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Pvt. Donica & MSgt. Terrence, hares

Donica sits on the dock, she seems worried since Velm hasn’t returned from taking the badger cub to Salamandastron. Then maybe its just her worrying too much, perhaps he had to stay there.

The gates of the fort are opened wide, yet guards heavily. Four hares stand in the passageway, barring any non-patrol members from access. The master sergeant, Terrence, is returning from a patrol of the streets and outer edge of the town of Halyard at the head of a squad of hares, seven in total including himself. As they pass by the healer, the buck halts, motioning the rest to continue onwards.

"Private Donica?" He says, approaching her, "What're you doing out here?"

Donica quuicly stands and salutes. "Sorry sur…I was hoping Lt. Velm was heading back sur, but seems he is likely not.I know they likely need officers at the mountain." She had still be mostly alert.

The sergeant dips his head, "At ease - as fo’h the good lieutenant, he's only been away two days. And considering the half-day it takes to get down there, and the half-day back, he's probably resting." Terrence offers a small smile, attempting to be comforting. "Don't you worry about him, he'll be fine where he is. It's us that need worry, if anything. If that horde attacks they have to go through us first, afteh all."

Donica nods as she relaxes. "Yes…I hope we won't have an issue but sounds like the vermin are headed this way" She sighs. "They had to pick now to cause trouble, its horrible."

"Well, this place and the mountain are the only two things of note fo'h leagues and leagues on end along the coast," The master-sergeant shrugs, looking out at sea, "So it seems very likely so. Why else would an army that size gathah? Certainly not to have a picnic. But regardless-" Terrence turns to her, "There's some work to do yet, to protect the town itself, and not just ou'h fort."

Donica nods. "Yes and if a healer is needed, I can be thar for that.I do know how to use a sling and spear well."

"I'd hope so," Terrence laughs in a grim mannor, "Best tools of ou'h trade - but I meant more labo'h work, digging and whatnot - in the time of Lady Wildstripe, seasons and seasons and seasons ago, o'h maybe it were lady Roseeyes... anyway, the point is the Patrol dug trenches in the sand to help defends the mountain, and filled them with many wooden sticks and stakes and speahs. I should like to do the same around the village itself."

Donica says, "We would need to talk to the Mayor on that, but maybe right outside the village and near the fort here."

"Perhaps," Terrence grunts, "But he shan't complain, I'd wageh. And besides, the mayo'h is not the ruleh of the beaches outside of his town- that would be the good Badgeh-lord."

Donica nods "I know, one reason said like the entry,  make it hard for the vermin to get inside. As for inside we let the mayor know of the danger, unless he already been told." She speaks. "So where am I needed to be right now sur?"

"Oh, I've assumed he's been told - but thankfully that is not my job no'h yours, truly." Terrence turns back to the fort, "That'd be the commissioned offciahs' role. As fo'h where you're needed: report to you'h corporal o'h sergeant Rosinbloom, and get you'h orders from them."

Donica nods, a salute and she is off to see where she is needed.

Before entering the fort, the master-sergeant would turn once more to look out at sea. The sun was beginning to set, the light golden reflecting off the waves; he stood and listened and watched for a moment, before entering the gates. In an hour after nightfall he would come back out, with his patrol in tow, to begin digging around the village and shoring up the defenses.

This was RP'd last Saturday (5/8), taking place IC'ly around that time.

John & Oz, a squirrel & badger-cub

The moonless night had been dark save for the roaring fires the vermin had lit, dancing around them in a victorious revelry at the sacking of the otter holt. So engrossed were they that even the few sentries that had been placed joined in, save one, yet with the noise behind him and the blackness in front he could tell very little and his watch seemed in vain.

He certainly didn't see the cloaked figure creeping forward along the ground, keeping his head low- though the fire glinted off the tip of a loaded crossbow bolt in paw. John had been following after the massive horde for months now, staying more distant now that there was no cover of trees and foliage, hiding in the sand dunes during the day and observe the band at night. He knew the badger dibbun, who he thought was named Oz (though he couldn't quite remember), was somewhere in the camp usually kept by the wild-cat leader himself. The squirrel knew what Zoltar looked like now, and his daily habits, and how he treated the creatures below him; the badger especially.

Yet John had remained as he does now, quietly watching the enemy from the shadows, and waiting, waiting as he had done for more than a season now.

