Abbot's Processional, part 3: Brockhall
Brockhall: Annex
- -*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-* Brockhall Annex *-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*
This chamber, lit with soft-glowing lanterns, is the very hollowed trunk of
Brockhall and serves as an annex for a host of adjacent rooms and a grand
entrance hall. The room's ceiling is lost overhead in the darkness of the
mighty oak trunk. The tree's thick roots, that twist their way around the
chamber, have been honed and polished to resemble simple furnishings -- the
chairs, tables, and shelves are all part of the rustic decor, as much a
part of the tree as the beings who dwell here. A great stone fireplace
dominates the far wall, encircled by small stumps and even a large, comfy
chair. Carved into the living walls, a staircase with a sturdy railing runs
around the chamber, ascending gracefully into darkness. Another smaller,
darkened stairwell, the steps worn with age, leads to the woodlands. Above
the stairwell, a brightly polished, bronze plaque reads: Brockhall.
*-*-* Entrances/Exits *-*-*
[Fo]yer [C]entral [S]tairs [R]ear [E]xit
[I]nfirmary [M]ain [H]all [S]tudy
[T]rapdoor [W]ar [R]oom
- -*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-* Brockhall Annex *-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*
(sorry if I missed anyone) Benar the squirrel and various spoofs. DoraRose and LilyMoore, mice, along with Butterclaw the Sparra. Flicktail the fox . Mint the sea otter. Zinnia the badger. Lee the otter.
OOC: random fact: the entrance to Brockhall is vermin blocked, so we had to give Flicky a ride. I did not know that you could block species from entering a room. O.o Okie dokie, then. BIC:
The party from Redwall Abbey have been travelling for most of the morning, such a big group moves slowly, especially through woodlands with carts of supplies to pull along behind them. But now they are approaching the fabled ancient home of the Badger Lords of Mossflower. Slowing down the Abbot leans on his staff and looks up at the massive oak tree and smiles "Well here we are Brockhall, where Redwall was born."
DoraRose has been having allot of trouble keeping her daughter in sight. LilyMoore just wants to explore! The Warrior was beyond thankful when Butterclaw showed up. She immediately asked him (read: voluntold him) to keep watch over Lily as she wandered around in the woodlands. He happily obliged. Now, as they come up to the ancient tree, the young mousemaid's excitement draws her to run up to the Abbot and skip to a stop beside him. She is wearing no shoes, but she did tie her boots onto her haversack. "This is so cool! This thing is huge!!" The Sparra flutters up and lands beside his friend, chirruping his agreement.
Benar says, "It is indeed a very grand old oak tree, it has stood here longer then Redwall has existed." he walks up and lays a paw on the door, "Over the years badgers have come and gone and it has been inhabited by many beasts over the turning seasons. But even when it has stood empty as it does now Redwall has taken care of it, kept it preserved and cared for." He looks back at the trail of Redwallers still emerging from the woods. "We'll not go inside until everyone arrives."
Lily skips over to the door, frowning slightly as she thinks. "Didn't a family of adders live here at one point? And...and Trisscar led a group that ended up killing them...although I'm....not sure if that's what she intended or not..." DoraRose comes up and listens quietly, letting her daughter (who needs the learning more) do the talking. Butterclaw flutters up into the branches and looks for another way in. Possibly one that only birds and bats can get to.
Up above in the tree there are many knot holes and old nests but no way into the interior of the hall. Benar moves back from the door, "And no one goes inside who is not wearing their shoes," he looks at the young mouse "And that includes you Miss. But yes you are right, Triscar the warrior drove out a nest of adders living here though that was a very long time ago now."
[Once the party gets inside,] Flicktail moves about the annex carefully, slowly examining things such as hiding places, His paw on the sword's pommel, after all it IS his responsibility to protect the abbot. His tail swishes slowly as his nose works sniffing out , looking for any scents. he is not nervous however he is being thorough...his fox eyes seen good in dim light and he moves along the walls cocking his head examining and listening.
DoraRose smiles softly as LilyMoore slumps, pouting. "WhhyyyYYYYyyyyYYYYyyyy? Do I have to??" she asks/whines as she sits down and starts pulling her boots on. Butterclaw is dissapointed that he couldn't find an opening, but one of the nests looks REALLY comfortable, so he sits in it and preens his wing.
Benar chuckles, "Young warriors do not pout Lilymoore." he looks around at the crowd of Redwallers, Brother Theodore is directing the novices pulling the carts to one side and at last Benar pulls out a large iron key and opens the door. "Let us all go inside"
LilyMoore sighs and gets rid of her pouty face as she ties her bootstrings and hops onto her feet. "Okay. But why do I need to wear shoes in here? Are there still snakes living in Brockhall?" DoraRose grabs her daughter's abandoned haversack and decides to not grump at her about how she should be carrying it. Butterclaw hears the door open and flies down, landing near the Warrior and hopping alongside her.
The Abbot pushes open the heavy door and steps inside, "Because it is disrespectful to run around inside this house in such a manner. We are guests here, Brockhall is held in trust until a Badger comes to claim it as home"
DoraRose shifts her hold on her battleaxe as she slings her daughter's backpack onto her shoudler, and follows the Abbot inside. Butterclaw hops ahead of the Warrior and gives an experimental chirrup to see how sound echoes in here. LilyMoore looks slightly shamefaced as she follows the squirrel inside. "Oh. I thought nobeast could live here anymore. Because is was a ruin."
