From Vermin to Goodbeast to Hero (Open)

[unknownsoldier]

(OOC:So....thats one pair of fox fur boots coming up now.)

Truslo was very confused now as to whats happening now. First Baro jumps into a bush, irony there, and all to avoid a mouse bard like this fellow. "Umm....do you happen to know Baro then?" He said with a confused look, not knowing if it was a good or bad idea to say his name to the mouse. What could possibly go wrong in this situation?

[fernleaf]

Baro wasn't the only one to facepalm. First the fox jumps into the bush, then reveals himself. Obviously the fox and the mouse knew each other, and there was some reason the fox was afraid of the mouse.

He looked to the mouse. "You're a great singer." he said. "My name is Fernleaf the Hermit, and the hedgehog is Truslo, a cook to rival the shrews I have met."

Looking back into the bushes, the ferret said in an undertone, "Are you sure this all is worth missing a great meal at the Abbey, you bottomless pit?" He was grinning as he said that.

[Caterpillar]

#OOC: Outrageous! What kind of barbarian you take him from? Steck wouldn't never make someone into fur-boots -- not when there are witnesses around! xD #


Steck's ears twitched. Wait just a moment now -- He knew that voice coming from behind the leaves! The mouse stared at the shrubbery, thinking if he should believe his ears.
"Baro?", Steck said in disbelief, before the hedgehog affirmed his suspicion to be true by mentioning the fox's name. "Baro, is that really YOU?"

Steck was about take a step clozer to the bushes, when his attention switched to the Truslo as the hedgehog asked his question. Oh yes... He wasn't alone with the fox, there were two others, watching them both and apparently being quite confused about what was going on. Well, who wouldn't be? Steck had to admit this situation was both comical and bizarre. A big beast like a fox was hiding from the mouse, as if fearing he would eaten up by that small creature.

Steck sighed.
"Know him? Quite sadly I do... That butterfingers broke my lute beyond repair..."
...That really wasn't a lie since it had happened - along with number of others things, that might had something to do with how Baro was acting right now. Which Steck chose not to mention.
"...Now, if you excuse me a moment, I just go get our common red-pawed friend out of his hiding."

The mouse took a step, then seemed to remember something and turned around handing over the lute he was carrying to the Fernleaf.
"Mister Fernleaf, was it? If you could so kindly hold onto this for a while, I would heartily appreciate it. I'm hesitant bring my instrument close that particular fox."
Leaving his dear instrument in the hands of the hermit, Steck stepped in front of the Baron's hiding place. As much as he would love to tie fox's whiskers into bowtie, that just wouldn't do. It might upset the two other beasts in their company as they didn't know the whole story. And Steck didn't want upset beast he had just met. That would be outright rude.

...But he really had to get that gluttonous guzzler out from the bushes. Fox's behavior was just ridiculous.
"Yes Baro, and now when you're done with your checking, you may as well come out. You're acting silly"
Steck looked up and down the shrubbery, like inspecting its leaves.
"And, if may I add, also sitting on the poison ivy"

[coolcoyote]

The fox's eyes could be seen to widen out to the size of saucer plates. He burst forth from the confines of the bush tossing leaves to the side and brushing specs of the ivy off of his shoulders.

"Gah! Get it off get it off!" The vulpine shouted as he fled. The bush however was not ready to let Baro go. His paw caught on a small branch of the bush and he fell face first onto the road.

He paused for only a moment before he scrambled on all fours behind Ferleaf. "Silly? Who's acting silly?" He yelped. "You promised to turn my guts into lute strings next time we met!" Their last departure from each other was...less that peacefull. In their defence they were being chased by angry horde beasts at the time.

