The Gawtrybe Are Careful of ALL Vermin (Yep..some Marek's Revenge TP)

Ekon is high up in the trees going from branch to branch and every so often looking down, he is careful not to make a sound.

Lee is sitting against a tree trunk, completely oblivious to any movement above.

Alvar has his longbow and sits in a tree looking down at Lee, not the tree the otter sits against but another tree.

Ekon tilts his head and carefully comes down and nearer to the otter studying him to tell whether he is friend or foe and perhaps finding him a slight bit familiar.

Lee looks up, spotting Ekon. His paw strays to his sword hilt. "Who are ye? Friend or foe, sir?"

Alvar narrows his eyes as Lee lays a paw on his sword and drops from the tree he is in and goes to aim the arrow at the otter, he has yet to release it but it’s aimed and ready to be fired so he could easily lower his weapon.

Ekon watches Lee "I am..." He catches sight of Alvar and chitters something in their language and moves his tail as he comes the rest of the way down and walks past Lee. “Redwaller he be... ally to us"

Lee calms a bit. "Aye, I be of Redwall!"

Alvar frowns but puts the arrow away and nods , he speaks "He was reaching for his sword."

Ekon nods "This I know.." He turns to Lee "I be Ekon, chief of Gawtrybe... this is one of my archers Alvar, there are others at my camp, all Gawtrybe are there... almost, granddaughter be with ones you call Elder Benar, Sister Zinnia, friar Lactoa and a squirrel Anomen... left many sunsets ago and not yet return do they"

Lee shakes his head. "They 'ave not. Been gone too long, really."

Alvar listens but still is alert to anything in the area.

Ekon nods "I seen nothing have, some horde beasts on road yes..this is all, no more taxes collect but still vermin are around yes"

Lee says, "The vermin 'ave overrun the Abbey."

Alvar nods "Yes we..seen that, so what do you do, look for help getting them to go away now?"

Ekon says, "They will go away not, not without force"

Lee nods. "I be buildin' an army."

Alvar asks, "Army?"

Ekon nods "Think to fight the evil ones who take land from all"

Lee nods again. "Aye. We need a large army, all the 'elp we can get."

Alvar says, "The Gawtrybe are ready to fight, if need be...errr..."

Ekon nods "Yes fighter we will these evil ones, some of my tribe stuck in abbey are as well"

Lee crosses his arms. "I be plannin' a revolt in the Abbey. I just need Ferravale ta attack for a distraction."

Alvar shrugs as he listens he doesn’t know much of Ferravale really, has been at the campsite.

Ekon says, "Gawtrybe could help on outside if needed, we will..."

Lee smiles. "I thank ye sir. Ev'ry beast that 'elps is greatly needed."

Alvar asks "So, anything else we need to know of?"

Ekon asks, "Yes a good question this is, any other evil to know of?"

Lee frowns. "A cat named Hudson. 'E has the dibbuns now, An' I be huntin' 'im."

Ekon listens and nods "We offer help in finding this Hudson, we have the trees and know the forest very well"

Alvar nods "I can go get the others sir, if you wish it"

Lee nods. "Help findin' Hudson is appreciated, though I am to kill 'im."

Ekon nods, "Yes we can help locate him and any of his vermin, saw some vermin by the bridge but they didn’t have dibbuns with them.."

Alvar listens, "I could look in the woods or along the river maybe"

A lone beast is seen heading towards the town, his side bandaged, though he pauses when he sees the otter and fellow squirrels. Muttering under his breath, he walks towards them, wearily watching the Gawtrybe. "'Ello there!" He hails them, "Would ye mind answering a poor beast's questions?"

Ekon looks over, he looks the squirrel that show up over and hmmms, meanwhile a few other Gawtrybe do show up slowly probably wondering where their chieftain went.

Alvar looks over as well and nods a hello

Lee waves to the stranger.

John eyebrows raise at the friendly gestures, but he waves back. He makes his way over. "So, friends, do ye know who this Marek beast is? I had a run in with vermin a few days ago," Here he points a paw behind him, "And they got quite rude when I asked them politely who he was."

Now that we know how the woodlanders greet a fellow squirrel, let us see how they greet vermin. Liam Grey travels alone down this dusty road, his only companion a thick oak walking stick and a travelers sack strapped to his shoulder. The first detail one notices about this brown furred pine marten is the fact that he is very heavy set. Despite being obese he wears the weight under his fur rather well. He travels wearing a red tunic covered by a brown cloth vestment and a cheerful tune to his lips. So over joyed is he to be on his first ever vacation that the marten hardly notices the group of woodlanders up ahead on the road.

