Redwall Isn't Safe Anymore! (Is Redwall as Safe as they Say it is? Part Two)

[Groddil]

Fastooth's eyes widened and he rushed across the lawns smiting down anybeast that dared stand in his path. The militaristic rat roared out orders as he rushed towards the pit.
"Pour the oil now! Pour it now, light the fires, their army is coming out of the pit!"

OOC: All 20 or so of them. :p

BIC:

The lift that carried Charm's squad was quickly splattered with oil.
"Try... not to slip."
Most of the oil; however, landed at the bottom of the pit, and quickly went up in flames as the torch crashed into the bottom. Almost at the top, the soldiers gave one last heave and jumped into the fray, taking several of the vermin by surprise and slaughtering them before they could even turn around.

[Hickory]

"Hmph," grunted Fardan as he saw the Vigil come out of the pit. "Follow me," he said, taking a few horde members and starting towards Charm and her beasts.

[Ashleg]

"Right! We'd better hurry," said Duncan, waiting for Rayne to make the first move.
He didn't know who--or what--could be waiting above the cellars, and none of them had any weapons.

[LT Sandpaw]

OOC: Don't forget to post with Mortembell, I want to get Bracklew in on this.

IC:

Charging forward, Fastooth and the few vermin with him he smashed into the Vigil lines, taking the woodlanders by storm. Blades clattered on shields and axes splintered spears as the combatants slaughtered each other without mercy, no quarter was asked for or given.

"Keep 'em here," the rat ordered his minions, sidestepping a charging shrew, slaying the smaller creature with a thrust of his spear. Running to Fardan's side the rat explained the situation. "Chief, we got th' woodlanders 'ard pressed. We c'n 'old, but we'll loose most o' th' horde doing it. Wots yer orders?"

~*~*~*~*~*~*~

"We c'n get weapons from th' gatehouse, an' collect them off the ground." Aver suggested, thumping his large plank-like tail on the stone floor. "C'mon we can't leave th' Vigil out there fightin' our battle for us alone."

Rayne nodded, leading the Redwallers out of the cellars and down the deserted corridors. Whispering into Grant's ear, the mouse healer told him about the infirmary. "There's a lot of wounded vermin in there, and Vadoma, the vixen, I think she's in there. We could lock them in for now, so they don't try anything until the battle is over, but we should do it quietly."

[Ashleg]

"I could do that," said Grant, lightening up.
"If you give me the key I'll go fast."

Duncan saluted, racing off towards the door.
"Righto, Aver! We'd best hurry." He found a discarded vermin sword on the ground and gave it a few experimental swings.
"As soon as you're ready, I am.

OOC-
By the way, if anyone wants to fight me, just ask.

[Groddil]

The vixen sighed with relief and dropped the blade.
"They've already left to take it back. You go down that tunnel, you might just make it there."
She nodded to one of the many tunnels that left the makeshift infirmary.

*****

Charm's squad, having finished off the pit guards, charged the vermin line while the rest of the Vigil kept them engaged. The otter stabbed her javelin into a rat's neck, swinging the other end into the face of a large weasel. Two other soldiers slew the three vermin that surrounded their leader, but not before an arrow thudded into the chest of a squirrel. The line broken, the remaining seventeen charged through. An otter shoved the door to Great Hall open, giving the squadron access. Those who had already made it through started moving a table towards the door to slow down the vermin, as the otter was quickly overwhelmed and cut down. Charm stabbed her javelin out the door, slaying a rat, as her troops moved the table into position. The table buckled as the vermin tried to gain access.
"That isn't going to hold for long. You five, with me. We'll search the upper level. The rest of you, search the kitchens, the cellars, Cavern Hole... Get it done."
The Vigil squad split up to search for the Redwallers.

[LT Sandpaw]

"I don't have the key," Rayne explained as she and the Abbot hurried along the corridors. "They wouldn't let me keep it, I think Vadoma might have it, or Alfhild. I was actually hoping you might know where some spares are?"


