Redwall MUCK Forum

Who:

Markalaway-Undertaker of Ferravale

Vojin-Head Guard of Ferravale

Atticus- A visiting Ferravale

Log:

FV:Tavern
Outside a sign swings on a rusty creaking frame above the doorway of the tavern depicting a faded painting of what appears to be three rather rich looking skeletons slumped over a table around a black chalice, perhaps such a thing could be taken as a warning but it doesn't appear to work on the locals. The noise within on a normal day is usually heard before the door is even opened and only rises in volume when one actually steps inside.
There are the typical qualities of a tavern within, from the bar to the chairs and booths and the odd drunk who never seems to move it's the little details which encourage a patron to pay his tab if he likes his fingers. One look at some of the staff or customers might give the impression but the room is decorated to the fiercer tastes with bones, mostly skulls cropping up here and there to fill a gap on a shelf or decorating the walls above the doorways, fireplace and bar, a pair of axes joining the one over the fire with some signs that they've been yanked off to join in a fight a couple of times. Some of the comfier chairs are lined with fur and very rarely one might be found with a few pointed bits of bone to decorate the back. Despite the looks there is entertainment and fun to be had, some form of music usually played on a small stage in the corner and at least one bouncer usually tries to keep the peace while beasts gamble, drink and be merry.
A small door behind the bar leads out the back to the kitchen and cellars while one wall has been opened up in a wide arch to increase the space off into the next room where what seems to be a wooden fence with gates on either end has been set up as a fighting pit as further entertainment and something to bet over.
Markalaway is in his corner of the tavern, sipping his ale quietly, no one sits by the rat as the two tables on either side of him have no beasts at them at all.

"Eh, what mate?" A ferret mutters, his snout buried in a mug of mead, "Whats up now?" He sets down his mug, looking at what his drinking buddies had reacted to - the rather intimidating rat sitting by himself. "Ohhh. Ooooooh." Atticus says, then downs his drink. "Come on now - y'lot can' not really be scared by a rat, can ya?" He ask the tavern at large. "Somebeast get him a drink!" He adds, with a paw pointing to Markalaway.

Markalaway looks over, it's clear no one wants to go near him, as he finishes a drink he has and just watches beasts nearby him.

Atticus lowers his paw, seeing no one going over to the rat. "Oh, come on now, tha's just rude!" The ferret turns back to the bar. "I'll do it myself then! One dri- Two drinks, for me and 'im." He tosses his head back towards Markalaway. After a moment, drinks in paw, Atticus turns back and makes his way over - stumbling a bit, but catching himself as he does it. "Hullo there, mate!" He says, rather jovially, "'Ow are y'this fine day...?"

Markalaway just looks the ferret up and down before he speaks "I...live" He says simple and plain, he looks to the drinks but he did watch them be poured from where he was and knows who poured them so he trusts the drink, its unclear if he trusts the ferret yet or not.

"Well, isn' that great!" Atticus says, laughing, "I suppose we all live, eh mate?" Here he sets one of the mug down, sitting opposite Markalaway as he does so. He pushes the mug towards the rat. "Here - mead, methinks." He takes a long draft of his on mug, nodding. "Aye! Mead! Some o' th' best!" He smiles, looking a bit red in the cheeks. "So, uhh, what d'ya do 'round here? Can' say I know - new to this place, y'know?"

Markalaway says, "Work in the Graveyard......live in the Graveyard" He says as he sniffs the drink, a small taste before he decides it's fine to drink."Markalaway"

"Markalaway, is it?" The ferret says, "Atticus is my own." Tilting his head to one side, Atticus asks, after a moment or so, "So y'uh, y'deal with the dead...?" The question was said in a far quieter tone than anything else the ferret's said today.

Markalaway nods slowly, what it is his main job and just his looks may be why fear go near him.

Atticus says, "I see..." He laughs again- though it seems nervous now. "Saying y'live is bit funnier now, eh?" He downs his mead, slamming the mug on the table. "Bit morbid, aye, but, uh, funny..."

Markalaway just sips his ale and doesn't speak for a long while, it's clear he doesn't talk very much "Some...beast has to"He says in a deep voice.

