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SCENE:  Ferravale Town Centre

LOG:
It's a breezy, mild mid-Autumn day in Ferravale. Almost all of the citizens have taken the day off to attend the trial of Zolomon the hare. Most are armed with the weapons they own, although some don't have weapons and so brought the implements of their trade: pitchforks, hammers, and scythes are visible. A couple vermin aren't armed. The gallows have been equipped with fresh ropes recently, and the Executioner is tending to a blazing fire nearby. 
A podium has been set up at the base of the steps leading to the Town Hall. Town guards are arrayed behind it and around the clearing they've made that keeps the crowds at a respectable distance.
A squad of 4 guards have been assigned to the Redwallers, and they pass quarterstaffs to the Abbot and Badger Mother when they exit where they've been. The guards ensure that Elbio and the Champion have weapons, then surround them as they escort them to the clearing in front of the podium. They pass through the crowd with no fuss, although the woodlanders get many glares and fearful glances from the vermin they pass.
A score of guards go to lead Zolomon out of the Town Hall. The Redwallers will be able to see that the hare is gagged and bound in heavy chains. The crowd starts booing, jeering, jabbing their weapons and implements in the air, and calling for various punishments for the hare as he's led to stand in the clearing directly in front of the podium. The guards look grim as they make sure the crowd stays back. The crowd is calmish...for now.

Zolomon doesn't really fight the guards, he did ealier and said some..very rude words, loud rude words and now he just lets himself be lead to the town center and looks up slightly,he snorts slightly and takes a short glace around.
Also here is of course, Patch as he seems very intrested nd he is collecting bets on what willl happen to the hare, anywhere from snake food to hanged, one even seems to want him chopped into tiny bits .The rat smirks"Oh feed to snake covered in cheese....oh that would be great...yeah yeah give me ya gold.." 

Krisha is only here cause she was asked to be here. She is a bit moody so no one goes near her or else they get a glare and who ever it is quickly steps back. She looks over at Zolomon when he is brought into the square.

The Abbot has the silver birch staff of the Office of the Abbot, it's single silver bell chiming gently as he walks.
Matilda is walking along by his side, the sword of Martin sheathed at her side, one paw resting on it lightly as she looks at the mood of the villagers.
When they bring out Zolomon the champion keeps her face clear, she has already had a long conversation with the Abbot and Benar spoke to Blisa earlier. He's made it clear the abbey cannot and will not try to over-rule Ferravale justice. Zolomon broke the law here in Ferravale, worse he did a murder. The Abbey has history of exiling people for less then murder and if it was left to the Abbot he would banish Zolomon to the north.
However it is Blisa's job to declare justice, to hold the trial, he is here to witness but he will not breach the terms of the treaty nor will the Abbey Council.

Rupert sits in a chair, quill pen on paw and writes down details as they happen. A weasel looks over his shoulder, to which the rabbit speaks." Personal space...thannk you."

Elbio does have his saber ,but its still at his side and he stays close to the Abbot and the Badger Mother while he is here.

A guard leans over and whispers to Rupert that the Chieftain requests he moves his chair to right beside the podium. The guard will then help the rabbit as much as he needs. Patch is getting lots of bets, as well as lots of disapproving mutters. Betting on the hare's fate? RUDE. The 4 Redwallers are surrounded by their 4 guards, even though they're in the clearing with more guards between them and the crowd. Seems the Chieftain is taking no chances.
Speaking of whom, there she is! Blisa exits the Town Hall, all of her bodyguards and the Head Guard, Ann, flanking her. The petite cat approaches the podium and leans on it slightly, her fierce green eyes glaring at the crowd until they quiet down (which happens pretty quickly -- no one actually wants to be snake food). Ann steps forward and unrolls a scroll. Her voice as she reads the scroll echoes around the town centre.
"Zolomon of Redwall, formerly of the Long Patrol, you stand trial for terrorizing innocent travelers on the road, endangering a Dibbun, threatening the creatures of Ferravale, breaking the treaty of peace between Redwall and Ferravale, and murdering an unarmed otter within our walls. You will be allowed to speak for yourself after the Chieftain has pronounced your sentence. You are to understand that the punishment for breaching the treaty is banishment, and murder is punishable by death. It is only by Blisa's mercy that you are still alive today."
Ann steps back, and Blisa stares long and hard at Zolomon before saying, "Is Krisha, Badger Mother of Redwall, here with us today? If so, please step forward and tell us all what you witnessed when Zolomon killed the otter Errapel."

