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Post by Margorr on Nov 11, 2015 0:04:17 GMT -5
Nobeast dared ever cross Captain Argrav Kelnris. The wildcat was an imposing beast, one who they had seen prove himself in battle again and again, and had the scars to prove it. Both his ears were torn, and he was missing both of his left limbs, his leg to the thigh, and his left paw and forearm. Both had been replaced with custom made prosthetics, and were his left paw should be, Argrav had a large iron hook. As the story went, Argrav had fought tooth and claw against a whale, and had come out victorious, though at great cost. Though now permanantly crippled, anybeast that heard the wooden thump of their leaders leg had no doubt in their mind that death himself walked amongst them.
Standing just outside the camp of his massive army, Argrav surveyed the forest ahead of him. Mossflower!! The wildcat had returned at last to the place he had shipwrecked but a few short seasons ago. How things had changed since then. He had come to this land with only a few surviving crewmates, and two slaves, and here he was now, conqueror of the north!
One can only stand cold, harsh winters for so long though. Argrav had grown up across the sea, he was use to warmer climates. It was time for him to move south, but to where? Tales told amongst the horde told of a place called Redwall Abbey, a place of plenty, with high walls, aye, and treasure too they said!
Argrav was less interested in treasure, than he was in showing his prowess to the south. Redwall Abbey, a place where supposedly many a warlord had met their fate, sounded like the perfect place to start his conquest.
For now, his horde rested. There was planning to be done, and beasts to see before the march tomorrow. His scouts had yet to return, though Argrav knew what general direction they needed to go in, this was still unfamiliar land. For now though he would return to his tent, and see what he could get done in the meantime.
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Post by Doggo on Nov 13, 2015 0:47:01 GMT -5
Although she would never admit it, for fear of appearing weak, Bruke was glad for the warmer climate of Mossflower. The bitter cold up North had always been rather intolerable to the weasel, a Mossflower native, and it certainly did nothing to help her injury. It had been at least a full season since she lost half of her tail to an escaping slave, but the dull aches had hardly abated until now.
At any rate, Bruke no longer had to worry about any more lousy slaves. She always did find it unpleasant, brainless work, and all she had to show for it was one less tail. Slaves had no potential, there was nothing to be done with the miserable lot of them. Strolling through the sprawling camp, Bruke decided she would speak with Argrav about any immediate plans before the army set off again.
A hapless ferret nearby caught her eye, and turned to run. Bruke was quicker. With a loud clack, a pair of expertly thrown bolas had fastened themselves around the ferret's ankles, and with a loud cry he fell forward.
"Oy, Fratch! Where you be runnin' off to ol' pal? Surely you've just returned from patrol like I asked, and want to report afore I speak to the Cap'n, aye?"
Bruke's friendly query did nothing to placate Fratch, who just stared back at her, not quite glaring. Dropping the pleasant facade, Bruke lunged, brutally kicking his prone body.
"You layabout, don't think I don't know! You've been shirking your duties since you were assigned to me, and if you don't step into line, mark my words, I can add another scar to your raggedy hide!"
Fratch, glancing at the whip that hung on Bruke's sash, thought better of making any more trouble. Bruke deftly untangled her bolas from his ankles and dragged him upright. She had shifted back into her usual calm, and she affectionately ruffled his headfur and roughly shoved him forward.
"Now get going, and I'd better not catch you returning to camp while it's still bright out. You can be expecting reduced rations until I decide otherwise."
Having settled the issue, Bruke made her way to Argrav's tent. Nodding to the guard posted outside, she entered the tent with a salute.
"Cap'n, the scouting parties have all been sent out as ordered. Have you any other orders afore our next move?"
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Post by Margorr on Nov 13, 2015 14:58:06 GMT -5
((This is a Margorr only post. I'll reply to Doggo in a few, and anyone else who interacts with Argrav))
Margorr felt more like a babysitter these days than an assassin. It was just a few weeks ago when their Captain had approached him.
"Margorr." He'd said, "I've got an assignment for you that I can trust no other with." Margorr had hoped that meant he'd finally get another assassination mission, but instead, Argrav had stuck him with Aldous, a little white otter child Argrav insisted was "Lucky". Margorr didn't believe in all that, but he knew that where the Captain was from, white furred beasts were considered lucky.
