Finally On The Way To BrockHall
Right after this log http://rwmuck.limitless.org/rwmuck/content/where-have-you-been
RW Abbey: Entry
You stand on a grassy sward between two cottages. To the south you see a small, calm pond. To the north lies an open space where the Abbey has its feasts in the warmer seasons. To the east is the Great Hall, a massive structure that rises far above the abbey walls and is completed with large towers that pierce upwards into the sky. The main building is completed with a large, iron banded door that would allow one into the Great Hall.
Coolness has swept into the air now, bringing with it the autumn leaves of the orchards. Coating the trails that lace and move through the dying grass and flowers. Regardless of the death of plants, the area is beautiful in it's gold and orange season. The abbey is sporting the colors in full pride.
Exits/Entrances:
[G]reat [H]all [C]limb to the [R]amparts [A]bbey [P]ond
[Ga]te [H]ouse [Leave] through the gates [Open] Ground
[C]hampion's [C]ottage
Boaz and Benar are talking in the entry of the abbey.They do have supplies ready to go on to Brockhall, it’s just do they go now or later.
Benar walks up the empty path toward Boaz and sighs, "Thank you Boaz for bringing Caleb home, I hope I wasn't too harsh on him. But the world outside these walls is not safe and I do not think that young mouse really comprehends the dangers."
Boaz thinks "Maybe we should go ahead anyways, to Brock Hall...I am uncertain if the lad was muttering nonsense or what....but he saw Zee I think and he mentioned the storm and..something about another badger showing them something, I have no clue since Oz is here and Sister Zinnia is away till spring..there is no other badgers around, do you think the lad was confused or what? I do admit I was half listening to the lad and maybe should of better listened. And I am sure Lee can give us an update when we get back, hopefully a good news one"
Benar says, "Well then whilst Lee sorts out the search and Lacota deals with Caleb let us get going before anything else comes up to interrupt us. Wait here," he heads inside and is back a few minutes later with a stout walking staff and a big, heavy, iron ring of keys, "Let us get going then Recorder, there is much to do."
- Mossflower woods****
Benar is walking through the snow, using a stout walking stick to support him on the snow covered floor, his habit held up in one hand out of the ice and show and his heavy boots leaving footprints behind him. "It has been seasons since I came this way Boaz, it is nice to get out of the abbey, though Winter was never my favorite months, the trees are so unwelcoming to climb"
Boaz nods "I don't think I ever climbed any trees before, and most likely wouldn't in ice and snow unless it was very important to do so"
Zee is nearby, and right now not in the best shape. He should of stayed where he was but waking up one he didn't see Caleb and he remembered carrying him and two..signs that least someone was there as the fireplace was lit but dying embers now and the badger barely remembered the odd tunnel into here, after some annoying searching he found it and got outside. The way he left and entered before closed and so he just decided to focused on finding the young mouse.
Benar says, "You should try it my friend, trees are magnificent things, I always make it a point to go climbing every morning. You should join me one day, I think you'd.... Zee?" He cuts off and stares at the badger and then hurries over toward him, "What on earth are you doing down this way?"
Boaz shakes his head "I think I will...l want wait till Spring." He blinks and follows Benar, "Maybe Caleb was trying to tell me something...great I need to seriously listen better."
Zee coughs roughly and keeps his thick cloak around him, he stares at Benar a short while before he speaks "The...lad...I found him then he wasn't here when..woke up" Ok walking is not so great an idea as he goes to sit down before speaking again, sounding horrible but he could also be worse, "The lass led us to...too somewhere...sorry still bit out of it, she was sort of old and had flower wreath on her head...think"
Benar shakes his head and places a hand on Zee's arm, "If you mean Caleb he is safe, Boaz found him in the woods and brought him back to the Abbey. You sound dreadful my old friend, come along now let us get out of this devilish cold..." He looks around and points, "I think Brockhall is closer Boaz, help me bring Zee along."
Boaz nods and goes to help best he can,"It can't be that far right? It’s like really big or would have to be wouldn't it? There is the mention of it in the logs and recent too since you had a trip there right when you became abbot"
Zee nods "Yeah..Caleb." He allows the help as he scans the area "Brockhall..tis close-coughs- yeah. ..Think winter hates me now...didn’t before."
Brockhall: Study
- -*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-* Brockhall Study *-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*
This room is easily the warmest. A fire is almost always ablaze in the
stone hearth, drawing beasts to the armchairs that face the flames. The
floors are carpeted with thick moss and the walls are lines with massive
bookcases, the shelves crammed with volumes upon volumes of badger lore,
regional histories, and accounts of distant lands. At the far end of the
chamber is a great, oak desk. A small lamp sits on the desktop, casting a
soft glow on the ancient, well-worn manuscripts scattered over the surface.
