Relaxing vermin [open}

[Shadess]

Shadowsleek was very interested, but not wanting to show it to much.
"the North? ive heard quit different up there, Red Kites are up there, but im afraid i know not much of it. Now, Its not every day a creature tries to take Redwall, these days there trying to take mossflower. Now i know quit a good stradigy that will make them weak at there knees, they have a tapestry which is all there pride and joy, take it, burn it, there goes all hope. They are bunch of sorties too, so many simple things can affect them" she snorted, she may be giving a bit to much, yet she had many more plots to come, that was only one of a thousand.

[Wildrun]

"Kites and eagles...and bats..." Tataroo stood up studdenly, appearing interested.

"A tapestry..." Personally, he could recall beign told a story of a rat warlord who had stolen a tapestry from some peaceful place and had paid for it, but the plans of half-crazed warlords always went askew. "We might work that out later. As to affecting them..." He closed and opened his paw around the hilt of his scimitar as if in thought. "...yes, that would do. I have reason to presume that a pair of mice--or perhaps only one of them--of strange coloring will be coming through Mossflower or are already here. We do not need them specifically, but my idea is this. Murder."

The word sounded cold and unforgiving as ever coming from his lips, no matter that he added without care,

"One is a berserker and has been a large nuisance to me lately. You'll know who I speak of if you meet her."

((What a jerk, huh?))

[Shadess]

((well he is no softie XD))

Shadowsleek thought for a momment "history shows that a mouse is allways a warrior and ends up killing warlords, vanquish the mouse, then show them we mean bussiness, aye not bad. but i think i might know of her....." she winced "is this the mouse who weilds a weapon by the name...Daggord?" Shadowsleek always knew story after story the warlord gets nightmares....maks them do crazy and then they die.... but vanquish both the hero and the hope, they alrieady won

[Wildrun]

((He oculd make Hulk Hogan cry if he wanted to. ^^" I can't stand my own character. DX ))

Tataroo nodded his head throughout the summary of Redwall's wars, then narrowed his eyes into slits at the mention of a daggord. "That," he said coldly, "Is her."

Before being vanquished, the warlord goes insane, or is killed horribly by some thrid party...a snake...an 'accident'...Salamandastron hares...However, I don't think WE need to worry about losing our reason. Only those weak of mind run that risk.

He reclined against the stone again and uncorked a small bottle handing from his belt. Offering it to Shadowsleek, he intoned, "That's elderberry and damson wine. The finest. It also makes a wonderful substiture for oil. Is there any chance the Redwallers would let us in?"

[Shadess]

Shadowsleek looked at the bottle curiously "precautions, sir, mind taking a quick swing yourself to prove it dosent have my invitation to hellsgates?" she said with a bit of a smile, sometimes she could barely trust herself, bad habit. Then she thought for a few seconds, "they would they have this "code" or whatever, they say anybeast who does not intended to hurt them, they'll let in, well get ride of your fancy clothing, put some dirt on yer face, then your in. If i dont recall, there abbot would be easy to poison with a simple trick, bring some wine and drink from it, offer him a cup and smear the edges with poison herbs, im sure long ago a stoat named ...Swarrt Sixclaw did so on a ferret horde leader named Bowleg or something.

((lol, sometimes Shadowsleek annoys me with all these facts XD))

[Wildrun]

Tataroo's lips twitched in what might've been a smile, took the bottle back from Shadowsleek, and took a long swig. A drop dribbled down his chin, and he flicked it off daintily. He offered the bottle again, patting the left side of his belt with his free paw. "I keep my poisons on this side, so as not to become confused." He flipped his cloak back momentarily, letting a row of small opaque viles peer out.

"They would let us in..." he mused, thinking rapidly of a stoat in his crew who was good at tacky disguises. His lips twitched again at the name of Sixclaw, remembering his qoute from earlier. "...Poison would work, yes, I always carry some with me...if the abbot or abbess dies, adn they still have their tapestry, will the results be...Nevermind."