"Right beside ye matey," Aver said, joining Duncan and all the other able bodied Redwallers in rushing towards the main Abbey door. "Shall we give the bloody vermin a good ol' fashion Redwall surprise fr'm behind?" The otter was running faster then the others and took a corner to quickly, running face first into Vigil creature going the opposite direction.
"Hoy little matey, I heard ye lot was about." The otter chuckled, picking the felled mouse up and returning him too his footpaws. "Ye saved some o' th' vermin for us right?"

~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Nodding his thanks Bracklew saluted the fox with his sword, turning to charge down the tunnel. "I'll see you after the battle Mortembell, wish us fortune, fates alone know we're going to need it."

[Ashleg]

The table broke through and out burst Alfhild, firing off arrows with no haste.
"Today is the death of the Woodlander!" She roared, "And the victory of the Three!"

An otter let out a desperate gurgle and fell back, and his friend dove to catch him, but they were both dead before they touched the floor.

Alfhild's roving icy eyes soon noticed Charm, and she mercilessly worked her way over to the otter.
How fitting would it be if the most esteemed vermin Chief slaughtered the Vigil Leader?
The ferret notched an arrow to her bow, grinning wickedly.

--

Rapshade clutched his sabre at his side.
Now was his chance, he had to do what he wanted or else he would never be able to...
He let out a yelp and threw himself into the shadows as Duncan, Aver, and the other Redwallers raced past.
Don't let them notice....

--

"I'm sure he did," Duncan commented, "Hurry!"
He threw open the door and raced out.
"Eulaliaaaa! Redwaaaaaaallllllll!"

[Hickory]

OOC: I guess charm just blew through the wildcat coming their way?

Guess it doesn't matter now  ¯\_(?)_/¯

[LT Sandpaw]

"Redwaaaaall!"
Barreling out the door Aver leapt upon the first horbebeast he saw, a scruffy female weasel wielding a mace, pinning her to the ground and stealing her club. A single swing later she breathed no more and the otter was looking around for a new target. His eyes landed on a group of ferrets who had surrounded some shrews. Charging the vermin Aver twirled his recently captured club whacking out left and right with devastating efficiency. "Come at me vermin, haharr ye scum o' th' lands! S'death on th' waters!"

Nearby Vaskor was tearing through a Vigil squadron when he spotted Duncan. Sighting his bow on the hare, the red eyed ermine sent an arrow spinning towards Duncan, hoping to take out the dangerous fighter before he did too much damage.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Leaving the tunnel was like walking into the fires of hell. Bracklew coughed and gagged as putrid fumes of burning oil filled his lungs and stung his eyes. Small flames danced around his footpaws, licking at his red fur.

What had happened here? Whatever had occurred, the ruined lift wasn't a viable option to escape the smoldering remains of Fastooth's trap. For a moment Bracklew considered retreating down the tunnels and going around, but such a trip would take hours, time he didn't have.
Narrowing his grey eyes Bracklew forged ahead, ignoring the burning sensation on his footpaws. Setting his sword between his teeth the young squirrel scaled the pit's sheer walls like an enormous insect, finding pawholds in the loose earth. Sparks from the burning wood that had once been the elevator settled into his shoulders stinging like nettles, smoke filled his lungs causing racking coughs, all of which threatened to send him tumbling from the walls down into the burning wreckage.

At last he reached the top, panting from the effort of hauling himself up with only three paws. Scrabbling at the icy grass Bracklew found himself staring at a heated battle field, for the second time in his life.

[Ashleg]

Duncan was busy parrying a rat when he looked up and noticed Vaskor's arrow flying headlong.
Quick as the wind, he dove down and pushed his foe into the way of the oncoming artillery, hopping back up to see the shrew Benyo at his side.
"Chrysanthe was my friend. You're a Guosim, right?" The hare asked, yelping as a stoat ran at him.
Benyo nodded, swiftly catching the stoat in the neck to spare Duncan a grizzly death. "Aye, and you're a Salamandastron 'are?" he panted.
Duncan's eyes shined as he knocked down a ferret that was sneaking up behind the shrew. "Long Patroller and Redwaller to the end, wot! Say, we make a good team."

