Plotting, Much Plotting

Characters: Scioto, Lorcan , Amethyst, Nightbreath, Ragg, Flicktail

Location: RW: Great Hall

Scioto is sitting in one of the chairs, he ha not done too much while at the abbey, he sighs waiting on anyone to show up.

Lorcan wanders into the room, looking around simply for the sake of knowing his surroundings better. He doesn't seem very impressed by the abbey from what he's seen so far... in fact, the look he gives the tapestry is almost disdainful.

Scioto notices the hare and waves slightly, " You one of those Long Patrol hares helping the champion?" He sits up better now as he speaks with the hare.

Lorcan turns his head towards the cat, lifting an eyebrow at his attire, taking special notice of the emblem on the clasp around his neck. "Aha, I ain't sure what you mean by that... sir." he added as a respectful gesture, though his overall tone seemed skeptical. "Wot champion is this?"

Scioto clears his throat, "Redwall champion..Flicktail, guess your not from the Long Patrol, suppose to be a small group of them somewhere helping fight an insane fox named Vladmir Stormfeather who has attcked Redwall and before that my village"

Lorcan listens with an intruiged air, this information obviously being new to him. "I ain't from round these parts, y'see. I don' get the chance to gossip much. As for bein' in the Long Patrol... I had me some mates in there, once." Speaking in the past-tense, the hare reached down and patted the sabre fastened to his hip. "They were fine lads, but not too bright. Didn't end too well for em'."

Tap. Tap. Tap. A blind rat comes down the stairs tapping her staff against the floor as she walks. Her ears perk up upon hearing the cat talk about the insane fox's attacks. "Yew ere from Ferravale?" she asks ignoring the voice of the hare. "Any news?" she asks half curious as to who he is and half hopeful the cat’s brought some good news.

Scioto looks over at the rat, "News from Ferravale? Not much going on up there right now, seems the focus is around the abbey now. I came here to help and make sure they know what they are doing in stopping the fox and soon rather than later."

Lorcan gave the rat only the briefest of glances before turning back to the wildcat, seeing as he was the most high-ranking person present. "So this fox... wot else is there to his name then? I'm guessin' he has an army or summat similar, but wot makes him insane?"

The blind ratwife seems pleased with the cat's answer. "So safer there than ere. Wot I doin' ere then?" she asks more to herself than the other beasts in the room. "Road clear or just one way?" she asks the cat as she walks closer to him and the hare. "Most beast thet try an attack th Abbey got armies an a lot of em are soft in th head an a good half of those seem t be foxes," the rat says to the hare. She can't see how finely dressed the cat is or the symbol of his status on him. She doesn't know that most of the cat's she's ever met were good enough for her own standards and no hare had yet to reach average.

Scioto says, "Road not really clean, ravens around still and crows, and he has monitors closer to his base its been said"

Lorcan scoffs a little at the apparent attitude the she-rat has in abundance, although he can't help but nod in agreement. "Still makes me wonder why so many folks are in a hurry to join up with the mad nutter types... wait, wot was that? He has birds n' lizards?" Staring back at the feline chieftain, the hare frowned with concern. "Well then, that prolly' explains it. Mutiny ain't an easy thought for his troops if he's got that kind of backup."

Scioto shrugs "Not sure how loyal they are, most likely very...though one raven seems to be changeing sides I think, he has been quiet past couple days so may be up to something, hoping to find and end him soon."

The gray ratwife frowns. "Try firin' arrows at th birds .... Poison em? Slather somethin' tasty on a rock an let em choke themselves? Abbey's nice an all, but I wasn't planin' t be prisoner ere again. Least there ain't a seige this time 'round," the blind rat grumbles. She'd really hoped that the road had been cleared enough for occasional travel. She was starting to get sick of the Abbey. "Don't need t wait fer em t turn on th fox if their all dead," she says. It makes sense to her and being blind she's never had to fight in a battle.

