By the Abbey pond 6-23-2016 or News about Zurrgg :o
RW Abbey: Entry
The raging fireball in the great bowl of the sky as well as the constant, sweltering heat that refuses stubbornly to ease even during the odd hours of the night herald the arrival of summer. You stand on a grassy sward between two cottages. To the south you see a small, calm pond. To the north lies an open space where the Abbey has its feasts in the warmer seasons. To the east is the Great Hall, a massive structure that rises far above the abbey walls and is completed with large towers that pierce upwards into the sky. The main building is adorned with a large, iron banded door that would allow one into the Great Hall. During the day, blinding golden lights washes over this humble clearing. In retaliation, the massive building, coated in a faded crimson soars towards the skies, its huge size offering valuable shade.
Flowers are in full bloom, brilliantly colored petals revealing to the Abbeybeasts in a loud, flamboyant fashion their sheer joy for living as well as their animated spirits. Luscious greens sweep the area in a subtler beauty, enhancing the vibrancy of the flora. Soft grasses cushion your footpaws, and from time to time a gentle breeze will caress through to shift the blades of grass and the small layer of dust. Though small in area, and humble compared to the other regions of the Abbey, it is quite clear that everything in this small clearing is bursting with life and at their prime; all have been touched by summer's grace. !!--!Summer is here!--!!
Exits/Entrances:
[G]reat [H]all [C]limb to the [R]amparts [A]bbey [P]ond
[Ga]te [H]ouse [Leave] through the gates [Open] Ground
[C]hampion's [C]ottage
Leon, a male mouse. Cotasong, a male squirrel. Nightbreath, a male ermine. Blisa the female cat, Ferdinand the male ferret, and Basilisk (Basil) the male whiptail snake. Lacota, another male squirrel. Benar, yet another male squirrel. Thunderwing the male eagle. Oz the male badger. Pip the male bunny rabbit :3 .
Leon is on his way back to the gatehouse from the direction of the infirmary, he has tried lately to take a half hour or maybe an hour break everyday, least when he is able to that is.
Cotasong has traveled by tree and made it to the gates, he has been here before...well a brief few days, he walks up to the gates and the guards stare at him but they do let him in after of course taking any weapons he has. He walks into the entry and looks around, his tall ears fold back a little as takes a couple steps and looks ready to pass out. .
Nightbreath is waiting atop the ramparts, acting as sentry of his own accord. Seeing the squirrel being let in, he drifts down the stairs from the walltops to say hello. "Greetings," he calls to Cotasong.
Leon doesn't see the squirrel right away as he was stopped by a novice who just had to ask a question, the healer sighs but seems to reply to the question, seems for the 3nd time today.
Cotasong backs up a little upon seeing the odd figure of Nightbreath, he frowns and sways some before seemingly getting dizzy and passing out briefly, just enough to start to fall to the ground.
Nightbreath darts forward in an attempt to catch Cotasong, hissing something under his breath, his movement a blur as he gestures for Leon to attend him. "We need help here!"
Leon looks over and frowns, he mutters to the novice, "I can talk to you later" He rushes over to check on the squirrel, studying him closely as he blinks "I...have seen something like this before...."He shakes his head and looks Cotasong over, checks for wounds and takes a pulse, even checks temperature.
Blisa the cat exits the tent that her bodyguards set up in the firepit and is quickly followed by a humongous snake, who is whining something about cheese. Ferdinand the ferret slips out next, and they head towards the pond. But the feline's head jerks up as she hears the ermine call out for help, and she changes course. "Is...is he okay?" She asks, striving to surface out of her depression. If anything, this will prove to be a good distraction.
Cotasong has a slight raise in temperature. No wounds are seen just signs of being out too long in the heat maybe. He groans and opens his eyes, tensing some at most of them and chitters something in his own language, before he seems to try more normal speech... "This...being...Abbey Red...?"
"Bring water, Blisa," Nightbreath instructs quickly. "This could be heat exhaustion," he states to Leon quietly. "Should we bring him to the pond to cool off?"
