So, A peek at Marek's old fortress and village..(Marek Redemption TP)

==Bandit wanted to find the ruins of Marek’s village, so me and him did a role paly of that, I spoofed some things around the ruins…A spider, skeletons etc…and later an eel in an overflowing creek. Marek was not there ICLY just some things of his past was still there

I spoofed an eel and some spiders and like said desceptions of what was seen around the ruins of the village and ruins of the fortress.

This is North of the bridge on the dirt road, and a good 3-4 days travel from there….enjoy!===

ICLY happen June 6th 2015=

Three days of walking, three days of searching, three days of following leads, rumors, and ultimately, chasing a wild goose chase.

By then Bandit was growing desperate. Dressed in a simple otter hide vest the fox had left behind his officer uniform both to not draw attention to himself, and because lately he did not feel very much like a head guard. He could have sent a beast to find this lost village he supposed, but he was growing frustrated just sitting there, while others did the work for him.

So here he was. At dusk on his third day following one last lead, traveling down an old road slowly being reclaimed by the forest around him. If he didn't find this village by nightfall, the fox told himself he would return home in the morning. Whether he wanted to or not.

The village was close or what was left of the village, an old gate that was starting to show signs of rust and old helmets and a couple old rusty swords by the gate. Also by the gate is a Skelton of some sort of beast, an arrow in its head so it seems that’s how it died. Along the path into the village is signs of burnt buildings and what looks like it may of been a meeting place of some sort and even an old tavern, that seems to not of taken too much damage on the outside anyways.

Also further in is homes that have burned to the ground, others are half gone and one still stands and has old sheets on the windows and the door. There is an old forge, that’s clearly destroyed and other old shops and turn over carts. Bones of former beasts lay around and it’s hard to say what else may be in the falling apart shops or the forge.

Bandit can hardly believe his eyes. The grip on the longsword at his side tightens as he catches sight of the village ahead. Could this be it? Could this be the village Marek was from? Tired and sore, even with the sun beginning to set above the tree tops, the fox runs forward until he comes to the gate. He pauses to examine the remains of the guard. He stares for a moment then shakes his head.

He walks now, slowly, but with purpose, into the center of the village. There is an eerie quality about passing through the ruins that humbles a beast. Beasts used to live here. The reason they left is clear and it doesn't seem to sit well with the fox.

The center of the village has an old well, there is even still a bucket to use to get the water below, a couple stones are loose but otherwise it seems in good shape. The meeting house has a large room and some smaller ones; a lot of damage is done here as maybe one of the fires started here. An old chest in against a wall and signs of fighting, even some more skeletons of beasts that lost their lives while fighting or maybe sneaked up on. Down a path is a larger house, it’s clearly in ruins and looks like it had some fancy stuff in it as a really nice chair is half damaged and there is bits of silk here and there, and an old shield, now bent.

As Bandit searches from house to house he becomes even more desperate. He has finally found the lost village. Now what does he do? Silently he curses himself. What was he expecting? Some magical clue to Irinevok's where abouts? His campsite? A reason why this whole mess started?

The fox pauses against the well. Rubbing his eyes he tries to think his way through the situation. What does he know about this mouse? Admittedly, not much. People call him insane, and he burned this village to the ground. But why? Was it a simple raid? Or was their purpose behind it? If he can figure that out, maybe he can figure out his motives, and then have a clue to where he is planning to go.

Or maybe the fox is thinking about this wrong. Irinvok seems to have a grudge against either Scioto or Marek. Bandit can't investigate why he hates Scioto from here, but maybe if he found out something about Marek...maybe that could be a lead? It's a long shot but really, what else can he do?

"Ok then...where would Lord Fuzzbottom have ruled his village from..." The fox says, looking for a sign as to where Marek once lived.

There is not much clue to that in the village, there is however a path leading from the village to what looks like an old fortress made of stone, and being made of stone is in better shape but still clearly had some fire damage on the outside. Nothing of value is in the village as anything that had been left was most likely taken by raiders looking for used weapons and armor. There is an old gate that leads to the fortress and clear signs of a battle are here as many beasts have clearly died.

After searching the village the fox pauses at the gate of the fortress. Somehow the thought of wandering aimlessly through a crumbling stone castle in the dark doesn't sit well with him. He turns again for the village, only to return shortly after with the makings of a torch in hand. The broken handle of a broom with cloth bundled at one end and soaked in oil. If nothing else, Bandit feels like a proper adventurer for the first time in a long while. A few seasons of comfortable beds and good Redwall abbey food, had made him forget that feeling.

It felt good. Like he was about to discover some lost treasure even though he knew there was most likely nothing here.

With one last gulp the fox took a step in through the gate of the foreboding fortress.