Atticus smiles again - but like the laugh, there is a tinge of nervousness to it. "Of course! An' thank y'for it!" He looks around the room, seeing all the other beasts still giving the table a wide berth. "Suppose y'have any hobbies or anything like, mate?" He asks. The ferret seems like he is genuinely trying to be cordial - or at least pleasant to the undertaker.

Markalaway says, "Keep Graveyard...safe and in order."He sips his ale " When needed....keep friends ...safe"

Swallowing, Atticus nods. "Suppose the' counts." A pause. "I guess y'could I've had the same hobby of-" he gestures vaguely with his right paw, "Keeping friends safe, y'know?"

Vojin walks into the tavern, first seeing who is here, speaking with a couple guards and then getting some water as he is still on duty after all.

Markalaway nods, he looks over at Vojin as he enters and then drinks some ale.

Atticus looks as well, but waves to the wildcat. "Hullo there!" He calls, "Why n'grab a drink an' join m'an' this here Markalaway, mate?" Both ferret and rat are still alone in the corner. "Y' happen to know him?" Atticus asks Markalway with a small nod to Vojin, "Because, I uh, don'..."

Vojin walks over and simplely nods to the rat and studies the Ferret "Your new to town. I am Vojin, Head Guard here at Ferravle and you are?" He will wait on a reply and stay standing by the table.

Markalaway frowns as more beasts walk over and sips the last little bit of his Mead quietly, he knows who beasts in town are and it seems the wildcat saved him the trouble of saying a name, to which he seems glad of.

"Atticus! Pleased to meet y'!" The ferret responds to the head guard, still sitting but facing the wildcat. "I am new! Jus' was telling m'mate Markalaway here that." He smiles. "Head guard, eh? Used to guard a traveling..." He pauses, seeming to rethink what he was about to say. "...Merchant, myself!" Another smile.

Vojin arches an eyebrow "Do not give me reason to distrust you sir. I do take making sure the town is safe and...well no power hungry beasts around anyways, a fight here and there happens and expected at times in a vermin village. But some beasts....say slavers are surely kicked out, politely at first of course"

Markalaway just listens, he keeps to himself most of the time but he will help defend the town again takeovers if they ever happen.

Atticus swallows again. "Well...I, uh..." He plays with his empty mug for a bit, then, finally, he looks right at the wildcat. "Good thing I accidentally - well, kind of m'fault - got th' slaver I worked for killed!" He looks down, shifting in his seat. "I jus' was hired t'protect him in some towns - loved betting a bit t'much and had a lo' of debt, y'know?" The ferret gives another nervous smile, accompanied by a shrug. "Really bad a t paying debts back - an', well, y'know..." He laughs, but again it is nervous.

Vojin narrows his eyes "It may be wise to find a better job then, no body guards to slavers...or anyone who works for one as slavers are one thing frowned upon here"

Markalaway just stays quiet, but he is listening even if it doesn't look like it. He also knows what the ferret looks like in case its needed to know later. He slowly stands to get some ale, a few beasts give him a very good clear path.

"Good thing I was jus' looking fo' a job, eh?" Atticus' voice is at a distinctly higher pitch than normal, and it's clear he regrets ever opening his mouth. "Sorry t'say I'd make a poor guard for here -"
He decides finally to just settle with staring at his empty mug and not look at any beast, "- Got m' las employer killed! A, uh, season ago! An' he was the' slaver. He got in debt too! But to th', uh, wrong beasts, y'know!" The ferret clearly does not want to be in the conversation any more.

Vojin says, "Well....I be careful where you say Slaver at and there is jobs open, you may have to ask the chieftain or the tavern owner maybe."

Markalaway soon returns with some ale and sits down quietly, he looks up at the door once or twice

Atticus exclaims, "Right! Noted!" The ferret looks up as the rat sits back down, then turns towards Vojin once again. "You're th' one who said th' word first, mate - An' I'm done with all that, y'know? Bunch of cut-throat thief, them lot of slavers are!"

