Quinten Log 68 - 07 03 2006

Salamandastron: Recreation Room

• -*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-* Salamandastron *-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-

The recreation room for the army of the Longpatrol. Here soldiers come to

relax after a hard day's work and the officers come for a game of cards or

a quick drink by the fire. The room is quite large, having to deal with a

lot of hares at one time. Along one wall there is a large worktop with

some cuhsioned stools lining one side of it. On the other side of the

worktop there stand many kegs and bottles, lined so that they can be

easily opened by someone standing on the inside of the bar but well out of

reach of the rowdy hares on the other side. There are a few woollen cloths

on the bar and mats in front of each stool. The next thing nearest to the

bar are the round tables, each with 4 chairs around and a lantern in the

middle of each one. There are a couple of slightly larger oval tables with

8 seats around, obviously for larger crowds. The other end of the room is

littered with armchairs, comfortable armchairs, each pair with a small

table in between. The armchairs are near the fire, used to heat the room

and provide extra comfort for the relaxing soldiers.

• -*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*

The Rec room is heaving, with the lock down in effect and no one able to really go outside when off duty they have migrated to fill the social areas of the mountain. Quinten is over by a small table, depositing an armful of manuscripts in a box. "Next issue of life at sala?" someone asks him and he nods walking away as the crowd moves to intercept the document eager for someting new to do.

Quinten then moves to the bar to order a drink before moving across to an empty table.

The room is hevaing with the lock down in effect and no one able to really go outside when off duty they have migrated to fill the social areas of the mountain. A small scrum has broken out in one corner as beasts try to grab a copy of the latest issue of Life at Sala. Quinten is lounging in his chair sipping his drink and watcing them with a wry smile, not seen Roth yet

Rothal slips through the crowd, having figured on the bar being about this crowded. After a short wait, he receives his drink, snatching it to the general safety of his person, peering about for somewhere to sit.

Quinten hhas finally spotted Rothal, he's sure he should recognise the hare but can't remember, he waves at him "Hey there, spare seat over here"

Rothal practically wades through the other hares, reaching the table and nodding his thanks to the younger buck. "Thank yah, mate. h'It's far more crowded than h'I thought h'it would be." It takes him a moment to remember the other hare's name. "Yah're Quinten, right?"

Quinten nods his head "aye with the lockdown on the mountain no one can go outside really, and yup thats me Quinten, your roff aren't you?"

Rothal nods, taking a short drink. The buck grins briefly. "Aye, h'I'm Roth. Hope the lockdown lifts 'fore long, 'cause h'I will need ta be gettin' back to Halyard h'in a day or two. Wha's h'it fah, anyway? h'I didn't hear."

You say, "Vermin kidnapped Major Darklett's daughter audri, its not safe outside for beasts on their own, so the Major and the Colonel locked the place down tight""

Rothal shakes his head slightly. "Well, that's a bit of bad business. Think they'd let me out, seein' as h'I'm not h'in the patrol anymore?"

Quinten shakes his head "Not on your own sah, you might be able to ask for an escort back to the village, you being a civilian an all"

Rothal snorts, taking another drink from his mug. "Wha's tha' called? Me, a civilian? h'I can probably fight bettah than most of the beasts h'in this room, an' h'I'm a civilian."

Quinten nods his head, trying to hide his smile behind his tankard "Yes sir, your no longer a patrol beast how i understand it sir, that makes you a retired patroller, a civilian sah, no one leaves the mountain at night and during the day only with a full escort."

Rothal finishes his ale before speaking, placing the mug on the table. "Figures, fah the patrol, the straightest path h'is always through the mud." The buck sighs, then glances up at Quint. "Have yah seen Sorrel around?"

You say, "She was in for a bit early but had to dash out, she said she'd be back soon sir...and wot do you mean sir? Didn't quite understand all that bssiness about the mud?""

Rothal nods, tilting his mug and gazing into it, as though pondering if it's worth trying to get a refill. "Well, suppose there where two paths, one dry an' grassy, an the other about knee deep h'in mud. The muddy one h'is shorter, but harder ta travel on. Yah see?"

Quinten frowns sipping from his tankard and nods "Oh i see...and the patrol would take the shorter path through the mud?"

Rothal grins. "Now yah have h'it. h'It's shortah, but h'it's hardah ta travel on, whereas the othah takes more time, but h'in the end, the goin' h'is easier." The buck chuckles softly. "And, of course, yah don't have mud all ovah yah paws."

