her bodyguards are talking to some forebeasts, and everyone in Ferravale is wearing a thick wooden helmet.  The cat has a stack of papers that she's busily taking notes on.  There is an air of cheerful industriousness as the beasts of the village join together to make their homes and workplaces better.

There's a pair of cloaked beasts observing the work on the sidelines near to the town center. The smaller figure is a mouse, whose eyes are watching the bodyguards and the chieftainess sitting against a wall safely out of the way from the construction. Next to him a ferret leans lazily against the same wall, with his eyes closed.

The forebeasts disperse, having said what they wanted to say.  One of them whistles, and they all seem happy with their conversation (although a couple mutter about wishing there were some moles around to help them with some foundation repair).  Blisa and her bodyguards stay where they are for a moment, not even flinching when Ann the Head Guard appears from seemingly nowhere beside them.  The female rat and cat have a quick conversation, then Ann walks to the main gate.  The Chieftain nods, then looks around, trying to decide which section of her village to check on next.

"It wouldn't do, I think," Atticus murmurs with his eyes still closed, "To draw the attention of the cat unto yourself, Urtas." The mouse had moments earlier stood and took a step towards the entry - but he was now frozen at the ferret's words.

"Unless you're feeling up to it, of course." Atticus adds. "Be careful..."

Urtas nods and continues on his way with purpose towards the town leadership whether or not the beasts are busy beforehand. "Hail! You are the mayor here, yes?" There can be no mistake - the mouse is addressing Blisa.

The petite cat had actually noticed the cloaked figures earlier and put it on her itinerary to greet them in passing, so when one of them approaches her, it doesn't really mess with her plans any!  However, she raises an eyebrow at the term 'mayor'.  "I am Chieftain Blisa Wyrmtamer, yes.  How may I help you and your friend?"  She glances at Atticus, obviously meaning him.  Ferdinand the ferret smiles in a friendly way, and Hank the huge and hulking fox, looks around the area, keeping a watch like the excellent bodyguard he is.  Hank has a very large battleaxe, and Ferdinand has his sabre.  The Chief is well guarded, even with just 2 beasts.

Atticus doesn't move from his position or even open his eyes! In fact he may have fallen asleep, his forelegs crossed. The mouse for his part bows his head. "Forgive me then, chieftain, and my servant - he's exhausted from our trip upriver. I am Urtas son of Wulf, and I am here to attempt," he is choosing his words carefully, speaking not just to Blisa but addressing any beast nearby, "To start bettering the relationship between Mossflower Woods and the shore, namely between this village and Halyard - and outside of any hare's or badger's forceful paw. There isn't much travel between the two places, is there?"

Patch is, well he is in a hurry as he rushes down the path and back to the village. He slows when he sees cloaked beasts and sighs "Just what I need... more cloaked beasts! I had nyfe of that last night." He sighs and walks closer to the  gates, a serious expression on his face.

Ann sees Patch coming and gestures for him to enter the village.  "Blisa is over there," the Head guard says impassively, gesturing towards the cat.  The Chief looks a little surprised at the mouse's offer, especially since he seems to be speaking against the Long Patrol.  "Well, no, there isn't much travel between us and Halyard.  The distance is very great.  I'm not sure we would want to trade with them, though.  We have a peace treaty with Redwall, and slavery is punishable by death here.  Isn't Halyard anti-woodlander and pro-slavery?"  The few Ferravalians nearby look dubious at the suggestion.  The cat has yet to see Patch.

The mouse can't hide his momentary horror at the rat, but he does his best to recover. "Yes, anyway - Halyard. It is neither of those things, though it is true that slavers often come from Mossflower and pass through on there way to the sea... Just as they pass through this town on their way to the shore regardless of either town's punishment of death for those slavers caught."

