Soldier's Pact [Tervin Blackstar 1]

[Tinsy Stormsight]

OOC: Right folks, let's do this thing!....[Tervin Blackstar Thread 1/Cleaning up some of the Arkains Plot/Why Does Rippla Give a darn Anyway?]
( www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bhb4eyx1KxU&feature=related )

BIC:

One more day
This time I’ll bite the bullet
Let me stay
And set this life ablaze

Give myself to compromise
And let the hammer fall
From blackened eyes to broken ties
I’ve bled to know them all
Driven to the brink of death
I heed deceptions call
Through bitter tears, forgotten years
I’ve come to sever all



A light flickered in the chapel long into the night. Normally this wasn't unusual, but the people actually inside were.
The Eale brothers and Rippla Forlinost.
Regen, the youngest of the group, Duke of the Arkains, was sitting over a large sheet of parchement and a letter. His shortsword lay a few feet off, unattended on the floor. The Lord Duke wasn't looking at the parchement, but was in fact interested in the letter.
Lonas, in the middle, knelt in front of the altar. He was, to all appearances, praying fervently. Well, mostly. Occasionally he'd open an eye and look behind his at the other two.
Rippla, the scarred weasel, sat on a pew behind the others, studying his rapier hilt and whispering to himself. He was the only of the group that seemed ill at ease, his whispers in another language entirely.

"Read the letter again, Reg'."
Lonas' voice is quiet, and he turned to sit on the step leading up the altar. Regen, still staring at the letter, glanced up. He looked uncharacteristically concerned, even upset.
"'Tis still th' same. It's from Corin, saying he can't ally with us."
"Won't."
"Won't ally with us. Says 'e doesn't even wanna think about you, an' that I'm as bad a traitor as ye are."
"And th' other one."
"'Tis from Lord Tervin Blackstar. Says he wants taxes from us, same as I said 'e would. As much as from any small village durin' wartime, but still alot fer us t' pay."
The younger of the Eales suddenly sounded cold, angry, something that hadn't happened in seasons. Since the Tavern fiasco, in fact. He drops the two letters in disgust, one with the Eale seal on it, one with Tervin Blackstar's.

Lonas stares at them for a moment, then turns his attention to the parchement on the floor. It has what are clearly defense plans for a small village...Terralux. The Lake and wall are clearly marked. The squirrel rubs his forehead under his turban, face clearly nervous. Lonas isn't bothering to hide his emotions in a group with his comrades...no, brothers. Even Rippla.
The older squirrel is running through a whole storm of emotions..nothing simple, like Regen's anger, nothing clear, like Rippla's nervousness. His expression changes from worry to fear to a kind of fondness in a matter of seconds, then settles on fear.
"What're we gonna do?"
Regen frowns, then goes into soldier mode. "We'll have to build up defenses. First thing to do is get some warriors in, decent ones that c'n work t'gether. Peasant anger is all very well an' good, but I c'n list Terralux's soldiers on one paw."
Myself, Rippla, Ashnel, Silas.
"Get th' walls built out of stone. Wood's fine fer roamin' bands o' vermin, but I hear Blackstar's got cannon."
"What?" The most obvious sign of suprise from Rippla yet. The weasel looks up, clearly shocked.
"Don't dwell." Regen's voice is hard. "Somebeast who c'n lead a town under siege. Terri's a great peacetime leader, but she's too..undecisive..t' go through a major attack." He chews his lip for a moment. "Ashnel might do, if somebeast c'n find 'im."
Lonas makes a 'whatever' sort of sound. "Food?"
"That's your department, Raymond."

Suddenly, Rippla looks up, a light coming into his cold eyes. "Allies. I can procure them for you. We need warriors, yes?"
"Aye..." Regen looks at the weasel over his shoulder.
"I will visit Burde's Horde. We fight against a common enemy, they can help us."
Regen glances at Lonas. "I dunno, mate.."
Rippla bares his teeth. "Ye have no other choice. Ye are fighting Blackstar. The Order is still fragmented. Redwall and Badger Mountain have their own problems. Your own country turns against ye."
It's Regen's turn to snarl angrily. Lonas almost mirrors his action.
"The only other power available that can help is Burde."

