Confrontation at the Pond

With Vlen, Kevarr, Sinway, Hactor and Sharn.

Enjoy!

Vlen stands next to the pond, staring down to it, his ears perked lightly, listening for something.

Hactor walks briskly from the Great Hall his arms clasped firmly behind his back as he walks. A slight breeze makes his cloak billow. He is all the while being followed by a hapless stoat carrying map, after map.

Vlen looks behind his back, noticing Hactor, then turns around fully to face the fox and stoat assistant. "Excuse me fox," he says, "from that stoat following you I'm assuming you are either an officer of Hactor's, or Hactor himself."

Hactor stops his walking suddenly and the stoat nearly slams into him, but manages instead to topple over next to him. Hactor glances down at the stoat in a rather bored manor, and then looks at Vlen. He replies, "Aye. I'm Hactor. And you are?"

Vlen stands somewhat at attention. "General Vlen of the Army of Northern Mossflower. Sir, I'm here to advise you that you have attacked a Mossflower community. You are hereby ordered to leave the Abbey, and negotiations may begin."

The old warlord's eye goes rather wide. The stoat now standing looks nervously from Vlen back to Hactor. If one looked closely they would have noticed a flash of anger cross the foxes’ face. But suddenly he began to chuckle. Then the chuckle became soft laughter, until it grew into very loud laughter. Hactor laughs so hard his eye starts to tear up. He finally stops and takes a deep breath. He then replies, “Is that so? And...what if I say no little General? You are either very brave or vey very stupid... I suspect the later sir."

Vlen smirks to the fox. "I would be expecting that reply, and unfortunately I would have to report that to my forces. Of course, my failure to return to my unit would alert the army that you have already committed an act of war. We would rather settle with diplomacy sir. Ultimately, it's your choice."

Hactor cocks his head sideways to see the mouse more clearly with his good eye. The stoat still was looking rather nervous, as the warlord had been unpredictable as of late. Suddenly Hactor grins and replies, “Very well. I have a treaty for you then. Leave my Abbey or be forced to leave. You honestly think after working this hard to capture it, /you/ a general of my opposition can just saunter in hear and ask me politely to surrender? What is wrong with you? I don't have time for this. I have a coronation to prepare for in three days. A coronation I might add that shall make /all/ of Mossflower mine. So that would make you and your so-called Army rebels."

Vlen looks to the fox, and then rubs his chin. "If there was a way for you not to leave?" he asks. "I cannot promise you that my forces will agree, but I've been sent here on a peace-keeping mission. I'd like to know all of the options which are available."

Hactor sighs deeply and roles his eye saying, “Very well then. But this had better not be a waste of my time." He then whispers something to the stoat who immediately leaves for Great Hall. After a few minutes a stoat and weasel return carrying two wooden chairs. They place them down facing each other and stand at attention, on both sides of one. Hactor sits in this one gesturing for Vlen to sit in the other.

Vlen nods, sitting down in the chair across from Hactor. "Alright then," he says, adjusting his jacket lightly. "As you know, we beasts of Mossflower are a peaceful group. As I've said, we're willing to negotiate. We do not want a war, but if you force that upon us, then we will have no choice. So...." he nods to the fox. "We cannot allow you to claim Mossflower for yourself. With that in mind.... how may we proceed?"

Hactor chuckles a bit more and replies, "Well considering I already /have/ claimed Mossflower for myself, and have troops even patrolling for rebels, let me suggest this. Why don't /you/ surrender, and become subjects like everyone else?" He yawns still filling rather bored as he continues, "I don't quite think you’re at the advantage at the moment."

Vlen leans back in his chair and shrugs. "Perhaps you're right," he says, "and even if we are smaller in number and you defeat us, how many of your own will that kill. And will your horde accept being killed when your enemy gave you a chance to negotiate? I've heard about the recent traitor who was high in your ranks." Now he frowns, looking genuinely concerned. "Did you want something like that repeated sir?"

