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oz

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Registered: 2016-11-20

Posts: 1,659

The Abbot Visit's Camp Willow-Redwall/ Camp Willow Log

Who:

Gorvenalus- Redwall Abbey Recorder

Benar- Abbot of Redwall

Matilda- Champion of Redwall

Sinway- Brother at Redwall and Pond Caretaker

Ewan- Redwall Abbey Residrnal Hare, Private and Fighter in Long Patrol

Gaheris- Skipper of Camp Willow

Taran- Guard at Camp Willow

Aqua- Healer Camp Willow

Assorted Spooped otters, Abbey novice, Abbey Guards and some Woodlanders

Log:

The journey from Redwall to Camp Willow has been quite pleasant, Mossflower is in full early summer bloom. Flowers are nodding on all the underbrush and the trees are vibrant and rich and green. It's been a pleasant journey, the Abbot, his companions, the Abbey Champion Matilda, a small contingent of guards including scouts ranging ahead and behind.

Then of course there are the three wagons, laden with food, supplies, gifts for those he is intending to visit and the tents, camp beds, furniture. Matilda decided the Abbot of Redwall doesn't slum it through the woods, not when protecting him is top priority so she took it upon herself to ignore all his objections and insist on some rules. Tents where the least of it, more importantly no wandering off for any abbey beast without permission from Matilda or one of the guards.

Now however the festive little train of beasts is approaching River Moss and the entrance to Camp Willow. They sent word ahead so there should hopefully be some otters waiting for them as they approach, the Abbot in the lead, using the tall, white wood, silver bell topped staff of the abbot as a walking aid as he picks his way down the bank toward the water.

Benar pauses by the water and runs his eyes back and forth admiring the running water and swift current of the River Moss, "It always looks so vibrant and rich at this time of year," He comments to Matilda and the other beasts standing near him. The hedgehog champion smiles and inclines her head, one hand resting on the hilt of the Sword of Martin the Warrior.

"It is quite and peaceful, I'm not much for swimming myself but the water looks invitingly cool after that march through the woods, it's getting decidedly hot out here.”

Gorvenalus chuckles a little, a small smile as he looks around, "Ok...I have been at the camp one time just need to remember just where the entry is of Camp Willow as didn't really g too far past this area."

Taran is on guard duty, which can be boring at times as he looks around and perks up a little at noise and sound of voices. Another otter tenses up as Taran just gives him a noise "Not every noise and voice is bad ya know...."But he will be careful and it seems the otters of the camp are a little jumpy and extra careful these days as Taran ventures out of the reeds and grins as he does recognize whom it is as he looks back"Ya worry too much Joey..ya moron...its friends not an enemy"

Aqua is outside by the river and did here some beasts coming but isn't gonna panic about it, she likes to watch beasts go down the river as most just sort of pass through, mostly shrews or the rare vermin on its way elsewhere. The camp is hidden to most after all.

Ewan decided to tag along after a last moment decision. A small knapsack on his back, he even decided to where his uniform, though he has added a pin to show he is also residential abbey hare, not just LP hare."The path only changed ..slightly"He tilts his head "Not that maps need updated or something and some is overgrown in camp but...yeah has changed some most likely since that Viking thing, I read of it and heard of some of it"

Sinway yawns as he walks near the abbot, seems even he has to obey the champions rule and not allowed to wander off, something the free spirited otter is not used to not being allowed to do. he shifts to walking closer to the water once they reach it "we ain't t' far from the camp now, tis a good thing t', all this walkin' was gettin' borin'."

Benar smiles and leans on his staff and looks out across the water, "Well the Skipper was told to expect us, so hopefully once their guards see us someone will appear to welcome us," He turns back to Matilda and smiles, "We may as well break for a light lunch until someone comes out to greet us?"

Matilda nods and looks around, "Of course Father Abbot, Sinway, Ewan stay here, I'll spread the word that we are stopping here and see to it that we set up for lunch, Gorvenalus stay with the Father and no swimming either of you."

