Quinten Log 27 - 18 01 2006

Salamandastron: Library

• -*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-* Salamandastron *-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-

Here lies the collective efforts of a few good, intellectual hares of the mountain. Over the seasons, this room, which was once little more than a storage room, has been converted into a quite functional library, filled with books of all sorts. The room is staggered with bookshelves, all crafted within the mountain, which reach very nearly to the ceiling, with only a foot or two of space above them, in most instances. And, surprisingly, the shelves are basically all full. Apparently, over the seasons, hares have donated books, and books that were previously stored elsewhere have been brought here.

Some books are older than any of the hares alive in the mountain, and, even more, some are nearly as old as the mountain, itself. These sort are usually journals and records - histories of the mountain. In fact, there is an entire section of this, in a corner of the room, which one can only get to by making their way through the maze of bookshelves to that corner, which is quite like a room in and of itself, closed in by walls on two sides and bookshelves on the two others. However, in the center of the main room, there are two tables set, and upon these books like, some open and some closed, despite the efforts of the librarian hare to keep them on the shelves.

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                 Visible Exits:

[R]ecords [R]oom [C]orner of Library

With:

[DYN] The Mountain Grump. (Buckthorn)

[DYN] Not just any old hare... (Darklett)'s a Long Patrol Major!

Salamandastron: Meeting Room

• -*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-* Salamandastron *-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-

Here is a chamber with one singular purpose: that of meeting, obviously. It

is rather large - enough to contain the entire Long Patrol, easily. The

format is simple: rows of benches for the audience, and a podium for

whoever the speaker might be, located beneath the only window in the room.

The room is, otherwise, quite barren, and carved from the rock that is so

customary to Salamandastron.

• -*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*

With:

[DYN] Dandelion

[DYN] One eyed, Longpatrol Major, Jarril Black Fleetpaw.

[IC] Runt that can kick tail. (Terrance)

"Uh..." Dandelion takes his hand down and pauses for a while to gather his thoughts. "Uhm... Reinforcements, sah?" he squeaks.

The door slides open and a head peers around it into te room, tousled hair, sleepy eyed and eats flat down his back, its Quinten

Jarril nods. "Ya getting a bit ahead there, but that is one of the reasons..." He places the scroll down on the table and carries on ta speak. "The main task of the rear is ta make sure that there is no evidence that the patrol has passed through that part of the wood or forest. Yaz do not wish ta have a enemy tracking behind ya, however, if that happens, there is a way around it. We move ta dealing with enemy trackers. Ya may want ta write down notes as well as ya be tested on this in the final exam patrol later on..."

Terrance hms and takes the parchment and piece of coal he was using earlier. Hearing the door he looks back to Quinten as do most of the other recruits when he enters and smirks, a few others quietly chuckling as they look back to Jarril, waiting to see what he does.

Dandelion looks around to see who entered, and begins to try to smooth out his ears at the same time. As he notices it's Quinten he stops the pruning, trying to masquerade the gesture as a greeting, and then turns back to the front.

Jarril grins. "Nice of ya ta join us Quinten, sorry that this class was scheduled so early in the morning ta interrupt ya beauty sleep. Please sit down, ya can get whatever ya missed from someone else later, if they so wish ta divulge that information though."

Quinten sighs and slips the rest of the way into the room and shuts the door quietly moving to take a seat next to Dandelion "Yes sir...sorry sir....i'd say it won't happen again sir but it probably will..."

Jarril carries on talking. "Now, in the unfortunate event that the patrol is being tracked, there are several ways of dealing with it. Ya can try ta lose the trackers or deal with them quickly head on. That however will be up ta the commanding officah that is in charge. We shall though deal with the evading part first. I hope that most of ya have been paying attention ta the tracking lessons, right?"

Terrance blinks at Quinten's response, not exactly the best thing to say. He shakes his head a little and tests his charcoal out on the parchment to make sure it is still writing well enough.

Dandelion starts to dig through his stuff for some new charcoal, the old one having been used up on a bunch of idle sketches.

Quinten takes parchment and charcoal out of his small shoulder bag and spreads it out beginning to write down with it.

Jarril carries on waffling in his own way. "The main points are ta make sure that extra care is being done in removing anything that is giving the patrol away ta be followed. Broken twigs, disturbed leaves, crushed flowers and grass. If though there are some that are using scent as well there is a way ta mask that." He pauses and turns around to pick up some large leaves as he continues. "The first thing is this, make sure ya wrap these about ya paws, this will help ta keep the scent from being left on the ground and hopefully ta keep the damage ta a minimal. Who wants ta demonstrate putting these leaves on in such a way that it's secure. I wish ta time ya." In the other paw, he has some length of string. "Ya be needing this as well, which should be part of ya usual backpack for a patrol." He looks for a volunteer.

