A Chat of Feasts And Stuff -Redwall Log
From Redwall MUCK Wiki
RW Abbey: Breezeway
A covered, narrow walkway connecting both the smaller building of the kitchens and the large, dwarfing building of the Great Hall. It is a walkway for the kitchen's servers for easy access to the Hall during mealtimes and Feasts. Because it is covered, it is mostly protected from the weather but outside so that more easy access to it is afforded. At almost all times, beasts can be seen scurrying across its surface -- despite their destination and the weather going on around them. Life must go on!
Even the breezeway can't be kept completely clear of the leaves and debris that is driven everywhere by the whirling winds of Mossflower's autumn. Leaves of beautiful colors -- red, orange, yellow, brown, and various shades thereof -- litter the walkway and crunch beneath footpaws as beasts hurry back and forth -- seeing as it is harvest season and the most busy for Redwall Abbey. Little flurries of dry dust and the smaller pieces of leaves can be seen leaping across this narrow path as well, blowing into eyes and occasionally causing traffic-jams, as it were.
Exits: [Ki]tchen [P]ath, [G]reat [H]all, [Sc]ullery
Ah Redwall. The fox never knew how much he missed these abbey walls. The peaceful tranquilic life, the sense of protection offered by the fortress walls, the...the...
Ah heck with it Bandit missed the food most of all. And, if how tight his belt has become is any indication, had quite obviously made up for what he missed while living in Ferravale while here waiting to visit the abbot.
The terribly un-swift swift fox casually walks through the breezeway, a cloth jerkin over his blue Ferravale Guard tabard, taking in the sights, the smells, the occasional odd look from abbey beasts for being a fox...yes, the one thing he doesn't miss...
Benar is sitting on the stone coping that runs along the inner wall of the breezeway looking over some papers. Slowly turning the scroll from time to time the Abbot hums quietly to himself as he works away, making the odd notation with a pencil. He looks up at the sound of someone approaching and smiles, "Bandit my dear fellow, how delightful to see you."
The fat bellied fox pauses in mid step, swiveling his head to find Benar here. Drat. It looks like his plan to avoid Benar for a few more days and have an excuse to stay in Redwall has come to an end. Regardless the fox smiles like a Cheshire cat and addresses the squirrel warmly. "Benar! There you are. You are looking well." he gestures to the scroll and laughs, "I see you brought your work with you. I know that feeling."
Benar says, "Well the Abbey doesn't just run itself," He waves the scroll, "It seems there is always something that needs me to look at. I swear half of it is people just wanting reassurance that they've not taken leave of their senses with an idea. Now what brings you down here?”
Oz is walking along and he seems...well he is a little moody today. He slows to the sound of voices and shakes his head as he stays off to the side for now.
"Wanting reassurance that I have not taken leave of my senses with an idea." The fox replies with a coy smile. He grunts with effort as he sits next to the squirrel, cross legged, "Actually I came here to talk to you about banditry on the road between here and Ferravale. I plan on increasing the patrols around the village but I also know that Woodlanders don't always take kindly to groups of armed vermin walking into their territory, good intentions or not." The fox chuckles.
Benar nods his head as Bandit talks and hums and sways his thick tail from side to side, "It makes sense, I've had a few beasts mention trouble on the road. But patrols aren't really my thing... perhaps some sort of mix of Redwall Guards and Ferravale guards? We could ask Magramba about what he thinks of the idea? He's the champion I can advise but he's the mastermind behind our defenses these days."
Oz clears his throat, "Yes..Magramba is champion now...." He has other matters besides guard stuff on his mind, "I was needing to talk on something else that was brought to my attention, nothing to do with security..." He rethinks this after saying it, "Then again...if he goes near the dibbuns without MY permission then could be an issue" Oz then adds, "Meaning...Rascal"
Benar glances over at the badger and smiles, "Oh Papa hello there, what is up?" He looks confused, "Why would Magramba go near the dibbuns?" Clearly misunderstanding what Oz is talking about, "Has he been bothering Abbey school or something? That seems out of character for Magramba, he's mostly been settling in and getting a handle on where Flicktail and the guards were."
Raising an eyebrow to this discussion the fox chuckles, inwardly glad that his business here is not quite done in the abbey yet. "Magramba? Oh! The new champion. Yes yes, I haven’t quite got the chance to meet the beast yet. I'll be sure to talk with him and alleviate any...concerns the abbey might have if we do start to patrol the road ways more. I'm still trying to put this together before I present it to Scioto as well..." He says, rubbing the back of his neck.
