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oz

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Registered: 2016-11-20

Posts: 1,659

Getting The Weather Vane Back Onto The Roof-Redwall Abbey Log

Benar has gathered his team up in the attics, the repaired weather vane is down in the Great Hall under the care of the Foremole and Champion Matilda. It has been cleaned up, repaired, fixed, and made good as new, now they just need to get it back onto the roof. Without the need for waiting for summer to build a scaffolding up the side of the southern gable of the main building which would take months.
 
So Benar has concocted a plan, it's a brave plan and his team is going to have to climb up the inside of the Great Hall following the abbot. He knows a secret way into the Sparra Loft and from there they can reach the roof! So their task is to climb up carrying all the ropes and equipment they need and for that task. Benar has gathered everyone in the attic waiting quietly and talking softer with Elder Elmef, the abbot is bare-foot, dressed in black trousers and a vest instead of his traditional habit to make it easier for him to climb.
 
Behind him is a crack in the brick wall and through it can be seen and dimly heard the great hall. The crack looks old and weathered and the Abbot is waiting next to it for everyone else to arrive up through the open hatch from the third floor into the attic.

Velm follows the abbot and looks at where they are going, "Well an adventure I say, should be interesting"

Caleb would soon come up through the hole after his talk with Xavier, having changed to something a little lighter but still warm. The young field mouse had disposed of his equipment for the day to keep himself light and spry.

Xavier found out what was going on and volunteered, like his father he likes to climb tall trees so the roof shouldn't be a problem right? Course would his father approve is another question as he enters the attic and gives a nod. "Hello.."

Chestnut is still up in the lofts but she knows those abbeyworms are coming and has let the other sparra know to be ready, to not attack, and to basically watch but stay clear. A few abbey beats are in the great hall curious of all this.

Benar smiles at everyone as they start to gather, "Hello everyone, thanks for volunteering with this, now then I will be leading the way up, Velm if you don't mind bringing up the last place then our two smaller friends can go in the middle."
 
He picks up a rope which has been arranged with padded sections, "This is going around all our waists and then that," He points to more rope and a pulley system and a bunch of other bits and bobs in packs, "Is what we need to carry up to the top to set up a pulley and rope system."

Velm nods "Can do...hmmm is this gonna be doable?" He is curious of course, he has done some climbing but never this sort of climbing and follow any directions given. He will also make sure the others follow directions as well like a rope around where it needs to be and other safety things.

Xavier sighs, " Why a rope fer?" Yes troubled teen here and it shows." Never needed one fer a tree..nor father. " But since the hare seems annoying,  well to him, he will still do it.

Chestnut looks to the slight noise,"Beumm here soonlike."A couple sparra just look bored, a couple curious and others seem to care less since it's clear they are just here for an important task and they are abbey beasts, so friends.

Benar looks between Velm and Xavier and sighs, this is going to be a day.

"You wear the rope young Xavier or you go back down stairs and can watch from the hall, the rope is so if anyone slips the remaining three of us can pull them back to safety."
 
The grey squirrel then ties the rope around his waist and hands the next segment to Xavier, "This is not like climbing a tree, it is not some lark in the orchard upsetting Elder Elmef by disturbing growing fruit. We are climbing a building and you will do as I instruct or you will go downstairs and watch."
 
He nods to Velm, "Glad to have you along," He murmurs in a low voice as he helps the hare tie the rope around his waist after also securing Caleb.

Velm gives Xavier a look he gives Recruits and Privates in the Long Patrol, he is a Lt. after all."Right young lad, best listen wot" He nods and stays alert as he is unsure what is to be found once they get higher up. He will let Benar mainly help Caleb, he will keep an eye on the shrew.

Xavier sighs. " Right...sir" He will listen as he knows to respect the abbot.

Caleb would make sure everything is secure, trusting the abbot more than himself with fully securing the rigging. He looks towards the others and just lets Velm and Xavier talk as he looks towards Benar. "Once we get up towards the roof, how do we secure the weather vane?"

In the lofts the sparra is ready and an area has been cleared for the 4 guests to do what is needed to do. A couple of order beasts below make sure no one gets in the way as this will take some time to do and careful work both up above and down below.

Krisha walks in and checks to see how things are going, frowning slightly at them being so high up, even higher on the roof she sighs at this. She can just watch from below and hope all goes well.

Benar nods and as everyone is secure hands a pack to Caleb, "Wear this, it has the tools we need for securing the weather vane to the roof once we are up there."
   
He then hands another pack to Velm, "This contains water and lunch for us all as needed,"
 
A third pack is handed to Xavier, "And this contains the tools we need to rig up the winch once we reach the rafters, now then if everyone is ready, any last questions? If not we can get going."

Velm gets his pack and nods "I am ready abbot."

Caleb would take up his pack and place it on his shoulders, nodding towards Benar. "I am ready as well!"

Xavier gets the pack, he starts to say something about giving the hare the food and water pack but decides to just be wise and not say anything. As for being ready he gives a small nod. He was ready as he was gonna be.

