Is Redwall as safe as they say it is? (Role-play thread)

[Vilu Daskar]

"There is no time because the Abbot is very busy and he can see you now and I don't know why he has to see you. You'll find out when we talk to him."

[Groddil]

Mortembell spoke while she helped Rayne to bind the wounds.
"Mortembell. One-Ear, the one who got your satchel, is my son. My family and I come from the cold northland. When the famine hit, we traveled here."

**********

Redfang pawed with his axe. 'Course boss. But if ye wants, I can create a diversion. Git that vixen to go to the gate. She killed this fox that was at the Abbey, see. If she goes to the gate, they'll be preoccupied with 'er, an' we can slip in while they's distracted.!

[Ashleg]

Rapshade huffed and rolled his eyes in annoyance.
"Whatever. I was thinkin' something more along the lines of everybeast running in there and scaring th' woodlanders back while I take Jetfur an' Vadoma with me to go steal Redplacewhat'sit's treasure. If you really want this vixen dead, kill her on your free time, got it?"

--

Fangfang, though still nervous, decided that he could do nothing about it so he'd just follow after the hedgehog, Fergbar.

[Groddil]

Redfang nodded.
"Alright cap'n. Whadda ya want me ta do now?"

**********

Mortembell and Rayne had successfully bandaged Muddle and stopped the bleeding. The hedgehog, thankfully, was okay. Mortembell quietly inquired.
"Can you hear me?"
Nod.
"Was this the stoat?"
Nod.
She carefully pulled a bandage away from one of Muddle's eyes.
"Can you see?"
He shook his head.
Mortembell looked to Rayne. This was bad news.
"Can you walk? We need to get you up to the Infirmary."
The hedgehog nodded and slowly rose to his feet. Mortembell lightly grabbed him, avoiding his spikes.
"Careful now, take it nice and slow."
Okay here are the stairs, step up..."

[Ashleg]

Rapshade's tail twitched. "Go tell everybeast still standing out there lookin' dumb that they can stop now, and then I don't really care what you do as long as it benefits me."

[LT Sandpaw]

"Interesting names." Rayne murmured not sure how to compliment a vermin. After a moment she decided against trying, and helped Mortembell lift the injured Muddle. She flinched as some of the spikes pricked her paws.

"Follow my lead." She told both Mortembell and Muddle. "One of these days I'm going to relocate it downstairs, whoever thought having a infirmary upstairs was crazy, not to complain about Martin's wisdom, but clearly he was a warrior not a healer. Oh sorry you probably don't know who Martin is... C'mon lets go."

OOC: Is Grant about ready to start that meeting? There's only been a few distractions, but we may be back on track again.

[Ashleg]

OOC-
((I can just picture Martin giggling to himself and saying, "Yesss...Ha, me and my great ideas! Put the infirmary on the second floor.")) 

Grant will start now.
IC-
Abbot Grant waited until things seemed to have died down. He'd been able to keep a calm face despite how worried he was inside for Muddle and about everything concerning the pirate vermin.
The mouse rose and cleared his throat to try to get their attention.
"Everybeast, take your seats. I would like to start the meeting now..."

Mixy pulled up a chair and placed one paw on the seat to her right to hold for Bracklew.

[Hickory]

Ava sat down in her own chair and a beaker of cider. She glanced around to see that everybody was here, before taking a sip of the beverage.

[Groddil]

Mortembell raised an eyebrow at Rayne.
"Martin? As in Martin the Warrior, the one on the tapestry? I've heard many, many, stories about him and this Abbey."
Stepping up into the kitchen, they led Muddle through the Great Hall towards the stairs.

*********

Redfang shoved out of the Captain's room. He looked with contempt at the pirates standing there.
"Alright you insolent scum, the cap'n decided ye can go back about your business. Hurry up about it, or Chopper'll get some more food!" he patted the axe on his belt, and grinned menacingly at the crew.

[LT Sandpaw]

Nodding his thanks to Mixy Bracklew hopped into the chair resting his footpaws on the table and leaning the chair back.

~*~*~*~*~

"So you do know about him," Rayne said in surprise. "What kind of stories did you hear about him?" She guided Muddle up a step steading the hedgehog.

~*~*~*~*~*~

Most of the pirates ignored Redfang, slouching about and talking among themselves. A few patted weapons of their own and glared at the new stoat menacingly. A few descended below deck, to go play shell toss and other gambling games. One searat approached Redfang eyeing him suspiciously.

"Oo' died n' made ye Cap'n snot-nose?" He asked placing his paws on his hips sneering menacingly. "We take orders fr'm th' Cap'n only see. And ye ain't th' Cap'n cully."

[Groddil]

Redfang grabbed the rat's ear and twisted roughly.
"Did I say I was the captain, you arrogant little piece of fish food? Learn some manners 'afore I teach you some."
He spat in the rat's face and walked off, then twisted suddenly and threw his axe. It landed in the timbers of the ship at the rat's feet. Turning to face the entire crew, he screamed at them.
"Listen to me now, all of you. This little runt," he screeched, launching a kick at the unfortunate searat, "has pointed out that I ain't the Cap'n. Thankee fer that, Captain Obvious. What you don't seem to get, is that if the Cap'n orders yer to do somethin', it don't matter who says it, cause it's still his orders. Anyone else got a problem with that then come see me when I git back an' I'll feed yer to Chopper. Understand, you pitiful excuses fer vermin? Good! Get back to whatever you do with your pathetic lives!"
He retrieved his axe from the hull, kicked the rat again, and strode boldly off the ship into the woodlands.

