The aftermath of killing a mercenary

OOC:This is pretty much the other half of this RP:http://rwmuck.limitless.org/rwmuck/content/i-hate-high-placesand-birds. This log that you are about tot read happened at close to the same time. You might also want to read this log:http://rwmuck.limitless.org/rwmuck/content/aftermath-fightthat-healer-was . BIC:

FV:Entry

The scent in the air notably changes within the village compared to the sweet fragrant flowery smells outside the east gates. Stale air, rotting food and the occasionally not particularly pleasant smelling inhabitant all assault the nose until it gets used to things. Mercenary guards patrol the high wooden palisade wall separates the vermin village from the outside world, the only break in sight in the form of the main gate to the village to the east. North of the path one of the few stone buildings in the village stands a little run down, now an inn it butts up to the side of the tavern and boasts many beds available, at least that's probably what the sign says, much like the building it's old and the beast who wrote it has probably died of old age long after the paint was last touched up. West finally buildings begin to spring up everywhere and the path widens into a large clearing at the centre of the village.

Exits: [F]erravale [Inn], [T]avern, [Back] to gates, [W]est

Friends:Raymond the wildcat and a spoofed Sparra. Blisa the cat and Ferdinand the ferret. Scioto the cat. Darkwatcher the fox and Dethwing the crow.

Raymond is by the entry looking very busy and giving orders and instructions to guards.

Ferdinand comes walking along downs the path towards the gates, his little charge, Blisa, sitting comfortably on his shoulders. On seeing the commotion happening at the gates, he sets the kitten on the ground and grabs her paw, and they both head over to Raymond. "What'th going on, Thir?" asks the ferret.

Raymond nods to Ferdinand, " The rat Shaz was murdered sometime yesterday, we are unsure as by who but they could still be in the area"

Blisa wrinkles her nose in confusion. "Who's Shaz?" Ferdinand, however, doesn't worry about such petty details as who in the world Shaz was. Instead, he focuses on the word 'murder'. "Were you able to tell if it wath done by a bird?" he asks as he loosens his sabre in its sheath and draws the kitten closer to his left side.

Raymond frowns, "Wasn't given details, just he was dead, possible rat that was acting odd last night in the tavern, no proof was him"

Ferdinand nods and looks around -- and up. He makes sure to look up. "Do you have any advithe on how to protect Blitha better?" the kitten looks around the ferret's leg and says boldly, "I'm not scared! Why are you so worried? I doubt whoever it is will be coming after someone who lives here."

Raymond frowns "I do not know, they could come here and...keep her inside maybe?"

Ferdinand nods, but keeping Blisa inside is going to be much harder than it sounds. Just now the kitten shrieks, "NO! I don't /wanna/ stay inside! No, I'm not gonna!" and bolts. The ferret guard groans and begins to chase her, yelling all sorts of threats about early bedtime and baths and things.

Raymond frowns, "Not good to run around, need to stay close to someone!"

Great idea! Sadly, Blisa is not listening. She ducks beneath a bush, and when Ferdinand crawls in after her, she easily escapes and runs across the open entryway area, leaving her bodyguard rather stuck. "I'm not going inside!" she ducks into a doorway and glares at the grown-ups defiantly.

Raymond sighs, "Ok, but least stay near a guard, ok...Scioto will have a fit if your hurt"

"Yeth, he will!" shouts Ferdinand, finally scrambling out from underneath the bush, scratched and bruised. "Tell you what...I won't take you inthide, but you /will/ get a bath and early bedtime for not lithtening. Alright?" Blisa thinks for a moment, then nods and runs over to her bodyguard and wraps her arms around his legs. Without her seeing, he sighs and relaxes with relief.

Raymond says, "Good so..just have to wait on any reports, if anythig was seen or heard or who may of saw the fight or lack of a fight, anything would help"

Ferdinand nods and continues to look around, always on duty, especially in an emergency. Blisa turns around and rests her back against his leg, asking, "Didn't any of your guards see it? I thought they were suppossed to be watching everything. Where did you find Shaz's body? Was he still alive? Was it icky?"

