Abbot's Processional: part 3.5?: Brockhall

Right after this log

http://rwmuck.limitless.org/rwmuck/content/abbots-processional-part-3-br...

Brockhall: Annex

• -*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-* Brockhall Annex *-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*

This chamber, lit with soft-glowing lanterns, is the very hollowed trunk of

Brockhall and serves as an annex for a host of adjacent rooms and a grand

entrance hall. The room's ceiling is lost overhead in the darkness of the

mighty oak trunk. The tree's thick roots, that twist their way around the

chamber, have been honed and polished to resemble simple furnishings -- the

chairs, tables, and shelves are all part of the rustic decor, as much a

part of the tree as the beings who dwell here. A great stone fireplace

dominates the far wall, encircled by small stumps and even a large, comfy

chair. Carved into the living walls, a staircase with a sturdy railing runs

around the chamber, ascending gracefully into darkness. Another smaller,

darkened stairwell, the steps worn with age, leads to the woodlands. Above

the stairwell, a brightly polished, bronze plaque reads: Brockhall.

                       *-*-* Entrances/Exits *-*-*

[Fo]yer                  [C]entral [S]tairs                  [R]ear [E]xit

[I]nfirmary              [M]ain [H]all                       [S]tudy

                         [T]rapdoor                          [W]ar [R]oom

• -*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-* Brockhall Annex *-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*

Zinnia nods and then blinks when she sees the dibbun, "How did she get here?"

Mint frowns and scoots back up against the wall by the steps and starts to whimper a little as she looks at all the beasts. Her knee is a bleeding just a little from being skinned some on the steps.

Lee kneels, and smiles. "There now, lass, ye skin yer knee. It must 'urt."

Benar allows Lee to see to the other otter and sits back down, "Would anyone else care to share a tale of other leaders? Redwall, Badgers of Salamandastron, someone from your home town. It can be anyone at all."

Zinnia frowns, "I don't really have any tales to tell of any leaders really, sorry"

Mint frowns she doesn't know Lee at all, she looks up the stairs, "Aibne..." She frowns, great he is probably sleeping or went outside, who knows as she hugs her knees to her chest and stares at them, she notices some are wearing a brown robe just like the visitor yesterday, so she says something, "Their robes brown...like the mouse upstairs"

Benar smiles at the young otter, "A Redwall Brother is here? We are beasts of peace from the Abbey nearby. You are quite safe here little one." He looks around the gathering and smiles, "I could tell a story about the founding of the abbey. Abbess Germaine."

Zinnia is a curious "Who though?" She tries to think on whom it may be.

Mint nods, "He..hasa lot herbs and helped me last night when I ate bad mushrooms, ummms and he has one paw."

Benar says, "Sounds like it might be Brother Leon."

Lee nods affirmatively. "That's me own guess. Glad nothin' 'appened to 'im while 'e were out wanderin' around."

Zinnia says, "He did head off, he didn’t say why though"

Mint has forgotten the name, then hey she is a dibbun after all and was half asleep when he was talking to her brother. "Aibne here toos...somewhere, he my big brother"

Benar says, "Leon has had a lot on his mind lately, he has his reasons for wandering.""

Lee crosses his arms. "I know the feelin'. Too much goin' on lately."

Zinnia asks, "what was your tale about by the way Abbot Benar?"

Benar says, "Well little one you are welcome to join us for lunch," Several novices are moving through the crowd with bowls of soup and bread. One of them stops and offers some to the little otter. Benar turns back and smiles at Zinnia then gestures around, "During the days before Redwall, when Mossflower was under the cruel enslavement of the Greeneyes Dynasty of Wild Cats. In this Hall lived Bella, the Badger Lady of Brockhall and it was here that Abbess Germaine first dreamt up the idea that would eventually become Redwall."

Mint smiles at the offer of lunch, she had not ate since yesterday afternoon, one she didn’t feel well and two she sleep a lot, she takes some soup and bread and happily starts to eat.

Zinnia listens "Wow...tales of other badgers are interesting, and I like learning all of Redwall's history from long long ago to the more recent all is important"

Benar smiles at Zinnia, "Bella had lived here for a long time, in peace, but when the Greeneyes swept in from the north and conquered Mossflower her husband who was a farmer died resisting his forces. Many good and brave beasts died resisting the wild cats and though the population of Mossflower were not enslaved they were forced to labor hard and give up their crops as taxes. Though many tried to formulate plans for resistance Bella sat here in Brockhall, hidden, safe, and it is here that she made her plans. Drawing those to here who could resist the wildcats."

Lee nods, listening to the familiar tale.

Mint says, "Wildcats be bad"

Zinnia listens and stores in in her memory to write down later on that night, she still has some other tales to write down as well.

Benar says, "It was here that Bella gathered the brave leaders of the resistance. It is here that Martin the Warrior came when he was rescued from the prison of the Wildcats by Gnoff the Mousethief. It is here that Abbess Germaine of lost Loamhedge came. It is here, during the long summer of resistance that the Abbess first had her thoughts of Redwall."

Mint tilts her head, "What..Redwall?"

Lee says, "Redwall is our 'ome, lass."

Benar smiles at the little otter, "Redwall is the Abbey we all come from, it is near here, a sanctuary of peace where all are welcome. There is food and drink and a warm bed for every beast who wishes to live in peace and it is here that Abbess Germaine wove it into being."

Zinnia says, "wow, not many know this history, I didn’t know it but I am glad I learned"

Mint smiles "Sounds neat...can me and Aibne go there, huh huh huh?"

