Miscommunication (IC RWA RP 5.30.2020 Dibbun Slavers TP)

BlisaMarshmellow · 2020-05-30 07:34:44 PM

SCENE: Redwall Abbey's Southern Walltop
RW Abbey: South Walltop
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Trees, trees, and more trees! Little more is visible when looking out from the southern walltop. Elm, beech, and oak pan out in a bushy canopy as far as the eye can see. A few particularly old trees poke out above the others, stretching their gnarled limbs towards the few clouds in the azure sky. In the distance, the dirt road winds its way southward, cutting a snakelike path through the trees.

Below, outside the Abbey walls, lie the grasslands, stretching for quite a ways. The south wall radiates heat, oppressing, stifling, and unavoidable. Straining one's eyes through the shimmering air, one might be able to glimpse St. Ninian's church.
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Exits: (E)ast, (W)est

LOG:
LilyMoore has been speaking with the ferret in charge of the Ferravalian force and Virginia the rook, and they have agreed that the Southern Wall needs the most attention. So they have rearranged the Ferravale, bird, and Redwall guards, putting the more experienced fighters on the Southern Walltop, while the fighters with the least amount of experience are on the Northern Wall. The southern half of the Eastern and Western walls also have the more experienced fighters stationed there.
Currently the Bellringer and Temporary Gatekeeper is on the Southern Wall herself, checking on everyone and passing around drinks. Terfil the newt is following her around, like he and Zarok the monitor lizard have been doing inexplicably since the party went off to hunt down the slavers. The mousemaid has forced the newt to help her pass out the drinks. Butterclaw the sparrow is also helping. He looks very dashing with his helmet and battle claws.

Gaheris has spent a great deal of time up on the walls since he arrived. If anything it was peaceful so far and standing guard was the only time he ever felt comfortable staying still for long periods of time. He's not used to all the Ferravale folks and their birds but he's trying to ignore his discomfort there and staring out across the woods lost in his own thoughts. The beast next to him thanking LilyMoore for the drink snaps him out of it and he looks over, an eyebrow raising at the mouse's entourage of newt and sparrow. Redwall was a strange place. He's grateful for the drink anyway and tries to hide the funny look he was giving them "Thank y'Miss. The sun's a mite friendly t'day, a drink's the next best thing t'a cloud right now"

LilyMoore smiles. "Of course! We don't want our defenders getting sick from the heat." She gives him a look full of friendly curiosity. "You're the Skipper from Camp Willow, right?" Butterclaw moves on to the next few beasts, giving them their drinks and letting his best friend talk. Terfil, however, stays right where he is, watching the mousemaid, who is calmly ignoring him as if this is an everyday occurrence. Redwall is a mighty strange place, indeed.

Gaheris drinks a little first before he offers out a big webbed paw to shake when he knows who he is "Aye, tha's me" he chuckles "I barely seem t'ave t'do introductions anymore" it's kinda weird just being known but he was getting used to it "Y're one of the locals, aye?"

It seems Lily isn't the only one who is going about checking on those posted on the walltops. A small, sandy-furred hare, stoutly built, missing half an ear, his face a roadmap of various scars and appearing to have an air of importance and dignity about him (despite not quite having a rank that reflects this just yet) is meandering about the watchers on the walltop, paws held behind his back as he looks over those on guard, seemingly making sure they are all going about it the correct way. Or it least in the way he feels is correct. "Chin up, lad, remember t'keep yer eyes trained on that spot there, right where th'forest meets th'path." He extends a paw and points out towards the forest, giving the shrew he is speaking with a light nudge. "Aye, good. You there, remember t'keep yer eyes peeled an' keep an eye on th'ditch. Seems that's a good place for th'vermin t'try and hide out." He wanders over towards a nearby mouse, making sure she is looking where she is supposed to be. He spots Gaheris and Lily, a smile breaking over his scarred muzzle. "Afternoon! Not too shabby a lot y'got 'ere. Little more discipline here and there, but when yer in a situation like this one, y'can't be picky." He is wearing a cloak over what appears to be flashes of a Long Patrol uniform, and he wiggles his single ear at the two of them.