There is the endless or seemly endless tower with steps and of course the entry into a large area, one large area is a library of, yep mostly burnt books but some seem to have escaped being damaged. There is a large fireplace and some sort of old chair and turned over table. On the floor is a half burnt picture..of Marek. A long hallway leads to rooms, one has Marek over the doorway and another Zaram over the doorway. Other rooms is a kitchen and a dark flight of steps led to a dark cellar of sorts and what looks like a couple cells, but no skeletons are in them just old rusty chains and maybe a bowl or two.

Around room is the remains of a kitchen and some old food in the cabinets, clearly not it can't be eaten.

There is also an area that looks like guards of the fortress may of stayed or maybe even guards of the village itself or both. Beds and broken chests in the bunk room here. Also signs of a fight here and there in a hallway.

Bandit saved the tower for last. It would take more than three days of walking to get the fox back into shape and he was hoping to find something...tangible before resorting to such exercise up the tower. So he continued to search the castle instead. He stuck out his tongue at the sight of the rotten food, but even more the fox felt disgust at seeing that someone had actually gone through the trouble to paint Marek more than once. "Well what do you know...Marek was telling the truth." The fox pauses at the over turned picture of Marek. "You know..." The fox says allowed, "I don't really know why I hate you." he says to the picture.

"I never even met you before last season. I met the beasts you sent to attack the abbey though. Slaughtered them on the walls until my arms became too tired to move. Maybe that's why...you got beasts killed, and I was the one who had to be the one to..." The fox sighs, "Maybe...maybe you are just an excuse to hate someone other than myself."

Bandit let's out a chuckle, "Yeah, that makes a lot of sense don't it? I mean, I'm not a clean beast either. I was a pirate once. I raided a few villages myself. The only reason I stopped was because me own greed nearly got me killed, not because I felt bad about the things I did." He crossed his arms, "I'm not a good beast. I am better though. But you have gone and made yourself better because you wanted to. Me...it was a matter of self-preservation. Yeah...that's why I hate you." The fox sighs again. Shaking his head the fox finds the hallway to the tower. He doesn't look forward to the climb but it’s one of the few places he has left to search...

Inside the tower is not much, an empty chest and an old log book of some sort. One page reads.*..I am starting to rethink things in my life.. * The rest is waterlogged and another paper reads about keeping a small log book with him, there is also another entry that’s mostly damaged...* And the squirrel...may have to see if can read his diary...seems to think..that insane...not to be trusted...*....and course waterlogged or ripped up. Some broken steps and stone here and there, bits and pices of clues of Marek former life. A side room has old clothing, now ruined, and there is some more pictures and you can see the village from here or its ruins anyways.

After several moments of frantic gasping the fox the overweight fox goes through the contents of the tower, reading the remains of the book in the torch light. Deeming them worthy to keep Bandit stuffs them into his vest pocket. Taking a look at the village now shrouded in darkness is just as un nerving as the looking at in the day. Or perhaps, more so. It reminds the fox that he is alone here against any creeping creature that may lurk out there.

With shiver running down his spine Bandit decides to search a little longer in the tower, maybe make camp here for the night and continue searching in the morning. Holding the torch high and above his head so as not to blind himself, Bandit tries to open the chest.

As he is opening the chest a spider lands on his head, luckily not a poisonous one but it’s still a spider. The chest after much kicking and pounding will open to show a couple good sheets of a purple silk and a couple pictures of Marek and Zaram is in a picture as well. There is even a forgotten coin bag with a couple gold, 5 silver and a few copper coins. A couple daggers and some old plans of past battles, failed ones from his past fights before he started to change.

The contents of the chest prove to be most interesting, or at least would, had the fox's attention not been taken by the spider resting between his eyes. The scream Bandit makes can be heard for miles.

"GET IT OFF! GET IT OFF!" He flails his paws around at his head in a vain attempt at knocking the spider free. "Get it off! Get it-" Then Bandit feels his rump make contact with the window behind him. He manages to yelp once before the stone breaks free and crumbles away from the tower, allowing the fox to fall off and to his doom.

If not for his reflexes the fox would have surely perished. His paw shot out for something, anything, to grip. He found the ledge and swung freely above the abyss below him, screaming like a mad beast until he could secure his free paw on the ledge as well. Finding a place for his foot paws to catch the fox stays there on the side of the tower for a long breathless moment.

"Goingtodiegoingtodiegoingtodiegoingtodie..." The fox says under his breath. Bandit never did like heights too much. Less so when they were at lethal measurements. "Ok Bandit...just...don't...look down. For the love of all that is holy. Do not look down..." Following his own advice the fox began to pull himself up.

And failed.

Encumbered by his own weight and lack of exercise the fox finds it hard to pull himself back to the ledge. "Blazes..." The fox hangs there for a moment longer. Unable, unwilling to do anything else. Ever so slowly, Bandit moves one paw towards his middle. With effort the fox unbuckles his belt and his sword falls free. The sound of it crashing against stone can be heard even as Bandit pulls himself upward with all his strength. Back in the tower Bandit lays stretched out across the floor, his paw clutched tightly at his chest lest his heart beat itself free from his body.

