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Library
In the library you can see the finished missions. Go here to see stories written by one person
completed Missions
mission 1
So it all started with a toad attack cry, "Attack! Rebbb!" And after that, it
was chaos, tridents being thrown and natterjack cries filled the air. Right
when I ducked a flying trident, Hisk ran up to me, "Bloodclaw, get these toads
outta here, I don't care how, just do it!" I knew it was time for good
leadership. "Redclaw, the west wall, Grath, the east wall, Leigon, the north
wall, and Deathrose, the south wall! Every other beast, grab some javelins and
get on the walls...NOW!" They all hustled up the ladders with bow and arrow,
javelin and throwing dagger in paw. The missile war lasted about an hour.
After the missile battle, I called the all down and rapped out, "OK, everyone
get down here. OK, I'll take Cleo, Embershard, Slainfur, Booboinc, and
Fireeyes out the front gate and attack. Swordflash, you take the rest and go
out the back gate, we'll hit them from both sides...GO!" That action took less
time than the missiles. We quickly cut down the remaining toads. I told the
archers to stay behind the fighters and pick off any wounded toads or ones
trying to get away. The only wound sustained by us was a trident in my paw
when I was trying to get 5 at once.
mission 2
Seeing this as a great time to please Sire Hisk I gladly accepted the
mission. Gathering about two score of vermin I was ready to take on the
task. We patched up an old ship and pushed off towards Tillham. The
journey took all day so when we got there it was night time. I quickly
told the group to stay quiet and follow me. We started the walk to the
cave looking everywhere for the greatest beasts of all time that were
supposed to be here. All of a sudden we heard a blood curdling scream!
I was to the body in a second. An arrow was in his back. I yelled for
everyone to take cover! Arrows started flying from everywhere! "In the
trees," I shouted to the horde! Some of our vermin started shooting
back in the trees. A couple of squirrel fell out dead! Quickly scaling
the nearest tree i saw another squirrel perched on a limb. I jumped at
him grabbing his neck fell out of the tree. I stood holding him in
front of me with a dagger at his neck! "You beasts quit shooting or yer
mate DIES!" The arrows stopped. "Now get out of the trees" I yelled.
Slowly the squirrels got down. "NOW," I shouted and all of my horde
rushed them. The squirrels didn't have time to think. They were
dropping like flies! I stabbed the one I was holding and helped out the
horde. They were no match for us and fell quickly. "What stupid beasts
to risk all of their lives for one mate." Tired but pumped we quickly
got the treasures and sailed home.
mission 3
REVENGE! That is all I could think about. I felt like a badger during bloodwrath. Late one night I slipped out of Marshank. I crossed the lands until I reached the woodlands. I then let go my secert wepon. It was a falcon. The falcon was a black that matched the sky perfectly. It had talons that seemed to glow. I had been traing it for some time. Now it was time to test it. I let it go. I flew upward and to the enemies camp. I heard shouts. Then all was queit. I figured that my pet had done it work. I walk in. In the camp bodies here and there. I walked over to a big room. Inside were my pals. I freed them and we ran all the back to Marshank. The next day me falcon came bakc to me. You will be hearing from it again.
mission 4
After being told the importance of the situation, me and some others set outto save the prisoners. After a few days of marching, we got to the RAIM headquarters. I guessed the time wonderfully. A few minutes after we got into position, the RAIM fighters and the prisoners came out. I weasel saw me and I signaled for him to pass it along quietly. One of the RAIM fighters said to another one "Are we almost there. I'm tired." He replied, "Almost, I can't wait. It's only a bit ahead." We ran ahead. After looking for a hiding place. I found a good overhang that we could get the prisoners as the went in the drink. After we had all the prisoners under the overhang, we got up on thebank. When one rat yelled out after stepping on a thorn, the RAIM fighters ranat us. We easily ''defeated'' the fighters and headed back to Marshank.
mission 5
"OK!! Order in the ranks! No slouching!" "OHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!! Did you have to wake me up from me sleep? I had a great dream about food." I walk over to the ferret who calls him self Fullwhisker. "You do as I say! Not get up and get a move on it!" "This is going to be hard" I said to myself. "Fullwhisker" "Yes?" He said a little fearfully. "Since you were dreaming about food I think that you should get NO food. Hows that?" "Yes sir" "Atleast he shows a little respect" I thought. "Ok the rest of you. Drop and give me 100 then run around Marshank 20 times!" I was greeted with swears. "OK have it your way. Go aroung Marshank 30 times!" The ferrets started the push up slowy. "Faster faster" I yelled. They went faster and faster and before 15 were up they were down. "OK troops take a brake and then come back you still have 30 times around Marshank" Everyone ran to the shore and guzzeled up water. They came back and started to trot around the massive building. After 30 I said" Get some sllep we will be doing more tommrow." The next day I spilt the ferrets as evenly as I could. One group started out with sword fighting and the other group did shooting. "Good job Whitetail move, an' thrust. igave the ferrets more compilments to build up there codfindents. I then went to the shooting range," Great shot!" I said to Fullwhisker. Fullwhisker kept shooting and never missed a shot. I ask him to help the other beast who werent' that great. After a couple of days and lots of hard work my team of ferrets went into the enlisting office. When they came out they were all happy. Hisk had approved them! I felt very pround. Then I thought, "Maybe I will get a some food?"
Mission 7
This would not be an easy mission. I decided I would take a score of
vermin with me. "Get ready for some hiking you lazy bums," i said.
There were a bunch of groans but they all got up and followed. The hike
was a long one but eventually we got to Nimrev. Their leader Emporer
Rinich was waiting with two body guards. "Shall we be on our way," he
asked motioning in front of himself? "We shall," I replied. A little
while after the hike back began, i started hearing complaints from the
beasts. "We hiked all this way for nothing. There wasn't even any
action!" Just as he finished his sentence a spear went through his
chest! Every beast ran for cover! There were hares, shrews, and mice
everwhere! We were easily outnumberd 3 to 1! Pushing Emporer Runich
behind a tree with his body guards I helped my mates with the fight! A
shrew stabbed at me but I side stepped and slit his throat. Then came a
horrible pain in my head. A hare had kicked me! I turned over to see
him standing over me ready to strike when all of a sudden an arrow hit
him between the eyes! I quickly jumped up and continued fighting! The
horde held up good but still needed help! Then I saw them! Three score
of the vermin from Nimrev came rushing to our aid!! This gave the horde
new spirit! We fought until everyone of the beasts from Raim was dead!