"Margorr, you're my best assassin. I want you to teach Aldous here everything you know. He's old enough now. And help him pick a new name." The Captain had instructed. Just like that Margorr was stuck babysitting a child. It wasn't so bad, Aldous was fairly well behaved, but energetic. This was a fine set up for about two weeks, but this work was really beneath what Margorr thought he should be doing. He wanted out of it, or at least, a way to not have to babysit an otter child all day.
The solution came to him a few weeks later. The army had found themselves farther south, a bit to the east of the Badger's Mountain. Margorr was skinning one of the hares they'd killed, when he swore under his breath. He should have spared one, to keep as a servant of his own. Well it was too late now, or so he thought. A few days later, another Patrol was spotted by a scout. Margorr volunteered to go take care of it. He took a small raiding party out. They had meant to kill all the hares and keep one, but these hares were far more skilled than the last batch, and they only managed to kill two, kidnap one, and retreat, managing somehow to lose the hares.
The haremaid Margorr had managed to capture was named Lucerne, he'd come to find out. Her sole purpose was to help Margorr carry his stuff, and watch Aldous while Margorr did actual work. Today, the three of them sat somewhere near the edge of camp, not too far from the Captain's tent. Margorr had generously provided both Aldous and Lucerne hare fur, already cut into the proper pattern for warm mittens, and was teaching them how to sew it.
"Now Aldous, make sure you keep the edges lined up. you don't want ill fitting mittens now. You must keep a steady hand, that will be important in becoming an assassin too. How are you doing over there, Lucerne?" Margorr asked, glancing over at the hare maid. She hadn't touched any of her sewing materials, and had started crying again. He knew he probably shouldn't have told her it was hare fur. She'd get over it eventually. He just took her materials away from her and set to working on them himself.
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Post by Gingivere-Greeneyes on Nov 13, 2015 16:32:11 GMT -5
There was more than one wildcat in the camp of Argrav Kelnris however. Standing inside the Captain's own tent was another large, lithe, muscular male, poised over a map spread on a table with one buff-coloued paw under his chin.
Unlike many others, Claudius was less than happy about the 'move' from the rugged northlands to the pleasant south. For again unlike the others, in it he had lost his kingdom, ancestral home, position as leader of his horde, and worst of all, his dignity.
He had been living a high and mighty life before that moggy had came along. Claudius had fancied himself as something of a King of the Highlands. He had had a large castle, a massive horde, a bigger Kingdom, and all the life and luxuries of a Monarch. Then Argrav had came up from the south, and just because he had been the fiercer of the two in one fight, he was forced to relenquish it all to the crippled wildcat. Graciously though, his life had been spared, but Claudius would personally have rather been executed than be demoted to the measley rank of subordinate. Sure, he was still very very high-ranking, but not the highest rank, the one he had tasted before and desired to do so again.
Incase it wasn't plain, Claudius hated Argrav. Partly for the fact he had taken over his home and subsequently abandoned it, yes. And also for his raggedy appearance and many injuries, which Claudius felt were not befitting of a warlord. But most of all for the fact that he was not what Claudius would consider pure.
In the General's eyes, the only true wildcats looked like he; brown fur, black stripes, thick bushy tails, powerful bodies with buff underparts. He had been raised to think that all these things were the marks of true wildcats, and anything less was no more than a rat. And this was coincidentally how he viewed his captain; a washed up, scruffy bilge-rat. Of course, wildcats existed in other parts of the world, and they did not all look like the ones in the Northlands, and Argrav had came from across the sea after all. But Claudius did not care.
The captain's decision to move from the Highlands, in Claudius's view, was nothing short of cowardice. Couldn't handle a bite of frost could he? He had forsaken a perfectly good stronghold, and for what? The mere legend of some Abbey place.
If he was going to have to do this however, he was going to do it right. Which was why he was currently stooping over the map. He was scrutinizing the easiest route to the 'Abbey'; on one hand, the path was easiest for an army of their size, but the forest would get them there quicker, and would allow for the element of surprise should it be needed.
One ear flicked as he heard the distinctive 'thunk,' of Argrav Kelnris's wooden leg. Great.