The spider has ran away all the screaming seems to have scared it away and the other couple spider friends the fox knocked down as well. Some cob webs still are in the room and the chest open wide with maybe some other old papers and even an old flute of some sort. There is not much else in the tower but old stones.

It takes a while for Bandit to summon the strength to move again. When he does his steps are slow and stiff. "To heck with this place." All thoughts of using the tower as a place to camp are forgotten. He would rather take his chances against ruins than stay in this crumbling fortress. He rifles through the chest as best as he can, picking up the torch where he had dropped it during his...episode. Reading the papers before he stuffs them into his vest the fox pauses at the flute, then takes it as well along with the gold and silver.

The fox admits to feeling guilting about going through the beasts belongings. There is a chance the room belongs to another beast, but somehow Bandit feels it in the stoat’s personality to have a room above others where he can survey his kingdom.

Taking the daggers the fox leaves the sheets and clothes before turning for the window. Taking one last look at the hole in the wall and the country side beyond before heading for the stairs.

There is not much else in the chest that’s worth much to any beast, maybe the silk...and the steps have not much on them except a spider that quickly gets across the step and some sort of odd stain here and there. In one corner is the remains of a guard maybe, it’s unclear who or what it maybe was and maybe it’s best to keep it that way. No other chests are in here, but there is a good long sword still in a case on Skelton holds in its paw, not that he needs it now.

Bandit doesn't waste any time looting the sword to replace his own. He is after all, a pirate at heart.

The trip down the stairs proves to be much easier than going up. Determined to find camp outside the castle Bandit quickly heads for the castle keep so that he might exit this place.

The way there is clear, then not like anyone is still here and no signs any beast has been here for a while, even a lotter. Not too many places for a camp, maybe one of the few not to damaged buildings or just back to the wooded area before the village, or maybe an area in between the fortress and the village ruins. No signs of a good place for food, unless you count the stream as it may have fish or crayfish in it and down one path is some berry bushes still in tack and maybe a peach tree, if one can reach some of the fruit. But a lot of the area where crops and trees were was also torn up, or even burned or cut down maybe.

Bandit doesn't waste time with food. After a long day of walking he just wants to sleep. Heading first to the river the fox finds himself some wood, panks from buildings, loose tree branches. He carries them a little ways out towards the river. A sea beast at heart the sound of water always helped him to sleep. Making a fire proves easier than he had expected and in a short while the fox has a small camp fire set up next to the river. Stretching out on the grass the fox looks up at the stars. Despite his tired and sore body, sleep will not be easy tonight. Not when the fox's mind is full of thoughts about the past. About what this place was like before it was destroyed...and why...

The night is clear at least, there is a couple clouds and so no chance of rain storm, that part is good. What is not good is there is something in the water, an eel it seems and its swimming around close to the shoreline.

And just when the fox is starting to fall asleep as well. Unaware of the danger Bandit falls into blissful slumber in the soft grass by the river. His paws are folded behind his head and his tail twitches back and forth as he begins to snore.

The eel can go a little ways out of the water and moves by the fox feet and then moves towards his middle and then its face is right in the fox face. Can Eel make a noise? Either way it has teeth and goes to bite the fox nose.

Ironically, Bandit was having a dream about being fed to sharks. It is even less pleasant when one wakes up to finding the open maw of an eel lunging for ones snout. The fox let's out a terrified scream, thrusting his paws forward in an effort to catch the beast's by the jaws.

The eel goes to bite at the fox's neck when the paw grabs the jaw of the eel who wiggles and tries its best to get away from the fox. With its jaw now trapped shut there is not much else it can do but flap back and forth and try to slap the fox in the face .

The fox continues to scream bloody murder as the eel continues to bite at him. He yelps when it slaps him in the face. With its weight pinning him down the fox can't seem to roll to the side and push the beast away. One paw desperately trying to keep the beast at bay, Bandit reaches for one of the blades he got from the tower. With a savage yell the fox frees the blade from the scabbard and thrusts it towards the sea monster...

The eel looks hungry and maybe it is as this fat fox is something good and alive to eat and it has not eaten in days! The blade then slices through its neck just as it latches onto the fox's arm, and the body of the beast slides back towards the water and its head, where the teeth are, is still on the fox's arm as its blood and the fox's blood mixes together and the eel's life ends, but it still has a good death grip.

Bandit switches from his scream of panic to a scream of pain as the eel's teeth sink deep into his fleshy arm. The sharp needle like teeth act like a bear trap, encasing his paw in a painful, bloody mess. He rolls back and forth on the ground, the point of the knife working to lift up the upper jaws of the eel, his foot working to push the lower jaw open until he can pull his arm free.

The eels head falls to the ground; yep that eel is very dead and may make a good meal for the fox instead of the fox being its meal. The rest of the night looks like it will be calm, no more eels are around and now no clouds.