Nearing an End of a Quest - A Snake in the Sand Sequel

Ol'random · 2022-02-07 07:02:08 PM

Added June 4th, 2022:

Log I; Hireling wages (March 7th, 2022)

Atticus, a ferret, and Sassafrass, a fox, + Urtas, a spoof
Having made their departure some weeks ago from his father in Halyard, Urtas and his servant Atticus have travelled east to Mossflower Country with a small guard of some six creatures. Upon arriving, the young mouse wished to see the village of Ferravale.

Log II; First Contact (March 12th, 2022)

Atticus, Blisa, Patch, & Snarlfang, + Urtas, spoofed
The young Urtas and his companion Atticus meet the chieftain of Ferravale.

Log III; A ‘Chance’ Meeting in the Infirmary (March 14th, 2022)

Atticus & Sassafrass
In the Ferravale Infirmary, Atticus meets his new friend to discuss the local happenings.

Log IV; Meanwhile, in Halyard… (March 19th, 2022)

Sgt. Adrian S. & Lt. W. Lossow, hares + Pvts. Konner A. & E. Sheen, spoofs
Though the lord Urtas and his companion Atticus have travelled to Mossflower Country, the young mouse's father, Wulf, remained in Halyard upon the Western Shore with a considerable company of beasts.
The Long Patrol, naturally, are curious as to what is happening in the port-town, and so dispatched a small scouting party to investigate.

Log V; the Search (March 26th, 2022)

SGT Adrian S., LT W. Lossow, & PVT E. Sheen, hares
Less than an hour past that very same evening in Halyard, the three hares of the Long Patrol make their way carefully through the town to find their lost comrade.

Log VI; A Reunion (April 11th, 2022)

SGT Adrian, LT Lossow, & Rt-LT Elbio
A reunion, four days following the loss of Konner & the night in the tavern.

Log VII; Slavers (IC’ly March 26th)

Atticus, a ferret, Bossfox, a fox (id never have guessed), Blisa, a cat, & Patch, a rat
The slavers in Mossflower are dealt with, and Atticus dances away from the knife's edge.

Log VIII; A Newcomer to Redwall (April 9th, 2022)

Cota the mouse, Badger Mother Krisha, Spruce the squirrel, Urtas, a mouse, & an unnamed sea otter
Some time after the disastrous meeting between Urtas and Blisa, the young mouse lord and Atticus parted ways for the time being - the ferret stayed near Ferravale while his master traveled south...

Log IX; What’s going on? (April 16th, 2022)

Krisha and Oz, badgers, Dochas and Spruce, squirrels, & Urtas and Jerome, spoofed mice
After Urtas meets Dochas & Oz, the badger cub makes a break for it out of Redwall. He's caught, naturally, first by the squirrel kit then by his mother, Krisha.

Log X; Two Lieutenants Speak (April 20th, 2022)

Rt-LT Elbio & LT Lossow
Back in Halyard, while waiting for an opportunity to escape the town, Lossow speaks to Elbio for seemingly the first time…

Log XI; Patch makes a new friend! (April 23rd, 2022)

Atticus, John, & Patch
In Mossflower Country, several local creatures have banded together to help establish a small landing upon the River Moss...

Log XII; a Return (April 23rd, 2022)

SGT Adrian, Rt-LT Elbio, & LT Lossow + spoofs
Four hares return to the 23rd, yet Konner’s still missing.

Log XIII; Catching up in the Hallways (May 14th, 2022)

SGT Adrian, PVT Cole, Rt-LT Elbio, MSGT Terrence, & CPT Velm
Back in Salamandastron, the Long Patrol discusses their options... and Terrence needs a new corporal, again!

Log XIV; Sentry Duty & News from the 23rd

In Salamandastron, Privates Rhonwen and Sheen are on sentry duty when word comes from the 23rd...
Pvt Rhonwen & MSG Terrence, + LCpl Addersmith, Pvt E. Sheen, & Lt. Redford (all spoofed by Terrence)

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

Quick OOC: Not a proper log, but something I wrote to introduce the next part of the overarching plot that I began with A Snake in the Sand & two characters that I'll be using and their relationship to each other. In short: a sort-of cutscene à la Jinora's style from a few years back.
I'll post logs that follow this plot in the replies like I did with the SitS plot, and ask that anyone who wants to does the same

Nearing an End of a Quest, prologue

A letter from Halyard had arrived in the later stages of the winter festivities: a week later, a member of the Band of Merchants chose several beasts to accompany him across the Great Sea.

Gulls wheeled over head as the sun peeked out from the grey clouds: despite it being wintertime, the passage over the great sea had been calm and without incident. For two weeks the ferret had been cooped up on the grand ship with little to do but read or discuss their plans for when they reach the northlands. Once before had he been near to the great fire mountain in the village of Halyard but that was many seasons ago, and he had not passed that way on his return journey.

"Vidug," one of the mice called the name he had given by his masters, "I daresay it's another pleasant day." The mouse settled himself upon the railing next to the ferret, casting his gaze out over the blue water.

"Indeed," the vermin offered a smile, "And no matter the length of travel, it is good to be rid of that city again, no? But this shall be your first time setting yourself on the distant lands, is it not? You must be teeming with excitement."

"Of course, Vidug," laughed the mouse, "I'm certainly looking forward to it. Is it true fire spouts from the mountain?"

"Not that I've ever seen," he raised a paw to belay the crestfallen face, "But I have seen little of this side of the great sea's shore, in truth. Even less so of the fire mountain. You may see it yet, I should say."

"It's a shame you got off by yourself for so long. If I needn't have abided by the will of elders I would have gone with you."

"I know. It hasn't been so long that I've forgotten that day - nor your skills at the time. You were put in charge of the grain storage, weren't you?"

The mouse's face darkened, prompting a slight grin from the ferret.

"Twas boring work, no doubt?"

"No doubt." The mouse echoed.

Atticus threw back his head to give a deep laugh.

"Urtas, be glad it's over and done with then! Those seasons are behind you, with far more promising ones in front, I shall say. Certainly more exciting than grain counting and your daily exercises with the blade, eh?"

The mouse nodded, leaning once more on the ship's railing. The escort ship was some fifty yards behind them, trailing with a company of many good beasts ordered to follow them.
"Do you suppose we may have to make use of the sword, if it comes to it?" Urtas asked suddenly, pushing himself off the railing and turning to face ferret.

"I hope not. After all, we're to avoid coming to blows if at all possible."

"And will these barbarians be willing to heed us, I wonder?"

"They will, if we're careful to not threaten them overmuch. Calm reasoning is the safe option regardless, and even a wolverine can't resist honey that's freely offered." Atticus said, "I doubt they'll ever trust us fully in our lifetime, but the future may surprise us, friend."

The two ships, one a three masted behemoth followed by a war galley, shall arrive in Halyard's harbour in the next few days, and with them the rumour spreads that they seek a meeting with the Badger Lord of Salamandastron.

Last edited by Ol'random (2022-06-06 04:24:43 PM)

Ol'random · 2022-03-08 02:07:58 PM

I; Hireling Wages

March 7th, 2022

Atticus, a ferret, and Sassafrass, a fox
+ Urtas, a mouse (Spoofed)

Having made their departure some weeks ago from his father in Halyard, Urtas and his servant Atticus have travelled east to Mossflower Country with a small guard of some six creatures. Upon arriving, the young mouse wished to see the village of Ferravale.

Into the peaceful fields of Ferravale a rather unprepossessing figure comes skulking -- a neat yet scrawny-looking young vixen with an oddly patched cloak drawn around her, the loose edges of the fabric fluttering like leaves as she picks her way through the snow. Why she's come around the backs of the village's buildings rather than using the road is anyone's guess, but from the way her gaze darts about and her ears flick back and forth, it looks as if she's trying to scope out the town without drawing much notice to herself.

This is rather ridiculous, considering how terribly suspicious she's managing to look.

The vixen is not the only one sulking about the outskirts of Ferravale! Some fifty yards to the west, near the line of trees, a ferret and mouse lie prone halfway in an irrigation ditch.

"So that is Ferravale, then? That village there?" The mouse whispers, peering over the top - only to be pulled back down. "Yes," The ferret replies, "Yet I doubt it would look good tramping about in their fields, but I could have sworn there was an entrance this way last I was here." Neither have noticed the fox yet.

On her circuitous westward trek across the meadows, the vixen slinks around a tree, sidles around the side of toolshed, and scuffles quietly along the margin of some scattered shrubs, ears continually in motion. It's only when she's edging along one of the trampled paths that she comes to abrupt halt and stares, hard, in the direction of the ditch. Possibly she caught a hint of motion from the mouse's unwary peek over the top. Her eyes narrow in suspicion, and she doesn't budge another inch.

Inside the ditch, Atticus' ears twitch at the same moment the mouse flattens himself against the side. Some frantic paw gestures in the general direction of the movement around the tool shed follow, and the ferret starts to put the pieces together. After a moment or two of silent debate, Atticus shrugs his shoulders and rises with an easy grin replacing the earlier fear and surprise.

Still unsure who or what the the mouse meant, he casts his gaze over towards the shed. "Hello!" He calls, pleasantly, "Come out, if you don't intend to attack us. Or if you are, I warn you it might not go your way."

As a ferret rises suddenly out of the ditch only a few yards ahead of her, Sassafrass still doesn't move from her spot on the path -- but her ears snap straight up and she stares towards the ditch with a wide-eyed golden gaze. There might be a hint of a gulp, but then the vixen gives herself and her cloak a careless shake and puts on an entirely disingenuous smile. "Attack you?" she calls back. "I? Surely not, my good ferret. I am but a poor healer, and no threat to anybeast in the world." She spreads her paws wide, disarmingly, even as one ear begins a sharp twitching.

With that said, the fox does sidle a few paces aside from the vegetation, bringing herself into somewhat better view. Of course she appears so entirely innocent and harmless.

Atticus's eyes dart to the vixen the moment she makes a sound and narrow, for a moment frozen with his paw disappearing into his travel cloak. "Forgive me, then," He replies when she speaks, fully letting his paw relax and move back out from under his cloak when he can see the fox fully. His friendly expression returns. "These are suspicious times I hear, and it has never done me harm to be careful. Though," he adds, looking her up and down, "It does make one wonder: why are you out here slinking in the snow, friend?"

The fact that he and the mouse are practically doing the same thing doesn't seem to phase him.

"Slinking? Slinking, through the snow?" Sassafrass manages to sound both incredulous and wounded that such a term could be used to describe any recent movement of hers. "Well, yes, to be sure, it is snowy, but--" She pauses a moment, a crinkle of thought appearing between her eyes. "But," she resumes, "that is just the precise time and conditions under which one finds, er, snowstraw." Bending down, she plucks up a withered bit of vegetation and flourishes it illustratively. "Rare herb, quite potent, can only be found in the winter, in the snow, at the edges of fallowed farmland." Looking pleased with herself, she asks, "Are you hunting for snowstraw in your ditch?"

"Snowstraw, yes, of course we are." Atticus says without missing a beat- even if the smile on his face grows thinner. "Well, I shan't disturb your search for such a valuable herb, but perhaps we can speak somewhere outside of bowshot from those walls? Not that I think there's danger, of course, yet clearly you and we share the same goal of being unseen - unless your darting about helps the search for your .... Snowstraw."

Sassafrass purses her lips in a manner to suggest that she's still quite hurt, though the look in her eyes is wary. "You make it all sound so very sordid," she says reproachfully. "Naturally," she adds, waving her 'snowstraw' vaguely at the surrounding fields, "one must dart about, when one is questing hither and yon for such an elusive plant.." Trailing off, she studies Atticus with almost disconcerting intensity for a moment, then suddenly smiles again and tilts her head amiably. "But yes, we can surely speak in some more fitting locale."

"The town there's run by a cat who likes to feed beasts to snakes." Atticus says flatly, before gesturing back to the ditch - he's unnerved by the fox's stare though he does his best to ignore it. "There is a larger camp south of here, 'round the village proper, which we have come from, but I do not much feel like traipsing all the way back. The ditch where the young lord currently rests works well enough to keep out of sight."

Sassafrass's ear begins twitching sharply again when Atticus imparts this possibly not entirely welcome information about the village snake and its feeding habits, but she doesn't seem sure whether to believe this or not. The last bit of information gets more of a reaction. "The young lord?" she echoes, staring at Atticus all over again. This of all things seems to disconcert the fox, as she blinks and darts a bemused glance towards the ditch. "Er, the young lord, in the, er, ditch?" She doesn't seem to find this entirely plausible, or entirely proper.

"He wished to be the first of his ilk to see this far east, and so he wished to accompany me here, into the ditch. Better than being devoured by a snake, no?" Atticus can't help a smile pulling at the corner of his mouth. For his part the mouse in the ditch is pinching the bridge of his snout, mortified.

"Truth be told, we are in search of creatures living here who are willing to help us with what we need. Even if his current placement in the ditch does not speak of his rank, the size of his pocket book might be better evidence."

The mouse shoots up at that last bit, "I shall do no such thing with my own money, mind you," He glares at the ferret, "But you shall be paid well regardless."

Sassafrass listens to her strange new ferret acquaintance with an increasingly dubious air, a mix of skepticism and simple uncertainty on her face, and her gaze keeps flicking between him and the ditch and back again. "What manner of lord is he," she starts, "and what sort of help do you--" But she breaks off as the mouse himself pops up out of the ditch, and looks at him with what can only be described as a gawk. Whoever or whatever she might have been expecting, it must not have been this.

"The heir of a powerful family form the south sea," Atticus answers the fox's question while barely sparing the mouse a glance, "He is Urtas the son of Wulf, though I would be surprised if that means anything to you or anyone else living here."

Uncomfortable being named, the mouse bows in a stiff manor - unlike the ferret a slight accent is clear in his voice. "I represent a company of merchants seeking to establish ties with this northern land, having started with Halyard upon the great sea, west of here."

The name clearly does not in fact mean anything to Sassafrass, but in the course of the explanation she does at least manage to stop boggling at the mouse. When the young heir introduces himself, she gives him an ingratiating smile that encourages one to forget that she was gaping in an undignified way only moments before. "My lord," she greets him, bending her knees as she sweeps out the edges of her cloak in a curtsying motion. "I'm quite sure there are any number of opportunities here.. perhaps I could even be of assistance." It's hard to say just how a starved looking skulking vixen vagrant could possibly be of help to a foreign mouse lordling, but hope springs eternal.

Both the ferret and mouse seem rather travel wary and caked in mud, but both are clearly much better off than the vixen, looking very well fed and clothed next to her. "For now," Atticus speaks, a grim smile on his face now - the friendly look having long gone, "The best you can do is tell us who you are, and what you know of both the town there and the lands around. Failing that, if you have any friends be they woodlander or vermin, slaver, healer, or whatever else you might consort with, tell them there's work to be found in Mossflower now."

"Especially if there are any citizens of Ferravale willing to come to us," the ferret adds after a moment. "We simply need creatures who are somewhat more loyal to us by their pay more than a chief or abbot."

With all pretense of friendliness gone from the ferret, Sassafrass's ears -- both of them, this time -- resume their nervous twitching. She holds up her paws again, hastily enough that the ever-so-precious snowstraw drops to the trampled ground. "Peace, gentleman. I told you true enough -- I am a healer, and a maker of charms and remedies of all kinds. But.. I have only just come here myself, and I fear you know more of this village than I." Shifting her weight, the fox abruptly seems to feel that she's lost some advantage by this display of nerves, and she assures them smoothly, "You'll not find any fox better at healing, and of course there is none better at healing than a fox."

Sassafrass's stomach rumbles, loud in the still winter air. "And I am, er, very loyal," she concludes, conscientiously. And very hungry.

With a laugh, Atticus reaches into his cloak and pulls out two silver coins. "All are slaves to the belly," his continence has morphed back to the easy, friendly way it was. "Before I hand over the wages, which should earn you at least a meal unless times are far tougher here than I could guess, I shall request that you be careful telling any beast connected to the chieftainess - for your own sake as well as our own. Spies are a favourite meal of her snake's, or so I hear tell." There's an earnestness to his tone at the last part, as if he's witnessed something here before... "You are simply not a spy of course, but I doubt anyone will see it that way. View it as improving the community here. If all does go well the beasts here will be richer, in the end, and protected against most threats - including from their own leader. Is that satisfactory for you to begin?"

"But forgive me!" Atticus says rather dramatically (Urtas rolls his eyes), "I have yet to ask you anything in return for the silver - make friends, find beasts you trust, and send them our way. But be careful and don't rush, please."

It's the vixen's fingers that twitch, this time, as those two silver coins come into view. "Oh, yes, to be sure, I will be as discreet as anything," she assures Atticus while fixedly watching his money. "And no, such a task is nothing like spying, only offering good steady employment for good steady beasts, and good steady meals..." Sassafrass licks her lips and gulps. One has to wonder just how long it's been she's had any kind of meal at all. "And, er, you said to send them to your camp, south of here..? And that is where I can find you again?"

"If all goes well, we'll be able to stay within the village itself before long." The mouse speaks, glancing at the ferret.

"Yes." Atticus nods, eyeing the vixen, "But do not speak to either of us again, at least not in the daylight and open air such as now, and please do not break the laws of this land, not that I fear you shall act in such a way, but many vermin of this land are more blood thirsty more than they have to be."

"I will be the most peaceable and law-abiding creature you can possibly imagine," Sassafrass assures her companions, "and of course I only wish to know how to find you so that if my service pleases you and m'lord, I can be additionally compensated.. modestly, of course, as I am a humble vixen who asks for little." It might even be true, given that her faded and ragged garb must have once been more colorful than fine. Her ears angle off in opposite directions, giving her a beleaguered look. "I will do my best to gain friends for your cause, in any case," she says, eyeing those two coins again rather pitifully.

"If you mean it," Atticus tosses the two coins towards her, "Once you find food and lodging I encourage you to try to find work as well. You will be paid by us when we can manage it of course, but there is a gamble to this all, especially in these first steps. If we fail, you shall not be paid by us, naturally, but if things do begin to change we can guarantee you-" the ferret gives a rather pointed look at the vixen's clothes, "- And anyone else in your situation will find a better life."

Sassafrass snatches the coins out of the air and swiftly slips them into a pocket hidden in the lining of her cloak. With the means to a meal safely secured, she pulls her scrawny form up with an air of incongruous dignity and says, "Indeed, I understand. Life is a thing of chances, and the straws do not always fall as one wishes.." She peers briefly down at the ground as if wondering what became of her 'snowstraw', but not seeing it immediately seems to judge the plant somehow not really valuable enough to search for. Waving one forepaw vaguely, she continues, "But yes, if there is a meal and a bed in this place to be had for an honest creature down on her luck, then there must be work as well. And where there is work, there are acquaintances to be made, and connections forged. I shall not disappoint."