((She knows her trivia, lol. XD))

[Shadess]

Shadowsleek took the bottle and gave a sip with her dry, parched lips
"What if...we destroy all hope, taking sword, tapestry and abbot/abbess. They have a sword of there war hero Martin, well, destroy all three and there helpless, if one of your horde members or us can get in, check out there fighting ways, steal there and kill the abbot or abbess , you can attack form the inside. they'll will be both suprised and grieved." she looked at his poisons, many they where. She never held poison with her, for she would hate to accidentally drink it or get it confused with something else. She shook her head and changed her attenchion from the poisons.

[Wildrun]

Tataroo's eyes suddenly gleamed.

"A sword, yes?" He thought breifly, then, "I beleive Martin was one of the founders of the Abbey. That blade must be ancient."

The thought of trusting one of his horde members with so delicate a job as getting them into Redwall...Tataroo nearly winced. He shook his head. "...No, not one of my crew. They're by far too excitable, all of them. All the shrewd ones capable of deep planning died." He didn't mention how they died, and flicked his cloak over his belt of poisons again. After all, you didn't tell people that no matter how afraid most of your crew was that there were still those attempting a coup.

"Either way, I beleive we should kidnap the abbess instead of killing her....yet."

((Don't forget Maxodis wants his otter to pop up sometime soon, and sorry that took me so long to post. DX ))

[Shadess]

(( no worrries, i will once ro twice do the same, i allways gets writers blocks XD. Im waitin on the otter, XD))

Shadowsleek nodded "Martin is all there soul and pride, they respect him through the sword and the tapestry, the hero is most likely to wield the sword in time of danger" she shuddered at the thought of Mathias, yet.. "most other horde leaders died under there own mistake, such as Cluny the scourge, he died og being foolish enough not to keep the captive until he came down the stairs, he should have saw the bell above before he....." there was no need to finish. He thought about kidnapping the abbess "yes....then they will serander, you could have picked a better time to fight, the hares will be busy with the WARR horde, but i feel that battle coming to an end, so quickness is the best way." she knew the hares as noble fighters, two or three of them are capable of taking down pretty much a whole horde.

[Maxodis]

Fall. Easily the most remarkable time of the year. The mass of leaves in Mossflower, having shown various shades of green their entire short lives, all seemed to suddenly deviate from the norm simultaneously, discarding their humble attire for that of a more vibrant scheme. For these actions, the trees which had cared for them and given them shelter had condemned the rebellious frilly things to a fate of decay, releasing the leaves from their branches, wiping the astounding waves of color clear from their bark. The end result left both parties in worse positions than when they had began. Still, the beauty of the scene overcame the dim sorrow that accompanied it.

Only it wasn't really Fall anymore. The weather was getting to be rapidly colder, less forgiving for the careless traveler. This was reinforced by the bitingly chill wind that blasted in a short gust along the old path that a young otter found himself following. Suppressing a massive shudder, he pinned his vest together with a paw as he continued doggedly on. He would have found some use for his other had it not been occupied dragging his heavy weapon is his wake. Though the sun was at it's zenith, he found little warmth from it, shaded by obstructive clouds as it was. He chuckled nervously to himself, if he did not find a place to settle down in for the night soon, he would surely find himself sick.

The thought of this quickened his pace. One could not give their all in combat when their mind was clouded by illness! It would be a small thing to collect the herbs he needed to cure himself of a fever, but it would still take time for him to find them, prepare them, and let them take effect. It would be better to simply not get ill in the first place.

He had been traveling along the wide old dust road for a significant part of the day, surely something had been built alongside it for creatures like himself?

As soon as this thought entered his head, he spotted the smallest glimpse of a roof above the fringe. Heartened, he gave a sigh of relief. Another blast of stingingly cold wind reminded him that it would be better to get to the building sooner rather than later, and he set a brisk pace, whistling to himself in his good fortune.

((There, I leave it to you.))

[Wildrun]

((That was a REALLY good post, Max! Sweet!

...Okay, time for some NPC crew-beast action...))

The sentry-stoat on guard across from the...what was it called?...Oh, yeah. The St. Ninny's place. The guard was freezing to the tip of his tail from the boistrous wind-chill, and he was not happy. Grumbling various phrases such as, "Blasted bloody schizophrenic boss..." and, "I bet 'ee paints 'is claws at ruddy color, huh, wounln't that ju' be a ryot?" and other such mutinous things agaisnt his captain, Tataroo Raketail, the stoat with red claws.