Benar grins at her like a naughty dibbun and takes two steps to stand in the shallows, the water of the river washing over his sandals as he hikes up his habit, "Of course, no swimming, paddling however, ahh that feels nice on my feet."

The hedgehog laughs and moves off to start ordering the abbey beasts to stop and rest up whilst they wait for the otters of the camp to make contact.

Gorvenalus smirks "No swimming, of course not...maybe later though who knows. Surprising I don't swim too often, least haven't in Mossflower really"

Taran is ok with greeting beast that are here as he comes out of hiding,behind him another guard, Joey who blinks "Oh...ok friends but ya never know sometimes...pays to be careful ya know " He gets an eye roll from Taran who is gonna go walk over to the abbey beasts"Greeting"Hey he knows them better than most do.

Aqua just stays where she is and frowns, no going out to greet anyone right now, she is happy enough on her log sort of blending in for the time being and just watching and listening to things around her.

Ewan ears droop some "Why so worried, not like I get lost...I can remember a path I take back to here, it's easy. I am not one to get lost."Well he could, there is ways to get lost still. He looks around before sitting by a tree by the camp.

Sinway smirks a little and sits his fiddle case down by Gorvenalus before walking back to the water "Matilda will have to forgive me if she doesn' like this, bu' ye can' keep a otter from the water." And with a quick motion, he removes his habit and dives into the river coming up after a few seconds grinning like a dibbun

Benar laughs as Sinway jumps in and waves at him, the bell on his staff chiming with a clear vibrant song, "My son, you look as if you have done this before."

He then glances over as Taran approaches followed by his companion, "Ah Taran, greetings to you and your friend, I was hoping some otter would wander out to greet us," he bows to the otters politely, "I have come as I said I would but we will not attempt to enter your camp and home without permission. I thought we'd camp here and let your friends and families come to us."

He gestures at the bank, "But please join us and let your friends and Skipper know that Abbot Benar has come a calling."

Gorvenalus smiles as he waves to Taran "Greetings Taran, I do hope your day is good. Is Skipper around?"

Taran smiles "Skipper is around somewhere..."He looks at Joey "You said your bored...go tell Skipper there is company"Joey snorts and dives into the water...yeah he was bored but also tied, so much for a nap.

Aqua sighs as she hops off a log and makes one of the abbey sisters eep a little as she mutters a sorry and walks over to where the abbey is and bows "Abbot Benar"

Ewan looks at the water, not like he is swimming and stays where he is, by the tree and away from the water edge.

Sinway gives Benar a happy bark before replying "Aye, there be a reason the abbey pond stays so clean." He looks over to Taran and waves before he goes back to swimming around in the river, slipping under the water for a fair amount of time

The Skipper had got the word they were coming and spent several days trying to neaten the place up a bit but there's only so much to be done when living in the woods. It's not like they could sweep the moss. Word of the arrivals reaches him pretty quickly and he's on his way, shortly appearing through the reeds. A quick nod to his guards in greeting and he turns his attention to the visitors "Y'made good time abbot" He tilts his head at the collection of wagons "Though I thought y'were gettin' away from the abbey fer a bit. Looks more like y'brought it with y'" he jokes.

Benar laughs and watches Sinway, his feet up to the ankles in the shallows of the river, his staff planted to one side for him to lean on as the older squirrel watches the otter swim back and forth. He turns as someone says his name and smiles at Aqua and bows back to her, holding his habit out of the water with one paw so it sweeps back.

"Good day to you miss," He is then interrupted by the Skipper's arrival and smiles and bows once more to him, "I do hope our arrival will not cause too much disruption to your quiet lives. On behalf of the Order of Redwall I greet you today in peace and friendship."

He glances back to where the champion is arranging his entourage to start breaking out lunch, and laughs, "My champion was quite insistent I couldn't just wander off into the woods on my own, I'd have brought a smaller, more intimate gathering but apparently I've been kidnapped once too often in recent years for anyone to let me go a wandering."