Sassafrass once again bows low, taking a step back. "Now, if you two gentleman will kindly excuse me, I believe I will trouble myself to find that meal.."

The mouse smiles and returns the bow, a genuine smile on his face. "Thank you for understanding."

"Yes, of course, of course," Atticus says, as he turns away with the mouse back to the ditch and the forest beyond. "But there's more thing I should tell you," he says, looking over his shoulder "Please do not try to sell us out, as it won't go well for you. It'll be your word against ours, and lord Urtas here is a woodland creature unlike you."

The mouse stiffens, not much liking that last bit.

Sassafrass looks suddenly more nervous again at the words 'selling out', and her eyes shift uneasily between ferret and mouse. "I had not ever the smallest notion of it," she states, quickly and emphatically. "So far as I am aware, there is nothing the least wrong with what either of you are doing. I am nothing but grateful for your generosity in hiring me for this task, and I wish only to earn it."

Having frozen briefly with the ferret's over-the-shoulder glance, Sassafrass begins backing up again, and then with an apparent stiffening of resolve turns her back.. and saunters as carelessly off down the street as if she had lived in the village all her life, and never been slinking in snowy fields or having odd conversations with outsiders. Only the persistent twitch of her ears betrays her, but who's to notice that?

Ol'random · 2022-03-15 01:15:27 PM

II; March 12th, 2022

Atticus, Blisa, Patch, & Snarlfang

Ferravale is filled with the sounds of hammers, saws, and singing workbeasts. All around the village, crews are working on repairing buildings prior to the Spring rains hitting the area. Blisa is standing near the entry with Ferdinand and Hank, Valerie having volunteered to help in the Infirmary just in case anyone hurts themselves. The Chief and her bodyguards are talking to some forebeasts, and everyone in Ferravale is wearing a thick wooden helmet. The cat has a stack of papers that she's busily taking notes on. There is an air of cheerful industriousness as the beasts of the village join together to make their homes and workplaces better.

There's a pair of cloaked beasts observing the work on the sidelines near to the town center. The smaller figure is a mouse, whose eyes are watching the bodyguards and the chieftainess sitting against a wall safely out of the way from the construction. Next to him a ferret leans lazily against the same wall, with his eyes closed.

The forebeasts disperse, having said what they wanted to say. One of them whistles, and they all seem happy with their conversation (although a couple mutter about wishing there were some moles around to help them with some foundation repair). Blisa and her bodyguards stay where they are for a moment, not even flinching when Ann the Head Guard appears from seemingly nowhere beside them. The female rat and cat have a quick conversation, then Ann walks to the main gate. The Chieftain nods, then looks around, trying to decide which section of her village to check on next.

"It wouldn't do, I think," Atticus murmurs with his eyes still closed, "To draw the attention of the cat unto yourself, Urtas." The mouse had moments earlier stood and took a step towards the entry - but he was now frozen at the ferret's words.

"Unless you're feeling up to it, of course." Atticus adds. "Be careful..."

Urtas nods and continues on his way with purpose towards the town leadership whether or not the beasts are busy beforehand. "Hail! You are the mayor here, yes?" There can be no mistake - the mouse is addressing Blisa.

The petite cat had actually noticed the cloaked figures earlier and put it on her itinerary to greet them in passing, so when one of them approaches her, it doesn't really mess with her plans any! However, she raises an eyebrow at the term 'mayor'. "I am Chieftain Blisa Wyrmtamer, yes. How may I help you and your friend?" She glances at Atticus, obviously meaning him. Ferdinand the ferret smiles in a friendly way, and Hank the huge and hulking fox, looks around the area, keeping a watch like the excellent bodyguard he is. Hank has a very large battleaxe, and Ferdinand has his sabre. The Chief is well guarded, even with just 2 beasts.

Atticus doesn't move from his position or even open his eyes! In fact he may have fallen asleep, his forelegs crossed. The mouse for his part bows his head. "Forgive me then, chieftain, and my servant - he's exhausted from our trip upriver. I am Urtas son of Wulf, and I am here to attempt," he is choosing his words carefully, speaking not just to Blisa but addressing any beast nearby, "To start bettering the relationship between Mossflower Woods and the shore, namely between this village and Halyard - and outside of any hare's or badger's forceful paw. There isn't much travel between the two places, is there?"

Patch is, well he is in a hurry as he rushes down the path and back to the village. He slows when he sees cloaked beasts and sighs "Just what I need... more cloaked beasts! I had nyfe of that last night." He sighs and walks closer to the gates, a serious expression on his face.

Ann sees Patch coming and gestures for him to enter the village. "Blisa is over there," the Head guard says impassively, gesturing towards the cat. The Chief looks a little surprised at the mouse's offer, especially since he seems to be speaking against the Long Patrol. "Well, no, there isn't much travel between us and Halyard. The distance is very great. I'm not sure we would want to trade with them, though. We have a peace treaty with Redwall, and slavery is punishable by death here. Isn't Halyard anti-woodlander and pro-slavery?" The few Ferravalians nearby look dubious at the suggestion. The cat has yet to see Patch.

The mouse can't hide his momentary horror at the rat, but he does his best to recover. "Yes, anyway - Halyard. It is neither of those things, though it is true that slavers often come from Mossflower and pass through on there way to the sea... Just as they pass through this town on their way to the shore regardless of either town's punishment of death for those slavers caught."

He pauses, collecting himself, "I imagine Halyard only has the reputation it has here since the Long Patrol abandoned the town, and it was a place of chaos for seasons. But the current mayor is an otter, mind you, and has, since even before a war last summer and the storms before that, done a considerable amount to fix the town up and rid itself of such beasts like slavers and pirates for good. One way some wished to do that was keep a more constant and safe contact with Mossflower - this town being the main stopping point as it's built nearto the river Moss. You yourselves are anti-slavers, I presume - and hope - and I can say with little doubt that a better watch on the River, with the added befit of trade between the two towns, would help keep the slavers and other... less savoury types from making use of it."

Patch frowns at the head guard "I have important info on..." He whispers "The slaver fox and his friends, plus who de crazy looking squirrels were, it IS the Gawtrybe. They are at the abbey right now." He nods "I could go back, check on things.... oh and the feast too,y eah"

There is one figure who's wearing neither a wooden helmet nor a suspicious cloak. In fact they're wearing te polar opposite of such sneaky garment, bright violet clothing and a peacebound zweihander making the foxy figure of one Snarlfang somewhat difficult to miss. She's vaguely coming from the direction of the tavern when she spies the small gaggle of beasts, swiftly followed by the word 'slaver' repeated a few times. Her easy smile doesn't leave her muzzle so much as freeze in place as mirth dies in her eyes.

With absolutely zero subtlety, Snarlfang wanders right up to Patch, Anne and company, ears perking and hefting her cloth-wrapped sword meaningfully. "What a wonderful day it is, my friends! So many beasts working together, is beautiful sight! This one is called Snarlfang, happy to meet many new friends in Ferravale village. Ears working right, be hearing talk of slavers causing trouble?"

Blisa's lips purse. "Do you even know anything about Ferravale? We don't have enough fighters to watch the river. I am not going to draft my citizens into being fighters" (despite wanting to when she first became Chief) "because we have enough going on in Ferravale as it is. We do not have the resources to watch the river as you are suggesting, and you would do well to understand a place before charging in and making suggestions. Who even are you, anyway? Are you a delegation from this mayor? If so, why not say so in the first place?" The nearby Ferravalians start muttering amongst themselves, and they don't sound like they're on the side of the mouse. Ferdinand and Hank look suspicious of the mouse.

Ann the rat Head Guard nods impassively to the vixen as she approaches. "Yes, we are currently working on a plan to trick the slavers into bringing their slaves into the village so we can free the slaves and execute the slavers. What interest of it is yours?" She glances at Patch and gestures inside the guard hut by the gate. "You may use the ink and paper in my office to write down your information for the Chieftain if you think you need to leave. She may not be able to stay and speak with you."

Patch looks over and sighs "Tell Blisa I will wait in her office, this is very important." He then goes to said office.

Urtas looks the new comer vixen up and down, as if considering whether to laugh or not - the purple cloth and the unmissable massive blade on her back making for quite the appearance.. "...Yes," he says finally, "Yes it would seem. Not a trouble in Halyard though, not yet; if these slavers move on they'll go there next. As for you, chieftain," The mouse turns back to the cat, "I am a delegation from Halyard, to an extent. I'm trying to simply better the place - and I didn't mean to suggest anything as drastic as a draft, no, simply some way to stop the constant flow of beasts like that hare who came from here- who went on a murder spree just recently on the shorelands."

Atticus opens one eye from where he was resting, taking in the sight. "There might be a way to deal with the slavers without causing harm to any beast, if I might be so bold as to address you all." He calls as he stands upright. From the mouse's look of confusion it's clear they haven't discussed this before. "And it could help prevent such groups appearing in the future."

Snarlfang lets out a laugh that would be somewhere between boisterous and friendly were it not for the way her ears twitch reflexively, the corners of her muzzle flickering downwards as though she is trying to suppress a scowl. Her voice is at odds with her body language utterly.

"Is simple reason! Slavers is both bad and good for selling-of-sword-arm business! Bad, because is slaver. Take beasts, do horrible things, not even coin involved sometimes! Make very bad coin you see. Good, because opportunity to take bad coin from slaver after taking of slaver's heads! This one enjoys good part very much, so wishes to help little rat take both bad coin and bad slavers heads, maybe mount on pike outside village. Maybe get good coin in process too! Just have to avoid getting own head taken, but that part work itself out! Just have to have clear head and good luck, so we can take bad slaver heads!" Comes the beast far too cheerfully and eagerly!

Atticus gets a look from the vixen's good eye, utterly ignoring how Urtas is sizing her up. "....Still harm to slaver-beasts at least?" Comes the vix with doubt in her tone.

Blisa scowls. "Oh, you mean Zolomon? Who was banished from Mossflower after he murdered beasts here? He's lucky he was a former Redwaller and former Patroller, else I would have had him executed here." Her green eyes flash, and the Ferravalians listening seem angry, too, with the more vermin-y (they're all vermin, but some act more like it than others) glaring at the mouse and pawing their weapons. "We can not patrol or police this area any more than Redwall can. Scout corps have risen and fallen here, even in my lifetime. We do the best we can, but we also try to live in peace with our surrounding area. We don't need an outsider making suggestions about what we ought to do differently." Murmurs of agreement echo from the surrounding villagers.

Ann, meanwhile, listens to the vixen without a trace of any emotion on her brown-furred face or in her black eyes. (This rat is about as nondescript as you can get, her Head Guard uniform the only thing setting her apart from any female rat anywhere.) When the vixen finishes, the rat nods. "A mercenary, hhmm? I would suggest that, in a few days or maybe a week, you speak with Chieftain Blisa," she gestures to the cat as if it weren't obvious just who is in charge here "but I can say that if you could work with Patch and us to free the slaves and kill the slavers, you would be more than welcome, and free to keep whatever coin you find on the slaver's corpses."

"Excuse me," Ann says, walking to the Chieftain and whispering in her ear about Patch's news and the mercenary wishing to help. After the cat nods, Ann returns to the vixen. "The sooner you start, the better. We wish to free the slaves and get any woodlanders and sick or injured vermin slaves to Redwall as soon as possible. Patch owns the tavern, so you may speak to him there for his information." A guard comes up and starts to speak to the Head Guard, and so Ann excuses herself.

Blisa straightens to her full height. "If you are to suggest that we lead an attack on wherever the slavers are coming from -- and we know they come from many directions -- then you overestimate what Ferravale is able to do. We are not a warfaring village, we can't march out, and we can't police this area. Rescuing the prisoners of any slavers who pass by, and executing those slavers, is our only available course of action. Additionally, we are a vermin village. How can I control such warlike beasts if I don't allow them to fight on occasion? And who else to let them fight but the enemy of all -- those who enslave others?"

"Now," the cat adds, noticing how angry the nearby villagers have become and so dropping her voice, "I suggest you and your friend leave before any of my villagers become aggressive. We don't like outsiders telling us what to do -- we've experienced too many conquering warlords for that. But I also don't want to see you harmed for no reason." With that and a last glare, she turns and walks to her office to meet with Patch, her bodyguards trailing behind. The Ferravalians either stand and stare with hostility at the mouse and his friend ferret or disperse to go back to work. But no one seems eager to hear the plan of the mouse and ferret to be eternally rid of slavers.

"Harm... well, yes. But maybe lay off on putting heads on spikes for now, yeah?" Atticus tilts his head as he comes to a stop nearby (next to the mouse), his mind whirling at the vixen's words. He was not expecting her at all. "You are a skilled fighter I take it. Very skilled, no doubt."

"Forgive my friend and lord Urtas, Chieftainess Wyrmtamer, and please to not assume so much from his clumsy words!" The ferret bows suddenly to both the retreating cat and the villagers gathered round, "He is young and is eager to help where he can. But he only recently has stepped foot in our world, I should say, and he isn't the most sensitive to the way of this land - he does not know it as you so aptly observed, but he is earnest regardless! His father is a merchant - Wulf - and the old mouse is in Halyard as we speak, doing his best to aid that town and repair the strained relationship with the Fire Mountain and Badger lord. The Long Patrol did bring an end to the hare, or so I'm told, so the several lives that were taken were avenged. But perhaps he shouldn't have such special treatment..." The ferret sighs. "Nor should he have been forced to come here to cause all of you harm, as he was. It is a regrettable thing, that Zolomon."

But the cat is gone.

Atticus turns to the beats around him. "So you would agree with her then?" He eyes Snarlfang. "Do you think it's best to let slavers exists and bring harm to others just so the unity of this place is held in? And I shouldn't speak at all about how thin that unity must be that it requires such an evil..." He shakes his head. "But the chieftainess hasn't changed at all it seems." He murmurs quieter, only to the fox and mouse.

Urtas raises a brow. "I... " The young mouse casts his gaze at the ground. "I seemed to have made things worse."

The vixen gives three firm nods to Ann, her faux-cheer perking up as she gets the full idea of what the village has in mind for the filthy collar-obsessed beasts. "Will be speaking whenever Blisa-friend is willing! Blisa, Blisa! Good name for good feline!" Her ears twitch twice, hidden by that almost foppish hat of hers.

When Ann makes her excuses and leaves, the vixen gives an amiable wave and another nod of understanding, keeping Patches in mind for later. For now, though, she ignores the potential strife between Atticus and the locals in favor of answering the beast's question.

She rubs her chin thoughtfully, pausing, and then gives a good tail swishing for dramatic emphasis. Both arms spread wide towards the mouse, and she speaks boldly! "Merciful woodlander has good heart, thinking about lives of even bad, bad beasts like slavers. That mercy will get pretty little face mauled and head on pike instead, this one is thinking. See, slavers not knowing anything like mercy. Are blunt thing. Much like this one! Only understand loud warnings. Head of fellow slavers on pike outside of city is very loud warning, same with killing slavers in general. Many dead slavers, means less slavers, less beasts wanting to become slavers. Very simple, very obvious. Remember, most not very smart! Maybe few good beasts die killing slavers, but that small sacrifice. Especially when good coin gotten in process. Everyone wins!"

Tap tap tap of chin.

"Except slavers, which is point of whole affair!"

"So it would seem." The ferret dryly remarks, allowing himself a small smile. "And it's precisely that risk of getting his face mauled why I'm here to help him." Urtas is quiet with his lips in a thin line.

"My name is Tarn," Atticus offers a paw to the fox. "And the young mouse is the lord Urtas. My plan was not much a mercy for slavers, no... But more a far flung idea. Have you ever worked, friend, as a trainer before? A drill sergeant, to borrow a term from some absurd hares. A beast who can whip a sorry group into something more respectable, let's say."

The fox beams brightly at Tarn, reaching over and patting the beast on the back. Something almost like empathy flashes over her features, before sliding back into that cheerfully psychopathic mask she wears.

"Is hoping Mouse-friend friend is paid well, must be very big job keeping big hearted woodlander head on shoulders! Should ask for more coin, in this one's opinion!"

The resulting pawshake is firm, and with zero shame after trying to increase the other mercenary's paycheck.

"This one has done that before, yes! Has led own company in previous outfit, learned from best, that she did! Drill beasts until tail fall off, but make them into good soldier for hire! Not good at keeping tail on beast though, that much harder, fair trade though this one says!" Nod nod nod.

One more friendly whack on the back, and the vixen is toddling off, clearly not on board with some convoluted scheme.

"Has no doubt plan is very clever. Snarlfang is not clever. Maybe talk with chieftain-beast about very smart plan, come to inn with coin more than Blisa-beast if wanting to get on side, alright? Be having a good one now, alright? Laugh and drink and be merry!"

And then, the vixen is off!

"Coin makes the world go round, even out here." Urtas can't keep the bitterness from his voice.

The ferret though laughs, loudly. "I shall be sure too. And sadly our friend isn't really paid for his work - he gets an allowance. I am though, and quite well, and I can promise anyone who aids us in any way will be paid their due. I might have to speak to the good cat when she's in a better mood, but I'm wary of her, as any sane beast is I should wager. But farewell!" He calls.

When the vixen is out of sight the ferret turns on his heal and hurries the mouse out of town.

Last edited by Ol'random (2022-03-15 01:15:51 PM)

Ol'random · 2022-03-15 01:29:52 PM

III; March 14th, 2022

Atticus & Sassafrass

In the Ferravale Infirmary -

In the present quiet of the infirmary, Sassafrass is stirring up a small cloud of dust by busily sweeping out the back corners of the little building and the neglected spaces underneath the furniture. Despite the fact that this seems like an overall helpful and unobjectionable thing to do, the scrawny vixen nonetheless manages to instill even this activity with the air of something illicit, as she keeps her shoulders hunched and sidles about the room with oddly furtive motions as if she were afraid of being discovered and thrown out on her ear at any moment.

Doing his best to appear less illicit than the vixen - especially in light of the disastrous meeting with the village head, Atticus has spent the better part of his day taking stock of the village in clothing of the local style. A wide brimmed hat shields his face further and few if any recognise him as the cloaked ferret (and besides, most paid more attention to the mouse anyway) from the other day. Stopping for a moment to check the sign he gently pushes the door open, searching the interior.