Zolomon listens to what all he is accused of , most he seems to just ignore, he keeps an eye on the crowd and seems glad the two guards are with him right now, but if needed he will fight but for now,well, he just stays calmish and listens.
Patch grins and looks up to watch"This is gonna be intresting, it's usually dull around here."

Krisha takes a deep breath to calm herself and still refushes to look at Zolomon,she did look at him briefly but that was all. A small frown as she dislikes some of the stares but finally speaks."Yes...I was there, as was the hare maid Vonda but she left..where I didn't ask her." She stops a morment and goes on " Errpeal was trying to help Zolomon,telling him he should rethink what he was doing and Zolomon told him to shut up."She takes a another calming breath,clearly hateing to remember seeing what happen next."What happen next...it happen so fast,I dont know what else Errpeal said but...Zolomon managed to slam the old otter into the stone wall,twice and Vonda confimed Errepeal was dead, I took his paulse too...he was dead.I know a..lot of guards came in and took Zolomon elsewhere,I dont know what happen aftter that I left."

Benar remains quiet, remaining by the side of Blisa and the Podium, he is frowning down at Zolomon and as he listens to the charges he sighs and shakes his head but otherwise remains silent, it is not his place to speak.
Matilda seems unhappy in and of herself, glaring down at Zolomon, hands gripping the hilt of the sword, if she had her way he'd probably be dead already, the hedgehog is really, really angry.

Rupert writes down all that is said, after he moves aside for the chifetain.A frown forms a couple times on his face...the rabbit really should get out and about more than he does. But he been busy researching history and such of this land and other lands.

Elbio shakes his head, he had just started to trust Zolomon and forgive him, then Zolomon does this....respect and trust seriously lost now.He is here to see what happens and give news elsewhere...oh yes that should be tons of fun.   

Blisa listens stonefaced to Krisha's witness. Some creatures in the crowd start to cry, but most of them stay silent, glaring at Zolomon. The Chieftain leans over the podium, her jade gaze shifting from the accused to the crowd. "What do we do to murderers?"
"Feed him to the snake!" Somebeast shouts out from the crowd, and is quickly followed by more answers. "Hang him!" "Burn him at the stake!" "Behead him!" "Dismember him!" "Feed him to the pikes in the river!" And more, some of them much more morbid and bloody than others. Blisa lets the crowd shout out some of its angry energy, then holds a paw up. The crowd eventually quiets down.
The Chieftain nods. "Aye, those and more are what we do to murderers, same as we do to slavers! Zolomon deserves to be hanged--" she is cut off by a hissing from one of the street windows of her house. Basil the snake has been quietly nudging the window open a crack so he can voice his opinion. "Sssss, hare would tasssste good with /cheessssse/..."
The crowd shifts slightly. Oh, yeah, that snake is real. Right. They knew that. A couple guards slam the window shut from the outside, muffling the whiptail snake's offended cries. Blisa's smile is a little crazy, to be honest. "Or fed to Basilisk. Yes, Zolomon should be executed. But we have the peace treaty with Redwall to think about, not to mention Salamandastron. I'm not sure the Long Patrol would be pleased to hear that we had executed one of their own, even if he was a murderer."

Zolomon one ear droops a little but he is still unable to speak just yet as he looks around more now.Patch menwhile sighs and then "Wait he is no longer in de Long patrol...."

Elbio listens as all is said, it's unclear of his mood right now or his feelings on weather Zolomon dies or not. He will stay and listen and make sure to write all this down.He will even double check with the Recorder here in case he missed a detail, his plan to give a report to the abbey Recorder as well if needed, before taking a unpalned trip to the Western Shore..a surprise visit in fact.