The tall mousemaid nods as she shakes the otter's paw. "Aye, I'm LilyMoore, although you can call me Lily. I'm the Bellringer. My mom is DoraRose, the Gatekeeper. Since she's off trying to rescue our Dibbuns, I'm also temporary Gatekeeper. I've lived here in Redwall my whole life." She smiles and waves at the hare. "Well, Redwall is not a military base, so we kind of don't go in for that type of discipline." Turning to the newt, she gestures at the Sparra, who is almost halfway across the East Wall. "Terfil, please go help Butterclaw." The newt shakes his head. Lily stomps her foot. "Terfil, he needs help, and I'm tired of you always following me around! Now go! Shoo!" She shoves the newt in his way. He trundles off, hands the drinks to a Novice, then scuttles down the wallsteps and hides in some bushes where he can watch without the mouse seeing him.

"Ah! Y're the gatekeeper. I was wantin' t'take a nosy around the weapons in yer gate'ouse sometime and see wha' we got t'work with if we need it" the Skipper says before his attention also goes to the hare "Y'must be one of the group tha' turned up the other day. Us otters ain't exactly military folk either, or we don't go marchin' places anyway, we'll fight like 'ell though" they do at least train for fights. He looks back again as Lily's shooing away the newt. He tilts his head "Y'got some interestin' friends around 'ere" he says after the newt has left, slightly amused.

Monty aims a simple nod of understanding towards Lily. "Aye, fair enough, ma'am. Please excuse th'more rigid manner, it's just parta home kinda slippin' through. When I see others on guard n'such, it's more an instinctive reaction more n' anythin." The hare does seem friendly enough despite his appearance, the smile on his muzzle making the rest of his features light up that much more. He gives a nod to Gaheris, "Aye, mate, that'd be correct. When I laid eyes on th'place on our way 'ere, I had t'stop meself from breakin' into a dead sprint. Heard many stories about this place, wanted t'see how many of em were true, wot." He eyes the otter for a moment. "Camp Willow, yeah?" he guesses. "Heard about you lot. Buncha th'bravest and most fearless creatures in alla th'lands, from th' stories I've heard..."

LilyMoore frowns. "Actually, our weapons are stored in the training yard, off the Champion's cottage. Any weapons in the Gatehouse belong to my family alone. I think I can get you in the training yard, though. I know we have a lot of quarterstaffs..." she trails off, visibly flustered at being called 'ma'am.' "Um, uh, yeah, sure, okay....well, I don't know all the stories you've heard, but I know Redwall is the best place in the world." She scowls down at the newt, who is actually failing at hiding (mostly because he's bright orange and the bush he chose to hide in is green). "Although sometimes the friends you make here are annoying....ever since my mom left, Terfil and Zarok have been following me around everywhere. It's driving me crazy!"

Gaheris nods once to Monty and grins "Aye, Skipper of the camp. I guarantee those stories are entirely true. Bravest, fearless and modest t'boot" he offers the hare a paw to shake too. He doesn't exactly have as many scars as the hare but he's got a few to show he's been through a few scraps and the bald bit on his tail looked like it burnt but he's still in one piece so far. He looks back down to Lily again "Ah, I am mistaken. I'll 'ave t'check the trainin' yard. I was 'opin' for bows and slings meself. If there's rats comin' I'd rather keep 'em outside than invite 'em in t'hit 'em with sticks"

Monty leans against the nearby parapet, arms folding across his chest as he regards Lily and Gaheris. "I most definitely wouldn't make a bet against that, m'lady..." He chuckles. "I'm sure there's a reason as t'why there are so many stories of this place. Y'can run into someone miles an' miles away, y'mention th'name Redwall an' their face lights up like th'sun," he muses. "It's a bloody flippin' shame our visit had t'be under such dire circumstances. Still, we're gonna make th'best of it an' make sure this place is protected so y'can keep on welcomin' beasts in for years n'years to come." He straightens himself up, expression shifting as if just realizing something. "Oh! Pardon me fer bein' rude, I never even introduced m'self afore I started talkin' yer ears off!" The grin returns as he gives his ear another waggle, paw extending to grip Gaheris's firmly in a strong grip. "Private Montgomery Alexander Reginald William Baxter Fleetpaw the III, at yer service. Woo, haven't said th'whole thing in awhile, feels nice. Rolls right off th'tongue, it does." He laughs. "M'daddo gets th'blame fer that."

