Redwall Feast
RW Abbey: Open Ground
The Open Ground is a place for feasts, good times and just general social meetings. The wide-open space allows a large group of beasts to gather upon the plush grass and chat. But it also allows access to many places of the abbey, towards the walls of the abbey is the Bell Tower. Notable abbey defenders graves alongside the plot of land the massive structure takes up. A staircase shrouded by a case of stone allows one to make their way to the busy infirmary. The large brass lined doors to the lower dormitory are also evident from this position.
Spring brings soggy grass -- though green, now -- in this open ground. The ground is saturated with melting snows and spring rains, causing muddy spots to dot the field here and there. Green growth is sprouting up everywhere, taking over the tiny bits of snow that can still be spotted hither and yon in secluded areas of the open ground. All and all a cheery scene, with the new growth and such -- but hazardous for the unwary.
Exits: [Gr]aveyard, [Up] the stairs to the Ramparts, [G]arden of the [L]ate Rose, [A]long [S]ide the [I]nfirmary, [B]ell [T]ower, [Infirm]ary, Lower [Dorm]itory, Redwall [Entry]
A lovely warm and barmy spring day and outside in the large expanse of Open Ground on the north side of the abbey the feast has been prepared! Beasts are gathering at the large food laden trestle tables and it looks like things are about ready to begin. Standing up Abbot Lorimis spreads his hands wide and smiles at everyone, waiting for silence to fall. Once he has everyone’s attention he places his hands atop the table, "I am so glad to see you all here today my friends. Both our guests and residents for today is a Spring Feast that shall be remembered for a very long time in the annals of our Abbey's history." He pauses and looks around at everyone, taking in their faces and nodding to friends before he resumes his speech, "Firstly we have a new member of the order to welcome, a Novice by the name of Nissaya," He gestures toward him and grins, "He joins the order after convincing me of his sincerity and his ability and swearing on the Abbey Charter to join our ranks so please congratulate and welcome”
Lacota comes in, directing three novices carrying a massive cake in the shape of the Abbey. "I want that to be the centerpiece!"
Oz walks in with the group of dibbuns and with the help of Sister May, makes sure they stay well behaved. The dibbuns sit near the two beasts.
The mentioned albino otter stands amidst applause, beaming with pride as he walks forward towards Lorimis, supposedly to formally accept his novice robes. The white fur at his cheeks seem to be slightly red, seeing as how he isn't quite used to being in front of this many beasts. Reaching the Abbot, he bows low, grinning still. "Thank you very much father abbot," He says simply.
Leon is a little late but that’s ok, he has a couple grumpy dibbuns to tend to, but his mate Dorarose helps with that and they all soon go to the tables.
A close inspection of the cake reveals tiny figures of abbey beasts.
Zork arrives, he over sleep but it was very much needed sleep, but he is here none the less, he was about earlier and then had that quick, almost too long, nap.
Lorimis hands over the green robes of a novice to Nissaya and smiles at him, "Welcome Nissaya to the order of Redwall Abbey" He glances around to check if everyone is ready. "Any more late comers?"
Lee likewise comes in, with Streamheart and his new son Konrad, and little Starlight toddling along. "'Ello, ev'rybeast!" He waves and lets everyone see his son.
Zinnia smiles, she is here and wearing a new dress, well new to her as she has had help fixing it up some and goes to sit down as well and smiles at the gathered beasts.
Nissaya accepts the robes gratefully, giving another low bow. "Again, thank you very much." With this, he returns back to the crowd and sits down amidst congratulations from other beasts.
"Now then before I officially open the feast I have one duty left to perform, to name the Season and thus it is with great pleasure I name this day, the Summer of the Bells," The abbot brings his arm down then, setting his goblet on the table and as if on cue a bell suddenly rings out over the abbey.... followed a moment later by another golden tongued voice ringing into the air.... two bells... singing their joy into the bright spring sunshine. A sound that has not been heard in Redwall Abbey in nearly ten seasons. Older abbey beasts jump out of their chairs and off their benches and stare past the Abbot and the beasts sat at his table at the sack-cloth clad frame of the bell tower. The sheets of brown cloth are starting to fall... the shroud cloth that has kept the bell-tower construction sight hidden from view falling away to reveal a completed tower of red-stone, roofed by grey shingles and up above, the open archways where Matthias and Methuselah can be seen to be swinging back and forth as their music fills the air.