We had suffered greatly, only having sixteen beasts left out of the
forty I had taken! Looking at Runich I said "How did you know we would
be attacked?" "I didn't," came the reply "but I am always ready." "I
think you and Sire Hisk will get along just fine!" We continued the
journey home without any more problems.
mission 8
I wasn't that worried when Sire Hisk called me into his private chamber.
He's done it before in worse moods than this and I'm still around, aren't I?
Well, he called me in and said, "Bloodclaw, somebeast or something is stealing
our supplies. Since most of the things are food, go to the larder and hide
there all day. If anybeast comes down there that's not of our hoard, kill
them." "Yes Sire." I went down to the larder. After careful inspection, I did
many thing missing. Even my favorite gooseberry jam! I'm gonna hook them extra
hard for that. I found a barrel with it's contents missing. I bore a hole in
it with a little knife, and climbed inside. I waited there all day. Finally,
something walked past the barrel. I jumped out and...had my hook to Darklan's
neck!?! "Oops, sorry Darklan." He cuffed my ear. "Don't let it happen again
Bloodclaw." He grabbed some bread and walked away. After that, one more beast
came by the barrel. It had a squirrels tail! I jumped out and sunk my hooks
hard in it's head. He died instantly. I took the body to Sire Hisk and said,
"I'm done."
mission 9
"Bloodclaw, wake up." I quickly woke up. His Lordship Hisk was standing over
me. "Aw, Sire, you woke me up from the best dream I ever had. I met the vixen
of medr... ow." He cuffed my ear. "Quit bellyachin’ and listen, remember that 2
score o' scouts I
sent out?" "Yeah." "Well, their not back yet. Form up the horde under you and
findthem...NOW!" Yes, Sire." I woke up the horde and we headed out. After a days
march, we
found a bloodtrail. After an hour, we found a bloodbath! Horde heads were
splattered and
limbs ripped off, as if by magic. Then I found a broken staff with a clear
stone on top.
“Marlfoxes” I growled. “Boobonic and archers set up camp and stay here. The
rest of you,
form up and come with me. Were goin’ fox huntin’...” When we found the cavethe
Marlfoxes were in, we rushed in quick. They couldn't cast any spells and were
slaughtered.
mission 10
"Bloodclaw, get up here!" Sire Hisk was calling me from his chamber window.
''Yes, Sire. I got up here as fast as I could. What do you need?" Sire Hisk
stared out the window at the sea. "Ships, my friend, ships. That's what we
need, ships. I want you to take 1 of your mateys and get some ships. Build
'em, steal 'em, I don't care, just get 'em.'' ''Yes, Sire.''
Later that day, I left the fort with Darkpheonix. After some marching, we
came across an otter holt. I turned to Darkpheonix, "Stay here. I'll be right
back." I came back with a young female otter by the throat. All right you
little wretch, how many male otters are there in the holt, and how many ships
do you have!" She quickly said, "50 males, but they went to Redwall Abbey, 3
ships.'' Darkpheonix and me bound and gagged her and ran to the ships.
Darkpheonix said, "Alright, you get those two and I'll take this one.''
By that time the otter got free and was yelling, ''Those vermin are stealing
our ships. Stop them!" But it was too late. We got away with the ships and
sailed back to Marshank. We even named the ships. I named the 2 ship sthat I
secured Hisk and Bloodclaw. Darkpheonix named the last one Darkpheonix.
mission 11
Runkbun, Tergutt, Velase, and I all ran along the wall of Marshank
nearing the enemies camp. I didn't want a big horde for this battle, it
would be a quick and easy battle with only four of us.
"Lets stay together and kill these beasts one at a time," I whispered
to my companions. They shook their heads and we crept closer to the
sleeping enemy. As we neared them I noticed they were a strange sort of
otter clan!? I had never seen otters that were dressed properly and did
not wear ear rings or have tattoos. I pulled out my battle axe while
the others readied their weapons. We slipped through, slaying the
beasts as we came to them! Then Tergutt tripped and fell with a crash!
I spun and slashed his head off for being so clumsy!
"Whats going on!"
"Wake up, wake up!"
"We're under attack!" Screams and yells echoed through the camp as
all the otters awoke!
"Retreat," I yelled!! Runkbun got dropped with an arrow in his head
while Velase and I ran for Marshank! We got to the gate and rushed in
slamming the door behind us! Archers on the wall were picking off the
on rushing enemy! My plan had worked fine. If only we were able to
kill more in their sleep before that fool Tergutt tripped this battle
would have been much easier. Oh well we had killed enough and now they
were close enough for our archers! The ground crew was
ready and waiting as
I pushed the gate open and we rushed out. With the arrows from above
and our beasts on the ground the otters quickly retreated! I urged the
beasts to chase them back and not let any survive!
"Don't let them get to the river or we will lose them," I yelled!
Taking half the crew I circled around and got to the waters edge. We
waited until the otters came and charged them! The first one I met fell
to my axe! The next two went down with one mighty swing! The confused
otters ran around helplessly as we slayed them left and right! The
furious battle was over as quick as it had begun! Once again Marshank
was victorous!
mission 12
I couldn't wait to get to the Island and make the new fort. I already
had a name made up for it, Nirmave!! I gathered four score of vermin
and headed for the island. The trip took two days and the horde was
getting restless. "Allright mateys lets get that fort built," i said!
The vermin jumped off the boat and carried the wood over. The first
three days went on without any distractions. We were beggining to
beleive there were no Marlfoxes. The third night we were all sleeping
when I heard a rustling in the forest next to camp. I jumped up and
grabbed my daggers! Coming out of my tent i started waking up the crew!
Then out of nowhere a fire-arrow sped through the camp and hit the
sleeping bag of one of my beasts! He jumped up on fire and ran around
crazily! The rest of the crew woke up in a hurry! "Get your weapons
and kill the Marlfoxes," i shouted at the top of my lungs! We charged
the forest and the foxes came out ready to fight! Throwing both of my
daggers, two foxes fell dead with the daggers in their skulls! I picked
up one of their swords and started fighting! I turned just in time to
see a fox ready to strike me! I ducked in a hurry and came up with the
sword going through his chin and out of his head! Surprisingly the
foxes were outnumbered by us badly! We fought bravely and soon the
Marlfoxes started retreating! Calling the archers to the front I
commanded them not to let them get away! The archers picked them off
like experts! Walking around I made sure all of the foxes were dead.