"Oh." He hadn't realized the fox would be here. "I'll leave you to..." His eyes narrow at her mannerisms, confused because she really is just sweeping (he hopes). "You aren't doing anything that would cause the guard to come calling, are you?"

Sassafrass startles noticeably when the door opens, to the point that she very nearly drops the broom and has to make a sudden grab for it to keep it from falling onto the floor. But the fox manages a swift recovery and straightens up so quickly, and then leans against her broom with such immense casualness, that Atticus might very well be forgiven for thinking he'd imagined that initial reaction. But of course he didn't.

Even so, Sassafrass seems to choose to believe that the ferret will in fact have overlooked her nerves, and gazes at him in golden-eyed wonder instead. "The guard!" she exclaims, looking astonished that anyone could mention any such unpleasant personage under such benign circumstances. "Surely not. I am, as I told you before, a healer, and there is surely no place more natural to find a healer than in an infirmary.." Her ears twitch anxiously, but that doesn't change her bright expression.

"Of course." Atticus grunts. "Well, forgive me for being worried. The beasts of this village would call such unpleasant types on a twig snapping in Mossflower." He moves away from the sight of the windows as he speaks. "Are there other healers here? Or helpers, or anyone else who eavesdrops?"

Sassafrass's ears twitch a little more vigorously at that suggestion of the locals' suspicious nature, but she doesn't seem surprised by it. It's possible she expects suspicion from everyone uniformly. The vixen shifts her gaze about as she follows Atticus across the floor and out of easy view from outside, sweeping vaguely as she goes. "I assume there must be somebeast else who works here at least on occasion," she answers, "but I have not met them yet. Nor helpers, nor, so far as I know" -- twitch, twitch, go those ears -- "any eavesdroppers." She pauses briefly, then inquires delicately, "Has there been.... trouble?"

Atticus faces one of the windows to the street. "Yes - our mutual friend caught the attention and possible ire of the lovely cat chieftain and her thugs." His own ears twitch. "The hostility was enough that I'm shocked there is any sort of friendship between this place and that abbey down south; the beasts are not keen on friendship, or even offered help."

Shaking his head he turns back. "Has there been trouble for you? I presume not, since you seem to have free reign over this infirm."

Sassafrass scrunches up her brow, possibly trying to think what friends she has that might be considered mutual, or possibly trying to think of any friends she has at all. "Your mouse lord?" she asks after a moment. "But he seems like such a very charming fellow.." Nudging her broom around in a little circle on the floor, she frowns and eyes Atticus sidelong. "For myself, there has been no trouble.. but I have, er, called little attention to myself." Her eyes suddenly shift around again as her ears flatten momentarily. "Er, that is to say, I am not quite sure that anyone.. of authority.. is quite entirely aware that I am here."

"Better than the mouse." The ferret mutters. "It might be for the best no one notices you because frankly I'm not all that convinced they're beasts worth knowing..." Atticus falls quiet and sits, now more carefully watching the street. "Have you heard anything about slavers, by chance?"

Sassafrass gulps, and far more than her ears look perturbed now. "Slavers?" she echoes, as her grip tightens on the broom handle. Her gaze flicks to the door, the windows, the corners of the room, and then back to her ferret companion again. She licks the tip of her nose, nervously, but there's a smouldering look in her gold eyes that looks almost angry. "I had heard a word or two," she says, very low, "from another traveler when I was on my way into this place.. but nothing more since. I.. did not wish to draw attention by inquiring further."

"Fair enough." Atticus lets out a sigh. "Unfortunately the beasts here adore deceit to profit, and would rather slaughter the slavers with a trick. There's more ways to skin a cat -" he glances to the side. "Er, forgive the turn of phrase. But there's better ways than a bloodbath. Vermin can see sense, usually, though I admit those since the last war are more... dense. I would hope given this town's history and the name of their tavern here the village wouldn't be so grandstanding."

A bark of laughter escapes him.

"But I suppose that's seasons past and most creature's memory lasts only a few."

Sassafrass nods uncertainly to the ferret, clearly being rather lacking in awareness of local history herself. She shifts her weight, eyes narrowing and gaze turning inward as she's seemingly lost in thought for a few moments. But then she settles her eyes upon Atticus once again and observes him with that same intense look from several days ago by the ditch. "What was your plan to deal with these slavers? And what is actually to be done?"

"What is actually to be done is to lure them into the city itself and kill them." Atticus states. "I believe both of us can see how luring an armed group inside the place most beasts lives with the intention to fight might quickly spiral..."

Shaking his head again, a movement he's been repeating a lot today, he continues, "As for whatever plans I have had, there are two paths I've taken before with such vermin groups - buy the slaves, free them, then offer wages for those willing to stay and work, while sending the slavers back to where they came from with the promise of more coin, then repeat that. Or there might be a way of convincing the vermin seek other ways of fortune - namely for our benefit - and spread the word or work for us as brigands and thugs, if you'll like. Slavers and slaves both rarely make good fighting beasts, especially in these lands, yet they are still many creatures with paws that can cause change. Or at the very least give more weight to whatever movement starts."

Sassafrass's lip curls faintly, and she states bluntly, "The slavers themselves will surely not care whom they involve, nor who lives or dies that stands anywhere in their way." She makes a quietly disgusted noise, ire still burning in her gaze, but then a flicker of motion out one window catches her attention and her ears snap up edgily again. It's only a passerby who doesn't cast a single glance towards the infirmary, but she rubs nervously at her neck with one forepaw and sidles an extra pace further from the window.

"But even so, not everyone involved in the taking and selling of other creatures wishes for that life above all others," the vixen mutters. "I am sure some might be persuaded to join with you instead, or else would be just as glad to hand their goods off to a guaranteed buyer, who can be depended upon not to cheat them or bring trouble down upon their heads." She shakes her own head slightly. "Is there any chance of your dealing with these slavers before the villagers can?"

"There is not." Atticus had watched the passerby as well, not speaking until they were gone. "I know not the hour nor the day this town plans for their meeting with the slavers. Searching for the slavers hasn't revealed much, either, though I admit I have not done much myself in that regard - I don't want to be seen by the slave beasts in case the slavers go ahead to the village. My head would no doubt be on a pike if anyone associated me with the slavers..."

"Though," he says, as if the thought just occurred to him, "You are known by neither the slavers nor the town guard. Coin would naturally be the award, especially that you would be risking much if you were to find the slavers..."

Sassafrass keeps rubbing at her neck, more and more anxiously, and her ears flick with more agitation than ever before -- an impressive feat. "I do not think I am known by these slavers," she corrects Atticus warily. "But.. I confess, I have.. connections with many slavers. Of a sort." She shifts from one footpaw to another. "Not that I have wished to, myself. It has been a.. family venture. Of which I am not.. overly fond. But I have dealt with many such bands." She abruptly stops rubbing her neck, as if only just realizing she's doing it, and returns her forepaw to the broom instead. "I doubt that most of them would recall me, even so.." She doesn't seem to know whether to sound hopeful of this or not. "But perhaps I truly might find them out, and convince them to come to you."

"Hmm." Atticus nods, slowly. "If you fear being handed over to the torturers by me, I care little about such matters as long as you are not a hindrance." The threat in his words mismatches his general air of pleasantness. "And it shan't be the end of the world if the town's plan takes place as is, though I would be surprised if nothing goes wrong here. What I would suggest is telling the slavers to prepare for a fight in Ferravale, but that they fear not for the guard is weak and the town easy pickings. It isn't, mind you, but if you truly detest such beasts the lie shouldn't be too hard.

"If there are beasts willing to abandon their work, then perhaps you should suggest they come to me with the slaves. If they prove helpful then good, if they prove not, then I believe we have enough means to deal with them."

"I spoke earlier derisively of how the village would resort to lies and deceit," he adds wryly more to himself than to the vixen, "Yet here I am, speaking as I have. But there is difference to me, and that is what matters."

A wince creeps over the fox's face at that first mention of torturers and being handed over to them, and the expression sticks fast there as Atticus continues. Her ears swivel backwards until they're flattened against her skull again, and she casts a quick unhappy glance around at the clinic as if wishing it had remained empty save for her today. When Sassafrass turns back to the ferret again, it's with a sideways gaze, as if she didn't want to look too closely at him. "Y.. yes," she says then, "that would be simple enough, so long as I can find them. Which I cannot guarantee." She fidgets the broom around some more, making a scratchy noise against the floor. "Does your mouse friend know of this plan too?"

"As much as he needs to know." Atticus shrugs. "I simply need to keep him safe in the end, and anything that I or his other underlings do will be for his benefit and glory, I should say. If you find the slavers that is good, but if you can't - I and the others haven't yet been able to either, so you won't be alone in that regard." He pauses, turning on his heel.

"I realise I've not yet spoken much of the - our purpose here." He begins, watching her expression, "In short, it's to bring this town - and maybe Mossflower beyond - under the wing of our masters upon the sea. Though so far I'm not much convinced of this place's worth, truth be told."

Sassafrass gives a small acknowledging dip of her head, then watches with half-lowered eyelids as Atticus turns away. "Are the masters beyond the sea superior to the masters already present?"

This might be taken as a hostile line of questioning, but coming from the fox it sounds more like an honest inquiry -- wary, but not contentious.

"The mouse's father is one of them, part of the head of the city of Dartania." Atticus' smile doesn't reach his eyes, "Which itself is connected to other masters of mine.... But he, the mouse, currently dwells in Halyard. The others have remained across the sea. Out of all of them, the lord Urtas certainly is the most friendly as you may have seen. But he's not one of them yet." Whether or not he purposefully avoided her question is hard to tell - or if he simply doesn't have an answer for her.

Sassafrass's brushy tail swishes softly against the floor, but for once her ears are still, and she turns a faintly melancholy look towards the window. She doesn't press for any further answer than the one the ferret provides, simply seeming to accept it as all the world is going to offer her. "Very good, then," she says, watching the street though there's nothing much out there to see. "If I have any luck, you shall be the first to know." Naturally – who else does the vixen have to tell?

"If you find the group, I suppose here might be a safe place to tell." The ferret is heading for the door now, setting two more coins on a chair. "If the group is unreasonable, don't bother to tell me - I'll know when the fight begins in the village. It may be safer for you to stay away until it's over..."

"And there's one more thing -" Atticus adds over his shoulder as seems to be a habit of his, "I will more than likely not seek you out myself again, not unless there's some great danger. A creature bearing the coin will meet you here, and you'll know them by the eagle feather in their cap or pinned into their tunic."

However fixated upon the window Sassafrass's attention might have seemed to be, those two coins placed on the chair don't for a moment escape her notice -- as suggested by the quick swivel of an ear in the direction of that small click of metal on wood. She doesn't make a move towards them yet, though; there's no one else present who might snatch them up ahead of her, after all.

"I understand," she tells Atticus, tilting her head slightly towards him. "It is best to take all precautions, particularly where one is liable to fed to a snake. I shall keep my eye out."

"Ha." Atticus pauses once again. "If all goes ill and you or I are caught to be fed to that snake, I think there's little enough between us that would drag the other with us - the coin will be given after the slavers attack. I don't have much hope for their reason, but I'd be happy to be surprised."

With his paw on the door the ferret spends a few moments to watch the street. Satisfied it's empty, he exits and strides boldly back to the heart of the town with the intention to find something to drink, whistling a bright tune.

As Atticus watches the street, Sassafrass in turn watches him from the corner of her eye. She keeps that eye on him for as long as it takes him to get out of sight, and then she swiftly whirls around and, dropping the broom in haste, practically pounces upon the coins left on the chair.

Clicking one against of the pair against her canine, the fox pauses to look at her money closely, then slowly lowers her forepaw to gaze around the clinic. An odd look crosses her face, wistfulness mingled with regret and a certain reluctance, but after a moment she slips over to the cabinet on the wall, opens the door, and sets the coins inside. This act of possible charity done, she starts to close it and turn away.. but just before she does, she slips one of the coins back out again and pockets it. Whisking up the broom once more, Sassafrass then goes back to sweeping just as if nothing had ever happened.

BlisaMarshmellow · 2022-03-16 03:21:09 PM

(Just an IC note: the guards actually would recognize Sassafrass. Part of their job is to keep track of all who enter and exit the village and report it to the Head Guard, Ann, who usually reports it to the Chieftain. They don't think Sass is suspicious, but they have kept track of the fact that she came and is now helping in the Infirmary. Blisa would have definitely been told of the new vixen helping in the Infirm. So they do know her by sight and that she's in Ferravale. I obviously haven't RPed this fact as adequately as I should, so it's my bad and I offer my apologies. I will try to remedy that in the future. Hopefully Blisa can meet Sass soon, if only because I want to RP with the player some more )

Ol'random · 2022-03-22 04:30:21 PM

Though the lord Urtas and his companion Atticus have travelled to Mossflower Country, the young mouse's father, Wulf, remained in Halyard upon the Western Shore with a considerable company of beasts.
The Long Patrol, naturally, are curious as to what is happening in the port-town, and so dispatched a small scouting party to investigate.

IV; March 19th, 2022

Upon the Western Shore & to Halyard beyond

Sgt. Adrian S. & Lt. W. Lossow, hares
+ Pvts. Konner A. & E. Sheen, spoofs

Master sergeant Terrence's instructions were simple: Walter Lossow was to lead a small group of volunteers to the dunes outside of Halyard and spend two days observing the town in the sand. After the time was up, they were to report to the 23rd before returning to the mountain.

And so here Lossow was some 26 hours into the mission, his green coat off so as to better blend in with the shore and his small telescope in paw.

Adrian had also been assigned to this mission. Not nearly as exciting as his last long-term mission, mind you. But, he was getting used to the rigid structure of the mountain again. Even if he WOULD rather be rescuing slaves from a dank fort up north again, instead. "Well, Loss, see anythin' e'en remotely interestin'?" he asks as he drops into the sand alongside the younger buck. "Any fair maidens bein' kidnapped, or p'rhaps some maraudin' pirates? E'en a random bandit would liven things up a bit..."

The look the sergeant earns from the officer is not one of amusement, let's just say. "If there were, I'd be sure to tell you, trust me. The only activity in town today is around those two great big ships in the harbour, there-" he points even if the ships are clearly visible enough from where they are. "Beasts in armour - I assume at least, because it glints in the sun, keep going too and from."

Adrian is immediately all business. "Soldiers, y' think? Knights, o' some kind?" He squints at the ships in the distance. "Lemme see y'r spyglass... This doesn't bode well." He rubs his chin. "I only know o' a couple o' islands across th' sea that 'ave knights like tha'. One o' which was a bunch o' wild cats ruled by a fella named Rigor Mortis, or somethin' like that. But tha' was LOOOONG ago, an' th' beast were overthrown by an army o' ottahs. I remembah readin' about it in an old book in th' library. Hrrm..."

Handing the spyglass over with a shrug, Lossow murmurs, "It's a bit too distant to quite make out, but my money's on soldiers of some type. Maybe we should get closer." He moves back down to the base of the sand dune where two privates - Konner and Sheen - are sitting under a makeshift shelter. "Time to pack up! We'll be moving close to town now - and be careful about being seen, too."

Adrian peers through the glass, but true enough, the distance is too great to get any more detail. After getting his fill of the view, he slides down after Walter. "Right. Let's be quet, please," he says, looking at Sheen in particular. "We don't want a bloomin' repeat o' our last "stealth mission," now do we, Private?"

The haremaid raises a brow as she's singled out, giving an air of mock hurt. "Whatever do you mean, sergeant?I wasn't the one who poked the seagulls nest - that was private Harolds. I was just an unhappy witness." As she speaks she's helping Konner take down the half-tent and clean up the small campsite, and her grin is hidden by her back being turned to Adrian.

Lossow is already moving away to search for a closer observation spot. Those must have been soldiers of some type, same as yesterday. He didn't like it one bit.

While Lossow goes on ahead to scout a closer spot, Adrian stays behind to keep observe the privates cleaning up the camp. "Well, whichevah one o' ya it was, let that be a lesson."

Both Konner and Sheen share a look. "It's probably for the best Harolds was on sentry duty back home," the former mutters. "Alright sarge!" Sheen says in a bright tone when they finish cleaning up the admittedly light camp, "We're ready to move out, sah!"

Their current commanding officer, Lossow, is nowhere to be seen - but his tracks are clear.

Adrian nods at the two. "Well, let's follow th' tracks, but make sure y' make no sound. Use tha' famous hare light-footedness, shall we?" He takes off following Lossow's tracks.

Whenever the three hares catch up to the officer, they will find Walter Lossow still without his coat lying on his belly atop a dune. He's already at work looking through his spyglass.

Pvts. Sheen and Konner toss their sacks on the sand at the lowest point among the dunes below, beginning to once again set up camp.

Adrian lets the younger hares set up the small camp as he joins the Sergeant. "See anythin' clearah from 'ere?" he asks, squinting against the sunlight. "Those are awfully lahge ships, so I doubt they're typical pirates..."

"They're the same ones the master-sergeant reported seeing when he came back from the 23rd," Lossow murmurs, passing the spy glass again, "I'm sure of it. The most common sigil on the flags is that mice, lizard, and - stoat? I'm not sure, really," he shakes his head, "But anyway, it's close to the sigil that was on the letter Cpt. Harthwill got, if I'm not mistaken."

Adrian looks through the telescope, watching the far-off activity. "Mmm. I may need a remindah as t' th' lettah y'r referrin' to," he remarks. "Was it a threat?"

"Not quite." Lossow mutters as he slinks back down the dune slightly. "More a declaration of Halyard being there's and all that, wot, though I'm foggy on the details. Happened right after we got back, I believe."

Through the spyglass Adrian can clearly see an assortment of all sorts of beasts clad in helmets, though many seem like locals. Those that are the professional soldiers stand out even from this distance however - they all wear a matching bright cuirass and similar helmet, a variation on the sallet. Officers are marked out by the exotic feathers on the top of their helmets. The beasts are mostly a mix of vermin and woodland creatures - though all of those that are armed are of larger species like hares, stoats, or, most notably, six monitors, at least. Those seem to be an elite troop....

Adrian frowns. "Halyahd is s'posed t' be an independent city. Hellfire, I grew up right ovah in tha' house ovah there." He points toward the more residential part of the town. "I mean, they seem peaceful 'n' all, but a takeovah is a takeovah, no mattah wot way y' wrap it all up." He zeroes in on the monitors. "Lizahds. I 'ate lizahds. I've dealt wi' carnivorous monitahs before. Nasty business."