Raymond frowns, "I think it was found yes and...they didnt leave him there that would be mean, and.."He stops as he hears a bird,a sparrow comes in and lands nearby.

Ferdinand hollers and jumps back, pulling Blisa back with him and laying his paw on his sabre hilt. Blisa, meanwhile, recognizes the species of bird, having seen them often at Redwall, and so calls out, "It's a Sparra! They live at Redwall! They carry messages."

The sparra is on alert, he speaks, "Worm beasts Might know, ratworm Shaz death....news of rat and falcon that talk of doing it, were on road worms take, also may ave' captive a hareworm, mean rat and bird worm need pay...that message"

Raymond blinks, he sighs why is everyone a worm to these birds,he nods "Ok, thank you for the Message"

Blisa smiles and dashes away from Ferdinand, who quickly and cautiously follows, and the kitten comes up to the Sparra and cheerily says, "Hi! I'm Blisa. Can you please tell me if Leon the mouse healer and Papa Oz the badger are alright?"

The sparrow, "Healer worm be fine, broken wrist...Oz is ok as well, take good care of all dibbun worms"

Scioto walks into the entry about now and nods to those gathered.

Blisa covers her mouth with her paw and cries, "Oh!" then thanks the sparrow and runs over to her father and hugs him as far up as she can. "Daddy, Daddy, did you hear? A rat got murdered!" Ferdinand follows Blisa, his paw on his sabre hilt, an unhappy look on his face, and his knees and palms bruised and scratches on his arms, legs, back and head.

Raymond nods to Scioto "Hello sir"

Scioto looks at Ferdinand "What happened now?" He nods to Raymond and answers "And yes I heard of Shaz, unless its another rat"

Ferdinand sighs. "It'th a long thtory, Thir. I had to chathe Blitha and I got caught under a buth, but we got it thettled. The getth a bath and early bed time, and I get bandaged up afterwards." Blisa blushes. Why did her Dad have to ask?

Raymond stays nearby and listens as the sparrow flies off and back to the abbey.

Scioto looks at Blisa and is silent, he looks tried a little, "just so she stays safe from this..who ever it is"

Ferdinand nods. "Yeththir. I'm keeping a careful eye on her." Blisa looks up into her father's face and asks worridly, "Are you OK, Daddy?"

Scioto nods "I am fine, just tried trying to find out who killed a beast from here and we need to keep an eye out for a rat, sort of..well either way he threaten me and Oakenpaw for asking his name and he mentioned he has bussiness he just dealed with and was leaving soon, and to not ask or it would end badly"

Raymond listens, " A rat threatened you and Oakenpaw?

Blisa frowns, then turns to Ferdinand. "Maybe that's who Raymond was talking about earlier?" the ferret guard nods. "Maybe."

Scioto listens, "Is there new news and..Raymond I need to speak to Darkwatcher if can find him please, if he is around even"

Raymond nods" Right away sir,I will go do that now" He heads off

"Darkwatcher? Is that that fox who wears a mask?" asks Blisa, grabbing her father's paws and swinging them back and forth. Ferdinand watches Raymond head off and sighs. He hates being the only guard around.

A large crow lands on the ground in front of Scioto and nibbles at the dirt before standing stiff as a board, and squawking, "You seek Darkwatcher? For what? RKARKAWK..."

Scioto nods, he becomes a little defensive at first when he sees the bird, then remembers it and nods "Yes, its about Shaz"

Blisa still doesn't like blackbirds, and so gives a little scream and hides behind her father, peeking around his leg at the crow. Ferdinand pulls his sabre out a little, then relaxes when he sees Scioto's reaction.

Darkwatcher strides in from the east, through the gates, halting behind the crow, which hops to the fox's shoulder and flies off after a few whispered instructions from Darkwatcher. The mercenary stands easy before Scioto, saying in an unconcerned, chill voice, "Well, what can I do for you then?"