He smiles, "But today we are here in peace, we have plenty of food should you and yours should wish to join us, my Friar made sure we where well laden with supplies," He then makes a motion and one of the Novices lingering nearby hurries off, "I also have a little gift for you and your otters Skipper, young Taran here tells me you've been having a devil of a time growing hotroot."

He turns as the smallest wagon, more of a cart is wheeled over, the cover is pulled back and there, nestled in a series of small clay pots are a whole collection of hotroot pepper saplings, "So I had some of these prepared from the Abbey's herb garden, I do hope you'll accept them as a gift and let them grow strong as the bonds of friendship grow as the seasons turn."

Gorvenalus nods a greeting to the Skipper of the otters "Hello there good sir." He steps back a little."Also heard some rebuilding was going on, how is that coming along or was help needed with that"

Taran answers "Some rebuilding is going on yeah..the tavern, some homes...well little later on homes, we have the important buildings made now...."He smiles a little at the hot root, then what otter doesn't like hotroot.

Aqua nods, she steps off and sits elsewhere, some other otters come out of hiding, it's like hey the Skipper seems ok with visitors so let's see the visitors then ourselves, though some still stay back and just watch.

Ewan looks around as he slowly stands and walks over to be closer to Benar, but not real close to the river, seems he dislikes the river if he is too close to it.

Sinway pops back up from the water and swims over and climbs out, shaking his fur before grabbing his habit and putting it back on. He turns to the Skipper and gives a bow "Good t' see ye again Skipper, hope rebuildin' be goin' smoothly, hows the tavern comin' along?"

Gaheris already starts directing the champion and co further in to the camp with the lunch and their stuff "It's wise not t'tempt yer luck with vermin but y'definitely don't look like a target f'em now" He gestures to some of the otters to help as more appear to see the visitors "I'm sure no one 'ere will be apposed t'abbey food! Can 'ave a picnic in the grounds, easier than draggin' out the tables" His head tilts again as the hotroot is mentioned and the cart wheeled over. He looks surprised at the little pots and steps over to study the plants closely "Ohh, we got a few plants from the ruins but it's a fair way off of a good crop, this'll 'elp" He's distracted again at another familiar face and Sinway gets a grin "'Ey, not much past wha' y'last saw. Winter an' fields are demandin' things but buildin' it is goin' again"

Benar smiles and then turns as Matilda walks over and steps aside, "Skipper allow me to introduce Matilda, Champion of Redwall."

She holds out a paw and grins, "Pleasure, and glad the hotroot will come in handy, if we have less of it around the Abbot will stop experimenting with it."

"I will find the right mixture one day, just hot enough for me to enjoy without being overwhelming," He walks along as directed, deeper into the camp, "And a picnic sounds like a fine idea Skipper, it really is very nice to be here and out of the Abbey for a bit."

Gorvenalus follows "The...abbey is not always dull , most likely its cause many don't go out in winter and then just spring planting and all was going on, couple others things"

Taran smiles "I like the abbey but here is great too and its my home now, Camp Willow that is...and its great, oh I got my memories of the camp back recently too so that's good news"

Aqua just follows the others further into camp and silently keeps her distance, she is not really in the best of moods it would seem, but least the day is sunny.

Sinway frowns a little at hearing about the tavern walking beside Gaheris "Well, I would come help some more, but me new duties at the abbey, and some beasts not likin' me to travel by me self, has kept me from visitin' more." He looks to the champion "Some seem t' forget I know these woods like the back of me paw and tha' I used t' be a adventurer." He says loud enough for her to hear, then ducks out of site like a naughty dibbun before Matilda can turn towards him

Ewan says, "The camp is nice, was here couple times...checking on things and stuff.""