Quinten holds up a paw "I'll volunteer sir...."

Jarril nods and motions Quinten to come down. "Okay, I be checking ta see how well ya do

this on ya own." The major holds out the string and the large leaves. "Well, come on down then?"

Quinten stands up and pads down to the Major reaching out to take the string and the leaves, checking to see if its once length that needs splitting into two or two lengths "On my footpaws sir?"

Terrance scribbles down some notes and then looks to Quinten as he volunteers and smiles then shifts his head so he can see this.

Dandelion tilts his head to the side, watching the demonstration.

Jarril nods his head. "Yes, make sure that it covers ya footpaws so that ya don't leave any scent, this should make tracking ya that much harder by the enemy."

Quinten nods and sits down taking the leaves in one paw he begins to wrap them around his left footpaws, encasing his foot in them, binding them in place with the length of rope "Its kind of like....making a boxing glove cept with leaves and on your feet"

Dandelion stifles a giggle at the analogy, and then straightens up and tries to look attentive and serious.

Terrance arches a brow and shrugs, "Suppose that's true enough" he mutters to the recruit next to him.

Jarril carries on talking. "Now that is something that ya will practise tonight in ya free time. I would like ya all ta be able ta get the leaves tied on ya feet as quickly as ya can, for the main reason that ya may not have much time in doing so." Pausing for a moment. "However, those leaves won't last forever so the main thing is ta find a stream or a river as quickly as possible. Which will be the main factor for the hares at the front ta know the lay of the land." He does frown at some of the talking amongst the cadets though and coughs.

Quinten glances up at the Major and goes silent tying the last knot and standing back up stamping his foot paws to check the leaves are tied on properly, he glances up at the older hare and salutes

Dandelion glances down at his notes, and realises maybe he should actually make some notes. He scribbles down something confused in his illegible shorthand, and manages to break off a piece of coal in the process.

Jarril nods. "Good, ya did it quick enough but ta make it fair..." The major smiles. "The one tomorrah that manages ta get them tied fast enough and do it properly will get an weekend pass ta go ta Halyard village." He nods for Quinten ta head back up to his seat.

Quinten smiles and pads back up to his seed, still wearing the leaves on his feet, his ears perk up at the mntion of the village and he sits back down with a huge grin, "That's great" he murmurs to Dadenlion "I've not left the mountain in months...sincei got here"

Terrance sighs quietly at the homework assignment but then his ears perk up at the mention of the pass and smiles at that. Well there's a good incentive.

Dandelion perks up his ears and looks up at the major, then glances to Quinten. "Won'er if ya can take a friend?" he murmurs.

Jarril nods his head. "So when the class is over, please come down and collect on the table over there ya leaves and string. We move onto the final thing before ya can head off for lunch. Quick question. Which way do ya move if ya using a stream or river ta evade being tracked? Upstream or downstream?"

Terrance hms and raises his paw again for this one.

Dandelion holds up his hand, waving it a little.

Jarril hmms and looks at Terrence. "Go ahead."

Quinten holds up his paw then brings it back down as Jarril speaks

Terrance says, "Downstream, sah."

Jarril nods. "Good and can ya tell me why? Dandelion, ya can answer me that one."

Dandelion takes his hand down. "Cause the stream carries the scent downstream, sah." he says.

Quinten scribbles this information down on his parchment rather glad he didn't get asked

Jarril shakes his head. "Actually, if ya moving along in the same way as the water, there is less disturbance in the stream or river bank with mud. If ya were moving upstream they would be able ta see the mud cloud flow down the stream."

Dandelion nods to himself, looking a little embarrassed. "Ah, yea..."

Terrance huhs at that tidbit, having thought along the same lines as Dandelion. He adds that to his notes real quick then looks back up.

Quinten is also adding the information to his parchment "Well it makes sense...i guess" he murmurs to himself charcoal scratcing

Jarril carries on. "So even if it will take ya away from ya main objective, it is better ta walk that much further and in safety than rush ta where ya have ta go and risk being found. Okay, that's it for now. Quinten, I hope ya going ta take those leaves off before leaving as they won't last long and I don't have any spares. The rest please come and collect ya supplies before heading out and take good care of them. I be available if anyone wishes ta have a word." The major turns around and heads around the desk as he closes the class.