Vojin nods "Yes...there may be a group around, lets hope your not a friend to them then, as for jobs...there is guards, tavern workers, maybe a healer...could always use a shop keeper or two. May be other jobs I don't know bout...those Mossflower Defenders are looking for beasts ta join, but I am not in charge of them, and their base is outside town, not in here and they for sure do not like slavers"

Markalaway stands "I...need to check on someone....they were to report back and have not yet, Knowing Patch.....he is not doing what he was told" He then walks out without another word, and yes he gets a very wide clear path to the door and once he is gone the tavern is a lot less tense and on edge.

"Y'know, I'd like t'avoid fights now." Atticus seems to have calmed a bit as he says it. "An', uh, bye, Markalaway!" He waves as the undertaker leaves. Glancing at Vojin once again, he asks, "Say, do y'find him as, well, /creepy/ as every one else seems to...?" It's clear his trying to change the subject.

Vojin sits and at first is just quiet till finally " Yes he does...creep beasts out. But he is...mostly harmless"

Markalway meanwhile heads back to his hut....at the end of the path on the other side of the graveyard that one has no choice, they have to go through it to even get to his hut.

***For review read these two logs first as all 3 happen the same day, a day after the Redwall Spring Feast that Happen on May 3nd 2018 ****

http://forum.rwmuck.org/viewtopic.php?id=679

http://forum.rwmuck.org/viewtopic.php?id=682

Log:

DoraRose scowls deeply. "It's almost always time for tea, unless there's a battle..." facing a different direction than the other creatures, she spots the newcomer mere seconds before the Seer does. Her blue eyes narrow dangerously. Brother? She shakes her head slightly and stands, the muscles of her right arm buldging noticibly under her tight sleeves as she lifts Nightsong off of the counter.   

Stepping around the tavern owner, she glares up into the new stoat's face, easing into an at-ready position with grace and subtlety. She is defiant, and free from fear. "Yeah, and she's also very dear to me. I would suggest that you remember THAT for later, too." If he can do subtle threats, then she can, too, so there! "Now who are you? Where did you come from?" (She means in the tavern specifically, but any honest and not-snarky answer will do just fine.) "And what do you want?

He just got threatened by a mouse. He can deal with it.

In an instant, Marek's nervous tone vanishes, and he only calms down, simply pulling up a chair for his brother and sitting down at the opposite side of the table, smirking for a moment before his face turns much more serious. "Mr. Nightbreath, Ms. DoraRose, Patch...you may stay. Everyone else, please leave my tavern immediatly". Knowing how dangerous Marek can be, every beast complies though some take longer than others ("I said NOW!") and then Marek turns to face his brother "Ormaz. It truly has been a long time. Tell me, how did you survive our little fight after those Mossflower beasts helped me escape from The Black Rose. I doubt very much that Quickclaw would have taken the time to interfere on your behalf, and the last I remembered a sizable building had collapsed on top of you. I would be surprised if I hadn't had my fair share of brushes with death in the past myself. But I am curious". He gestures towards Patch. "Bring me another ale, Patch. And one for Ormaz, this ought to be an interesting tale". He eyes his brother with a mix of respect and hatred as he waits patiently for a reponse.

Patch blinks "Youhave a broher? Since when do ya have a brother boss man?Shouldnt I of been told this?". Marek glares at the rat and he decides to stay quiet. Patch just crosses his arms and sits quietly, listening and keeping his mouth shut, which is hard to do for him but he manages...barely.

Nightbreath growls in the back of his throat, considering killing Ormaz here and now. He decides against it however, as he's not sure what the cost will be even if he's successful. Even though it irks him, he decides ultimately to follow Marek's lead on this.

"Oh, that," Ormaz says, flicking a paw in an airy gesture while completely ignoring DoraRose. "I dug my way out using a dagger, tunneling under the rubble that had nearly crushed me to death..." His eyes gleam in the dim light. "When I finally finished digging my way out, you were gone. And so was everybeast else."

DoraRose does not sit. It's, like, the farthest thing from her mind right now 'cause she's being COMPLETELY IGNORED BY THE BEAST  SHE JUST THREATENED. Not cool, man. Not cool at ALL. "Uh, hello," She says, forcing herself to not lose control. Disrespect is no reason to do something stupid. "You do realize not answering questions is, like, super rude, right? At least I now have your name, /Ormaz/. Do you bake cookies for a living or something?" She's ticked off, yo, and when she's ticked off by an enemy, all the snotty snark has the potential to be released!