If they weren't I killed them! The next day we continued work on
Nirmave. It took us just three more days to finish. We sailed home
happy to be victorious!
mission 13
"Hahahahahahahahaha! Little pansy vermin in their fort! Why woncha come out and play! Hahahahahahahahahahahahaha!" Sire Hisk had the horde in his private chamber. "See that otter? He's been out there all day. Just standing there, taunting us. I want one of you to go out there and kill, no, slaughter that insolent otter!" before any beast could volunteer, I said something that I would regret later. "I'll do it Sire." Sire Hisk came up to me and said, "What are you gawpin' at...GO!" Before I went out I called Slagar over to where I was standing. "Slagar. If'n I go down, I want you to pin that otter right atwix the shoulder blades. OK mate?" "Alright friend, although I think that you don't have much to worry about." "Thanks friend. Well, I'm off." When I confronted the otter, he drew a scimitar. "This is a weapons match." "Thanks for the warning." I barely had time to draw my hooks before he pounced. He slashed down at my face, and cut me! "Try again..." I said tracing a long thin scar down my face. I gave him a right hook with my hook, and slashed him with my hooks. The fight raged on for a long time. We punched, kicked, butted, bit and clawed each other like savages. As his last move, he leapt at me. I ducked, ramming both me hooks into his neck and pulled as hard as I could. I was rewarded with a shower of otter organs. Seeing this, everybeast inside the fort cheered. I collapsed. I woke up with Sire Hisk standing over me. "Congratulations, you killed him."
mission 14
I couldn't wait to kill the little badger! Old Lord Brocktree was
responsible for three of my familys deaths. Now I would finally be able
to avenge them! Sire Hisk gave me two score of vermin for this mission.
At the time Redwall was fightng off theifs trying to take over their
abbey and half of the Long Patrol was helping them defend! It was the
perfect time to go and get the baby. My horde and I pushed off on a
sunny afternoon and reached the shores of Salamandaston the next day.
"Allright you beasts," I said. "Before you go rushing in there ready
to kill I have to say one thng. The badger babe is MINE! Anybeast that
kills it will not be going home with us!" With that said, the horde
charged the mountain! A couple of lookouts had spotted us earlier so
the Long Patrol was waiting. We ran at each other with a huge clash!
Blood was flying everywhere! I came upon my first victim and jabbed a
dagger in his midsection! He fell dead and I looked for the next beast
to kill! A strong hare was taking on three of my beasts and beating
them! Tossing my dagger up and down I calculated the distance from me
to him! Then with a quick flick of the wrist my dagger zoomed toward
him! The hare didn't know what hit him! The dagger stuck between his
ears in the back of his head! My horde was doing fine in the battle
so I decided to go after the baby. Killing the hares I could while
passing, I ran to the entrance of the mountain!
"Not even a guard to stop me," I said to myself. After entering I saw
an old hedgehog in the corner with a bundle in her hands! I walked
toward her with a smile!
"You have to go through me to get to him," she screamed!
"No problem," I replied. Using my claws I gashed open her stomach!
She fell breathing heavily! "Goodnight," I said as she closed her eyes
for the final time. Picking up the baby I ran to a cliff on the outside
of a mountain where all could see me!
"Look here mates," I screamed as the battle fought on. "Old Lord
Broctree's grandbeast will be sacrificed!" Holding him above my head I
threw him to his death! He hit with a thud! The hares were shoked and
fought like cowards. By night time the battle was over, the baby was
dead, and we were on our way home!
mission 15
I eyed a score of weasels who were sitting a little to close to each other for comfort as I sat eating in the dining
hall at midday. Towards the end of the meal, one of them got up and walked out. The rest followed shortly after, going in groups, in pairs, or alone. Finishing my meal, I snuck after them. Peeking around a corner, I saw
the group walking stiffly through a hallway towards a west exit. Another weasel was passing in the opposite direction, and as it strolled by, eyeing the strange group, one of the creatures pulled out a dagger and deftly stuck it in the stomack. The passerby let doubled up as the blade was speedily withdrawn, let out a gurgle and collapsed to the floor. The weasels continued on as if in a trance, another four removing a couple of wall hangings and tapestries. The group suddenly speeded up and jogged out onto the grounds, sprinting once they were outside. I took the hint and raced after them, marveling at how some of the plumper ones could move along at such great speeds that seemed impossibly for creatures of their girth. It was one of these who eventually stumbled and fell, not bein able to move its legs fast enough to sustain its sprint. I was upon the weasel at once, twisting both its arms around its back and putting my dagger to its throat.
"Well, mate, just where d'y'think yore goin' in such a hurry, huh?"
I reeled back in pain as the weasel made a physically impossible manuver. Wrenching around, and still with me gripping its arms, the creatures tore its right paw from my viselike grip and punched me square in the jaw with such force that I nearly blacked out. After spitting out a tooth and a lot of blood, I would have killed the vermin myself it it hadn't purposely slain itself jumping on me with my daggerblade up and trying to claw and snap at my neck in the process. Pushing the carcass of the weasel from me, I looked in shock at the dislocated shoulder flopping crazily from the body. What sort of fear could drive a beast to do that?
The next day when the same group ran out of the fort with a big sack of stolen loot, I was ready. Disguised as a weasel, I snuck behind the party and slew one, taking its place among the stone-faced vermin. I kept up with them as they raced madly through the marshes to the west. We came to a halt at a group of five small huts made of mud, straw, and clay. I noticed one of the weasels trembling uncontrolably, despite the enormous effort he was putting in to keep perfectly still like the others. Then I saw them.
They strode slowly out of the huts, three of them, some gripping their deadly axes hidden under the blue-gray cloaks, pale eyes staring ahead at the group of weasels, moving sinewously with finely-toned muscles under the mottled blue, gray, cream, black and brown fur. Marlfoxes all! The quaking vermin started to whimper fearfully. He must have known he would be slain. In the blink of an eye the weasel lay dead on the boggy ground.
"He was becoming weak," a fox who must have been the killer rasped blankly, quiet as the sigh of dry leaves through the air. A Marlfox glanced at the four weasels holding the sack of loot, and as if at some unheard command they brought it obediently forward, jenuflecting and bowing their heads. The rest of the group also bowed, and I quickly did the same, staying pretty much in time with the others. A fox motioned with his paw, and the weasels started forward. There was no chance of escape; the Marlfoxes surrounded us and escorted us to a hut. There, oddly enough, we sat down and were chained to stakes in the hut by our front
paws. A Marlfox glided out, then came back in again with a small bowl of dark liquid, administering a sip to each weasel. As soon as the foxes left, I spat mine out and continued spitting until all traces of the liquid were gone. I wondered why I suddenly couldn't think so clearly now, but then I saw the weasels all nodding off. There must have been some sort of sleeping potion in that drink they were given.