*-*-* Entrances/Exits *-*-*
[B]adger Lord's [C]hamber
[A]nnex
[W]ar [R]oom
- -*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-* Brockhall Study *-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*
Benar walks along, helping Zee along and then points, "There that tree, the door should be..." he pulls out some keys and looks at Zee, "Lord knows how you got inside Zee, but come along let us get you into the warm."
Zee answers, "Some....badger lass showed me this panel or maybe she unlocked it...but she sort of disappeared suddenly after we were inside.." He lets them led him inside and into the warmth.
Boaz follows inside and looks around "Wow....this is impressive"
Benar uses the ring of iron keys to unlock the outer door and pushes the heavy door open and holds it for Zee and Boaz, once they are through and into the main annex outside hall he pushes it shut against o cut off the cold. "You look dreadfully unwell Zee, have you been traipsing around in the woods on your own?"
Zee sits down slowly, keeping the cloak around himself for now "I was looking fer the lad when that storm hit, and found him shivering in the snow and." stops to cough," Got here...or think were here but don’t remember just that I woke and he was not anywhere and..got worried so went to look for de lad"
Boaz says, "That could be dangerous to travel in winter and be ill, I mean age can be a factor in things...then I am not a healer but still can't be a good thing"
Benar says, "Age or not walking around in the weather after being caught by a storm is no good..." He looks around, "Oh fiddles it has been seasons since I was last here properly ah... the main hall takes forever to warm up but the study is cozy... let us go in there. We shall get a fire going."
Zee nods.
Boaz follows slowly and nods" Someone could...stay here a good while and be cozy."
Zee follows them inside "It’s a large place." He takes a little longer but he does get inside and looks for a place to sit down," hate headaches and random aches and pains "
Benar moves to the fireplace and to light it using the wood stocked in a pail to one side and flint and tinder, working to get the heat going, "Well Zee you need to rest, this place is large and with no Badger Lord family in residence Redwall keeps an eye on it."
Boaz sits down, "Well I am sure the abbey does a good job, seems to still be standing anyways and yes listen to the abbot and rest, maybe you can even stay here after me and Benar head back to the abbey...well maybe not sure whom that be up to"
Zee nods as he clears his throat "Rest sounds good and ya never know lad...maybe one day some badger will stay around here, de only badger lord though is at that fire Mt. place and he lives thar...." He shakes his head "Not sure how de lad stands all the stone walls...but..wot ever"
Benar chuckles softly, "That isn't quite true Zee, the Badger Lord of Salamandastron is one badger lord for sure, the most famous. But there have been others, the Lord of the Western Plains is a very nice Badger, the Lord of the Southern Reaches has no holder but sooner or later a badger will be called when needed." He moves to look into the bookcases, lightning the lanterns as he goes, "The Title Badger Lord of Mossflower is still extant even if it is vacant currently."
Boaz hmmms and makes a mental note"All very interesting. I have yet to meet any badger Lord of anywhere myself, just read of them so far" He looks around "I wonder how old this place is, it’s huge and who knows how many spaces there is here, I also red there is a fair amount of rooms"
Zee nods as he leans back in the chair "I don’t think I will be traveling much anymore like use too...getting too old and something tells me I will be around for a while still."
Benar chuckles "Well Zee you are always welcome to take up residence at the Abbey or even here should you wish. I am sure I can help find some beasts who'd be happy to help bring the old hall back to life again." He smiles and takes out a small key and unlocks a cabinet, "Now do you mind if me and Boaz have a look through the books? We were searching for information from Martin's time,"
Boaz says, "I just hope we find something"
Zee raises an eye brow "Why would I care Benar, if tis important...and I do have a hut in Ferravale, it’s not too bad thar"
Benar says, "Well Zee a hut in Ferravale isn't really a comfortable place for a badger of your age," He shakes his head and smiles softly as he pulls out a large tome and sets it on the table, "Now then Boaz we need to find some data from the time of the Mossflower resistance, from before the abbey was built, this appears to be information from Lord Theodore Knotwhistle he lived around about the time of Abbot Saxtus so it is much too late."
Boaz nods he hmms "Is it in a certain order, a good record keeper keeps things in order after all, it’s helpful and polite." He looks at another log book and brushes off some dust “I wander...this one maybe, you mentioned Roseeyes and...also Bella also, and she was here when Martin visited."
Zee listens and shrugs, he tilts his head "Who is Bella? Was she a badger lord here at that time...guessing long seasons ago?"
Benar asks, "Well I am afraid if it is in a system I do not know what it is, maybe you can work it out Boaz?"