A couple vermin were chatting near by." Boss a bit grumpyy" The other nodded." De cub wandered off on someone  watch." The hmmms." I heard Jaws ate hin or..well he ate someowe that fer sure, hee hee."

Oz meanwhile was not in the camp, unknown to most he was alive and not too far from the camp, luckly no one seemed to look for him or maybe a couple was.

Moving closer, John would turn his good ear forward so as to better hear what they were murmuring to each other.  The squirrel is laying flat on his belly, crawling forward through the sand slowly.

"Ate him?" The lone sentry turns to the two conversing nearby, shocked. "Bu' tha'badger-cub were a right big 'un, 'e was."

One shrugs, " Jaws is a monitor, why de boss let jim join,  no clue"

"Bah," The sentry shudders, "Know tha' scaly thing by sight, I do- ate me mate, Kingsley, 'e did. Or tried to. 'E doesn' 'ave 'is tail no more, that's for sure."

The squirrel, now more alert, was mere yards from the conversing vermin. His crossbow was brought slightly forward, ready to be used if need be. The badger, eaten... John's face is grim. A poor end to this blasted mission, he would wager.

The other shrugged."By de way anyone seen Rockpaw?”

Oz meanwhile has gotten a little further downshore and there  is likely still some paw prints, for now.

"Last I saw 'im 'e were getting drunk wi' the bigwig master," The sentry responds with a shrug. "'E's tyin' to get up in the world, or so 'e said..."

John would slip away from the conversation then, having heard all he wanted - or so he thought. His sense failed him in the moment, beyond maybe his eyesight which had adjusted to the dark; but his smell was over-ridden by the stench of the horde, and his hearing too; any little noise was drowned out by the raging feast of war.

"Bu' the badger-" Halting, John would once more perk up to listen to the nameless sentry. "You absolutely sure 'e got eaten'? The great boss'll be knockin' some 'eads off for sure, later."

The one hmmed." Wells...Shadowlight and..Jaws went ta look fer him....and that monitor ate someone, that was fer sure."
Its very possible Rockpaw might be found....well sort of.

"What if Rockpaw were the 'un to been" the sentry struggles to speak, the thought horrific to him, “E-e-eatin’?”

A grave smile spreads across John's lips now. Perhaps there was hope - he'd have to find this Shadowlight or the monitor and ask them a few questions, maybe. But he stays still for now.

The other horde beast gulps, " Maybe...de boss is..lettin' it...like ones he dont like."

"Bad boss, I'd say," The sentry clucks his tongue, "But ya didn' 'ear that from me, got that? I'll drag ya down with me if ya snitch."

The squirrel pulls back now, moving around by light of the stars. As he circles westwards, towards the sea, he seeks the tell-tale shape of a monitor lizard framed against the firelight, though has little luck so far.

Oz is luckily not been found by the vermin and he is smart enough not to go near the camp as he shivers. Still soaked from when he fell off the log bridge by the river.His ankle hurts but he still walked some before he sat and sneezed a couple times. As for the monitor its hard to say where he is, likely the largest tent giving a report to the wildcat.

The sneeze was loud enough that the squirrel took note of it, coming from the opposite direction from the camp. Hopefully no one else heard it-

"Oi, ya 'ear something?" The sentry stands, looking in the direction of the squirrel and badger. "Coulda sworn I 'eard something out there."

John sucks in a breath, slowly, agonizingly so, retreating, crawling on his elbows and shimmying backwards. He rolls into a ditch, the sand getting everywhere, and he peaks his head out - there. He saw a dark shape cover parts of the stars, and he begins to follow it, carefully.

The two vermin listen and one just snorts.c”Probably someone in camp ya moron, or one of de scouts de boss sent out to look downshore,  see how far Halyard is."

Oz limps along a little more, he still has a lot of growing to do since he is a dibbun. He finally just sits as he is worn out from his mad dash earlier, and not to mention a horrible free swiming lesson.

"They didn' put out any scouts tonight, ninny." The sentry snarls, grabbing his spear. "Come on, it weren' from camp - Might be thicked skulled, bu' me 'earing's sharp." Waving for the others to follow, the sentry advances into the dark.

"Shhh..." John would hiss to the badger babe, "Donnae move."

