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Post by Terragon Scrufftail on Nov 3, 2007 21:39:22 GMT
*The leaves on the trees outside were spiralling in slow, mournful dance, the woodlands garbed in new, autumnal colours and the high, rope and timber walk-way, leading from Starsett Hollow to the trees beyond was so close through the cool, open window that brought in the breeze, the taste of salt from the shores not more than a mile and a half away fresh upon it. From the clearing below the treehouse comes the flowing, whistling music of a reed pipe and Terragon Scrufftail Canopy sighs at the world outside her window as she dips a quill back into the ink bottle at her paw for a moment or so before leaning back over the birch-bark parchment before her and resuming her task, the feather pen scratching infuriatingly against the paper after only a few seconds. Returning it to the inkwell, Terragon composes a sentence in her head, which she shakes a few times in annoyance as she loses the thread of what she's trying to say.*
*"To Lord Tervin Blackstar, Warlord and Head of the Fort Copperlin.
Lord Blackstar, your allies at Terralux and I, as leaderess, once again express our thanks at the help given to the settlement in previous seasons by your officers and soldiers..."*
*Writing this, Terragon almost immediately tears the start of the letter away from the rest of the paper, crumpling it into a small ball, the size of a damson or a walnut, and sweeps it aside to a growing pile creeping dangerously nearer to the end of the desk. The ruined parchment is followed by at least ten different variations of the leaderess' opening words until she is left with but a scrap of birch-bark. The musician from outside in the clearing still playing on, Terragon takes the pen up in her paw once more only to sketch a minute likeness of a daisy to the edge of the paper. She chides herself inwardly, tries once more to adopt a scholarly frown and writes, the words absent-mindedly becoming not a letter but a series of short, clumsy lines.*
*"Quiet now, mo(u)rning, There's nought you can do, You've got all of the angels A-weeping for you."*
*Before she quite realises what she's doing there comes a knock from the door. Jumping in surprise, Terragon regains herself, takes a few breaths and leaves the pen finally to rest in the thick, black ink, not expecting the visitor to be anybeast other than perhaps Ashnel, Ayeny or Terragon's own sister, Robin.*
OOC: The leaderess of Terralux really ought to have a secretary or a scribe.
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Silas
Villager
A Wandering Warrior
Posts: 138
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Post by Silas on Nov 3, 2007 23:09:35 GMT
OOC: Yup... Where'd Engel go to, anyhow?
*On the other side of the door stands Silas, having wandered over from the nearby Leafback house-fort. Wednsday afternoons always went by the slowest with him, made more lengthy and boring without anybeast to talk to. So he walks over to Starsett, expecting everybeast to be gone anyways. He was surprised when he heard movement inside the residence, and waited patiently to see who it was. He, of course, had some questions to ask anyway.*
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Post by Tinsy Stormsight on Nov 3, 2007 23:53:53 GMT
*There is a loud scuffling noise from the forest floor, and Regen can be seen coming toward the fort at a run. He doesn't appear to be working hard, although Lonas, who is following slowly, does.* *The two squirrels stop at the bottom of the tree, Regen breathing lightly and grinning, and Lonas gasping and looking extremely offended. They stand, chatting loudly, while the older brother catches his breath.* ...and Lord Blackstar's forging up toward Salamandastron, apparently he needs new lands to conscript troops from... Since when did you become an expert on local news? (This is Lonas, still annoyed) ..quiet. Anyhow, last I heard he was going for that other warlord's lands, whats-his-face - Burde, that's it. As in Burde's Horde? Rippla? Aye, that's the one! Anyway, we helped defeat his traveling army, but this Burde fella...some kinda ferret-type critter, I hear - he's been making trouble on the Lord's nothern border. So, apparently he's gonna go into Burde's area and chew him up completely. I'll bet he can do it...but that's alot of territory for him. Doesn't that chunk of land go from Mossflower's northern edge all th' way 't the ocean and up past Badger Mountain? He is a vermin warlord, no matter how nice he is t' us...ye c'n bet Badger Mountain and Redwall'll have heard o' him by the time he's done. Yea...true. *Regen frowns, as if it's just occured to him that this may be a problem.* Anyway, I figgered we oughta drop this news on Terragon. She'll be interested in this. Yea, so will Ashnel. *Lonas, having finally caught his breath, and starts up the ladder. *'Specially since we'll be right on his conquest path. He'll be wanting soldiers from us, since we won't be guarding part of his border again...
*The two squirrels reach the top of the ladder and pause, having noticed that Silas is up there. Lonas, on top, smiles by way of greeting. *Hey, mate. Is anyone there?
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Post by Terragon Scrufftail on Nov 4, 2007 8:33:46 GMT
*The sound of voices, footsteps. Ashnel Alashia leans out of the open window nearest to the door, beaming as he recognises the three squirrel on the other side.* 'Eya, *He murmurs, opening the door and side-stepping out of the way.* Here t' see Terri, or has Tuscaro banned you three from the Tavern too? *All I did was ask him if he thought he'd treated Danniar in a responsible way. There's nothing wrong with asking a question.*
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Post by Tinsy Stormsight on Nov 4, 2007 13:55:05 GMT
Well, *Lonas begins, dragging himself onto the platform at Regen's urging, *We're here to see Terri. Although Tuscaro got word of Reg's vendetta, so he's mad at 'im. 'Course, we haven't been banned from th' Tavern yet, 'cuz I own a share o' th' good wines. *Regen clambers up behind Lonas. *Hey Ashnel, Silas.