Gaheris reaches out to return the champion's pawshake "Aye, I think we met briefly after the last unfortunate battle, better t'do it properly on better circumstances" He chuckles "We probably like the hotroot a bit stronger than yer taste then but variation 'elps" The otters lead the way further in, helping navigate the carts and abbey beasts through the boggy lands around the camp until they're safely hidden from the outside work inside the camp. The Skipper just chuckles as Sinway dashes off to hide from trouble.

Matilda turns and looks after Sinway and then sighs, "Someone remind Sinway I know very well that he can take care of himself, but he is a Brother of the Order now, sworn to peace and doing no harm."

Benar chuckles and settles down on the grass, watching the otters and the Abbey beasts mingle, his staff resting on the ground next to him, "I'll have a word, but we can probably trust Sinway to make the trip back and forth between the Abbey and the Camp by himself, I used to go to the River and back all the time."

"Yes," Matilda grumbled, "I know, that's how you got Kidnapped, now behave you," She bows to the Skipper and heads off, "Let me go get some October ale for the Skipper here, be right back."

Benar shakes his head and chuckles, "You'll have to forgive the Champion Skipper, she can be quite protective of us all, but if you do need more beasts to help, or a hand with construction," he waves back at the beasts following, "Foremole is here with his team, they are a dab hand at construction, if you want them to have a look at your tavern I am sure they can help with moving construction along whilst we are here."

He looks around and leans back and smiles up at the skipper, "I have not been here since I was a dibbun living in the woods with my mother... it must be nearly... fifty, sixty seasons ago now... thank you for having us back, I think I'll sit here for a bit and watch, go after Matilda and sample the October ale, before she drinks it all."

Gorvenalus follows the Skipper and smiles as he looks around, there is some rebuilding which is good. "Having the Abbey and Camp Willow as friends is good, I do hope we are always friends"

Aqua speaks softly as she walks a little closer to the other otters "We need like some...fun around here or one of those..like otter get together,I remember one from.."She frowns, it was like right before the Camp was attacked."But this is fun and good also..."Yeah supplies and food and abbey good at that, its like the best to have around.

Ewan asks, "Halloballo?" He isn't sure if that's correct, he has only see a little on it and he is always for learning more history of the otters and of Mossflower while he is here."

The Skipper glances around to look at the moles "That's alright, really but 'ey, maybe they can throw together a house or two if they're feelin' like it, I know some of the families would like a little more space or Taran seems keen t'ave one" he says as he walks with the group "The alliance between Camp Willow and the abbey is older than the abbey itself, I think it'll go on forever" he says with grin for the beaver before he looks at the others "Hullabaloo. It's in summer but if y'want a picnic every day until we leave y'can do that. Fun is wha' y'make it!"

Gorvenalus chuckles "We are here a few days and I am sure the moles can help with a couple homes, they do build fast and are good at it. It seems your otters want the tavern a certain way anyways but having homes build can help ease the stress, and more room for when winter season comes, yes it may not be close now but never too early to be ready for it my friend. Brother Gorvenalus though I think we have meet, I am Recorder of Redwall Abbey and can help keep track of what is fixed or built and have a list of some supplies we have."

Taran smiles "Homes be nice, maybe help clear an area even, though some of the overgrowth is good to keep around, makes vermin less likely and ..well drawn to here as they would be and some want to keep the, well old housing area alone, someone even claims one home is haunted"

Aqua snorts "Haunted?..No such things as ghosts..."She frowns and looks at the ground "Sometimes wish there was though."

Ewan ears perk up "Some ghosts are real....like Martin, he is around though only lets it be known in times of danger or trouble or..other things" He thinks "Former..Badger Lords have been around too...again like when needed, like advise I suppose"

Gaheris shrugs at Gorvenalus "The tavern's an old bit of the camp, last big thing we need t'rebuild. Feels important t'do the work, make the place complete again ourselves...not tha' we ain't grateful f'the offer and it might just be me feelin' like that but we've still got the mess hall until it's done" as the food's getting shared around and the Skipper gets handed a drink everything starts settling down in to a nice unexpected feast "The 'are 'as a point. Stories are full of ghosts. I think we've got enough room t'build on fer now without disturbin' the ruins an' diggin' up the past"

Gorvenalus nods as he thinks "Well, those of your camp can always show a good place to, build some homes if they are wanted, maybe even help find any other needed areas maybe. The camp looks very good you all have done very well. I myself am hoping peace lasts."