Oz at first starts to run, but then sort of relaxes a little.

The one vermin shrugs,  and another just rolls his eyes and heads to a tent." Ya two check it out, I am staying ere’.”

John leaps after him, trying to tackle the badger-babe to the ground. They're nearly the same size, even though the squirrel is rather tall for his species.

"There! I swear I saw somethin' -" The sentry points, looking back at the two vermin, "And didn' ya 'ear that?"

”Quiet.” The squirrel mutters through clenched teeth, "D'ye wannae both us tae die?"

Oz frowns but stays quiet now, but he is shivering a little.

One beast scans the area and shrugs. There is a couple seagulls on a nearby rock. "Maybe it was de birds...")

John nods to the badger as the babe remains quiet, whispering, "Oz, aye? Ah'm from th'abbey." The squirrel scoots away now, back towards the camp.

The sentry stood some four yards now form the camp, his paws shaking on his spear. "I didn' know birdies could run!" He shouts over his shoulder, annoyed and scared he'd been abandoned out here.

Carefully replacing the metal-tipped bolt with one of the many makeshift bolts he'd made of wood in the crossbow, John would lay down again facing the sentry and the camp. Shoulder resting against the crossbow stock he takes aim upwards, ever so careful to not miss what he's shooting for, or so he hoped.

"Wha-" The sentry had heard a soft click, and the bolt whistling by him to make a grand arch in the air, while the squirrel held his breath for a few tense seconds. The next thing the sentry heard was a scream from inside the camp as the bolt seemingly came directly out of the sky and into the shoulder of one of the many vermin - after that, well, he didn't have time to hear he small knife driving into back of his neck, let alone see his assailant who covered the vermin's mouth with a gauntleted paw as they both sunk to the ground.

Oz holds back a whimper and stays where he is not daring to more till its ok to, the last thing he wants is back with that horde.

As the horde seems now in a state of chaos, it would be safe to assume no one would come looking for the missing sentry for some time. The beast who was struck was the Kingsley that was mentioned - right in a middle of giving a drunken ramble of a speech. No one could tell where the bolt had come from, and most vermin were too far gone to care.

"Lookie, even th' 'eaven's though 'is speech were bad! An' they shut 'im up!" There's some cruel laughter, now.

John returns to the badger after rolling the body into the ditch. "C'mon-" he whispers, grabbing at the badger's paw to lead him on, "Need tae stick tae th'shoreline w'thae waves, we do, least they'll find our tracks by mornin'."

Oz nods and obeys following him, after they are further away he finally speaks." Where we...going?"

Despite himself, and the freezing water about his feet and legs, John darkly laughs. "Far away from here, southwards, Ah can tell ye, bu' no much beyond tha'."

Oz frowns but he knows the squirrel is helping him so he is mostly relaxed, still jumpy at sounds though.

"By th'by, name's John," the squirrel mutters, trudging through the shore waves. "Some point Ah'll get ye back tae Redwall, Ah will."

Oz nods,  “Okies."

The body of the sentry would never be found by the horde, and few would mark him as missing come morning - and those that did would simply assume he ran off. The two woodlanders would travel by night only, resting and hiding during the day, until they came to the lands guarded by the Long Patrol.

Long Patrol Members, read on!
After chatting with Elmef/Quinten in game about what to do next after the LP finished fixing up the docks in Halyard (detailed in this thread), we decided to follow up with ideas Elmef/Quinten had for the docks - with the first RP next Saturday (the 27th of March after 8 pm GMT/4 pm EST).
What will the LP be doing, you might ask?

Why, officially establishing ourselves in Halyard!

How? Well, after the docks in Halyard have been repaired and after a week or so of resting/recovering from the drama and more importantly the hard work at the docks, the hares of the LP will return to Halyard to establish a permanent barracks from which to properly patrol and guard the village! Meaning: the LP will have a base to stay at in Halyard (probably the Harbor Master's house)
Quinten will be spearheading the first RP on the 27th to get things moving up there, and I'll be the following Saturday (the 3rd of April, once again after 8 pm GMT/2 pm EST) to help keep things moving (with hopefully Quinten again)
After that, we'll have more RPs planned!

