Afterwards At The Tavern

Happens shortly after this role play http://rwmuck.limitless.org/rwmuck/content/flights-fancy ==

FV:Tavern(#225437R)

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: [UP] Stairs, [K]itchen, [F]ighting [P]it, [Out]

Bevera enters the tavern and takes a quick glance around hardly phased by the noise or the smell for that matter and she hardly even gives the assorted bones decorating the room a second glance. Instead she heads to the bar where she takes a stool and orders an ale.

Scioto is sitting where he usually sits and looks over at the squirrel maid as she enters. He takes a long drink of his ale, “Don’t get many woodlanders in here, best to be careful it’s not always safe in my village."

Bevera chuckles and says with a twinkle in her eyes "I bet on it being not safe, though I wouldn't worry, I can take care of myself,"

Scioto shrugs "I am Scioto, chieftain of this village. And I only warn you to be helpful. Very few woodlanders stay here or visit too long, about the only one who does stay is this old badger, who trust me stay away from he talks WAY too much for his own good, not sure how he even gets by here.

"I'm Bevera," She said taking her ale and taking a long draft. "I'll take your advice, stay away from the badger." She adds putting her cup down.

Well that is the understatement of the century, thinks one particular vixen in the far back of the room. A white furred beast in the back corner. A red vest adorns the vixen loosely even though she leans to the pudgy side. The term would be 'sleek' to describe this vixen. Taking a swig of her ale the vixen nearly chokes on it as the head guard bursts into the room. It takes her a while to recognize the fox. A brown furred brute of a fox. The tabard and chain mail underneath are both splattered with blood giving the potbellied fox a darker, fiercer look. Is that...is that BANDIT?

The vixen looks about, to the left and to the right, sinking down in her seat, her eyes peering over the table. He can't see her here, not like this! What is he even doing here? Dressed in...armor? When did he become a guard and...oh how he's grown fat...

Bandit stomps into the room, glancing about, searching. "Scioto!"

Scioto looks over at Bandit and sighs "What now Bandit?...What in the seasons happen to you?" He stands up and looks at the fox for a reply.

Bevera turns in her stool and looks the fox over and placed a paw near her sling, this didn't look to good.

The fox leans forward, clutching at his chest while gathering his breath. "Longfang." He says once then takes another gulp of air, standing ridged. Here comes the moment of truth. Beasts have been asked to fall on their blade for lesser offences. Briefly Bandit wonders if he would do the same if honor demanded it. He was never the most honorable beast but...

"The ermine..." Bandit swallows, "Escaped."

Ok so this is what Scioto ment by not safe... if this ermine was even a problem for other vermin then perhaps not safe was a good description thinks the squirrel.

Scioto good eye narrows and he draws his sword and looks ready to slay Bandit where he stands and a hiss escapes his throat, "He..WHAT!!!!!" His anger is clear and a few sitting near the chieftain quickly move elsewhere. Beasts stare at them now, like wow...a fight in the fighting pits come to a halt between two weasels, then one knocks the other out and grins in the confusion and whistles as he gets his winning gold coins.

The fox leans backward, standing strait. So this is it. This is how a life time of adventure comes to an end. Killed for failure of doing his duty. He closes his eyes, wondering if the blade will meet his neck, or belly, or chest. "It was...it was my fault. Sir. He got the better of a guard. He held him hostage and...I couldn't catch him. He killed several of...of the guards and all I could do is watch." Bandit gulps and tenses, "I wounded him though sir, he won't be getting far."

Scioto stands there with the blade held out and is silent, the sort you should worry on and then lowers the blade slowly, "You..Wounded him, He needs found Bandit and found soon. Did you get any info from him before he got away? Any at all?"

A visible sigh of relief escapes Bandit's lips. "Nothing useful. But I sent some trackers out after him. And with the wound to his leg, he won't get far. I promise I won't rest until I bring you his head on a silver platter."

The vixen can't believe her ears. Is this the same lazy glutton that she dumped back in Redwall? No, it can't be. Bandit juggled responsibility as well as he stuck to a diet. Yet here he was, a guard, no...HEAD guard. How long has she been gone??

