"...looking for Leon."

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FV:Tavern

Outside a sign swings on a rusty creaking frame above the doorway of the tavern depicting a faded painting of what appears to be three rather rich looking skeletons slumped over a table around a black chalice, perhaps such a thing could be taken as a warning but it doesn't appear to work on the locals. The noise within on a normal day is usually heard before the door is even opened and only rises in volume when one actually steps inside.

There are the typical qualities of a tavern within, from the bar to the chairs and booths and the odd drunk who never seems to move it's the little details which encourage a patron to pay his tab if he likes his fingers. One look at some of the staff or customers might give the impression but the room is decorated to the fiercer tastes with bones, mostly skulls cropping up here and there to fill a gap on a shelf or decorating the walls above the doorways, fireplace and bar, a pair of axes joining the one over the fire with some signs that they've been yanked off to join in a fight a couple of times. Some of the comfier chairs are lined with fur and very rarely one might be found with a few pointed bits of bone to decorate the back. Despite the looks there is entertainment and fun to be had, some form of music usually played on a small stage in the corner and at least one bouncer usually tries to keep the peace while beasts gamble, drink and be merry.

A small door behind the bar leads out the back to the kitchen and cellars while one wall has been opened up in a wide arch to increase the space off into the next room where what seems to be a wooden fence with gates on either end has been set up as a fighting pit as further entertainment and something to bet over.

Exits: [Out]

Contents:

Ale

Scioto is at the bar area sipping an ale and looks to be trying to relax for once, he looks around and shakes his head at a fight ending in the fighting pit,a weasel and a rat, the rat lost and badly it seems as he limps out, Scioto takes another sip of ale.

DoraRose enters the tavern and looks around, looking like she's lost something terribly important. She also looks like she's been crying. She drifts through the door and stands near the center of the room, still looking around. What could she be searching for?

Scioto notices Dorarose and gives a small wave, "Greetings, I would be carefull standing in the middle of the tavern like that" He then notcies she is upset, and walks over "Are you alright?"

DoraRose turns to the wildcat, and a slight glimmer of hope enters her eyes. "I'm looking for Leon. Have you seen him? I heard he was attacked, and I need...uh, I want to see if he's alright, but he's not in the infermary. Do you know where he is?" she looks worried -- extremaly worried.

Scioto frowns, "I was not told of any attack, and usually an injured beast is in the infirm, unless he was taken to Redwall, but no word was sent to me, and Oakenpaw has not said anything, Leon is one of Oakenpaw's students, when did this happen?"

DoraRose is shaking now as fear creeps into her face. "A few days ago...You haven't heard of it?" She leans on a chair.

In the corner alone Roac is siting "what has hapend?" the raven says.

DoraRose accidentily-on-purpose ignores Roac's question. She accepts the glass of water but doesn't drink from it. "Please, let's go look for him now!" She is nearly in tears again.

Scioto calls over a guard and steps aside to talk with them quietly, he keeps an eye on Dorarose as it is his job to protect any beast in his village.

Ehphel comes in.

Roac says, "hm... who is 'he' and why do you have to find him?"

DoraRose doesn't hear or see anybody other than Scioto and the guard. They might just be the only beasts who can help...or, at least, that's what she thinks. She sips her water, sorrow and worry clearly written across her face.

Scioto steps back over to the mousemaid, "I have a guard checking the village now and one can check the path as well, maybe he is just elsewhere or with Oakenpaw."

Ehphel looks at them "hmm..."

Roac stands up and asks again; "who is the beast that you are looking for?"

DoraRose shakes her head. "No, I think he's been hurt. Some thing's happened, I can feel it!" She stands up as a tear falls down her cheek. She angrily brushes it away with a shaking paw.

Scioto glances at Roac and back to Dorarose, "I am sure he will be found, do not worry. I will have the guards report and ask some questions around the village, I do not think he would of just left without saying anything to someone"

Ehphel says, "It seems that thou hast a problem, mouse..."

Roac says, "is this about that mouse...Leon,was it?"

DoraRose shakes her head again, ignoring the other 2 beasts who are adressing her. (How rude!) "He wouldn't do that! I think that weasel -- what's-his-name? Desotoe, that's it! I think Desotoe might've hurt him!" her lower lip is trembling, and she presses her paw to her mouth to make it stop.

Scioto growls a little at the name , "I remember him, he is a ferret and he is banished from my village, my guards wouuld of told me if he was here though."

Ehphel says, "hm... Well, I do not know who you beast are, or who you are talking about...."

Roac says, "umm..."

DoraRose takes her paw away from her mouth to answer. "He's not here, he's at Redwall, and Flicktail--" she stops herself and covers her mouth again, looking away. She closes her eyes and another tear leaks out as she seems to just deflate. She sits back down and covers her face with both paws.