Leon checks the squirrel again and nods, to both the pond idea and the question the squirrel had, "Yes This is Redwall....who are you, or where are you from?"
Cotasong looks to them, listening and speaks "Cotasong......I am..."He frowns, wait he is nothing now and looks away as tears form now, or maybe its sweat...or both.
With a grunt, Nightbreath indicates to Leon that they should start moving the squirrel towards the pond. If they do so, he'll easily carry one end at least towards the Abbey grounds and, ultimately the pond itself.
Blisa, upon seeing the squirrel's predicament, orders him to stay in the tent until further notice; no use upsetting the squirrel more than necessary. Basil grudgingly complies, possibly breaking the Abbot's rule for allowing him in here, but he's confined to the tent by the other bodyguards, so maybe it's a good thing. Ferdinand hands the Master Healer a canteen of tea as they move to the pond.
RW Abbey: Pond
The Abbey pond is practically the place to go for relaxation. The orchards that settle onto one side of the water hole provide decent shade for the more heated months to come. Various types of wild flowers grow about the edge of the ground that lightly overhangs into the pond. The pond seemingly invites one into its cool depths, which holds its fish life and multiple species of shrimp and other water dwellers.
The homely pond provides an oasis of relaxation amid the busy bustle of activity that almost always surrounds Redwall Abbey, especially in the warmer summer months when fruit and crops are to be tended to. A cool atmosphere, added to by the pond, wafts out around the pond area and onto the grass. The orchards simply extend that cool, providing shade and solace for those who wish to relax a little further from the sport that is usually taking place around the oh-so-popular pond.
A lush lawn, studiously kept, surrounds the pond, all the way up to the orchard edge, even entering the orchard - though tentatively. Rushes grow in most of the shallower places on the pond's edge, but the clear water prevails, and in most places, only a bit of a muddy bank is visible and no water reeds find hospitality there. Bugs of all types flit about the surface of the water, testing fate of those who lurk below. Sometimes a shadow can be seen skulking about the rocks at the bottom of the clear pond, but it could very well merely be a trick of the potent summer sun.
Exits: [F]ire [P]it, [R]edwall [E]ntry, [P]ath by the [G]reat [H]all, [Dive] in the pond, [O]rchards
Contents:
South Wallgate
Lacota is sitting near the pond, partaking in before noon tea when a group of more beasts arrive. The Friar doesn't move, or speak, just observes, for now, sipping his tea.
Leon blinks at the name, the name is so darn familiar to him. "What's the name?" He helps him to the pond to help him cool off and covers the squirrel some water from the canteen he gets from Ferdinand.
Cotasong sips the water and coughs, he knows very little of this common speech but his father taught him some at least, weather he paid attention or not is another story..."Cotasong....travel have after attacked..clan is...is gone"
"From where?" Nightbreath asks. He knows that there's trouble afoot (apaw?) in Mossflower, and he wonders now if Zurrgg's beasts were responsible for the squirrel's plight.
Blisa sits down and listens quietly. Ferdinand gets more water in a cup that he gets from the tent by the firepit. For now they will politely listen until the newly arrived squirrel is finished talking.
Lacota ear-perks. The Friar is listening, at least, and he knows that name... It's been several seasons. "I may have misjudged that cat... He's not as big a fool as I'd hoped..." the squirrel says suddenly. "Conversely, maybe he *is* a bigger idiot than I thought..." The Friar then lapses into silence again, sipping his tea. Hey, it's darn good tea.
Leon is silent as he seems to be trying to remember a conversion seasons ago, what was someone to name a young dibbun... "Wait...Anomen, your...he is your father, he named you after your mother after she died and also your name has part of our friar's name...I remember now" He frowns "Wait...clan, that's the Gawtribe right?"
Cotasong seems to become depressed over this and closes his eyes as tears threaten to come again.
"Of course that's who it is, Leon," Lacota quips, "I'm his god-father, last I recall..."
Nightbreath listens interestedly, saying nothing, but feeling the interplay of emotions and energies between those beasts present as he closes his eyes.