Ekon glances over at the odd tune filled Liam and blinks, yeah and others see him also..the Gawtrybe squirrels who suddenly show their numbers as the surround the vermin not knowing if he is a threat or not, let’s see...12 squirrels and if you add the chieftain an archer you have 14 of them..slings, axes and arrows aimed, oh yeah at Liam.

Alvar quickly turns and folds his arms as he looks over at Liam, "Vermin......"

Lee draws his sword, pointing it at Liam. "Oy, who might ye be, vermin scum?"

John turns towards the marten, glances at the hostile squirrels, and mutters, "Ah guess me questions won’t be answered so quick like, will they?" He sighs. The next comment is directed at the pine marten. "Oi! ye there! 'O are ye?"

The pine marten continues walking farther, but only a few steps. With several spears, weapons and other pointy bits pointed at him Liam stops and gulps. Dropping his sack and walking stick the marten raises his paws slowly in the air. Carefully he tries to push Lee's blade away from his muzzle with a finger, "I am...doing ok. Seeing as how all these pointy sharp weapons are pointed at me and not in me." Liam laughs nervously. "Good afternoon to all. Nice day for a walk, eh?"

Ekon looks at Liam "Work for Hudson or Marek do you? This is Gawtrybe tribe." One of the squirrels start to giggle "Let us play game... play game with vermin" Another nods "Yes called how many holes make..." Ekon frowns at the tribe, the tribe can get insane and he knows, he has gotten a little to use to all these things of the village.

Lee frowns. "Oy, a nice day for a stroll from Marek, ain't there, scum? Wot are yer orders? Are ye the tax collector, vermin?"

Alvar smiles drawing back his bow "Yeah then we can find the other vermin..."

John glances at the drawn weapons, then back to Liam. "Ah must ask, what if the beast be innocent?" he pauses for bit, then adds, "And if he be against this Marek and... Hudson, was it?"

The marten tries his hardest to not look like he is about to collapse from nervousness. Just keep smiling at the crazy tribal squirrels and nod politely. "Your squirrely friend with the...fox ear?" Liam pauses. Oh by the light. They are going to kill him and sew parts of his hide and fur into clothing or worse! "Er... yes, your friend is right. I mean of course I am a tax beast or evil Marek beast. I'm just hiding all my ill-gotten taxes in my pockets... after traveling from Ferrevale."

Ekon tilts his head, ok tax collector was the wrong thing to say, the squirrels start chanting, all 12 of them as Ekon sighs, stone axes and arrows get ready to fire and slings are at the ready.

Alvar narrows his eyes at Liam and chitters something that probably isn’t friendly and draws back his arrow.

Lee frowns. "Oy, no jokes, vermin scum! Wot is yer name, who do ye work for, an' where are from? Answer before I carve ye a new mouth, an' me nice squirrel friends turn ye into a pincushion..."

"Ye there! Otter! What if he has nothing to do with Marek?" John asks, "And would some beast tell me who that is, exactly?" He clearly does not want to get into a fight.

Keeping his paws still in the air the portly marten gulps. "I uh, see you're civilization has yet to develop sarcasm. Point noted." Liam gulps again, "I am Liam Grey. Local Inn keeper to Ferrevale. Be mind full that if you shoot me full of arrows you won't get free drink coupons to the tavern next door..."

The squirrels could care less, first the beast says he has these coins he took and then he says he is an Inn keeper, the 12 squirrels surround him more now as their Chieftain is unsure and walks as the squirrels part to allow him and just him up right in front of Liam, "Proof you have of this?"

Alvar stays silent and waits for orders, "Come sir... he is a lying vermin... let us play with him, it will be fun" He chuckles some.

Oakenpaw begins coming out of the brush beside the road, his staff in paw as he presses the brush out of his way, climbing the slight rise onto the road, he blinks looking like he's drowning in squirrels suddenly "Wots all this bout? Wot Wot? “

Lee frowns, looking at John. "Per'aps 'e is, but it pays ta be suspicious these days, sir." Looking at Liam again, he lowers his sword a fraction. "Can ye prove yer assertions, sir? Marek 'as beasts an' spies ev'rywhere."

John says, the annoyance clearly evident in his voice, "Well ye listen take me for jus' one moment? Who is Marek?" He looks at the Gawtrybe, "Ye there. Squirrels. Ah think 'tis best if ye put those things down!"

Liam answers for him, "Marek be the local warlord that took over the abbey down south. It would pain me, almost as much as it would pain me to be, well, pained on your wonderful assortment of weapons, to die being associated with such scum." The marten turns to the sudden arrival of the hare. He blinks in confusion then, in shouts in relief, "Here! This chap knows me! Ask him! Oak, tell these yahoo's, er excuse me, polite yahoo's that I'm an Inn Keeper and not a spy!"

