Verminlords of Greystone OOC

[MathLuk]

The inn of Orfain was by no means crowded, but vermin were trickling in beast by beast. A gleebeast was in town, and such a source of entertainment was not to be missed.

Gleebeasts. Beasts who cause glee among the audience. Eduard Muirsch had that basically drilled into his head since the age of six. Or was that seven? He did not remember.

What the rat did know was his job.

The difference between an amateur and a professional was presentation, and this was in his training as well. Eduard never wanted to be outgoing, but the job demanded it, and here he was, backstage, preparing his tools, instruments and assorted things that he may or may not use.

He knew the story that he was to tell by heart, and could tell it from head to toe. Orfain was the penultimate step in a long and large-scale journey, with the final destination being the city of Nebelheim just across the strait to Greystone.

For almost fifty seasons had Eduard performed around towns and villages, bringing laughter, tears and (perhaps most importantly) news from the outside world. Gleebeasts like him were one of two bearers of news, the other being peddlers, and were the less likely to kill you of the two. Cursed peddlers.

Reaching for his flute, the rat played a shrill note, and the beasts waiting outside quickly dropped their voices down to a bare minimum.

Eduard quickly got onto the stage, and saw the smiling faces or vermin of all sorts and ages. Right in front of him, a trio of teenagers displayed warm smiles at the sight of the rat. He knew them well, and them as well. The tall fox, especially. He was quite interested in joking him the last time Eduard came to Orfain.

"Now, all of you have heard of the tales about Redwall Abbey and it's woodlanders who hate us vermin-"

"Give us sumtin new!" The slender rat in front of him called out. "Ya can't simply-"

He had no further chance to speak as his mouth was covered by his ferret friend's paw. "What Barnim meant wuz t' ask ya if ya has annuver tale, Gleebeast Muirsch." At least Tezlaw had some sense of manners.

"Annuver tale sounds plenny nice." Erlmar spoke up. The fox wanted to be a gleebeast someday, so of course he would want to hear more tales, wouldn't he?

"Very well! I will tell a new tale never told in Orfain before!" The crowd celebrated their little victory, cheering so loudly that Eduard could have sworn that Nebelheim could have heard.

It took a whole minute before they would return to normal, but Eduard has anticipated this. Taking out a harp, the gleebeast began.

"Before Redwall was even built, there was the great Abbey of Loamhedge..."