Meanwhile, in the time between the planned RPs feel free to RP at Halyard once your character is there - have them go on patrol, have them be put on guard duty, have them try to sneak extra rations from the storage- have fun and be creative! (I'll be on to RP during the week too)

Now, everyone in the LP is welcome to show up (and frankly encouraged to, please XD)

All of this also has a wider meaning for the Long Patrol - after the initial RP, a patrol of hares will be sent to Halyard every week to 2 weeks or so to replace the previous patrol there. That way, LP players (particularly privates and NCOs) have something to do other than training while also not being trapped in Halyard forever! Officers of the main regiment (so like Varus and Greg and Velm once he gets back) should feel free to move between the mountain and Halyard as they see fit, and they and the sergeants should feel free to order hares around and lead patrols around Halyard's streets and stuff.
Privates and corporals and sergeants should feel free to spend a week or two at Halyard and then a week or two at Salamandastron if they so wish; basically a cycle of on duty/off duty for the LP!

Ens. Elbio & Sgt. Terrence

Elbio has kept busy and since a certain hare was gone now others seemed to help more now and things were more relaxed, well mostly relaxed.

The work in Halyard was nearly reaching completion. The basic structure of the docks had been rebuilt for some time and now the hares were focused on tidying up the area; ropes, posts, even some of the fishing boats are being repaired. In all of this Terrence is wandering through still in shock at the removal of the other sergeant. He's not going to complain though - the work has been easier since Zolomon left.

Elbio nods as Terrence nears. "Hallo Sergeant,  doing well today I hope." He was there, he witnessed it and just remained quiet through it.It was a bit of a surprise what happen  but hey saved the Ensign the job of finding someone willing to escort Zolomon to the mountain. 

"Of course sah." Terrence stands at attention. "I'll be bettah when we're done here though. It's been too damn long and too damn cold here."

Elbio nods ." Yes it has been cold but least the weather is slowly warming up, well a tiny bit anyways. I wonder who his Lordship will want to stay around here or perhaps just take turns patroling the town,  think we are to do that anyways.I mean it does need it some."

"Just patrolling the blasted place nevah's worked." The sergeant, relaxed now, waves vaguely towards the main village. "The place is infested with al sorts of unsavory characters and I don't think the patrol's evah been good and keeping it controlled if it were." Terrence rubs his chest, reflecting back on the amount of times he's been in a tight situation in the many alleyways and side streets. "At least I wasn't stabbed this time, which is an improvement I suppose."

Elbio frowns, "You were stabbed on a...mission once?" He looks towards the Dock Master's little shack." I am thinking at least some hares may stay.I do agree the tavern is a bit....well, rough to be in."

"Yes. Was trying to deal with some issues Zolomon's had ex sparked" Terrence doesn't really elaborate beyond that. "The whole town is bloody roughened has been fo'h seasons. I just wish command fully realized that - and it's too fa'h away from the mount to properly control. A lot can happen in a single hou'h, not to mention the five o'h it takes to get up here."

Elbio nods. "Well let's hope nothing major happens, it is a sea port but maybe  vermin known better or fear the mountain, a lot do from stories."

Terrence gives the ensign a long look. "The slavers last summah resupplied here and were helped by many a beast. The Patrol's done little in recent seasons to inspire feah in vermin, especially here. A few patrols a week can't do much even in a well kept place, but here?"

Elbio frowns at this news. "Maybe it will...change? I know not all of them hate us, some are glad the docks are almost repaired.  I know...one helped me carry Zolomon back from the tavern, some just seem to...guess leave us alone and others not sure of. Luckily not seen...Brutus was it?"

"Brutus you say?" The name was familiar to Terrence if only in passing from other hares. "I daresay a single creature like that isn't much of a threat - no, what I'm worried about is the mob if it were. A single enemy can easily be dispatched by a single hare, o'h even two o'h three if the hare's well trained. But a crowd of thirty? Even a squad of hares would have trouble."

Elbio says, "Brutus is the stoat Sergeant Zolomon angered. He has a couple rats think, not seen him for few days."

Nodding, Terrence responds, "Ah, so that's where I heard the name." With a shrug of his shoulders the sergeant looks back to the still working hares to observe their work from afar. "Frankly I'm still not worries 'bout a single stoat and a gaggle of rats. If they were a crew of ten o'h more, then I'd be worried."

Elbio nods." Then I won't worry either, we have guards posted if needed and not trigger happy guards."