Marek calmly listens to Ormaz's story. "So why show yourself now? Surely you've kept tabs on me" When DoraRose interrupts he holds up a paw. "The situation is quite sensitive, Ms. DoraRose. Kindly hold your violent outbursts until such time as a conflict actually arises. There is no beast in Mossflower who wants my brother dead more than I, but if he were afraid of death he would not have come here" He smiles once again. "No, you have precautions in place don't you, brother? You know exactly what's going to happen and when it's going to happen. The best I can do is wait until it's my move".

Nightbreath clenches a paw, hidden in the sleeve of his robe. It's rare that a Seer feels powerless, but this is one of those moments--there're too many unknown factors for him to interfere. Too many threads aligning at once...

Ormaz glances to DoraRose as if seeing her for the first time. He raises an eyebrow, saying nothing. He nods politely however at Marek's declaration of wanting him dead, giving an even half-smile as if he were discussing a vaguely interesting topic with a talkative merchant on a lazy summer afternoon. "Aye. The board is set....the pieces move, but faster than you think."

DoraRose literally stutters for a few seconds. "But he's ignoring me! And I'm not being violent! If I was being violent I would've chopped his leg off by now and kneed him in the groin for laughs!" Seriously. She fights dirty when angry. "How is this violent? URGH." She leans against the table, scowling deeply. She /hates/ not being allowed to be snarky. So she probably will again if given the opportunity. "Also, I hate chess. Bleck. Why do beasts insist on using that flipping analogy all the time?" she asks nobody in particular. SHE WILL NOT BE SILENT. NO ONE CAN MAKE HER.

Marek nods. "Indeed, we shall see how this goes". He takes a long drink from his ale. "Will you indulge us by telling me why you took so long to make your apperance, or shall I have to figure that out on my own. No doubt it was you who ordered beasts to poison me, in Redwall no less. A bold move. And the beasts that attacked Ms. Angela and I when I returned to Mossflower several months ago?. This is quite the long game you've played brother, but why wait so long to make your first moves?"

Nightbreath watches the tension at play between the two brothers. He maintains an almost emotionless expression, even though his soul is burning with the instinctual desire to take out Ormaz. He's starting to see, as the two stoats verbally duel, just how things might get in the future.

Ormaz glares at DoraRose during her outburst, and for a moment, cracks appear in the apparently calm exterior he's presenting. A hint of raw, cruel, animalistic fury flashes across his face, and then, like the fading shadow of a cloud passing over a field, it's gone. He returns his attention to Marek, perfectly composed and civil...or so it seems. "Let's just say I like to be certain of my work."

DoraRose raises an eyebrow at the stoat's slight cracking. She looks defiantly into his eyes until he looks away, then (probably much to the tavern owner's relief) stays quiet and listens. She still would like an answer to how she was being violent earlier, but that can wait until this is over. She goes behind the bar, gets some tea, returns, pulls out a chair, and sits, resting her axe on her lap and sipping her drink. See, it's almost always time for tea!

Marek puts down his drink and signals for Patch to take it atway. "A wise strategy, I suppose I'll say have to wait and see what will come of it". He simply walks back to the bar. "I'll be watching, little brother. With great interest"

"Indeed...brother," Ormaz says with a slightly mocking smirk on his face. "And I shall come from wherever you aren't looking, naturally," he adds in a low voice. "Speaking of which..." He extends a paw suddenly, and tosses something towards the cluster of lanterns and candles haphazardly arranged around the middle of the room, which up to now had done little to fight back the onset of night outside. Then, without warning, the flames flare up, white hot, bright enough to temporarily blind anybeast whose eyes were open. This includes Nightbreath, who despite being unable to see in the immediate aftermath of the flare-up, manages to vault over the bar towards where Ormaz had been, reaching out with his paws poised to pin down...nothing. Ormaz is long gone by the time he rubs the searing afterimages from his own eyes--the stoat planned his exit well.