I stayed awake as long as I could here the Marlfoxes conversing. Apparently the hut we were in was for the
weasels. The fourth had belonged to their brother, who had perished in a bog, swallowed up by treacherous ooze. When they wanted more treasure and such, the foxes would hypnotize the weasels, sort of programing them, and instructed them to kill anybeast who caught them or looked suspicious, then kill themselves to ensure the safety of their masters. The foxes were apparently after Marshank. They wanted nothing of the empire, just the fort itself. They would attack when the time was right.
I decided to get out of there then. Getting my dagger out from under the jerkin I'd dressed up in, I worked at picking the simple lock in the manacles. With a soft click I was free and running for all I was worth back to Marshank.
The next day when the weasels returned they got an unexpected surprise. Upon entering the fort grounds, the lead vermin released a trip wire. And that wire released a big, long plank of wood above them. A big, long
plank of wood that had metal spikes covering the bottom.
I set out at noontide with two more of the best and stealthiest archers in Marshank. We headed west, into the marshlands. When we were close to the Marlfoxes' huts, I held up my paw. I scouted very, very carefully ahead. One can never be too cautious with Marlfoxes. Crawling noiselessly through the mud and some sparse vegetation, I could see into one of the huts. A fox was whetting the thin blade of a javelin against a stone. Making sure I didn't disturb a single leaf on any plant or make the slightest squelch in the mud, I moved over to the next hut and saw the other two Marlfoxes preparing a drink. I guessed it was that stuff they'd given the weasels the previous night. Sneaking back, I gave the signal to move. The other two with me went over to the hut with the two foxes in it. I took the lone one. I waited for the perfect moment, until the Marlfox turned its back to me to put the newly sharpened javelin away and get another. The creature would never use another weapon again. The first shaft struck the fox in the middle of its back. Before it had time to cry out I buried a second in its neck. The Marlfox had turned into a pincusion by the time I was through with it. The same could be said of the other two. Mission accomplished.
mission 17
I gathered some vermin for my new mission and started the walk to the
place where the red squirrels were. We arrived at night time and looked
around for anything suspicious. I sent scouts out and a few minutes
later one reported some camp fires to the east. We snuck over there
very quietly. There were two guards standing watch and a bunch of
squirrels were asleep around little camp fires. Pulling out my two
daggers, I threw them both at the same time! They both found there
targets but not before one of the guards let out a scream of pain,
waking the others! "Charge," I yelled! My beasts and I were on them in
no time! Some that were slow getting ot there feet were killed
instantly! Picking up an axe I ran at a squirrel! I got to him and
swung hard at him with the huge axe! To my surprise he blocked it and
countered with his bow! The bow caught me in the chest and knocked me
down! I would not be beaten this easily though! I sprang up and took
another swing! He blocked it again but this time I was ready. I ducked
as he swung and hit him in the stomach! He bent over grabbing his
midsection and I swung my axe up into his face! Just as I turned two
more squirres were coming at me! The one in front ran straight at me
and jumped coming down with his axe! I blocked it and knocked him down
using the butt of the axe! The other one came in with a huge thrust!
Side stepping I close-lined him breaking his neck! I turned back to the
other one and used my claws to finish him off! I looked frantically for
there leader Firdin! Then I saw a squirrel wearing a head dress unlike
the others. I knew it must be him! Running to him from behind I hit
him with my fist in the back of his head! He fell stunned! I bent down
and picked him up by his fur! Then I threw him with all my might at a
nearby tree! I ran over and kicked him in the face knocking him
backward! Stepping on his chest I used my axe and came down on his
face! His head split in two! My beasts were defenatly winning the
battle. Seeing that they were no match for us the remaining squirrels
ran off! My horde started cheering wildly! That night we rested and
the next morning we made our way back to Marshank!
mission 18
I heard about the otters, I smiled cruelly, and said to hisk, "Those otters
won't be no more, I'll save some fish dinner and pelts for ya." I said, as I
took my weapons, and traveled the road, for I decide on foot, I might have a
better chance at sneaking a surprised attack on those otters, I hide in bushes
near the clearing of their camp. I waited until evening to attack, I sneak
into cabins of sleeping beasts, and silt their throats, I manage to skin a
couple, then I slowly sneak back to my hiding place. I counted the pelts, I
like the number of it, then next morning, I use some of thing around me, so
I'll be cleverly disguise as a squirrel, and I took a yew branch, and leave my
saber in a hidden place, I walked in, the otters look extremely worried, and
one said to me, "Who are ye, stranger?" I said, "I'm Leona Treetop, what may
I help ye with," the otter said, "can you get rid of the pikes, and find out
who's murdering our beasts?" I said in a modest voice, "I'll try" "Thanks,
Leona" then I conducted a pole out of ironwood, attached a chain to it, and
put a piece of salted pork on it. I dipped it in the water, the pikes struck,
and I got otters to pull the pike on land, a young dibbun with a dirk slashes
the pike's belly. the pike dies, then I went into the bushes saying I'm going
to catch the murder, then I did 2 voices, 'mine' and a weasel,
we're yelling, cussing, and all that racket, then I took a pelt of a brownish
otter, and put it over a makeshift body of leaves, I sew it together, then I
came out as Leona, dragging a dead weasel.
I said, "Here ye go, this is the murder, here's the pelts." I show him the
pelts.
the Otter who talked to me earlier said, "Thank ye, Leona, we'll have a feast
in your honor, and this here cup I got is your reward." I played my bluff, and
said, "I don't think that I'm wroth that much." the otter said, "yes ye are,
you save' the whole town!!!" then he handed me a gold cup with
bronze,platuimn, and sliver details, it has gems all over it, it has an
inscription, it said, "TO RAIM FOR HONORABLY SAVED REDWALL FROM A DANGEROUS
FOE" I put it in a gummy sack, and nodded, I slipped some salted, and smoked
fish pieces in my pack, and when they fell asleep, I silt their throats, and
skinned them, enslaving a few dibbuns, and left the place, I came back with
what I promised hisk, and I'm sure he's please.
mission 19Boom! Crack! Lightning flashed and thunder zigzagged around the sky. The
rain battered the crew and flung the ship every where. "Hoist the
sails!" The captain's voice rang out."I'm trying!" I shouted back.
"A RAIM ship is approaching of the starboard bow!""Not know!" I yelled.
"RAAAAAIIIIMMMMMM!" Yelled the warriors of RAIM voices yelled out. The
lookout disappeared with a shout of dismay in to the heaving sea. A hail
of arrows flew out catching four beasts unaware. We tried to retaliate
but our arrows were battered off course by extreme wind.