Lorcan furrows his brow. Poison? Now that'd be a good idea, he reckons, assuming that this conflict actually involves him. Which it's starting to sound like it might if this... Vladmir person, is out to become some sort of tyrant. "Longbows would be best for corbies if you had good aim. But it ain't easy to lift those, like..." he murmured idly, mostly just for something to say while he remained deep in thought. "I don' suppose you know much about wot's toxic, eh granny?"

Amethyst swings at the hare with her staff. She may be five seasons his senior, but that doesn't mean she's old. She doesn't intent to hit him very hard, just hard enough to regret what he said. "Considering I spend most my time ere workin' in th infirm I'd think I know a bit about thet sort o thin'," she replies causally, "Wot yew say about et, Cat?" She doesn't know their name so species will have to do.

Scioto chuckles some at the rat maid, he frowns "My name is Scioto, Chieftain of Ferravale, and arrows work, maybe slings with rocks, soerds can use if on the ground but would not suggest getting that close to a raven."

Lorcan is caught by surprise, and winced a little from the crack of the wood against his arm, rubbing along the spot and smirking a little coyly. He finds himself stading to attention a little upon word of the cat being a chieftian after all though... an old reflex, that's all. "Naturally, sah. Sounds like the ha- like this fine woman here might be onto somethin' though... might it be worth considerin'?"

"Scioto, then," Amy says thinking over the title he'd given. "Sounds like this lad could stand to learn some basic manners," she retorts catching what the hare had ment to say. "Heard Ferravale was attacked a while back," she says turning her attention back to the wildcat, "Bad luck, but probably made lot of work for some beasts." They aren't in Ferravale so she doesn't think she needs to be too extra nice to him, since he's not in charge of Redwall.

Scioto nods and frowns, not that she can see that, "Yes it was, but reclamined it within couple days and we are rebuilding now. We lost some including my mate and younger child, and my daughter is captive"

Lorcan smirks again, encouraged by the she-rat's amusing reactions, finding her quite easy to provoke. He quickly wipes away his smile however at the mention of Scioto's recent tragedy. He can't say he feels particularly troubled by it, since he's practically just a stranger, after all... but it certainly sheds some light on the feline's motivation. And dissuades him from continuing his small verbal feud with the rat, at least for the moment. "How long ago did this happen, exactly...?"

"'Ow 'Orrible do yew want this fox's death t be?" the rat asks her voice laced with venom. A crazy fox is one thing, but a crazy fox that steals dibbuns is another. "'Ow far are yew in rebuilding an 'ow strong are th walls?" she asks after a moment, thinking less of the chief's stolen daughter for a moment and more about her own. "Wouldn't take long t mix up somethin' fer th fox or his army, but there's so many ways t do et.," she says smiling a bit as she thinks of what certain medicines, if misused, could do to a beast.

Scioto says, "Only thing is, he seems very clever in his ways, very smart and it happen little over couple weeks."

Nightbreath, silver-cloaked and grey-robed as always, silently enters the room, observing.

Lorcan almost felt like taking a step away, suddenly a little more concerned about getting on the unnamed crone's bad side than he had been a few minutes before... and also putting in some thought about where he ought to be. If Ferravale was being reinforced, it might just be the safer place to go, depending on what he wanted to do. He never exactly had been the type to answer the call of duty - but somehow he'd become entangled in talking warfare with these people. "Careful, miss. If there's captives involved now like? Best be careful how you apply the nasty stuff. Though an assassination won' do the trick... take out the fox, and summat would probably jus' replace-" Detecting movement out of the corner of his eye, the hare turns his pink stare upon the newcomer with an edge of suspicion.