Oz smiles as he listens to the bells, he had known of them of course but not that the tower was rebuilt, hmms would explain some things now and all the moles. The dibbuns oooh and ahhhh but stay seated.
Zinnia says, "Wow..."
Lacota claps loudly. "A truly lovely sound, Bravo!"
Zork smiles from where he is seated as the bells ring, he looks tried still but not nearly as much as he was.
Leon blinks "When did they...yeah wow is a good word for it, this is..this is great!"
Lorimis smiles and turns away from the laden tables and looks up, "Remember this day, tell it to your children, your friends... the day this abbey received its voice." He smiled at everyone then led the party over slowly toward the Bell Tower. "We'll come back to all your delicious food momentarily my Friar," He says as he puts an arm about his shoulders and leads him across, "But first Redwall wishes to say hello" The bells continue their song, crying out across the Abbey and Mossflower beyond.
Lorimis stops just before the tower smiling up at the beautiful sandstone building. "And this my friends is our tower..." it isn't a far walk from the feast to the tower and the work crews are spilling out to greet everyone as the bells continue to ring and sing their song out across the air
.
Leon walks in and whoas, he is impressed with the bell tower and smiles
Lacota claps again. "It's beautiful!"
Zork grins, he has already seen it so stays off to the side.
Oz follows all the beasts and makes sure the dibbuns stay nearby and not trip any beast.
Chud walks in and nods appreciatively at the sight of the repaired tower. "It were depressin' me when it was wrecked an' all," He mutters to himself, smiling slightly.
Zinnia says, "This is..nice and very big and wonderful and fixed, being fixed is good"
Lacota smiles knowingly, though. A close look at his Redwall Abbey shaped cake reveals the bell tower as well.
Lee looks up. "It be beautiful, mates. I do say."
Chud migrates to the tables of food eagerly, his stomach growling. He hasn't eaten since breakfast. The afternoon light gleams golden on his glossy brown fur as he moves and he scans the tables, wondering where to begin.
Lacota is standing near the spread, proudly. "Eat anything you like, sir, but do not touch the Abbey cake yet, it is my special centerpiece, and took me three days to get right.
Zinnia smiles as she looks at the bell tower, it’s the first she has really seen one this close up.
Chud selects something simple, bread, cheese, and soup, with a side of pond-caught freshwater shrimp and a few other things. He eschews any form of chair in favor of the soft, fresh grass to sit on.
Zork goes ahead and gets some food and sits down in one of the chairs
Oz makes sure all the dibbuns have their food and then gets his own food and some mint tea and sits back down beside the dibbuns.
Lacota says, "For all the otter folk here, I prepared a large pot of hotroot and shrimp soup."
"Awwwl RIGHT!" Chud whispers, fist-pumping victoriously and making a mental note to retrieve some of the soup as soon as he finishes his meal.
Zinnia finally gets some salad and soup, also some pie and some cherry cordial.
The tables are laden with no less than five types of cheese, oat farls, scones, and rolls. There are raspberry tarts, apple pies, blueberry pies, and a large dessert called 'Abbot's Special'. On the main table there is Deeper'n ever, turnip 'n tater 'n beetroot pie, and a HUGE pot of Hotroot and shrimp soup. There is also a large chef's salad, with a multitude of vegetables. For drinks, there are cordials, and, of course, October Ale.
Zork gets some October ale while he can and sips it as he looks around, he grins "I do say the bells turned out very well..took a while to fix as needed slow, careful work...more so than the beams in here"
Flicktail walks in panting slightly, and adjusting his red cloak
And, of course, the centerpiece, an enormous cake in the shape of Redwall Abbey, with tiny edible figures of Abbeybeasts.
Zinnia chuckles "Flicktail calm down there is still food to be had"
Lacota raises his paws, "Please, enjoy my food."
Oz sips his tea and takes a few bites of salad, he lets Sister May keep a good eye on the dibbuns, the dibbuns stay seated and eat their meal.
Chud laughs freely and cleans his plate, filling a wooden bowl with hotroot and shrimp soup, grabbing some bread to dip in it as well, and pilfering some strawberry fizz.
Flicktail grins widely "I got here soon as I could. What did I miss? Food? we have FOOD too!?”
Leon eats some soup and a little pie, his dibbuns seem to like apple pie and some fish.
Zork smiles "Now ya all can seee wot I was helpin' work on, hee hee..de tower and de bells!"
Flicktail bumps onto Zork to give him a hug "Magnificent, Zork, simply Magnificent!”