Blisa goes to suddenly, with little to no warning, poke the ermine in the side and whisper urgently, "I wonder if Zurrgg had anything to do with this?" Ferdinand sits beside the squirrel as the Master Healer has to suddenly run off because of an emergency, and he offers the cup of water to the newcomer. "Here. Thip thith thlowly."
Lacota takes a sip of his tea. "Please... Don't tell me what I fear I am about to hear... Anomen... Please tell me my worry is unfounded..."
Cotasong frowns "Anomen was...father yes true" He tenses at the word Zurrgg... "Stoat beast...called the evil cat Zurrgg.....Zurrgg destroy clan...all gone...camp doomed....Zurrgg...was...slayed by the stoat but the marten...he took over and took captive the stoat...odd was called stoat...woodlander wanna be"
"As I suspected," Nightbreath whispers to himself, nodding quietly to Blisa. "Wait. Zurrgg is dead?" he frowns, speaking louder. "Are you certain of this?" he demands of Cotasong.
Blisa scoots forward. Smiling slightly, she adds to what the Seer said. "Zurrgg is dead? Are you sure? Did...did you happen to catch the stoat's name? Marek???" Ferdinand Listens quietly. Basil can be very faintly heard whining about something or another.
Lacota sighs. "I was correct, then. The cat *was* an idiot... And now he's dead... His replacement may be even worse than Zurrgg was." The squirrel takes another sip of tea. "The situation seems to be escalating, if you ask me..."
Cotasong frowns "Name...familar....I don't be recalling..." He frowns as he slowly sits up "A marten...is leader thinking" He describes Kolur to them.
OOC:
Kolur
The marten before you is black as coal dust. Even his face fur is a lighter shade of black, leaving the rest of his fur a very deep coal black. He wears the outfit of a Ferravale guard. The tunic and pants a light blue coloring, with a vest of bright red. He wears silver chainmail on his chest and arms and carries a longsword with him.
Species: Marten
BIC:
Nightbreath growls, recognizing Kolur by the description. "We will deal with this." He stands up, absentmindedly going to ruffle Blisa's headfur, stalking off into the orchard afterward.
Blisa poufs up slightly as she gets a head-rub. Nooooooo..... Also recognizing the marten, she gives a little muffled growl. "He will pay for his crimes!" Ferdinand furrows his brow. "He hath Marek now, it thoundth like. That can't be good..."
Lacota frowns. "An unexpected development... Though I cannot say I hold much love for Marek, after what his crew did to my kitchen when he played at being a petty dictator." The squirrel scowls. "This Kolur fellow sounds extremely dangerous, though."
Cotasong frowns, "also saying...land is his...all is his....some village he leader of may have more of...of the vermins yes?"
Blisa looks truly angry. "That's MY village he has taken over! MY townsbeasts that he's persecuting! How DARE he say that the rest of Mossflower is his, too?!" She leaps up and begins to pace, much like a caged tiger. Ferdinand rests his elbow on his thigh, then leans his chin on his palm. "Pity we don't have an army of our own..."
Cotasong stands slowly, a little wobbery and frowns, he shoud be ok now"Some in village not be...following you like no more?" He frowns, he was a leader, a very short while anyways.
Benar walking around the edge of the Abbey Pond is the abbot, he is riffling through papers like he always seems to be doing these days and frowning as he steps without looking along the familiar path
Lacota takes another sip of tea. (Seriously, how much tea is in that cup?) "There is an army... But it won't help Ferravale, I'm afraid, but they will help Redwall, if we ask for their aid... A regiment of Long Patrollers... I've no idea how many fighters they have, though, but those ragtag vermin are surely no match for a regiment of hares..."
Cotasong listens "I..help yes? He atatcked camp and most be defeated."
Thunderwing is flying arounnd and circles the area of the pond, he sees the beasts below before he dives to the pond, most likely splashing out a good deal of water, he comes back with a fish landing on the shore, but not too close to the beasts here as he tilts his head and looks at them. A novice that happen to be coming to the pond to cool off sees the bird and screams...they seem to not be a fan of birds as they rush off, cooling off can wait.The eagle just sits there, not like he is going after anyone.