"I'm going over!" I yelled. With out a back ward glance I threw my self
out wards on to the enemy vessel. I whipped out a small dagger and
hurled it towards the captain. Falling woefully short of the hulking
young badger I cursed under my breath. Hand to hand combat was the only
viable solution. Taking out my short rapier I threw my self at the
badger. I let loose a barrage of slashes and thrusts. He parried most of
my moves and attempted to get around to my back. But I knew this and
kept him facing me. I suddenly threw my self back and forward in three
quick movements in a surprise maneuver. It paid off. I attacked his face
and stabbed him in the eye. But suddenly croaking filled the air. Toads!
Knowing I was out numbered two hundred to one I threw my self down
below. I grabbed a metal bar that had a sharpened end and drove it into
the hull. Water began to pour into the hold. I dove through the hole and
into the unforgiving sea. I lost conciseness and blacked out. I found my
self back in Marshank and knew we had won.
mission 20
I decided to go alone on this mission. As I came closer to the first lookout
tower, I saw that a hedgehog was heading the construction. This may be useful.
Two guards were loafing over by some bushes. When I was in the bushes, I made
a rattling sound with the branches. When they ran in, I grabbed their paws and
slew them. I grabbed some of their clothes and got closer to the towers. When
I was leaning next to the support, I sawed at them with a saw edged knife.
Then I climbed on the tower with the hedgehog and pushed him off onto 3
builders. When I did this, I caused confusion down below. I jumped to the
tower at the end and jumped down. I pulled out my hooks and ran toward the
tower at the other end. I put 1 hook out to wound anybeast coming towards me.
The other hook I put out to break the sawed supports, knocking them down. When
all the towers were knocked down, I sprinted home to Marshank.
mission 21
I could't let beasts talk bad about Marshank. Ever since the beasts
from RAIM had rescued their freinds from our prison pit other hordes
have lost respect in us. They were calling us liverhearted beasts. So I
gathered about two and a half score of vermin and set out toward RAIM!
Just as we were about to make camp, one of the scouts came running back
out of breath!
"Sir the beasts from RAIM are camped just a little ways that way," he
said pointing north!
"So they were coming back to attack," I replied. "Tell the horde not
to set camp. We will go and take them by surprise while they sleep!"
The rat hurried off to give my orders to the horde. In no time we were
marching toward RAIM's camp. Holding up my paw the horde stopped behind
me. Motioning toward the rat I leaned toward him and whispered,
"Take five beasts and kill their guards." He nodded and was off. A
couple of minutes later he returned.
"Guards taken care of sir."
"Good," I said smiling. Then turning to the horde I raised my arm and
yelled,"CHARGE!!"
The horde was off and slaying beasts in no time. The surprised RAIM
beasts fought the best they could. Using my daggers I slew two beasts
with two throws! A mouse ran at me with his spear! He thrust at my
chest and I turned and dodged it grabbing it out of his paws! Then with
a quick swing the head of the mouse rolled to a stop on the ground!
The battle raged on for an hour or so until finally we emerged
victorious! The ground was littered with dead beasts! Cupping my paws
around my mouth I yelled to the horde, "See who calls us liverhearted
again mates!"
The beasts let out a huge roar and then started chanting!
"Marshank!"
"Marshank!"
mission 22
Koaba stood on the docks, eyeing the several corsair ships coming in
from the wide blue seas. Peering at them with suspicion. Any one, or
two, or score of the murdering, pilaging bilgescum (all compliments, of
course,) might possibly develop a conspiracy against Sire Hisk. The
resolute ferret was not about to let that happen. She stared at the
incoming vessels a moment longer, then walked off.
"So, whatcha think about this berth?" a stoat said to an assembly of
vermin gathered down in the galley of a ship that night. A tall, skinny
rat stood up and replied, "Well, t'ain't nothin' worse'n wot we 'ad
afore, mates, fact, I likes it right fine."
A weasel agreed. "Aye, we made a good choice comin' 'ere. Haharr, ona
the few good choices we 'ave made, ay mates?"
The corsairs all laughed, and clinked their mugs of seaweed grog
together in a toast to their good fortune. One other watched from behind
a barrel. A ferret. Koaba. She had stolen down around evening, when the
seabeasts had been away. Now she bit her lip. Not much to go by here,
but instinctively the ferret knew their were some, maybe many, who had
malicious intentions for the Fort. As soon as the last rat passed out
drunkenly, Koaba sneaked back out and away to Marshank, where she
consulted a creature she knew she could trust.
The next morning, the vermin went out among the pirates and corsairs. He
looked to be neither ferret nor rat nor wolf, but something in between
all, strange to encounter if one looked at him closely, but perfect at
fitting in and spying. At the end of the day he made his report to Koaba.
"Got something, Cap'n. Wandered about a group a the seascum, heard 'em
talking mutinous-like. Lead by a wildcat, thinks 'e's a bigshot. There
could be more of 'em, the rebel type, I mean. Whole scattered groups
throughout the fleet, even. If they're plannin' anything, though,
they're takin' their time. Don't seem to wanna take any chances."
Koaba digested the information, and after a minute or so gave the spy
his instructions. "Good work! I wantcha t'keep on this cat, inform me
and Sire Hisk immediately if anything comes up." The ferret's agile mind
had the beginnings of a plan simmering in it. "Try an' git an' indirect
suggestion in, y'know wot I mean, an' try t'get a meeting of all the
deserter-types t'gether in the next few days or so. But remember t'go at
those dirty traitors' pace; don't want any one of 'em gettin'
suspicious. You're dismissed. Keep up the good work."
The odd creature nodded, and slunk off.In three day's time, all was ready.
Koaba walked among the ranks of seabeasts, in tattered corsair's
clothing. The notion of the meeting had been helped by her sniping a few
mutineers she had sniffed out in the past seventy-two hours. She'd also
established herself amongst the pirates and such as a 'loyal' creature,
and one who could be trusted, but she also made sure she was not to
well-known. Realizing the urgency of the situation, the ferret had been
working her paws to the bone, but she felt fully tensed and ready now,
not a bit tired. The various groups of vermin from the ships moved along
to the big galleon beached a long ways south from the docks. Fort
Marshank was barely visible, the sand dunes on the coastline partially
obscuring it at times.
The unorganized, mottley arrangement of vermin was lead not by the
wildcat Koaba's friend had pointed out earlier, but by a large dark
brown marten. As the columns of creatures got between two huge
sandbanks, Koaba and the spy slipped out behind the would-be traitors,
blowing several sharp blasts on bone whistles.