Of course, he knew full well that if someone were to report him saying that, there was no such thing as a fair trial among the crew beasts--they'd all claim to have heard him whether they had or not so as not to lose their own hides. And the worst part was that Tataroo knew all that, and usually the sap in trouble ended p convicted anyway...

The guard shuddered and focuse again on St. Ninny's. Now his grumblings went along the lines of, "...Wot kinda churchy 'er towery place is named St. Ninny's?"

The guard went on talking to himesle,f as there was no one else nearby--his guarding 'partener' had fallen alseep, somehow, the lucky little--

The sound of something heavy dragging along hte ground reached the guard's ears over the jabbering wind, and he straightened up, scanning the path. After a moment, the guard gave a start as an otter came into veiw, ragging behind him an extremely heavy-looking weapon.

The guard gaped. "'E must be stronger 'n a stripedog to be luggin' that lot a'ound!" He nudged his partner, then when that proved unefftive, he dealt out a good ick i nthe ribs. The other stoat came to with a jerk and a groan, snarling about "payin' fer that, you scumbag!".

"Shhh!" hissed the first stoat, jerking hish ead in the direction of the otter. The second stoat stared, muttering "Bloody 'elsgates, wot in the name 'o..."

"'E's headin' right towards the churchy towery place! St. Ninny's! The boss is in ther--"

"Yer a ninny, you knuckle 'ead! It's called St. Ninian's! Idjit..."

"Yer the idjit! Looky, 'e's goin' in!"

The second staot jumped up with a start, spear in hand, and started to call out, "Oi--!!"

"Shhh! Shuddap! He'll 'ear you! C'mon, we'll go tell Matey and then we'll all storm 'im, an' present 'im to the cap'n!"

After a few seconds more conspiratol whispering, the two guards ran out to the first mate of Tataroo's crew, often known as 'Matey', and eagerly related the story. Matey grinned slowly an wickedly and dumped the couldron of steaming water over the fire to put it out.

"Let's go, lads!" With hoots of approval from the crew, Matey lead the explosive charge out of the shrubbery. "Get 'iiimmmm!!!"

---

Tataroo's head jerked up, cutting off his reply to Shadowsleek. The sound of racous stoat voices and coarse corsair launguage reached his ears. He scowled.

"My idiot crew is coming to disturb us. I apologize, Madam Shadowsleek. I shall put them in their place..."

--

Matey cackled delightedly as the stoats closed ranks around the otter. "Why, 'ello, streamdog. What'er ya' doin' 'round 'ere?"

((Yep, the whole crew are NPCs. XD

Oi, Max, what's you're otter's name? ))

[Maxodis]

His pace unaffected by the considerable weight he towed behind him, Noiss Hthon reached the building quicker than he had anticipated. As more of it was discernible past the bare trees and dwindling foliage, it was apparent that at some point the building was some sort of a church. It was old and overrun with vegetation, at least that which had not yet withered. Seeing the crumbling building in this new light, Noiss began to feel doubtful that it was a wise place to weather the cold, lest he find himself buried in his sleep by fallen debris. The young otter was no mole. Still, on a quick observation of the immediate area, it was better than huddling under a tree.

His whistling was interrupted as his ears caught an odd, cut-off cry. He hesitated, tilting his head to the side as he strained to hear the source of such an odd noise. Hearing nothing out of he ordinary, the otter shrugged his wide shoulders. It could have been a bird. Mossflower was often a resting place of migratory birds in their seemingly endless voyages to who-knows-where. Honestly, couldn't the daft things find a place and be happy with it?

He chuckled then at his own hypocrisy. He hadn't settled down in a home since he left the one he was raised in. Perhaps he should have been born a bird...

Still laughing softly to himself he hefted the weighty weapon off the ground, resting it's short staff on his shoulder as he continued walking towards the crumbling church. He was nearly upon the threshold as a wild cry rose up around him. Blinking in surprise, he quickly found that the trees had turn into a band of stoats. They were quick about hemming him into a small circle.