Blisa isn't watching where she's going, either, and, unless the squirrel moves, she will run into the Abbot. Ferdinand looks up at the Friar. "I....think it would be withetht for uth Ferravalianth to not have the Long Patrol involved. But thank you anyway. If you'd like to help," he adds, turning to the newcomer squirrel (argh, why are there so many squirrels all of a sudden??), "then we would like to have you help--ERK!" The ferret gets sopping wet by the eagle diving into the pond.
Benar looks over his papers and frowns, "Blisa, hello again, Friar good day to you as well... what is this about the Long Patrol? Have the 67th arrived?"
Cotasong glances over at the abbot when he arrives but for now doesn't greet him, he stays where he is having gone silent now.
Lacota is just taking another sip of tea when out of nowhere a wave of pondwater crashes over him. The Friar drops his cup and saucer, spilling the last of his tea, and jumps up, sputtering with anger. "WHAT ON EARTH?! YOU!!" He points a finger at the miscreant bird, looking quite a sight in his drenched habit and crooked spectacles. "WHAT IS THE MEANING OF RUINING THE LAST OF MY TEA? Insolent avian..." Lacota appears not to notice Benar for now, his attention and ire fully fixed on the bird by the pond.
Thunderwing eats his fish, luckily away from their view and walks over... "Thunderwing want to help..." He walks over and bends his head to look at Lacota now, he carefully fixes the glasses with his talon with gentle care and moves away from the squirrel, He seems a little confused "I messed up letter T?"
"You did ah... get a lot of water everywhere Thunderwing," Benar says from behind a paw trying not to smile, "You do seem to have ah... got our Friar very wet... do please be careful about diving into the pond when beasts are nearby." he shakes out his habit where he got splashed and tucks his papers away as he watches the wet ferret head off and shakes his head, "I wish we could do more to help Blisa, but beyond the Champion and a few other warriors the rest of us can't really march to war. Our oath to the charter prevents us from marching out to fight but we will do everything else we can to help."
Cotasong decides to speak to the abbot later and walks towards a place to rest, like a tree in the orchards works, he nods to the abbot politely, then is off to a tree to sleep in.
Thunderwing looks at Lacota and then the others "Thunderwing is sorry.....Thunderwing see much from sky , he fly high and low and see bad beasts, bad beasts taking over village and woods, bad beasts have captives does...."
Lacota glares at the bird a moment. "Apology accepted..." The squirrel proceeds to pick up his cup and saucer. "Do be careful next time, though... I am no otter."
"But ye look like one now!" comes the anonymous yell from the orchards, followed by the fading sounds of laughter and running feet. Blisa snorts and manages to hide the fact that she is laughing at that statement. Oooh, her bodyguards are somethin' else sometimes... "It's....it's okay, Benar. What you are is enough." She turns to the eagle, unable to extinguish the twinkle of laughter at the Friar from her face as she addresses the bird. "Do you know what kind of captives the marten has in my village?"
Benar frowns at the word of captives but remains quiet, listening to what the bird has to say though he does murmur to Lacota, "If he is taking Mossflower citizens captive maybe we should invite the locals to shelter here?"
Thunderwing speaks "He attack odd squirrels....slay squirrel....nasty nasty beastie he is..." He blinks at the marten mentioned and nods, "He have stoat...think stoat killed Zurrgg not knowing...marten wearing Ferravale cloak and sword of chieftain and had stoat in chains...also have mole and couple squirrels, and hear of bad beasties attacking woodlander camp"
Lacota nods grimly, while wringing water out of the hem of his habit. "I heartily agree. We should send out a general message to the surrounding area that Redwall is open for shelter... As of now, our Abbey is the safest location left... At the worst, they can try to starve us out, but there are ways into and out of this abbey that they'd never be able to find." The Friar is of course referring to the ruins of Kotir, which he considers to be a way out if things turn absolutely dire.
Blisa furrows her brow and crosses her arms. "That's not good.....oh, how dare he wear my father's cloak and carry my father's sword?!" the young cat angrily kicks a log, then starts hopping around holding her booted foot and making incoherent noises because the log is stuck in the dirt and can't be moved by such puny efforts. "Owowowowow...."