"Burde," Regen mumbles. "We c'n try, I guess. I can't do anythin' without Terri's go-ahead. She'll ask Ashn'l. Hopefully he won't be too pig-headed.."
"Stow that." Lonas shoots Regen a warning look. "Whatever we do, it won't work out if we get int' fights with eachother."
"Statin' a fact, Ray. 'S all. We're t'gether. We aren't gonna get through it without." Regen looks down at the letters and his plans. "Everybeast else is broke. Terri's...strange, an can't be depended on at th' best o' times, Ashn'ls gone, Silas hasn't been seen. Same fer Geordie. Oakrose is a loner, no matter who she's up and fallen in love with."
Lonas looks unsettled for a moment, then apparently decides not to think on that.
"Blackstar's against us. Th' Arkains aren't with us. God may be with us, but it ain't gonna show. We're all that's together in this whole burnin' country." Regen licks his lips and looks from Lonas to Rippla. "We gotta keep it, brothers."
Lonas nods once. Rippla stares evenly at Regen, then slowly sets his rapier down, spits on a paw, holds it out.
"Soldier's pact."
Regen does the same. "Pact."
Lonas stares from one to the other and lays a paw between the two. "Pact."



One more time
This day I kill the witness
Take back what’s mine
And give disgrace a name

Give myself to compromise
And let the hammer fall
From blackened eyes to broken ties
I’ve bled to know them all
Driven to the brink of death
I heed deceptions call
Through bitter tears, forgotten years
I’ve come to sever all

Lead us home
Lead us home
Our tired hearts are failing now, from the inside out
Lead us home[/i]

[Oakrose & Crew]

OOC: That makes Terralux seem so small and defensless!
BIC:
*Darron was walking by the church, trying to cool off. Oakrose had been on edge and very steely, so Mayyie had assumed he'd done something wrong. Their stares meant they didn't eat much at dinner, and Soilrose had gottne upset over wasting 'gurt food'. So staying in a houseful of pissed-off women didn't make him happy, either. He scowled as he noticed a light on in St. Ninian's. Pushing open the front door, Darron entered yet another tense atmosphere. Looking over the three beasts, the squirrel noticed something wrong.*
What're yew all pactin' on?

[Tinsy Stormsight]

"Your death and destruction," Lonas mumbles under his breath, teeth bared slightly in annoyance. Regen glances at him and stands, turning the ring on his paw so it faces outward - before it was the other way, like he'd taken it off and put it on again several times. Rippla follows suit, eyes steely once again, and stands just behind the squirrel. Lonas remains seated on the step.
Regen glances Darron up and down, eyes narrowed slightly. The younger squirrel has clearly picked up on his brother's dislike...either that or the other's rudeness has already put him off.
"You must be Darron. Name's Lord Regen Eale." He holds out the paw with the ring, looking cooly up at the slightly taller squirrel in his best commanding manner. "I understand ye've met my brother already."
"That's Rippla, my seneschal," he adds, without nodding back at the weasel. Rippla examines Darron cooly, sneers a bit more than required.

Lonas glances up at Darron, brown eyes cold, and gathers up the two letters that still lie on the floor. He rolls them wordlessly, watching the confrontation simmer.

[Oakrose & Crew]

*Darron hardly pays attention to Lonas and focuses on Regen. Nodding, he tries to keep calm in the extremely tense situation.*
Mmmm-huh. I've met 'im a'fore... m'Lord.
*He smiles and laughs dryly. Did the lovebird tell 'is liddle brother that I was questionin' 'im? 'Ope they don't 'urt me. They've got me all alone 'ere with this... this beast of a weasel. 'Ow in 'ellgates do you get to lookin' like that?*
That didn't answer my question. What're yew pactin' on?

[Baraka]

Cannons? *Baraka appears to have been in thought, lying on a bench against the stone wall of the chapel. Paddy appears to be absent, no doubt having more religous things to do.
I think I may have something... Flammenringe? *This last comment he adds in a whisper, almost an afterthought.*
What sort of cannon has he? Bombard? Field? *The squirrel closes his eyes. If I can't get Flammenringe working...