Lacota smiles. "There is plenty of food to go around."
Chud smiles too and yelps as the hotroot's spiceiness hits his tongue. Then he grins and slurps it down vigorously, sipping a bit of fizz to cool off.
Zork smiles at the hug and chuckles, he rubs his shoulders as a little sore but better than he was day before yesterday.
Flicktail asks, "Zork where did you get all the Metal? is it Bronze? brass? I'd love ta know"
Zinnia sips her drink and smiles" The Bell tower is very lovely and the food is so good, I like feasts!"
Lee likewise gets himself a bowl of hotroot soup, and sits near Chud to eat, his son Konrad in his lap
Zork smiles "Make sure it was strong metal and the moles helped as well, well in getting the metal and I believe a very trusted beast as we did need a lot and all the bells needed was dents hammered out carefully and a couple cracks fixed and they were polished by a novice."
Lorimis is sitting at the Elder table with Benar and the other members of his council, sipping some elderflower wine and smiling at everyone, still listening to the sound of Matthias and Methuselah as the eager new abbey bell ringers pull on the mighty ropes to send the melodious voice of the bells booming over the abbey.
Chud laughs at something some beast said and nods to Lee and his son in greeting. "G'day, mates," He says civilly.
Lacota finally gets himself some food and takes a seat alone to eat.
Lee smiles. "G'day!" He looks down at his son. "Say 'ello, Konrad." The tiny dibbun looks up with wide eyes. "Ewwo..."
Benar walks over to Lacota and refills his drink and grins, "Brilliant cake" He murmurs before heading on, not wanting to intrude, walking over to wave at Lee and his family.
Flicktail looks over at Lacota "You ok chap?" He moves to sit with the Frair
Lacota looks up, beaming. "Thanks, Benar! It was not an easy task."
"'ey, liddle mate," Chud says in a friendly voice, smiling. "Wotcha doin' 'ere this foine day?"
Flicktail asks, "Did you Make the Soup Lacota?"
Zinnia watches as the others talk and chat, she smiles again enjoying the time at the feast.
Lacota nods. "Everything you see here, sir, I made, especially the Abbey Cake."
Chud smiles at Konrad again and nods. "Indeed." He pauses before pulling out his notebook, setting his soup aside for a moment to write.
Lorimis refills a mug with October ale and lifts it high, "If I may a toast, to Friar Lacota.... the newest member of the Council of Elders and the best cook in this abbey!"
Chud quickly sets aside his notebook so he can raise his flagon of strawberry fizz, looking quite content.
Flicktail smiles "I love hot root Soup Lacota, and this is the BEST" He turns to look at Zork , "Have the bells been rung yet?"
Zork grins and raises his mug of ale. He nods a yes to Flicktail.
Zinnia says, "Bells rang earlier, they were very loud"
Lacota looks all flustered and bashful. "Oh...th..thank you sir..." He smiles, and blushes. "Thank you!"
Lorimis says, "The bells were indeed most fantastic.. Zinnia my dear come here." He calls out to her and smiles, "How have your studies been progressing? I have been told you have been helping out in the library a lot. Sister Cynthia says she thinks you will be ready for the next stage of Novice hood at the Summer Feast"
Lee raises his flagon of cordial, smiling.
Konrad squeaks and claps.
Flicktail notices Konrad "now now now WHO is this?”
Zinnia smiles and walks over to Lorimis “Yes I have been, been fixing books and reshelving some and been cleaning the library too, and I read a lot now and my hand writing is better as well sir"
Lee smiles. "Why, this be me lil son, Konrad. 'E only really knows one word, though, an' that be 'ello."
Flicktail blinks and looks startle "I..I have a grandson!?”
Konrad looks up and waves. "Ewwo!"
Flicktail looks about to faint "H..Hullo" He Beams
Lacota stands again, and goes back to seeing to the food
Lee smiles. "I thought ye knew. Did not Stream'eart tell ye?"
Flicktail shakes his head no tears in his eyes happy smile
Lorimis says, "Well Zinnia I am sure you'll be a full sister in no time at all." He grins and sips his drink, "Have you tried the strawberry fizz?"
Flicktail says, "E's LOVERLY"
Zinnia smiles, she nods "Yes strawberry fizz is good"
Flicktail exclaims, "Father Lormis! look me grandson! "
Lacota smiles and takes his seat again. "I hope everyone is enjoying the food. I put great care into the preparation."
Flicktail says, "This I think is the best Feast ever Lacota...."
