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The snow fell in sheets outside as Soot Winters began to heat up the fires of his forge. He wiped the sweat from his brow as he sighed heavily.

"I have to apologize, Mr. Mayor" the old badger said, turning towards a similarly aged hare in spectacles. "In my youth I would have finished the new cemetery gates a tenday sooner" he chuckles slightly. "At this rate, it will take two more. But I will sooner be a resident myself than put down this hammer for good"

"By all means take your time, Soot" The mayor smiled. "Your work is legendary and I'm sure Markalaway can wait a few more weeks if it means better quality"

"Thank you, mayor" Soot smiled as he continued away. "If I could just get my nephews in here things would get done a lot quicker. But I'm not going to stop the lads from starting their own families"

"The young will be young" The mayor agreed. "I hear Powell and Kate are going to have their first child. It should be a happy occasion for your family after what happened to Mason"

Soot nodded as he stopped his work for a minute and frowned. "The winter can be harsh, but Paige and Hyde are growing into fine young'ns and that's all that matters. In any case tell Markalaway I will have the cemetery gates ready for him in three weeks time"

"Of course" The mayor said, a bit uneasily as Soot returned to his forge. "I will certainly speak with...err, speak with Markalway on that matter".

The conversation however was cut short as Silverfangs burst into the forge, out of breath and with noticeably bruises on his legs from his journey, as the young fox collapsed to the floor of the forge it immediatly caught the attention of the two elders.

Turning to face the unexpected visitor, Soot raised an eyebrow and stepped down from the forge. "Your that Silverfang's boy, aren't you? What are earth are you doing so far from your tribe?"

"W-water" Silverfangs gasped. "Can't...speak....water"

Soot walked over and began checking the wolf's vital signs, after discerning that he was okay he turned back towards the mayor. "What are you waiting for? Get the lad some water!"

The Mayor nodded as he rushed to a nearby pail of water and offered it to Silverfangs, after a few minutes of drinking the water, Silverfangs finally stood to face the two elders and cleared his throat.

"Mr. Mayor, Mr. Soot" Silverfangs quickly responded. "The valley is in danger! A small horde of vermin, about 20 in number are planning to enslave us. And they are being led by two wolverines!"

The Mayor and Soot exchanged looks of concern as they helped Silverfangs into a chair, after a moment to make sure that the wolf was still okay, Soot gathered his coat and made for the door. "I'll have to speak with my nephews about this, they'll need to know. Mr. Mayor I'll need you to gather every able bodied beast you can find. We're in for a rough battle"

"Of course" The Mayor agreed. "I'll make sure to gather the valley's best"

"You do that" Soot nodded as he fetched a 2nd coat for Silverfangs. "You'll need this, boy. We've got to tell my nephews about this danger before it's too late"

"I couldn't agree more" Silverfangs said as the two journeyed back into the blistering cold. "Let us hope that the winter hasn't been too hard on Powell and Zee"

So that was the first official chapter of The Redthorn Tale. Stay tuned for more as next chapter we gather Powell and Zee for the battle against the dreaded Kerza.

The Redthorn Tale
Prologue: Darkness Falls
Hello everyone, Marek here. I've thought about it for a long time and realized that I've never really revealed much about Marek's backstory. Now It will be a long time before Marek is willing to give out these details himself, but here is that story. It all began long ago in the snow-capped mountains of Send Valley where a terrible menace was battled back by two warriors of black and white.

    The sun set on another night in Send Valley, but all was not well. Something was amiss and none could sense it more than the sage clan of wolves that lived just beyond it's borders. As the fierce winds blew into another harsh winter, Silverfangs stared deep into the fire in search of answers,  but he needed not to search very long for a patrol had returned with very dire news indeed.

    “Chieftain” the leader of the patrol spoke nervously. “It is as you feared. Our patrol has discovered a horde of beasts camped near the village. We overheard them discussing plans to enslave the valley”

    Silverfangs looked up calmly, trying to maintain the stoic nature that was required of his new position, his face sporting the lines of a wolf far older than the chieftain who just three short seasons ago had come of age. “How many are their numbers?”

    “Roughly twenty large vermin beasts” the scout continued, his voice shaking with noticeable fear. “And they appear to be led by two very large beasts, with sharp teeth and mammoth sized paws”

    Silverfangs tried to remain calm, but his voice betrayed a hint of terror as he stood up to face the entire clan. “My brethren of the Tribe of Flowing Stream; my greatest fears have come true. Our valley is besieged by a score of vile beasts who wish to rob us of our freedom. Their numbers are being led by two creatures of terrifying power: Wolverines. Our most skilled warriors will remain behind to defend your homes and lives. I will make the journey to the valley myself to warn our neighbors that they must gather whatever warriors they have to combat this threat. For if Send Valley falls, then our clan will shortly fall as well, and if we allow these savages to take the north they will grow in number, marching further south until everything and everybeast has been enslaved. We must not let this happen, my brothers. If I do not return in 3 days, send a patrol to the valley to find me. I will see you again soon”

(Meanwhile at the Horde Encampment)

    Zurrg sat in his tent, throwing knifes at targets as he picked his teeth with the bone of a recently deceased fox. The fox had insulted his battle prowess and challenged Zurrg to a duel and though the young wolverine was only five seasons, he easily humiliated the fox in battled and skewered him on a broadsword. Zurrg smiled, remembering the beast's pleas for mercy as he was roasted alive; as it turned out, fox tasted delicious. Now however, Zurrg was thinking of other matters. It was time to prove himself to his father, if he could help bring this pathetic valley to it's knees then perhaps he would be properly rewarded with slaves at this beck and call instead of the pitiful rank of just another soldier in his father's pathetically small army. The thought of being his father's pawn for the rest of his life made him vomit to the core, as he threw his next knife with such force that the target board shattered into unrecognizable bits.