Lorcan almost felt like taking a step away, suddenly a little more concerned about getting on the unnamed crone's bad side than he had been a few minutes before... and also putting in some thought about where he ought to be. If Ferravale was being reinforced, it might just be the safer place to go, depending on what he wanted to do. He never exactly had been the type to answer the call of duty - but somehow he'd become entangled in talking warfare with these people. "Careful, miss. If there's captives involved now like? Best be careful how you apply the nasty stuff. Though an assassination won' do the trick... take out the fox, and summat would probably jus' replace-" Detecting movement out of the corner of his eye, the hare turns his pink stare upon the newcomer with an edge of suspicion.

"Nay, Stormfeather's forces remain together only through fear of him," interjects the newcomer. "Should he fall, they mostly would have no reason to continue risking life and limb."

Scioto nods as he greets, Nightbreath, "Greetings."

Amethyst swats at the hare with a paw to cuff his ear as if he were one of her own dibbuns. "Yer young. Yew think this th first crazy fox or crazy anythin' thet come this way? Go read yer history or get some sense like thet beast there," she waves her paw in the direction Nightbreath's voice came from. "Yew didn't answer me," she says turning back to Scioto, "If yew could chose, 'ow would yew like th fox t die?" she asks again.

Nightbreath shrugs. "Styrmblak's time is short; no tyrant can endure in this region."

Scioto answers, "How like him to die, soon as possible."

Amethyst nods a bit to herself. "Thet's doable. 'Owever, speaking as a mother, I don't think th fox should be let t go peaceful like," the blind rat says.

Nightbreath nods. "He deserves justice...a very final sort of justice."

Ragg makes his way into Great Hall from Cavern Hole. He is less nervous than he used to be, but still a bit on edge.

Nightbreath turns and nods to his apprentice. "Good. You have not been devoured by savage woodlanders yet?" he asks with a touch of humor in his voice.

Scioto glaces at Ragg and nods a hello, "Greetings"

"'Ow would yew see thet th fox was justly got rid of, sir?" the rat asks Nightbreath. The weasel gets a head turn from the blind rat and smile. "Keep an eye on th otters and hares. They're th worst of em," she jokingly cautions the young beast.

"Kill him in any way available to me or others," Nightbreath replies. "But it is not the place of those with the Inner Eye to interfere..."

Ragg grins at Nightbreath "Not quite, but I HAVE been glared at. Does that count?" He keeps his grin and returns the nod to Scioto "Same to you." His grin vanishes as he takes Amethyst's words to heart or maybe he is just over acting "Really?! Thank you for the warning."

Amethyst nods, "Naturally," she replies politely to the seer. "Otters are very stupid an hardheaded they shouldn't give yew too much trouble lad," the ratwife advises the weasel, "Hares can go either way I've heard, but I'd avoid em if could. If anybeast gives yew trouble tell anybeast in a green habit an if thet don't work talk t th Abbot. He's in charge o th place." Amy turns back to Scioto. "I think there plenty of anythin' yew'd need t deal with th fox up in th infirm or most any infirm yew have use of. Just need a way t get it in 'im or on 'im," she says.

"Nay," Nightbreath interrupts. "He is too cunning to fall prey to poisons...And there are beasts in service to him that are skilled healers, as is at least one of his prisoners."

Ragg nods, taking all the words told to him by the rat and writing them down in his mental notebook. "Thank you. I will remember that." He looks cautiously around for any otters or hares in the near vicinity while also keeping an ear cocked toward his mentor's voice.

Scioto says, "Some hares are slightly annoying I have found out, but not all."

Amethyst frowns. "Well thet isn't too suprisin'. Wot ever happened t th foxes of old thet was healers an seers an such and most beasts liked em? 'Ow come we mostly get th crazy evil ones instead?" she asks a bit annoyed her plan to poision the fox has failed. "'Ow long yew planin' on stayin' ere?" she asks the group of Ferravale beasts. "..... any chance a blind beast could get from ere t Ferravale without gettin' killed?" she asks. She doubts there's much chance she could, but there's not much harm in asking.

Nightbreath says, "With an escort, yes."

Ragg shrugs at Amethyst's words "Not sure when we are leaving. I will go where Nightbreath goes so he is leading the way on my part."