Lacota watches Blisa kick the log. "That thing hasn't been moved in several seasons, Lass..."
"NO BLOODY KIDDING?!" Blisa manages to yell out as she stands on one foot. Without wobbling or falling or anything, the very agile little feline unties her boot and yanks it off, revealing a soft knitted grey sock. Pulling it off, she stands on her one foot and looks at the injured one. Discovering that it's not broken, she limps over and sites on the offending log and starts putting her footwear back on. "Thanks for telling me that BEFORE I got mad," she grumbles sarcastically.
Lacota nods. "Er, yes, well... Anyway. I know this all must be terribly difficult for you... Not that I understand completely... But I understand some."
Blisa glares at the squirrel. "Yeah, killing myself by almost breaking my foot off is 'terribly difficult'," she growls, lacing up her knee-high boot again. She's not quite sure what he meant; he's going to have to elaborate. Whee. Hopefully she won't bite him or anything.....
Lacota crosses his arms, thinking over his next words carefully. "Your father. You loved him dearly. You miss him quite badly. It's a gaping hole. I know what that's like..."
Blisa has just tied the knot in her boot laces and is preparing to tie the bow when the squirrel drops that little bomb thar. Her anger dissipates and is replaced by her hollow stare. Jerking her head up, she fixes him with her jade-coloured gaze, struggling to focus as her pain and sorrow come crashing over her, roaring back to the surface like tsunami.....and she is helpless before it. "Wh....wh....h...how?" she manages to whisper as her brow crinkles up in her emotional turmoil.
The squirrel is sorry to make Blisa unhappy again, but he feels it to be necessary. He's been there. And he knows this kind of thing is not healthy when bottled up. "Because I lost my own parents. And I was devastated. But instead of confronting it, I bottled it up, and let it consume me for a long time..."
Oz has been in the infirm the past...well little more than a week, or he thinks as he is not sure. He has slowly make his way to the pond with the help of his staff which he has not had out for a while. He listens to the voices at the pond and leans on the staff once he gets to the pond.
Blisa lets her leg drop to the ground, tying her boot forgotten. She is sitting on a log by the pond. "Y....you did? I...I'm sorry...." she looks at the ground, the torment in her heart threatening to overwhelm her. ".....and how did it work out?" Ferdinand comes back from the tent, now wearing nice, clean clothes. Coming up beside the badger, he murmurs, "Good to thee you in the Abbey, Oz." He keeps watch on the young cat, ready to intervene if necessary.
Lacota moves to sit on the log. "Eh, not well... I was a slave back then, which didn't help matters... But eventually, I was forced to face the facts and not let my anger control me anymore. Listen, I won't tell you to stop being angry, or to buck up and move on... I just want to tell you not to let that anger consume you, alright? You're a good Lass, and you make a fine leader already. Your father would be proud."
Oz nods "I...dislike the infirm" He says quietly listening as the others talk. "Sides maybe I can rest in my own room."
Ferdinand nods, smiling wryly. "Jutht make thure Angela doethn't catch you. The ith one mean little mouse when the'th angry...." He does not notice the S he just managed to pronounce. Blisa nods, but then the squirrel just had to mention that Scioto would be proud. The young cat's face crinkles up as tears leak down her cheeks and she starts to sob brokenly. The ferret moves to her other side and, kneeling, hugs her gently.
Lacota frowns slightly. He was afraid he'd make Blisa cry, he hadn't wished to... But, crying is a good thing, he reminds himself. It's a healthy release of emotion. "I'm sorry, Lass. I'm truly, deeply sorry." The squirrel would pat her back gently, if allowed, and sighs. "I'm sorry to have made you cry."
Oz slowly makes his way over "We...all seem to have lost someone close to us, weather recently or not. You have friends who will help you through this Blisa"
As Ferdinand holds her close (and the Friar is allowed to pat the cat's back), Blisa leans on her bodyguard and friend and cries. She hasn't drawn since....well, since the day her father died. She should start that up again. The ferret holds her close and mouths a 'thank you' to the squirrel. He did just the right thing. And then the badger gives his little bit of wisdom and Blisa cries even more.