Benar leads the way through the gap in the wall and out onto the ledge above the great hall.
He takes a moment to move along carefully, allowing the others to join him, and smiles down, waving at Krisha and Foremole and the others. He then moves along to the spike set into the wall that leads up.
 
The spikes arch up the side and length of the great red sandstone arch leading up much, much further above the floor. "Are we ready?"

Krisha does wave but still looks concerned.

Velm tilts his head"Interesting view from here wot"Good thing he has no fear of heights. He stays in the back still to make sure the others are ok and being careful.

Caleb doesn't really have a fear either, the mouse looking down and waving to his mother. Unfortunately, he couldn't write while up here but he knew that Benar knew his hand signals by now so he'd signal that he was ready to go.

Xavier blinks, " Who made all..this? And do beasts do this..very often?" Likely no but he asks anyway, he is not afraid just very curious.

One  novice frowns "What if they fall, oh my goodness"

Brother Gorvenalus smiles "They know what they are doing not to worry"

Benar leads the way up, climbing up the spikes hand over hand as he moves up the spike slowly, glancing down at the others with a smile, "I climb up here all the time, it is my special place where I can get away from everyone else for a bit and watch the comings and goings of the abbey below."
   
He continues to climb up, pulling himself up the side of the archway, leading the team and their equipment up, up, up that arch.

Velm chuckles"Well ya secret be safe with me Abbot sur, not  to worry I shall tell no one" He climbs slowly also, it is a little tricky but he gets up there and looks down."Good view"

Caleb would look down below and just seem a bit scared. He hasn't been this far up in a long while and it showed. The young lad would slip just a tad bit he didn't fall off, thankfully.

Xavier shrugs, "My father has a tree close ta camp..." He frowns a little now and just climbs. he is also learning this is for sure very different from climbing any tree.

Brother Gorvenalus keeps a journal entry of the events to be read later and remembered. He will help keep those who don't need near Matilda and Foremole back.

Krisha does what is needed to keep the dibbuns away, in fact, she gets Sister Anna to take them elsewhere to play, some games in the dibbun room sound good.

 
All told it takes the group of four about thirty minutes to reach the top of the sandstone arch that holds up the roof. Benar pulls himself up onto the apex of the arch and settles down, moving along the ledge, sitting on the edge, his feet dangling over the edge as he smiles at the others.
 
"Doing good everyone, so next is the trickiest bit... we have to climb this stained glass window to reach the next point in our journey. But Velm hand out the water skin so we can all have a drink and take a moment to catch your breath.."

Velm nods as the climb is tiring. He gets the water skin to everyone, he gets a mall drink himself. Yes, he knows to ration it but he for sure is gonna visit the kitchens after this is all done that's a for sure.

Caleb would be a bit tired himself, sitting down near everyone else and taking a sip of the water skin as it's passed around. He takes a moment to write since he has the time. "So what is the plan to climb the window?"

Xavier almost slips but keeps going on up and looks unsure of the beam but decides to just stay focus, he was a future leader and can not show fear. but he has a little fear anyways but for now is fairly calm, trusting the others and now knowing why the rope is important to have.

Chestnut would check on the abbey worms as the sparrows call them but doesn't  want to spook anyone, so she aits at the entryway of the lofts for them to show up.

---------Benar (Room)----------
++POSE ORDER: Benar, Velm, Caleb, Xavier, Chestnut++
 
Benar takes a drink himself and smiles as he hands it back to the others to pass along to Velm.

"Plan for climbing the window is we climb up using the lead lining and use our claws and feet to climb higher and higher as we go."
   
He looks at everyone, "You all ready to get going again?"

Velm nods to this idea"Right...ok I am ready to move right along"

Caleb nods as he hands the waterskin back to be packed, simply nodding to Benar.

Xavier looks at where they are to go.."ok..."
 
Once past the lower part of the window Benar leads the way to the central stone rib that forms the window frame and leads the way up slowly and steadily. Using the handholds made by the finely carved patterns to climb higher and higher.
 
"See this is the best way to reach the rafters, once we reach the rafters and drop ropes down Foremole has a whole thing set up to help us lift stuff up as we need it."

Velm peeks down"Best way.....of course, the adventurous way I say"He is still alert and making sure the others are careful as they slowly climb, he is doing fairly well.

Xavier follows, he decides to not look down and is extra careful to climb

Abbey beasts still watch from below and those who need to, are ready to do what is needed to do.

Benar leads the way up to the top of the stained glass window, edging along the stone ridge at the very top of the frame. He then swings up and onto the plank that spreads out across the ridge and smiles, "Here we are, just a moment."
 
The squirrel swings out, loops his tail around, and then bounces up onto the rafters that line the roof of the abbey's great hall. He then positions the plank up to the loft door and pushes it open and climbs on through into the small loft space. Not quite the sparra loft yet but the lower loft where they can set up the pulley and tackle and ropes safely.
 
"Ok everyone come on up."

Velm goes across behind the others and stays alert, moves carefully, and makes sure no one falls.

Xavier gulps " ummmm that looks...unsafe. " He does get across, a bit slower than the rest of the beasts, and once across he sighs in relief." Ok..ok...that was..."