Scioto nods slowly, "That’s..That’s good Bandit, this ermine seems more dangerous than we thought"

The fox nods slowly. His head drops and his shoulders slump. "I'm...I'm sorry Scioto...I tried to...tried to save the guard but he killed him anyways, and because of me more...more of them..." His voice cracks.

Zee walks in about now and looks between them as he walks over "Whats going on now chiefy, bit of trouble around the village?"

Scioto sighs and goes to lay a paw on Bandit's shoulder "You can't..always prevent things Bandit, your still doing a good job as Head guard.." He groans as the badger enters, "Longfang escaped That’s what happen now does sit down."

Zee frowns, "Wait, Longfang..the ermine? Escaped?" He shakes his head, “Well looks like I have an ermine ta hunt down chiefy." He turns to head on back to the doorway gripping his staff.

The fox seems to compose himself. Nodding his head. He still feels like dying. So many guards...and that poor rat, he ran him through to... Bandit remembers the terrified look of betrayal as he ran his own guard through the gut to get to the ermine. He would have probably lived had the ermine not cut his throat, but still, did he really just...did he just injure a guard beast to get at an enemy?

Clutching at his stomach Bandit begins to feel weak, "I need to sit down..."

Scioto frowns at the badger and steps in front of him "You are going nowhere, my head guard and the other guards can handle Longfang. You sit down now...now Zee"

Zee frowns, "Chiefy..that ermine hurt my niece, he may be after my nephews and I have word he may have another family member and a friend captive so sorry chiefy." He goes to grab him by the collar and lift him up and carefully place him on a rack one may place cloaks on, it won't harm him but it will be hard as heck to get down on his own and he bows and heads to the door, "Sides got me secret weapon remember" He pats the staff in his paw.

Scioto looks in shock, did he just, he hisses and struggles to get loose, "Stop!!!" He has to, even if it causes trouble "Arrest him!!! Don't let him leave this tavern!!" ARRST HIM NOW!!!" Hey it’s for the badgers own good, he does not want that news of possible death to be taken to the abbey.

Bevera hops off her stool and cocking her head she look at bandit "Don't look to good do you?" She then runs over to where Scioto is hanging on the coat rack. She scurries up the rack and promptly cuts him loose by cutting his cloak with her dagger.

The fox cringes. He has to stand in the way of a badger? Well, he almost got through the day alive. Picking himself up Bandit lays a heavy gloved paw on the Badgers back. "Sir, I know how you feel, believe me, I do. I was the one who saved Zinnia. Please, just stay and listen to reason. We can handle Longfang, just give us the chance. We can't hunt him down and worry about your safety as well."

Zee goes to shove the paw away, he is still strong for his age and still heads to the door, “Ya not stopping me lad, sorry this between me and him."

Scioto glares and ooofs as he falls to the floor, he looks up "I said arrest him!" A few guards surround the badger, a couple back up and look worried. Scioto yanks down the rest of his cloak and grumbles, someone is going to fix this or pay for him a new cloak.

Bevera climbs back down the coat rack grinning, she is actually enjoying this.

Bandit isn't! He worked hard keeping his insides inside his body, not strewn about after a badger mauling! Still, the badger's statement is enough to rile even his anger, "Like the blazes this is between you and him you greedy beast! He killed over five of my guards. So don't you dare think that you are alone entitled to catch him." Without thinking the fox tries to spin the badger around and wag his finger accusingly in front of his snout

Zee narrows his eyes at the guards that surround him, and Bandit gets lucky to be span around to face Bandit and glares at him grabbing the finger he wags in his face, " Don't put ya finger in my face lad!" Rarely dos Zee let his anger show, very rarely, He stares the fox down . Nothing more he just stares at him.

Scioto stands and storms over to where they are, "You’re going in a cell for your own good..give me that staff or give it to Bandit, and Bandit...DO place him in the cell."