Lacota nods at the ferret. Despite his somewhat irascible personality and apparent indifferent demeanor, the Friar has caring heart and finds himself quite often moved to try and offer comfort to others... Though he'd never openly admit it. "Listen, I'm here to talk, anytime, if you need. It does pain me to see beasts so deeply saddened."
Oz stays quiet and lets Lacota help Blisa for now, he has said what he was going to say for now. But he will stay near her.
Blisa just cries for a while, but slowly it lightens up and she's just a sniffling little snotty mess. She peeks out at the Friar and nods once, not trusting herself to speak. Ferdinand picks her up and then sits down in her spot, setting her on his lap with ease. She stares at her untied laces and sniffs again.
Pip is looking around the abbey, dragging a blanket with him as he goes, its collected dust and grass and a random grasshopper. He now makes his way over to the pond and slows some.
Lacota sits up straight again, and glances around, noticing just how glorious a summer day it is. "Ah... if only we could completely enjoy this beautiful season..."
Oz sits down on the grass by the pond "It is a nice season...usually. Let's hope things are back to normal by the Summer feast as that is very soon now"
Blisa's eyes harden, and she says with firm ferocity, "Oh, don't worry, I'm not going to stand idly by while that thieving, murdering marten has my village that my father built under his filthy paw. His hide is mine!" Don't argue with her. Just...don't. Ferdinand, spotting the Dibbun rabbit, pokes the cat and gestures at the bunny. Seeing him, the cat bites her lip. Ooops. Perhaps she shouldn't've been so vehement in her promising to kill Kolur...
Lacota looks down at the rabbit. "Well, hello there, Lad."
Pip hugs the blanket and frowns...the grasshopper jumps off, there is a bee on the blanket as well, which makes the rabbit gasp and tumble backwards and the bee too also flies away.
Oz listens "Ahh Pip...did you follow me to the pond? Pip is a new dibbun here at the abbey, he was orphaned...due to Zurrgg"
Blisa's tears have all dried up now, and she finishes tying her boot and hops up with a new determination. "I will stop Kolur and get my father's village back! From some rumours I've heard, it would seem that Marek killed Zurrgg, but is now Kolur's captive; apparently, the marten has taken over leadership. I'll do my best to stop them, and /nobeast/ is going to keep me from getting my village back!" Ferdinand simply smiles. Blisa is finally coming back into the real world.
Lacota nods. "I know you will do it, Lass. Do be careful, though."
Pip frowns, he has no clue of what all is being said or what it all really means, he sniffs feeling sad himself..."Want mama...and dada.....wanna them backs"
z frowns "Pip...come here" He tilts his head to listen to Blisa,"Yes being careful is wise, even that marten is not a pushover, he was the 2nd in command to Zurrgg."
Blisa smiles wickedly. "I'm no pushover, either...." she then trails off as she hears what the Dibbun has to say. Cautiously going over to him so as not to scare him, she kneels by him. "Hey, hey. I want my Momma and Daddy back, too. I really miss them a lot." Ferdinand stands and stretches the kinks out of his legs.
Ferdinand says, "Don't worry, I'll make thure thhe thtayth thafe."
Pip is unsure of whom to go to so he lays down and curls up and whimpers, his whimpers only soften after he has fallen asleep...least the weather is good right now.
Lacota sighs. "Poor lad... Too young..." He shakes his head. "This vermin needs to be eliminated..."
Oz sighs, "I think Pip has been through a lot, Zurrgg attacked his family and was going to kill this dibbun also, luckily he didn't get a chance to kill the dibbun."
Blisa stares at the Dibbun for a few minutes, then is up and running to the walltop before anybeast can stop her. Ferdinand makes a surprised sound, then follows after her...
Thanks for reading!
Here's what happened next with Blisa: http://rwmuck.limitless.org/rwmuck/content/blisa-gets-small-army-icly-ha...
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