Dandelion starts to roll up his papers, putting the assorted pieces of coal in a pocket, and gets up.

Quinten leans down blushing and rmeoves the leaves and tucks them into his bag carefull, he stands up and shuffles down to stand before Jarril's desk fiddling with his claws

Terrance rolls up his coal piece in his parchment and stands, getting in line to get the leaves and string.

Jarril has sat down on one of the many chairs that line the back of the large desk as he writes something down and looks up. "Ah Quinten, late again I take it, ya know that ya have ta take this ta ya commanding officah." The major finishes and hands over a small folded piece of paper. "Anything ya wanted?"

Quinten looks at the piece of paper and sighs "Yes sir....who is my commanding officer?"

Dandelion goes over to the desk, picking up one of the leaves gingerly, as if he expects it to curl up and bite him.

Terrance steps up behind Dandelion as he picks up his leaves and string. "So how 'ave ya been doin' Danny?"

Jarril ponders. "Actually, ya can take it ta a colonel and let them deal with ya tardiness for class."

Quinten nods and Salutes "Yes sir...sorry i was late sir didn't mean to be late sir....slept in sir..."

Dandelion rolls up the leaves and puts them in his bag along with the papers. "Me? Oh, been fine. You?"

Jarril nods at Quinten. "Well, get ta bed early then. So anything else ya wanted?"

Terrance walks alongside Dan and says, "Not too bad. A bit stiff from the conditionin' us fightah recruits 'ad this mornin'. I swear they keep waking up us earlier and earlier in the morning for these."

Dandelion rummages around in his bag some. "They haven' woken me up earlier 'an dad used to yet." he remarks, grinning.

You say, "No sir...just to appologise for being late...again" he glances at Terrance and winces, that'll be why he was late, he went and fell asleep after the early morning rn around"

Jarril nods. "I see. Well, if ya think it be bad now, just wait until ya on actual patrol duty. Don't make it happen again or I suggest ya do extra chores this weekend even if ya do the leaf thing quickly."

You say, "No sir...just to appologise for being late...again" he glances at Terrance and winces, that'll be why he was late, he went and fell asleep after the early morning rn around"

Terrance smirks, "Aye that's 'cause you runnahs get ta sleep in nice and late."vHe jokes

Quinten winces at the mention of extra chores "I'll be here ontime tomorrow sir, promise i want to win that pass, i've not been allowed out of the mountain since i got here...."

Jarril nods. "Well, that's okay then. Well ya best run off, get ya food before the larger patrol hares get there or ya won't get much."

Dandelion adjusts his bag, then turns to Jarril. "Uh, major, sah...?"

Jarril blinks and looks at Dandelion. "Yes?"

Quinten pads over to join Dande and Terrance smiling at terrance "Hey...guess i'm in trouble again"

Twitching a little, nervously, Dandelion clears his throat. "Uh... If I win the pass, can I bring a friend?" he asks, and promptly looks away at the very interesting wall behind the major.

Jarril ponders for a moment. "I suppose so but ya be going with larger main patrol hares anyways, for ya own safety of course."

Terrance looks to quinten and says, "Doesn't help that ya said you'd probably be late again" hopefully low enough so the major doesn't hear.

Quinten sighs and his ears flops down his back and his shoulders slump "Well it was the truth Terr.....you know me....i'll only go and do something and be late again.."

Dandelion nods quickly. "Great! Uh... I'll get to practicin' then..." he says, and, after saluting, hurries out of the room.

Jarril blinks. "Oh and don't neglect any of ya other classes or chores practising, in ya own time." Finishing, the major collects his stuff and gets up to leave himself now.

Terrance nods and says, "Aye, but you don't need to tell tha majah or othah superior officahs that." He starts to walk out of the room with the rest of the recruits.

Quinten follows along behind Terrance "Oh well....seemed the thing to say at the time...." he sighs and shuffles after Terrance "I'm not doing very good am i? I mean i'm good at what i've been taught but my time keeping sucks

Terrance shrugs and says, "Well then just go early ta everythin'. That way ya wont be late. I'm sure you'll get tha hang of it aftah a while."

Quinten nods and frowns "Well ok...i can try Terrance,"

Terrance chuckles and says, "That's tha only thing we all can do chap. Anyway, lets get some lunch."

Salamandastron: Dining Chamber

• -*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-* Salamandastron *-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-

This is the dining chamber for the mountain of Salamandastron. It is a

veritable cavern, the necessity of feeding so many hares making the room

so big. Dominating the room is a huge banquet table made of solid oak.