"None of the hares are," Terrence is grave as he says it, "I can guarantee that. They'll do thei'h duty as they're supposed to, and do it well."

Elbio says, "So far everyone has done well, just Zolomon was an issue...and a private that somehow put a nail in their paw...they had to go back home early."

"And Pvt. Attenborough's sprained ankle at the beginning." Terrence adds with a shrug, leaning on a post. "They're not trained carpenters o'h craftsbeasts at all, and are doing the best they can I think. Zolomon, on the othah paw..." The sergeant shakes his head, suppressing a scowl. "He did not act as a sergeant, no'h was he seemingly interested in doing so."

Elbio says, "Well he is at the mountain now. I have no clue...plans, didn't ask as his Lordship was...well." Grumpy might describe it but the hare isn't sure."

"So he is." Terrence has had his doubt about Zolomon's rank for seasons, but he's not about to voice that now. "Grumpy is a soft word fo'h insubordination."

Elbio shrugs. "As said I didnt interrupt  the...well chat, if call it that. " He clears his throat." Anyway I will likely see how the other Sergeant is when I head back to the mountain.

"Zolomon, o'h Sergeant Rosinbloom, sah?" Terrence is cautious in how he speaks of the latter on duty and in front of an officer, and is all formality. "If you meant the formah I wouldn't be surprised if he isn't a sergeant when we get back, but perhaps that's harsh to say myself."

Elbio shrugs." Thats up to Lord Ciocan about Zolomon. " He starts to ask who and OHs.." As for her..I Don't know, sorry. Likely busy since some are here but most are returning to the mountain soon, think a small few may stay...not sure really."

"She's doing fine, of course." Moving on from the topic of Felicity, Terrence returns to Zolomon. "If I may say something of my own observances about the sergeant that perhaps might be a bit too informal, o'h whatnot, Sah..." He waits for the answer.

Elbio gives his attention." Wot would that be?"

"Zolomon was a private in my unit when I was a corporal," Terrence begins, slowly. "And latah on was promoted to corporal when I was promoted to sergeant - and then, well, he became sergeant seemingly out of nowhere, o'h well, just when he'd gotten the hang of being a corporal. He's always been one to bend the rules, slightly, but I was able to keep that in check fo'h some time. Not so these past seasons, and the dynamic has been...." He searches for the right word, "...Difficult, to say the least."

Elbio says, "So likely wasnt ready for the position yet."

"Not at all, and I think it was poo'h judgment by command." With a sigh, Terrence continues. "As his sergeant I was nevah asked how he was doing, no'h do I think ou'h lieutenant was asked his opinion on the mattah eithah. It feels like sometimes- "Agin, the sergeant is being careful with the words he says, "Officiahs and well, the... " He trails off, shaking his head,  "Beyond the majah it seems command holds little respect fo'h the hares undah them and make ill-informed decisions if it were." He falls quiet for a moment, then looks up a flash of panic on his face. "Forgive me- I think I said to much."

Elbio thinks. "Maybe Sargeant Zolomon was..ready at the time, then he changed after a rather bad event.MAybe he can get  better but who knows.  If he does it will take time and likely time to repair any friends he has or..had, like get respect back."

"Hmm, well, if you'd ask me at the time I'd have said no myself." Shaking his head to clear Terrence sounds a bit resigned. "But perhaps that's why I wasn't asked. I don't rightly know. As fo'h Zolomon - we've had tension fo'h seasons and I don't think he evah liked my command, and I doubt know we'll evah be friends." ever again the sergeant adds regretfully in his head. "I wouldn't want a hare like that commanding my hares, of course, no'h would I wan't a hare acting like him in charge of me."

Elbio says, "True...a hare needs to show respect, they need to follow rules and not stir up trouble.I do know he is off active duty for...8 weeks think.""
"Rathah lenient," Terrence can't hide the venom in his voice. "But of course he's one of the Lord's favorites. Oh well, it's not my place to criticize."

Elbio shrugs. " He seemed fairly ticked off at Zolomon when he came to check up on how things were  going."

"Considering that Zolomon was acting shamefully and dragging of the Patrol down with him, no wonder the good badger lord was, to put it lightly, peeved." Allowing himself a chuckle Terrence goes on, "As fo'h that surprise inspection - well. I still think it would have been a good lesson fo'h the sergeant to be brought back to the mountain in the custody of the hares he failed, not as a leveret ordered by an angry father."