The slender mousemaid thinks for a moment. "We have lots of slings, and plenty of pebbles. I think we have a number of bows. I have a bow," she adds with modest pride. "But yeah, I'll make sure you can get in there to see what other weapons we have." She smiles at the hare, but her eyes widen as he introduces himself. "Um....what should we call you, then?" She offers her paw to shake. "I'm LilyMoore, Bellringer and temporary Gatekeeper. But you can call me Lily...not, um, m'lady." She is not usually addressed with such formal titles, and her discomfort shows.

"Well if we get past this alright, and the dibbuns make it back soon, we're bound t'ave a feast for the ages tha' y'can enjoy" Gaheris says before he shakes Monty's paw back just as firmly though he has very little in the way of ears to waggle so the hare has him beat there "Ha! That's a 'are name alright. Just call me Skip" he looks back to Lily again and grins as she says she has a bow "Any archer'll 'elp" he's got his bow on him while he's guarding. He chuckles a little at her discomfort too.

Monty slips his paw from Gaheris and extends it to Lily as she offers hers. He gives her paw a squeeze as he shakes, not too hard, he has to remind himself that it's not a fellow hare whose paw he is shaking. "Oh, right, that...likely would be helpful. Y'couldn't go around recitin' the entire thing every time, otherwise y'd be standin' here all bloody day, y'would!" The shorter hare grins. "Er, Monty, fer short. Simple n'concise. Adj...er, Adrian...calls me Mont, sometimes. Which is even shorter." He gives Lily a nod, "Lily, righto! Pretty name, that is. Oh, and, er...slings n'stones are perfect fer walltop defendin'. Generally easy t'handle and learn, an' once ya pick it up, is fairly accurate. Bounce a coupla stones offa th'rats bonces an' send em home cryin' t'their mothers...." The hare grins to Gaheris. "M'sure ya know all about that sorta thing, doncha, mate?"

LilyMoore smiles and squeezes the hare's paw enough to let him know that she's much stronger than she looks. She understands this whole Warrior thing. "Thank you, Monty. I was named after my mother's late sister." She rests her paw on the blue cat's-eye pommel stone of the sword she has hanging from her belt. "I also know how to use a sling, and I have a crossbow. My dear friend Marek had it made for me." She listens to them as they talk. She is not very experienced in battles, and she has even less experience with killing other creatures. So she is willing to listen and learn from others.

Gaheris nods once as the shorter name is provided "Monty. I think I 'ave a chance of rememberin' tha'" he didn't like his chances of remembering the whole thing at all. He feels like he's already forgotten half of it. There's a chuckle for Monty's question "I'll say this ain't my first time standin' on one of Redwall's walls shootin' at vermin" he wrinkles his nose at Lily's mention of her crossbow though, making his generous amount of whiskers bristle "Never did get on with crossbows. Every one I've seen ended up bein' in the paws of some vermin usin' poison with it"

Monty does indeed notice that bit of unexpected strength in Lily's paw, the hare inwardly impressed. "Well th'name lives on in good paws, then..." he replies to Lily with a warm smile. He also notices the sword on her belt, and he crouches down a moment to examine it. "Hmm. Nice blade, as well. I m'self tend t'use smaller blades, daggers more n'anythin' else, I suppose. Have m'reasons behind it. How are ya at wieldin' it?" He straightens himself back up, dusting off his cloak. "Good, knowin' how to use a sling, that'll save a bit of time. Gotta get th'rest of those on th'walltops t'learn an' we'll be all set, m'thinkin'." He shoots a grin to Gaheris, "Yeah, tend t'not use the entire thing very often fer that very reason, mate." He gives him a knowing nod, "And aye, y'have t'looks of a right proper warrior, y'do, I'm proud t'say I'll be standin' beside ye when we get around t'defendin' th'Abbey n such." He leans over to give the otter a light nudge. "They might outnumber us, but they're gonna get th'surprise of a bloody lifetime if they think we're just gonna roll over n'let em take the Abbey."

