Blackstar's Trouble

[Terragon Scrufftail]

We're aquainted, *Ashnel returns nonchalantly. Then a thought occurs to the squirrel. If Regen's one of Tervin's trusted few, then he'll surely be a target and I doubt Terragon'll be happy if I go back to Terralux with news of his death. Better find out who the enemy are, then...* But, to be honest, *Ashnel continues.* I think he's losing it. Was going t' retire down at the settlement, Terralux.

[Tinsy Stormsight]

*Really? * The rat looks a bit suprised by the news. *That's intr'sting. I 'eard he'd gotten transferred t' the border guard, but I assumed 'e hadn't gotten back is all.
*Johnny shrugs and swallows more ale. The burly rat appears to be rather friendly, but a thoughtful look has appeared in his eyes.*
Hmm...

[Terragon Scrufftail]

*Ashnel frowns. But he knows Regen is back. He just served him, for Mossflower's sake! The squirrel tries a new tone.* I heard as I was ent'ring your Tavern that Eale's already arrived back. Though I'll be damned if I know why.

[Tinsy Stormsight]

*Aye, I saw 'im. 'E didn't seem too friendly, though...jus' said if I saw 'is friend Cimber t' send 'im over.
*Johnny pauses.*
*Cimber's th' stoat wot used to be 'is second in command.

[Terragon Scrufftail]

Oh, *Ashnel mutters uncommitingly. Oh, and there was me thinking Will Eale was the stoat... getting old, maybe.* An' d'you know where Cimber is now? I hear there's been trouble 'round these parts. Mutiny and suchlike.

[Tinsy Stormsight]

*Johnny grins. *Cimber? Eh wid the amount 'e drank las' night, Cimber's likely still in bed...'e's got leave, so I 'eard.
*The rat turns serious. *Mutiny, though?...eh, I wouldn't take none 'o that talk too seriously. Y' can't take much 'o a mutiny against 'is Lordness, really - th' peasant class all think 'e 'as magic powers, an' so do some 'o the army, wot I hear.

*A tall squirrel, his fur once light brown but now definitely getting gray streaks, sits down nearby. Johnny nods and brings the squirrel an ale. *'Ere y'are.

*The squirrel nods his thanks, and Johnny returns to the conversation.*

[Terragon Scrufftail]

*Ashnel glances sidelong at the newcomer.* A regular here? Who is he? *He finds himself, for some reason, trusting the rat... something that back in Terralux he might not have done.*

[Tinsy Stormsight]

*The rat glances at the other squirrel. *Yea, fairly regular - that's Steven Airkist. 'E's a foot soldier, been around fer a while.

*Airkist glances over at Ashnel and Johnny. A disinterested look appears in his brown eyes, and he returns to his drink.*

[Terragon Scrufftail]

*Ashnel nods, and then decides to head back to Regen, providing the other squirrel has not already left. To avoid suspicion, he asks.* Anyway, Regen Eale - where'd I find him at this hour?

[Tinsy Stormsight]

*Johnny looks about the room. *Normally, he'd be here.....try the corner seats.
*The rat sees another customer and drowns his glass, nodding to the squirrel. *Break time's over.....thanks f'r th' drink.
*He returns to the bar, whistling in an awful manner.*

[Terragon Scrufftail]

*Ashnel nods, and stands up heavily. The ale must be stronger than Terralux's, because the squirrel's vision clouds momentarily. Ashnel shruggs and glances at the corner seats to try and locate Regen...*

[Tinsy Stormsight]

*Regen sits at his table. He finishes his ale, but doesn't get up for more. *
*The squirrel looks up as a brawny, tattooed otter approaches him, and mutters wearily, *Whaddya want?
*The otter, who smells strongly of smoke and ale, leans over the table. *We wanna use dis 'ere table, chum.
*Regen glances behind the otters, where two more creatures, a fox and a weasel, stand. He returns his attention to the otter. *Forget it, lunk.

*The otter growls softly, scowls at the squirrel, and glances at his companions. The other creatures take a step forward, swaying slightly. *
*I s'ggest y' git up an' move, squ'rrl.
*Regen glances at the sash on the big otter's chest - it is blue, unlike his own. The squirrel continues sitting. *Forget it, corporal.
*The otter is, apparently, too drunk to take the hint. *Move!

*Regen stands up, swaying a bit himself. *Show respect, otter, or y'r outta here f'r good!


OOC: Bar fight ahoy!

[Terragon Scrufftail]

*Ashnel takes in what is happening at the table. Although he cannot hear what is being said, because of the noise from the bar and customers, the squirrel doesn't like the otter's expression and can see that Regen is growing angry.
There's three of them, and two of us. Easy. The ale must've truly got to Ashnel's head, for he starts forward, and picks up a chair from beneath a nearby table and is planning to use it as a weapon if it comes to it.
He doesn't know what the blue sash the otter's wearing means, but the Terraluxian Captain is certain that Tervin Blackstar would not be happy if anybeast attacked one of his officers.*

[Tinsy Stormsight]

*Regen does not appear to notice Ashnel, and may even be drunk enough to think he can take on the otter and his cronies by himself. *
*The otter takes a step forward and growls, *Y' ain't sendin' me nowhere, squirr'l.
*Regen stands in front of the otter, a snarl curling his lip. *Watch me.

*The weasel and the fox, meanwhile, come around to stand directly behind their leader. They, too, wear blue sashes. *

[Terragon Scrufftail]

*Ashnel pauses, wavering. The small part of his mind that's still talking sense attempts to reason with the rest of him... it fails and the Terraluxian Captain lifts the chair over his head, stumbles forward clumsily and is intending to smash it over the otter's head, but it falls from the squirrel's grip before he can do much. Ashnel hopes it will either cause some damage or at least distract the gang.*