Nobeast knows how such a venerable object came to be here, but its

presence is undeniable. Smaller tables skirt the outside of the room,

each sitting near a large torch burning brightly in its sconce. The chair

at the head of the table is different from the plain maple chairs that

occupy the rest of the room - it belongs to the Badger Lord. The massive

object is graced with a carving of the very mountain it is in, with the

sun setting over the sea.

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Quinten follows you down to the Dining hall which is thankfully pretty empty justy with the other recruits as the Main Patrol Hares haven't invaded yet, Quinten heads towards the main serving tables eyes on the food

Terrance goes to grab himself a tray and a plate and such. He gets a bit of salad and a baked potato and a scone, getting some cranberry juice to drink before heading to a table and taking a seat.

Quinten moves over to sit down with Terrance, plate piled high with salad, potatoe salad and three scones dripping in honey and jam

Terrance starts to dig in before looking to Quinten, "So do ya get what I was sayin' about needing to keep quiet sometimes?"

Quinten looks up ears flicking from side to side as he swallows down a scone in a gulp "Oh yes....i'll try and keep my gob shut when i feel the urge to say too much"

Terrance nods and takes another mouthful. "Well then guess I don't 'ave ta go into that then, wot wot." The fighter recruit grins and then takes a drink, "I'm plannin' on takin' my test ta get promoted ta recruit first class soon."

Quinten smiles at you "Good luck Terrance....i don't think i'll be ready for that until i get this tardiness bussiness sorted out..."

Terrance blinks, "What are ya talkin' about chap? I thought you already were a recruit first class?"

Quinten shakes his head "Oh no not me, I was 6 seasons when i joined up in the Autumn was my season day two weeks ago still second class thats me"

Terrance nods and ahs, "Oh okay. Hm, never 'eard a birthday called a season day. My birthday was just last wekk to, eh wot. Got a nice letter from the family and a little painting my sistah made of our village."

Quinten sighs and looks down at his drink and swirls it "Ahhh that must have been nice....to have family and a sister....and well season day was what da used to call it....but well...at least i'm in te patrols recruit programme...its better then being alone"

Terrance arches a brow and takes a swig of his juice. "Aye, yer right there chap." He says loading his fork with another mouthfuls worth of food.

Quinten smiles and sips his drink and fiddles with a scone his appetite gone "Am glad i found the mountain....well was found wandering the shhore and brought inside," he looks up and smiles thinly "Number two that was me out of three of us, triplets.....but they are gone now...dead you see"

Terrance hms, "So what happened then?"

You say, "Well mum and dad died the day the house was attacked, we escaped but Tunten died last winter....he got a fever and fell asleep....then me and Yinten were coming through the swamps to the soth and east of here....she was ahead of me....she went under suddenly...and never came back up..." he sniffs and pulls out a small wooden statue its of two young hares "I made this for our birthday""

Terrance ahs, not quite sure to say. "Sorry ta hear that chap" is all that he can come up with.

Quinten smiles up at you and tucks the statue away "Its ok...things happen and i'm not alone any more....well not really alone..."

Terrance chuckles and says, "Kinda hard ta be alone in this mount'n that's fer sure, eh wot."

Quinten chuckles and nods "Oh yes its impossible to be alone there is always a hare about makes it damn hard sometimes to get a moments of peace....but i did find one place i can hid eout"

Terrance chuckles and nods, "Aye, there are a few places around where you can usually be alone. Unless some couple's already there anyway." He says wrinkling his nose.

Quinten laughs "Couple....ugh i still say girls have cooties you know, well at least i did think that way...not so sure now...anyway the place i found is the old badger rooms tey are emtpy"

Terrance rolls his eyes a bit and then smirks. "Tha badger lord's rooms? Just make sure ya don't get caught in there chap. While they're empty tha officah's still don't like any beast ta go in there unless they're cleanin' it up."

Quinten smirks and winks "Always take a broom and pan with me, anyone catches me, am just resting from cleaning up the place, you'd be surpised how often it works"

Terrance chuckles and nods, "Aye, I guess that would work well enough. Still, be careful about that chap." He then goes back to eating his food

Quinten nods and finishe soff the last of his lunch "Oh i've only done it twice...wen i needed some time alone"

Terrance nods and says, "Fair enough. Anyway, I need ta see if'n I can get anothah instructah ta sign off on my request to take the test for recruit first class." Standing up he takes his tray back and then walks past the table and pauses, "See you tomorrow if not before then. And remember, arrive early."