Benar steps forward, "I cannot condone execution, it stands against all that the charter of Peace that is the corner stone of the order of Redwall Abbey stands for," he looks down at Zolomon, "But peace is at the heart of who and what we are."
He pulls out a rather official looking scroll and unfurls it, "I... Benar, Abbot of the Order, counter-signed by the Council and the Champion do hereby revoke from the hare Zolomon the hospitality of Redwall... furthermore, in accordance with the ancient laws of Mossflower, held in trust by the Abbot of Redwall as granted to Abbess Germaine by Bella, Last lady of Brockhall, and in accordance with the actions of Martin the Warrior after the defeat of the forces of Kotir, would reccomend banishment from Mossflower, to never again step foot within the bounds of our country from the Western Slopes of Mount Bat-pit the the Eastern edges of the Forest and send him to the furthest north."
He lowers the scroll, "That is the fate that would await him if you return him to our custody Chieftan Blisa, not that the abbey makes any request to do so. He has broken your laws, he has committed many crimes but the worst to take the life of an innocent, we make no claim on his fate or justice, but I wanted you to know what our decision would be if we were force to conduct this trial."
The abbot then stepped back and murmured, "I would not suggest feeding him to the snake however... this would probably make the Badger lord act irrationally."

Some of the crowd start to protest when the Abbot interrupts, but they're quickly shushed as the squirrel continues to speak. There's a slightly awed silence -- the only other creature they remember being banished from Redwall like that is Marek.
Blisa flicks an ear to the Abbot as he murmurs to her, and gives him a quick wink. She then turns back to the crowd, gesturing at the Redwallers. "Even they have banished him -- to the Northlands, no less! Even though they have done this, we can not breach our treaty of peace. And as I said, we do not wish to anger Salamandastron. They are strong, and famed throughout the land for their unjust hatred of us." (She obviously means vermin in general.)
The crowd murmurs in agreement. The Chieftain points at the hare. "You will not be executed this day. You are, however, fully and completely banished from this area. My guards have standing orders to kill you on sight should you return, and if any of my villagers meet you anywhere, they will be rewarded for slaying you."
The Executioner goes to grab the hare and pull him to the bonfire as the cat continues to speak. "But we have a permanent punishment to give you, Zolomon, one that you will carry the rest of your days." Here by the fire are plenty of implements for chopping off paws. The Executioner lets the hare take a good long look at it all.

Krisha has not said any other words.She lets Benar speak and stays where she is for now.She looks up as as the one vermin starts to drag Zolomon off...she watches to see what happens.

Benar closes his eyes and sighs, mutilation isn't great... but he has an abbey full of innocent, peaceful people to protect and a very angry Champion to keep calm. He places a hand on her arm before she can offer to chop his paw off herself.
She does however speak loudly and slowly, "In the days of old Martin declared all those who attack the abbey should be banished. Never return... or the sword of Martin will mete out justice."
Benar sighs sadly and rings the bell on his staff, "The Abbey stands by our peace agreement with Ferravale, whilst we have ruled judgement in our own way. It is up for Ferravale and the Chief to decide this hares final fate... we make no claims on him."

Zolomon snorts , he listens but when he is grabed he does start to panic a bit, ait were they going agaist the chieftain now.He mutters something, stupid gag is still on him.He looks at all the....yeah not pleasent to see or hear, he looks briefly at the Abbot, champion and Badger Mother...great they are not gonna help him,what ever happens next he is not likely gonna like it.

The Executioner nods, and 4 guards come up and go to grab Zolomon by each of his limbs. The Executioner pulls a branding rod with a white-hot M at the end out of the fire and goes to firmly grab the hare's ear as the Chieftain speaks. "Zolomon, you will forever be branded with an M. It stands for Murderer, and all who see it shall know they are in the presence of one who, without sorrow, pity, or regret, willingly takes the life of another. They will not be punished for fighting or killing such a creature." Blisa watches as the Executioner swiftly and skillfully goes to place the M against the hare's right cheek as the guards hold him still. The cat casts a swift glance at the Redwallers, then scans the crowd, hoping she struck a good balance to satisfy and appease all parties involved.