Hactor seems to be smiling, but his single, orange orb is burning with annoyance and hat. He replies in an even tone, "Believe me. If I were to surrender/that/ would set my vermin off. Not wining and keeping it."

Vlen nods. "Fair enough," he says. "Is there anything we can do to negotiate without the surrender?"

Sinway decides to make his way over to the pond for a nice enjoyable swim, or so he thought, but soon finds out he won’t be able to enjoy any thing with Hactor about, not really in the mood for conflict the otter tries to slip his way in with out much notice, though an unexpected sneeze gives him away!

Sharn pokes his bandaged head around the corner of the Laterose garden into the pond area, searching for the soldier mouse he saw last evening. But something's amiss...Who's the vermin? What's with the chairs? Sharn edges into the area, anxiously wondering if he'll get the chance to return a favor to Vlen...

Hactor leans back in his chair. He replies pleasant enough, "Of course. If you do surrender, you'll be given two options. Be assimilated as subjects and reap the rewards and privileges citizens of my realm have. Or be escorted out of Mossflower, and find ne livelihoods someplace else."

Sinway gives a small yawn understanding the gist of the conversation going on, and with a small smirk he decides to walk over and join the group choosing a spot to sit not to far from where Hactor is choosing not to speak at this moment

Vlen is silent for a moment, but nods. "That will not happen sir," he says, standing up. "And I can see you are not taking me seriously. I will report what you have stated." Then he straightens his jacket. "I'm sorry to you, that this couldn't have been more productive."

Hactor stands himself. He notices Sinway out of the corner of his eye, but ignores him at the moment. He replies, "I'm sorry I couldn't give you the answer you wanted. But there it is." He bowed respectively to the fellow general.

Sharn walks over to the pair, but keeps his distance. "Vlen?" he murmurs, nearly inaudibly. Was this the invasion he was talking about? The young mouse slowly circles the pair, adopting a half-hearted fighting stance.

Kevarr looks back out over the pond.

Sinway yawns a little looking at the two before he crosses his legs trying to figure how this will all play out in his head which of course he isn't able to so he just sits there waiting to be spoke to or for the vermin to go away so he can enjoy a swim

Vlen looks to the otter and nods, then looks to Sharn and nods to him also. "Evening young Sharn," he says. Then he smiles a bit. "Stand down, it's alright. We were only talking." Then he pauses and looks to Hactor. "Sir, on a personal note, I cannot respect what you have done. However, you have allowed the creatures to continue to live here, and have done minimum damage." Vlen nods slowly. "At the least, to me anyway this shows you to be an honorable beast. I would like you to respect that the beasts of this Abbey are not affiliated with us, and so I ask that any anger you have for us you do not take out on your.... 'subjects'."

Sharn smiles momentarily before scuttling forwards, gently taking a seat on the grass, looking between both parties with worry. He hoped Vlen would best the vermin commander, but he looks tough...he tilts his head at Hactor, slow, deep-seated hatred rising in his woodlander veins...

Hactor wraps his cloak around him as another breeze causes his long hair to stir wildly for a moment. After a long silence he replied, "I wouldn't dream of it." And he meant it. No need in causing others to suffer for things they have no control over. He the continued, "I look forward to seeing you on the field of battle then?" He didn't mean it maliciously at all. In fact he had the air of a beast discussing a chess match.

Sinway gives a nod back to the mouse watching the two, the otter gives yet another yawn, more out of boredom then tiredness "every one wanna take over Mossflower, ye gots this guy." he points to Hactor "anba whatchathingy, then the new player, leader from Ruingate he says."

Vlen shrugs lightly as he walks with the fox, "I can't say sir. I don't command the army, I'm only one of it’s' generals." Then he stops, looking back to him. "Hactor.... again, on a personal note, speaking apart from the army I serve, of all the warbeasts we have fought, due to your respect to the beasts of this Abbey for allowing them to continue with their lives as normal, I find you to be honorable. If we were not forced to be enemies through the opposing positions we face, I would not mind being your friend." Then he offers you his paw. "Perhaps, if we are both alive when all of this is over, we can be."