Ooc (ha! I laughed so hard Cat! I will find a way in the other log to break his lute and do those other things as well XD)

[Caterpillar]

# If soldier and Fernleaf don't mind, I'm cutting in so I can reveal that the bush wasn't a poison ivy - Steck just said that to get Baro out of his hiding x) #


Steck took a calculating step backwards, just enough to back away when Baro landed on his face and stomach. Calmly the mouse picked up one of the leaves that had stuck into panicking fox's fur, inspecting it more closely.
"Oh, it was just a blackberry. My mistake", he said, innocent as ever - but he really didn't sound too surprised of his 'mistake'.

Steck scratched his earflap awkwardly like he had been reminded of something he was embarrassed. He tired to smile amicably.
"Well, yes... I was rather upset back then. You did broke a piece of art - a part of history, if I may correct. That lute had been in ownership of Bard Singsonger himself, one of the greatest taletellers ever lived. And you reduced his instrument into the pile of tinders in flash of moment"

Steck looked at hermit and hedgehog as if they were judges in power of deciding, who was the villain here.
"I think any beast in my profession would feel offended", He added in his defense, before returning his total focus in Baron. "But honestly, no-one makes strings out of guts. So would please calm down?"


# OOC: coyote, glad my post entertains you. ^^ #

[coolcoyote]

Ooc he that was pretty funny. Good thing Baro isn't a cat ^^ although one must wonder how fox gut would effect the tone of the string...on second thought, that is a bit of a morbid thought XP

[unknownsoldier]

(OOC: Yeah.....kinda morbid there and I thought I had issues.)

Truslo just stood there in disbelief at what just occurred. So much had happened....and he was going to be caught up in it, so will Fernleaf. There was just something about the mouses tone....that seemed slightly off to the young hedgehog. Maybe....Baro wasn't so wrong after all, but from the Bards side, he did say he broke a valuable instrument. It seemed Baro was the villain here, but he seemed...relatively harmless he guessed.

Truslo then noticed there were two small forms in the bush Baro just leaped from and looked. "How...weird." he said as he picked up and cradled both forms. The two forms were sleeping young shrews, who wore dirty green vests, red headbands, and scraggly fur. One wore a sling as a belt, and a crude, unstrung shortbow, the other had a wooden club and small hatchet on his belt as well. "I'm surprised you didn't wake these two up with all your yelling mister Baro." Truslo said as he turned to look at Baro who hid behind Fernleaf.

[coolcoyote]

The fox of course is not a completely disagreable beast. The mouse makes sense, after all both said words that they both probibly regret. It only stands to reason to let by gones be by gones.

Then Baro watches as Truslo produces two shrew dibbuns right from the bush. It doesnt take long to reconize the beasts. With the event of their meeting less than a month ago it was hard to forget.

"AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!" the fox lets out an ear splitting screach at the sight of the twin shrews, clasping his paws to his head his tail poofs out wide like a cat. He turns on his heal and runs off down the road letting out another long winded scream of terror as he flails his arms about like a mad beast.

"AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHhhhhhhhhh..." he can be heard as he dashes off away from the party. Unfortunetly for him he is running off towards Redwall.

He comes with in sight of the abbey and comes to a screaching halt, his paws kicking up dirt as he does.

The majestic red walls, the tall tower, the woodlanders peacefully nodding to the guards as they went blissfully through the open gates. There was no mistaking it. This was Redwall.

Or as the stories told it from the vermin encampments to the north in Baro's homeland, Bloodwall Abbey. The impenitrable fortress of death and dismemberment. The place where the great horde leaders shatter their teeth and break their weapons trying to get in. The abbey that butchered and slaughtered every invading force ever to grace their walls.

This is where Vermin went to die.

And the foolish fox was being led into it like a lamb to slaughter...

[fernleaf]

Fernleaf held on to Steck's lute as if it was a sacred object. It had made such magnificent music that he held it gingerly. That fox was acting up again. He shook his head. "I should have given that crazy fox a stronger dose of medicine," he said. He held the lute out to the mouse. "Please take it back. We're heading for Redwall, and it looks like he's already there."

