09-06-05 1

Characters involved: Nivik, Lesperance, Nadia, Nadenka, Zoe_Lang, Windrunner, & Darklett.

Western Shore

Nivik eventually makes his way back up from his sleeping area, sort of zig-zagging about, occationally peering at something that looks interesting.

Lesperance yawns a bit, smiling as the two share the candy. "Is it good?" he looks between the two, teasingly trying to steal a piece of candy for himself as well.

Nadia pulls out some candy and puts it in her mouth

Nadenka giggles when Les tries to steal a piece and offers him a bag when her sister gets some

Lesperance takes out his own piece of candy, looking at it, then sniffing it to see what kind it is. With a shrug he plops it into his mouth.

Nivik finally plunks down, pondering what seems to be an intact, live clam. One of Niv's fingers is bandaged...so it seems he's gained some experience. He watches the creature, wrinkling his nose and twitching his whiskers.

Nadia looks at Nivik and giggles

Nadenka gigles at Nivik too and pulls another piece of candy out and smiling, "The bird was funny wasn't her?"

Zoe_Lang can be seen trudging up the beach towards the small gathering - along with a small group of pike-bearing hares following several yards behind her. She does not look particularly happy about being out here.

Nadia nods "Yah but I think it was a he."

Lesperance's eyes, ever attentive, catch sight of the band and he stands - he has already shorn himself of weaponry, leaving it all in the leather casing that holds the staves. He looks around, then bends over, pulling up a rolled sheet of parchment, "Stay here, little ones."

Nivik blinks, and looks up, then over...and twitches his whiskers, standing up and pocketing the clam, heading off after Lesp, after ditching his little spear, and his knife. His bow is over his back and unstrung...so he'd be rather easy to stab before he got any shots off with it. ^^

Nadia nods and sits down sucking on her candy

Nadenka nods and watches quietly

The support patrol comes to a halt before Zoe does. For her own part, Zoe continues on, in order to meet Lesperance halfway. The approaching squirrel is given a glance, as well. She nods to the two. "Evenin'."

Lesperance gives Zoe a salute, fist over his heart, a slight bow to go with it. "Good evening to yourself, Colonel." yes, there is a time and place for formalities, and Lesp knows those times. "I'm sure we both know why you are out here, and I'd like to address the matter and resolve this issue."

Nadia looks at Zoe and gives a small wave

Nadenka waves too

"S'pose that'd be..." She catches the twin waves and returns them with a small grin. "Good." She returns her gaze to Lesperance. "What've you got t' say?"

Lesperance shrugs slightly, offering the parchment. "Only that if you have questions you should ask them now - and I will answer truthfully. My past is known to most already, and its openly known myself and Merdez do not get along. I will not say, however, that I expected such a thing to be an issue."

Nivik flicks his tail, and coughs softly, "I'll be helpful an' all that, too. 'M fond of the Patrol, pers'nally, an' rather not be on yer bad sides."

---

The Accounting:

This, in full and open truth, is an accounting of the Order of Sword Dancers, as seen and experienced by me, Lesperance Ashmore, Hallowed Blade. When I first met Cathal Ruairc Auley, it was near the Black Gull, and it was here that he proposed to me the idea of a band of beasts - of any and all species, whose purpose overall, was the training of others in the way of weapons. As a secondary - we had other jobs, artisans, entertainers, healers, and yes, assassins.

When I began my journeys as a Dancer, I was both a Mystic and a Magister. The Mystic, on one paw, was our title for the Healers, and while I didn't specialize deeply in any aspect of it, I knew enough to save many a beast's life on the field of battle. Expanding further on the Dancers - everybeast would work with another, in a pair we called 'Duos'. This was usually one's mate, as mine was, that one would work with, fight with, and, if needed, die to protect.