"We may well have to deal with more of those types, Adrian," Lossow sighs, "If I recall rightly, the letter handed to ol' Greg was made of bloody hide, it was." The lieutenant spits. "I'm not eager to see how they have that stock. How many lizards?"

There are beasts as well, dressed in rich and rather absurd (to the Patrol's sensibilities) clothing. Merchants and workers, it seems. And with them is clearly a band of servants who diligently go too and fro - and like the armoured creatures, these are a mix of vermin and woodlander alike.

"Six," Adrian spits out. "Six monitahs, all wearin' plate armah. They must 'ave a good blacksmith on staff, eh wot." He keeps watching the proceedings. "Those ships look sturdy. Wonderin' if there wasn't some way we could commandeah one. I wagah they've got maps 'n' chahts aboard that could lead us right back t' their port o' origin." He sighs. "'Ide, y' say? Barbaric. I wouldn't do tha' even t' a vermin. It's just unnatural."

"Certainly, but apparently they wanted to have peaceful relations with us, if they could help it." Lossow says grimly, beginning to write down the details of the numbers. "As for the ships, we're to scout, sergeant, remember that - and I'm not sure of the patrol's sailing prowess. Those aren't the average slave galleys, near as I can tell. Though I've been that familiar with ships, wot. Though...." The officer pauses, "Getting a'hold of some of those maps would count as gathering information and scouting, I bet. Only problem is the mass of fighting beasts swarming the place."

Adrian looks away from the scene. "Well, I wasn't suggestin' we go try t' take one o' the ships by ourselves. But 'm reckonin' it could make f'r a logical suggestion t' th' Gen'ral." Looking through the telescope again, he peers. "The ships are swarmin' with beasts now, but I reckon they'll be more lightly guarded aftah dahk. They've got 'ares in their company, too. IF we could swipe a set o' that armah, we could get a spy in an' out with 'em none th' wisah."

The two ships are possibly larger than any had ever seen in that part of the World since at least theme before Lord Sebastian ruled the land, a frigate and galleon. The color clothing of the nearly every armoured beast - save for the lizards - is almost reminiscent of the Patrol's own, as are the weapons present. Halberds, pikes, sabres, and even a group of long spadone swords are visible. There is a clear uniform among the creatures and a level of organization uncharacteristic for most vermin groups....

"Still, I feel like the risk of aggravating them - and the town itself - is too high. I don't think command, or they, despite all those pokey things they're waving about, want a fight.... Hmm."

Adrian frowns. "They don't want a fight because they're tryin' t' lull us inta a false sense o' security. Call me paranoid, if y' wish. But s'pose tomorrah they suddenly decide they want Aclidia, too? We don't exactly 'ave good relations wi' th' Aclidians (they're all vermin that still practice slavery, for example), but they lie t' th' Mountain's south. We'd be surrounded, then. An' then s'pose the day aftah tha' they decide they wanna spread inland. Oy, that Mossflowah forest looks mighty nice, don't it? Eh, wot, look at that pretty red buildin' there. Might be a nice second 'ome, wot." He looks over at Lossow. "This reads as the prelude to a largah occupation, an' it doesn't bode well f'r us or anybeast else righ' now."

As Lossow's grasp of western shore geography was tenuous at best, he wasn't quite sure of the details of Alcida - or what the Patrol's history was with the city. So he trusted Adrian's assessment of the place. "Sounds a proper evil, it does. But as for Mossflower - I'll certainly have to bear witness to whatever they're planning for that place, if they are of course. But regardless of the danger of us being surrounded, if we attack them first nothing'll hold them back from striking at us, wot! And I feel they may have more beasts and more tricks up their sleeves than what we've seen...." He shakes his head, rolling over to look up at the sky. "Perhaps-" he begins, his ears standing upright as a thought occurs to him, "Perhaps we could ditch the uniforms and go in the town as civilians, see what that might merit us, eh?"

Adrian looks over at Lossow, a smile crossing his features. "As I said before, mah fam'ly' 'ouse is right ovah there. The Swiftbuck fam'ly is well-known in Halyahd. We're one o' most established fam'lies there, goin' all th' way back t' when Halyahd was mostly 'ares. So yeah, a long time. I c'n go in an' out quite easily." He scratches his chin. "I reckon I could get y' some civvies in our 'ouse. I even know a way inta town that'll keep us outta sight till we get there."

"Do you suppose, though," Lossow looks the sergeant over, "Anyone might recognise you after all these seasons? I'm not sure if most of the town folk are to be trusted, frankly."

Adrian meets his gaze. "That's why we're takin' th' back way in, through th' back alleys. Once we're in civvies then it won't mattah. One 'are is as good as anothah t' most folks there. Back when Halyahd was founded it was originally mostly hares, plus a few othah woodlandahs. To 'ear mah fathah tell it, vermin weren't even allowed t' dock in the 'arbor for a long time, eithah. Not sure why tha' all changed, but anyway..."

"Truly?" Lossow raises a brow. "I'd not heard that before, but my family were always mountain dwellers themselves. I've always assumed the vermin were a part since the start." He slides down the dune. "But no matter, sergeant, sounds like we have some work to do!"

Adrian nods, and slides down after him, then addresses the Privates, "Waltah an' I are sneakin' into th' town. Two 'ares will draw less suspicion th'n four. I want y' two t' stay right 'ere for now. If Loss an' I don't return by tomorrah, go t' th' 23rd. Is tha' undahstood?"

In the moment Adrian began to follow the other hare, the sun peeked out from behind its cloud cover - just barely catching the brass of the spyglass before it disappeared behind the dune in the paws of the sergeant.

Across the way, by the harbour of Halyard, this brief glint catches a weasel's eye, who mentions something to his fellow, a rabbit, who in turn mentions it to one of the solider beasts, who then reports it to his officer. There's a small discussion and some time passes with little else happening....

Lossow rolls his shoulders. "I wonder if we shouldn't take the pair of them with us, Adrain. I think Sheen grew up in the town as well, right?"

"That's right, sah," she responds with a quick nod. "Though we moved to Salamandastron back when the Lord Ciocan took over when I was leveret, so it's been a while."

Adrian hrrms, looking at Sheen. "Do you know the Swiftbuck home?" he asks her. "We all four shouldn't go togethah, tha's too obvious, but if we split off in pairs that'll draw less attention. I'd need ya t' take th' alleys. If y' get stopped by a beast in armah, tell them y'r lookin' f'r th' tavern, an' y' got lost. It's a flimsy excuse, but it may work. The tavern is s'posed t' still be neutral."

The haremaid narrows her eyes, thinking. "I think I know the place, sarge. Over on the north side, right? With all the officer houses with gardens and the like."

"Wait at least half an hour before following us into town, too." Lossow adds. "We can all meet at the Swiftbuck's house in an hour, maybe."

The weasel who had reported what the villagers had seen to his superior was now paired up with a rather mean looking fox. Both had spears and side-swords as they began to trek through the sand. "It's somewhere out 'ere, according to that coot. But there's a lotta ground t'cover."

Adrian nods. "My mothah would normally be there t' meet us, but she's at th' 23rd with Fathah, I'm afraid. Y'r right on th' money, though. Quickly take down th' camp, we don't it t' be found while we're gone. I'd suggest y' two 'ead toward the edge o' the treeline ovah there near th' 23rd while y' wait t' follow us." He looks back at Lossow, completely unaware that they are currently being tracked. "Okay, we circle 'round that dune, there, t' the north. We shouldn't be seen while go 'round th' far side o' th' dune."

"Understood," Lossow says, letting the sergeant lead him onwards. "I'm not going to be much help navigating here, I'm afraid - I can count the amount of times I've been to Halyard on one paw."

For their part Konner and Sheen immediately begin packing up (having only half unpacked everything earlier), and are soon ready to leave. So they sit and wait.

The vermin pair are still a ways off, especially compared to the lieutenant and sergeant. In fact, the two vermin quite the opposite way that the two hares are moving, searching the dunes slowly. But they are steadily getting closer to the pair of privates waiting....

Adrian nods, as they begin to swing around the dune, heading toward the northern part of town. "Unless it's changed massively on me, I know those streets like th' back o' mah paw... Though I've been told it was conquered a while back, an' that's wot led to mah Fathah's... Condition." He looks at Loss. "I've only spoke t' 'im once since I got back. Thankfully 'e remembahed me, but 'e doesn't remembah mah mission, an' 'e thought I'd gone AWOL... Like mah brothah." As they near the outskirts of Halyard, however, he drops his voice, slipping into an empty alley when it presents itself. The danger to Sheen and Konner unknown to them both.

As the two hares slip into town, Lossow is rather glad he's left his uniform jacket behind with the rest of the equipment at camp. The green cloth would have stood out immediately when compared the attire of most Halyardians. "Well, at least he recognised you..." Walter murmurs, peeking around the corner. "I'd heard about that too- last summer. We lost a lot of hares apparently, though no one I know was really involved beyond the likes of your... father..." He trails off.

Fortunately these back alleys are mostly deserted, so the two hares can pass through toward the residential district mostly unimpeded. Looks like the strange soldiers haven't bothered to come to this part of Halyard yet. "From wot Greg tol' me, 'e faced th' vermin leader one-on-one, at a distinct disadvantage, not once, but twice. The first time he provided a distraction f'r the rest o' th' 'ares t' escape our destroyed fort. Honestly... I don't know that I've evah seen tha' side of 'im mahself."

"Did he indeed?" Lossow mutters, "Well, I suppose that explains why he's still - er was, and active duty officer. I'm not sure what to call currently. But that brings up something else-" the younger hare says, brushing his paw against a nearby building. "Most of this place looks rather well put together considering such a large fight took place and a horde had its way with the place. They must have put a lot of effort and money into fixing everything." He rounds a corner, meeting what can only be described as a boarded up old ruin. "And then there's these every so often - why hasn't anyone touched these places up?"

Adrian looks at the boarded up building. "No idea. I think Halyahd's fortunes are wanin'. Most of the prominent Patrol fam'lies that used ta live 'ere 'ave moved t' Salamandastron. There's only a few 'old outs, like mah Da 'n' Ma, an' a few othahs in the north paht o' town. I reckon it was when more 'ares stahted movin' toward th' mountain an' our influence waned 'ere, tha's when th' vermin stahted t' move in." He passes the abandoned building. "We're not too fah now. An' luckily I ain't seen any o' those weirdos yet, eh?"

"If you mean those regular-looking beasts," Lossow allows himself a grin, "I think you might be in danger of tossing a stone in a greenhouse, wot. Their uniformity reminds me of the Patrol to some degree."

So far, only three creatures have the hares passed - a hedgehog baker (who shakes their head as Lossow and Adrain pass, recalling their last interaction with a pair of hares, a gruff old one-legged hare followed by a tall one), a rat moving crates behind their shop, and a mouse beggar crouched against a wall. "I'd heard tell Halyard was on the decline even before the old badger lord Blackstripe came to the mountain, after a great big storm or something like that. Though storm or decline and whatnot, the town's not as bad as I'd expect."

Adrian grunts. "Weird in that they're employin' Monitahs," he replies, but that is a valid observation, he realizes. "I suspect tha's why th' townsfolk are entertainin' th' idea o' workin' wi' these guys, though. No doubt they've made grand promises of reversin' Halyahd's decline an' bringin' more trade an' business back. It's th' age old story." As they pass the beggar, Adrian pauses, and fishes into his bag for his money pouch, handing the unfortunate beast four gold coins. "There, mate. Tha' should be enough f'r a hot meal an' a bed at th' tavern f'r a few days..." He sighs. looking back at his fellow hare. "Honestly, I can't blame 'em, eithah..."

"No, I suppose not." Lossow comments, watching Adrian hand the coin over. "It does seem to me the Patrol has never much cared about this town much, leastways not since the war in Mossflower." He sighs. "Whatever the reason be though, I'm not fully sure the town is completely against the Patrol, or if even the presence of the monitor employers means that, either... How far to the house, by the by?"

"Just around the next block," he replies. "Far as I can tell, it was tha' big storm you mentioned that did it. It wiped out a significant portion o' the residential district. A lot of the Patrol fam'lies just decided t' move ta Salamandastron instead of rebuild 'ere. Honestly, as long as Hannah still owned th' tavern, it still felt like an extension o' the mountain. She was retired Patrollah. Owned th' tavern since afore I was born. She was still runnin' the place a season or two before Monty an' I left. I guess she passed away, though? 'M not sure. It was before we left, though. Once th' tavern stopped feelin' like a Patrol 'angout, the atmosphere kinda changed... I think it's vermin-owned now, alas."

"Hannah..." Some early memories stir. "She was getting pretty darn old when I was a leveret, and that's probably the only time I ever saw her - or the tavern, really. We went to the tavern once, myself and my parents. Though I have not a bloody clue who owns the place now, so can't be much help there."

Every time a side alley branches off from the one they're in Lossow takes a moment to check around the corner. But besides a couple more workers and an otter hanging up their laundry, it's empty.

They pass into the residential part of town, finally, and pass several modest cottages and bungalows. As they follow the street, however, the homes get grander, larger and more well-appointed, though a few are obviously unoccupied, some still showing damage from a storm many, MANY seasons ago. "There, on the right." The house he points to is set behind a low wall, that keeps it isolated from the street. Moving toward the front gate, Adrian fishes a key out of his pouch, and unlocks it, ushering Lossow in, then closing and locking the gate once inside. The house is two stories, built of brick and aged stucco, looking as if it has stood there for countless seasons, but also bearing a homey, lived-in touch. Adrian leads Lossow to the front door, which he unlocks. "This property has been in mah fam'ly f'r generations. Welcome."

Lossow steps inside, looking around with wide eyes. "Is quite the difference to a stuffy pair of rooms in the mountain, isn't this? You said your mother - lieutenant Olivia, I mean, still says here when she can, right, so she's not here now- I suppose now we just have to wait for the privates to arrive then, eh?"

Adrian hehs, letting Lossow into the front hall, where a large portrait of an older buck in Long Patrol dress uniform, just laden down with numerous medals, stares down at them. "Say 'ello t' Great-Great-Great-Great-Grandfathah Cassius Severus Bilkington Fortenberry Swiftbuck VI. He was apparently a hero in Mossflowah." He chuffs, looking around, himself. "Aye, we c'n wait, or we c'n get changed."

Adrian says, "Oh, and as recently as a season ago mah youngest siblin's were still livin' 'ere, too. But now they're recruits at th' Mountain."

"Oddly enough I feel like I've met several of your great great grandfathers in the flesh hanging 'round the mountain and the 67th-" Lossow cuts himself off, looking almost horrified. "You have younger siblings? I- I suppose that makes sense, but goodness. I'd never have guessed. But, er, yes, we should get changed now, I think. Or soon, at least, then wait."

Adrian laughs at Lossow's reaction. "Wot, y' thought I was th' youngest? Mah youngah brothah is named Tobias, or Toby. Mah sistah is Petunia, but we all call 'er "Pete"." He chuckles, and guides the other hare up the stairs towards the bedrooms. "Think y' c'n wear mah size, or should we check Toby's room?"

Lossow blinks, unsure how to process the information. "Uh, sure, yeah." He says, not really aware of what he's agreeing to. "I did think so, yes."

Adrian nods, and leads his friend toward his old bedroom, in that case. Pushing the door open reveals a tidy room that bears the signs of a young Adrian. Drawings are carefully stacked on a desk by a window that shows a view of the sea. A wooden sword rests against the foot of a bed. "Ah, I used to spar with mah brothah wi' tha' thing. 'E always let me win..." He opens a draw, and starts pulling out clothes. "These should still fit. I ain't grown tallah since I left. Go on, try these on." He tosses a blue tunic and brown pants at Lossow.

Making no comment on the stuffed animals or baby pictures, Lossow begins pulling the tunic on. "You're lucky! At the mountain, my friends were vicious - only won if if you bested 'em, which I did on occasion. Though," he struggles to find the hole for his head, "I'm not sure what happened to most of them. Reuenthal was part of the main patrol when I left for Mossflower, and so was Dav. Redford's part of the healer staff..." Tunic on, he grabs his sash to tie about the center. "I think I might be safe to keep the green trousers on - they're not the typical patrol colors, and I doubt anyone in Halyard is familiar with the 67th - and those that are are not going to endanger us I bet."

Adrian shucks off his uniform top, and lays it out on his bed, standing bare-chested as he rummages through the drawer for a tunic of his own. "Sounds like it made you toughah, eh?" He pulls out a red tunic, and starts to pull it on. "Lookin' good, though," he says, teasing the other hare. "I doubt anybeast 'ere 'as evah even 'eard o' th' 67th."

"Aye, same to you-" Something on the street had caught his attention, and Lossow's laugh is cut short as he moves to look out the window. "I think that might be private Sheen down there, it is!" Turning on his heel he bolts out of the room and practically leaps down the stairs, leaving the door swinging slightly.

"Wait! I gotta unlock th..." But Lossow is off, so Adrian chases after him, down the hall to the stairs, and then down those to the front door, fishing his key out quickly.

Lossow had made it to the door before Adrian (obviously) and had smacked into it. He stands aside rubbing his shoulder as the other buck unlocks the door, but as soon as it's open he's rushing outside.

"Priv-" Lossow begins in a loud voice before thinking better of it, "I mean, miss Sheen, what are you doing? It's only been a few minutes since we got here - where's Konner?" He asks, sharply.

"I dunno sah, we were followed by two of them armoured beasts and we agreed to split and run-in the alleyways - I lost them, at least. I don't think he knows his way around Halyard though, even if he claimed so, sah."

The conversation is had through the gate, as it's presumably still locked as the front door was.

Adrian is hurriedly fitting the key into the lock even as those words are exchanged, and as soon as the lock clicks, he swings the gate open so they can usher Sheen into the yard, before he pushes it shut and locks it again. "Damn. 'Ow on earth are we gonna find 'im? We can't exactly go around askin' beasts if they've seen a Patrol 'are wanderin' around."

"Hell if I know, sarge," Sheen squeezes inside, looking between the two and rather glad she's out of the open now. She's still somewhat out of breath, but as soon as she catches it she speaks more. "I think he might be alright, though - the fox and er, stoat, maybe he was, went after me rather than Konner, though I think that's because they saw me run first. But I lost them back by that little hole in the wall food place, with the pastries, and I spent a few minutes rushing through hall the alleys that I could before I got here, sirs."

Lossow raises a brow at Adrian. "Welp, how well do you remember Halyard? Can't just leave him out there, I should say. Though this makes me wonder.... Maybe we could ask about a patrol hare - after all, we're hares ourselves and Halyard's not all that anti-patroller just yet, wot, they might think we're relatives... Even if the two of them were chased.... Hmm..."