Benar walks inside, he murmurs to Novice Louise and she moves forward, starting to light the lanterns one by one bringing the hall into light. "Not any more, it is unused certainly but it is livable and well cared for."
Butterclaw flies over to one of the carved chairs and lands, singing a pretty little song. LilyMoore looks around, almost breathless with awe. DoraRose is almost as impressed, and she goes over to the fireplace and rests a paw on the mantle. "This place is beautiful," she whispers.
Benar says, "As I said, we hold it in trust until such a time as it is needed." he smiles quietly and walks along, paws padding on the wooden floor. "We shall stay here for the next few days, to honour our leaders of the past. All of them."
DoraRose looks over at the Abbot. "Do they have to be from Mossflower? My grandfather was a great leader and Warrior, but he lived and died back in my home of Tuscani." LilyMoore looks a little sad for a moment. "You and Lorimis are the only leaders I've ever known..." Butterclaw blinks and says, "SparraQueen Warbeak greatgood leaderQueen."
Benar says, "Anyone can be talked about," he walks around and looks from side to side happily, "It is a gathering, a time to talk and share our thoughts and feelings."
The party from the abbey have gathered inside Brockhall after several hours of travel from St Ninians to the great old oak tree that stands tall above Brockhall. Inside the lights have been lit and the Abbot is talking quietly with the others as they prepare to share stories about leaders from the past.
Zinnia goes to sit down after a short look around and starts to listen to stories and any missed ones she can get later for her journal.
DoraRose slowly sets the haversacks on the floor and goes to slowly brush any dust that might be on the mantle away. "My grandfather, David Mightyone, had the Bloodwrath, great and terrible. He wielded this battleaxe, Nightsong, which was forged by his great-grandfather before him. My grandfather was wild and unpredictable when he was young, full of uncontrollable rage. He met my grandmother, Nancy. She was also a Warrior, but she was calmer than him. To try and win her love, he started working on self control. Then the War came."
Benar settles down in a chair listening to the tale of DoraRose's family
Lee sits down as well, looking around the once proud badger home.
Mint has been in another room and all this noise and talking has woken her up, so she sneaks down the stairs and peeks wide eyed at the crowd of strange beasts in the main area and watches them silently.
DoraRose continues to wipe the now clean mantle as she remembers what her parents and grandparents told her, long ago, when she was naught but a Dibbun. "Our enemies, the Perusians, were attacking us. Attacking Tuscani, and our great city of Roma. They outnumbered us, a thousand to our 300. We fought bravely, but they pushed us back, until we were right against the city's walls. My grandfather was leading our troops, struggling to not give in to his Berserker's rage. Our troops thought for sure they were going to lose, and die upon their city's doorstep. But help arrived, just in time! Our allies from the North came in, after 3 days of desperate, non-stop battle, and they came in and attacked from the back. Cheering, my grandfather led the troops of Roma in a last charge, letting the Bloodwrath take him over. Not a single Perusian was left alive that day."
Benar listens to Dora's story, shaking his head a little bit, the peaceful squirrel cannot really comprehend a war like what she is describing.
Zinnia listens, she has heard of bloodwrath but never seen it before or really knows what it is and maybe that's a good thing.
Mint stays where she is, creeping just a little closer to the group.
DoraRose says, "my grandfather was wounded terribly, and after the heat of battle left him, he slipped into a Deep faint." she shakes her head. "So many beasts were injured...or died. It was horrible. It took scores of seasons for the various wounds to heal....including the ones you cannot see. My grandfather, along with all the other wounded, were taking into Roma's large Infirmaries and treated. My grandmothers, Nancy and Angela, nursed him back to health together, for they were the best of friends. I am sorry to say that the few Perusians who were left were sold as slaves, for Tuscani has slavery as it's most heinous crime. Slowly my grandfather healed, and one day he asked Nancy to marry him. She agreed, and when he was fully healed, they had a quiet wedding at his father's house....which was passed down to my father, Farrer Strongpaw, which by rights belongs to my oldest brother, who lives somewhere in Tuscani still. My grandfather, because of his many wounds, was no longer a military leader, but he did lead troops in the skirmishes that always happen along roads. He and his wife died before I was born, but they left a legacy that I hope I am able to honour." she turns and sits on the hearth and spreads her paws wide. "That is the end of my story."
Benar listens to Dora-Rose's tale drawing to an end and smiles softly, "That is a grand tale DoraRose and worthy of these halls. I am sure the Badgers who once lived here will honour your story and hold it within these walls so it shall not be forgotten. Our recorder shall hold his name as well, so his story is part of our Abbey."
Zinnia smiles "With permission from Dorarose of course, I have been keeping stories told in a special place in my journal for all to read later."
Mint lets out a sneeze and quickly covers her mouth and goes to try and hid only to trip and stumbels down the 4-5 stairs and ends up skinning her knee and looks ready to cry.
Lee nods
Benar looks around at the noise of someone tumbling and stands up slowly, "Hello there... I don't think you are with my group."
Lee chuckles. "Why it's another ruddertail!"
DoraRose smiles and inclines her head to the badger. "You have my permission and my blessing." LilyMoore says to the Abbot, "No, she's not. I know all the Dibbuns who are with us from the Abbey, and she's definitely not one." She then lays down and closes her eyes, and will eventually fall asleep listening to all the tales. Dora will just sit quietly now and listen to the other's stories. After all the stories are told, she's going to go to bed.
And I had to leave here :'( Thanks for reading!
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