LilyMoore catches a glare aimed at the hare from a nearby Ferravalian stoat. "Um, Monty, most of these fighters are actually quite experienced, especially the Guosim and our friends from Ferravale. Almost all of the beasts here up on the walls already know how to use a sling." She looks down at the sword. "It's actually my mother's sword, she's just having me use it while she's hunting down the slavers who took our Dibbuns. Her father, the best Blacksmith in Tuscani, where Mom's from originally, made it for her." She turns to the otter. "You must not have ever met my friend Marek, then. He started evil, but he never used poison. Something happened in his life, and he repented of his wicked ways and became a strong ally of the Abbey. He died saving me." She swallows, the sorrow of losing her friend still there, but she stands a little taller, sure her friend would be proud of her.

Log-A-Log has decided to see how things are going on this part of the wall tops "Greetings all and how are you all being today?" He asks in a friendly voice.

Gaheris glances around at the collection of fighters they've got together on the walls "It ain't y'uniformed lot but they'll send a pack of rats runnin' all the same" he nods down at the grounds inside the abbey "It's everyone else wha' might not know 'ow t'fight. We don't want them t'ave t'of course but we didn't want rats comin' this way either so it doesn't seem like it'd 'urt t'be prepared" he raises a paw when the Log-a-log makes his appearance "'ey mate. It's warm and y'missed the drinks!" he chuckles. Talk of swords he doesn't comment on but he nods at Lily when she mentions the Marek fight "Aye, never met the beast but I were there for tha' end fight. Tha' were a bad one. Tha's wha' 'appens if we don't keep 'em outside the walls"

Monty laughs as he notices the glares he receives from a few on the wall there. "Aye, am quite aware, was s'pposed t'be a joke, y'see, though it seems I didn't get the audience reaction I was intendin' to." He chuckles. "Is always good t'try an' keep th'mood as light as possible, there'll be plenny o'time fer bein' all dark n'serious when th'fightin' starts." As Log-a-Log arrives, the smaller hare gives the shrew a grin and a nod. "Couldn't be peachier, thank y'fer askin', mate. Beautiful evenin', friendly beasts n'a bit o'battle talk, what could be better?" Monty chuckles. "And aye, bein' prepared is th'best thing we could be, an' I'm gonna do m'best t'help make sure all th'ones who aren't as used t'this sorta thing are as ready as they c'n be. S'my duty as a Patroller, y'know."

LilyMoore shakes her head at the hare. "Most of the Redwallers who aren't up on the walls don't know that there's rats coming because if they knew, they'd panic. Please, before you go around trying to teach beasts things, you need to talk to Abbot Benar. He's trying to keep the approaching battle as quiet as possible." She rubs an eye. "And you do realize many of the Feravalians know of the Long Patrol's stance that 'the only good vermin is a dead vermin,'" she makes quotes in the air with her fingers as she says this "right? So while the ones here in Redwall are fully in support of our peace treaty with Redwall, they won't take any jokes that make them seem less than capable or good well." Some of the vermin on the walls do look mighty suspicious of the hare now, and they didn't before he started talking.
LilyMoore waves at the shrew. "Oh, hi, Log-a-Log." The smile that almost always adorns her face is absent for the moment.

Log-A-Log smiles at the mousemaid, he looks to the woods and sits down"Quiet, but the quiet is not always being good I think, quiet could mean illl will as well as good"

Gaheris raises his eyebrows at Lily's speech to Monty and then give Monty a quick look while she's talking. He doesn't interrupt her but he speaks up when she's done "No one's said anythin' about the beasts 'ere t'elp so don't lets go stirrin' things up. 'e says it's a joke, fightin' beasts rib each other a lot. Y'don't 'ave t'take 'is word for it but we don't need t'be makin' this in t'some big thing. Now aye, the beasts in the abbey don't know and I ain't been tellin' 'em until the Abbot agrees but they're goin' t'find out, all these extra guards on the walls some of 'em might start guessin' stuff but honestly the sooner they do find out the sooner we can make sure they're ready in case they need t'be" he glances back down to the shrew "Hm, well, I'll take all the quiet we can get right now"

Monty chuckles. "Well, if that is th'case, Lily, then I'm not gonna utter a word t'anyone, t'have my word as a Patroller. Certainly don't wanna cause a panic when there's no need for one. My apologies if I offended anyone." The hare begins to make his way towards the stairs. "In any case, since things seem t'be taken care of up here, m'gonna have a bit of a looksee 'round th'Abbey, mebbe check all th' doors t'make sure they're all sealed an' no one c'n get in from th'outside. Might as well make m'self useful, instead of makin' alla you lot up here angry..." he chuckles. "Have a good evenin', yeah?" He turns and makes his way down the stairs, and he is soon gone.