********

Mortembell spoke to Rayne as they got Muddle to ascend the steps to the Infirmary.
"You ever heard o' Noonvale, a nice liddle town north of here? We lived there for a couple o' seasons, that's where I heard the stories about Martin. East o' the town's a ruined fortress, they say Martin himself led an army to destroy it an' free the slaves who were trapped there. Then, o' course, there's the legends ya hear, right here in Mossflower, 'bout Martin's sword, how every evildoer that touches it meets a horrible fate."

[Ashleg]

Rapshade heard the shouting on deck and cursed under his breath, digging his claws roughly into the wall before he darted outside where the crew could see him. Redfang was already gone.
The ferret kicked at the ground. "Aagh, stupid, stupid stoat! I never said he could do that. He has no authority here. Did he kill anybeast?"

--

Grant waited for all of the Abbeydwellers (plus Fangfang) to take their seats before speaking.
"...As you might've guessed, this is about the vermin pirates that kidnapped Bracklew and Mixy, and who are responsible for the deaths of two fine loyal creatures, Brandon and Creekpaw, plus probably many more. I was born in a time of peace, and never did I think that would change--and trust me, I'm old." Here he paused to chuckle to himself in an effort to lift the mood a bit.
"If anybeast here besides this rat, Bracklew, and Mixy, knows about the pirates or their leader, please speak up."

Duncan rose from the table and glanced at Mixy when she stared wide-eyed at him.
She didn't know the story.
"I do, Father Abbot."

[Groddil]

One-Ear thrust  open the doors of the Great Hall.
"So do I."

********

Redfang grinned as he re-entered Vix's camp. The fox sat on her haunches, looking at him suspiciously.
"I thought the debt was payed. You said if we met again, you'd kill me."
Redfang thrust a bag of treasures in her face.
"Would you do an old friend a favor? I'll pay you."
Vix licked her lips.
"What do you have?"
Redfang emptied the bag.
"Everything I could swipe from Redwall while I was there. Somebody'd buy it, maybe the pirate captain you told me about."
Vix's eyes lit up.
"Excellent. Redwall treasures always fetch high prices. What do you want me to do?"
"Go to Redwall. Knock on the gates. Wear a cloak and conceal your red fur. Say that your name is Mortembell, they should open the gate. I want you to kill whoever answers."
Vix grabbed the bag.
"Why?"
The stoat folded his arms.
"Send a message. Nobody defies Redfang and gets away with it!"

*********

The healers had managed to get Muddle to the Infirmary. Laying him down one of the beds, Mortembell turned to Rayne.
"I think all we can do now is wait and see how he turns out. Didn't your Abbot call a meeting? We should probably get down to that."
She grabbed a flask of water and a cloth from one of the counters and scrubbed some of the blood from her fur.

[Ashleg]

Grant wasn't phased.
"Well, take a seat, then." He said to One-Ear.
"You can tell us what you know after Duncan. Alright, Duncan, go ahead."

Duncan took a deep breath.
"When I was in the Long Patrol and Mixy was barely a babe, the ferret, Rapshade, tried taking over Salamandastron. He murdered my wife in front of me, but before I could get to him, he fled along with the survivors of the crew, and was stopped by the badger Lord...Bloodwrath, y'know." The hare looked up at the ceiling now, for he was afraid to see Mixy's expression.
He continued. "They dueled 'till Lord Greatstripe had him back up so far he was standin' waist-deep in the water, so as a last resort he...he stabbed the badger...And they went out together, I thought, Greatstripe drowned him! We knew Rapshade was dead, but he's obviously alive. I don't know how anybeast could hold their breath for that long. If you want a description, Abbot, here you go: he's a murderer and a liar and enjoys what he does."
He sighed and took a seat. Mixy looked crestfallen.

[Groddil]

One-Ear leapt from his seat.
"Lord Greatstripe? I know about him!"
Glancing around at the blank stares he explained.
"My father, long ago, when he was desperate, was part of that horde, back when I was still a babe, living up north with my mother. He knew from the start he'd made a bad mistake. He tried to desert on the beaches, but Lord Greatstripe found him. That's how he got his name, Threeclaw. Greatstripe took two of his claws off with a single swipe. My father survived, and he watched the last part of the battle. He saw Greatstripe take Rapshade with him into the ocean, and he celebrated with the others who had left with him at the death of the pirate. Their fire burned high into the night as they cheered and drank the night away. My father was on watch, in case any of the Long Patrol showed up. Then he saw Rapshade surfaced from the water. The deserters were terrified. They thought they'd seen a ghost, so some, like my father, ran for it. The foolish stayed and tried to send him back to Hellgates where he belonged. Rapshade killed every one of them, save two. My father, and the other one who ran."

*********

Mortembell descended the steps. She heard One-Ear tell the tale of Threeclaw, and listened intently. When he had finished, she took a seat, leaving one empty for Rayne. She flicked her ears at her son.
"Where is your father, One-Ear?"
One-Ear face darkened immediately.
"He...He's gone, mum. He chased that stoat out into the woodlands, and some red fox called Vix killed him. That stoat was part of the pirates, I know he was. And he's behind what that Vix did, I can just tell!"
Mortembell's eyes watered.
"Come here, son."
One-Ear ran to his mother's side and sat silently on the ground.