Scioto nods "Good, if Desotoe was here he must likely be locked up,or worse..and Flicktail what? Has he harmed Flicktail?"

Roac says, "oh dere..."

DoraRose looks up at Scioto, her face streaked with tears. "Flick /trusts/ him! An...and Desotoe told m...me that if I didn't s...s..stop asking nosy qu...questions, creatures w...would g...get hurt, and I th...think h...he's hurt L...L...Leon!" She is crying now, and she seems to be blaming herself for Leon's dissapearance.

Scioto blinks in surprise at this news, "He what?!..", He then calms and looks at the mousemaid, "I dont trust the ferret at all, he tried to kill me once, one reason he is banished from the village, he is dangerous."

DoraRose nods miserably and wipes her eyes. She doesn't trust herself to speak, since she's about *this* close to weeping.

Scioto is not sure what to do, it's rare he has a crying beast to deal with, he sits down beside her "I will let you know if a guard finds your friend Leon or not. You should stay in Ferravale for now. I can send word to Redwall to look for him as well."

DoraRose nods her thanks, then really truly breaks down in tears. She covers her eyes with her paw and sobs.

Scioto frowns and looks around, where is another beast when you need one, he sighs again and gets some more ale.

DoraRose is still crying unconsolibly, but she's trying really hard not to. Poor mousemaid. Whenever she loves something, her heart gets broken.

Scioto sips his ale and stays beside Dorarose for now, he watches the door and then sips his ale and seems to be thinking on the events of the day.

DoraRose gets herself under control after a while. She hardens her face to hide her pain and worry, takes a few shuddering breaths, then stands, straightening her apron and saying, "I'm going to go look for him."

Scioto stands at this, "I would advise you stay put, please...I would dislike it if another Redwall beast went missing, one is enough."

DoraRose stares at the wildcat with a steely blue gaze. "I'm not a Redwaller...yet." she seems to add the last part as an afterthought. "I am from Tuscani. My ancestors were the bravest of the brave, and they never abandoned those that they loved. And neither shall I."

Scioto folds his arms over his chest, "I did not say that they did, I simply was stateing....would Leon want you to be hurt and do you even know where to look for him at? He could be anywhere and any direction."

DoraRose looks like she has been hit in the face by Scioto's words and her lip begins to tremble again. "But I can't just sit around and do nothing!" She seems to be pleading with the wildcat.

Scioto shakes his head, he then gets an idea, "You said Desotoe threatened you, perhaps find and ask him, if he answers..but your have to remember if he is in the abbey you wont be able to use violence, now if he is not at the abbey....well different story there."

DoraRose smiles as her eyes begin to flash. It's not a friendly smile. "Good idea. And if he's hurt Leon in any way," here she grabs the hilt of her bastard sword, "I will make him pay a thousand times over."

Scioto watches her closely, "Just be carefull around that ferret, he is dangerous to deal with and should not be trusted, just need proof of that"

DoraRose grips her sword so tightly that her knuckles turn white. "I'm dangerous, too. And if he's done what I think he has, then he shall find that out very quickly." Her eyes have the faintest of pink tinges. Great. Now she's going almost Bloodwrath.

Scioto stands and heads out, he needs to talk to his guards.

"Eklu'dar...Dar'eklemor," comes a whisper from the doorway as Nightbreath enters, nodding to his Chieftain. He sits at the bar, pondering

DoraRose rolls her eyes as the ermine comes wandering in, but then she gets an idea and the pink tinge from her eyes vanishes. Approaching Nightbreath, she says, "Please, can you help me?"

Stopping his mutterings and taken a bit surprised by DoraRose's lack of hostility, Nightbreath nods. "Ek'a un' dru'daash Gil'amar. I will help thee in any way I can, Thyrnblak Gild'arnor."

DoraRose blinks in surprise. "Um, what?" she seems to have forgotten what she came over here for with the onslaught of strange words.

Remembering the unfamiliarity with his tongue that most beasts harbor, Nightbreath shakes his head. "What do thou need, Gild'arnor?"

DoraRose blinks again and tries to say the funny word. "Gild...Gildra...Gil.../what/?!" she is totally and utterly confused.

"Gild'arnor. In the ancient tongue, it would mean Strongheart. Well, not really. It translates more to 'mighty soul' or 'power-spirit,' but I have chosen it as a translation of your name." Nightbreath shrugs. "So what is it you need?"

DoraRose nods slowly and mouths the word 'oh', then shakes her head and continues with what she came over here for. "Leon is...missing, and I fear the worst. Can you do something to help me find him? I can pay you..." she reaches into her stonepouch, where she keeps her money bag.

