Inktail has arrived (A Ferravale Log)
This happens a while later after this log: http://rwmuck.limitless.org/rwmuck/content/doomed-were-all-doomed-ferrav... :)
FV:Tavern
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]
Markus the fox and Inktail the vixen. Blisa the cat, Ferdinand the ferret, Valerie the vixen, Clarissa the rat. Chud the otter.
"Milk? You...you are joking, right?"
"You heard me right, just get me the #$%! drink will ya?" The bartender squeaks as he rushes off to grab the beast his order.
Slumping his head against the bar Markus rubs at either side of his head. The quartermaster always knew the head guard job was difficult. But this..."Ugh! Will you hurry with that?" He chose a poor time to kick the bottle. A poorer time to kick smoking, and a really, really poor time to diet.
The red fox is sitting alone at the bar on his lunch break, drumming his paws against the bar. The tavern behind him is full of rats...for reasons that are beyond Markus' imagination or care at this point. So long as they don't try to burn down the town then he could care less if they were wolverines.
And another rat enters! It's Clarissa, following Blisa, Valerie, and Ferdinand. The tight-knit group heads over to the bar, and the young cat scrambles up onto a stool beside the acting Head Guard. "May we please have some tea?" the former searat kind of hides behind the ferret, hoping that the red fox doesn't notice her.
Chud walks into the tavern next, skirting the edges of the room. He's out of breath--he's been running for quite a while, just for the rush of it. "Sup Blisa," he pants to the cat.
The acting head guard notices the rat alright, but makes no motion to show that he cares she is here other than a slight growl. With the daughter of the chieftain here Markus sits up with about as much dignity as one can muster in a tavern. "Evening Ma'am. I hope you and your...legion are well." He gives the woodlander about as much attention as he gives the bodyguards.
The door swings closed behind the otter, only to be caught by the paw of a vixen as she enters. The fox wears a trio of brass hoop earing, two in her left ear, one in her right. Her clothes, a combination of a grey tunic and vest hang loosely over her lean frame. She has brown fur with a single dark furred paw. Her tail tip is also black. She wears a green dress over her waist that barely covers her foot paws.
Blisa nods politely. She knows all the information her bodyguards have gathered so far, but she doesn't show it, the little actress. "Good evening, Markus. Chud. It's a lovely evening, isn't it?" Valerie smiles as the tea arrives, and the bartender hastily gives the male fox his milk. Ferdinand smiles at the otter and hold out his paw for a handshake in a way of silently saying hello. Clarissa spots the other vixen with the single inky paw enter and watches her closely. You can't be too careful when you're a bodyguard.
Chud smiles to Blisa, then shakes Ferdinand's paw firmly. "Lovely evenin', 'tis. Fall weather...beautiful in a tragic way."
"I always hated fall." Markus takes the offered milk. He takes one sip before giving it a look of disgust. "Blazes, this isn't even cold! And is that...is that someone's hair in it? For the love of..." The fox rubs at his fore head, trying to calm himself down. "Just get me some tea. At least THAT isn't too hard to screw up, is it?" He slides the glass back to the bartender.
"Sorry, it's just...it's been a real mad house lately at the guard shack. Crime is up and guards are in short supply. And every beast from here to Tussock is coming to /me/ to solve their problems." He leans forward, still blatantly ignoring the otter, for now. "Do you know I had a beast come to me to day, I had a farmer today accuse one of his neighbors for stealing his prize pumpkin. So naturally he went down there and smashed all of HIS pumpkins. They were fighting and quarreling so loudly you could hear them from the bridge! It's...it's...gah! How did that flabby fox do it? It's madness! Madness I say!"
The vixen continues to stand in the doorway. She spots the guard's uniform then begins to walk over right about the same time that Markus finally notices Chud, "And who sir might you be? Friends of the chieftain's daughter?"
"More like acquaintances," Chud says carefully. "Just a lad from Camp Willow doing his part in Mossflower." He scratches the back of his neck. "Thought I'd pay the village a visit."
Blisa scratches her ear. "You should've sent them to my father. Solving quarrels isn't the Head Guard's job, it is the job of the Chieftain......or the Acting Chieftain, which is what I am when my father is sick or away." She slides her (perfect) cup of tea towards him and takes the tea he just ordered from the bartender, who shoots her a look of relief. "Next time, just direct them towards the Chieftain. That should make your life easier." Valerie sidles up in between the other vixen and the otter as he answers the acting Head Guard. "Aye, he's an acquaintance. Who are you?" The first sentence is addressed to the Quatermaster, the second to the newcomer. Clarissa comes and stands beside her fellow bodyguard, eyes narrowed in suspicion. Ferdinand quietly moves so he is directly behind the young cat, all the while keeping a carefree and easy smile on his face. The feline smiles. "Yeah, I know him. You're too stressed. My bodyguards can handle my protection. Don't worry."