Boaz says, "I will try my best Benar..." He nods and looks threw the old tome, he glances at the one Benar has and has already decided it’s of later recordings and skims threw the one he has "Let’s see..earlier writings in this one that’s for sure and that’s a good start...maybe was one way and changed later..."
Zee coughs again and frowns, he had not planned on staying too long but looks like he will as he leans back more in the large chair he sat in, its soft too.
Boaz looks over “You ok sir?”
Zee manages a smile "I am sure I will ok lad...I am in where it’s warm after all"
Boaz nods and gets back to work, looking for info.
Zee has been quiet so they can look at the old books, he may even of decided to have a little nap.
Benar says, "Well I am not entirely sure where to begin... I don't think anyone lived here during the time of Lady Cregga, so there won't be records. We need Books from Bella, Martin, Abbess Germaine."
Boaz says, "Maybe some was left here and if Bella was here when Martin was I am sure there is something somewhere, there has to be but maybe they were moved or that one group keep records maybe"
Zee opens his eyes and yawns "I say relax if tis important ya will find something lads....ya never know or your remember something odd or something"
Benar nods “Yes Boaz is correct , a rest would be good and maybe a warm drink“
Zee chuckles a little and then coughs "Ok....yes something warm is good lad..and don't know, like How I find this place when was near passing out....or something else de lass said later or someone did...guess wasn’t me time ta go anywhere yet...gonna be needed fer while yet."
Boaz nods "A break is always good, helps clear the mind of stress sometimes"
Benar says, "Well then let me see..." He wanders out and soon comes back with an old black kettle full of water and hangs it over the fire and then sets about digging through the hamper, "Let us see what the Friar packed for me,"
Zee grins, he is feeling a little better after being inside from the cold weather, but will still need time to recover yet, "Wot ever it be, I am sure it will be good...." He coughs a little and shakes his head "Will be glad when winter passes...for different reasons"
Boaz says, "All seasons are needed, winter does help things rest and then grow a new in the springtime."
Benar smiles and sets a small pot over the fire as well and leaves it to heat up, "We have some winter vegetable stew, some bread that needs warming and fresh butter."
Zee nods "So how long are ya two gonna be here at least? I might. If allowed stay a wee bit longer, lest till I feel a lot better"
Boaz asks, "I am unsure “He looks to Benar and listens "Aw, that sounds like a good meal and we are most likely not here too long are we?"
Benar says, "Until we find something I guess or exhaust all our possibilities," He smiles softly and stirs the stew and sets the bread on a slab next to it. "Now then I was wondering do you think they may have stored records elsewhere?"
Zee watches quietly as to not intrupt.
Boaz nods "Still trying not to worry, its somewhere has to be".
Benar nods his head and takes the kettle off the fire with a hand towel and pours three mugs full of tea, "Well then we shall just have to search Boaz, maybe Zee can check the books in here whilst you and I hunt around?"
Zee says, "I can try and find something anyhow, not like going anywhere fer a while"
Boaz smiles "That would be most helpful"He gets the tea and nods his thanks,"But where to look first?"
Benar says, "Now then Zee, drink this," He hands over a mug to the big badger and smiles softly, "Well we shall just have to wander and see where things are."
Zee gets the mug carefully "Thank ya Benar" He slowly sips at the warm tea and looks to where a close by book is and opens it, he will look for anything to do with the names mentioned earlier.
Boaz says, "Sounds good, maybe look in rooms beasts could of...well sleep in perhaps?"
Benar nods, “Rooms off here or sleeping rooms yes”
Boaz nods as he looks around "Maybe that room" He points to the largest of the rooms off of here, "Maybe a main sleeping room perhaps..seems important"
Benar looks up at the door and walks over, he runs his fingers over the doorknob and the attached lock and frowns, "Yes perhaps but I do not have a key to this room, see the badger runes on the ironwork? Only a badger can answer this riddle."
Zee has made it through maybe half the book before he marks his place with a bookmark he found and looks over, "Badger runes?..why a riddle ta open a door?" He rubs his eyes "Tried lads might sleep or something here soon"
Boaz frowns "Well...I am sure there is a reason for it, we can look elsewhere then"
Benar smiles at Zee and points at the door, "It is the badger Lord's chambers, they are not for those of us who are not badgers. I cannot read the badger runes, if you can read it Zee please do tell me what it says."
Zee grunts as he stands, he is not sure he can even read it but he slowly goes over and looks at it a while and studies it..."Ummm...I don't...." He is quiet a few moments before he speaks again, "Just ask, and press for....entry...." He looks around the door finding a rune in the center, "Says...please..." He presses it, more by accident and steps back.
Boaz watches quietly and then frowns when it seems Zee can’t read it and then blinks when he speaks again.
There is a soft, subtle clack of gears and a click and the door slides sideways, the oak so ancient it looks black rumbling into the wall revealing a very large room beyond, "Well Zee.... thank you."