He pauses, collecting himself, "I imagine Halyard only has the reputation it has here since the Long Patrol abandoned the town, and it was a place of chaos for seasons. But the current mayor is an otter, mind you, and has, since even before a war last summer and the storms before that, done a considerable amount to fix the town up and rid itself of such beasts like slavers and pirates for good. One way some wished to do that was keep a more constant and safe contact with Mossflower - this town being the main stopping point as it's built nearto the river Moss. You yourselves are anti-slavers, I presume - and hope - and I can say with little doubt that a better watch on the River, with the added befit of trade between the two towns, would help keep the slavers and other... less savoury types from making use of it."

Patch frowns at the head guard "I have important info on..." He whispers "The slaver fox and his  friends, plus who de crazy looking squirrels  were, it IS the Gawtrybe. They are at the abbey  right now." He nods "I  could go back,  check on  things.... oh and the feast too,y eah"

There is one figure who's wearing neither a wooden helmet nor a suspicious cloak. In fact they're wearing te polar opposite of such sneaky garment, bright violet clothing and a peacebound zweihander making the foxy figure of one Snarlfang somewhat difficult to miss. She's vaguely coming from the direction of the tavern when she spies the small gaggle of beasts, swiftly followed by the word 'slaver' repeated a few times. Her easy smile doesn't leave her muzzle so much as freeze in place as mirth dies in her eyes.

With absolutely zero subtlety, Snarlfang wanders right up to Patch, Anne and company, ears perking and hefting her cloth-wrapped sword meaningfully. "What a wonderful day it is, my friends! So many beasts working together, is beautiful sight! This one is called Snarlfang, happy to meet many new friends in Ferravale village. Ears working right, be hearing talk of slavers causing trouble?"

Blisa's lips purse.  "Do you even know anything about Ferravale?  We don't have enough fighters to watch the river.  I am not going to draft my citizens into being fighters" (despite wanting to when she first became Chief) "because we have enough going on in Ferravale as it is.  We do not have the resources to watch the river as you are suggesting, and you would do well to understand a place before charging in and making suggestions.  Who even are you, anyway?  Are you a delegation from this mayor?  If so, why not say so in the first place?"  The nearby Ferravalians start muttering amongst themselves, and they don't sound like they're on the side of the mouse.  Ferdinand and Hank look suspicious of the mouse.

Ann the rat Head Guard nods impassively to the vixen as she approaches.  "Yes, we are currently working on a plan to trick the slavers into bringing their slaves into the village so we can free the slaves and execute the slavers.  What interest of it is yours?"  She glances at Patch and gestures inside the guard hut by the gate.  "You may use the ink and paper in my office to write down your information for the Chieftain if you think you need to leave.  She may not be able to stay and speak with you."

Patch looks over and sighs "Tell Blisa  I will wait in her office, this is  very important." He then goes to  said office.

Urtas looks the new comer vixen up and down, as if considering whether to laugh or not - the purple cloth and the unmissable massive blade on her back making for quite the appearance.. "...Yes," he says finally, "Yes it would seem. Not a trouble in Halyard though, not yet; if these slavers move on they'll go there next. As for you, chieftain," The mouse turns back to the cat, "I am a delegation from Halyard, to an extent. I'm trying to simply better the place - and I didn't mean to suggest anything as drastic as a draft, no, simply some way to stop the constant flow of beasts like that hare who came from here- who went on a murder spree just recently on the shorelands."

Atticus opens one eye from where he was resting, taking in the sight. "There might be a way to deal with the slavers without causing harm to any beast, if I might be so bold as to address you all." He calls as he stands upright. From the mouse's look of confusion it's clear they haven't discussed this before. "And it could help prevent such groups appearing in the future."

Snarlfang lets out a laugh that would be somewhere between boisterous and friendly were it not for the way her ears twitch reflexively, the corners of her muzzle flickering downwards as though she is trying to suppress a scowl. Her voice is at odds with her body language utterly.

"Is simple reason! Slavers is both bad and good for selling-of-sword-arm business! Bad, because is slaver. Take beasts, do horrible things, not even coin involved sometimes! Make very bad coin you see. Good, because opportunity to take bad coin from slaver after taking of slaver's heads! This one enjoys good part very much, so wishes to help little rat take both bad coin and bad slavers heads, maybe mount on pike outside village. Maybe get good coin in process too! Just have to avoid getting own head taken, but that part work itself out! Just have to have clear head and good luck, so we can take bad slaver heads!" Comes the beast far too cheerfully and eagerly!