He looked up respectfully as the horde leader stepped into the tent. He merely gave a short incline of his head and said, 'Captain', before going back to studying the map.
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Post by Margorr on Nov 13, 2015 17:32:32 GMT -5
General Claudius was already in Argrav's tent when he returned to it. The Captain didn't necessarily trust the wildcat, he had in fact, taken his kingdom and army from him, but the General was a good leader, and someone Argrav wanted to keep a close eye on. Keep your enemies close, as they said, and for now he'd utilize the other wildcat as much as possible.
"Ah General Claudius!" Argrav said, making his way over to stand next to the other wildcat, placing his paw on the General's shoulder. "You've spent a long time looking at that map. Thinking of which way to go? Would it hurt your feelings if I told you I already had a plan?"
He didn't have time to wait for a reply from Claudius, because one of his officers, Bruke, came into the tent. Argrav was initially irritated because the guards should have asked before letting her in, but he remembered he'd never told them to keep anyone out. Bruke was probably his favorite officer. She was not the most skilled combat wise, nor was she the strongest, but she certainly knew how to avoid danger, and was one of the most dedicated workers he'd ever had. Plus, she knew how to assert herself.
Letting go of Claudius' shoulder, Argrave strode towards Bruke and stopped a few feet away.
"There is not much to do until the scouting parties return, I'm afraid. Though, I am curious as to how you would prefer to finish the journey to Redwall. General Claudius here was just about to tell us if he would prefer to go through the forest, or if he'd like to take the path. Of course, unlike you, General Claudius has never been to Mossflower in his life and has no idea what he's talking about. You are from around here, aren't you, Officer Bruke?"
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Post by Doggo on Nov 15, 2015 21:23:58 GMT -5
"That's exactly right, Cap'n!" Bruke replied cheerily.
Although Bruke had once lived on the southern fringes of Mossflower, she had hardly ever ventured deeper into the woods, and even if she did she wouldn't be able to make any use of such knowledge, considering her terrible sense of direction. That didn't matter at the moment though, since she had been sure to send enough scouting parties to get a thorough lay of the land, each led by trusted soldiers she had handpicked for their experience in such matters.
"I would recommend taking the forest route, sir. One can never take too many precautions, and we currently know very little of Redwall. I'd wager a place like that doesn't have the reputation it does for no reason, and if we can catch them unprepared, our victory will be sooner and more assured. If there's one thing I abhor, its a drawn out siege. Even the most pathetic woodlanders can put up a good defense given the chance. No doubt it will crumble eventually, but that'd cost us time and halt our conquest. To be sure, the path is easier to travel, but I don't see that option giving us any meaningful benefit. Once the scouts return, we should be able to navigate through the forest without too much trouble. Of course, that's just my view on it."
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Post by Margorr on Nov 15, 2015 22:20:52 GMT -5
Margorr set aside the finished mittens, and helped Aldous finish his. The little otter looked rather proud of his work, and Margorr gave him a pat on the head for it.
“You’ll be sewing just as well as I do in no time, kid.” He said, glancing back towards his hare. She was glaring at him now. He liked that better than the crying. She’d only be angry for so long, eventually she’d resign to her fate as his servant, that’s how it usually went.
“Go ahead, stare me down, miss. Just be glad you’ve still got your life, lucky you. It wouldn’t hurt you to pay attention to my lessons though, you’ll never know when sewing can come in handy.”
Lucerne didn’t say anything to him though, she just kept staring down the stoat. Margorr sighed and got up.
“Very well. I have other business to attend. Keep an eye on Aldous for me, will you? Aldous, you be a good lad and stay here.” Margorr said, before slinking off to go see what was going on around the rest of the camp.
Lucerne immediately relaxed as soon as the stoat was gone. She was still on edge, being in the middle of the vermin camp, but at least now she didn’t have to confront her captor to his face.
She had been out with the search party for the first Patrol. Only a select few hares had been allowed to go with the General, and she was honored to be one. They’d picked up the tracks on the first Patrol, but everything from there on was a blur. They were ambushed, and she had found herself grabbed by the arm by some huge beast, the last thing she remembers was the screams of the ambushed hares, and the sound of steel on steel. Next thing Lucerne knew she was waking up in the vermin camp.