My Duo, Reverie, a jill of delicate beauty and hidden strength, was also both Mystic and Magister. Now, as to the subject of Magisters - we were more than merely assassins, but we filled that role as well. We were the special operations, paw-picked by the Warden, for both our extensive skill in certain areas and our knowledge of warfare. The hidden elite, as it were. Darkmane, the horse, was our Enforcer - picked for his strength and size, to both guard our prisoners, if ever we should take any, and ensure that our own laws were carried out amongst ourselves. He had his own chamber, with impliments of torture, to be sure - but I will say with truth that never did I see him take any to a beast, as just the mere sight of him amongst such items was enough to humble even myself.

Currently residing in Mapleleaf, who accepted him before myself - he had a paw, or hoove as it were, in much of the town's construction. Nivik, a bowbeast of great skill, I first met in Ruingate, where I admit I was a bit suspicious of at first, but accepted gladly, and have come to see him as a brother in arms. It was he,when the Dancers left Ruingate, that offered us his own land within the boundry of the Southsward, and we built ourselves anew there.

I will move on to the delicate and, to all, distasteful subject of slavery. Did the Order of Sword Dancers have slaves? Yes - at one point we had 3, though the third I would call more a volunteer than a slave. They ate with us, if they were sick we Mystics did what we could for them, we trained them, and in turn, trained with them. It makes us no better, I know, than any other slaver, but we were no cruel masters. Upon leaving Ruingate, the Warden decreed that all slaves were to be released, escorted home, offered a place amongst us should they wish, and paid - both as an apology, and for taking away some time of their lives.

During the time that Ruingate was still a small cluster of buildings, with barely a wall to protect them, the Dancers were the force that guarded them, as we were already armed and trained, and we were many when we first moved to the town to call it home. I myself was the Advisor to the Lord Regeant, Merdez, for some time - and it was my lie to him in his Court, in defense of a young ferret hob, that led to my Exile - for treason.

Perhaps he caught wind of me giving aid to his prisoners, feeding them further, giving them mdication, helping them through their time, but I know not, for we do not speak extensively anymore. Merdez was concerned about the Dancers, as we were not loyal ultimately to him, but to our Warden and his children, and once he had his Guard and his Goresingers, there was no more need for the Order, so I trust it was also to his relief that the Dancers left when I did.

Merdez never saw much of the goings on inside of the Order's halls while we occupied it, and he builds his suspicions on what he found within once we left. Udat, however - I never saw in my time within Ruingate, so he himself has no experience with the Dancers outside of myself and what the Lord Regeant has given him.

---

Nadia stands up to watch the adults better takes a few tiny steps towards them

Zoe_Lang takes the parchment and unrolls it. With a final glance at Lesperance and Nivik, she nods and looks back down to the words. "We'll see what questions I have once I've read this ovah." She removes her reading spectacles from a pocket and rests them upon her nose. Squint.

Lesperance waits patiently, paws loose at his side. He knows that its long, he lets his eyes travel over the beach, trusting the hares to do their job, of course, but also doing his part as well.

Nivik blinks, and leans over to Lesp, "'Ey, what's that?"

Zoe_Lang reads over the document with a thoughtful frown. It is more thoughtful and more frown at alternate moments. When she has concluded the reading, she gives Nivik, who seems to be curious, a glance. With a shrug, she folds the parchment and holds it out to the squirrel. "What is Udat's role in Ruingate?"

Nivik accepts the paper, giving it a look over, occationally letting his muzzle work over a word silently.

Lesperance tilts his head to the side. "So far as I know 'healer'. I don't spy upon their city.. anymore. He was never there when I was a resident - for all I know he could be, as most are for the city, eyes and ears. I have, however, only known him as a healer."

Nadia moves a bit closer

"I see..." Zoe crosses her arms over her chest, looking over the group thoughtfully. "I'm... inclined t' believe that you've done things natural t' yer vermin nature in the past. Howevah," she pauses briefly, looking directly to Lesperance, now. "I'm also inclined t' believe that any beast Ruingate chooses t' warn the Fire Mountain about is most m'friend, not m'enemy."

Nivik mmphs, and offers the parchment back to Zoe, in case she wants it back, "Arready heard all that, seems, ma'am."