Atticus gets a look from the vixen's good eye, utterly ignoring how Urtas is sizing her up. "....Still harm to slaver-beasts at least?" Comes the vix with doubt in her tone.

Blisa scowls.  "Oh, you mean Zolomon?  Who was banished from Mossflower after he murdered beasts here?  He's lucky he was a former Redwaller and former Patroller, else I would have had him executed here."  Her green eyes flash, and the Ferravalians listening seem angry, too, with the more vermin-y (they're all vermin, but some act more like it than others) glaring at the mouse and pawing their weapons.  "We can not patrol or police this area any more than Redwall can.  Scout corps have risen and fallen here, even in my lifetime.  We do the best we can, but we also try to live in peace with our surrounding area.  We don't need an outsider making suggestions about what we ought to do differently."  Murmurs of agreement echo from the surrounding villagers.

Ann, meanwhile, listens to the vixen without a trace of any emotion on her brown-furred face or in her black eyes.  (This rat is about as nondescript as you can get, her Head Guard uniform the only thing setting her apart from any female rat anywhere.)  When the vixen finishes, the rat nods.  "A mercenary, hhmm?  I would suggest that, in a few days or maybe a week, you speak with Chieftain Blisa," she gestures to the cat as if it weren't obvious just who is in charge here "but I can say that if you could work with Patch and us to free the slaves and kill the slavers, you would be more than welcome, and free to keep whatever coin you find on the slaver's corpses."

"Excuse me," Ann says, walking to the Chieftain and whispering in her ear about Patch's news and the mercenary wishing to help.  After the cat nods, Ann returns to the vixen.  "The sooner you start, the better.  We wish to free the slaves and get any woodlanders and sick or injured vermin slaves to Redwall as soon as possible.  Patch owns the tavern, so you may speak to him there for his information."  A guard comes up and starts to speak to the Head Guard, and so Ann excuses herself.

Blisa straightens to her full height.  "If you are to suggest that we lead an attack on wherever the slavers are coming from -- and we know they come from many directions -- then you overestimate what Ferravale is able to do.  We are not a warfaring village, we can't march out, and we can't police this area.  Rescuing the prisoners of any slavers who pass by, and executing those slavers, is our only available course of action.  Additionally, we are a vermin village.  How can I control such warlike beasts if I don't allow them to fight on occasion?  And who else to let them fight but the enemy of all -- those who enslave others?"

"Now," the cat adds, noticing how angry the nearby villagers have become and so dropping her voice, "I suggest you and your friend leave before any of my villagers become aggressive.  We don't like outsiders telling us what to do -- we've experienced too many conquering warlords for that.  But I also don't want to see you harmed for no reason."  With that and a last glare, she turns and walks to her office to meet with Patch, her bodyguards trailing behind.  The Ferravalians either stand and stare with hostility at the mouse and his friend ferret or disperse to go back to work.  But no one seems eager to hear the plan of the mouse and ferret to be eternally rid of slavers.

"Harm... well, yes. But maybe lay off on putting heads on spikes for now, yeah?" Atticus tilts his head as he comes to a stop nearby (next to the mouse), his mind whirling at the vixen's words. He was not expecting her at all. "You are a skilled fighter I take it. Very skilled, no doubt."

"Forgive my friend and lord Urtas, Chieftainess Wyrmtamer, and please to not assume so much from his clumsy words!" The ferret bows suddenly to both the retreating cat and the villagers gathered round, "He is young and is eager to help where he can. But he only recently has stepped foot in our world, I should say, and he isn't the most sensitive to the way of this land - he does not know it as you so aptly observed, but he is earnest regardless! His father is a merchant - Wulf - and the old mouse is in Halyard as we speak, doing his best to aid that town and repair the strained relationship with the Fire Mountain and Badger lord. The Long Patrol did bring an end to the hare, or so I'm told, so the several lives that were taken were avenged. But perhaps he shouldn't have such special treatment..." The ferret sighs. "Nor should he have been forced to come here to cause all of you harm, as he was. It is a regrettable thing, that Zolomon."