Vlen looks to Sinway, somewhat confused. "Um.... I'm sorry?"

Sinway gives a yawn and looks at Vlen "ohh aye mate, ruingates new leader, son of the other leader. was talking about taking over the abbey, letting them live like normal but make sure the order is never "/broken/" again, something about his family giving horrible treatment by the abbey, and that its order and all that Mossflower stands for is broken or some such."

Kevarr twitches an ear. "When was this?"

Hactor glances down as the paw is covered and smiles a bit. He then looks directly at Vlen taking the paw and shaking it warmly. "Perhaps." He then answers, "Ah yes Sinway here speaks of the Soulslashes. No they aren’t taking the Abbey. But we are discussing an alliance."

Sinway gives a small yawn "pray tell chiefly how long ago did ye all have this discussion of yers, this is what he said te me like 4 days ago, but if'n ye say so."

"Mossflower is NOT broken!" Sharn stands suddenly, a sharp rock in his paw, clenched tightly. He bares his teeth, hazel eyes turned steel. He points at the otter accusingly. "I refuse to stand here and believe that I came for nothing. Where there is hope, there is victory in Redwallers." He then turns to Hactor, drawing his arm back. "You can prance with your attendants, /vermin/, but I can see in your eyes, your death...You will cease to rule over your army, and become king of the /worms/." With these last words, he defiantly spits on the ground in front of the fox, all muscles tense.

Kevarr goes very, very still, and eyes Sharn.

Vlen regards Sharn for a moment, before looking back to Hactor. "Sharn is with me sir. And please forgive him, he is my assistant and I did not think he would act this way during a peacekeeping mission." Then he looks back to Sharn, saying, "Sharn, stand down. We will have words later."

Sinway looks at her close his eyes stands up then opens them, a very dangerous look on his face his eyes open in slits giving a very cold and savage look, a look that has made a lot of beasts blood run cold "listen mate." his voice cold and flat "don't get pissed at me, I’m just telling what I heard."

Hactor chuckles a bit and replies not daunted, "One I only have one eye silly child. The other is laying in some field somewhere. As for your...sudden urge to pipe up, I can only oblige." he then removed his cloak, and sword standing wit arms wide. He still had a bored expression as he continued, "If your going to do something then do it. Otherwise don't waste my time." He still stood, weaponless and waiting.

Sharn continues to glare at Hactor, eyes wide but intimidating...A rose color starts to seep in, but with Vlen's words, he snaps back to reality, droppin the stone, now dripping blood; his palm is covered with its lacerations. "Death's too much for you," he mutters, ignoring all others but Vlen, whom he stands besides/behind and Hactor, leveled with his glare.

Hactor replies a bit ominously, "It always is." He then retrieves his cloak and sword, and continues to walk with Vlen.

Sinway gives a small sigh putting on paw on his sword handle and the other on the end of the sheath as he walks not too far behind Hactor, more so he can here the conversation going on

Vlen looks to Hactor and sighs. "Forgive him, Mr. Hector. Your cooperation in the kindness you show to the Abbeybeasts has proven to us to attempt negotiations. As I said he's with me." Then Vlen once more nods to Hactor. "I will return with the decision of the Army of Northern Mossflower. They will need time to think and discuss options concerning your decision."

Hactor nods and then without another word, continues as he was. Hands clasped firmly behind back, walking briskly, and a determined look in his eye, and spring in his step. The stoat rolled his eyes and gathering up the maps and such began to try and catch up with the leader.

Leaving the conversation behind, Sharn stands motionless by the pond, alone. He looks down at his cut paw, blood running onto the ground in an ooze…he feels it start to shake, uncontrollably, like he just woke up from a nightmare. His eyes dilate as he tries to remember his words, but can’t, nor his actions. He sinks forcefully to his knees, trembling as he clutches his head, wounds dripping like his unconnected thoughts onto the ground…