Adrian looks at Sheen. "Well, first, let get 'er a disguise. Upstairs. Second door on th' left. Mah sistah's room. Should be somethin' in yahr size in the drawers." Turning back to Lossow, he says, "I know it pretty well. I suggest we make this our base o' operations while we're 'ere in town. We c'n eithah split up, or go togethah, tha's y'r call, Sah. But if we do split up, we should meet up back 'ere by dusk. We c'n staht our investigation o' the strangahs tomorrah mornin'... Wot say you?"

"Right, sarge," with a half hearted salute abandoned halfway because of who could be watching, private Sheen heads inside. Lossow watches her go, mulling over Adrian's word. "Well," he turns back with a wry grin. "I have not a bloomin' clue how to get around Halyard, so leaving me one my own would only end up with another hare to find, wot. So perhaps we should stick together. Safety in numbers and all that- or the private could stay here, because she was seen earlier." He looks up at the sky. "I don't know about you, sergeant, but I've got a bad feeling about this all."

Adrian mmms, nodding and rubbing his chin, then he smiles at the buck. "I think that's best."

Last edited by Ol'random (2022-03-22 04:34:21 PM)

Ol'random · 2022-04-02 05:06:08 PM

Continued from above, RP'd from 3/26-3/31. IC'ly takes place the same evening

V; March 26th - March 31st, 2022

Less than an hour has past as the three hares of the Long Patrol make their way carefully through the town.

SGT Adrian S., LT W. Lossow, & PVT E. Sheen, hares

Night was beginning to fall as the officer peeked his head around the corner. "Clear," he murmurs behind him, and a haremaid moves around into the alleyway.

Adrian is standing behind Lossow, making sure nobeast comes up behind them unawares. "Wot's our plan?" he asks, keeping a wary eye on the street behind them. "'Ead straight f'r th' docks, or go t' th' tavern to see if anybeast'll talk?"

"We should avoid any place busy, I say sarge," Sheen mutters. Lossow nods. "I concur- making our way to the docks is best, wot; if we pass through the alleyways to the harbour without finding him, we turn and go to the other side - comb the area!" He steps forward.

Adrian nods. "'E shouldn't be too hahd t' find. The kid sticks out like sore thumb, wot. E'en in th' Patrol." He looks behind them again, then follows Walter.

Lossow nods, "My thinking as well." Pausing at another corner, he checks the pathway before crossing to the other side.

Adrian tries to keep to the shadows as much as possible as he keeps up, the group making their way away from the residential part of town and more toward the dock area. "I don't s'pose we 'ave a plan yet f'r th' possibility that 'e's been bloody well caught, do we?"

"Make it up on the fly," Lossow shrugs, "As we can't really plan much anyway without knowing where they might take him." He darts past another alleyway.

Adrian frowns. "I 'ope tha' works out for us, Sah." He's certainly glad the sun is down and that most of these streets alleys are heavily shaded.

Lossow grunts, continuing on in silence. Only one beast do they pass - a ferret taking down their laundry who pays the three hares no mind.

Eventually the sound of the harbour grows louder and louder until the lieutenant stops suddenly, raising a paw to his lips in a (probably unneeded) gesture for silence. They've reached the end of the alleyways and he now had a good view of the dock area and all the beasts who scurry about there - no sign of any captives, hare or otherwise.

Adrian squints at the view, and sees nothing out of the ordinary, save the two large galleons. He looks at the other hares with him to see what Lossow will do next.

"Well..." Lososw mutters. "Don't see him, but frankly I wasn't much expecting to. There's the two ships though." He shifts. "Well... we're in a right pickle. Come to think of it, how in the blazes are we to find a single hare in the village - at night? And if he were caught, we have no way of confirming, wot."

The twilight hour was passing with many stars appearing above - the activity in the harbour was slowing as beasts settled in for the night or went off in search of a meal. Even as Lossw and the other's watched, the guard was changed before their eyes: four armed and armoured creatures clad in helm and cuirass bearing halberds and sideswords began patrolling the dock in pairs, presumably waiting for the return of the others. the second big ship, the frigate, seems to hold the majority of the force eating and chattering and singing in the night, the light of the lamps under its decks shining out; the other workers on the docks have gone into town for now.

"Well, neither of those ships look like a prison ship, nor do any of the rest here." The hare officer whispers, wary of being seen or heard. "But of course, there's the bridge - that's what they call the cells onboard boats, right? Anyway, they might be holding him there, if they holding him."

"Brig," Adrian corrects. "It's a brig. Th' bridge is where th' steerin' wheel is. I knew a sailah once." He doesn't expound any further as he keeps looking. "Konnah could just as easily be in th' town jail." He looks at the guards. "There's no way we're gettin' past those beasts, though."

"I suppose not. Where is the town gaol?" Lossow glances at the sergeant, his paw on his sabre. It seems before Adrian's words he was going to try... "Not that I imagine we'll have much luck there, either. Maybe one of us could get arrested, and see where they bring the unlucky hare? No-" he immediately rejects his own idea, "No, that's stupid. We need more information is what we need, as the three of us - well, we're not enough to comb the whole town, wot."

"Sah..." The private chimes in, "We don't know if Konner's been captured, neither. It could turn out the worst for us if we assume that,"

Adrian huffs. "Well, we can't let our indecision stop us," he declares, "We're bloody Long Patrollahs... I do, 'owevah, have a ghost of an idea." He looks to Lossow. "Remembah we saw some hares in this group from th' ship. Three o' us would be too suspicious, an' two would be, too. But we could send one o' our group down there as a "volunteeah" t' join their army. Assumin' they're acceptin' volunteeahs, o' course. That paht's a gamble, admittedly."

"Not sure if that plan is much better than being arrested purposefully, sergeant." Lossow leans back, resting on his heels. "But it could work, maybe. But don't mistake me - it's not indecision, it's more an unwillingness to act needlessly, you know?" Creeping forward to look around the barrel from the shadows, he eyes the closest pair of guards as they pass. "I'm not against gambles, but I prefer to know the odds first instead of putting all my money on the number 13, eh? Besides, this still is a scouting mission - and that means we do a lot of waiting and watching around."

"And," he adds after a moment's pause, "There's also my - our position in the Patrol to worry about. A single hare lost is a regrettable mistake, but two or the whole squad? If I'm not captured, I'd be liable to be stripped of my rank, or stay a lieutenant forever - and you stuck as a sergeant, if you make it back. And Sheen a private forever..."

Adrian nods his head, and leans back against the wall. "Well, then for yahr othah question, it's near th' tavern, if it 'asn't been moved. Mah fathah used to be good friends with the gaolah, at least, 'e was back when I left off wi' Monty. If th' status quo hasn't changed there, 'e could 'elp us, possibly. Anothah long shot in a sea o' long shots." The remark about their ranks is certainly not missed. "May'aps we should cut our losses an' 'ead back t' inform tha' we've lost Konnah."

"Tell you what -" Lossow backs up, rising slightly. "The emptiness of the docks shan't last forever, I think - this might be a good chance to sneak aboard. I could risk that, maybe, while you and the private go find your father's friend to seek help. I won't be able to free Konner if he's onboard, but at least we will know if he's there or not."

Adrian reaches out to grab Walter's arm. "Wait. Are y' sure?" He looks back at Sheen, who is watching the dock while he addresses the Lieutenant. "If y' get caught, we won't be able t' save y'. I can't risk th' Private like tha'." He looks back down the alley. "We'll go look for the gaol. I dunno, may'aps 'e can get us on the ship... Just be careful."

Lossow was standing by now when Adrain touches him, looking about ready to step forward. But he stops himself. "Be careful?" Lossow shrinks back from the guards lantern, breathing out - "What am I doing?" If his right paw wasn't holding his weapon he would have smacked his forehead. "If there's a chance that your family friend could get us on the ship then there's no point in me throwing myself into the fire. "

Adrian huffs. "Lissen, Mayah Hahlond is probably in cahoots wi' these blokes, an' th' beast wot runs th' gaol is, or was, in tight wi' th' mayah, too. If it's still who I think it is, that is. If I mention Varus, 'e should be willin' t' put a word in."

Walter dips his head. "Very well then sergeant, let's go say hello to this friend of the major's." The officer moves back deeper into the alleyway until he can safely stand up away from the walls without danger of being spotted by the guards. "By the tavern, you say? We could check there, as I think one of us suggested earlier, wot."

Adrian nods his head in agreement. "We may e'en find Konnah there. Tha's where I told 'im t' go if'n we got all separated. He may yet 'ave stumbled upon it by now."

"Right, sergeant, right." Lossow is moving down the alleyway as he speaks, "That's another reason, indeed - but if Konner's not squirrelled away there or rotting in a cell, the gaoler may have heard word of the missing private, eh?"

"T' be honest, 'm more 'n a little concerned tha' I 'aven't 'eard any whisperin's of a Long Patrol 'are wanderin' through town. Konnah sticks out like a sore thumb, so why 'as nobeast seen 'im?" Adrian slinks into the shadows with Walter, gesturing for Sheen to follow as well. "Somebeast should've seen 'im by now. If there's one thing Konnah's not th' best at, it's bloomin' stealth."

"We have been taking care avoiding most creatures." Lossow shrugs, weaving around a barrel, "Which might explain the lack of whispers, I say. He is a patroller after all, and the Patrol's been a bit more on top of things like caution nowadays - or so it seems to me since we got back. If I remember correctly, he's as much a veteran of battles as we are, if not moreso. So perhaps I'm under-worried, which could be dangerous. Hell, if he was captured, I'm certain he could make enough of a scene so the town - and us - notice."

Adrian hrmms. "I was paired wi' Konnah for a short mission to root out some bandits harrassin' travellahs on th' beach not long aftah I got back from our extended vacation." He grimaces. "'E blew our covah, wot. Was 'e even a recruit when I left? I didn't even remembah him."

"I thought he was when I left, but frankly," Lossow glances back over his shoulder at the sergeant, "I don't rightly know when you and the other's left, wot. But he is a fighter, isn't he? He's not like myself or you, he's part of the mainline patrol - and they don't really do stealth much, do they? This mission was in a way supposed to begin to teach that, I think."

Adrian huffs. "We left back before Majah Jinora stepped down t' do a desk job. So it was awhile, wot. Stahted t' think we might nevah come back, truthfully." He stops to think, before nodding. "Aye, I s'pose this is. All I know is I want 'im t' learn bettah 'ow ta blend in an' not be so...obvious, ev'rywhere 'e goes."

"Huh." Lossow murmurs, "I've not seen her once since we got back. I heard rumours she's not around either, but I figure those decisions - or the placement of the upper officers - are far beyond the knowledge of the likes of us, wot. I think she wasn't even in the officer corps when I left. Who the hell knows what happened to her. I bet the Badger Lord might, but I'm not so convinced that information would ever be shared with the likes of us. As for the private, well, stealth wasn't much required, and he did good enough until we split up." He turns to the other private - "Say, how did you two get spotted anyhow?"

"A pair of vermin was patrolling the area - they nearly stepped on our position and rather than fight we bolted, sah." Sheen replies.

Adrian hmms, and nods. "Mah suspicion is tha' she was sent on a top secret mission," he admits, "Not unlike Monty an' mahself. I know I was told tha' Majah Taye apparently retired aftah we left. Not surprisin', given 'is age." But he doesn't feel like talking about former officers he knew as Sheen replies. "Hmm. Seems like they mighta spotted us some'ow, if they were already nearin' our small camp. Damn, we weren't as stealthy as I'd 'oped."

"So it would seem." Lossow speaks, holding up his paw to bring them to a halt as they come upon a busy street. "We don't know if it weren't chance, do we? They could have been patrolling the area without looking for us, wot. Which way to the tavern?"

Adrian peeks around the corner, then gestures to the right with his paw. "That way. A few blocks to the square. We're not fahr." He looks back. "Yeah, let's 'ope it was a coincidence..."

With a single nod, Lossow steps out boldly into the street without looking back, joining the rather busy evening crowd. Very few creatures take notice of the young hare.

Adrian holds up a paw, a finger raised as he counts quietly, then he nods for sheen to step out into the crowd, not really wanting all three hares to stick together in an obvious group. Nobeast is paying attention, but no need with sticking out any more than is necessary. About a minute later, Adrian steps into the street as well, and then heading toward the main square of Halyard and the tavern beyond.

Later that evening;
(OOC'ly March 31st)

The tavern was lively at that hour following supper; many beasts stayed for good cheer and drink after their meals, with many more cramming inside the building to join in. The light and sounds cast out form within stand in stark contrast to the dark and now mostly quiet streets of Halyard. The main road was not deserted by any means, but a chill in the air had begun driving creatures indoors and those that stayed outside shuffled along their way.

Walter Lossow strode with the last remains of the crowd heading for the tavern whether or not the rest of his hares followed.

Adrian does follow, even if he keeps a buffer of a couple feet between himself and Lossow. He hasn't visited the tavern since before he left the coast on his journey what feels like a lifetime ago, so he's still picturing that old Hannah will be behind the bar, as irrational as that is. The chill in the air is a bit bothersome, though. He'll be glad to get indoors to some warmth here soon.

The private was trailing some distance behind the sergeant, even if the thought occurs to her that three hares showing up at a place one after another could arouse suspicion. It was too late now to correct that, Sheen felt, and yet...

"Aj!" She calls, running forward to fall instep next to her NCO as casually as she can as if they were old friends. "Daresay it's been a while since you've seen the place, eh, wot wot?" she chatters happily, pointing with an exaggerated gesture to the tavern, "And it looks lively tonight!" "

Lossow has slipped inside by now, having disappeared with a crowd of moles; a weasel wearing a cuirass but no helm raises his brow at this.

While the lieutenant may have been conspicuous, no one bats an eye as Sheen's voice mixes with all the others in the air

Adrian is taken by surprise by Sheen's sudden outburst, but then he nods, playing along. "Oh! Err, aye... It's been a bloody long time. Since afore I left wi' Monty..." They pass through the door into the warmth of the drinking establishment, and Adrian has to take a moment to glance about. Most of the faces are unfamiliar. Some are vaguely familiar, but they're not hares from the Long Patrol. "Ah, instead o' th' bar, I suggest we get one o' those more private booths over there..."

Lossow was slowly moving through the crowded room looking for a relatively private spot himself, but alas - very few place were unoccupied. An old sea otter with one eye raises his one eyebrow at the hare form where he sat in the most deserted corner of the room, gesturing the officer over with his tankard.

Sheen has a broad grin on her face as they step over the threshold. "Hate to break your heart mate, but I'm not that interested, wot. I have places to be and creatures to meet, after all!" She says as they pass the weasel who barely registers two more hare wandering in.

Adrian huffs at the doe. "Tha' wasn't a proposition, mate," he says dead-pan. "Oh, look, there's Waltah ovah there. I'll go get us some drinks."

Sheen snickers. "I figured - I'll meet ya at the table then." With a small wave she goes to find Lossow.

Sitting across from the old sea otter, Walter is beginning to regret coming into the tavern. The otter hasn't said a word and neither has Lossow, even if the former keeps his good eye turned on the hare from over his tankard. When at last it was empty, he nearly slams it down on the table with a contented sigh. "So, 'are," he speaks in a low tone, "You've got patroller written all over you, so you do. Good thing most beasties can't see as well as me, eh?"

Lossow shifts uncomfortably. "I suppose so, my good otter - and yet I'm not. You sure you aren't just saying that because I'm a hare?"

Adrian goes up to the bar, and he leans against it casually. He used to come here all the time, so he acts totally nonchalant. Looking at the female otter behind the counter, he asks her, "So, ah, you own th' place now, or are ya just an employee, wot?" He lays three coins on the countertop. "I'd like three mugs of ale, by th' way..."

"Employee I am," the otter replies as she takes the coin, "And I'll be sure to get those right to you. I'd heard tell a hare eats for three beasts at once, but I didn't expect one to drink for three, neither." Within a moment or so the otter is filling the first mug, then the second, and so on.

"Hrmm." The old sea-otter grunts. "Mayhaps I did, but mayhaps I didn't. You're not from 'round here clear enough, and the only hares who come from outside are from the fire mountain more often than not, they are."

"Well, I'm just visiting old friends myself!" Sheen takes this moment to butt in and plop herself down in the booth next to Lossow, trapping the officer in it. "And Walter here's one of 'em." She reaches a paw out across the table. "Esther Sheen, at your service mate."

Adrian doesn't correct the otter's misconception, he just accepts all three mugs after she fills them, and he then makes his way over to his friends and the otter, only now starting to overhear the conversation. "Well, I 'ate t' disappoint ya, but I was born right 'ere in Halyahd. So I'm as local as they come." He sets the drinks down on the table. "If y've lived 'ere f'r any amount o' time, y' should know th' Swiftbucks."

The sea-otter's remaining eye is shrewd as it darts from Sheen to the third newcomer. "Swiftbuck, ya say?" He nods slowly, taking one of the drinks on the table. "No connection to that patrol whatsoever, either, eh?" He laughs once, dryly. "Well, imagine meeting three young hares like you lot at once while in this town, and mores they're all civies. Ha." He laughs again. "But whatever your profession, mate," he finally shakes Sheen's paw which the haremaid had been awkwardly holding out until now, "My name's Forlond, so it is. Cap'n, if you care 'bout such things; I think it's a rank in that patrol too, or so I've been told, but again - you to at least," the eye switches from Sheen to Walter, "Probably know nothing 'bout that, now do you?"

The officer remains silent while the private says, hesitantly, "O-of course not, mate. No idea the hare mountain had a navy, ah ha!" For the first time since entering the tavern her nervousness begins to show as she giggles lightly.

Adrian sips his ale, and eyes the otter. "Yahr th' mayah. Fahlond. I 'adn't expected we'd meet so quickly." He kind of just blurts that out in surprise.

The otter's face splits into a wide smile, before he throws his head back in laughter. It's some time before he sobers enough to say, "A minute ago Walter 'ere claimed I said you lot were patrollers simply because you're all 'ares, so you are, and I suppose you've gone and done the same to me, eh? But you'd be almost right, Swiftbuck, you would. Harlond's the mayor's name, so it is, and he's my cousin. You're one of that major Swiftbuck's leverets, aren't ya?"

Walter has shrunk almost entirely into his booth, his face hidden by his paws. Sheen is for the most part better at hiding how frozen she is, but the pale look on her face is hard to miss.