Quinten shakes his head "I hate mud...i had to travel through those swamps down south and east last autumn, lost me sister to em"

Rothal nods, his smile fading. "Aye, sometimes things like that happen. h'I've lost a few good friends h'in my time, as well. Still, what's done h'is done. We should save our sympathy fah the livin', like Dark's daughtah."

Quinten growls softly and nods "Yes poor little Audri, and to think it could have been me and Gabby, we'd been down there just the day before"

Rothal runs a paw along his chin, frowning. "Oh, they know what happened? Can yah tell me, or h'is that patrol-only h'information?"

Quinten shrugs "Its common knowledge i think, as far as i've heard she was on the shore and got snatched"

Rothal leans back a little, sighing. "Any h'idea who did the snatchin'? Vermin of course, but h'I mean, was h'it an h'isolated thing, or h'is there some band behind h'it?"

You say, "Not sure i'm afraid, i think they are putting the rumour around that it is some mercenaries with the Bloodthirsters, or at least linked to tem some how""

Rothal nods. "Well, since h'it happeneed recently, h'it obviously wasn't the Bloodthirsters, seein' as there's not a large amount of the band left."

Quinten nods "I know but there are still some lurking about on shore..it could have been some of them?"

Rothal shakes his head. "Nah, h'I know where most of the Bloodthirsters are, an' talked ta some of them. They're h'in no condition ta be fightin' fah a long time."

Quinten nods his head "Oh ok...well maybe it was some other group or beasts....could even have been just one or two of them"

Rothal flicks his ear slightly, glaring at a nearby hare who turned to look at him as he spoke. The other buck turns away, and Rothal glances back to Quint. "Aye, that's possible... By the way, what h'I said doesn't leave this table, alright? Not everybeast may take h'it well, an' h'I don't feel like puttin' up with a questionin'."

Quinten nods his head "Yes sah, understandable you live in Halyard now, thats neutral territory"

Rothal grins slightly. "Thanks, mate."

Quinten raises his tankard "Your welcome Roff sah" he leans forwards and looks about "Do you know the badger? the one living there? Wots she like? I saw her here in the mountain but was too scared to say hi"

Rothal chuckles. "Scared? Of Apple?" The hare drops one ear slightly, obviously amused. "Well, she has mood swings now and then, but fah the most part, she's very friendly. Always tryin' ta get us ta wear nice clothes, but that's her only fault."

Quinten blinks "Is she really nice? Just well pa was always telling us tales about badgers and how to be respectful to em, and then theres all those books in the library on the old Badger Lords, makes a hare nervous

Quinten blinks "Is she really nice? Just well pa was always telling us tales about badgers and how to be respectful to em, and then theres all those books in the library on the old Badger Lords, makes a hare nervous

Rothal nods. "Aye, she's nice. Still, no reason not ta respect her, just 'cause she's kind. There's no reason ta be nervous about talkin' ta somebeast, though."

Somewhere on the muck, Ender has connected.

Quinten nods his head nad leans back "Well if i ever get the chhance to meet her again i'll say hello"

Rothal retrieves his mug, standing. "Aye, yah do that. Mahself, h'I think h'I'm goin' ta try an' get anothah drink, so h'I might be awhile." That said, the buck embarks on his quest, reaching the bar and getting in line with several others.

Quinten grins and calls after roth "Grab me another whilst yer up there sir, save us loosing the table"

Rothal nods, holding his mug up a little to show that he heard. The buck doesn't look exactly optimistic about his chances of returning soon, as one of the beasts ahead of him has begun an argument over his order.

Quinten chuckles as he watches the other hare in the queue and leans back looking about the busy, heaving room and shaking his head "I've never seen it so busy" he murmurs

Looking chipper as usual, one of the few rabbits in Salamandastron enters, instantly spotting Quinten and walking towards him, smiling. Gabby places a paw on his shoulder and quickly pecks him on the cheek before taking the seat that was formerly Rothal's. "How are you, Quin?"

Quinten smiles at her, not caring that she has stolen Rothal's seat, she's his doe she gets a seat period. "I'm good Gabby, started my exams ysterday, passed em all so far, though the healer exam was a real killer"

Rothal doesn't seem to mind that his seat has been taken, as the buck has finally retrieving two, no, three mugs of drink. Returning to the table, he places one in front of Quint, and another in front of Gabby. "Right, h'I've got ta be goin', so yah take care, okay?"

Gabriel looks at Rothal, and at the drinks, still smiling. "Goodbye" She ventures, before turning back to Quinten. "Healer exam? You're already so good at that, though."