"GAH!" Dora's left paw, which had just set her tea on the table, jerks up to cover her eyes as she stands, raising her axe with her right. As her vision clears she starts muttering under her breath. Because of course the enemy got away successfully. Turning, she glares balefully at the tavern owner. "That maniac is as dangerous as Stormfeather. I'm going to go check on my daughter, Marek, and then you and I....we're going to have a /chat/, and you had /better/give me some answers. Now if you'll excuse me," she grumbles as she storms out. She now doesn't want to leave her daughter without her protection outside the Abbey, not with some lunatic running around loose. The world has suddenly gotten a whole lot more dangerous, and the Warrior doesn't like it. Not one little bit...

Marek is momentarily shellshocked by the explosion of light, when everything settles Ormaz is gone and DoraRose leaves quickly thereafter leaving only Marek, Nightbreath and Patch in the eerily silent tavern. "So, my brother has returned. Well, if I it's a game of chess he wants, it's a game of chess he shall get". Turning to Nightbreath he says nothing for a brief moment and then smiles coldly. "And all of my pieces are queens"

**Redwall Abbey Graveyard **

whom:
Marek- Ambassador of Ferravale and Ferravale Tavern Owner

Dorarose- Gatekeeper of Redwall

Log:

Marek sits quietly in the abbey graveyard in a mixture of meditation and solemn silence. Before him is a small gravestone, well kept and well remembered. It reads ==Here lies Maxtor, adopted son of Oz==. For a moment he says nothing but looks down in regret, after some time he finally places a paw on the stone. "So here we are again, young mouse. Your family did so much for me and yet I spat on their kindness by cutting an innocent life short". He frowns as he stands, turning to look around the graveyard proper. "So many souls are this place because of me...." He stops mid-sentence and simply stands to leave. "Perhaps another time, child. This place is a burden I can only bear for a short time"

The breeze gently rustles the leaves that are starting to sprout on the trees as a mouse comes into the graveyard. It's the Gatekeeper, DoraRose. She's wearing a yellow dress and carrying a basket under her arm. She is watching where she walks for the most part, but now she glances up and spots the stoat. "Oh, Marek," She says softly, smiling. "So this is where you went. Lily was asking. She's busy with some chores right now." She heads to a grave, whose headstone says ==Leon==. Pulling a bundle of flowers from her basket, she kneels and starts tying the flowers to the headstone with some twine.

Marek notices the intrusion of DoraRose having entered the same section of the graveyard as himself. "Hello, Ms. Dorarose. Yes, I feel it necessary to visit this place when I come to the abbey. It is the closest thing to penance I can find. This place holds ally, friend, foe and vict-"  He frowns slightly. "And the innocent. I came to this place with malice on two occasions and put so many beasts to the sword. And yet this place is also home to old friends who died better beasts than I can hope to be". He gestures towards a few stones nearby. "Take Mr. Leon for example, and Mr. Zork. I saw them from the eyes of both a hated foe and a treasured friend. It is to these two that I owe the ability to stand here pondering my past and pondering my future". He sighs. "This place holds more than just heroes, it holds a constant reminder of my past, Ms. DoraRose. I have a connection be it friend or foe to more beasts in this place then I wish to admit. I have lived a very long and very tragic life, Ms. DoraRose. How does a beast carry so much death on his shoulders? How do I carry so much weight and find the strength to go on? And yet here I am, as penance Penance for the countless crimes I want to forget but can't, Penance for not being there to save those that mattered. Your husband was a hero, Ms. DoraRose. But what am I?" He places a paw on the stone once again. "What am I but a beast lost in the shadow of his past hoping to find his place. I'm still looking Ms. DoraRose. I'm looking but I haven't found it. Or perhaps it hasn't found me? For now all I can do is keep looking for the answer"

DoraRose has finished tying the knot and rocks back on her heels. "Every beast makes mistakes, Marek,"
She says quietly, gaze fixed upon the place where her husband lies. "Lily adores you. You're one of her best friends. And while I have been more than hesitant to accept that, I do now. You have earned trust, at least from some. Perhaps the strength you need isn't to come to you from within, but rather from without.....from your friends." She sits on the grass, crosses her legs, and pulls a knitting project out of her basket. Her sleeves are long and loose. To beasts who don't know her very well, she looks just like any regular mouse wife. Hardly the Warrior she truly is. Her needles click together gently as she begins to work on the row she's on.