Ekon looks over and sees the hares ears above the squirrels heads and looks back to Liam as the squirrels chant shaking their weapons, "Kill the vermin... kill the vermin... kill the vermin" He tilts his head and listens to Liam as he speaks “Yes we will listen to the hare yes... let hare pass and come here"

Alvar still looks unsure of the so called inn keeper, "What’s an inn keeper?"

Oakenpaw looks up cocking one ear "I said wot's all this" he looks at Liam, with a wry smile, almost tempted to as ask him who he is, but rather he puts a paw on his friend (Liam's) shoulder "Wot have you done to rile up all these Squirrels Liam... refusing to give them drink coupons again at the tavern? “

Lee lowers his sword further. "I never seen ye about Ferravale, Liam... I'm not entirely convinced o' yer innocence."

John, hearing the marten answer him, turns and smiles at him. "Finally, a beast who listens." He walks over to Liam, extending a paw. "Ah'm John, by the way. An' Ah'm not 'un o' that group..." He turns towards Lee. "That hare seems to like enough..."

Liam shakes the squirrel's paw. "Oh you won't believe how happy I am to hear that." gestures to lee with a nod of the head, "You make a good point good sir, but however, I have never seen you as well. How do I know YOU are not a spy for Marek." He says with a coy, friendly smile. HE has no idea why he is so calm right now, inwardly he can only see himself being dismembered, killed, and killed again! "And this good fellow Oak can vouch for me. I've known him for a while."

Ekon looks between Oakenpaw and Liam as he hmmms softly. Meanwhile the other 12 squirrels lower their weapons, a little and are growing restless now and start muttering. Ekon still is unsure "Perhaps he is... telling the truth, uncertain times we are in this is right"

Alvar frowns, "So we DON'T get to play a new game?"

Oakenpaw looks at Lee, his paw still on Liam's shoulder "Yer Flick’s lad aren’t ya?' He smiles at the squirrels and puts a paw out to touch one of the arrow tips if in range "Thems sharp... you strike me as the Gawtrybe" he looks at Liam "why are you riling these beasts Chap?”

Lee frowns, putting his sword away. "I am the head guard of Redwall Abbey. I am not a spy."

John says, "Well, na that ye all know and like each over, What are ye gonna do about the Marek?" He glances at the hare with a questioning look. "Gawtrybe?"

Liam chuckles to the hare behind him, "Remember how I mentioned that every time I set foot outside of Ferrevale I get ambushed by bandits, thieves, and snakes? Well... here is your proof. It's not their fault really, just really bad timing on my part." He chuckles again although it’s hard to say how much sarcasm he is using this time. "Speaking of Ferrevale I think I will let you chaps get on with your day. I'll just, uh, head back home now. No harm, no foul I always say, especially to those who can do both to my person." The fat marten begins to slowly step away from the tribe's leader in an attempted to escape.

Ekon answers "First after this Hudson we go, Marek has 700+ vermin and more outside gates he does. Only good thing be no more tax beasts..still be horde beasts yes, we gather forces like friends say... Gawtrybe help when time is right..."

Alvar says, "Yeah, still leaves other vermin, maybe they like games" He chuckles at the idea of target practice on the evil ones on the road or maybe elsewhere. “Fun""

Oakenpaw nods to Liam "well when ya go out, take me with ya Chap, I enjoy a spot of trouble now and then...You fellows let me friend thru will ya?

Lee steps back a little. "Sorry, Oak. Liam can pass, if 'e wants..."

Ekon nods and speaks quietly with the tribe, they groan like little dibbuns who were just told to go to bed, they part to let Liam and Oakenpaw pass, and Ekon nods to the Inn Keeper and walks back to where Lee is as the other squirrels steps back, weapons put away.

Alvar sighs, he fiddles with an arrows and obeys. "Ok... but let’s go find these slaver Hudson... so we can play games with him"

The marten sighs a breath of relief. Leaning down to pick up his staff and sack the marten waves them off with a left handed salute. "Well, that was exciting. I hope to see you all around later on." He says in a tone that clearly states he does not. "Come along Oak...preferably before they change their minds..."

Oakenpaw says, "I think that" He points to Alvar not knowing his name "Fellow has a good idea"

Lee nods to Liam. "See ye around, then."

John follows the pair, glancing back at the otter and the squirrels. "Farewell, friends! Ah'm off tae get more... answers..."

Ekon watches them leave and nods to the tribe shooing them off and sits down on the path.

Alvar stays by Ekon, just well...he wants to make sure he is protected.

Ekon sits Indian style and meditates while Alvar stays nearby.