Krisha blinks, a frown but she has seen worse happen to beasts when she was younger. She looks down at the ground now.   

Zolomon tries to pull away when his ear is grabed, the rat Patch is curious"Yeah earless hare!....oh man...not fair" As the hare keeps his ear, his very sore ear from the tight grip of that paw.When the check gets the branding put on it....he doesn't yell out right away but he does once he has air back in his lungs.The M is now there...looks worse for now, later it will heal but of course stay like this and he will have some missing fur. 

Benar is watching stoically, he watches the branding as distasteful as the abbot finds it. He taps his staff on the ground and it rings softly over the sound of the crowd. He never likes this... but vermin or woodlander the law is the law and Zolomon murdered someone.
Benar stares down at Zolomon and if there is anyway to describe the look on the old squirrel's face it would be "disapointment" he shakes his head and turns away. "I have seen enough... Matilda... I think I need to talk to the Chief then I would very much like to return home."
The hedgehog touches Benar's arm and then glares back at Zolomon then salutes Blisa, "That was... very fair of you Chieftan, may we withdraw inside until you have time to speak to the Abbot?"

Blisa holds up a paw, asking the Redwallers to wait a moment. "Zolomon is to be given enough food for 3 days and escorted to the bridge leading North. He is to be relieved of his arrows, although his longbow may be returned to him after it is unstrung. And his banishment begins immediately." The guards drag Zolomon off to do as the Chief says, and the rest of the guards disperse the crowd.
Blisa leads the Redwallers into the Town Hall. "I feel you may not want to meet Basil, so we can speak in my office." She leads them back to her office and starts serving out tea. Her bodyguards stay outside the room, save for Ferdinand, who sits and scowls at his loom. "Thtupid hare. He almotht put the peace of the entire area at rithk." Ann stays outside, observing the guards and the crowd to make sure it all goes well.

Krisha follows the abbot and champion and sits beside the abbot with her paws folded in her lap.She stays silent for the morment. 

Benar sighs and slumps into a chair, his staff ringing as he leant it against a wall. Matilda patted his shoulder and he accepted tea, "I've met Basil before, they are a very nice snake, but yes..." he sighs, "I am sorry about that... but alas as I have always said it is a beasts actions that determine if they are woodlander or vermin... not species." 

Blisa smirks. "Basilisk is only nice if he thinks I'll give him cheese or smack him on the nose." She sits behind her desk and puts her heels on the desk, sipping her tea. "If Zolomon hadn't been from Salamandastron or Redwall, he would've been executed the day after he killed that otter. I hope everyone understands that...especially him."
She closes her eyes, suddenly looking stressed. "This place is much rougher than Redwall. Meting out justice is difficult when many of the citizens here have been so hurt by woodlanders that they only want to hurt those who hurt them."
The cat cracks an eye open to glance at the Redwallers. "Matilda said my punishment was fair, Benar. Do you agree? What say you, Krisha? Do you think Salamandastron will have an issue with my sentence on Zolomon?" She is clearly worried about the Long Patrol's reaction.

Krisha clears her thoat"I think....they would agree with the banishment. Hopefully Zolomon has learned somehing from this and if he..hasn't, then..he hasn't. A couple diffent beasts tried to help Zolomon before this happen."

Benar looked up from his tea and met the cat's eyes, "It was fair, it was what I would have done. It is why I called the council and made it formal..." he touches the scroll he left on Blisa's desk and sighed, "It is fair and it is justice... he is banished from his home and withdrawing the Hospitality of Redwall is not something we ever do lightly."
He frowned, "Ciocan will understand, I am going to send Elbio to the mountain with a letter from myself. He will take no action toward the town... he was not banished from the Western shore lightly, hares stick together usually. I will make sure Elbio puts my letter into Ciocan's paw directly before rumour reaches the mountain."

Blisa seems to relax slightly. "Good. I don't want the Mountain to see us as a threat. That's part of why this took so long between his crime and the trial. I lost much sleep trying to think up a suitable sentence that would satisfy everybeast while not causing Salamandastron to want to come smite my little village." Ferdinand grunts as he picks up his shuttle and starts working on his weaving project. "Hopefully they don't want to do that already." The cat smiles up at Benar. "Do you need anything else before you leave?"   