Leon has been at Brockhall since last night and wakes up to the familiar voices, he slowly comes down the stairs and stands off to the side not brothering any beast, just standing there for now.

Benar smiles "It was actually on a river bank at a farm where the Order Mice and Lady Bella took the young ones to be safe during the final rebellion against the cats. Abbess Germaine's original plans for Redwall are stored in the abbot's study back home. Along with Germaine's notebooks, she was the first Abbess and she wrote our charter and decreed our way of life." He smiles at the little otter, "You would be most welcome little one."

Zinnia nods, making sure to write all this down soon.

Mint says, "Neats..wants to live there"

Leon listens quietly to the others, still yet to say anything.

Lee says, "Germaine was remarkable."

Leon clears his throat after some quietness and nods to those who look his way afterwards.

Mint yawns as she is tried and soon falls asleep.

Benar says, "The Abbess spent the rest of her life building Redwall, the outer walls where first, a safe haven from the dangers of the world. They enclosed all those acres of land in beautiful redstone walls. After that they built the main building, the cloisters and yards. Martin bade the Rose Garden be built himself."

Zinnia looks over towards Leon and waves from her writeings.

Leon comes on over to join the others and sits down in one of the chairs as he says a quiet "Hello all"

Lee nods. "After Rose of Noonvale."

Krystal has listened to most stories and she fell asleep, she yawns now as she rubs her eyes and glances around the room of friends and smiles.

Benar says, "Not the Rose of Noonvale Lee," He smiles at the otter, "A later history, from visitors to Redwall revealed to us a secret of Martin's past. He would never speak of his life before he came to Mossflower. But the Rose of Noonvale was a mouse maiden called Rose not a flower. He kept it secret from us as Martin lost her to treachery and vermin on the far northern shore."

Krystal smooths out her dress some, still listening

Leon says, "Not heard a tale of Martin in a while...and" He looks to Benar" Sorry I walked off without much of a word or even a good note, needed some time alone but I do feel a lot better than I did before last night"

Benar says, "It is ok Leon, you were safe enough in Mossflower woods and I know you needed some time alone."

Lee nods again. "Glad ta see yer back, mate."

Leon nods "And meet some new friends as well. A couple sea otters."

Krystal says "Time alone is good..well sometimes it is and sometimes it’s not"

Leon says, "In this case it sort of was, then again also sometimes talking to someone different for a change on thoughts or feelings. Like not keeping too much all bottled up inside it causes stress and that’s not good for some beasts, then again not good for anyone really"

Benar says, "Well you can always talk with us, we are all your friends Leon and will be happy to help. Maybe you would care to tell us about Lorimis?"

Lee says, "Indeed, tell us, Mate."

Leon hmms "What about him? He was a very wise leader and always listened to others. I remember I had not been at the abbey very long, and this was when I was just a novice..I remember that day well, when that Stormfeather was around. " He frowns, "I don't know why I was on the walltops that day I...well let’s just say I am rarely up there but that day I was, think cause was talking to Lorimis"

Leon goes on "Anyways, that crazy fox already had Oz, and he had sent ravens to try and get Lorimis, I shoved Lorimis out of the way and the raven grabbed me instead....never been so scared in my life...the..high up.." He shakes his head, "Anyways it’s one day I remember, if I recall later during the time Lorimis wasn’t afraid or least he didn’t show it if he ever was or at any time really when there was danger "

Krystal listens and frowns "Ravens are not something I would want to meet"

Lee frowns. "Ravens can be dangerous."

Benar says, "I remember that time... they dropped burning barrels upon the abbey, they shattered and set fire to so very much. We lost the Kiln that day and all of our crops. It was a bad time but Lorimis rallied us all, he never wavered, he kept the order working side by side whilst providing support and courage to the Champion and Captain Lee to lead the guards."

Leon says, "I...never liked birds much since, the only bird I have recently become somewhat friends with is that hawk Boaz. I also remember the day Lorimis asked me to be Master Healer"

Leon says, "I...still miss Lorimis, then a lot miss him I know. When he died I felt I failed him and I wasn’t good at my job any more, made me feel very upset. One reason had a lot on my mind, and the fact I know I can't save everyone, it’s just a part of life."

Benar listens to Leon and reaches out to place a paw on his arm, "We all miss him Leon, we... are moving forwards without him but he shall never be forgotten."

Leon nods and looks between them, he takes a deep breath "I know and talking helps....helps a lot. There is one other thing, I had promised not to say anything about a talk I had with him...it was maybe a couple weeks after Lorimis died. But already told the two otters not that they know him. But being a healer you know things, you examine beasts...you talk with them and you tend to pay attention to things, now sometimes beasts hid how they really feel...Lorimis did, but not ever beast hides how they are really feeling."

Benar nods to Leon, "Indeed, Lorimis hid how he was feeling because he wanted to enjoy the time he had left. He didn't want to spend his last days in bed or the infirmary. Sometimes a beast can tell when the Dark Forest is calling and Lorimis wished to spend his days outside with us."

Leon nods "So does another beast. That I don't see making it to winter season, and if he does he won't live past that. I don't even know how summer has been with the heat and all."

Benar frowns at Leon, "Another member of the Abbey is... ill? Well if they have asked you not to name them then you should not. But all of us here will do all we can to make this beasts last few seasons memorable"

Lee remains quiet.

Leon nods "I think you know who I mean. Stuck in a wheelchair, sure he has good days but he is slowly getting worse and he knows it. And he needs to let his brother and daughter know...I need to get some rest....ok" He goes to head upstairs.