The hidden archers and slingbeasts stood up, quickly loosing volley
after volley of hissing shafts and punishing rocks. Soldiers wielding
spears and pikes charged, while the back ranks continued loosing off
devastating salvos over their comrades' heads. The seabeasts were taken
completely by surprise. Koaba noticed a cream-coloured wildcat stealing
quietly away. The ferret took off swiftly in pursuit, hidden by the
fighting beasts all around. She broke loose from the melee, dashing
after the fleeing cat. Taking out her dagger, Koaba flung it accurately,
pinning the wildcat in the back of his leg. He screamed and fell as the
ferret caught up with him. She curled her lip contemptuously and fired
an arrow into the cat's arm, staring down impassively at the writhingcreature.
"So, thought y'could outsmart one o' Sire Hisk's beasts, eh? Well, you
gotta long, painful lesson t'learn, me bucko."
The wildcat blacked out as Koaba reached for him.
Back at Marshank, the captured troops of corsairs confronted more
prisoners, caught by Sire Hisk at and aroung the Fort, thanks to Kaoba's
messenger. The rest of the so-far loyal seabeasts watched as first the
party who'd been heading along the beach was cruelly slain, and the
vermin caught at Marshank were beaten and whipped, some senseless and to
the point of death. Regardless of whether or not some were dead, all
were flung into the prison pit, widened and deepened by its own
occupants for the occasion. A stoat strode forward, brandishing a
chipped, curved blade.
"Now just a minit, traiter's or not, their still our mates, an' I won't
stand for it! I says y'don't have the authority o'er us t'do
tha-AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAYEEAAAAHAHOOOOOOOO!" Whump!
Koaba had shoved the stoat off into space over the prison pit
mid-sentence. She smile mirthlessly at the assembled new recruits.
"Any a youse heard how long ago some snips of mice an' a stupid
riverdog fooled some dupes inta thinkin' there was a fever down there?"
A few of the corsairs nodded. Koaba's smile grew larger.
"They didn't know it, but they wasn't lyin'. When Sire Hisk came back
'ere, that old hoot Tramun told 'im so. 'E should know; Clogg died a
sickness down there himself."
The seabeasts gulped, glad they were serving Hisk and not down in the
dark, dank, feverful prison pit.
mission 23
"Redwaaaaaaaaaaaaalllll!" A voice shouted. Quickly I notched an arrow in
to my bow and shot it towards a dark form. It gave a faint cry of pain,
and lied still. Another form appeared from the water. This one was an
otter; it whipped out a loaded sling and let fly to a barrage of stones.
"Get down!" I shouted at my command. Instantly everyone obeyed, dropping
down I threw a dagger at the otter. It gave a grunt of pain and died. A
Holt of otters flew out of the water like birds and let fly to a barrage
of javelins and stout river pebbles. Many of my command screamed out and
fell over slain. I gritted my teeth together as an otter javelin pierced
my leg. I notched another arrow in to my bow and let it loose screaming
towards the enemy. Suddenly a thank-you gift of stones and javelins came
back to us. My command continued to cower behind rocks. "Fight you
cowards! Fight!" I screamed. Standing in full view a rat -who was more
reckless then the rest- shot a stone from a sling. But two otter
javelins cut short his small brave -I say foolish- act. I grabbed a
dagger from a slain ferret and threw it at the lead otter. He gave a cry
and fell backwards slain. The otters gathered over their slain leader.
That was all the time we needed. We all stood and let arrows loose like
hungry insects towards the otters. Five score fell over slain instantly.
Only thirty-five otters remained. We surrounded them and launched a
small sack of herbs at them that make you drowsy. They immediately fell
over unconscious. We chained them up and dragged them back to Marshank.
mission 24
I got six of my closest mates and set out to free our spy that had
been captured. We traveled by night and got to RAIM at early dawn.
Staying back in cover we watched the guards patrol the wall. There were
three mice, so me, Blackgut, and Livertoe readied our bows and arrows
and took our shots. Mine and and Livertoe's arrows struck true killing
the beasts instantly while Blackgut's just grazed the mouses arm! He
let out a yell, calling for help! Our plan was ruined! I quickly
called a retreat and told the beasts to hide and stay somewhere until I
came to get them! For an hour the beasts from RAIM searched the forest
looking for us until they finally gave up. Creeping out of my hiding
place I went to tell the rest the coast was clear.
"You can come out now," I said just loud enough so that the beasts
could hear me! One by one they came out.
"Now they are going to be watching for us, so we are going to have to
split up and make a diversion." Pointing to two beast I said,"You two
go to the west wall and make some noise. The rest follow me." The two
weasels were off and the remaining four came with me to the east wall.
We waited, watching the guards patrol until we heard shouting!
"They are on the east side!!" The patrol were off in a hurry to the
other wall! Pulling out some grappling hooks we scaled the wall. Just
as we got over I heard them yell!
"It was just two weasels! They are both slain so go back to yourpositions!"
"Find some place to hide," I said running to a corner! As the two
mice patrols came back I got my daggers ready! With two daggers thrown
two mice fell dead! I ran and pulled the daggers our getting ready for
anybeast that might have seen anything! I got down off the walltop and
ran for the prison cells! Just as I was sneaking around a corner I
heard more shouting!
"The beasts are in the grounds!" Quickly hiding in the shadows I saw
Blackgut, Livertoe, and the other two beasts get slaughtered by a score
of mice and otters! Only one otter lay wounded after the battle. I
slid around the corner and got into the prison room. Only one beast was
locked up. Running to the cell the beast stood up and I quickly put my
paw to my mouth to silence him! Using a pick I unlocked his cell and we
were gone! We slipped out unoticed and ran back to Marshank!
mission 25
As my horde and I crept through the night we noticed many small camp
fires up ahead.
"Gluttnab," I whispered to the ferret standing next to me. "You and
two others scout up ahead and see if those camp fires belong to the
enemy squirrels!" He rushed on up ahead and came back a few minuteslater.
"Yes sir it is them. There are about three and a half score of themup there."
"Then they outnumber us by a sore or so," I said disappointed.
Motioning for the horde to follow I walked back some more from the camp
just to make sure that we were out of hearing range. "Allright you
beasts listen up. Now we are outnumbered but remember that these
squirrels are not good at hand-to-hand combat. So we are going to split
up into two groups." I quickly told them the plan and we were off.
My group and I crept up behind the unsuspecting squirrels waiting for
the signal. Like a flash half of our beasts charged in from the front!
A volley of arrows hissed out of the trees nearby. Six of our beasts
fell dead.