Oz says, "Not talking about Magramba. I am talking about Rascal, the fox...the rude, thinks he is some teacher all of a sudden..telling me not to be concern. I don’t think he has a clue on teaching anyone, let alone dibbuns and claims he spoke to you on the matter..how he could be a gardener or a teacher and but had to just tell me, I told Rascal no till further notice. The only thing that fox seems to be able to do is scare MY dibbuns in less than half a minute’s time." Yes maybe he is over protective of the abbey dibbuns, but hey..that’s how he is"
Benar frowns softly, "I told Rascal that here at Redwall a beast can be anything if they try. Being given a chance to try doesn't mean I've given it approval. I told him he was to work with Elmef in the gardens and fields, I never told him he could harass the dibbuns of Abbey School. I'll not have him upsetting you Oz, you tell him from me I want to see him if I don't get my paws on him first." Sighing the abbot glances at Bandit and smiles, "Well let's see if I can get Magramba over here, we could set something up together and offer it as a solution to Scioto."
The fox raises the other eyebrow, "A fox...named 'Rascal'? Really? What kind of name is Rascal for a fox?" Says the fox named Bandit. "Have you lot been taking in stray foxes again? Don't tell me you have gone and replaced me!" Bandit crosses his arms and laughs. "And I'm in no hurry. I'm sure Ferravale will be fine without me there for a few more days."
Oz says, "Knowing Rascal he has upset Zinnia as well, but I have yet to speak to her to see what he said.." He grumbles slightly to himself and then decides to get his mind off it "Shall I have a novice find and have Magramba come here then?"
Benar waves a paw, "No I'll catch Magramba at dinner tonight, if Bandit is ok to stay a few days then we can just catchup with Magramba naturally. I know he is re-working the guard rota and training schedule so I don't want to pull him away." He pats the stone coping next to him, "Sit down both of you, let us talk of happier things, I will deal with Rascal later."
The fox nods, tail wagging he leans back with his paws behind him. "Happier things. Heh, I'm a guard in a village full of vermin so I think someone else should go first on this one."
Oz nods as he dos sit down, he has taken part of the day off in fact, "Well there is the feast in a couple days’ time. I am sure it will go well as all whom was away is back now."He then chuckles “Even someone new has joined the abbey...though seems when outside he rather be in a tree that on the ground, a badger cub...he does pay attention very well from what I can tell. But I am unsure the other dibbuns are use to him yet, he is a bit...taller than them"
Benar asks, "Xander is climbing trees?" He frowns, "He really shouldn't be doing that whilst so young, at least not on his own. And yes we have my Spring Feast to which you are totally barred Bandit! We totally don't have enough food to feed you," He grins at the fox playfully.
The fox's tail begins to wag even harder at the mention of a fast approaching feast. He mocks a look of despair, "But just think Benar, without me around the abbey dwellers would have too MUCH food. They would all grow fat and soft and then where would you be. It's a right proper service I'm doing for you! For free no less." At the mention of badgers his smile fades a little, "Badgers, oi. I think I've had my fill of badgers these last few months. No offense to you Oz of course. Between Slade and Krull..." He shakes his head, "No no, we were talking about happy stories and there is nothing happy about either is seeing Slade's head..." The fox remembers his company and swallows the rest of his comment, "Behind bars."
Benar says, "Well indeed I guess I wouldn't want everyone to get fat and lazy. But do let everyone know they are welcome to the feast as well as every other woodlander. If I am lucky we may even get some otters down from camp Willow which would be nice." Looking out over the gardens the squirrel's ears prick up, "Also we have gotten rid of our pine marten infestation in the ruins under the south wall."
Oz raises an eyebrow, yes let’s not question what the fox is speaking of " Anyways....the feast should be extra special this season and its good to have things back to normal and safe now."
"The beasts of Ferravale always know the abbey is open to those who mean it no harm. Why just the other day..." The fox pauses, rewinding the conversation in his mind, "Wait, 'pine marten infestation'?" He gives Benar a curious glance, "Do I even want to know?"
Benar says, "We had a band of pine martens move into the ruins under the south wall through the old river tunnels. We were able to send them on their way again with minimum violence."
Oz says, "To which I am glad, I was beginning to worry when the snows started melting that we might of had trouble, but luckily we did not"
Bandit only stares, "Oh." He says simply. "You know, I should find this odd but given everything that happens in Mossflower I'm just...used to it by now. I even had a crazed badger warrior challenge me to a duel last month." The fox shakes his head, rolling his eyes. Slowly he grunts with effort as he stands up. "Thank you for the chat my fellow beasts. I should however find a scribe and a messenger to ferry a scroll to Scioto, less he gets worried that I was accosted by bandits...or almost eaten by an eagle...again." Bandit's eyes get a faraway look to them until he shakes his head. "Amway, take care!"
Benar says, "See you late Bandit, I will save you a seat at the feast in two days’ time." He raises a paw in farewell then looks at his scroll and sighs, "I should get going as well Oz, I will see you later?"
Oz nods "Maybe we can talk over some mint tea later tonight"
Benar smiles as he replies “Sounds good Oz” He then heads off to check on needed stuff he needs to tend to.