Zee nods and looks at the large room..."Well this place is curious indeed...ok you lads have fun.." He goes back to his chair, “I need a rest" He closes his eyes and is soon asleep, hopefully they can be ok without him for a little while anyways.
Boaz watches him and looks to Benar “Well he does need some sleep, I do hope he will be ok"
Benar says, "Just some rest in the warm will do him a world of good," He walks into the larger room, it is dusty and dimly lit from the fire back in the study, "Bring a lantern Boaz,"
Boaz looks around and finds a lantern and lights it as he steps inside with Benar “No one has been in here clearly for seasons, would be nice to see a badger around here again...well maybe anyways, guess time will tell on that"
Benar says, "We have a badger," He points, "Zee, now then let us see what we can find," He moves off to look at the huge bed and the massive chest before it."
Boaz chuckles "I mean having this as a home, not just a visit." He walks in and helps light the room up as he moves the lantern around, light helps one see a lot better in the room. “There is a chest"
Benar says, "So there is but I think that is what we want," He points past the bed to the far wall where there is a massive tapestry, hanging dark and mostly hidden in the gloom."
Boaz walks over to the tapestry and holds up the lantern so they can better see it and tilts his head to get a better look.
It is a tapestry of Mossflower, depicting the river, important landmarks like Camp Willow, Brockhall and most importantly the large lake that was once Kotir. There are also marks showing off the tunnels that flooded Kotir's valley....
Boaz looks it over "It’s an old map, but clearly before the abbeys time, but that makes since seeing as the abbey wasn’t there just yet..martin helped build the abbey in fact"
Benar smiles "I know Boaz, I am the abbot I sort of have to know our history. But this shows Mossflower shortly after the victory against the Greeneyes," He points, "See the tunnels they used to flood the fortress are here, the lake that is now our abbey pond..."
Boaz nods, "Yes..wait tunnels..and they led to the old fortress, parts of which are under the pond and into the woods still...who is to say they totally caved in, they may not of"
Benar says, "They were not tunnels, they were flood channels, they were designed to dump the contents of the river moss into the basements of Kotir Fortress and sank it. As I said before, we suspect the UnderKing and his army got into the ruins of Kotir through those tunnels."
Boaz asks, "So we know where the tunnels are now it would seem, but how can this help us Abbot Benar?"
Benar says, "I do not know Boaz, that is for Flicktail and Magramba, our job was to find the information Boaz and you led us too it. It was your idea to search here after all," He looks up, "Can you make an accurate copy of that?"
Boaz smiles "I can make a copy, it will not be a quick copy it will take some time so that all the right info is gotten. Maybe part of today and tomorrow?"
Benar says, "Take all the time you need, I left the Elders in charge and they know where we are, they can send for us if they need us." He moves around the rest of the room, just looking around as he wanders, "But make sure no one but Flicktail or Magramba see your copy please I do not want anyone deciding to go be a hero and use those tunnels."
Boaz nods "Of course not, that would be unwise as it’s just Flicktail and Magramba whom are to go..find...well whatever it is to find and hopefully in time....it be nice to have a calm happy thing for the ones on the trip to come back to"
Benar says, "Well Lee can probably know too as it may aid him in defending the abbey." He sighs and touches the bed and shakes his head, "It was a different world back then"
Boaz looks to Benar"Different how? Seems to me a little more dangerous..the abbey helped woodlanders have a safe place to live....we are also a lot closer with friendships with places like the fire Mt and camp willow and such"
Benar says, "It was wilder, more dangerous, as you say the Abbey is a place for safety for all, tall walls to protect us from those who would exploit us."
Boaz nods "all the more reason to make sure the abbey stays safe, for when our friends return from their trip to Salamandastron...Sister Zinnia, and Brother Leon and Dorarose and...ummm...." He seems confused now, "Umm only 3 went.....right?"
Benar turns and smiles at Boaz, "Only three went, I wouldn't permit anymore," He starts for the door, "Has Martin mentioned anything to you Boaz?" He turns and glances back, "About others?"
Boaz shakes his head "No one...from the abbey ..I don't know..maybe just my mind being forgetful...or..something." He seems to remember something" 3 will go but 4 will return......that makes no since whats that mean?"
Benar chuckles softly and walks back out into the study, "Well if more come home with them then that is nice, new friends are always welcome Boaz, I shall leave you to work."
Boaz nods as he sets to work, first is to find a blank scroll or paper and he always has those and quill pins and useful drawing pens as well, maybe charcoal. He finds them in his pack and then heads back to the room studying the map and finding a place to sit the lamp to better see the whole map and then he sits down. He sits to worn on the task ahead...copy this map