[Tinsy Stormsight]

"'Tis hardly your business, sir." Regen studies Darron again, the picture of an arrogant lord. Rippla, behind him, notes Darron's look and frowns every so slightly. He cocks an ear toward Baraka, but says nothing. Regen, however, glances over at where the Cornish squirrel is lying.
"The kind what go boom." He looks a bit weary. "Field, o' course. Ye think they're gonna drag bombard cannon through wood an' fen?" Lonas smirks, the letters rustling in his paws. Rippla's expression doesn't change - neither does his level stare at Darron. Clearly, he's not only a seneschal, but also a bodyguard or something for Regen.
Regen turns back to Darron. "Can we help ye with something?"

[Oakrose & Crew]

*Darron looks down in disappointment.*
Nah. I needed to get out of the cottage fer awhile. Oakrose was steely and cold towards me, moreso than usual, so Mayyie thought I'd done somethin' wrong. They spent too much time starin' across the table at me to eat, so Soilrose got mad at wastin so much food. A houseful of pissed women ain't such a happy place. With talk of cannons and such, I was hopin' to maybe help y'all kick some ass... but if yew don't want m'help, it's a'ight.
*He turns to go, hoping somebeast would ask him if he really wanted to help.*


OOC: ;D Darron's how I release my anger and show y'all my bad girl side.

[Terragon Scrufftail]

*Terragon stalks in, avoiding Darron, her eyes dark as they stare straight ahead. When she smiles - a twitch of the corners of the mouth - in greeting, she barely looks at the other squirrels and only half-focusing on Rippla. Shoulder close to the wall, Terragon makes her way quickly away from them and disappears into one of the small shrines.*
*Sitting down and closing her eyes, Terragon attempts to focus. It seems an age since she's thought for herself and she gives a silent sigh. For a brief moment, it seems ridiculous even being there, waiting at the foot of a statue for help. Trying to convince herself she still doesn't need advise has proved a fruitless task. But how many years has it been now? Nearly five since you left Redwall. And Terragon could have done so much more.*
*Resisting the urge to cry out or open her eyes, she allows her mind to slowly empty, until all she thinks of is the slow candlelight she can see, deep crimson, through her eyelids. Fire... she doesn't allow the thought to expand. Finally, Terragon stands. She takes a deep breath and opens her eyes, feeling an odd emotion well up in the back of her throat. She strides out of the shrine and towards the others, head held high,expression grim but eyes wide and a secret smile waiting in the wings of her mind.* Regen, *Terragon says simply, head and gaze flicking to the golden-furred squirrel.*

OOC: Last paragraph.

Early morning without warning
Woke me with a scare.
I had that dream again
That the sun was dead.

Make me warm or take me home,
Its so cold in here.
Can't we meet somewhere,
Is it winter there?
Is it winter there?
This winter...

Meet me in the summertime,
We can move the air.
Sweet Virginia countryside,
I will meet you there.

Golden lips and cherry wine,
Moonshine in your hair,
Just keep staring at the sun,
Pray for summer's end.

Come on over brave my storm,
Oceans overhead.
Come inside, my friend,
Getting bad out there.

Every moment we have stolen,
All we have to share,

No one wanted them,
But you know I did,
You know I did.
This moment...

Meet me in the summertime,
We can move the air.
Sweet Virginia countryside,
I will meet you there.

Bloody lips and cherry wine,
Moonshine in your hair,
Just keep staring at the sun,
Pray for summer's end.

Suddenly, horribly reminded of how much better Tinsy writes than me. Meh... high five anyway.

[Tinsy Stormsight]

OOC: Heh.
Virginia, if you wondered, is also a state of the US.

BIC:

Oh.
Regen has never been a poker player - his expression immediately turned to a sort of chagrin, although Rippla and Lonas don't look any different. Resisting the urge to look back at his brothers to reassure himself of their non-reactions, he opens his mouth to speak.
But before any words come out, Terragon storms through and goes again. The squirrel nearly jumps out his skin, but turns it into a quick step back out of the way. Rippla does the same, to avoid being stomped on by Regen's heavy boots.
There's a long moment of silence - Regen staring at the door Terragon left through, Rippla frowning vaguely at his rapier on the pew, Lonas staring cooly at Darron. Then Regen clears his throat, meaning to speak again.
And Terragon comes back into the room, cutting him off again.
"Regen."