Benar shakes his head and stands up, "That is all, thank you Chieftan, Ferdinand, I will see you all soon I hope, at the feast... it would be nice if you and anyone from the village who wants to joined us. You are all welcome," he picks up his staff, "I thank you for justice and I am quite sure Ciocan will consider the matter closed, until then see you soon." he bowed and headed out with Matilda in tow to return to the abbey. 

~*END*~

The next chapter in this story can be found here:
http://forum.rwmuck.org/viewtopic.php?id=2193
Thanks for reading!

SCENE:  Ferravale Entry, Market Day

LOG:
It's a busy mid-Autumn day in Ferravale. Merchants line the streets from the main gates, through the town centre, and down into the Southern section of the city, trading and selling and buying. Shouts and chatter fill the air as creatures barter and converse. Most of the creatures are vermin, as is to be expected, although quite a few woodlanders can be seen, merchants and inhabitants of the nearby woods. Everybeast seems quite cheery, to be honest. A cool breeze ruffles fur and clothes as it swirls multi-coloured leaves down the street.   
Blisa (flanked by her bodyguards Ferdinand the ferret, Clarissa the rat, and Hank the huge, hulking male fox) is near the city gates, conversing with Ann the Head Guard and a couple well-to-do Ferravalians and merchants. They all seem to be in good spirits (although it's hard to tell with Ann) as they discuss how prosperous Ferravale, Redwall, and the surrounding areas are, as well as how well the market day is going for everyone. What a great day!   
   
Zolomon has, some would say in the village, to ruin this great,sunny day. He is cloaked so ID hidden.He is fighting a fox who made him grumpy.   

Here to enjoy the day before it's ruined by a certain hare is Spruce, the squirrel a little bit older and (hopefully) a little bit wiser. He gives the fight between what he presumes are vermin, even if a small crowd is gathering around them and he admittedly is curious about what's going on.   

Even though it's just a small fight, Blisa and Ann have both noticed. The Chieftain rolls her eyes and sighs, also assuming it's just a pair of vermin. "Probably drunk, the nincompoops. A couple days in a cell should sober them up." Ann dispatches a couple nearby guards to go disperse the crowd and arrest the fighters before they break something.   

The cloaked figure knocks the fox out and stabs them in the arm with a dagger. They back up and look ready to finish the fox off.
   
Spruce had come closer through the crowd at this point, having trouble pushing past most of the bigger creatures - but when he finally sees what's going on the squirrel breaks out from the crowd with a shout, "WAIT!" and tries going for the dagger in the cloaked creature's paw, hoping to try and save the fox on the ground from being shanked.   

The guards get through the crowd just as the cloaked figure draws the dagger. The watching crowd gasps as the sun glints off the metal, and some cry out a warning to the squirrel as he bravely leaps forward. "HALT! YOU IN THE CLOAK! BY ORDER OF THE CHIEFTAIN!" The guards rush forward, one with a shield standing over the fox to block the dagger and the other trying to grab the cloaked figure while allowing the squirrel to grab the knife. Blisa and Ann rush over, the Chief's bodyguards hurrying in her wake.   

The cloaked beast goes to twist the squirrels arm and shove a guard aside and go to make a run for it, but hard in a crowd of beasts as he cusses under his breath and goes another direction.   

With a cry of pain, Spruce falls back, landing on his romp clutching his arm. The squirrel's not full grown yet and it doesn't take much to put him out of a fight.   

In front of the cloaked beast is a merchant's cart, the fox inside screeching at him to stop before he knocks over the expensive spices! Beasts are scattering, trying to stay out of the way. The guard stumbles back, but regains himself quickly, and he and the guard with the shield take off after the cloaked beast, shouting at him to halt and surrender! Another few guards in the crowd leave off what they were doing and try to cut off the stranger. The guard with the shield proves the swiftest, and she tries to slam into the cloaked beast, putting all her weight behind her shield in what would be a very painful tackle. Ann is following her guards, the rat's face grim. Blisa kneels beside the squirrel, her voice soothing and gentle. "Are you alright? Goodness, that was very brave of you. What's your name, and where are you from?" A traveling Healer is tending to the injured fox.   