    Filled with burning hatred for these mewling cowards, Zurrg screamed in frustration as he shattered the rest of the boards as well. “They will ALL bow before me! Zurrgg will be supreme! I will...”.

    Zurrg's words were cut off by the vicious growl of his father, as a massive shadow loomed over the tent and Zurrg felt an overwhelming presence cast over him. Though Zurrg was massive in size, Kerza dwarfed him in comparison. “Father I'm....” his words were cut off as his felt a crushing grip wrap around his throat with a vice that threatened to cleave his head from his body with likely very little effort on the elder wolverine's part.

    “Let me make one thing clear, boy” Kerza spat with digust and rage. “I will be the only one reigning supreme. You are lucky enough to sit by my eat my food. You are a parasite, and you will always be a parasite. You are not fit to lead and if you weren't my own flesh and blood I would grind you into mush where you stand”. With one last forceful gesture on Zurrg's windpipe, Kerza threw his son into a nearby table  and spat in his face. “You will NOT attempt to assert yourself again, and you will NOT take it upon yourself to dwindle our numbers to defend your pathetic pride. You are my son and you will act like it, do you understand?”

    Zurrg merely nodded. “Thank you for this lesson, father. I believe I understand.

    “Good” Kerza smiled as he rose to his feet to address his troops. “Then we can begin...”

Hopefully I will have another chapter up next week. I will be very busy with house cleaning and work so I don't know how often I will update this story. Expect a long story though as this will take some time to tell. I hope you enjoy and I'll see you next week.

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.

It was a normal cold snowy day in Ferravale and the tavern was busy like it always was this time of the day, the lunch hour and there was always some disagreement or fight that was usually taken to the fight pit, but not today.

Patch was watching a fight in the fight pit, a tall ferret and a rat were giving each other black eyes. Patch grinned when the rat again won and he collected any winnings he earned and chuckles “This has been a rather profit filled day!”

“Perhaps you should stop Mr. Patch or it is going to look as if you are up to something as you have won the last 12 fight bets…are you up to something?” It was Marek as he walked up behind Patch and waited on a reply.

Meanwhile two rats were arguing with a wildcat at a table close by. The two rats got up and started fighting as the wildcat rolled her eyes “Really…look I don’t care who ate the last scone you best not draw attention to us or I may just have to stab something and that something will be one or both of you.”

Patch frowned and slowly turned around “Marek….not seen you in a while, how ya been my friend and…well sure I can stop and I am up to nothing just a round of good luck is all.” He grinned but then seemed to think, maybe he should stop as he was lucky, maybe too lucky and he could lose all his new found gold “How about an ale for ya friend, your buddy Patch..what ya say boss man?”

Marek glanced over at the two rats fighting “Take it to the fighting pit you two, I rather not have any broken tables or mugs today.”

The first rat shoved the other into the table, luckily it didn’t break but the three mugs and plates broke all over the floor as they slid off the table. The wildcat quickly stood up as the fur on her tail puffed out a little and she let out a hiss as hot tea spilled all over her leg, she would be fine and could easily get a healer to look at it once she was elsewhere but here. Then both rats fell to the floor and rolled around punching each other in the face, each slowly getting a black eye and one spit out a bloody tooth.

Patch watched with interest and grinned “Who will win, let us…..”Then he stopped “Oh never mind….”He muttered as he decided not to play fate, he would keep the gold he earned and put some away and then maybe bet on some fights later.

Marek groaned and then reaching down with his good paw, went to grab one rat by the scuff of the neck, “Enough!” He sent the other rat a death glare. “This is my tavern and I had told you to stop and you choose not to, so now you will pay for the broken  mugs and plates and exit my tavern, if I see your face again you won’t like the results of your actions of coming back after being told not to.” The look on his face showed he was serious.

The wildcat smoothed out her tail and cleared her throat “Loosefur….Toadstool…let’s go we are LEAVEING” The two rats looked at the stoat and then the wildcat who looked to be their boss maybe, “Yes Boss…”Yep their boss, but boss of what. The wildcat looked at Marek “I will take them now, and who are you by the way “Curious as he just seemed…familiar to her.

Patch got some ale and a bowl of mixed nuts and sat down to watch what happen next, he studied the wildcat closer and decided to keep an eye on her in case he seen her or her rat friends again. He always tried to keep up to date on what was happening in Mossflower and things had been a little too quiet for his likening lately.