Adrian nods. "Aye! I am. I've been away f'r some time," he explains, "Mah apologies f'r this mix-up, though." He's far more relaxed than the other two here, holding own quite well in the moment.

"Didya follow your parents careers, by chance?" Forlond asks over the rim of his mug. "My grandmother, bless her soul, used to keep a house by yours, she did. Sadly it burned during that sacking last summer, so it did."

Relaxing as well (to a degree), Sheen grabs the remaining mug while the sergeant and otter talk. Lossow's ears are all that can be seen from his end of the table, still......

Adrian decides to gamble and roll the dice. A brief glance cast toward Lossow, before he says, "Aye, I did. But then they banished me 'alfway 'cross th' world on a fool's mission, an' I 'ad a lot o' time t' rethink things." He's fibbing a bit, of course. "Now 'm just a hare about town, y'know?"

"Banished, ya say?" The sea-otter sets down his mug. "You know, Halyard's part of the western lands, isn't it? The badger lord is lord here still..." Looking at each of the three hares in turn, he adds, "And if that's the case, well," he shrugs, taking another draft, "I suppose none of you lot would care about a patroller wandering 'round town then, now would ya?"

Ears shooting up Lossow pulls himself upright. "And how'd you figure that?"

"You hear things, and see things, so you do." Forlond responds with a smile that doesn't reach his eye.

"Oh, he's an old friend o' mine fr'm th' mountain. We were plannin' t' meet up, but the poor sot 'as no sense o' direction..." It should be concerning how quick he is to lie. "'E's from th' north, y'know. Nevah been t' a town as lahge as Halyahd. We got all separated, though... C'n you tell us where y' saw 'im? 'E didn't get arrested, I hope?"

"'E'll be safe enough for now, so he is," The sea otter replies, lifting his mug again, "Moreso than you might be soon, mayhaps. Swiftbuck's a name most here associate with the patrol, and, banished or not, they might not take kindly to that. Not now..." Finishing the ale he slams the mug on the table and stands. "You lot should return to your mountain, if you know what's good for you. There's enough beasts searching for your lost friend already, and three 'ares'll paint an even bigger target on 'is back - and yours too, maybe. But I doubt those thugs'll get their paws on 'em, I do. So don't worry for tonight and see what the week brings, aye?"

Turning into the thinning crowd he waves. "Have a good night, eh?"

Lossow lets out a breath, watching the otter disappear into the throng of beasts heading out for the night. "Well." He says, flatly. "Welllll."

"So what now, sah?" Sheen can't help the slip up at the moment, her eyes watching the rest of the tavern's common room.

Adrian looks back across the crowd as the otter departs, and he sips his ale. "We 'ead back to th' 'ouse," he replies, looking over at Lossow for any objections. "We'll be safe there, an' we c'n keep an eye on th' situation from there." He sips his ale. "It'll be easier th'n gettin' back t' th' mountain. Wot say you, Waltah?"

Walter stares at the doorway where the otter left. "The house is best, I think, yes. At any rate we cannot make the journey back tonight, not with all those lurking about - and I don't think it'll be any easier tomorrow, either, wot. We may well be stuck here...." Rising as he had no drink, the officer nods his head to the street. "Anyway, it might be best to probably go before any other creature notices us, I feel."

Adrian downs the last of his ale, and then nods. "There's a back exit. Follow me. We'll keep t' the alleys again... Are y' ready, Sheen?"

"Aye, sah!" She says, leaving her mug half empty on the table. "I'd be glad to get out of here."

Ol'random · 2022-04-13 12:00:45 PM

VI; April 11th, 2022

A reunion, four days following the loss of Konner & the night in the tavern.

Sgt Adrian, Lt Lossow, & Rt-Lt Elbio

Four days had passed since the disappearance of one Konner Attenborough and the return to the Swiftbuck Manor, and in those four days Lossow has not stepped a paw outside- he could tell from the windows that beasts have been keeping an eye on the place.

"Tonight, I think," he mutters as he creeps away from the curtain, "We might need to make a bolt for it. Can't stay here any longer, no sah."

Adrian huffs, as he leans against the wall. "If we c'ld just meet wi' tha' bloody mayah," he grumbles. "But... On th' othah paw, I agree wi' you."

"If you happen to write a personal invitation," Lossow replies with an arched brow, "Maybe that could fix things, wot?" Shaking his head he moves deeper into the house. "But on a more serious note; do you know if Halyard has anything akin to a sewer or catacombs beneath the streets? If so, we could, perhaps...."

Adrian ear-perks. "Well, we're near the coast, Loss. Not too many catacombs, I'm afraid. There is a sewer, though. I think I know of an entrance not too fah away."

"Right." Lossow dips his head, "Remember - that's lieutenant Loss, less you want me to go around proclaiming you as Aj or something!" He laughs. "But that's good, a sewer. We can maybe use that to get out, maybe. I only said catacombs because of the mountains, and frankly most cities and towns we've been too have been a bit, er," he pauses at the top of the stairs looking over his shoulder, "Well, a bit behind on their sewage, I guess I can say."

Adrian smirks. "Well, I'm pretty sure we're out of uniform right now," he teases. He lazily follows the other hare. "Remembah, Halyahd's been around f'r a bloomin' long time. It's probably one o' th' largah cities I've evah actually been to."

"Fair, I suppose." Walter shrugs, "But I suppose I should also request you don't call me any variation of 'Loss' unless we're caught, jailed, or otherwise failed this scouting mission more than we already have. Doesn't bode well, you see. Losing Konner - that, that doesn't count, either, mind you."

Going to the kitchen he spares a glance towards the back garden. "I suppose once it's dark out we can try jumping the wall back there, eh?"

Adrian laughs. "Ha. Y' know, I suspect that Konnah made it back t' th' 23rd," he mutters. "At any rate, I can't 'elp a certain feelin' o' familiarity since our time togethah." He comes down the stairs. "Tonight sounds like the best time."

"Indeed -" Lossow replies, not quite paying attention as he steps outside. The wall's here are high enough that no beast can see into the now slightly over groan garden. "Should probably find Sheen and tell her the plan - and speaking of the 23rd," he turns on his heel to look at the sergeant, "We'll make our way there, if we can."

That night the moon was hidden behind a layer of clouds which threatened to pour atop the three hares preparing to hop over the wall. Walter had his sabre on him though kept his uniform jacket in a sack, with the rest of his things. Private E. Sheen has done the same, though her long dirk was kept under a cloak.

"So, sergeant, any idea what's on the other side of this?"

"Back alley," Adrian says. "We should be unseen. The 'ouse to each side is mostly deserted." He looks at the other buck. "I'll lead ya true, don't y' worry, Sah."

"I wasn't," Lossow replies as casually as he can, "And I'm sure you will. Though what's that line of," he strains to tell in the dark, "Trees, across the way? Another yard of another manor?"

Adrian peers. "Should be. I don't think there's anybeast there, eithah," he says, looking back at Lossow. "Best t' keep our 'eads down, just in case..."

Lossow gives a single nod, and, spending a moment to look over the two hares under his command, he leaps up! Landing precariously on the top of the wall he spends as little time as possible up in the open before hoping down into the cobbled alleyway below.

"Clear, as near as I can bloody tell at least." He calls over, and soon the private is preparing to get over the wall as well.

Adrian lets Sheen go first, and then he hops over immediately after! "I'm comin'!" he calls quietly, before landing beside Lossow. "Nice form y' got there, ol' chap!"

Lossow had flattened himself against the wall by the time the others come down, and he gestures the others to do the same. "If we come across some beast, we might have to, er," he pauses, his voice whispers, "Deal with them, if you understand me. I doubt very much a trio of hares heading out in the dead of night wouldn't be something to ignore - if I saw it, say...."

Adrian looks at Lossow as he backs up against the wall. "I'm not sure I like wot yahr suggestin', Walt. We should aim to deal wi' them without any bloodshed, ideally."

Grunting in response, Lossow murmurs, "If we can, we will - but if worse comes to worse..." He trails off, shaking his head. "Come along." Not speaking further he begins slowly sliding along the wall, careful to avoid any light cast by the rare lantern...

Adrian takes up the rear, letting Sheen remain in the middle. "Sah." He says nothing more as they pass through the alley. "The sewer entrance is not far now."

In one of the backyards, someone is out and about. A close look shows it's female sea otter and she must live here or knows the beast that does. She was heading inside but then thought she heard noises,a frown as she edges away towards the other side of the yard where maybe someone is... sitting? But who is unclear at the moment.

"I imagine," Sheen pipes up as quietly as she can, "The entrance'll be when we hit a bigger street way, aye?"

Lossow doesn't really answer, but eventually - he hears the movement from the other side of the wall. He flattens himself even more against the it, somehow, freezing.

And just a moment later, away down at what is presumably the end of the alley, a lantern reveals two beasts! Their spears glint in the light. What they're chatting about can't be heard just yet but if the hares don't move quick they'll be seen.

Naturally, Lossow breaths out the faintest of curses.

Adrian sees no other recourse. He decides that their chances are better in the garden than in the alley, so he tests the nearby gate with a paw. If it's unlocked, he'll push it open so that the three of them can get in. They'll deal with whoever is on the other side when they come to that bridge.

If it's a gate to the backyard where the ottermaid is, it's unlocked as she had not had a chance to lock it yet, she planed to do that once she went inside. The otter quickly whispers to another beast in the yard.

"Look like we're accosting whoever's the poor creature inside, then." Lossow mutters to himself, beginning to draw his sabre as he follows Adrian and Sheen inside. The two guards beasts are none-the-wiser.

"Look, I'm tellin' ya that that mystery 'are fellow the brass wanted up and poofed! They say that big fire mountain's magic, anyhow."

"You dolt," came the weaselly voice of his taller companion, a ferret, "That's just old tales. They've got riches and good metals, sure, but no magic - least none that me or m'granpapa or his gran ever saw or heard tell of, and we've been here for longer than the hares, so says I!"

Adrian slides in through the gate quietly, ready to face whomever is in the garden beyond. "I'm right be'ind y', Sah," he says to Lossow, readying one of his small daggers.

The two in the yard talk quietly "'Tis only town guards Nala. I know we can go inside, besides my daughter will be back soon with some items for soup that was needed."

Interrupting that quiet talk like a wolverine in a glassblower's shop, Lossow goes to tackle the otter and cover her mouth in case the guards hear - he hopes the others do something about whoever she was talking to. Sheen can't see the other beast in the garden so instead begins to lock the gate. If anyone could see in the dark, she was wagging her head.

Adrian turns and takes down the other beast, pushing him against the wall, dagger to throat. "Silence," he hisses.

The otter gasps and this causing the other beast to slowly stands, very wobbly stands and reach for the staff on his chair to help him keep on his footpaws. Then he feels himself hit the wall as he groans, the dagger he feels and, "Wait..." He gets out in a whisper, "Adrain?" The voice should be familiar, it's Elbio... beside him a couple feet away is his wheelchair.

"Shh-" Walter hisses. In that moment, he is almost prepared to quickly dispatch the otter if she makes more noise, but he doesn't otherwise move. E. Sheen has now moved away from the gate just before the guards' light reached it, casting shadows into the garden - luckily the two vermin were too deep into their argument about the longears mountain to have heard anything even as they pass right by. But that can and might change...

Adrian is still pushing the beast against the wall, dagger at their throat, until they speak. "Bloody 'ell. Waltah! Let 'er up! We c'n trust th' ottah!" This is hissed quietly as lowers his dagger. "Elbio, wot th' bloody 'ell? Hell's teeth, sorry." He stops pushing the other hare into the wall. "This is embarrassin'..."

Elbio slides down to a sitting position now and stays that way. "I'm staying here, for now with my daughter, Nala is a healer that visits couple times a week" He looks towards the light as it appears and then leaves, a frown and he looks towards the back door to the small house, may be good to go inside, even if just a little while.

"Oi..." The weaselly voice cuts in, pausing on the far end of the garden wall, "Shut it, would ya? Thought I heard something. Woodlander speech, maybe."

"Well, I didn' 'ear a thing. Can't we just leave it? Soon as we've reach the end of this alleyway we can turn in for the night I'd bet."

Lossow looks down at the otter, meeting her eyes. "Sorry, Nala," he mouths, while keeping his paw covering her own mouth.

Adrian looks at Elbio. "Yes, c'n we please go inside? We 'ave a good deal t' discuss." He stows his dagger, and tries to help the hare up. "We're not very populah in town right now."

Elbio allows the help up, manages to balance and nods. He will quickly lead them inside before the two guards decide to go past again, and if not inside is likely best anyways. Once inside likely a chat will be needed on just... what the heck is going on anyways.

Even if either the retired lieutenant or active sergeant couldn't make out Lossow's expression in the dark, they might be able to see the rather frantic slashing motion over his throat that he's making with his free paw - the point is clear as they all begin to head inside. Sheen has moved forward to help the otter up and inside, not daring to say a word.

"It came from over here, methinks," said the weaselly voice. "Otherside of this here wall, I'm sure."

"Bah, think I recognize this place, maybe - that otter lass 'ealer, Nala, ya know 'er? I think this is the 'ouse she goes to, iffin I'm no' lost, that is. Least according t'me brother."

A long silence follows wherein Lossow can't even bring himself to breath even as he enters the house- but at least the light starts moving away again. "Well, I don't want to bother a villager none, if that's the case. 'Specially not one of the healer's beasts."

Last edited by Ol'random (2022-04-13 12:01:17 PM)

Ol'random · 2022-04-20 07:29:42 PM

Some time after the disastrous meeting between Urtas and Blisa, the young mouse lord and Atticus parted ways for the time being - the ferret staying near Ferravale while his master travels south....

VII; March 26th 2022

IC FV RP March 26th, 2022 (slaver plot) - The slavers in Mossflower are dealt with, and Atticus dances away from the knife's edge.

VIII; April 9th, 2022

Cota the mouse, Badger Mother Krisha, Spruce the squirrel, Urtas, a mouse, & an unnamed sea otter

The day outside was nice and clear: the perfect weather for spring projects. So Spruce has spent the better part of his day assembling several new chairs courtesy of the local carpenter. His paws are slightly banged up and cut, but the young squirrel has taken this in his stride even as he comes back into the Great Hall doing his best to keep the big doors from slamming. Even so, the creak echos throughout the massive room. Taking a moment's pause leaning against the door, Spruce huffs, closing his eyes.

HE WAS DONE. Finally.

Krisha walks into the room about this time and watches the squirrel before she speaks "Hello Spruce, how are you today? Doing alright?"

"Huh? Oh-" Spruce addresses the badger as he peels himself off the left oak door. "Aye, aye I am," he nods standing to the side of where sunlight pools on the floor. "Beyond one instance of a novice dropping a chair on my paw, I survived!"

Krisha frowns "Well, I am glad you're okay then, novices do need to be more careful at times. A couple of the older dibbuns may soon be novices, but that will be up to them of course"

Nodding again, Spruce replies, "Thanks." There's an awkward silence that settles in after the word with the squirrel looking around the hall. Just as he opens his mouth to say something, however, the right door swings open to reveal a novice (....the same mouse who dropped the chair): "Father abbot! Friar! Badger mother?" He calls as he rushes in, looking frantic, before sliding to a stop in front of Krisha. "Ah, mother Krisha! There's a few beasts at the gates, and it's only us novices who're around to respond! I'm not sure where everyone else is - that's why I got sent off to find one of you elders!" He speaks in a single breath, quick as he can. "They say they wish to visit, but frankly I'm not so sure of their look, not one bit, mother Krisha."

Krisha hmms, "What did they look like then and did anyone say what they wanted?" She glances at the stairs "I am unsure where Benar is at the moment, but I could go on the walltops and see what is going on"

"Right, mother Krisha," the young mouse says, rocking back and forth on his foot-paws with a nervous energy. "At least three of them, a rat, I think, vermin all. Dress mighty fancy, I'd say too, but I only got a brief look in truth - none of us know where the father abbot is either, which is why I went looking for someone!" He steps back, turning to the door. "Are you gong to come, ma'am?"

Spruce watches the exchange quietly, wanting to get a glimpse of these visitors for himself. "Hey, Jerome, you sure you're not being jumpy, hmm?"

The novice shakes his head. "N-no. Not one bit."

Krisha hmmms "Well, we can see what they want anyways but Father Abbot does have the final say on whether they should enter or not." She is maybe being a little too careful but the abbey has had issues with vermin before and it doesn't sound like its anyone from Ferravale either.

"Of course!" The novice bows his head, "But... do you think they might dangerous then?"

"Maybe." Spruce says despite his growing grin. "Maybe they've come to chase you around the abbey, Jerome."

Krisha glances at Spruce "Please, no joking right now." A sigh and she heads to the walltops to see what is going on.

Cota steps down the steps and blinks at the scene "Is... something going on? What is it?"

Spruce wasn't really planning on saying anything more unless the novice gave an opportunity, so he does as Krisha asks - until Cota comes down, that is. "A band of vermin at the gates! Jerome's quaking in his sandals." He answers with as straight a face he can mange before cracking into a giggle. The novice is out side already as he had never closed the door so doesn't hear the squirrel.

Krisha has already headed to the walltops, slowly climbing them to get a good look at whom may be at the abbey gates right now. She nods for one of the wall guards to help keep an eye on things.

Cota tilts his head "Vermin?From where and what do they want?" So may questions and he is curious of the visators."Most of the elders are busy I think"

"So, what say you?" The distant words can be heard over the walltop. "You intend to leave us out here in the dust?"

Spruce raises a brow at Cota. "That's why Jerome came to get Krisha - she's the only one 'round, it seems. But he didn't say much else - we'll have to see for ourselves!" The squirrel looks over his shoulder as he passes the threshold of the Great Hall. "Hey, Cota, aye? You comin'?"

There are two beasts on the road who are decidedly not vermin. A mouse and a sea otter stand gazing up at the abbey.

Krisha looks down and raises an eyebrow, well just a couple vermin and a couple woodlanders "Hello, I am Mother Krisha, can I help you with anything?"

Cota decides to follow them and see for himself who is there. He hmmms "Never seen them before" He then stays quiet letting the badger speak to the group.

The mouse and otter glance at each other before the latter responds, "'Ello up there! If you're in charge, we'd wish to stay at your Abbey, so we do!" The sea otter's accent sounds like Halyard's, though there's something else to his voice... "Just the two of us there is, for now."

Spruce pokes his head over the ramparts. "So, this your rat, aye, Jerome? I suppose the otter-looking fellow's a polecat too." He snickers at the novice's growing beet red face.