Raising one paw, Nightbreath shakes his head. "Nay. A true Gil'amar needs no pay for upholding the right, as we are sworn to do. Ek'a un' dru'daash Gil'amar, I will find him. However, you must understand something...."

DoraRose frowns, but takes her paw away from the stone pouch. "Understand what?" she is puzzled, and she wouldn't be talking to Nightbreath if she wasn't desperate.

"This is only the beginning," the Seer sighs. "The storm is here; even now the clouds billow over us. If I am unable to reach your friend in time, know that it was because my duties and loyalty to this village had me occupied."

DoraRose shakes her head. "No, I don't want you to go find him, I want you to do 1 of your prediction things. I'll go look for him...wait..." she gasps and takes a step back. "Is Stormfeather really here in Mossflower country?"

A pause. Nightbreath's eyes mist for a moment, fire crackling behind the veil of mystery...then as the fogs of his mind roll away, he nods. "Alas, Styrmblak has come to this land. And I have encountered several of his servants."

DoraRose stamps her foot. "Do you have to speak in that funny language of yours? Is that a 'yes' or a 'no'? Which servants? How many?" What a demanding little mousemaid.

/Gilder'ernur, give me peace,/ Nightbreath thinks, rubbing his temples slowly. His paws return to his sides. "A funny language? Thrynblak, this is the noblest of tongues, the language of Before. Do not seek to mock that which you know little of. Now, I have encountered at least one of his servants for certain, and spoken to several others." Predicting what DoraRose's reaction may be, he raises a paw quickly. "Fear not; I did not betray thee or thy friends. And it was a yes. Styrmblak--The Storm's Feather--has come. He is in Mossflower..." Here Nightbreath glances to each side and lowers his voice, "...he is waiting...watching."

DoraRose closes her eyes and seems to be praying to whatever she believes in, aswell. Opening her eyes, she reveals that the pink tinge that was there before is back. "Thank you for not revealing me. Who was this servant? Why is the fox waiting? For what?" she snorts and adds under her breath, "For an oak tree to fall on him? I'd like that."

Laughing, Nightbreath says, "Nay. If all foul beings did so, this would perhaps be a better world. But no. I do not know what he is waiting for. But the servant was a raven, who dared to enter my home..."

DoraRose shudders. "A raven..." she murmers as she rubs her arms, the hard look on her face cracking to reveal pain -- a pain that has been there for many seasons. She soughs and says in a louder voice, "A raven, huh? What was its name? What did it want?"

Nightbreath's eyes flicker in...not outrage, or even righteous anger, but more /irritation./ "It came to me on the pretext of having its fortune told...But I knew what it was. Who sent it...So I got right to the point and brought out Equilibrium," he says, in reference to his blade-rope almost as arcane as its wielder. "They fled, and it was more trouble than it was worth to pursue."

DoraRose frowns and taps a finger on her arm, deep in thought. "Did you catch its name?" Why is she so concerned about a stupid old raven?

Mazelina pushes open the door and walks on into the tavern, she then sits down in a chair near the front.

Again shaking his head, Nightbreath says, "No. But it matters not. Let us return to the present issue, however..." He stops as he sees Mazelina enter.

DoraRose raises an eyebrow. "However what?" she turns and looks at the lizard, then glances back at the ermine. Smiling, she turns back to Mazelina. "Good day."

Mazelina nods "Goodzzz day to you "

"...there is little time. If we are to find your friend, it must be soon..." Suddenly Nightbreath goes rigid, his paws gripping the edge of the bartop in a nigh unbreakable grasp, and his eyes crackle again, fogging and pulsing with an eerie glow...

Mazelina frowns and looks at Nightbreath, "Izzzz he ill?" She asks, slightly concern then again she doesn't know the ermine.

DoraRose crosses her arms and shakes her head. "No, I don't think so. He just does that from time to time."

As quickly as it came, the strange fit passes, and Nightbreath exhales slowly, sitting normal. "Gild'ernur above," he whispers. "Evil has struck again. A spirit passed into the void far too early, and another is lost." He rises to his feet, declaring, "Gild'arnor! We must act soon." He passes a cloth parcel, which had been concealed beneath his silvery cloak, to DoraRose. "Gild'arnor, I believe this D'sron-thryn is yours. I must go now." He strides through the tavern door and leaves, calling, "You know where I dwell. Meet me there in several day's time."

DoraRose watches the ermine leave, then turns her gaze to the parcel. Unwrapping it, she reveals the bastard sword she had borrowed to teach Leon to use, and then forgotten. She held the sword to her chest -- and wept.

OOC: If you're all like "What on earth did Nightbreath say?!", then I suggest page #mail-ing him, 'cause I really have no idea. :P