Ferdinand relaxes and lets go of his sabre hilt. Thank goodness -- another warrior to help him guard the Chieftan and his daughter! "I hear that a rat named Thath -- Th--Thathz-- wath murdered." The ferret looks very troubled because of his lisp...actually, he looks frustrated, and like he might cry from sheer helplessness. Blisa, bolder now that the crow is gone, rushes over to him and wraps her arms around him in a comforting embrace.

Scioto nods as Ferdinard says the news, he still is waiting on more details himself.

Darkwatcher raises an eyebrow, then his brow furrows in thought. "When did this happen? And how?" He's all business now, his swirling, misty eyes slowly draining of emotion...

"A Thparra came from the Abbey and told uth that a rat and a falcon had talked about doing the deed, and that they had altho...that they had taken a hare captive, too." With 's' sound that he messes up, Ferdinand looks like he's getting closer to crying from sheer frustration. Blisa hugs him tighter, but it really doesn't help much.

"What rat, what falcon, when, I need answers. If you're having trouble communicating just have someone else speak for you," Darkwatcher says quickly and matter-of-factly. "Where was this, and why _another_ hare taken captive, this keeps happening, is there anyone who _hasn't_ taken a hare as a prisoner in the last three months other than me and Dethwing?" He shakes his head and waits for the tale to continue unfolding.

Scioto raises an eyebrow, he answers, "It happen day before yesterday,I know that much and there was a rat, didnt catch a name in the tavern who threatened me and Oakenpaw on asking his name or buissiness and I also know the hare is not from here"

Ferdinand looks like he's been slapped at the 'having trouble communicating' comment, and Blisa shouts, "It's not his fault!" The ferret bends down and whispers in the irate kitten's ear, and after a few moments she nods and turns to the mercenary, crosses her arms, and snaps, "We don't know which rat, and we don't know which falcon. We're getting second- or third-hand information. A sparrow from Redwall brought us the message. Why don't you go ask whoever sent the message, you big meanie?!" Ferdinand pinches Blisa's arm and whisper in her ear, and she scowls. "I'm not going to say sorry for calling him a meanie." she mumbles.

Darkwatcher glares briefly at Blisa before saying, "I meant no insult, so stop acting like it was a personal verbal assault. I have better things to do than go around offending beasts at random--that's what riffraff are for. Frankly your logic is flawed--how can I ask whoever sent the message if I don't know who sent it, eh?" He shakes his head and turns to Scioto. "Can you describe the appearance of the rat?"

Scioto folds his arms over his chest, "Then we ask any other witnesses what happen"

Blisa rolls her eyes. "You ask around at the Abbey until you find out who sent the message, s--mph!" Ferdinand covers the kittens mouth and glares into her eyes. They /really/ don't need a mercenary as an enemy.

"Sci--What did this rat look like?," the mercenary repeats. "I need to know so I can beat the living daylights out of him for information, then gut him when I find him." Not 'if'. /'When'./ This fox is not going to be outsmarted by this anonymous murderer responsible for thinning the ranks of his team.

Scioto goes to remember, "Had a sword,daggers...middle age maybe, black fur"

Darkwatcher nods, making a note of this. "Sounds like me, if I had a sword," he comments with a grim chuckle. "Sounds like a standard issue baddie to me. Thanks for the information. I'll get back to you in a few days. If I don't, then I've been killed." He gives a shrieking birdcall to the sky and Dethwing answers from far above, circling overhead. Darkwatcher shouts to his bird buddy, "Dethwing! It's time to hunt, old friend." They are soon gone out of the gates of the village.

Ferdinand picks the kitten up and throws her over his shoulder. "OK, we're going home /now/." Blisa sighs, risigning herself to her fate of a bath and early bathtime...and possibly no dessert.

Thanks for reading!

Groups:

• Ferravale