The Duke of the Arkains bows his head slightly and steps to one side like a dog coming to heel before the leaderess. "Aye." He seems smaller, somehow, despite being a head taller than the other squirrel.
Rippla glances between them both, nods once at Regen, and goes back to where his rapier lies, again picking up the weapon. Lonas, as before, simply sits on the steps, watching silently.

Blessed hands will tear me off
And break me at the wrist
Drag me back to solid ground
And slay the fate I kiss

[Terragon Scrufftail]

OOC: Ja, I know. Think I've got friends living there... dunno. Haven't spoken/written to them in ages.

BIC: *If Terragon is surprised at the reactions of any of the others, she barely shows it.* Seems I've missed the news from our allies. Care to fill in the details? *She casts an almost arrogant look over the assembled creatures. An ex-soldier, an ex-pirate, an ex-traitor and a best friend's ex-boyfriend... and Baraka. "And tonight I thank the stars as I count my lucky stars.[/u]" Terragon continues, standing taller, her smirk confident. Things could be worst.* Darron, *She continues, looking at Regen.* Stop skulking in the doorway and sit down. *With a lazy gesture Terragon indicates the nearest pew, lined with prayer books.*

OOC: Okay - looks like the laptop's thinking about crashing. I'm going to post what I've written already so I don't have to re-type it. Sorry.

[Oakrose & Crew]

*Darron looks up at the leaderess. Nodding, he moves quietly to sit down in the indicated pew.*
Yes'm. What else am I supposed to do? Can't go to the cottage, it's a hellhole there, and here I keep gettin stared at.
*He looks from Lonas to Regen to Rippla, then back at Terragon.*

[Tinsy Stormsight]

Regen glances at Terragon, then nods to Lonas. His voice is oddly rough when he speaks. "Lonas, fill 'er in if ye will."
The older squirrel nods once and stands, the two letters in his left paw. He stares down at the map on the floor, mentally pieces the facts together, and comes up with the following:
"Well, 'tis like this, Miss Terragon. Blackstar's wantin' taxes from us, as befits a small village under 'is feudal control. Food, money..an' soldiers. He wants an answer within th' week, an' ain't gonna take no. If we give th' wrong reply, he attacks us and receives the payment anyway, plus our extra stores an' coinage whatever."
The golden squirrel almost glances up at Terragon to see her reaction, but thinks better of it and returns to studying the map of Terralux.
"M'lord Corin Eale says 'e won't send help, because of bein' in a tiff about Reg'. Not marryin' Amy, see, ev'n though Corin made 'im a duke an' all." A nagging thought about the extra company. Lonas pushes it aside and moves on. "We're on our own as far as the Arkain Mountains are concerned."
"Rippla's offered t' go see Burde, leader o' the self-titled horde, on account of him bein' an enemy o' Blackstar. Say's 'e might be able t' loan us some vermin troops what have discipline. Unfortunately, that might just put us in th' same position as we are now again."

Lonas considers his remarks and looks up somewhat nervously. Regen stands to one side of him, staring steadily ahead like he's on a parade ground, face emotionless. Rippla also stands, but as he's behind Terragon, his expression is one of strange eagerness..clearly, the scarred weasel has high hopes of getting a trip to his old Horde. For the most part, the three brothers are ignoring Darron completely and watching Terragon for a reaction. Perhaps they've taken the dark squirrel's aversion to being stared at to heart.

[Baraka]

*Baraka remains sprawled on his bench, not feeling it necessary to move. From his ever-present pouch he removes a sealed envelope. Might as well read it while everyone's talking. He pulls the wax seal of between his fingernails and opens the letter, for that is what it is:

Dear Cousin,

I am pleased to say that I have been released from military service due to injuries gained in the field, for better or for worse. I lack a job and the money I have earned has nearly run dry; there is not much that I know besides fighting. I now turn my feet north, and you and Patrick will be seeing me quite soon, perhaps within the month. You may be disappointed to know that my commander, Joan d' Arc has fallen to the enemy, and likely awaits execution. I will not likely be the same Max that you knew before we all parted ways; I believe this war has changed me inside. Also, Tania is now in Spain working in the Queen's personal guard; Perhaps we shall hear from her later. I look forward to seeing this Terralux; I will also look forward to a few months of peace.