The only bright side to her ordeal was Aldous. The otter seemed to be some kind of servant. When she asked him about it, all he would say is “Papa says I’m lucky, and he’ll take care of me.” It took her a while to realize “Papa” was Captain Argrav, the huge wildcat that led all these vermin. She was curious as to how an otter came to call that monster Papa, but Aldous wouldn’t share. He’d simply shrug and ignore the topic.
Now that Margorr was gone, Aldous came over and sat by Lucerne. She couldn’t move, Margorr had placed a collar around her neck, and had chained her to a nearby tree. She’d learned early on that though her paws were free, it’d be best not to attack Margorr.
Aldous sat down next to Lucerne, and snuggled up against her side. She put her arm around him, and sighed.
“I’ll get you out of here with me, little one. An Otters place is not with vermin, dontcha know? Wouldn’t you like to go live with the other otters?”
Shaking his head, Aldous replied, “No. I want to stay with Papa Argrav. I’ll tell him if you escape.”
Lucerne just sighed and looked to the sky, hoping that somehow, someday, she’d get out of here.
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Post by Gingivere-Greeneyes on Nov 17, 2015 20:10:38 GMT -5
The wildcat looked up darkly as the captain strode towards him. What did he want now? Nevertheless, Claudius straightened up, almost to attention, with his paws clasped neatly behind his back. His golden eyes quickly shot a disdainful glare down at the paw on his shoulder, but he quickly brought them up to look Argrav in the eyes.
"You've spent a long time looking at that map. Thinking of which way to go? Would it hurt your feelings if I told you I already had a plan?"
Claudius gave him a chillingly sweet smile laced with jagged ivory teeth. "Only a little, in that it would perhaps have been nice if you had shared your thoughts with us lowly creatures. We can't all be as cunniving as you are." he purred sarcastically, but was spared a further argument by the appearance of the weasel captian.
He raised his head and gave her a small, curt nod of adknowledgement (brushing off his shoulder where Argrav had touched it as though his touch was contaigous). His ears flattened when the leader made fun of him, and there was a soft, almost silent 'shink' of claws coming out of their buff-coloured seaths. How dare he? Had Claudius not fought battles and conquered entire armies in the brittle northern forests and mountains a thousand times harsher than this landscape? A couple of ancient oaks and blackberry bushes were nothing, and if they were to the leader that was his problem. The pure Scottish wildcat glared at Bruke for a moment as though daring her to make a joke along with the silver cat, but he was pleasantly surprised to find that no such teasing came.
Like Argrav, Claudius found that the weasel was his favourite among the horde (not that he necessarily liked her of course). She would be the ideal second-in-command if he ever were to gain the governing position. He found himself wondering where the weasel's loyalties would lie if such a contest came about, but pushed such thoughts to the back of his ever-working mind for now, and listened to her practical advice.
Claudius had nothing to add to his, it was the decision he had more been leaning towards (though he was not averse to using scare-tactics and shows off force. Whatever Burke said about these Woodlanders, they were still Woodlanders). He merely made a small 'rrr' of agreement, swishing his enormous tail back and forth once.
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Post by Margorr on Nov 18, 2015 3:24:19 GMT -5
Argrav nodded as he listened to Officer Bruke share the benefits of taking the forest route. He'd already considered this, but was reassured by his Officers support. Even Claudius agreed. He knew his comment about Claudius had probably irritated the other wildcat. Not that he cared much about that, if Claudius were to attack him, Argrav would just wrestle him into submission again. He'd give anything to show up the other wildcat again.
"That is a good suggestion, Officer Bruke, and it is exactly what we are going to do. Not today, oh no, and not even when the scouts return. No, we'll wait here for now. In eight days, it's the new moon you know. I want to use the darkness to our advantage. Show up in the middle of the night, and lay siege to the Abbey straight away. I do want to keep some of our number hidden in the woods, it's best they don't know the full extent of our power." Argrav purred a little as he shared his plan with his Officers. He had a few things up his sleeve planned for Redwall Abbey that he wasn't quite ready to share yet.
"That's all you need to know for now, Any questions? If not, you're both dismissed."
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bye!