Quinten laughs and shakes his head "I'm no healer, i can help out in the infirmary but i know squat about herbs and splinting things, i swear that healer was testing me as if i was a healer recruit not a fighter"

Sorrel walks in, wiping sweat from her brow. She has just come from a boxing session, and needs a drink

Gabriel notes Sorrel's entrance, and waggles an ear at her. "But you'd have to work in the infirmary anyway, right? Good things to know." The rabbit scratches an ear, innocently.

Quinten leans over and presses his nose to her "Yes very good things to know dear, but i'm no healer, i'm a fightah, am only meant to know the basics, still i passsed me boxin exam when i knocked lt. Hollyberry out"

Sorrel looks up and waves, raising a paw to the bartender, who gets her usual spiced wine. She slowly walks up to the two, with quinten

Bandem walks into the rec room, sits at the bar and orders a burdock tea.Dandelion

Gabriel grins, nuzzling against him. "You are a wonderful boxer, Quin. Pretty powerful, right Sorrel?" She calls the last part over the general hubbub.

Quinten blushes at Gabby's words and looks back over his shoulder at Sorrel and waves his ears in a hello

Sorrel smiles, tipping her glass in a sort of cheers before sitting down on the other side of Quint. "Aye...Not as good as me, but one can dream. "She says jokingly.

Bandem listens, but does not speak, not being very talkative by nature.

Gabriel smiles, glad to see the two friends having a bit of fun. She also doesn't speak, just nuzzles againt Quinten, scooting her chair closer to him.

Quinten smirks and nudges Sorrel with an elbow "Bah i could beat you anyday now ma'am you taught me too well" he shifts as Gabby moves closer and slides a paw around her waist, snugging her closer "So how have you been Gabby?"

Bandem takes a drag of tea, paw resting on the hilt of his sabre.

Gabriel smiles, and sighs. "Ah, fine. Nothing special, really. I was going to visit someone in Halyard before I heard of the lockdown." She appears genuinely sad at this announcement, the lockdown really putting a cramp in her lifestyle.

Quinten leans in to nuzzle his does ears "Aww i'm sorry to hear that....i'll tkae you myself as soon as the lockdown is lifted...if the Major will let me"

Sorrel just looks about, fine with the talk about, not yet ready to contribute to the conversation; that would mean resurfacing from her wine.

Gabriel blows a bubble with her lips, idly, before responding. "Well." Gabby blushes crimson. "I actually was going to go without you." She looks at him, worried.

Bandem looks up. "H'I'm from Halyard. What did ye want to know, wot?"

Quinten blushes back and nods "Oh...well ok if you want...still i can see you safe to the village..with a few others...you shouldn't be out travelling on yer own yeknow"

Sorrel just watches the two, in a daze ever since she returned. She sips her wine, a small smile on her face.

Gabriel looks up sharply at Bandem, still blushing. "I was just going to visit someone, sir." She then looks back at Quinten. "I'm not sure if I need an escort. I'll see.

Travelled a lot in my time." Gabby grins and playfully nudges him.

Quinten smiles and nudges her back, wrapping his paws around her waist and pulling her close to lick her nose "I know that, but its not safe on the shore any more, we're not even allowed outside on our own."

Sorrel looks up eyeing quint. "Personally, I think ye two should go ta 'alyard tagether...'s good fer beasts..."

Quinten smiles at Sorrel as he watches Gabby leaving to go have a rest, "Well we're ot going anywhere with this lockdown in place,"

Bandem nods. "H'I'd like to visit me folks, wot, back in Halyard, but h'it don't look like I can.

Sorrel nods, going back to her wine. she stares, lost in the detailed wood of the table

Quinten sighs and slumps down in his chair tiredly "I ate exams i really do"

Bandem nods, "H'I know how that feels."

Sorrel blinks. "So their still going on, eh, chaps?"

Dandelion comes in the recreation room, heading straight for the bar with long strides. He doesn't pay attention to any of his friends, although it's entirely possible he doesn't see them since his right eye is swollen shut. In fact, the entire right side of his face is swollen, like he's been beat up.

You say, "Oh yes i got another week of...." he trails off starring at Dande and stands up, hurrying over towards him "Dandelion...wot happened old chap?""

Dandelion orders an ale, and then turns to peer at Quinten with his other eye. "Wha'? Eh. Nothing, a bit of boxing..." he mumbles evasively.