Lesperance smiles, "Colonel - if I mean Salamandastron, or the hares that occupy it, harm at any point, I will lay myself before you, and hand you my own dagger." his face grows serious. "Never have I slain a beast that did not first harm an innocent."

Nadia moves to stand by Les and look up at the hare quietly

Zoe_Lang gives Lesperance a long, considering look, but in the end she nods. "We're fortune here in the mountain t' avoid most politics. Our allies tend t' be long-forged, 'n' our extension of new friendships rathah..." She smiles, "Slow in comin'. As ya know." Then, almost as if there wasn't much point to all of that, she waves a paw absently, taking the offered parchment from Nivik. "I believe ya. Udat can return word of yet anothah rebuff of his "friendly attempts" to Merdez."

Lesperance bows from the waist, once again placing a closed paw over his chest. "I thank you, Colonel. There is another matter I, and Nivik, would discuss with you - but one that can easily take place within the comfort that Salamandastron has to offer, so as not to tax you or the hares that so ardently defend it." he looks at the kits, ruffling Nadia's hair with one paw. "And as late as its getting, the kits must be hungered as well. Can't eat only candy."

Nivik clears his throat, and grins a little, "'E also neglects to mention that sleeping on beachsand makes one wet an' cold. Cannae leave anybeast out of the inconvienence, after all."

Nadia giggles

Zoe_Lang looks past the two adult creatures to smile at the two kits. "They certainly can't, yer right." She makes an almost absent gesture to the small grouping of hares behind her and they turn, beginning the trudge back to the mountain. Zoe then makes a sweeping gesture, indicating the path that they will take. "Let's," she nods.

Nadia moves to follow the hares smiling a bit and saying to the colonel "I'm Nadia."

Zoe_Lang smiles down at Nadia, extending a paw. "I'm Zoe, deah. Pleased t' meetcha."

Nadia takes the paw in her own gently and looks it over curiously as if trying to figure out what to do with it "Nice to meet you too."

Lesperance smiles at the exchange. "And the sleeping one is Nadenka." he lifts her up, carrying her along.

Zoe_Lang chuckles at Nadia's confusion and turns, starting to walk along. At Lesperance's word, she nods. "Yours, I s'pose?" Not in the literal sense, of course.

Nadia starts to follow behind Zoe giggling a bit

Lesperance nods. "The kits I mentioned - adopted while I was in Mapleleaf." the vixen, having been near but out of sight, also comes up to follow, but stays silent for the moment.

Salamandastron: Level One

• -*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-* Salamandastron *-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-

You have come to a large intersection of paths. Passages lead off in

every direction, turning and spiraling off into the distance. There is a

clearing of sorts where they all meet, a circular 'room' which gives space

for traffic to pass smoothly in all directions.

• -*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*

Visible Exits:

[Up] to the Second Level [Down] to the Caverns

[O]ut Along [P]assageway [D]ining [C]hamber

[K]itchens [S]tore [R]oom

[S]econdary [I]nfirmary [F]estival [H]all

[M]ain [H]all

The mouth of the mountain passageway leads the gathering into the first level intersection. Hares pass here and there, and in order to stay out of everyone's way, Zoe moves off to the side and directs the others to do the same. "I won't trouble ya with the welcomin' spiel again, 'cause ya've already heard it. Suffice t' say, yer welcome." Grin.

Nadia moves to climb up onto Les's shoulder giggling a bit

Lesperance nods, moving behind Zoe to get out of the way. "Aye, and I thank you for that." he offers Zoe a smile in return. "And if you like.." he offers the weapons, still stuffed within the casing.

Nivik flicks his tail, just looking about slowly. He hasn't actually been inside, yet...so...

Zoe_Lang takes the casing with a faint smile. "They'll be safe in the armory," she explains. She catches a recruit on his way past and gives him direction about their safe-keeping, and off they go.

Nadia looks at the hare curiously not quite sure what to think of her..

Lesperance nods. "As they were before, I just pick em up before I go outside."