"Why, 'ello, streamdog. What'er ya' doin' 'round 'ere?"

Noiss smiled in return, unaware of the sinister edge behind the speaker's voice. He gestured with the paw that was holding together his open vest at the church.

"Why, I was just lookin' about for a place t' bed down in for the rest o' the day. Dreadful cold wind out 'ere, a beast might get sick walkin' down this drafty road all day."

He blinked, forgetting his manners.

"Ah, I 'aven't told you me name, 'ave I? Noiss Hthon, at your service." He made an awkward attempt at a small bow, the weapon on his shoulder hindering the effort. "Er....is this place yours?"

[Shadess]

Shadowsleek twitched as a battle cry rang out. She wondered why on earth a crew would just charge out of place, unless they where total nit-wits and choose to do so for the need of attenchion, but that was often rare, even for the most idiotic of crews. They could easily be leading out an ambush, but without there leader? The weasel sighed, sometimes she just couldnt put a paw on things.

Shadowsleek nodded to Tataroos words and repiled

"Im sure they must have had a decant reason to just charge like that, yet crews can be unpredictable, good luck with them"

[Wildrun]

Tataroo soehow smothered a grimance (and a rising headache) and nodded to Shadowsleek. "I'll be back in a moment, unless you care to accompany me...What in the name of the Northern Sea are they shouting about!?"

For the first time, Tataroo's voice had a sharp edge in it. His 'fear-me-I-am-the-captian-and-I-can-have-you-flogged-so-you'd-better-behave-and-do-as-I-bloody-well-say' voice. Rising swiftly to his feet and striding purposefully past several crumbling walls and rounding a corner abruptly to appear on the outer fringe of his crew.

He could hear Matey's voice, the voice of his slightly schizophrenic first mate, asking someone gleefully, "Why, 'ello, streamdog. What're ya' doin' round 'ere?"

Tataroo frowned. An otter? He said nothing and remained unnoticed by the racous crew, and could barely hear the otter's reply. From what he gathered, however, it seemed that this beast was no Redwaller attempting to report them or kick them out. Tataroo rolled his black eyes and pinched the bridge of his nose between his left indexclaw and foreclaw as he heard Matey snicker and reply, "Noiss Hthon, are ya', eh? 'At's a funny name fer a streamdog, mate. Oh no, this place isn't ours, boyo, it's our cap'n's, see. 'E's in there restin'. Why don't we take ye' in to meet 'im? I'm sure he'd give ye' a place te' stay fer the night!"

"That's enough, you imbeciles," Tataroo said quietly, his voice a volume no one would think could silence a crew so quickly. No matter, the jabbering and jokes and taunts of the crew evaporated into hushed silence, and one or two stoats gasped. Tataroo sent a crippling glare at the nearest crew-beast, who took a terriefied step backwards as his captain said, "Move."

Hasty to obey, the unfortuante stoat jumped backwards to a decent distance as Tataroo moved past and to the center of the mob. He didn't know if Shadowsleek had followed him or not, but issued the order anyway, "If a black-furred weasle is with me, let her through." No one questioned his use of the word 'if'.

Reaching Matey, Tataroo gave full blast to a burning glare and scowl. "Matetcol, unless you wish to be stripped of your rank you will drop the idiot act. As one of the few competent stoats in my crew you might use the little grey cells of your brain and come up with a decent reason why you brought the entire crew to charge one otter." And a ridiculously cheerful-seeming one, at that.

Matey drew himself up, snapping to attention and replying crisply, "Yes, Captain. The boys were bored, as was I, and the otter was heading straight towards your resting place. You can see the weapon he is carrying. We thought we might intervene."

Tataroo didn't reply to Matey, or note the sudden and complete hange in the first mate's manner or speach. He was giving the otter a cold, calculating stare. After a moment of silence in the crew and expectant interest hovering in the air, Tataroo adressed Noiss, "...That's weapon you're carrying must be heavy, Noiss. Do you mind if I call you by your first name?"

The crew shifted and whispered. Tataroo was being coldly polite, as was custom when approaching an intruder who seemed to have no idea what was happening. The odd thing was, Tataroo sounded nearly pleased. What on earth did he need to be pleased with a goodbeast intruder for?