Best of health,

Maximillian Adalric

*Baraka folds the letter back up an slides it into the pouch. He speaks up:*
We have another soldier on the way.

[Terragon Scrufftail]

*Terragon looks to Baraka, Darron and then back again to the Eale brothers. She half-raises a paw to excuse herself and, turning her back on them, hurries across to Baraka.* Another soldier for Terralux? How soon? *She stares back at Regen.* I haven't said I'll let it come to bloodshed yet, *The leaderess reminds him, though Regen has said nothing. Hell's Teeth. It's not drink or gambling that truly brings anybeast down; it's putting one's faith in doing nothing. Rippla's our last hope. The thought presents itself lightly and politely in Terragon's mind and she considers it thoughtfully, though there's little to think about. Barely realising it, she finds herself giving a small nod. If you're wrong, it's not like history books will remember you.* What other defenses do we have? Warriors? Villages who could be warriors? *Terragon asks, though her mind is already made up.*

OOC:

Say have you heard the news today?
One flag was taken down
To raise another in it's place,
A heavy cross you bear,
A stubborn heart remains unchanged,
No home, no life, no love,
No stranger singing in your name.

Maybe the season,
The colours change in the valley skies.
Dear God I've sealed my fate,
Running through Hell, Heaven can wait.

Long road to ruin there in your eyes,
Under the cold streetlights,
No tomorrow, no dead end in sight.

Let's say we take this town,
No king or queen of any state,
Get up to shut it down,
Open the streets and raise the gates
I know one wall to scale
I know a field without a name
Head on without a care
Before it's way too late

Maybe the season
The colours change in the valley skies
Oh God I've sealed my fate
Running through hell, heaven can wait

Long road to ruin there in your eyes
Under the cold streetlights
No tomorrow, no dead ends

Long road to ruin there in your eyes
Under the cold streetlights
No tomorrow, no dead end in sight

For every piece to fall in place
Forever gone without a trace
Your horizon takes it's shape
No turning back, don't turn that page

Come now, I'm leaving here tonight,
Come now, let's leave it all behind,
Is that the price you pay?
Running through Hell, Heaven can wait.

[Tinsy Stormsight]

Regen glances at Baraka, shrugs a bit, and adds the count to five.
"What other defenses do we have? Warriors? Villagers who could be warriors?"
The golden squirrel thinks about this a moment, glancing from Lonas to Rippla, then replies hesitantly, "D'fenses..th' wall's gonna need rebuilding, in stone - Blackstar's got cannon, an' the wood won't hold up. Fireproofin' fer the roofs..Lonas has a list."
Lonas turns the map of Terralux over with a footpaw. There is, indeed, a long list of what needs doing scrawled across the back in wandering script.
"He c'n read it, I think." Regen looks down at the handwriting, squints slightly, and continues on to the next questions. "Well, so far, th' list of soldiers who are here is..uh, Me, Rippla, an' Silas."
The names come out sounding rather pathetic, for obvious reason. "Could be..with some trainin'...um, yourself, Baraka maybe, Darron, Oakrose, Lonas as a last resort." Regen makes a face. "We'd need alot o' practice t' get everyone up int' fightin' form an' have even a prayer."
"Maybe a year's worth."

"That's completely useless." Lonas, who has been rereading the list, doesn't appear very offended about his brother's slight on his fighting skills...it is a good estimate of what he can do.
"Aye." Regen mumbles the word. "That'd make eight fighters, since we can't arm Father Paddy..'tis against his rules t' take sides."
"An' we need a warleader or somethin'. Captain of Arms." Lonas has decided to broach the subject. "No offense, Miss Terri, but ye' are more of a peacetime leader..by which I meant t' say, ye know even less about d'fensive strategy'n I do." He smiles a bit, studying Terragon to watch the other squirrel's reaction.
Rippla remains silent.