Nivik goes ahead and catches up to the hare carrying the weapons, ladening him with his longbow, as well. ^^

"... Well, I s'pose that's it. I'll have the sentries informed of the situation with Udat. He won't bothah you while yer a guest in this mountain." Zoe then rubs tiredly at the back of her neck before turning, looking around. "Yer welcome t' dinnah. The main crowd will've left by now."

Nadia moves to ride Les's shoulder giggling

Lesperance nods. "My thanks, Colonel, but will you be joining us? Myself and Nivik still have something to discuss with you." he carries the kit on his shoulder.

Nivik nods in agreement, "Unless it's unconvienent at the time," he adds.

Zoe_Lang's stomach seems to do the answering, with a sudden hunger sound. She chuckles. "Seems I will, aye."

Lesperance smiles and gives his short bow. "If you would like to lead the way?" her mountain, her rules. =)

Nadia sits comfortably on Les's shoulders grinning and looking around

Nivik easily falls in behind Lesp, stretching with a slight wince.

Zoe_Lang does, indeed, lead the way. She turns, crossing the intersection and entering what appears to be the main source of traffic on this level - the dining chamber.

[The group move into the dining chamber.]

Nadia glances around at the tables and then snuggles against Les's head

Lesperance chuckles and lifts Nadia up, setting her on one of the chairs before he holds the seat for the Lady vixen - finally taking a seat for himself.

Nivik, having no female to escort, escorts himself to a seat, chuckling. He doesn't sit right away...instead, he traces his paw over the grain of the wooden chair, mming softly. Before finally sitting down.

Zoe_Lang makes a side trip to inform one of the hares on kitchen duty to bring out some food and then she crosses, sitting opposite the group. "I hope you weren't inconvenienced t' much sleepin' on the beach."

Nadia shrugs and giggles

Lesperance shakes his head. "A misunderstanding that led to circumstances I expected. I've slept in worse places, I assure you." he offers a smile to the Colonel. "Plus it allowed me and the Lady to spend a bit more time alone."

Zoe_Lang looks over to the Lady in question, noting the quiet figure with curiosity. She leaves that for later, however. "So what was it you wished t' speak with me about?"

Nivik laughs, and shakes his head, "Naw. I complain, but I like it. Sky were nice and clear, made for a nice sight ta drift off to. 'M habitually in t'e open air." He blinks, and coughs, ear flicking at Lesperance's statement. He looks like a rather common sort, though, and is...well, unaccustomed to some of the nuances of speach found in the upper class of vermin society. So he takes the statement in an entirely uncomfortable way.

Nadia stretches a bit and slips off the chair to go tickle some random hare's feet one that's not eating

Lesperance nods, "Well - Nivik and I were talking on the trip here. And since the Dancers are for the most part disbanded, we have nothing. We still have the forest fort within Southsward - but no beasts to fill it." he looks at Nivik a moment. "Both of us are, at hearts - soldiers. We're both aware we aren't hares, but both of us would be honored to join Salamandastron in what capacity we are able."

Nadia eeps and bumps her head on the table before making her way over to les and nipping at his leg

Nivik coughs, flicking his tail with a slight chuckle, "True. 'M very uncomfortable tryin' to fit into normal woodlander society."

A very weary mouse slogs into the dining chamber of Salamandastron. Brushing some stray dust off of his shirt, Windrunner looks around quickly to see who is there already.

Zoe_Lang listens intently, chin resting atop clasped paws as Lesperance speaks. Her head turns just slightly as Nivik does, and his words are taken in with the same seriousness. She taps a claw-tip against the opposite knuckle. "As ya already noted, ya are not hares. As ya know, this bars ya from becomin' membahs of the Patrol. Howevah, we have many residents who are of othah species, so..." She inclines her head in a sideways nod. "Yer welcome in this mountain fer as long as ya uphold our ways 'n' follow our rules."

Lesperance nods a bit, "Indeed - well, then the true question would be does that allow us to train with you, train others if need be, and march with you should the time come?" his own head tilts to the side, gazing at the Colonel.

Windrunner studies the conversation ocurring across the room with mild interest. Steepling his fingers under his chin, Windrunner settles into a seat and lurks.