Tataroo hardly waited for a reply, continuing with, "Do you mind if I ask you why you're traveling through here, Noiss? I don't suppose you'd be heading towards the famed Redwall Abbey?"

He hoped that if Shadowsleek had followed him (he didn't dare turn and check), she recognized the conspiring tone in his voice.

((I think I'll just make a profile for Matey, after all...I'll put it on my side account, because it needs some love. XD And plus, I'm all full for this account.

Tataroo oughta be a salesperson or something. DX ))

No to mention--the first Hercule poirot quote I manage to squeeze int oa post and Tataroo says it! DX Gah! *head/desk*

[Maxodis]

"Why don't we take ye' in to meet 'im? I'm sure he'd give ye' a place te' stay fer the night!"

Yet again, the implied threat was lost upon the innocent otter, who beamed at the apparent kindness of the offer. His gracious thanks at their generosity was halted by the appearance of who could only be their commander. What a figure he was, at that! What with the flowing cape and vibrant tattoo emblazoned across his chest. And those claws? Noiss frowned slightly as he watched the creature approach. He certainly liked the color red. The otter tried to imagine what occupation the approaching stoat could specialize in, with an outfit like that. Not to mention the stoat underling who he had conversed with, who had sincerely come across as a dim creature. Noiss was certainly surprised when this apparent leader had caused the stoat to experience a sudden boost in intelligence.

There was also the large group of stoats that surrounded him. What was it that this odd group did?

Studying the commander for a moment longer, while it was preoccupied with his errant subordinate, Noiss came to the conclusion that this was a traveling band of performers. The wide grin spread once more across his features. Yes, that must be it. It would explain the body tattoo and the dumb act. The underlings were clowns, and having no audience to preform to, were clothed normally. Their leader must have been practicing his routine out of sight.

The caped stoat turned his attention to Noiss. "...That's weapon you're carrying must be heavy, Noiss. Do you mind if I call you by your first name?"

The infectious grin could only grow wider. Noiss offered his free paw in friendship. "Aye, you certainly can, though I can't say I know what to call y-"

The sudden interruption caught Noiss off-guard, his paw hung suspended.

"Do you mind if I ask you why you're traveling through here, Noiss? I don't suppose you'd be heading towards the famed Redwall Abbey?"

Taken aback by the odd question, Noiss frowned slightly and scratched the fur on the back of his neck. He rolled his shoulders to relieve them of the strain of his weapon.

"Er, well...I can't say I've got a specific reason t' follow this 'ere road. It was just the first one I came across. As fer this Redwall place, I can't exactly say I am, as I don't really know where to find it."

Tired of supporting the weighted weapon on his relaxed shoulder muscle, he let the shaft slide forward through his paw, allowing it to fall in a controlled fashion, the halberd side embedding itself in the ground at his side with a dull thud. Leaving the weapon suspended in the ground, Noiss gave a large yawn as his back arched in a bone-popping stretch. Stifling what he could of the yawn with a paw, he implored forgiveness at his rudeness.

"Sorry, 'scuse me. I'm a bit tired....As I was sayin', I can't say I know all that much about it bein' 'famed'. The place always sounded a bit borin' if'n you ask me."

A look of confusion passed across the otter's features.

"Er.....why d'you ask?"

[Shadess]

Shadowsleek stood a bit far away from the scene, but not to far. She noticed the otter must be thinking there is nothing wrong with a crew of stoats charging at him.

The words linked in her quick minded head as Tattaroo said them, a ticket to the abbey! Yet she dare not say nothing, she just leaned against the stone wall of St. Ninians with her legs crossed, brown eyes watching. The weasele wondered why the otter would be so happy to give up his weapon, sure he looked tired, but with a bunch of strangers around him? Shadowsleek never parted with her sword, not even at night or in the safety of a home (she couldn't remember the last time she felt safe somewhere). This otter was a piculear character.

Yawning she decided it was good to stay like this and watch to see the plan unfold, and see what was to become of all of this. Even the littlest change could caroopt or help it imeaditly, so it was faiths hope what happened next.