And he is...finally knocked down." Off me ya pest...that hurts. "   

With a wince the squirrel regards the chieftain with vague recognition. He's seen the cat /somewhere/ before. "Eh, Spruce." He mutters, rubbing his arm. "And I'm from east of Mossflower. First time here, actually."   

Insulting the guard does nothing to improve the situation. "You're the pest 'ere," she says as the other guards and Ann arrive. "An' you're about to regret it." The guards all go to lift the cloaked beast up to his feet and drag him to the Chieftain, 2 of the gripping his arms and the other 2 prodding him in the back with their sword and spear. Ann draws her sword and keeps it at his throat. "The Chieftain wants a word with you." The cat smiles and gestures another guard over. "Spruce? It's nice to meet you. You can just call me Blisa. How about you go to the Infirmary to get your arm check out, and then you can keep looking around the market? This guard can show you where the Infirm is. You're welcome to stay in my village as long as you like."   

Zolomon struggles between them , he is stronger than he looks but finally sags in tired defeat.   

"Pleasure to meet ya, and thank you Kindly." Spruce says, rising to his feet before casting a wary glance towards the captured hare. But no matter. "And alright-" He turns to the nearest guard. "Which way to the infirm?" His tail darts back and forth behind him, eager to get away from Zolomon.   

The guard (who's a ferret) smiles kindly at the squirrel. "Just this way -- it's in the town centre, just by the Town Hall. C'mon, I'll show ye." The ferret leads the way, adjusting his stride as necessary to make it easy for the squirrel to keep pace. Meanwhile, once the hare is in front of the Chieftain, Ann goes to slice his hood from his cloak so it falls to the ground. Blisa glares at the hare. "We've heard of a cloaked beast terrorizing vermin on the road. You almost killed a weasel Dibbun, and now you come to my village on market day and stir up more trouble. And who should it be but Zolomon, friend of the esteemed Winters clan. Xander, Zork, and Zee would be ashamed of you." The cat stalks closer, her green eyes flashing. "You will be locked in a cell until somebeast from Redwall can come and escort you back to the Abbey." "Banish him!!" a voice from the crowd yells out, and the rest of the crowd starts shouting out what they think his punishment should be, from banishment to feeding him to the snake. Blisa listens to the suggestions impassively.
   
Zolomon listens and snorts. His anger rising. " All vermin should just...die.A good vermin...ha...haha...a joke, just waiting to trick others..."
   
Happy to get as far away as possible from the frank psychotic hare, Spruce bounds after the guard, looking no worse for wear after having his arm twisted.   

A number of gasps can be heard, and some beasts start to cry as the rest start shouting for the hare's exile (or execution). Blisa glares at the hare, letting the shouting get louder. Then she holds up her paws, and the guards shout until silence is mostly restored. The Chieftain points at the hare. "Zolomon, I hereby banish you from Ferravale and the attached Mossflower Defenders base. You will be held in a cell and fed only bread and water once a day until one of the elders of Redwall, the Champion, or the Gatekeeper can come to collect you. The Abbey will be informed forthwith of your breach of our peace treaty. SHOULD YOU EVER COME TO FERRAVALE AGAIN, all of the guards will be ordered to kill you on sight."   

Zolomon tenses as he listens, then snorts." Wot ever....hate ya all! Hate...HATE!!!!" Oh yeah he has, lost it.   

Blisa signals for the guards to drag the hare away to a cell. The crowds shout and cry and rage. The remaining guards try to disperse the crowd, but it takes a while before everyone goes back to their business. The Chieftain sighs, closes her eyes, and rubs her temples. So much for a great day.   

Zolomon glares, he struggles some, he then breaths heavyly and screams loudly and...cries?..Then goes limp from exhaustion.

~*END*~

Now what happens to Zolomon?  How will the Redwall leaders act?  Stay tuned!