Bevera giggles and saddles a chair backwards to watch, Looks like they have things under control besides she doesn’t want to become another one of the room decorations just yet.

The fox seems to whimper. The cat doesn't know what he asks of him. Struggling to pull his paw free the fox shouts, "Guards! Arrest him!" When the guards hesitate the fox growls to himself, "Fine...you brought this on yourself!" And with that the fox leaps up, trying to wrap his arms around him and tackle him to the ground. Yes, because this is for his own good...Zees...not Bandits...

Zee grips the staff "I need my..." And the fox manages to tackle the badger, Zee goes to try and swing the staff at him when about three guards who like Bandit go to help keep the badger down and the staff rolls over to Scioto's footpaw, and Zee lets out a string of cuss words, wow he been living in Ferravale too long.

Scioto goes to get the staff and frowns, ok this will take a couple beasts to carry to his office, wait his home is better, he has a couple stoats do that as he looks at the badger and Bandit and frowns, this could still turn bad.

"Bludgeon! Bludgeon!" The fox cries, trying to stay on top of the struggling badger and pin him with his sheer weight. This was...not how he wanted to end the day. His patience with fools though has come to an end. A guard hands him the appropriate tool of the trade, a simple black club with a leather handle. He raises it high. Just one tap, thinks bandit, just one less than gentle tap across the top of the old Badger's head without crushing his skull in. "Don't make me do this Zee!" The fox shouts.

As the guards try to bind his paws together.

Zee struggles as he is tied up and goes to try and kick at Bandit, "Release me! Longfang is going to go kill them release me!!" He then stops and looks at Bandt, he is out of energy as he has tears in his eyes and stops struggling..."Please..you can't let him go to the abbey, he may be going there."

Scioto clears his throat, "Just put him in a..." He walks over and frowns, oh great now the old badger is crying, he sighs and walks over to the bar, he needs a strong ale.

Bevera's grin is gone, great the badger had to go on and start crying, she looks away and returns to the bar with Scioto. "Now that was a mess,"

The fox looks about ready to use his club, then hesitates. He can't really argue with the badgers reasoning. He himself would feel the same way. He came this close to actually letting the badger go. Then the fox is kicked off of the beast, landing on his tail while the guards struggle to bind his legs and feet, trying to pick him up and carry him away.

"Of all the sour, stupid, selfish..." The fox catches himself. Scowling he uses the club as leverage to lift himself up. "Take him to the tavern." The guards seem rather, puzzled by this order, "You heard me, take him into the tavern and feed him honey and fill him full of beer. On one condition. Why? Tell me why you know he is going to Redwall? And if you waste my time by fighting me so help me I will lock you up for the next season..."

Zee pants a little, he arches an eye brow at the honey and beer thing, "Going to maybe...try and harm Zinnia again, that ermine hates my family cause of..seasons ago..." He doesn't try to fight back, how can he if his paws are behind his back.

Scioto gets an ale and drinks it slowly, he looks at the badger curious and speaks "Longfang does need found, sides Longfang may know where Marek is."

"Whose this Marek fellow?" Bevera asks taking a drink of her own ale.

A rather loud Shrek and caw erupt from outside, a great gust of wind, blowing the door slightly open with dust and all, as Hecktora lands, curious at all the ruckus, soon the kestrel pokes her head in and looks about.

Bevera jumps up startled and perches on her stool. Her dagger is drawn and she eyes the bird suspiciously.

Bandit sighs and nods to the guards to untie the badger and to get the staff back to him, a couple guards go to get the staff and give it back to Zee as the fox helps him to sit down as he says quietly "I..I Promise to make sure he doesn't get that far." He has about 6 strong guards go along with him to hunt down Longfang, time to redeem himself.

Scioto watches Bandit head out as he answers "Marek is my tavern owner, does a lot for the tavern"

Zee leans on the bar stool and blinks at the bird that comes flying into the tavern. He does get an ale but just one and he frowns "Tea..." The barkeep says "But sir..." The badger insists "Tea also...." And the tea is brought and he gets an empty glass and mixes a little of both and stirs and drinks it slowly.