But the cat is gone.

Atticus turns to the beats around him. "So you would agree with her then?" He eyes Snarlfang. "Do you think it's best to let slavers exists and bring harm to others just so the unity of this place is held in? And I shouldn't speak at all about how thin that unity must be that it requires such an evil..." He shakes his head. "But the chieftainess hasn't changed at all it seems." He murmurs quieter, only to the fox and mouse.

Urtas raises a brow. "I... " The young mouse casts his gaze at the ground. "I seemed to have made things worse."

The vixen gives three firm nods to Ann, her faux-cheer perking up as she gets the full idea of what the village has in mind for the filthy collar-obsessed beasts. "Will be speaking whenever Blisa-friend is willing! Blisa, Blisa! Good name for good feline!" Her ears twitch twice, hidden by that almost foppish hat of hers.

When Ann makes her excuses and leaves, the vixen gives an amiable wave and another nod of understanding, keeping Patches in mind for later. For now, though, she ignores the potential strife between Atticus and the locals in favor of answering the beast's question.

She rubs her chin thoughtfully, pausing, and then gives a good tail swishing for dramatic emphasis. Both arms spread wide towards the mouse, and she speaks boldly! "Merciful woodlander has good heart, thinking about lives of even bad, bad beasts like slavers. That mercy will get pretty little face mauled and head on pike instead, this one is thinking. See, slavers not knowing anything like mercy. Are blunt thing. Much like this one! Only understand loud warnings. Head of fellow slavers on pike outside of city is very loud warning, same with killing slavers in general. Many dead slavers, means less slavers, less beasts wanting to become slavers. Very simple, very obvious. Remember, most not very smart! Maybe few good beasts die killing slavers, but that small sacrifice. Especially when good coin gotten in process. Everyone wins!"

Tap tap tap of chin.

"Except slavers, which is point of whole affair!"

"So it would seem." The ferret dryly remarks, allowing himself a small smile. "And it's precisely that risk of getting his face mauled why I'm here to help him." Urtas is quiet with his lips in a thin line.

"My name is Tarn," Atticus offers a paw to the fox. "And the young mouse is the lord Urtas. My plan was not much a mercy for slavers, no... But more a far flung idea. Have you ever worked, friend, as a trainer before? A drill sergeant, to borrow a term from some absurd hares. A beast who can whip a sorry group into something more respectable, let's say."

The fox beams brightly at Tarn, reaching over and patting the beast on the back. Something almost like empathy flashes over her features, before sliding back into that cheerfully psychopathic mask she wears.

"Is hoping Mouse-friend friend is paid well, must be very big job keeping big hearted woodlander head on shoulders! Should ask for more coin, in this one's opinion!"

The resulting pawshake is firm, and with zero shame after trying to increase the other mercenary's paycheck.

"This one has done that before, yes! Has led own company in previous outfit, learned from best, that she did! Drill beasts until tail fall off, but make them into good soldier for hire! Not good at keeping tail on beast though, that much harder, fair trade though this one says!" Nod nod nod.

One more friendly whack on the back, and the vixen is toddling off, clearly not on board with some convoluted scheme.

"Has no doubt plan is very clever. Snarlfang is not clever. Maybe talk with chieftain-beast about very smart plan, come to inn with coin more than Blisa-beast if wanting to get on side, alright? Be having a good one now, alright? Laugh and drink and be merry!"

And then, the vixen is off!

"Coin makes the world go round, even out here." Urtas can't keep the bitterness from his voice.

The ferret though laughs, loudly. "I shall be sure too. And sadly our friend isn't really paid for his work - he gets an allowance. I am though, and quite well, and I can promise anyone who aids us in any way will be paid their due. I might have to speak to the good cat when she's in a better mood, but I'm wary of her, as any sane beast is I should wager. But farewell!" He calls.

When the vixen is out of sight the ferret turns on his heal and hurries the mouse out of town.

I am currently online and will be around for the next few hours