Caleb is just staying close behind the abbot, waiting to make sure that he was watching his footing while they swing across and such.

Chestnut decides to flutter down to where the abbey beasts are but she does keep her distance and watches them. She will speak soon. Down below beasts are ready for any orders given to get the weather vane up here.

"Hello your Majesty," The abbot bows toward Chestnut then turns to the others, "Ok let's get this tackle system set up."
 
He starts to directing people to rig up the pulley system and start to drop the ropes back down to the main hall so they can set up the elevator system that Foremole has devised together the weathervane and a few extra hands up here to help out.

Velm nods a hello to the sparrow, he will let the abbot do the talking though as he likely will just make sure all this is done safely with getting the weather vane up.

Caleb seems just a bit frightened of the sparrow but nods and goes about helping out the others to rig up everything.

Xavier starts to back up a little, almost falls in fact , he frowns and slowly, carefully, sits down.

Down below Krisha will help if needed, she is one of the stronger beasts in the abbey to help Matilda and Foremole.

Gorvenalus watches with some other order beasts, this is something of interest to most of the abbey.

Benar lets everyone who climbed up with him rest as needed, working with Velm to make sure the block and tackle are set up and the pulley system as well. He moves with the others, setting up the ropes, and then well it is mostly sitting back to wait.
 
The weathervane is on a wooden platform with the Foremole and some of his beasts then it is the job of everyone on the ground to pull on the rope to slowly, surely raise it up, up, up into the air toward the attic.

Velm helps get things set up and in working order, a frown sent to Xavier. But rest is good as more climbing waits.

Chestnut bows "Greetings Abborworm and other worm friends" She stays off to the side, but once she does inspect the stuff they brought up here, and looks to the abbey beasts below and back to where the sparra loft is.
 
Benar is courteous to the Sparra Queen and lets her look around all their stuff before serving lunch for everyone and then getting back to work.
   
It takes about an hour to lift the weathervane up on its platform, it is heavy and slow going, even with Krisha and Matilda and others helping to haul on the ropes. But eventually, it is up and the heavy cast-iron piece is maneuvered carefully through the trapdoor into the loft space.
   
"Ok well done everyone, right then if everyone can help lift it up we can get it up onto the roof and put it back in place."

Velm nods"Alright, look lively let's do this...carefully and we might jolly well be done in time for supper"

Xavier nods as he is ready to go on after a rest and light lunch. " Yeah let's go I am ready for the roof."

Caleb would work around lifting up from the underside, nodding to the others as he keeps up his stuff.

Chestnut heads back into the sparrow loft. And will likely follow them to the roof to watch them, from a distance as to not get in the way.

Benar doesn't help with the lifting, he walks with Chestnut, letting her guide the way onward toward the roof.

"Well Chestnut, it has been many seasons since this Abbeyworm was up here at this end of the Abbey, thank you for letting us pass through your nests."

Velm looks around, keeping a respected distance of any sparra and helping carry the weather vane. The roof should be interesting.

Caleb had eaten lunch with the others and now was working his way with them to keep the weathervane up, looking around the area as he was interested to see what the sparrows had up here.

Xavier looks inside and stays by the others.

Chestnut nods "Issa welcome Abbotworm, otherworms.....is okiekay today,butnotta other days, noway..warning was wisegood for worms to give Queen Chestnut" The other sparrow, not all the sparrow seem to be here, maybe about  15-20, then some have left for various reasons and of the number is, of course, the prince Anil and another couple egg chicks as they call their young.
 
Through the sparra loft, up the next trapdoor and onto the rooftop!
The tiled roof slopes down away from everyone but we have made it, the climb, the pulley system, and now the guided tour through the sparra loft by their queen and out onto the roof.
 
Benar and Chestnut continue to lead the way toward the point where the weather vane needs to be placed back into its home

Velm moves slowly along and to the roof, he hmmms"Anyone dislikes heights do not look down..tis taller than a tree"

Caleb would take out the tools to help secure the weathervane, starting to slowly put it back in.

Xavier frowns why the hare have to mention how it's so high up. He makes the mistake of looking down and gasps,  he quickly turns around and after a couple of deep breaths, he helps where told.

Chestnut lands by where the weather vane is being placed and moves aside as she watches"Isa now have happier abbeyworms yes? Have ...vane back on rooftop now" She watches till it's fixed completely and smiles best a bird can smile.

The mounting for the weathervane needs replacing as they had suspected but Foremole brought up a new mount and soon enough he has the old one removed and the new one being put into place. They work along together to make sure the new mounting is in place and then the repaired weathervane is slid into place and locked in place.
 
Stepping back from the work Benar spins the mouse carved of iron that spins to point out the weather and nods and moves back along the crown of the roof. "Thank you Queen Chestnut for letting us lowly abbeyworms come up here to put this back, it means a lot to our people to have it back up here."
 
After a few more pleasantries Benar leads the way back down into the loft and onto the platform that lowers them all back down to the abbey floor. Chestnut is then clear to close the hatch and the rope is extracted with everyone safely back on the ground where they belong.

---

I play:
Oz-  Badger-young adult-Wanderer