Bevera slowly sits back down and sheaths her dagger, "I see, what's this Longfang got to do with 'im?"

Scioto says, "Longfang had him captive as there was a fight on the road...Marek killed Longfangs mate when Longfang was trying to kill someone else, so Longfang now hates him.""

Hecktora is of course blocking the door she caws loudly and wiggles in puffing up her chest, she is kind of a fat kestrel, Elmjak's Greenstone Leaf hangs about her neck as she kicks a chair from her way, "why fore hold down badger." she does not seem to be all too happy about it, "makie blood wrath hit." she relaxes once the badger is released.

Bevera says, "Sounds fair nuff,"

Zee looks over at the bird, he takes a long drink of his spiked tea, "Who's...the bird?"

Scioto answers "Cause I didn’t want him going all..hunt the ermine and then die and I have to bring that news to his family at the abbey." He looks at Zee "And you’re staying under house arrest, I ..I don't care."

The vixen blinks in surprises as Bandit heads out. This, this cannot be the same fox she knew from Redwall. She chuckles softly then shakes her head. Picking herself up Elena scurries out the back door of the tavern...never once paying her bill.

Hecktora caws softly, "no wise badger?" she hops over to zee, and looks him over, "no decedent oh Boar?" she wiggles her tail, "need message to red square?"

Zee rises an eyebrow ""Descend of whom?.." Wait he read something on Boar, "Not a descent...just a badger and red square, you mean Redwall Abbey?"

Hecktora nods her head, that stone hanging from her neck shaking, "great descendent oh skarlith" she puffs her chest up.

Bevera Finishes off her ale and then taking one last look around the room she heads out to find a room in the inn though she doubts she will stay here much longer than a night.

Scioto watches the bird as he sips his own ale."Longfang needs found and stopped and I don't care..take that back, you can't go Zee..others yes"

Zee nods to the bird, he is still upset but keeps his voice calm" I still have my skills, even if I am a little rusty in a fight."

Scioto says, "And rusty gets you killed, I refused to be a bearer of bad news"

Hecktora looks around for some paper, "write note I take, keep eye for white vermin."

Scioto sighs "Let’s not trouble the abbey just yet, Longfang could of easily went another way as well."

Hecktora fluffs her tail at the cat being quite rude, "no talk badger lord like That’s." she shoots a look at Scioto, and fluffs her wings, "Tora obey badger, otter, or fight a lot shrew, or mouse monky "

Zee frowns, he drinks the spiked tea and then mixes the rest and drinks it as well and uses his staff to lean on and goes to head to his hut slowly, He looks at the bird..well he isn't a badger lord but he is a badger." Ms bird, it would make me feel better if you hunted the ermine as well. You can tell the abbey Longfang is out there, but we don't know where at...to post extra guards at their gates. And maybe see how Zinnia is, she was in the infirm there and I need news of how she is"

Scioto listens, "As long as you stay put Zee...please."

Zee nods to Scioto, "Fine...sides may be getting bit too old for a good fight anyways...and too much of this tea mix. Also anger would make it worse."

Hecktora bows nicely, "aye, fly there now." she hops for the door, snatching up some nuts before she caws loudly.

Scioto watches the bird and looks to Zee, "It’s for your own good, staying in the village"

Hecktora has left.

Zee rises a paw "I understand cheify and I am..sorry for how I acted, me anger got the best of me..I am going home to lay down, get some rest."

Scioto stands "Wait...go to my house for tonight, just in case Longfang is after you too and you’re in no condition to fight him. Blisa can..stand or..umm well be at guard, trust me that ermine won’t go near a house with a snake at guard. Tell Blisa and the guards inside to let Basil keep watch.."

Zee nods and heads to Scioto's house, staff in paw, he needs some serious rest snake or no snake, yeah it’s on his side but...snakes are a little creepy.

Scioto sighs as he goes to look around the tavern and his ears flatten. This day has ended rather badly, hopefully he will get some news of a recaught, or dead ermine soon, well he can only hope.