Lacota nods. "Thank you, sir."
Flicktail asks, "How did you make the Cake so moist?" He asks honestly
Lacota says, "That, my friend, is my secret recipe."
Lee bounces his son on his knee while Starlight plays with the other dibbuns nearby.
Lorimis says, "I see FLicktail, congratulations" He walks over to see Lee's son and smiles at them "They look healthy "
Flicktail says, "I can't wait for Lacota to meet me other adopted Son, Nickolas, he can’t talk but he LOVES to cook..does good too and is still a dibbun" He looks seriously "Please if you see em do not kick him outta th Kitchen Lacota"
Lee smiles. "Thank ye, Father Lorimis. Konrad be a growing' boy, 'appy too."
Lacota looks mock serious. "So long as he isn't cooking wood pigeon, he'll be fine, sir."
Flicktail nod nods "e's verra good about making sure your cooks give him permission..makes a MEAN strawberry pie too..almost as good as you, Lacota”
Lacota says, "Hmm, that must be very good, indeed, sir, if I do say so myself."
Lorimis asks, "Have you introduced him to Benar yet?" He smiles softly and sways his tail from side to side.
Lee nods. "I think Benar 'as met 'im, though I could be wrong."
Benar smiles and nods "Indeed I have met them before they are a lovely child"
Lacota looks around. "Any of you seen that glutton Bandit about? If he so much as touches my Abbey cake before I say it is time to, I *will* turn him into fox soup."
Flicktail smiles to Benar "Hullo Benar, wonderful Bell Tower”
The fox, Bandit, might not be seen but there are plenty of other gluttonous beasts about. a heavy set otter and a fat weasel appear to be engaging in an eating contest. Cheshire is about chatting with various travelers who know not to avoid the cat. Elena is seen piling her own plate high with food before taking off away from the crowd
Lee smiles. "Thank ye, Benar."
Flicktail goes over to Cheshire with a measuring rope.and begins measuring the cat across the shoulders..how tall..marking it down in charcoal on a slate
Anomen has been quiet eating away from most of the beasts here
Lacota waves to his fellow squirrel
Lorimis asks, "What on earth are you up to Flicktail?" He asks as he passes the fox and watches him and Cheshire, "This is my Spring Feast not the tailor""
Flicktail gives Lorimis an innocent look "oh Nothing at all Father, I was just curious if Cheshire likes PINE boxes or CEDAR more."
Anomen looks over curious but not too curious.
Lorimis stares at Flicktail.... sighs and shakes his head, "Oh you... anyway! I hope you are enjoying the bells being back"
Turning to the fox Cheshire demands, "Wait? what?" Meanwhile Elena returns for a new plate
Lorimis says, "Oh dear..." He chuckles, "Hello Cheshire is it? Welcome to the Abbey"
Anomen sighs he stands and goes to head out of the open ground area
Cheshire is distracted from the measuring to say to Lormis. "Er yes. Quite. I am happy to see the tower completed. perhaps you would allow me to run an experiment in there...involving some chemicals, copper wiring, and just a touch of lightning?"
Lorimis says, "Ah... no I don't think so, not in the tower I am afraid. We only just rebuilt it. I don't think anyone would be happy if something happened to the bells... if you need someplace high to run experiments what about the north gable?""
Elena returns for another plate this time with a well fed looking bandit in tow. Cheshire looks giddy with excitement. He asks, "Oh excellent. Tell me...what are your view on fringe science like, oh something simple, using lightning to reanimate the dead?" Fargo laughs as Carter concedes defeat to his loss at the eating contest
Lacota frowns at Bandit. "If you touch the Abbey cake, there will be fox soup in the morning.”
Leon is here, he gets some soup and cordial and then sits down again
Lorimis says, "Hello Elena," He waves a paw and smiles at her then shakes his head, "No.. reanimating the dead please... that would be quite unwelcome dear."
Lacota says, "Unwelcome indeed."
Bandit laughs at the angry squirrel so as not to be completely terrified by that statement. Elena answers first, "Hello Lorimis. And if you would wait until after the feast Lacota, Bandit would make much better soup. Which I will help you make if he doesn’t dance with me as promised..." Cheshire snaps his claws, "Drat! Er...just out of curiosity. what would happen if someone already tried..."
Lorimis looks at Cheshire and chuckles warmly and shakes his head, "I'd have to give you a very stern lecture," He takes a pie from a table and nibbles on it
Lacota beams. "I baked that pie especially for you, sir."