Krisha listens as they speak, "Two for now, and stay a few days or live here, the abbey does welcome visitors as long as they follow our rules and mean us no harm. You also will need to give the guards any and all weapons before you enter, no worries the weapons would be returned to you when you leave the abbey."

Cota speaks "They sound like they are from Halyard or maybe the western sea. I spent some time in Halyard with my father, course father lives elsewhere now... some land across the sea and any letters I get are not too often, the one recent came from a seagull he knew."

The sea otter raises his paws. "I've only got a dirk on me, you'll find - though the young master Urtas here carries a fancier blade than that, so he does." The mouse on the road remains quiet for now, simply watching and listening to the exchange. He looks around the same age as a few of the older novices...

"And as the mouse there's guessed," the otter calls up, "I'm from Halyard, so I am! A good merchant, thought I bear no wares now."

Spruce slinks down behind the ramparts to hide from the view of the road. "Halyard's the port on the western sea, right? Down the great river?"

Krisha watches the beasts on the road, she then after a moment disappears from the walltops and is soon at the gates with a couple guards."Please give any weapons to the guards. Then you may come in ." She hmmms at the visitors "And maybe tell me why your so far from, my guess... home to come all the way to our abbey?"

The badger mother also stops a passing order beast "Please do tell Benar we have guests."

"I," The mouse on the road falteringly speaks for the first time, waving the otter down before he continues, "I- I wanted to see the world! I have heard even from the shorelands of the abbey of Redwall, and so here myself and my friend are to be found." He bows. "Indeed as my friend has stated I carry no other blade besides my sabre, which I am willing to hand over - as my companion is willing to give up his dirk as well, no doubt."

Jerome shrugs in answer to Spruce's question. "I dunno."

Krisha nods "Everyone who enters gives their weapons to the guards and the weapons are returned when guests leave.We are a peaceful abbey and carry no weapons. The only time we ever would is in times of danger or if the abbey is threatened." She leads them into the great hall. "I am sure the Abbot will be around soon, perhaps at dinner or breakfast."

Once the gates are opened to the two beasts & their weapons handed safely over, the sea otter and mouse follow the badger mother inside. "I never would have expected to see such a grand place such as this so far from the coast!" Urtas is clearly excited and awed to see Redwall. "Nothing told of here really conveys the true scale...."

A little ways behind them Spruce and Jerome come down the stairs - the former of who scoffs at the newcomer's words (and is nudged in the side by the novice's elbow).

Krisha smiles "Well welcome to Redwall...." Her attention is then changed to a crying mouse dibbun "Excuse me..." She looks at the dibbun "What happen?" The mouse sniffs "The bee made an ouchie on paw." Tears are in the dibbuns eyes. "I wanted to take it to the pretty flower...." The badger picks up the dibbun to head to the infirm, she motions to a couple order beasts to help the newly arrived guests. Spring has just started and already a bee has stung someone, luckily that doesn't happen too often.

One of the order beasts the badger mother motions to happens to be the novice Jerome! Spruce slaps him on the back and says to Urtas and the sea otter, "Alright then, mates, I suppose we should get you settled, hmm? My name's Spruce, and the mouse is novice Jerome. Pleasure to meet you!"

Some days after Urtas and his companion were let into the abbey, the young Spruce and novice Jerome gave him an exhaustive tour of the Abbey. Meanwhile, the badger cub Oz had a plan...

IX; April 16th, 2022

What's going on? - After Urtas meets Dochas & Oz, the badger cub makes a break for it out of Redwall. He's caught, naturally, first by the squirrel kit then by his mother, Krisha.

Last edited by Ol'random (2022-04-20 07:29:59 PM)

Ol'random · 2022-04-23 03:25:43 PM

X; April 20th, 2022

Back in Halyard

LT Lossow & Elbio

By mid morning the day after the sergeant and retired lieutenant reunited, Lossow found himself anxiously watching the front yard from behind the curtain in the front room, a habit he had gotten into while at the Swiftbuck manor.

Elbio watches Lossow quietly before speaking "So why the sudden... dislike in Halyard? Did I miss something, which would be reasonable I suppose." He leans back in his chair.

"See anything, sah?" Private Sheen asks in a tone that makes it clear she's not expecting him to.

She stops, seeing Elbio as well and gives him a half heart salute. Lossow takes a step back and looks from the other buck to the private before turning back to the window. "There's been some tension racked up, mostly from that Zolomon's-" his eyes dart back to the other lieutenant, "From that creature's actions, and all the rest that was happening. It's been quiet for a while, but...." He shakes his head.

Elbio sighs as he goes to stand slowly, he seems to test his balance but does grab ahold of his chair, he manages a sort of half step before he has to balance with the chair and seemingly deciding to just stay seated for the moment. He hmms "I heard that he... well died. But not of much he did... well after..." He frowns now, but he does have a glimmer of hope. "I am actually recovering better than I thought I would."

"That's good, sah," Sheen says rather brightly, at odd with Lossow's deepening frown. "Well, after he was killed, seems like some beasts here sent word over the sea, as far as I can tell at any rate. Then those two great big ships arrived this month - surely you've seen them? Er," he steps fully away from the window rubbing the back of his neck, "I guess you might not be able to see the port from the yard, of course... But anyway, many, many beasts have come well armed and armoured- and they're arming Halyard too it seems."

There's a beat as he considers what to say next.

"Then," he begins, carefully, "I was to lead a scouting party with sergeant Swiftbuck. The two of us split off from the private here," he gestures to E. Sheen, "And another, Konner Attenborough. The private can relate what happened next best I'd say."

"Uh, right, sah! Well, Konnah an' I were waiting before following the officers into town when a vermin patrol came across us and thus we ran - Konnah split off from me down the alleyways and I've not seen him since."

"And after that, we met up to go look for him - and found that half of Halyard was too, apparently. After that we hid out in Adrian's home before trying to escape by this house...."

Elbio nods "Well maybe he made it back to the mountain." He shrugs "I... may not stay here either, even if I can't walk... yet anyways, I just have to get to the docks or maybe just by some water. Supposedly the GUOSIM may be in Halyard, not that they would likely do much to shrews... hopefully"

"Either the mountain or the 23rd's base we've been making use of - I do hope he made it." Lossow nods. "But as for.... Gou-sim, did you say? I don't think they'll do anything. It seems their issues are solely with the hares Long Patrol and no one else, for now."

"And," he adds, "If you are planning on leaving, it might be best to go soon. I can't say how long Patrol hares - active duty or no- in Halyard will be left alone. Maybe there'll be no problem at all. I can't really say."

Elbio hmmms, "I could perhaps make a surprise visit to the mountain, it would be nice to see everyone." He goes into some thought "Though... sand is not gonna be fun taking a wheeled chair over, hmm how to solve that I wonder."

"No idea." Lossow grunts. "But... I fear that if you do head to the mountain you might not be allowed to return to this village. I don't think beasts will ignore a hare coming from Salamandastron returning, be they in a wheel chair or not. I know that I don't intend to return to this place once Konner's found, 'less I'm ordered back, of course."

Elbio nods "I... want to go back to Redwall, they are likely wondering how I am. A letter I think was sent, but not many details. I was told I would likely never walk again... but then after a while I was able to move a toe, then other toes and I can stand, well sort of for a few seconds."He smiles a little. "Maybe I can surprise Lt. Velm" He doesn't know of the promotion yet.

Walter raises a brow. "Redwall?" He takes a moment to recall. "Oh, right - you were the hare stationed there, right. I do know that at some point I am to go to Mossflower and presumably fill part of what your role was, alongside the rest of the 67th. But that's all been a bit delayed in light of recent events..."

"Actually, sah," Sheen gently corrects, "It's captain Velm now. He was promoted to chief healer back before he and corporal Donica got married."

Elbio blinks "Oh, hmmm guess I need to catch up on recent news "He nods"I seen post 67 briefly. It needs fixed up. I am hoping to still be able to help at Redwall."

"Well, if you do," Lossow dips his head, "You might be able to come with the rest of us out to Mossflower, when the time comes. Frankly I'm a bit scared command may have forgotten about it... Though I do know the new captain's excited - not cpt. Velm, mind you, but cpt. Lucia Cadwallader. She's one of those old retires pulled back into duty that the Patrol's fond to make use of."

Elbio says, "Well be best to head out by Autumn, get to the area by winter as travel in winter isn't that great, least in Mossflower"

With a shrug Lossow replies, "I'm hoping we'll move out this summer myself. And I know too well traveling in winter is a terrible idea... I led sergeant Adrain and the others - Monty, Serena, etc - up north while facing winter. We lived, but by goodness I will never ever do that again if I can help it!" He laughs. Sheen had left the room for the moment while the two officers talked.

Elbio nods "Summer would be good. I would check in every so often at the base but mainly be at the abbey. It would be good to have a group of hares near the abbey, just in case of trouble."

"If captain Lucia has her way, Elbio," Lossow wryly grins, "I'll be making a trip between Mossflower and this shore at least twice a season in case we need to alert the rest of the patrol. I figure you at Redwal shan't be left alone too long, either."

Elbio chuckles "I won't be alone at the abbey but yeah...also traveling alone wouldn't be wise and who knows maybe Ciana will give the long patrol another try and join up, be at the 67th." He yawns "For now, need some sleep as I am guessing we head off when it when it's dark."

"Of course..." The active lieutenant says, deciding to keep quiet about his own training at the 67th.... "Maybe she will!" Lossow gives small smile, having been distracted somewhat from the outside world. "Have a good nap, lieutenant. We shall - probably to the 23rd, if we can help it."

Left alone in the room he taps his elbow with his paw, looking around the small room. After a moment or so he drifts back to the window where Sheen will find him again by noon.

Ol'random · 2022-04-30 01:52:12 PM

In Mossflower Country, several local creatures have banded together to help establish a small landing upon the River Moss...

XI; April 23rd, 2022

Patch makes a new friend!

Atticus, John, & Patch

Just to the north of the path to the village of Ferravale, a large group of beasts - woodlanders and vermin alike - are working together near the banks of River Moss. Some workers are Ferravale beasts while others (mostly the woodlanders) are locals from the greater Mossflower area. The noise and activity can certainly be seen from the village proper, helped by how creatures are constantly going to and from the village to the project area.

Patch has decided to see what is going on "Okay, okay okay... move, excuse me...." He stops and studies the work "Okay what is goin' on 'ere... hmmm?"

Patch can see the beginnings of a dock-like structure being constructed with several outbuildings nearby.

Now, as the rat is a notorious figure in Mossflower for possibly being one of the most disagreeable beasts in the entire forest, no one at first is willing to answer him - or even acknowledge his presence. At least several workers are regulars at the tavern, with most others semi frequent customers. A squirrel taking a break in a tree raises a brow at the tavern keeper, laughing silently to himself at how blatantly everyone is ignoring Patch.

Of course he doesn't feel like doing anything about him, either.

Despite all this, however, eventually a ferret walks up to the rat, blocking Patch's way forward and clasping his paws behind his back. "Excuse me, master," Atticus says with a polite smile, "But I'm not quite sure why you're here, hmm?"

Patch crosses his arms over his chest "Ya can't just... build a dock here and.... buildings, why are ya building this dock right now. I say... maybe take it down perhaps, who said ta build it even, 'tis not needed fer anything"

In turn, Atticus crosses his own arms. No one stops their work save a few who gather to watch the exchange. "And why not? I was not aware you were the lord of this whole land. As for why," he relaxes, resuming the previous - and more polite - posture and tone, "There exists not one landing from below the stone bridge all the way down to the mouth of Great Sea. This shall make travel easier between the forest and the shore, and above all the shipment of goods will be made easy. Ferravale does as it wishes, which is good, but it does not speak for all beasts of Mossflower."

Patch rolls his eyes "Don't need a dock, tis why it's not one here, that's a sea port thing. And ships don't really come down here... boats at times, and de shrews have their log boats. In fact the shrew camp is near here... they may have a say so in this I bet. And trade with places have been good for seasons." He watches the building and looks back to the ferret "So why... suddenly do beast from out of the area come here, hmmm?"

Patch says, "And travel is already easy up the river, down de river"

The sigh that escapes Atticus is quite a sigh. The ferret turns to the beasts watching, saying, "That's enough gawking, I think. The swifter you bring that log down to the riverside, the sooner shall you be rid of it."

"As for you, Patch, was that your name? As for you, I would suggest keeping such insight to yourself, for clearly not I nor any of the good creatures are able to understand, and your breath is wasted on our ears."

Patch glares "Ya all are up ta something, ya are I bet. There has never been no need for a... landing sight here. Besides likely be good to talk to de chieftain on something outside of Ferravale. And yes I am Patch and I do me best to keep an eye on things both good and bad in Mossflower and if tis a wiorry... I let de proper beasts know"

"Ah, yes, that would make you Patch the trustworthy," Atticus lets an unfriendly grin grow on his muzzle. "I think that's what some might call you. I will gladly speak with any beast other than you, as will anyone here."

The squirrel up in the tree is lying on his back with his paws behind his head. He opens one eye as he listens.

Atticus continues, "There's very little reason I see to make such a fuss about this dock, unless you simply enjoy controlling anything you can." It seems he's thrown caution to the wind and is simply trying to rile Patch up if he can.

Patch takes a deep breath "Then... maybe I will tell Blisa to come check on this, see what is going on and see if this is something to be concern with. I mean... 'tis is just suddenly happen out of no where, like... oh hey let's build a dock ya ya... you don't think others will notice this and ask questions and beasts do trust me. I keep an eye on things on possible trouble, on simple things"

"Of course, of course." Atticus nods, turning away from the rat. "If that is all, I am not sure you will wish to remain here. I can show the construction in detail if you wish, but it's as I said- a dock and landing, a rather simple and small one at that."

The squirrel is sitting up perched in the tree branches now with both eyes watching the vermin. John wears a thin lipped look on his face.

Patch sighs, one can tell he isn't so sure of this sudden dock showing up "How did you get beasts to help, ya know... build this, didn't they ask questions?"

The ferret doesn't turn back to face the rat. "Many volunteered. In truth, the dock and landing was something some of the Woodlanders wished for as well. Some desire to see the world beyond this forest, while others want for greater contact with the lands to the west, while others are simply helpful, kind beasts - a foreign concept to you, no doubt. And, yes, some simply are helping for the coin they earn, which is as good a reason as any, is it not?"

Patch snorts "Just to work for coin is silly. And I know kind and helpful... I can be helpful. I helped a group that stopped at the tavern a lot." The group he speaks of died down a lot it seems after it's leader died and it's unclear if a new leader stepped up yet.

The squirrel in tree can't mask his snort when Patch speaks, but he slinks further back into the budding leafs.

"Have you ever faced hardship before?" Atticus turns, sharply, visibly annoyed now. "Many creatures do much for coin, and for many reasons. But I suppose an innkeeper like you who has the protection of a leader has never had to worry about that - or what he says, hmm?"

Patch snorts again "Mossflower has seen a lot of trouble in the past, and always got through it." He studies the landing and those working, he gets a good look at the ferret and decides to head back towards Ferravale, which may be wise at the moment.

"Indeed, but I'm rather certain you've never helped!" Atticus calls after the rat as he goes, letting out a sigh of relief when Patch is gone. Pinching the bridge of his snout he turns back to help the rest of the workers.

And up in the tree John puts the incident away in his mind for later, before he hops down the trunk and joins in on the effort to build the landing while the sun still shines.

Ol'random · 2022-05-21 01:37:19 PM

XII; April 23rd, 2022

Four hares return to the 23rd!
(I completely forgot to post this log before! oops!)

SGT Adrian, Rt-LT Elbio, & LT Lossow + spoofs

The night watch has just changed now that midnight has arrived, and the two hares begins to try and settle in until morning.

"I believe it's down this way." Lossow murmurs as he slowly moves in the dark up the path. "I've only been here twice, but Sheen -"

"Yeah, sah, this is the right way," the private interjects.

Elbio has managed to follow, with a little help that is. He has been a little slow at first as he decided, against his better judgement, to leave his wheeled chair at the cottage. He decided to tag along to the 23rd after some thought on weather it was wise to stay or not.He only hopes Ciana comes along soon as well, or at least gets to the mountain. "This is the first I have, well heard of the place oddly enough"

"It was afore yahr time, mate. Fathah retired from the 23rd back before I was even born, t' be honest. An' it's been abandoned pretty much evah since."
Adrian says all that.

"You 'eah something, Fred?" Harolds asks his fellow sentry. "Think I 'eard voices."

Walter's ears perk up having in turn heard the sentry's voice. "Well, lads," he says with a grin hidden by the night, "I think we made it!"

Adrian mmms. "Finally, the voices are hares. About time, too. Ahoy, 'Arolds, let us in. It's Adrian, Lossow, and Sheen."

Elbio hmmms, he lets the others lead as this is the first he has been here before."Well, this is intresting and close to Halyard but hidden"

Harolds blinks. "Adrian...?"

"I think that's a Swiftbuck, like the Majah!" Fred hisses to his friend.

"Lieutenant Walter Lossow," the officer speak up, "And Sergeant Adrian Swiftbuck an' Private Esther Sheen, reporting back."

"Ah, right away sah!" The first hare speaks again, the door opening revealing the two privates who salute. "Didn't expect you lot tonight, not at all! If ever, really... It's been a while."

Elbio let's the others be in front before he goes to stand on his own a moment and stumbles a little. He clears his throat as he nods a hello "Hallo... for those who don't know me, Lt. Elbio Hans Reed, retired for the moment but coming back out of it. Gonna stay here a little while and hopefully head back to Redwall Abbey." A small smile "Surprise them even, they... well wasn't expecting me to be able to come back."He sighs "I still have some healing and recovering to do,I know"

Adrian sighs at the privates. "Aye, well, neithah did we. Our mission was a dust up, I'm afraid. An' we lost Konnah. Did 'e evah come back 'ere?"

"Konnah's not with you, sarge?" Harolds looks incredulous, "'Ow did..?" But he's distracted by Elbio, saluting again. "Oh, sah! I'll be 'onest, there was a rumour you went back to that Redwall place, and that's what I thought..."

Lossow cuts in, "Yes, yes, that's all good, but concerning pvt. Konner - is he not here?"

The two sentries share a look. "No, sah."

Adrian sighs. "Of course 'e ain't. This just keeps gettin' bettah an' bettah. Well... Per'aps we could discuss this inside rathah th'n out 'ere, eh?"