The vixen stops short when the body guards intervene. She smile sweetly. "Sorry, I don't mean to intrude. I came here about the ad. The ones the Ferreval Guard sent to Tussock?"
Markus raises an eyebrow, "Ad?"
"Yes, the Guard sent messengers to the surrounding towns, inquiring for family members of...of Bandit. I think that's the name he went by here?" She smiles again, "I'm his sister, Inktail."
The acting head guard raises both eyebrows now, "Wait...seriously?"
"Yes. Is...is it true? Is Bandit really..." She chokes, tears forming at her eyes.
"I'm afraid so ma'am. The head guard is dead." Markus replies rather bluntly. Perhaps too bluntly he realizes as the vixen bursts into tears and slumps forward in a faint towards Chud.
Chud yelps as the vixen falls towards him, then plants his feet firmly to catch her awkwardly against his shoulder. He grunts, muttering "Gerroff," and inquires of Blisa, "Where should I put her?"
Valerie answers for the cat, pointing to the nearest table, which is occupied by a bunch of rats (what else would be there?). "Put her there, please. I'm a Healer, so I can help her." Clarissa starts unwinding her bullwhip and growls, "Moveit, ye scurvy scrapin's o' the woodlands!" Within a matter of seconds, the table is clear of occupants. Blisa glares at the acting Head Guard. "You sent off to see if he had family without telling me? Seriously?" Ferdinand relaxes some, but still keeps a wary eye on the surrounding beasts...including (but not limited to) Markus.
The fox narrows his eyes, "I didn't feel it merited /your/ attention. There wasn't much else we could do. And given how all that is left of the poor beast is his hide we had time to search for some family before we bury him." Inktail, who is just coming to out of her faint, hears the words 'all that is left is his hide' and quickly faints again, this time on the table.
Markus cringes, "Blast..."
Chud has been relieved of his temporary burden and breathes a sigh of relief, dusting off his paws. "That wasn't somethin' that happens every day," he muses.
He toys with his medallion thoughtfully.
Blisa glares at the hopefully temporary Head Guard. "You are not the Head Guard, Markus. You really ought to run these ideas past either me or my father before you do them." Valerie glares murderously at him. "Go to a different subject, or I'm going to drug your tea! You're not helping my patient any!" Clarissa is still menacing the other rats in the tavern, some of whom are looking drunk enough and dumb enough to try challenging her. Ferdinand just sighs and sips his tea. It's been a looooooooooooooong day.........
"My apologies, my lady. I merely didn't want to waste your time with such...distractions." The head guard bows formally before standing up, "Speaking of distractions. One of my guards has apparently gone missing. You may know him, Wesly Winterhold? He didn't show up for his shift. I questioned his family but they say he hasn't come home since last night. And before you ask, yes, I put the guards out looking for him. It's just one more hassle really..." Markus rubs his eyes, "I'll go bring Bandit's...remains here for his sister so she can claim them."
Inktail begins to stir once again.
Chud speaks up. "Is that wise? Considering how she reacted, she may need more time to process his...demise."
Blisa smiles serenely. "I can handle distractions. Wesly? Oh, yes, that nervous little weasel. Oh, no, please don't go around telling beasts that he's missing. We already had ANOTHER one of those doomsayer beasts in the market today, scaring everybeast with his predictions of judgement." Valerie gestures in agreement at the otter as she snaps at the acting Head Guard, "If you do that right now, I /will/ drug you and I /will/ drag you to Redwall and I /will/ let Angela do whatever she deems necessary to you to make you learn a lesson!"
Chud nods a quick farewell to everybeast and ducks out.
The fox leans backward, then narrows his eyes. One can only imagine what his stressed, tired gaze means. He watches the otter beat a hasty retreat from watching over the fox and sighs. "You all make a fair point. I will stay with Miss...Inktail here and make sure she is ok. Then when she is ready I will take her to the head guard's office and show her...Bandit's remains..." Markus moves to sit at the table Inktail is at.
Nodding, Blisa stands and heads out with her bodyguards. "Good. And please, from now on, make sure it's alright before you start sending beasts messages and stuff, okay, Markus? Okay, /good/, I'm glad we all agree." Valerie hurries to the Infirm and sends a couple of Healers to keep watch over Inktail and make sure nothing mysterious (and suspicious) happens to her. Then the little group goes home and discusses this latest development in the Case of the Disappearing Head Guard Bandit.....
Thanks for reading!
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