--

Roscoe's ears picked up Aver's challenge as he finished fleeing from the shrew that had been after him, and suddenly the small weasel was grinning triumphantly. He'd take that otter down. Anything for his ego.
Leaping atop a snow pile and pointing his dagger, he exclaimed, "Alas, foul otter, I'm Roscoe! And that rhymes with death!" He clumsily tossed his weapon over his head and caught it in his other paw.
"Lightnin' flashes as I come!"
He aimed to jump down and attack, but he slipped and crookedly scrabbled his way over to Aver. He pointed the dagger at him.
"...Ready to lose?" he sneered.

--

Whew.
Rapshade padded sneakily down the loud corridors, though he couldn't see anybeast. It definitely made his fur spike with the eerie feeling.
He had to find Alfhild.

[LT Sandpaw]

 The big otter was finishing off a different ferret, stunning the downed creature with a hefty swing of his club. Grinning Aver stepped towards the smaller Roscoe, spinning his heavy club around in slow loops, blood flicking off in every direction.
"Gladly matey, up at ye, and on guard, haharr! I'll slay any vermin oo's willin' t'die today."

~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Growling in frustration Vaskor laying another shaft on his bowstring. The ermine locked onto his target, slithering like a snake through the battlefield, his white fur making him almost invisible, allowing him to pass wherever he pleased.
Approaching Duncan and his shrew comrade, Vaskor raised his bow, releasing the arrow in a hiss of death.

~*~*~*~*~*~

Bracklew stormed through the vermin with a single minded passion, slaying hordebeasts left and right. The wondrous blade of Martin flashed like a beacon of death, slaughtering weasels, ferrets, rats, and stoats with contempt. Each foe he defeated, crushed under heel the fear and terror that plagued him for so long.
His paw, stained red from blood, quickly grew weary but he kept on, pushing his way through the conquerors towards the main Abbey building.
One scrawny rat, smaller then most, took one look at the avenging squirrel and fled inside, shattering a window with his dagger, disappearing into the kitchens. Bracklew pursued, leaping headlong after the rodent and catching him in the lower kitchens.

The rat turned, waving his dagger piteously as he stood his ground, though fear shone in his eyes. "Arrrr, die treemouse!"

"You first," Bracklew shouted back swiping the dagger and a good portion of the rat's paw away in a single swing. The rodent gasped, falling to his knees and wailing in pain.

"Please yer lordship, I ain't 'arm to no beast. Mercy, I beg ye." He pleaded, clutching his ruined paw close to his chest.

Bracklew's heart beat twice, and with a nod the raised sword fell uselessly to his side. Leaving the rat in the kitchens Bracklew strayed into the lower passages, his eyes pealed for foebeasts as he sought to return to the battle.

OOC:  Rapshade n' him, like you asked Ashes? Or should that happen later?

[Ashleg]

OOC-
Grodds ma man, Charm's in stranger danger.

@LT Sandpaw Perferably while Fardan is fighting Shadowmay.
IC-
Roscoe grunted; he had expected Skipper Aver to make the first move.
He took a running start and leapt at the otter, whacking his dagger's hilt purposely towards the paw that held his opponent's weapon.
The weasel didn't take notice to see if he struck true or not, he was too busy smirking at Aver.
"Thing is, yer not supposed t' kill me. We duel, I win, you give me vittles.....Understan'?"

--

Duncan ducked his head at just the right moment so that the arrow merely tore off a chunk of fur.
His eyes blistered as he realized who the archer was.
No...is that....?
"It was you who killed that innocent Dibbun!" he roared, raising his sword and charging at Vaskor.

Benyo hopped out of the way and began fighting a ferret, earning a cut across his cheek.
"Go, Duncan!"