Marek replied” Marek Redthorn…Ambassador of Ferravale and owner of the Tavern here. Chieftain Blisa is in charge of Ferravale, but I am in charge of this Tavern so it may be wise for you to take your rats and leave and a word of advice, if you’re looking to start trouble know this, Chieftain Blisa doesn’t take kindly to trouble making beasts and neither do I, yes I may of laid aside my weapons but it doesn’t mean I will let anything happen to my tavern, to my village or to Mossflower. I know beasts…a lot of beasts, some dislike me that is true but I have a lot of respect, now kindly escort the wildcat and her two rats out” He nods to a tall fox who seems more than willing to throw the wildcat and rats out of they don’t start heading to the doorway soon.

The wildcat wags her tail “Well…normally I dislike what I see as orders from anybeast, but I will exit your precious tavern today.” She gives the two rats a walk to the door or die look and they quickly go to the door, she shoves the fox aside “I can walk myself out thank you very much” She walks to the door and on outside, along with the two rats.

Patch drank down a 3nd ale and reached into the….oh the bowl is empty now, he pushes it side and starts to walk to the door.

Marek stops him “First Mr. Patch…pay for your snack, two clean up the mess and three keep an eye out for those three and if you see them around again, anywhere around, report to me”

Patch sighs as he is stopped and nods “Right boss man…” He pays for his snack and gets to cleaning up the mess, he does some dishes and then heads off….finally some spy work!!

===Elsewhere in a hidden base somewhere in the woods==

Meanwhile the wildcat and her two rats have made it to some sort of base, inside the base is a large room. “What was THAT about you FOOLS! We were supposed to have a quiet lunch and you draw attention to use.”

“It was Loosefur’s fault”

“No it wasn’t it was yours and if you didn’t eat the last scone that Marek Redthorn wouldn’t of been oh like…my tavern…my village blah blah blahh….”

“WHAT WAS THAT NAME AGAIN!” A cold voice sounded off from a very dark corner of the room, not that the figure could be seen but he sat in a chair, his voice cold and icy. One would faint in fear if they looked upon the figure. It was male and that was all that could be figured out, not a species but they did seem tall as a furred paw motioned for the rats to come closer to him.

The wildcat gulped and quickly kneeled “S..Sir….”

The two rats shivered and got closer…”His..his name was Marek…Marek Redthorn or least that is what he said.”

“Yes” The other rat said “Ambassador of Ferravale and owner of their tavern, I don’t think he is anything to worry about he didn’t even have any weapons on him and he is missing a paw.”

The other rat suddenly paled, if that was possible “Wait a minute….Toadstool wasn’t that the name of that stoat that was with the really old mouse maid like south of the abbey…”

Loosefur nodded “Oh yeah…we were supposed to…..”

"Dead...taken care of. Marek Redthorn is feeding the worms...Dead as a doornail, isn't that what I was told?" The voice is...beyound peeved.." Taking a nap in the dark forest now, yep no longer a concern! Yes I remember when I asked and that was your reply...EXPLAIN!"

The two rats gulp. They look at one another and suddenly both turn and go to bolt as fast as they can.

Only they don’t make it more than a couple feet as to daggers, one for each run fly into their backs and they fall over dead.” Craygar!”

A tall and deadly looking monitor came out of the hallway and into the room, he looked at the two dead rats but keep his calm as he kneeled before the hidden figure.

“We correct this. Marek Redthorn is alive….ALIVE! This is a problem and WILL be corrected soon. No mess ups this time.” A cold laugh “I will make sure of it if need be……this will be fixed, we still have time. Then my plans can go on, just as I planned. Yes things are going nicely and WILL remain going along nicely….your all excused.”

***This isn’t Redwall Related but you can get a feeling how peeved off the hidden figure is, this scene doesn’t go quite like this one, but same idea…two henchmen, was to kill someone and sort of failed…badly    
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pPAd_Z8DfgA

*******

My Dad passed away this morning at about 2:30 we're all heartbroken, I don't know how else to say it. Thank you for all the support you've given over these last five months, I'm sure he would've appreciated it.

That being said I am taking some time off. I need the time off and wont be role playing for a few weeks, 3-4 maybe...not sure. I will connect my characters every couple weeks to check page mails, avoid pwipes, but not to role play.

No worries I am not leaving the muck, just during this sad and upsetting time I cant focus on role play.

The only TP right now is the Willowbark one and it will still go on, just their arrival may be delayed a little. Mainly Rupert is there for recording and history purposes and he is the main one Marek;s contact will talk to, and the only way the group can get the travel there and later back to Mossflower. So ICLY they won;t be getting to the island the last couple weeks in December....maybe 2nd or 3nd week in January.

I am unsure what to say happens, they maybe get off course a week or so some how..storm maybe, don't know.As said the role play can still go on, I just won't be on to join you most likely.

Icly as follows for my characters :

Marek-still tavern owner and ambassador of Ferravale

Silverwing- still flying around and being a messenger for Mossflower Defenders and maybe can get Messages to and from Willowbark grouo too

Rupert- Being with Willowbark Group

Markalway-Still in Ferravale doing what he does

Zee and Zork...being OOC as always

That is all.