Then the two shrew Dibbuns came out. "Hello, I'm happy to see you two, though I haven't seen you among the Guosim shrews. Where do you come from?" He also started walking towards Redwall, though the foreboding grew as he neared the ancient walls.But his foreboding was different from Baro's. Something was calling to him, and it made him nervous, as if something was waiting for him beyond those gates.

He beckoned his new friends on as he tried to catch up with the neurotic fox.

[Caterpillar]

Steck took his lute back, tossing the instrument's strap over his shoulder. "My thanks, mister Fernleaf, sorry of the trouble --", that was all he managed to say before Baron started screaming - running and screaming, leaving the party in the wake of

The mouse could almost feel some respect for capacity of the fox lungs: a few beast could make sound that audible and continue producing it while running as fast as Baro dashed. But only almost -- Oooh, that noise! Just as horrible as he remembered it was! Steck winced conspicuously.

"You should have given him a strong smack on the head", Steck reported to Fernleaf while digging his finger in right ear, hoping it would stop his ear ringing sometime soon.
"I see he still posses that charming shrieking voice of devastation...", he added, more to himself that to anybody else.

Nevertheless it was now the mouse's turn look confused, as he stared after screaming fox and then shrew dibbuns. Then he shrugged.
"Well, I might be wrong, but that was rather weird...", Steck said - like anybeast would say when he didn't understand what so horrible was in two small shrews which made an adult fox fleeing like he had spotted a sign of the monster from the Dark Forest - but was ready to let it slide.
"...But best get going and catch up with Baro before he causes unpleasant scene in front of Abbey"
The mouse looked again the dibbuns, resting in Truslo's arms.
"Might be better take the little ones with us. It won't be long before the sun sets and it will become dark"
The he followed after the hermit.

[unknownsoldier]

Truslo followed quickly after Fernleaf and Steck. "Oh no, I would never leave two young dibbuns like these shrews outside." He said to the mouse. "My names Truslo, if you didn't happen to catch mister fernleaf say my name. I'm just surprised Baro's scream didn't wake these two up, they must be right tired if they can sleep like that." he said as he looked over his two charges. Almost like his three siblings back with his family, it reminded him he was the oldest out of all four of them and it brought back such memories. "I don't believe I caught your name good sir?" he asked the Bard mouse.

[fernleaf]

A shrew with a green headband, a saber at his belt, and wearing a black stone, came running up, seeing the two Dibbun shrews. "So there you are! You almost gave us heart failure! But you kept safe, that I see, you'll grow up to be good Guosssom warriors as you intend to be." Looking at Truslo, he said "I am Log-A-Log Calamo of the Guossom shrews. You have already met Plague and Pestilence, I see." winking at the two. It was the nickname he had given to the two, who had always been trouble.


--------------------------------

Fernleaf was trembling. He was at the gates of Redwall, and knew one more step would mean a drastic change in his life, one that would be irrevocable. The gatekeeper looked up at him, then at the fox. "Is something wrong, Fernleaf the Hermit?" he said. "The Abbey is open to all beasts of good will." Fernleaf didn't answer. He was staring at the gate, then sighed and started to step over the threshold. Time seemed to stand still, and his footpaws seemed made of lead as they dragged over the threshold of the gate. And he was seeing something nobody else saw, that was waiting for him there. One was a mouse in armor, who he recognized in his dreams as Martin the Warrior. The mouse raised his sword to the salute as the ferret entered. Beside him, towering large, was a badger, a badger with a golden stripe on his forehead. A hawk, a kestrel with fierce demeanor was at his shoulder. In one paw, the Badger held a club of hornbeam, the same wood as Fernleaf's staff. The other paw was raised in greeting and welcome.

The vision of the three warriors greeting him faded, and his knees buckled, he leaned against a post as he slid to the ground. He had only made a few steps into the Abbey, but it felt to him like he had climbed a great mountain. The precious Dibbun friends he had often seen rushed out and surrounded him. "Oo olroight, zurr Vernleef?" said one molebabe. Another, a squirrelbabe, helped the mole lift the hermit up. "Don't lay there, master Fernleaf. If the Badger marm sees you like that, she'll chuck you inna tub an' scrub you somethink awful!"