I jumped up and yelled, "The archers are in the trees!" In an instant
my group let their arrows fly at the trees. Many screams were heard and
a couple of squirrels fell out dead! "Keep the ones in the trees busy
so the other group can do their job," I yelled running toward the
action! The squirrels on the ground were terrible fighters. My beasts,
outnumber three to one, were taking care of them with ease. I ran to my
first victom throwing a dagger at his head! He fell dead and I picked up
his sword. Turning just in time I jumped out of the way of an arrow!
"You fools," I yelled to the archers I left behind, "keep those
squirrels in the trees off of us!" As the words left my mouth a huge
volley of arrows came from my beasts and struck true at the squirrels in
the trees! I turned back to the action to see that I wasn't needed very
much. So picking up the bow and arrows of a fallen squirrel I ran to a
position that would make their archers easy targets. Getting behind a
huge rock I spotted an enemy in the tree directly above me! He was
unaware of me and let an arrow fly. It struck the ferret, Glattnub,
between the eyes! I readied an arrow and aimed for the squirrel. I let
it go and it found its mark. The squirrel fell with the arrow stuck in
his back! I spotted more squirrels in the trees! Letting my arrows go
I picked them off one by one! Soon the squirrels started to surrender.
There were only sixteen left while we only lost twenty two beasts.
"Come out and drop your weapons," I yelled! Slowly they came out and
lined up throwing their weapons in a pile.
"Now," I screamed at the top of my lungs!! The squirrels never knew
what hit them. My archers each let an arrow fly at a different one!
They all struck true and sexteen squirrels lay masacered on the ground!
"We take no prisoners," I said smiling cunningly. "Now, back toMarshank!"
mission 26
My ship nosed into the harbour with the rest of the crew singing songs
of victory after a successfull plundering. As always I sat seperated
from the crew. Something wasn't right, I could feel it.
"I'll go see King Hisk, the rest of you orginize the slaves to take in
the booty.""You aint the captain." A drunken searat sluured out.
"True, but I was apointed acting captain by the King so i'd advise you
to do as I say or you'll be charged with insibordination and you know
the punishment for that.""Death."
"Yup." Grumbling the drunken searat set about his task. ~~
I walked up to Marshank's gates and saw the sentries looking nervouse
and offen times they would look over their shoulders as if somethin was
sneaking up behind them. "A hoy mateys let me in."
"Leigon, we'll lower a basket for you to be hoysted up in, I'll explain
later." I heard King Hisk's voice ring out. Later in the King's chamber
I got the explaination.
"About five moons ago we saw many snakes gathering around the fortress,
they stared at us, I took no notice of them, after all there was very
little they could do being spinless. But that night the sentries on duty
disapperaed from their posts! Now all the other sentries talk about is
how they hear tunneling and the screams of the sentries, complete
nonsense of course. I hate to admit it but I think there is some truth
behind their stories. I want you to lead a scouting party to find the
snakes and kill them." Here I gulped."Yes my lord." I said. ~~
With two score at my back I lead a party to the small opening in the
side of a hill. My normaly impassive face showing I was aprehanseve as
the rest of the party. As we walked in to the tunnel lanterns hight I
saw a small snake slither past us, quick as a flash I hurled a dagger
impaling the snakes head on it killing it instantly. But a moment later
a score of snakes blocked the way out, we were trapped!
"You have sssssssslain my sssssssisssssster, you will ssssscream before
you die assssss my sssssssoldierssssss tear off you flesh." I hurled a
dagger as hard as I could, before it found it's victem I shouted out to
my command."Hurry this way!"
"Ssssssstop them" the leader snake hissed out. Before we could react two
soldiers we overwhelmed with slithering snakes. Their screams echoed
around us in the stuffy apmosphire of the tunnel. We ran until we saw
shoring on either side of us, the snakes had made a tactcal mistake, all
the shoring was connected togethor. I smiled grimly as my firtile mind
began to form a plan. As we ran I saw a shaft of light up ahead. We ran
out the opening and found our selvs in the court yard of Marshank.
"Get fire arrows and lamp fluid!" I snapped at the nearest rat. One
moment later the rat retured with king Hisk and about ten others. I put
flint to tinder and soon had a small cherry fire going. I threw the lamp
fluid on the shoring and fired of a flaming arrow. In a trice flames
began to lick hungerly at the well soaked wood. I fired arrow after
arrow at the shoring and on comming snakes who had to escape the
inferno. The tunnel began to buckel and shook as it attemted to hold the
weight without success. The tunnel collapsed killing the snakes. King
Hisk and I smiled grimly at each other.
mission #29
I DarkBlade went myself with 4 other men to the larder to
search for clues. When we got there the gaurd quickly stepped out of the
way and we went in. The first thing we saw was over turned food bowls,
empty of all food, and even an empty wine keg. Closer examination
revealed footprints from the wine that the culprit stepped in. One of my
men who was good with footprints told me it was a rat's footprint. We
followed the prints until they came to a door. We quietly opened it and
swiftly stepped inside. We saw no one in the room but with my keen
heaing I could hear munching coming from the floor. We searched the room
and finally found what we were looking for, a trapdoor. I quietly opened
it and slipped inside. In there I saw a normal sized rat with a big
bandanna over his forehead. He was dressed in tattered clothes and had a
big tattoo that said Skullblade on it. The rat Skullblade was chomping
down on some pastrys and some wine and had his back turned to me. I
swiftly approached him and grabbed him by his collar and lifted him off
the ground. He squired and shouted,"Hey! Put me down!" I did so into the
arms of one of my men. My man grinned evilly and dropped Skullblade and
took out a big leather whip. The rat screamed in pain as the whip landed
once,twice,three times on his unprotected back. Then with a few more
beatings from the whip my man picked up Skullblade by the snout and took
him to Hisk's chambers with a few complains from Skullblade. I smirked
and returned to my quarters with my mission complete!
mission 30
Koaba stalked bad-temperedly over to the slave compound, near which about twoscore hordebeasts were sitting around a fire goofing off. The heck with spies, she couldn't waste precious time wheedling out turncoats right now; the main concern was to defend the Fort. Glaring fiercely at the hordebeasts around the fire, the ferret yelled, "Git offa yer lazy, flea-bitten bums an' git ready fer battle! While yew idlers are none-too-busy foolin' around there's near a score a RAIM ships headed straight fer Marshank! MOVE IT, I MEAN NOW!!!"
All of the vermin scrambled to obey, save for one rat. Koaba was about to give him something painful to think about with her dagger when a column of flame shot up from the fire. The ferret lept back, startled, then glared at the rat, who was smiling oafishly and giggling. He had squirted some seaweed grog from his mouth into the fire. Koaba advanced on the rat.
"Why I oughta!...."