Finely having eaten himself into oblivion Fargo stumbles away to digest for the second course walking past a story telling Wilks. Bandit and Elena are sharing a goblet of wine. Cheshire returns shyly to his own meal.
Lacota keeps an eagle-eye on Bandit
Lee stands, holding a slumbering Konrad. "The little tyke 'as fallen asleep..."
Lorimis smiles at the sleeping little one in Lee's arms and grins, "They look beautiful." He then nods to Elena and Bandit and starts to head back to his chair
Nickolas slips in quietly, muzzle all purple like he has been in the grape juice again. His ears flick softly as he looks all around slipping between paws.
Nickolas sits at Lorimis's footpaws, and looks all around his ears perked like radar.
Lorimis smiles at Nickolas and reaches down to pet him on the top of the head, "Hello there young one, how are you enjoying my feast?"
Lacota keeps handing food out freely, though he jealously guards the Abbey cake.
Nickolas licks his tongue out muzzle purple from the grape juice he has been drinking, the half-filled glass still nearby as he goes back for some more, moving over to Lacota slipping between footpaws and stopping at the cake, to sniff at it and well he looks like he is inspecting it.
Lacota looks down. "You may look but don't touch yet. It is my masterpiece."
Lorimis says, "Yes Nickolas it is not yet time to cut the cake" He grins at the Friar, "when do you want to cut the cake"
Lacota looks around. "Hmm, now can be a good time as any."
Nickolas sits at Lorimis's footpaws, and looks all around his ears perked like radar.
Lorimis smiles at Nickolas and reaches down to pet him on the top of the head, "Hello there young one, how are you enjoying my feast?"
Lacota keeps handing food out freely, though he jealously guards the Abbey cake.
Zinnia had to go out a short while but came back, going over to Lorimis again
Lacota smiles to Zinnia
Zinnia smiles, "I wonder how hard it was to get the bell tower all fixed"
Lacota says, "I hear it took many seasons"
Lorimis says, "It has taken us since I was a small child to start rebuilding them"
Zork would answer, but he has fallen asleep after eating some food and having some cordial, and the chair he choose is well...little too soft, least he isn’t snoreing:P
Zinnia blinks "Wow and.." She blinks and looks over at Zork and chuckles, she looks back to Lorimis "Didn’t Papa help some, this past season and help with the bells too. that’s why he has been so busy or very busy as he kept saying isn’t it?"
Lacota blinks. "That long, Sir?"
Lorimis says, "Yes Zork helped to recast and repair the bells they are beautiful now" He smiles warmly and flicks his ears and tail as he grins at Zinnia, "He has been a great help as has the foremole and Benar"
Zinnia nods "He did a good job, and looks like he is sleeping" She points at Zork and then asks "A question father Lorimis, can I still be helping in the library?"
Lorimis says, "Of course Zinnia, when you advance to the next stage of being a Novice you can choose to focus on Library work as your main if you like""
Zinnia smiles "Thank you sir"
Zork opens his eyes "Hmmms?" He asks and yawns, "Wot happening now?"
Lacota smiles. "You brighten up the Library, Miss."
Lorimis says, "Indeed you do Zinnia and ah Zork we were just talking about how long it took to rebuild. You did a marvelous job on the bells have you seen them"
Lacota gets out a knife and prepares to finally slice his large Abbey cake.
Zinnia smiles
Zork grins "Thanks Father Lorimis, I am glad de bells turned out alright, I took me time on them, maybe a little too much time but was fer a good cause"
Lacota hands a slice of his cake to Abbot Lorimis. "The first slice for you, Father."
Lorimis smiles and accepts the cake and grins, "Thank you Friar Lacota..." He then smiles at Zork, "Thery look amazing, ringing away back up there"
Lacota sets Lorimis' slice of cake aside as he continues to serve it.
Lorimis eats his cake and smiles around at everyoe warmly, "I am so glad today has happened. I shall enjoy hearing the bells ring us awake each morning"
Zork grins "Should hear them alot, breakfast...lunch..morning and what ever else they be ringing fer"
Lacota asks, "And ring for mealtimes, too, yes?"
Lorimis says, "Midday, SUnset, Midnight according to the old texts"
Lacota nods. "I look forward to hearing them."
Lorimis says, "Me too now then I am going to go inside and ring them myself" He raises a paw and heads inside to have a go on ringing the bells.
Zork grins, he will go to ring them later, he chuckles as he enjoys the rest of the night.