Elbio says, "So wot do you think will happen to him or maybe has. He is still in patrol I know.,""

Terrence gives a wry smile. "What I think is a fa'h shot off from what I think should be done. What will happen is a slap on the paw, I think, and nothing more. But perhaps I've underestimated the big-wigs. Why I think needs to be done is Zolomon being stripped of his rank and foreve'h removed from the active service, moved to the Homeguard's cooks o'h something. O'h have him go through basic training with the recruits again. It's not so much fo'h his sake as the sake of the rest of us - if the punishment fo'h what he as a sergeant did isn't extremely severe, what's to stop a recruit from believing they can get away with something similah, o'h how can they trust the hares in charge of them?"

Elbio says, "Maybe not...home guard, he has skills. Maybe...demote him? I could bring it up as an idea."

The sergeant snorts. "Skill you say - he's good with a bow, I'll give you that, but it took seasons and some hard times to try and knock the arrogance out of him, and now I don't think he evah learned truly. There's more to being a good patrollah than just skills - you need discipline and cooperation fo'h skills to mean anything and that's the one thing I try and get my hares to learn."

Elbio says, "I think you do a good job, but if he was demoted you could...well." He shrugs.. "I am unsure"

"Oh Bludstripe," Terrence seems horrified by the implication, "I would nevah want to be in charge of him - there's too much history there. Howevah he'd probably do fine undah someone else. I should be cleah, sah -" Terrence stands upright, looking Elbio in the eye, "I mean no harm to Zolomon, and none of my angeh towards him is personal, beyond a disappointment - no, I'm angry with sergeant Anderson because he put all the hares here at risk every time tired starting a fight with the locals, not to mention I was not the only hare he's raised a fist to - even if he's not hit anyone but me. And frankly my duty is to my - ou'h - hares, the privates and corporals undah my command. We're supposed to protect them and keep them from needless harm, and frankly Zolomon was needless in the way he acted."

Elbio tilts his head at Bludstrip and hmmms. " I am unsure what his Lordship plans for Zolomon, if anything else. guess we will find out later on"

"Certainly." Terrence agrees, "And thankfully it's not ou'h place to make that decision anymore. It's out of ou'h paws fo'h good o'h ill, though looking 'round here I'm inclined to say it was good."

Elbio nods. "Maybe staying out of duty will wise the sergeant Zolomon up, who knows. I thg jnk demoted a rank be good for him."

"Perhaps," Terrence nods, slowly, "But personally I would be cautious to trust him with any sort of command fo'h some time - but of course I'm not in charge of that and hopefully I nevah will. Oh well, it's all speculation. I can't say what command o'h the Badger Lord'll do fo'h certain, as they've proved me wrong in the past. They're hard to predict, that lot."

Elbio says, "Yeah lets not worry on it, but the patrol does need hares. We are still a bit few but gaining slowly and I think will be a force to scare  vermin again...not that we don't some now, slavers were defeated after all."

Pointedly looking out towards all the hares working, Terrence responds quietly, "Scare, you say? The hares'll do bettah than that. Unless we come across a foe armed and armored as professionals I am confident we will give any vermin band the path to Hellsgates. There's not many recruits in the Patrol now, only fighting hares, and there's enough of them to give a hard time to any creature who thinks they can go paw to paw with the Long Patrol."

Elbio smiles. "That's good to know, and recruits are always good to, they one day will add to fighters, runners, even healers."

Terrence merely grunts in response at first. "Spent there bettah part of the past six seasons training the hares at the mountain myself. They know what they're about, I'd wageh that. We do need recruits..."

Elbio says, "Perhaps  Sargent Adrian or Corporal Monty will get some new recruits brought back. But things have been, fairly calm..nothing that is out of place for Halyard anyways..a food sign I think."

"Adrian - forgot he was promoted." Terrence thinks back to the one or two times they had met. "Only evah knew him in passing - know Monty from reputation, though. Hopefully they'll send a more steady stream of recruits back to us, because we need it."

Elbio nods, "I should get back to checking on things. We can talk later."

"Of course sah," Terrence salutes. "I have business to attend to myself, if you would excuse me."