Meeting At The Mountain

The week had been fairly slow. The group had arrived in curious circumstances, kept hidden by Sebastian's order until everyone had a chance to rest. Today however, is really the limit of Seb's patience, and given the importance of their journey, there is no better time. A large, circular table had been set out in the meeting room, large enough for the group, Sebastian himself, and two patrol advisors, dressed quite formally. Waiting for the others to arrive, the large badger's quietly reading over a piece of parchment.

Quinten leads the guests from Redwall inside, raising a hand in salute to the his Lord before turning to offer chairs to the Redwallers, the Patrol Recorder then moving to take his customary seat and open his record book to minute the meeting. Benar walks in besides Zinnia, the two members of the order standing quite close as Benar keeps a hand gently on the badger lass' arm and moves toward a chair.

Lacota' follows next, glancing around the room in silence. He finds a chair and moves to sit, quietly watching the Badger Lord.

Zinnia walks close to Benar and will sit when he does, she wipes her eyes a little as she had been upset and doesnt want to look upset here.

Anomen follows in shortly there after and looks in the large room.

Treesong peeks inside the room, its large and big and she is still unsure of all these things. She is use to trees and sitting on the ground but she smiles as she sees Anomen and moves to be over by him, a very faint limp now as she walks over and smiles.

Sebastian's eyes slowly peer up over the parchment edge, and upon seeing the group enter and take their seats, he sets it down and folds his paws on the table. "I do apologize for delaying this meeting." he starts. "I trust that you have all rested well?" he asks, leaning forward a little bit, a light smile on his face.

( Benar looks up and inclines his head, "We have thank you Lord Sebastian, the hospitality of your hares has been exemplary... I am sure you already know who we all are but just to be formal, I Elder Benar, this is Sister Zinnia, Guardsman Anomen of Redwall, Friar Lactoa and Treesong a friend we met upon the road. We are here on behalf of Abbot Lorimis to speak to you." )

Zinnia nods slowly, "Yes sir." She says quietly. She is still not always good at speaking with someone important but she has learned alot in a short peroid of time, maybe more than she really wanted to learn.

Anomen nods a hello to the Badger Lord and smiles when Treesong comes into the room and sits down nearby.

Treesong folds her paws in her lap, she will let the others speak as she doesnt know everything thats happen and they do.

Lacota' nods his head. "Sir. You have a fine a kitchen here." It's all the Friar can think to say.

Sebastian nods to each in turn as Benar introduces the company before his attention settles on the elder squirrel, his expression becoming more serious. "I am aware of who sent you." Sebastian replies. "My question is, why, and why would he send so many?" the badger tilts his head a little bit.

Benar reaches out to take Zinnia's hand and sits up straight, "The Sword of Martin the warrior was stolen, a trusted friend of the Abbey turned on us. Drugged the champion and Guards-squirrel Anomen and stole it. He then lost it to the vermin Marek who used it as a rallying cry for his despotic plans." He pauses, the next bit is hard to say, "Redwall Abbey has fallen... we have come here to request the aid of the Long Patrol. We have no military force and what we do have was either lost or captured."

Zinnia frowns as she listens, she then remembers the badger scipt she just so recently read.."The..badger scipt...another might have the sword, besides Marek but maybe they know Marek. And..." She is unsure of weather to go on but, she feels it needs to be let known, something seems to encourage her to speak"And..the dibbuns and not sure who else this other beast who has the sword now..has them captive I believe, this and Marek still controling the abbey its two very bad issues "

Anomen sighs, he just lets the others speak, he doesnt like remembering being drugged and the sword being lost.

Treesong listens and frowns at the word Marek "Marek is..very bad beast, much land he controls.."

One of the generals next to Sebastian leans forward and starts to speak. "As, of course, we understand the need for assistance, I do not see what we can provide at this time, as we may be facing our own war soon enough." Sebastian's head turns towards the hare on his left. "We've been facing rising tensions in the south and the occasional skirmish has taken place. If we were to send assistance to Redwall, we would be leaving ourselves weakened." The hare on Seb's other side frowns a little. "We can not deny our own problems, but we can not ignore what is happening in Mossflower." Sebastian is next to speak. "Our problems are not the reason we are having this meeting...the issues we face are minor at this time..." he turns towards Benar slowly. "How many occupy Redwall currently?"

Benar stares at the hare who all but says they can't help, the Elder sagging back in his chair, he shakes his head and glances at Quinten who is quietly scritching away with his quill, recording their words. "At least five hundred vermin... maybe more now the abbey has fallen. They also hold the Abbot, the rest of the Order and most of the residence of Mossflower within five miles of the Abbey. When we heard Marek's hoarde was marching on Ferravale we sounded the alarm as the bells have been restored so we had about two hundred refugees who are also now his hostage and... Zinnia says..." he looks at the badger maiden.