Fernleaf smiled weakly. "I'm all right, just weary, and in need of some food and drink, and rest. I've been through a trying day. Could you bring me to Cavern Hole? I bring some friends with me, they're behind me." He stepped with them, stumbling forward at times, leaning on his staff.

[coolcoyote]

The ferret had walked right past Baro who was still out on the road way, mouth a gap in terror and pulling at his pointed ears. He watched with shock as the ferret boldly, fearlessly stepped into the dreaded Redwall abbey.

Baro admits that he only just met the beast but no vermin deserbed the horrible fate that awaited them here.

Rushing to Fernleaf's side through a horde of blood thirsty dibbuns, evil little scamps the lot of them! The fox grasped the ferret by the shoulder, quickly trying to help him to his feet.

"Quick! We have to get out of here!" Baro hissed in a whisper to his ear, "Don't you know what this place is? This is Bloodwall abbey! The place all the horde beasts talk about. If we don't leave they will catch us vermin types and decorate the walls with our hides!"

The fox let go of the ferret even before he got to his feet. "Or worse they will send us to the kitchens to fatten us up for dinner!" The fox paused to rub his chin as be contemplated such a horrible fate. One the one paw, all the food one could eat. One the other, eaten for dinner.

He shook away the thought, "Quick! Before they lock us in!" The fox turned for the gate and saw the rest of the party in the distance carrying the dreaded shrews. He whined loudly.

Baro was doomed.

[fernleaf]

Fernleaf's Dibbun friends looked up at the ferret, questions in their eyes at the fox's antics. He could only shake his head. "You've got to excuse him. He was dropped on his head when he was born, and has never been right. There's no evil in Redwall Abbey unless one brings it himself." He wondered to himself after what happened if he would ever see his little hut and the idyllic life he had known these fifteen seasons, again.

He had one paw in the molebabe's, and the other in the squirrelbabe's as he held his staff. "Awww, ee un askiered foxer." said the mole. "Maybe he needs some nice warm nettle soup from the infirmary." said the squirrel. She made a face, but then those precious Dibbuns said "We're glad you came, Mistuh Fernleaf. And we're all gonna have a party when the rest come here."

---------------------------------------------------

Log-a-Log called out "Logalogalogaloooog!" and his army of thirty shrews fell in line, who had been searching for the little terrors. They would come with him for a legendary Redwall feast, and maybe make some of their legendary cooking there.

[unknownsoldier]

Truslo was just at a loss for words. It wasn't even that long since he started his first steps of being a nomad and now...this was happening. A hermit ferret, overweight fox, two shrew dibbuns, and now Log-a-log of the Guosim shrews, who was looking for the two shrews he found....sleeping in a bush. "Umm...uh...I'm sorry. This is just all so much to take in after whats happened so far." He said apologetically to the shrew leader. He smiled slightly at the nicknames, well he does have three younger siblings, so hes used to whatever antics they pulled. These two must pull similar things, but alot more times then his younger siblings ever did when he was there. "I'm sure their parents must be very worried for them, since its kinda strange to see them have...weapons on them at such a young age." he said to the Log-a-log curious.

[fernleaf]

"No, we're the ones who were worried." said Log a Log of the Guossom, the southern branch of the shrews. "Those two are orphans, and our tribe adopted them. They wanted weapons, and I saw no good reason to deny them, it would probably be good to train them as warriors, as we of Guosim are." He looked to the two. "Isn't that right, Plague and Pestilence?"