Elbio frowns "A missing hare? No one else is missing are they?" He will step inside, with some help of course and once inside sit in the closest chair.He frowns as his legs clearly hurt,but he made it here. Slow but made it,he replies to the mention of the abbey "Yeah that got a bit....messed up thanks to a hare that will not be named"

"Uh, right, sarge," Harolds responds, stepping aside, "I think the commandin' officehs are all resting by now, and frankly I'm loathe to wake them........."

"Of course." Lossow mutters as he pushes past them. "Well, I suppose I'll go wake up, er," he turns back to the sentries, "Is major Varus here, currently?"

Private Sheen who has remind quiet up until now, goes to help Elbio inside. "It's just Konnah, sah, if you know him. No one else."

Adrian blanches. "Do NOT wake Fathah right now. We'll give 'im th' debrief tomorrah."

Elbio nods "Wise to not wake the Major..." He then speaks a little quieter, "How is he doing by the way? Mostly himself now?"

"Uh." Harolds shrugs, "He's.... fine."

Lossow raises his paws, "Alright, alright, point taken. I'll deliver the bad news about private Konner in the morning, and no doubt be yelled at for not waking him up as soon as we got back. Oh well. I need a drink - Sheen, where's the bloody mess hall in this place?"

"Er, I think down the hall to the left, if I recall rightly, sah."

Adrian sighs. "Lissen, Walt... I c'n tell 'im f'r ya, an' take th' blame."

Elbio listens to the others chat and leans back in the chair he is in.Luckly its a soft chair and he shows just how worn out he is from the trip here and is soon asleep in the chair.

"Listen, I'm not the one directly under his command, so all he can do is yell." Lossow replies, waving his paw as he heads for the mess, "I'll have the chat with the major in the morning. Or I'll tell that master-sergeant if he's around first, and let him deal with it. Come on, I haven't had a good meal for weeks it feels like."

Last edited by Ol'random (2022-05-21 02:25:33 PM)

Ol'random · 2022-05-21 02:24:44 PM

Back in Salamandastron, the Long Patrol discusses their options...

XIII; May 14, 2022

Terrence needs a new corporal, again!

SGT Adrian, PVT Cole, Rt-LT Elbio, MSGT Terrence, & CPT Velm

The spring weather even on the shore was welcome: the rain that came each day was not the storm of winters or summer, but a light drizzle that passed soon enough in favour of the sunlight. The air was fresh and the gardens on the mountain are in full bloom, and most hares opt to spend their time of outside the dingy old halls of Salamandastron.

However, making his way through the maze like tunnels, Terrence has no time off to enjoy the weather. Rather he continues his work as he had for seasons at this point - checking on the various aspects of mountain life and making sure the Patrol was running smoothly for his superiors; right now that meant careful care of the crops while they grew and collection of rain water for storage in addition to the maintenance of arms and armour & the overall gear of the Long Patrol. Thankfully nothing was broken (yet) beyond repair, but the master sergeant felt it may be only a matter of time...

Regardless he marches on through the hallways intent on his inspection of the mountain.

Cole is sitting down taking a break as he has just did some training in the training room. He catches sight of Terrence and for now just watches the Sergeant to see what he is up to.

Elbio has been slowly recovering and needing his wheeled chair less and less, which is good. He slowly moves threw the hallway, every so often he will lean against the stone wall, a healer does keep an eye on him as he walks, there to help if he needs it."You sure you don't need to rest sur?" Elbio replies "I am fine, I need to get use to walking again"

Terrence catches sight of the recovering lieutenant first and offers a respectful nod as he passes, but doesn't really stop to talk - he isn't part of the healer corps after all, so (thankfully) he can simply trust Elbio's in good paws for his recovery. Rather he slows by the private who'd just come from training, eyeing Cole up and down.

"Making progress you'd say, private?" He questions, coming to a halt. "Or at the least keeping up would you say?"

Cole gives a salute,"Y... yes sur!" He states as he stands up straight and tall and at attention. He has been studying a good amount, of course he could do better but at least he is trying to do well. "It's just been a quiet day sur, that's all." Also in the mountain now is Ciana, for now a recruit as she catches up on some basics she missed while away. But she stays off to the side for the moment.

Elbio returns the nod to Terrence "Good day Terrence" He says quietly "Hope all is going well."

Adrian comes up from level one, and continuing on up to level three. Doesn't seem like he's about to stop, either.

Barely registering the new recruit (as he barley recognises her), Terrence nods briefly his attention already shifting from Cole. "That's good," he mutters distractedly, "Quiet is good. Yes, Elbio! Good day!" He calls even as yet another hare appears.

Terrence doesn't immediately acknowledge him, yet after moment the uniform and rank sink in soon enough - and so waves Adrian over. "Sergeant! I should have a word with you, if you have the time."

Cole sits back down looking over some papers he has for studying, a sigh as he reads another page "So much to remember... like how do officers do it"

Adrian was headed up to the summit to get some air in his free time, but somebeast calling out his rank makes him stop short. "Mm?" He changes course. "Wot is it, Sah?"

Raising a brow Terrence turns back to Cole for a moment. "If that is something you wish to learn, I'd suggest speaking to officers if you can, as well as spending more time in the library if you can help it." When the sergeant turns back the master sergeant nods in greeting. "Adrian, right, right - I think now may be a good time to start discussing finding Attenborough - er, Konner, if you're not otherwise busy, of course."

Cole nods "I... am, sort of interested in being an officer one day yeah...err least I hope, it's a goal" He has been a lot less trouble lately than he has been in the past. Ciana meanwhile is called away to a class for recruits.

Elbio makes his way to where he can sit down, he sighs as his legs hurt a little but he has been doing a lot to regain walking and soon would get some trining in as well to get back into being able to fight well, maybe not as well as before but as close as he could. He has been told he may still need a walking staff sometimes for long walks, if he can avoid that he will though.

Adrian hmms, rubbing his chin. "We spent almost two days tryin' t' covertly search Halyahd, but if y've got any new ideas I'm certainly all ears."

Eyes darting to Elbio when he sits, Terrence nods slowly, again. "Well, not particularly anything concrete, of course, but I wonder if we should just swallow our pride and reach out to Halyard and those beasts there ourselves in search of the lost private. Your report mentioned a sea otter who seemed friendly in a way, perhaps he might be a good bridge...?"

Elbio looks back and forth between the two and clears his throat "Finding whoever the sea otter is, could be good... if you think it wise, or ask others. Maybe both. I do know some are fine with us hares in Halyard, Nala was fine with the LP hares and sadly I know very little of these new beasts around"

"Wisdom isn't something I have a claim to," Terrence grunts, musing to himself "But practicality is more in my grasp, I should like to think. Hence requesting help," he speaks louder, addressing Elbio directly, "Even if these new beasts aren't much to our liking. The old inhabitants like your Nala and that sea otter could certainly help, yes... But." He leans against the stone wall with a shrug, "Perhaps honesty may be the best path we have. If we're clear to all that Attenborough's simply missing and we require their aid, that may make Halyard as a whole a bit more cordial towards us. After all, having them think we might relay upon them may prove useful, and allow us an easier time learning what exactly they're about. I severely doubt they simply wish to improve the village and leave it at that, but that is the realm of speculation."

Elbio hmmms "Then we somehow how to learn more about them, but at the same time not make them think we are a threat." He thinks a moment "Also I do think Konnor is alive still or we would know, also if these beasts wanted him dead and wanted us to know we would know by now. So he has to be somewhere, whether Halyard or elsewhere even, maybe on a ship perhaps. Ships do stay in the docks, some for a short time and others longer... heck some live in their boats." He frowns "Wot ever is decided I sadly cant tag along, still got a good deal of recovery to do if I am gonna be able to get back to Mossflower and the abbey."

Adrian clears his throat. "If I may say so, it seems that all the non-'are residents o' Halyahd are bein' swayed hahd by this new contingent o' beasts that arrived in tha' bloody big ship. It seems th' beast are offerin' some kind o' alliance that does not include th' Patrol at all. Wot hare still livin' within Halyahd are less impressed, but it seems othah beasts are more interested. It's a toss up whethah any beast that isn't a hare will actually 'elp us out at this point."

"You were there, sergeant, and so too were you, Elbio. Both of you can probably say better than me. I doubt Konner's dead, too. I know him well enough and he's survived much, much worse." Terrence rubs his temples with a sigh. "Daresay we might try and force ourselves in that alliance, whether or not they intend to leave us out and regardless of if they mean well or no-" Shaking his head, he adds, "But no matter whatever's the decision made, it'll be down to the choice of the likes of the major," his eyes drift away from Adrian as he says that, "And the colonel, and I suppose even higher up than that. We'll just have to propose the idea, I think, if enough hares think it's worth a shot of course.

"I do," the master sergeant grunts after a moment, "But maybe that's my unwillingness to just leave Konner as an unknown."

Elbio nods "I didn't see Konnor, I heard how he was missing when Adrian and Lossow showed up and told me." he leans back a little tired, "I am sure his Lordship wants Konnor found as well, leave no hare behind one would say."

Adrian frowns. "I'm not against searchin' f'r Konnah. I just want y' t' know wot t' expect. Th' Halyahd town guard is not composed of hares anymore, and they made it quite cleah tha' we weren't welcome. I strongly suspect Konnah was captured by those strangahs an' taken t' their ship f'r interrogation."

"Hmm." At the mention of the badger lord Terrence's face darkens for a moment. "Well I'm the one nominally in charge of him, and the rest of the hares in the battalion." He shakes his head. "I'd have preferred to not have the incident meddled with outside of the patrol, but that's not really feasible. And your involvement since nearly the start of this," he cracks a small grin at Elbio, "Already makes this a wider issue... As for Halyard itself - I don't think the guard has had many hares for a long time. Thing's have changed quite a bit since you left Adrain, and frankly I wasn't even aware it had survived the attacks last summer. Barely anything did."

He sucks in a breath, closing his eyes for a second or two. "If," he starts again "If they have taken him prisoner we don't have any other option but to ask for him back. I'm not willing to risk a fight in town, or aggravating any beast there more than we have to."

Elbio nods "Fight wouldn't be wise... and..." He frowns "Wait no one has updated his Lordship?..." He still frowns at this as if to ask why, a hare missing and that's not reported?

Adrian scowls. "Well, we were trying to keep it hush-hush and find him ourselves. Somebeast's head is gonna roll ovah this one."

"No!" Terrence is suddenly much more alert when the lieutenant speaks, "No," he says, calmer, "He does know, as does the whole patrol, no doubt. The report was sent up the proper channels, don't you worry." He glances sympathetically at Adrian, "And he will know if we try and make contact with Halyard... But I'm just not all that willing to remind him of the details until we have a little more to show fo-" he cuts himself off as a hare calls out.

"Lt. Elbio!" It was Redford, looking a bit haggard today, "Lt. Elbio- Oh, there you are!" The healer dips his head as he slinks by Terrence and Adrian to get at Elbio. "Forgive the intrusion, but he needs his rest - come on, lieutenant."

Terrence is quiet for a while after the healer and the recovering hare go, watching the hallway where they disappeared to. "More heads will roll than just your's or Lossow's if we aren't careful about this," he mutters, "But there is a chance Konner is fine, so let's hope for that. He managed to survive the swamp incident, and ticking off Dominik. As well as the battles in Halyard..."

Adrian harrumps. "I don't doubt 'e's alive. I'm just not sure 'ow long they'll keep 'im as long as he ain't cooperatin'." The mere suggestion that Konner would have blabbed about the Patrol in an interrogation is not even worth entertaining. "We screwed up, pure an' simple. We shoulda suspected they'd send a patrol out inta th' dunes that close t' town. Splittin' up seemed like a good idea, but 'e fell right inta their lap like a first prize fish in a fishin' tourney."

The master sergeant simply nods at first, taking a while to respond. When he does, it's in a low voice, "I think," he begins, tentatively, "I think if Konner has been captured he may be treated well, regardless of if he cooperates or not."

Adrian frowns, and he nods after a moment. "One can only hope," he replies. "We may have to fall back on diplomacy to clear this up."

"My thoughts exactly." Terrence leans back. "I figure if they have managed to catch him, they wouldn't risk harming him and upsetting the Long Patrol. They clearly aren't looking for a fight, at least not now, and if I were in their paws I'd keep the bargaining chip as happy as I could before I used it. Which, of course," he sighs, "Means that they may very well have something to hold over us in any discussions that take place, but if they have him, I fear there's no way to avoid that."

Adrian huffs. "We outnumbah their party... for now. We're th' ones tha' should 'ave th' uppah paw. If they bring more ships, though, we could lose control o' the Western shore. Wot then?"

"What then?" Terrence tsks, "I don't want to find out. And regardless of if we out number them," the master sergeant turns a hard eyed look to Adrian, "The report said they wore armour, and were disciplined, and above all they have Halyard mostly under their thumb. I'm not sure if you've ever experienced a fight in a town like Halyard before, but we would need ten times our number before I would ever be comfortable suggesting we start a battle there. We lost far too many hares last time, far too many- including your own father. I don't want to ever see anything like that repeated, if for the citizens of Halyard's sake, if nothing else, and I'll do my best to make sure it doesn't happen, understood?"

Velm walks into the hallway as he hears voices and stops a moment, not catching anything but noting Terrence seems tense maybe "Everything alright Sergeant?" He has a clip board where he has written what looks like a supply list with him.

Adrian huffs again. "I fought in th' battle o' Redwall several seasons ago. It was brutal. At any rate, 'm not suggestion we staht a war, but it might be 'igh time we flex our muscle a little an' remind these strangahs tha' we aren't t' be trifled with. I c'n guarantee thay've been watchin' th' mountain. Wot we need t' do is give 'em th' impression tha' we vastly outnumbah them decisively."

"But do we?" Terrence mutters to himself. He shakes his head. "I have no wish to poke the hornets nest myself, but others may see your point better." He trails off when he notices Velm watching them while having missed exactly what was said by the chief healer, but he stands at attention. "Captain, sir."

Velm frowns as the battle of Redwall is mentioned sort of in a daze a moment and then shakes his head to clear it. A deep breath "I asked if all was alright, ya both seem a bit tense right now. Stress is not good by de way." He hands a passing private the clipboard "Here... list of stuff needed in de infirm... thank you" The private nods and will drop it off where it is to be dropped off.

Adrian raises a paw. "Not outright provocation. Just... A little sleight of paw to make them think we're a massive ahrmy and not t' be undahestimated. If they're watchin' the mountain, an' they most likely are, I say we give 'em quite a show t' make 'em think. Double up trainin' drills an' patrols, so they think we've got double th' 'ares tha' we really 'ave." He sees Velm and also comes to attention. "Sah, we were just discussion recent events."

"Of course not sir," Terrence relaxes somewhat, dipping his head, "Yet it can't really be avoided in our profession, now can it?" Yet his eyes still have the same look as they glance back at Adrian. "And if they call our bluff, what then?" Shaking his head he states more firmly, "Either way it will have to be the choice of the colonel and the rest of command, I should think. I'll have to bring this to them." He looks positively thrilled at the prospect.

Velm nods "True stress can not always be avoided." He doesn't ask for details, he figures if the Home Guard needs details they will be told.

Adrian shrugs his shoulders. "They haven't seemed too inclined to bother us before now," he points out. "But they could eventually construe our non-interference as weakness, an' I wagah that'd be the moment they make some kinda move."

The master sergeant gives the captain a thankful look as he gives no sign of asking questions, so Terrence turns back to Adrian. "Maybe, maybe. So our 'show of force' as you say could merely be us making the first move to open up a dialogue, hmm? Perhaps the band of Merchants despite their flaws are ultimately altruistic in their goals..." It's rather clear from his tone and body language he doesn't think this is the case.

Velm just decides to get back to what he was doing, but first "Also, just ta let you know Private Donica will need some time off closer to Autumn," A smile "She is with child and it will be born sometime mid or late autumn." He heads off, in a good mood it appears. Well least he is in a good mood anyways.

Adrian shakes his head. "You an' I both know that whole "we come in peace" diatribe is just poppycock," he replies. "Nah, I know an invadin' army when I see one. This is just their beach'ead. Their pre-invasion. They're softenin' up their tahget. Gettin' th' lay o' th' land. If they truly came 'ere peacefully, they wouldn't 'ave brought so many soldiers. But they're smaht enough not t' just staht a war blindly, too. So they sent themselves a glorified scoutin' pahty. An' they're bidin' their time, tryin' to ascertain our strengths an' weaknesses. Tha's why I'm sayin' we need t' present an impression o' imposin' strength t' them. If they they think f'r even a minute that we're weak an' losin' control, they'll come in ovahwhelmin' force."

"I-" Terrence splutters as the captain walks off, "Dammit." He curses, pinching the bridge of his nose. "I'm out of another bloody corporal, again. Maybe I'll poach that Monty from you, or strong arm Dom out of the crypts...."

With a sigh he listens, nodding slowly. "You could be right, and we'll probably prepare for that case, yet I should help you're wrong for all our sakes... By the by," he murmurs, still distracted by the lack of corporal, "Who was the other hare who went with you and the lieutenant to Halyard? ...Shawn, Sheen? Anyway, depending on how you'd say their conduct was, they could be on a short list. I'll mention both issues to the colonel as soon as I can."

Adrian is happy for the change of subject, so he neatly pivots. "Oh, Sheen? She 'andled 'erself remarkably well. A good 'ead on 'er shoulders, that one. Why don't we go get a drink, eh? You look like you could use one..."

"Right, that's good to hear..." He answers, not quite listening, "Addersmith would also be a choice, but he put in a request to go with the 67th whenever they go to that backwater, badger lord knows why," he mutters, "And Konner used to be on there, but, well, we both know that's not gonna happen soon, wot." He pauses, having finally realized the offer. "Er, no - I was serious when I said I'll have to go speak to the colonel, and I intend to do so as soon as I can. Maybe afterwards though, sergeant."

Adrian frowns. "Well, don't put it off too long," he replies, "Y' look like a wound-up spring, an' ya really oughta release that tension soon before y' burst, wot."

"Ha!" Terrence snorts, "You don't need to me that, I already know. But I would take you up on that offer if I could, trust me. But the works never done- never ever let yourself get my job, if want my advice. Try jumping to a proper officership before they rope you into doing all fiddly work for seasons on end."

With that he starts up the hallway. "I'll see you later, sergeant! Perhaps we'll get Konner back soon."

Adrian raises a paw, and waves. "Ah, I do hope so," he calls out, then he resumes his trip up the summit. He still wants to get that evening air...

Redwall MUCK is an interactive, multiplayer text game set in Brian Jacques' Redwall universe.

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#1 2022-02-07 07:02:08 PM