A Recent History of the Long Patrol
A Brief History of the Long Patrol following the Lord Bludstripe’s Passing
Written by Mjr. H.T. Barca (d. Seventh Season of Lord Sebastian Blackstripes’s Reign); being compiled further by various scribes of the Long Patrol as of the twenty-second season of Lord Ciocan’s Reign
The Great Earthquake
Some seasons after Bludstripe’s death an earthquake ravaged the lands of Mossflower to the sea in the summer; most records of the time preceding this event were damaged or destroyed. From the earthquake to the arrival of Lord Sebastian a period of roughly forty-three seasons passed, during which time the chief commanding officer was one Colonel Zoe Lang Francis.
Commanding Officers during this Period
Besides the chief officer Colonel Francis, officers of the Long Patrol following the Earthquake were the following: Colonel Sundew, Colonel Earblade, Major Jarril Black Fleetpaw, Major Artigo, Major Rahier, Lieutenant Oxeye and Lieutenant Darklett Fletchpaw. Major Rahier would later be promoted to the rank of Colonel and Lieutenant Fletchpaw to the rank of Major.
The Command of Colonel Zoe Lang Francis
Colonel Z. L. Francis is fondly remembered as the officer who held the Long Patrol together during its darkest period in recent memory, bringing the Patrol back from the brink of destruction countless times over a long and celebrated career. While the exact date of her commission to the rank of colonel is unknown, she proved herself a leader in the seasons following the earthquake and beyond.
Vermin Occupation of Halyard Village
In the twelfth season following the Earthquake, a summer, a band of savage vermin called the Bloodthirsters were lead by a ferret named Daclon to terrorize the western shore, making their main camp in Halyard Village. They held the village until the beginning of the following autumn (the thirteenth season following the Earthquake), when they were driven out by the Long Patrol with their leader slain by Major J. B. Fleetpaw in one and one combat.
Capture and Release of a Patrol Major and Private
In the fourteenth season following the Earthquake, Major J. B. Fleetpaw and the future lieutenant Taye were returning from business in Halyard village when they were attacked by an unknown band of vermin, who would go to chain them up and interrogate the two hares for some time before letting them go free. Who these creatures were and what they were after is unclear.
Exchange Program of Cadets of the Long Patrol with Redwall Abbey of Mossflower Woods
In the fifteenth season following the Earthquake, a spring, an exchange program was conducted between the cadets of the Long Patrol and novices of Redwall Abbey of Mossflower, lasting until the summer following (the sixteenth season following the Earthquake).
Vermin Invasion of Salamandastron
In the seventeenth season following the Earthquake, a summer, the vast majority of the Long Patrol spent some time outside of Salamandastron for training exercise for new recruits and veteran privates all. In the dead of night while the troops were out a collection of vagabonds who claimed the name of "Peltreapers" led by one Toroth the pine martin attacked and overpowered the Mountain Home Guard and captured the mountain. The mountain was liberated the following autumn (the eighteenth season since the Earthquake) when the recruits and patrol hares left outside of the mountain made use of an ancient tunnel leading to an undisclosed location in the bowels of Salamandastron and came upon the vermin who held the mountain, casting them out after a hard and bitter fight. Colonel Z.L. Francis, who had opted remained behind from the training mission, was severely injured in initial vermin take over and subsequent imprisonment, resulting in the loss of her eye.
Pirates in Mossflower
In twenty-sixth season since the Earthquake, an Autumn, while on a routine mission for the Long Patrol, a contingent of hares were visiting Redwall Abbey when the ferret Ripclaw, pirate Captain of the Ravenwing, appeared in the area with his crew (presumably having traveled up the River Moss). A combined force made up of the Long Patrol's main regimental battalion supplemented by hares of the 67th Fur and Foot Fighting Patrol Regiment, together with otters of Camp Willow and woodlanders of Redwall Abbey, the vermin were engaged upon the great dirt road and were soundly defeated.
The Plague
In the twenty-seventh and twenty-eighth since the Earthquake, Winter and Spring respectively, a great sickness came upon Redwall Abbey, particularly effecting those still recovering from wounds from the battle with Ripclaw's crew the season before.
The following is taken from a note made at the time by an unknown healer: It appears to be serious, spreading quickly. The illness appears to be extremely virulent, symptoms including fatigue and unpleasant feeling followed by aches, chills, mild fever, then much worse fever, deep hacking cough, and trouble breathing. So far it is spreading outward from the infirmary patients, to the healers, and to those who have contact with them. It has spread to the 67th, as well. Several have died.
A cure, made from a rare plant known as Goldenwort which is native to Southsward, was eventually discovered by one Private Brenden Thatcher in one of the many ancient tomes kept at Redwall Abbey, as recounted in Brother Harper Sutton of the Order of Redwall's record. A band of healthy beasts led by Major Darklett of the Long Patrol were dispatched by Colonel Z. L. Francis to retrieve the herb. By the end of the sickness the death count had reached at least nineteen beasts dead with further records hard to come by, in part due to Brother Harper himself becoming ill. Further noted in the writings of one Garth the Scholar, who had arrived at the Abbey during the outbreak, the healers of Redwall showed an extreme reluctance to count the dead.
According to Brother Harper Sutton, after he had recovered, within the month the mission to retrieve the herb Goldenwart had been a success and those creatures trapped in the Abbey Infirmary were released. Brother Harper later wrote in the following month that the Long Patrol had departed from the Abbey and returned to Salamandastron as soon as they were able with the speculation of that the Patrol's eagerness came from what he calls "bad luck" in Mossflower.
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