[Caterpillar]

# OOC: I have to remind you being careful when using NPCs in leader positions. You have to check there isn't a character created in leader position before making NPC for it. In this case, there already is a character that is Logalog of the Guosim (name Nik Lagdo, player Django). However there are still two other shrew divisions in Redwall world and they are called Guoraf, and Guosssom. The Log-s-Log in this thread can be leader of either one of them . (:

( If you need to see/know which positions are taken, visit "Redwall Roster" and "Leadership positions" in "Encyclopedia" sub-board) #


Turning towards Truslo, Steck lifted his hat merrily.
"The name is Steck Vennet", the bard introduced himself, smiling friendly. "Nice to meet you" From there the mouse started a light chitchat with the hedgehog - like asking where Truslo was from, was the hedgehog a traveler himself and so on. When they reached the gates the bad fell in silent, looking at the big red walls in mute awe.

Steck didn't have time to notice Fernleaf's stumble, as the bard was captivated from the first moment he stepped past the Gate and entered the Abbey grounds. The mouse was smiling widely and his brown eyes sparkled like starry sky.
At last - He had arrived to the Redwall Abbey! The bard could hardly stay in his fur. He was fascinated from all he saw, his head turning right and left, up and down in each direction absorbing everything he saw. It was very hard to him stay with the group as the mouse was more than ready run to explore the Abbey, its grounds, Bell Tower and big main building on his own... But he decided held his impatience and followed the dibbuns, as they were leading the group this place caller "Cavern Hole". After all, someone had to make sure Baro didn't have an another fit. The fox already spouted out all that nonsense, making the dibbuns stare him eyes open wide.

Rolling his eyes Steck stepped beside the whimpering Baro and turned him gently but firmly away from the Gate's direction, beckoning the fox walk with him. He tapped the vulpine as high as he could reach: him being a mouse and Baro a fox, their size difference was pretty big, so it was impossible for bard to give a friendly tap on the fox's shoulder.
"Oh, relax already would you", he said. "You will scare the little ones. And I bet they have here a lot of better things to eat than one chewy fox. So rest assured no-one's going to want you in their plate."


" OOC: lol, there happened just too much in resent posts that I gave up on trying make Steck react each and every of them xD #

[fernleaf]

ooc: I'll go back and edit those posts so he can be Log a Log of the Guossom.

ic:

Baro's troubles were only beginning there in Redwall. Just then, the ground shook as a thump, thump, thump sounded and got bigger. Down the stairs came a large female badger who was a 'mother' to all the Dibbuns. The Dibbuns made a way for her and she smiled at them. She then looked over the newcomers. "Hmmmm, welcome back, Fernleaf, you've been away for many seasons. A mouse bard, eh? Good! Some nice music for dinner." Then her eyes narrowed as she saw the fox. "Oh, no, not Cavern Hole for you yet, fox!" She came up and grabbed him by the ear. "You're filthy! First, up the stairs with me, there's a tub waiting for you!" She was very strong, and propelled him up the stairs, motioning to another. " Pew! Take those rags he's wearing and burn them. We'll find some nice clean clothes for him."

The molebabe holding Fernleaf's paw said "Hurr, hurr! ee foxer is gonna get gurt scrubben naow, burr aye!"

Fernleaf shouted up some encouragement. "It's all right, Baro. It's only a bath, and the first you've probably had. You'll feel better afterwards. I remember my first bath, I thought I was going to die at first, but I felt much better after it was done."

[coolcoyote]

Ooc lol! Looks like baro gets some new clothes out pf this XD taking a break at work. Ill reply later

[coolcoyote]

The fox was desperate even before tbe badger came to collect him. "You don't understand! This is where all the vermin come to grk!" The fox makes a loud shrill yelp as he is dragged off by the badger.

He stumbles about half dragged up the stairs yelping loudly, "No! Wait! Can't we talk about this? Gah! Fernleaf! Truslo! Steck! Saaaaaaaave meeeeeee!"

Even as the brown furred glutton is entering the abbey a trio of novices are collecting his belongs from his person. His belt, his knife on the small of his back, and his vest.

"Wait! What are you doing?? Stop! You crazy badger, you can't burn my clothes! Are you even ow ow ow ow ow!" The fox is dragged along to his doom.