Quinten nods "Ok early it is i best go take this note to someone or i'll be in more trouble"

Terrance smiles and nods, "Aye, best ta get it out of tha way. Good luck with that."

You say, "Thanks see you later Terr""

Salamandastron: Level One

• -*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-* Salamandastron *-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-

You have come to a large intersection of paths. Passages lead off in

every direction, turning and spiraling off into the distance. There is a

clearing of sorts where they all meet, a circular 'room' which gives space

for traffic to pass smoothly in all directions.

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With:

Zoe_Lang exits the secondary infirmary with her head down, wet paws in the process of being dried off on the lower portion of her tunic. Having just finished her shift, she's cleaning up in order to do... what? Well, she's making a bee-line for the dining chamber without even bothering to look up, so that might be a good indication.

Quinten comes out of the Dining chamber looking full of food and eager, his ears are up and he begins down the passageway, when he catches sight of the doe his ears drop down his back and his smile slides off his muzzle, he watches her approaching and snaps to attention saluting her "Colonel Ma'am..."

Lucky for Quinten that he speaks, because otherwise the Colonel would've run smack into him. As it is, she looks up with some indignation at having her thoughts interrupted. All the same, "At ease, recruit. What c'n I do for ya? Make it quick, if ya can."

Quinten nods and holds out a folded not to the doe standing at ease "Major Jarril told me to give this to a colonel ma'am....is about me tardiness to Strategy planning today"

Zoe_Lang's eyebrows go up as she takes the note, but she doesn't read it. "... What's he sendin' ya with notes for? You tell th'majah at yer next class that I said t'deal with ya as he sees fit. He's yer teachah, inne? 'Course he is."

Quinten nods his head "yes ma'am but its not the first time....my time keeping is very bad i'm nearly always late for something once or twice a day...." he scuff shis foot paws "The major thought someone higher up should deal wiv it....an as i don't ave a commanding officer he told me to find a colonel, i think he explained it in the note ma'am..." he looks back down at the ground inside of his ears red in shame

Zoe_Lang frowns out the side of her mouth, 'tsking' softly. Nonetheless she opens the note and scans its contents quickly. When she's done, she peers at him over the edge of the note paper. "Late all the time, eh?"

Quinten swallows and takes a step back "Not always ma'am....just...too often....i'm not getting lost any more....at least..." he mumbles

Zoe_Lang's studies him through thoughtfully narrowed eyes. "And what've the majahs tried in the past, m'lad? T'get ya t'show up on time?"

Quinten scratches is ears "Uhm....they've piled on extra chores...and duties and had me standing night watch in the sentry rooms....i just kinda....loose track of time"

"Any o' them think t'teach ya how t' /tell/ time?" Zoe gives him a curious look.

Quinten nods "I can tell time ma'am....just i kinda don't seem to nbotice things like time...sorry ma'am..."

Zoe_Lang is out of questions. And so, "Unless you learn t'respect yer classes 'n' the officahs teachin' 'em, I don't know that we have much use for ya in the patrol, lad. We don't take kindly t'folks showin' up late fer the /battles/, y'know." She shakes her head, looking, if anything, puzzled. What an odd little buck.

Quinten sags slightly and nods "I'm trying Colonel honest...please don't throw me out....i'm getting better ma'am...i'm trying....don't throw me out...i've not got anything to go back to..."

"I want you late fer no more'n two things fer the next week, m'boy, or we jus' might." Her words are harsh, but she finds it regrettable to have to say them, and looks it. She reaches out to pat him on the shoulder. "Mayhaps yer just not cut out fer it, lad. There're certainly othah things ya could do about the mountain." Pat.

Quinten sighs and sags "Yes ma'am....i'll make sure i'm on time...i can do it ma'am you'll see.....i promise i'm good at what i've been taught....is just me time keeping..." he looks up at you and draws himself uprigt "I'd not want to have me siblings thinking i was a failure when i get to see em in the big here after....i'll do it colonel"

Zoe_Lang offers a smiling which she hopes is encouraging. "M'sure ya will, lad. Do yer best." She nods to him, then, and giving his shoulder one final pat, moves past him. "And now, m'off t'eat. Have a good evenin', recruit."

Quinten nods and salutes "Aye Colonel best hurry the recruits have been in at the food already ma'am and thank you Colonel i'll be good honest"

Zoe_Lang glances back over her shoulder and, seeing the salute, throws one up herself. She nods, then. "Just do yer best," and with that, she heads on in for some dinner.

Quinten watches her leave and nods heading off to his room to change clothes before finding something to do for the evening

End Log -