--

Abbot Grant tip-pawed away from the locked infirmary door, shoving the key into his habit pocket.
Then he ran, as fast as he could, back to Rayne.
"They're not getting out," he panted, "They didn't even notice. But that large vixen was not in there..."

[LT Sandpaw]

Backpedaling away from the weasel's attack, Aver, his paws akimbo raised one eyebrow at Roscoe's declaration. "Wot makes ye think ye'll win this matey, I don' plan on loosin' today. Its do or die now, have at ye." Sizing his opponent up Aver swung his club in a crushing roundhouse blow, aiming for Roscoe's head.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Parrying the sword slash with his bow, Vaskor sidestepped around Duncan, his paw grabbing at his dagger hilt. The stone knife flashed out, its sharpened edge seeking the hare's heart as he thrust thrice.
"Yesss," The ermine cackled remembering the senseless murder of the dibbun. "I wish they fight on, yes? Then I kill two."

~*~*~*~*~*~

"Great, good job Grant" Rayne answered, not overly concerned by the disappearance of the fox. Perhaps she had just gone out to fight in the battle. "We'd best get started on blocking up the lower levels."

[Ashleg]

OOC-
@Groddil
Grodds if you're too busy to fight Alf, I'll make her go somewhere else. Just tell me.
IC-
"Do you have any clue where Petu might be?" The Abbot asked as he began briskly down the hallway.
"It was you and him who were taken out. I dearly hope he's alright, the young fellow..."
He stopped near the door, wondering what they would block it with.

--

Rapshade weaved his way through the stream of vermin pouring into the Great Hall.
A Vigil warrior lunged at him and he somehow managed to stab him through the neck on impulse, then turned and fled to one of the overturned tables, scrambling on top of it.
He could make out Alfhild as she went for Charm.
Perhaps he could get to her, if only...
"AAAHH!"
His black fur fluffed up in agony.
The ferret whipped his head to the side, biting back another scream as he stared at his bleeding leg.

Behind him stood the other shrew that was there when he killed Chrysanthe: Benyo's brother, Roye.
He held a rapier suspended in one paw.
Quivering, Rapshade felt around for his sabre.

"Fight me, Ferret." The shrew spat, "You killed Log-a-Log, but I'm gonna give you the chance to retaliate."

Rapshade growled and slid down from the table, taking a rough swing at the smaller creature.
"I'll kill you like I killed your precious friend, Shrew. Trust me, nobeast will remember you after this battle. Just like Chrysanthemum, you'll be dead."

--

Duncan's memory was flooded with the equally senseless murder of his daughter, as both her and the Dibbun that Vaskor murdered would never get to grow old like he. His teeth gritted.
He had buried his grief and anger inside for so long, and Vaskor's words were the blade that set them free. What a mistake the vermin had made in choosing him to attack.
The hare's eyes transformed into the reflection of an angry, dancing fire.
"No young creature will ever have to endure an evil like that again!" He yowled, pulling up his sword at just the right moment.
Metal clashed with metal, resounding in a loud, ear-shattering smash.
Duncan pulled back and swerved to the left, bringing the blade in a roundabout movement as he went for the ermine's side.
"You, and Rapshade, and every other cowardly scum in your horde...You'll pay in blood for what you did!"

--

Roscoe gave a high pitched shriek and lost his balance--and it was fortunate for him, because Aver cleaved air.
The weasel grinned disarmingly and tossed a clump of snow at him. Then he fixed his hat, adjusted his dagger, and leapt up, back and ready to go.
"Yelpin' frogwalloper! Yer actually tryin' ta kill me!" The crooked, teasing smirk still lingered on his face, outweighing the surprise he was experiencing. He frowned as he kicked out at Skipper's ankle.
"Here, let me rephrase my deal; I win, you give me vittles. I lose, you give me vittles as compensation fer what yew did t'me. Oh, watch yer side, here comes th' knife!"

OOC-
I love how Aver's actually trying to kill him and Roscoe's just taking it as a game.