Marek sighs. "Perhaps you a right. But my past is a lot to answer for. Perhaps one day I will tell you more, but for now I'll simply ask about things more recent" The entire time he has not taken his paw off of Maxtor's stone. "This young mouse had potential, from what I have heard. He was a great warrior with a unique fighting style. He was as brilliant with a quarterstaff as any beast was with a sword and when your abbey was under threat by the likes of Bloodclaw he stood up along with so many others in this place, even with the likes of Mr. Flicktail and Mr. Oak to stop the menace. He overcame a paw damaged from a fire that consumed his village, he overcame harsh weather to journey to Redwall and had Mr. Oz not followed him, who knows what great evil might have befallen this land? He had so much in store for him, he only wanted to see his foster father and I cut his life short with a crossbow. His family has done so much for me in the pas- that is to say that they've done so much for me since I turned awayfrom that darkness and Mr. Oz has even forgiven my transgression. But I can't find it easy to forgive myself, Ms. DoraRose for the grief I have caused the Winters Family in particular. That is just a small portion of my past, Ms. DoraRose for the rest would take far too much time than we have to discuss. In the end, I can only hope the good outweighs the wrongs I have done"

DoraRose glances at the stoat, then pauses in her knitting long enough to pat the ground beside her. "Sit down, Marek." She continues to work on her project, obviously expecting the stoat to obey. She stitches for a while in silence before she speaks. "Why can you not forgive Oz's forgiveness? Can you accept mine?" She's gonna get to the root of the issue, so there!

Marek bows his head. "Perhaps, Ms. DoraRose. I am unsure" he gathers his things to exit the graveyard and return to Ferravale. "This is not the place to discuss my past, Ms. DoraRose. If you have the time please come see me at the tavern. It's time I told some beast about my past, and perhaps you the one that it is best to do so with". Silently Marek leaves the graveyard leaving a single mint leaf on Leon's stone but saying nothing else, clearly his past pains him and he wishes to say more but feels it must be in the less solemn place.

"Alright, Marek. When you're ready." DoraRose watches him lay down the mint leaf, then listens to him go. She sighs. She hadn't been planning on leaving Redwall for a while, but now he piqued her curiosity. She feels REQUIRED to go now, y'know? She lifts the mint leaf, sniffs it, then tucks it into the twine she tied her flowers onto the headstone with. After putting her knitting back into the basket, she stands, groaning slightly. "I'm getting too old to do that," she mutters, then picks up the basket and goes to find her daughter. Maybe the 2 of them can make a day trip of it.....maybe even escort Blisa back to the village. Yeah. That sounds like a good plan....

I felt like it would be good to do a little worldbuilding. I made this Facebook Profile for Marek based on how old he would actually be in human terms.

Marek Redthorn
Gender: Male
Relationship Status: Widower
Birthdate: Dec. 14th, 1941
Lives in: Ferravale, Mossflower
From: Send Valley, Northlands
Occupation: Owner at Ferravale Tavern (since 2015)
Ambassador of Ferravale (since 2017)

The rest of Marek's Facebook page is left intentionally blank.

Other Info about Marek for RP purposes
1. Marek likes his coffee black, he also brews his own. Although he prefers Tea
2. Marek dislikes Starbucks but is thankful that it keeps the younger generation out of his tavern
3. Marek has a Laptop with Wifi and enjoys Netflix and Candy Crush. He doesn't however have a Smartphone, he prefers older technology over new.
4. Marek has a Neopets account which has been slowly rebuilding in recent years after his last account was frozen due to his previous criminal activities of which he was pardoned by both Scioto and Lorimis.
5. Marek became a Brony after he started watching My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic with Lilymoore. His favorite pony is Rarity because she is polite and orderly like him. He also likes Twilight for much of the same reason.
6. Pokemon Go is strictly prohibited on the grounds of the Ferravale Tavern.