Scioto listens "I an here for now and, May be staying till Vladmir is taken care of, then head back"

Amethyst hmms. "And 'ow would a beast aquire an escort, exactly?" she asks. "It's been weeks since ........ well it's worse for yew," she says to Scioto, "but this whole thing hasn't been much fun fer me either."

Ragg glances around, then squirrel novice walks in. Ragg's eyes widen and he seems to shrivel as he recognizes him as one of the beasts he pick pocketed that very day. He quickly nods to all beasts present and sneaks into the kitchen just as the squirrel sees him.

Scioto listens and hmmms slightly. "I am unsure if anyone is heading to Ferravale."

" 'Twould be unadvisable," Nightbreath agrees. Glancing at Ragg, the Seer furrows his brow, getting the sense that something funny just occurred.

Amethyst sighs. "I suppose I kin wait another season or 'owever long it takes t kill this fox," she replies not wishing to aruge with a seer.

Which is wise. Nightbreath nods and, without explanation, moves closer to the Tapestry of Martin and sits in a meditative posture on the floor.

Scioto watches Nightbreath and looks at the ratmiad, "Staying insdie is indded wise,yes and off the roads"

Flicktail says, "I have anew Long Patrol member who can join a party to Kill Vlad"

"Never did care fer thet picture," the rat says quietly, "Not sure why. Thet part th room just feels off someway. Suppose Martin has a sense o humor or somethin'." She nods at Scioto's words. "I guess. Wish I'd been more stuborn about going t Ferravale before this all started. Sure I'd be stuck there instead, but it'd still be better than being stuck ere," she says. Amy turns her head toward Flicktail. "Hello, Fllicky. Not nice t sneak about like thet," she lightly scolded the otterfox champion to cover up for her not having heard him come in.

Scioto says, "Well whomever goes to kill him needs to be carefull, and not a large party of beasts either, a small one""

Flicktail says, "Yep Small"

Nightbreath's eyes are misted now, his paws curled into an odd shape as he sighs contently. After a short time, he nods and rises to his feet, nodding to Flicktail. "Greetings, Champion."

Flicktail says, "Ello Amy."

"Hello, Flicktail," the rat says. As annoying as the fox could be at times she couldn't help but like his friendly nature. "'Ow they plan t get rid th fox?" she asks thinking for a moment about another time and another fox that had tried to take the Abbey.

Nightbreath murmurs something to himself and adresses Flicktail. "I hope the day finds you well?"

Flicktail says, "It will find me better when We have my brotehr gon..let us ellect who we mighttake shall we?"

Scioto leans back in his chair, "I know one in ferravale that will help, trust me he will help"

"The mouse DoraRose should go, for certain," Nightbreath says. "And perhaps--" He stops and turns to Scioto. "Who would that be, Chieftain?

Flicktail says, "yes who Scioto"

Amethyst slowly starts to walk away from the group and into cavern hole. While plotting against the fox is fun for her, she really isn't in the position to ellect anybeast to go after him. The ratwife nods to the others and goes to find her lute, perhaps she'll get some practicing in while she's stuck at the Abbey. Half way out of the room she turns around. "Who yew thinkin' on, Scioto?" she asks now curious again.

Scioto says, "A badger, name Zork..had this large sword, think if I held it would fall over"

"Always a good sign," Nightbreath says with a hint of a grin. "Large swords are generally a good all-purpose solution."

Flicktail nods "well *I* am definately going...so Me Dorarose and Zork.....shallwe bringthem and go as soon as they be here?

"A badger would be very useful," Amy agrees. The rat doesn't know the beasts they've mentioned so far and thinks it unlikely that any beast she does know well would be going, other than Flicktail. The ratwife exits the great hall and enters cavern hole.

Scioto nods "I left Raymond in charge at Ferravale but heard Ferravale is alot safer now, though still have barriers up, just to be safe."

Groups:

• Order of Redwall