Lacota' frowns as he listens. He doesn't know what to say, though, so he remains quiet.

Zinnia frowns, "Who ever this..other beast is, the one the scipt mentioned. He has the dibbuns and who ever else was with them..it showed 3 , I think but one wasnt.." She frowns as she has to hope he is ok, he has to be "This beast..may of serious hurt the dibbun caretaker and.." She frowns no she can't get upset not in front of the badger lord, she for now seems unable to go on as she frowns.

Lacota' leans forward. "It appears that whoever the beast is...he now has Martin's sword." The Friar then goes silent again.

Anomen frowns, he tries to help "I think she means the dibbuns and a couple others helping Oz..well are most likely slaves of whom ever this beast is and from what she said eailer the pictures...sorry badger scipt showed this same beast with the sword which guessing the sword of Martin and thats not a good thing, nor is having slaves and not just...thier dibbuns. And I guess...Oz may be missing, hopfully he is safe,where ever he is."

Treesong frowns now, she lets the beasts do most of the talking.

None of this seems to phase the badger. Not visibly anyway. Sebastian's eyes watch intently as he listens, taking all of the information in. "This is quite the problem indeed." leaning back in his seat, the badger huffs a little. "We can send help but the most we can spare is eight hundred from Salamandastron, and two hundred from the sixty seventh in Mossflower." he eyes over the group once more. "Who is your champion?" The two hares on either side of the Lord seem a little annoyed at the numbers Seb is willing to commit.

Benar seems relieved and smiles slightly, "That.. .that is more then enough my Lord... thank you, oh thank you... our champion is Flicktail, an ermine fox, he has served us well for endless seasons now. An honourable beast and friend, one who Martin chose directly." he glances at the others then back at the Badger, "We are sorry to have to come to you like this and ask for help."

Lacota' hmms. "1,000 is certainly a good number..." He is secretly glad nobeast asked why he was sent, or rather wasn't..."

Zinnia remains quiet now, she would add something but, well she rather not cry in front of the badger lord, she can cry once outside the room later.

Anomen nods "From what I have heard Marek has many beasts.." He glaces over at Zinnia but doesnt say anything as to not upset her more.

Treesong does add something "Marek has taken much land has forces even outside the abbey he does."

The reaction of all three is clear the moment Benar names Flicktail. "Flicktail?" Sebastian growls a little bit, seeming to want to stand. "How did a vermin creature come to hold such an important role at Redwall? Have you no sense?" one of the hares shout before being silenced by the badger. "While our forces will respect the position, we will have no dealings with Flicktail while we are in Mossflower. You must find a name to appoint as our liaison during any meetings we have." he says as he stands up, chair pushing out. "It will take three days to ready supplies. We will leave then."

Benar looks incredibly confused at this reaction, "Because Martin chose him that is why. You know the spirit of Redwall's original champion has never steered us wrong." he slowly stands up, "I will act as Liaison, as Elder of the Order and Anomen shall be my military advisor for those meetings." he bows to the great badger lord, "We have learnt in Redwall my lord that all beasts can find and embrace peace. We have many you would call vermin who have lived with us in peace for seasons uncounted, we no longer consider them verminous beasts

Zinnia allows them to speak, she just stays quiet for now.

Anomen nods "I will be happy to help Benar. I will need a new sword as mine was lost when the toads had us...I am a very good fighter, and can act as a leader as well."

Treesong stays quiet as well, she doesnt have anything to add.

"There are no 'good' vermin." Sebastian responds. "The moment it suits them, they will show that to you." There's one more nod. "Agreed. In the mean time, I suggest you visit Halyard village. It has a good tavern, various traders, and quite a few shops that you can take advantage of if you wish." he smiles. "As for a sword, we can make you one here. Strong, and sharp. Best you'll manage to get." .

Lacota' leans forward. "Well, that all sounds good I suppose. Granted... I am just a cook." He sighs. "I'll offer whatever I can, though..."

Benar watches the Badger Lord for a long moment then smiles gently to himself, "I know Halyard, last time I was there the owner despised the mountain and had the Sea Rat Oracle in hiding as her bar-rat." he places a paw on Lacota's shoulder and bows to the Badger Lord, "We thank you for the aid you offer us, from the bottom of our hearts. Upholding the Order and the Peace within us all is what the order stands for. We will fight to defend our way of life when we must. But from the highest elder, to our Friar, from the youngest dibbun to our newest Sister." he smiles at Zinnia, "We will find peace in all if they will but allow us to do so. Thank you though, for agreeing to help us."

Anomen smiles and nods to the badger lord "Thank you sir I think I will accpet the offer of a sword then and will use it well"

Treesong smiles as she sees Anomen smile.