Aqua frowns as she stands, she didn't really get much of the food or drink before she wanders off to where ever she seems to stay most of the time, likely the infirm or that herbal garden she is fixing up so they do have a garden of cooking and healing herbs, maybe not a perfect one but its slowly getting better and will likely over the next few seasons.

Taran says, "May be best to let certain areas just get more..covered up by weeds and vines. "He smiles "I know a place , maybe and a couple houses be fine, most seem content in the sleeping cabin we have and there is one that says tents are the best thing ever, I don't really but hey....never really had a tent, they are...odd""

Ewan says, "I might might look around, if its ok....not for like a map or anything , unless ya want one or need one?"

Gaheris points to Taran "Aye, I'll get the families tha' want houses t'tell yer what they want an' Taran can too" he chuckles at Taran "The abbey looks like they've bough enough tents f'a small army. If y'want t'try one I'm sure they'll share" he nods to Ewan "We've got some maps, mostly old. Any newer ones I've 'ad t'draw an' it's not me strong suit" he gestures toward the huge willow tree at the north end of the open grounds "If yer interested in tha' sort of thing we've got some rooms 'idin' under the tree with books, maps an' things"

Gorvenalus chuckles, "Ewan likes to explore a little, get to know an area and only seems to need to do it once"He looks over at some of the moles and abbey beasts chatting with the otters and smiles "Nice to see happy beasts today, and its good to bring some cheer to the camp"

Taran nods"Maybe , as said a couple before winter, homes that is and some are still sad and some seem happy or least when I see them, some otters are also afraid to go too far from camp, I will at times or..."He frowns "Some like Aqua sort of wander off and come back a couple days later....I am not sure that's wise even if the woods seem quiet lately"

Ewan speaks "I don't seem...I do, see a path once"He looks at the skipper "I may know someone who makes maps...seen a badger make one sort of once, maps are good sometimes and sometimes not, not good for places what want to be hidden from vermin, good for those inside to know of places around...hidden rooms in case of trouble or just places to avoid...like use to be a path off the river with tree rats, like rats with bones sew to their nose...think they left and I know where wild honey is but I suggest someone who is good with bees to get any of it"

Gaheris goes to clap a paw on Taran's shoulder "We're 'avin' a good day, try not t'focus on tha'. Aqua probably needs a bit f'time an' y'can't stop folks bein' scared but the Hullabaloo will 'opefully tempt 'em out anyway" he raises his drink to gesture at the hare "Well we got rough maps an' old maps of the safe spots through the marshlands, just nothin' overly accurate f'the layout of camp. We certainly ain't lookin' t'make a bunch of maps an' hand 'em out t'the next horde t'visit the area"

Gorvenalus smiles "Your likely be busy seeing whom goes and whom stays at camp during the otter get together as would be good to have a small few stay at camp or see if some others can watch it while your away, it be good for some summer fun" He sips some ale he gets and smiles"Even if its a hot day its still a nice day after some rain the past few days"

Taran nods "I..never been to a Halloballo...are they fun? Are they exciting?" He is clearly intrested "I think my mom and pop went to one before or more than one maybe"

Ewan nods "I will just look around, need to learn the area anyways, of the woods and such"

Gorvenalus smiles as he walks back over to where Benar is to chat until evening time, then it's time to get some rest, of course he does manage to talk the Champion into resting for the night and luckly a couple otters assure the Redwallers...the camp is safe and it's the otters job to keep an eye on things and they are guests.

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I play:
Oz-  Badger-young adult-Wanderer