Quinten frowns at Dandelion "You don't get tha kinda injury from just some boxing, that would have to be repeated hits tae the side of yer face...that doesn't happen in a proper boxing match..." he looks at Sorrel for back up

Sorrel breaks out of her reverie in time to notice the buck. She tips her chair over and hurries forward, touching a delicate finger to the side of his face. "Na mate...not unless 'e stopped fightin

Dandelion sighs and shrugs. "It really looks that bad? I guess 'e got a couple of good ones in... You know me and my guard."

Quinten tilts his head to one side and nods wincing "Aye...looks like he did at that dande....if you want some help with that guard i can help out?"

Bandem has left.

As the ale gets served, Dandelion takes it, and takes a sip - gingerly, as his lips are a little sore on one side. "Sure." he says. "I could use that."

Quinten smiles and nods his head "Would be my pleasrure dande, especially after passing my boxing exam yesterday"

Dandelion smiles. "You did? Never doubted it."

Quinten winks "The major gave me the go ahead and Lt. Hollyberry tested me, i knocked him clean out, though i almost failed the healer exam and the woodland lore one...made a nasty mistake over pine cones"

Dandelion takes a long sip of ale. "Mmm... Who doesn't almost fail healing, though?" he says, and wipes his lips. "Me with those herbs..."

Quinten grimaces and nods "I manage to rememver the herb you mentioned but mixed up a tonic and a mug of blackberry juice, i swear that healer was testing me like i was a healer recruit"

Dandelion grins. "Yea, well... I guess I can understand that. Make a mistake when fighting and you can get killed. Make a mistake in healing... Well..."

Quinten shivers and nods "Ya it'd be bad...stilli passed battle strategy today, an me boxing yesterday, i should go let Major darklett know"

Dandelion nods. "I see you've taken up writing?" he says, nodding towards the box.

Darklett pages, "I did! I think it's real cool that you go the extra mile with that character. :D" to you.

Quinten shuffles his ears tinging red "Just a bit Dande, its nothing special, got the colonel's permission to put it out"

Dandelion smiles. "Sounds like people like it from the talk I heard." he says. "What gave you the idea?"

Quinten shurgs "Not sure...was bored and wanted to do something asides from fighting so just started writing..."

Dandelion nods. "Ah. Yea, guess it's nice ta have somethin to do besides sitting in here. Starting to feel shut in." He returns to his ale for a bit. "Wish I could read better, then I could go to the library..."

Quinten smiles at you and shakes his head "I can help you read better, my pa was hot on us reading and i'm sure the Majuor will want you to be able to read too"

Somewhere on the muck, Darklett has disconnected.

Dandelion nods again. "Yea. I don't have anything else to do anyway... Besides training."

Quinten grins and nods "and with this lockdown its not like we can go anywhere either"

Dandelion puts on a brave smile. "Yea... Hope so."

Quinten nods "We will those vermin won't know what hit them"

Dandelion scratches his chin, pausing for a while to think. "Mmm... should I have another ale?" he mutters, and then turns back to Quinten. "Hope I'm better prepared next time, if I come along."

Quinten waves at the Neville and orders two more ales for us both, paying for them himself "Sure you will be, we'll both be privates next time we see action i bet"

Dandelion grins. "Mmm, that sounds nice."

Quinten slides the ale to you and winks "We'll be privates together, wond wot patrol we'll get"

Dandelion nods, taking a swig of ale. "Hope so. Thanks for the ale."

You say, "Yer welcome Dande we deserve a proper drink after our success""

Dandelion tilts his mug back, drinking this ale faster than the last one. Having swallowed over half of it, he puts the mug down again. "Mmh. I ought to get going though... Need to get my face looked at again... and have a talk with the major..."

Quinten swigs back his own tankard, emptying it and nodding "Yeah get that looked at don't want it swelling up on you, and i should go tell the Major the good news"

Dandelion takes another deep swig, finising off the ale. "Between you and me..." he starts, then pauses and frowns. "Well, between you and me and the major, and the others who were there... this boxing match..." he points at his swollen face. "It didn't exactly go on in the ring."

Quinten frowns and looks worried "I thought there was somethin odd about it...Wot Happened Dande? who was it?"

Dandelion puts the now empty mug down, and gets ready to leave. "Eh lowers his voice so only Quinten can hear. "Big brute, name's Brent or something... Don't worry, Major Zoe saw 'im doing it." He straightens up, and gives Quinten a pat on the shoulder. "I gotta go. Seeya!" he says, and heads out.

Quinten nods "Thats Colonel Zoe Dande...not major...and sure see you later, hope he doesn't try it again, if he does call me, he'll not get past my guard"

End Log -