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Post by Terragon Scrufftail on Nov 4, 2007 19:05:23 GMT
Fair 'nough, *Ashnel agrees.* First door on the right, by the way. I'd knock if I were you. Unless one comes bearing a cup of tea... when she's working... *With another grin, to show his words were mainly meant in jest, Ashnel points them in the direction of Terragon's room before throwing himself back down onto the window seat beside an open book, tailing twirling idly as he makes little progress through the page.*
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Silas
Villager
A Wandering Warrior
Posts: 138
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Post by Silas on Nov 4, 2007 19:08:16 GMT
Hey. *Silas responds to everyone in general, not expecting anybeast at all to be home. But in a flash his theory was proved wrong. He politely waits to speak, smirking though he didn't really know who Tuscaro was. Maybe the new Tavern management...*
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Post by Tinsy Stormsight on Nov 5, 2007 20:38:19 GMT
*Lonas nods in thanks, and makes room for Regen on the platform as the bigger squirrel takes the lead. After a moment of deliberation, Regen raises a paw and knocks twice on the door, loudly.* *Lonas stands back behind him, arms crossed, and waits.*
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Post by Terragon Scrufftail on Nov 6, 2007 20:30:54 GMT
*Having not heard their voices in the room beyond, Terragon doesn't expect to see Lonas, Regen and Silas as she replies to the knock.* Yes? Come in. *Ashnel glances up from his book for a moment and, having little else to do for now besides read it, stands and wanders across the room to join the other three outside the door of Terri's room.*
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Post by Tinsy Stormsight on Nov 7, 2007 0:08:49 GMT
*Regen strolls into the room at Terragon's bidding, smiles vaguely around, and is bumped into by Lonas. After a moment of sorting themselves out, the two brothers stand off to one side to wait.* Thanks. *Regen appears to think he has to say something.*
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Post by Terragon Scrufftail on Nov 8, 2007 21:08:29 GMT
*Terragon blinks in surprise as, instead of one of Starsett House's other residents, she finds herself facing the Eale brothers. Her room, aside from the desk, is tidy, the leaderess realises with an inward sigh of relief, her bed made and fur almost neatly combed, even her tail nearly managing to appear under control.*
Oh... *Her quiet surprise is near forgotten as Terragon remembers the poem and nonchalantly places a paw over the scrap of parchment, seeming to be merely leaning upon the desk.* Er, morning. *She looks past Regen and Lonas to Silas, outside the door, and beckons him in, standing.* Would you like to sit down, or? *Terragon shruggs, as the room doesn't offer much in the way of chairs, apart from the one she has just vacated. Taking the pillow from the bed she places it on the floor and sits, her legs folded beneath her. Waiting for the other three squirrels to settle, Terragon dares to ask, curious as to their sudden appearance,* So? Any news for me?
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Post by Tinsy Stormsight on Nov 9, 2007 1:43:35 GMT
*Regen mumbles something about preferring to stand. Lonas moves farther into the room, to make space for Silas. * Uh, yes....alot of news. Silas, y' wanna go first?..probably yours is shorter. *Regen glances over at Silas, then turns his attention out the window. The squirrel seems rather distracted, probably by the newest Blackstar fiasco.*
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Silas
Villager
A Wandering Warrior
Posts: 138
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Post by Silas on Nov 10, 2007 21:20:29 GMT
*Silas steps forward into the room and the little gathering, stating,* I don't think I have any news to tell ye. Just came over here f'r somethin' to do, I guess. *He shrugs, quite helplessly at the assemblage, and adds,* So, if anyone needs somethin' done, I'm dyin' o' boredom. *Finished, he nods respectfully to Terragon, then takes a step back and allows Regen and Lonas the floor, both literally and metaphorically.*
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Post by Terragon Scrufftail on Nov 11, 2007 13:46:16 GMT
*As Silas pauses, Terragon returns herself to the chair.* Well, you're welcome to stay at Starsett Hollow for a few days if you like. Ashnel said he might be organising an expedition into the woods sometime. Mentioned fishing and maybe looking for dragonfly larvae... we lost quite a few from the DragonflyMail tree during the first frost. *Trailing off, though still searching for more suggestions to cure Silas' boredom, she gives the Eale brothers - more to the point, Regen - an expectant look.* As for yourselves? Maybe you've got some good news for me and Silas? *Although, judging by your expression, Regen, I think not.*
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Post by Tinsy Stormsight on Nov 11, 2007 16:54:42 GMT
*Regen glances over at Lonas, who nods once or twice. The younger squirrel frowns a bit, thinks long enough to choose his words, and runs through his news quickly.* Uh, well, it's like this. Lord Blackstar, he's gonna take over Burde's territory, now we've chewed up Burde's travelin' army. Apparently he's needin' more space for his pet projects... *Lonas interrupts.* Uh, those bein' one involving heavy knights, a couple more castles he's puttin' up, and he's tryin' t' set up a trade route or somethin'. Yeah. *Regen continues.* ..anyway, so he's gonna take over th' territory. This wouldn't normally be a problem, 'cept when he takes over th' north..that's where Burde is...we're not gonna be on th' border any more. *He pauses, apparently done. Lonas sighs faintly and takes over.* ...means, since we aren't gonna be honorary border guards, Blackstar's gonna want soldiers and taxes from us, at th' very least. And from Redwall Abbey an' Badger Mountain, who are also gonna be part o' Blackstar's territory.
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