Nadia nips at Les's leg again frowning

Nivik flicks his tail, and mehs, yawning and stretching out.

Zoe_Lang gives another thoughtful claw-tap, looking up towards the ceiling as she speaks. "You may train with us. T' fight with us, we'll have t' know the extent of your skill and gauge yer ability t' fall into ordahs." With a pause, she looks from the ceiling to Lesperance. "If you have techniques that ya wish t' share with our troops, we welcome it. Howevah, we have a long tradition of trainin' our own. Hares should be trained by hares. 'Tis our way."

Lesperance nods, "That I can understand, Colonel. I'm sure that both of us could learn from the Patrol, as well as provide a few tricks, as it were, that you might not have seen. Well, thats the order of business, shall we enjoy the meal?" he looks down at Nadia, raising an eyebrow. "Yes, little one?"

Nadia frowns at you "Dun wanna live here."

Nivik chuckles, and nods, looking to Lesperance, "Well. 'Twas worth a try. Another transient learnin' experience." He leans back, paws behind his head as he puts the chair on its back legs.

Windrunner's brows rise fractionally at the hare's decision, then he nods in satisfaction as he watches the beasts, a slow smile creeping across his face as he recognizes some of them.

Zoe_Lang nods in agreement. "Aye - let's." And, what timing, the kitchen workers come around with trays just at that moment. The doe sits back, making room for the trays to be set down. It's then that she spies Windrunner not too far off. She beckons him over.

Nivik raises a brow at the mouse, thinking for a moment...then shrugs, snuffling at the food a bit to see what all's there, "Ooh...maybe I was wrong. I fergot that hares c'n cook a lot better'n I can."

Lesperance looks over to where Zoe Lang beckons, giving Windrunner a bow of his head. "Heh, Nivik, they cook better than I do too." he looks around at the food, picking and choosing for both himself, the vixen, and Nadia.

Windrunner catches Zoe's motion. He stands slowly and ambles across the room towards the beasts gathered around the table. As he notices Nivik studying him, he quirks a smile and draws up a table, "Aye, surprised me too. I figured that the reason they ate so much at Redwall was because they'd never had a decent meal before."

Nadia slips back onto her chair grumbling a bit

Zoe_Lang chuckles and shakes her head, choosing her own meal while they chatter. "We've got t' eat a lot t' make up fer all that hoppin' around we do, y'know."

Nivik chuckles, and nods, nibbling at a variety of things from his tray...and examining the construction of it idly as he does so, assuming it's a wooden affair. Silly bowyer.

Lesperance does the same, picking and choosing - not choosing too much of any one thing, prefering a variety.

Darklett is -still- uniformless. :P He's trudging around the mountain with pajama pants and a loose shirt, which accents his rather out of place weaponry belt, however empty the thing is. He's carrying a mug in one paw from the rec room at Salamandastron, and seems to be enjoying himself a bit as he carouses right on into the dining chamber.

Windrunner grins at Zoe as he gathers food onto his trencher, "Ahh, so that's what it is." Lifting a glass to his lips, the mouse takes a quick drink, then nods to Nivik as he lowers it back to the table, "So, coming here to stay for a while?"

Nadia watches the beasts around listening quietly

Zoe_Lang returns Windrunner's grin, sitting back with her plate. Leaving the others to talk, she begins nibbling at her food. Only, of course, for a runner to run up to her and whisper in her ear. Looking up, Zoe gives a resigned nod and stands. "Unfortunately, duty calls. I hope ya have a pleasant meal." She then turns, following after the runner.

Nivik shrugs smoothly, "If it's not an imposition..." He chuckles "Unlike my abbey stay, I don't have a crazy-arsed pikesquirrel followin' me, and I'm fairly off the bottle. So maybe bein' roundabouts here I'll be a l'il more successful." He waves to the doe as she hops.

Darklett stands near the entrance, watching Zoe go past. Shrugging, he heads towards the table. "Hello, not-so-long-eared strangers. Any leftovers? Don't mean to be intrudin'." A little tipsy, but not trashed. :P