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 Reign of Lord Bludstripe

The Badger Lord Bludstripe was a legendary figure in the extensive history of the Long Patrol. Notable hares such as Z.L. Francis begun their long and celebrated careers under his rulership. However, much of this period has been lost to the murkiness of time, with nearly all records destroyed by the Great Earthquake.

Officers during this Period

According to the only surviving list of hares serving in the Long Patrol from this time, officers in the seasons during the Lord Bludstripe leading up to the Great Earthquake were as listed: Colonel Sundew, Colonel Zoe L. Francis, Major Artigo, Major Bobbie, Major Jarril Black Fleetpaw, Major Triss, Major Zacharias, and Lieutenant Farsight.

A Note on Ranks

It is presumably either during this time or the seasons following the Great Earthquake that the standard rank structure of Patrol fell out of fashion for the simpler system of Colonel, Major, Lieutenant, Enlisted Class (Fighter, Healer, Runner), and was not reinstated until the many reforms of the 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.

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.

Officers during this Period

Besides the chief officer Colonel Francis, officers of the Long Patrol in the seasons following the Earthquake were as listed: 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.

During this time the future General Quinten T.M.T.A. Tof’Marole, Major Varus T.V. Swiftbuck II, and Captain Gregorian F. Harthwill became recruits in the Long Patrol.

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. Through private speculation one may be tempted to believe these attackers and kidnappers connected to the later invasion of Salamandastron or vengeance for Daclon's death at the paws of Major Fleewpaw no evidence survives from this incident beyond the account of Taye to support either view.

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 the 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.

Changes in the Ranks

Major Artigo, who had served since the Lord Bludstripe's Reign, retired the summer following the Patrol's return to Salamandastron, the twenty-ninth season since the Great Earthquake. In the thirty-first season since the Great Earthquake, a winter, Major Rahier was promoted to the rank of Colonel and Fighter (equivalent to the modern rank of Private) Tyree was promoted to the rank of Major (skipping the rank of Lieutenant).

In the seasons following, Lieutenant Taye was promoted to the rank of Major and Fighter Sidney was promoted to the rank of Lieutenant, during which time the future General Quinten T.M.T.A. Tof’Marole officially became the recorder of the Long Patrol at Salamandastron.

The Reign of Lord Sebastian Blackstripes

The Lord Sebastian Blackstripe was the badger lord of Salamandastron for a period of nine seasons until the Lord Ciocan's arrival, whereupon he stepped down from his position.

Officers during this Period

Officers of the Long Patrol in the early seasons of Lord S. Blackstripe's Reign were as listed: Colonel Zoe L. Francis, Colonel Rahier, Major Darklett Fletchpaw, Major Jarril Black Fleetpaw, Major Rahier, and Lieutenant Sidney.

The Reign of Lord Ciocan

Of the coming of the Lord Ciocan & the departure of the Lord S. Blackstripe

Groups:

• Long Patrol