[lorki]

Beady bright eyes surveyed the situation before. Rousalki stood a ways away from the church and the others, off to the side and hidden by a small thicket. The Pine Marten wore a light smock cloak over her normal outfit considering the biting cold, her belt which held nearly all her possessions was hidden beneath it. She'd stopped at first to see if an altercation between the otter and the small group of vermin would lead to a scuffle. It soon became apparent however, that that entertainment would not be happening. Her eyes now followed the Stoat that had emerged from the church, she recognized him and began searching her mind for his name.

She pondered it as her eyes switched to the weasel that had emerged as well. Her interest did not lie there for long but once she had sized up each beast in the area she made her move out of the brush. She walked quietly, slowly, keeping herself to as many backs as she could. She approached the female weasel from behind and smirked, "Tataroo, thats his name right?" She muttered quietly, twitching her head towards the stoat.

[Shadess]

Shadowsleek whisked around and eyed the martin suspiciously. The thief fingered her sword hilt and she tapped her long claws against it.
"Matters, whos side you on?" she asked quickly, just as her thoughts before, even the littlest change can have a huge affect on what is to happen next. Shadowsleek wondered if the mine martin would be wit the otter or with Tataroo, martins where vermin folk right? Yet then again that fox Springheel was more of a neutral character so she could never know what to expect of the beast.

[Wildrun]

Tataroo's lips twitched up in a full smile instead of his costumary smirk, something that had happned perhaps....once? in the past...no one in the crew knew how long. Tataroo Raketail, as a rule, did not smile. A sharp intake of breath from some of the crew, but they had gotten it by now--the cap'n had a plan, and he was being nice to the otter for it.

The question they still had was, What on EARTH was the cap'n's plan in the first place?

Tataroo grasped Noiss's paw and shook in the most friendly way he could manage--and even though Tataroo had no idea of what conclusion the otter had drawn about him and his crew, he may have validated it--the pawshake was appropriate, and though he didn't make his living off it, Tataroo could be a decent actor.

"Please, call me Tataroo," he purred, letting the cold politeness melt and be replaced by open friendliness. He ignored the agonzedly alarmed whispers from the crew--if they had any sense they wouldn't be too shocked at his change in attitude.

As the otter replied and let his extremely heavy-looking weapon sink to the ground and he yawned, Tataroo held up a paw to show no apologies for rudeness were needed. "No, I understand. I beleive my crew said I'd give you a place to rest? If you'd like it, of course you may stay here...Boring? Redwall Abbey?" Tataroo arranged his face into an expression of mild surprise. "I see. We have not been there ourselves yet, I was hopign you might give me a clue of how to greet the beasts who live there...You see, we ARE stoats, labled as vermin, and I doubt we'd be well welcomed." He let his head sink a little and gave way to a small sigh. Somebeast behind him giggled. It was such a cheesy act, and to see Tataroo preforming it...It was nearly too much. Matecol dealt the offending crewbeast a cuff to the ear and muttered, "Don't screw it up, thick'ead!"

Tataro either didn't hear or purposely ignored them; he was looking at the pine marten, his head tilted to one side. A note of his usualy cold polite wariness crept into his voice, and he said, adressing her, "Yes, Madam. You are?"

((...Gods, not only is he a jerk, my stoat is CHEESY...Dear gods. DX ))

[lorki]

She smirked at the weasels sharp reaction. Beasts like this had a tendency to either amuse or... annoy her. Too twitchy and impulsive for her tastes. Calmly a mug smile placed itself on her face, "Weasel I'm not on a side until I'm offered something." She chuckled slightly as surveyed the weasel more carefully. Rousalki carefully kept tabs on each beast she met or even heard of. She made a solid attempt at remembering the names, even the position and attach them with faces in her mind.

This weasel rang no bells, nor did the otter or other vermin. Just Tataroo held some resonance in her mind, she wasn't sure how possibly a chance meetings, possibly an old theft, she had trained herself to recall nearly every face she'd ever seen... although not the situation or circumstances.

Her eyes fell back on him as she crossed her arms and flashed a fanged smile, "You can call me Rou." she said, her voice held a hint of playfulness but clearly lacked the smugness she'd used with Shadowsleek.