LilyMoore frowns, looking confused. "They do? But why? That seems so mean." Because apparently the mouse is a very literal person. She sits beside the shrew and sighs, staring out at the woodlands. "I wish the rats would just go away forever. I wish we had more peaceful times, to be honest..."

Log-A-Log just frowns"I be...miss something?" He asks and decides to not worry"Peace will come again I am sure nd we all will be at our homes and happy"

Gaheris shakes his head as he speaks to Lily "Y'either 'ave t'ell 'em and prepare 'em so they're ready and past the first panic once the vermin get 'ere or y'wait until the rats turn 'em and let 'em really panic then. It ain't mean t'warn beasts about danger comin' when they can still do somethin' about it. We need some bird or somethin' t'do some scoutin' and check for numbers and where they're up t'. If they've turned away we don't need t'worry anyone but if they're still comin' 'ere it's only a matter of time" he looks back down to Log-a-log "The Abbot or no one tell y'about the rats? Group of 'em got spotted t'the south 'eadin' this way. We don't know if they'll come 'ere yet but it's lookin' likely"

LilyMoore shakes her head at the otter. "No, I mean, why would fighters rib each other like that? That's never how I would treat my friends." She turns back to the woodlands. "Maybe Virginia can send out a couple of her birds," she adds, then answers the shrew. "I guess I don't understand beasts, is all, Log-a-Log. Everything is confusing." A rook starts winging her way towards them from the main Abbey building.

Log-A-Log nods "I was updated yes...just seems all be tense up 'ere is all, we all should get along after all my friends." He shrugs "Maybe...I do know a runner hare was sent to get more help from Blisa if he was able to"

Gaheris looks surprised as he hadn't considered that that's what she was asking about "Oh..." he shrugs "It's just...'ow y'do it. Like friendly competition? Do y'do tha'?" he waves a paw dismissively at the Log-a-Log's words "Ah, it's fine. Different beasts doin' things in different ways"

LilyMoore blinks. "No, not really. I mean, we do here in Redwall, but I don't really. Why would I do that to my friends? I'm not better than them." The rook is making her rounds in the orchards, checking on the off-duty blackbirds in the trees.

Log-A-Log hmmms "We shrews sometimes argue...a lot over things, ha ha..."He grins" Had a boat race once."

Gaheris gestures at Log-a-log "There, if y'want an example of friends arguin' but still bein' friends look at shrews. It's not bein' better than anyone, it's not even thinkin' yer better. It's just...y're 'avin' a boat race and y'say the other guy doesn't know which end of the oar is which, then 'e says y'don't even know land from water. Y'both know it's not true, y'just jokin' around. Y'give as good as y'get and it gives y'a chance t'use all those witty come backs y'never would normally"

LilyMoore frowns. "....I guess I'll never understand that," she sighs. "I never come up with witty comebacks. I just cry." Redwall is pretty sheltered from that kind of stuff, seeing as how most of the creatures here are as far from being Warriors as apples are from acorns.

Gaheris shrugs a shoulder "Well it's easier if y'grow up with it and y'ain't exactly swimmin' in fightin' sorts around 'ere. Y'don't 'ave t'do it anyway and I promise I'll try t'remember never t'joke around like tha' with y'"

LilyMoore smiles and nods. "Okay. And I'll try to not take it so literally when I see others doing it with each other." She stands and peers down, noting that Terfil is still hiding in his bush. "I guess I should go check on my friends and make sure Butterclaw hasn't gotten stuck on anything with his new battleclaws. It was nice meeting you. I hope you enjoy your stay in Redwall." And she walks off to find her bird friend, the newt not-so-stealthily following her from the ground.

~*END*~

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#1 2020-05-30 07:34:44 PM

Miscommunication (IC RWA RP 5.30.2020 Dibbun Slavers TP)

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