The rat drew back fearfully, but then Koaba put her blade down, thinking. "Hey, that gives me an idea.....Haha! Good job, mate!"
Clapping the bewildered horderat on the back, and sending him toppling into the fire, Koaba ran off, yelling to some vermin near the main building, "Get all the grog, oil, an' melted resin we got! Don't question orders, just do it! Meet the rest of us by the docks once y've got the stuff. Remember, as much as ye can possibly find, on the double!"
Once Koaba had conveyed with the other captains, all the creatures of Marshank assembled near the docks where the ships were anchored. Seventeen culdrons of various grogs, oils, and pine saps were grouped close to the vermin. Koaba stood in the center of a large circle.
"Alright, quickness is the key t'this plan, so lissen up! We'll need six really big supplies o' these liquids; mix 'em all t'gether an' compress 'em in some big containers on each ship. Make sure they stay pressurized. Pearl Queen, Freebooter, Blacksail, an' Seatalon 'll go out an' meet the RAIM ships. The crew o' Darkqueen'll split up. Each half'll go to the big frigates we got layin' around. I don't need t'tell ya those vessels are swift an' loaded t'sinkin' with artillary. Their job'll be to guard the cove in the event an enemy ship gets through. Meanwhile, the crew o' the Bloodwake'll stay on the shore in their ship an' Darkqueen, which'll be beached high as we can get 'em, just in case some RAIM forces make it onta land.
"Fer weapons, the crews out on the sea'll need lots and lotsa arrows, spear an' javelins an' the like, too. Gitcher grapling hooks ready, ye'll be boardin' some ships, I kin assure ya. Be ready fer paw-to-paw combat, an' git a cannon on ev'ry ship! I'll demonstrate how ta use them grog an' wotnot mixtures when the time's right."
Koaba winked craftily at the surrounding crews. "Ev'rybody got it? Yer captains'll explain further if'n y'need it. Right, let's go!"
While making her way to her own ship, the ferret saw a sable glance nervously around, then move off south down the beach. Koaba's sharp vision caught the four otters, barely visible to any other creature, hiding by some driftwood on the far sands. Swiftly whipping out her bow and and arrow from the quiver slung on her back, the ferret let the shaft fly, catching the traitor between the shoulders.
Before the arrow had buried itself in the sable's back, Koaba launched off three more arrows, dispatching three of the otters. The fourth jumped into the water and started swimming out to the approaching RAIM ships. He sunk with a barbed arrow sticking out of his spine.
The four ships sailed out to meet the oncoming foe, Pearl Queen in the lead. Koaba stood at the prow, waiting until she judged that the moment was right, and rapped out orders.
"Archers an' slingers! Form up in four lines, firin' an' reloadin', you know the drill! Spearbeasts, make sure they ain't bothered! You lot," she pointed a claw at a group of smart-looking crewbeasts, "come with me!"
The other ships had begun to take up defensive action as well. As she stood next to the container where the mixture of flammable liquids was, she yelled so that all the ships of the
fleet could hear. "Time t'put these beauties ta use! Watch an' learn!"
The mixture was wheeled up to the prow, and Koaba firmly tied a small, burning piece of wood to a stick jutting out from the plugged opening of the container.
Whuuuummmmm!
The Pearl Queen shook with the impact of a RAIM ship that had streaked out of nowhere and rammed the vessel. The container of liquid shook, even after to racking blow, the pressurized contents now near bursting out. The crew was puzzled when Koaba
laughed out loud.
"Hahaharr, that's it! Shake it up, fools! Hoi, swing 'er hard over, play the wind an' git 'er
a safe distance from that thar RAIM dingy. Hurry, now!"
The order was carried out swiftly, and even more distance was added as the enemy backed up for another hard ram.
"Ha ha!" Koaba laughed again. "They're deadbeasts!" Shoving the mixture of liquids so that it pointed in the direction of the RAIM vessel, the ferret unplugged the opening, and the contents shot out. All creatures viewing the spectacle gasped.
A stream of fire flew onto the enemy ship, everything it touched bursting into unquenchable flame. Soon the vessel was a black inferno, no sign of any living creature left as it sunk into a watery grave. As the other goodbeasts stood silently on their ships, dumbstruck with surprise and horror, somebeast from the Blacksail shouted out, "Now we know how ta use these flame-gushers! Haharr! Burn 'em, mates!" The ship rushed out ahead, a jet of fire flying out ahead of it and hitting a close foe, then igniting another as the stream of flaming liquid was turned to the right. All hell broke loose. Vermin who weren't operating the deadly flame-shooters loosed burning shafts into the wood and sails of other RAIM ships coming in to aid their beleagured companions.
Captain of the Freebooter drew back paw as an lance thudded into the railing of the ship.
It'll be your treacherous black heart next time, scum, and I won't miss!" an otter yelled fiercely from the vessel practically rubbing against the Freebooter.
Tugging the lance from the wood and hurling it savagely back, slaying the otter, Captain
yelled, "Get your hooks, mates, we're boardin' this ship! Slay all of 'em that git in yer way, but try and get some slaves t'take back to Sire Hisk at Marshank!"
Grapling hooks linked the two ships, and vermin swung over, screaming bloodcurdling warcries and laying ruin to the goodbeasts. All but a few were killed, and the vermin now masqueraded as a RAIM ship, then attacked lone foes that were separated from the main melee, a wolf in sheep's clothing.
All in all, 15 ships were either taken or rendered to black cinders. The four survivors broke off, two retreating out farther, two streaking in around the attackers towards the shore. Pearl Queen and Freebooter pursued the vessels heading for land, while Blacksail and the Seatalon took the other two of the fleeing enemy.
The two RAIM ships swung suddenly around, still going full speed with plenty of willing goodbeasts rowing hard in the galley. Heading in opposite directions, they came around again in a pincer movement, bombarding the two vermin ships with everything they had. The savagery of the attack caused the vermin crews to buckle and panic, and Blacksail took some damage to starboard, but one of the RAIM ships payed with a few holes in it's side, compliments of the Blacksail and Seatalon's cannons. The foes sped for the shores south of Marshank.
Out of the corner of her eye, Koaba saw the two enemy ships heading back for the southern sands. Expanding her lungs, she yelled to the frigates waiting hidden in a cave on shore, "Pull out! There's four headin' straight for the beaches! We're trailin' two, the others
're south of here! Git out an' intercept the two south of here at all costs, an' see if you can wound these two on yer way out!"
Screams sounded from the crews of the two RAIM ships nearing the shore near Marshank as two small but sleek, dangerous-looking, armed-to-the-mast frigates flew out of a cave at them. The Freebooter, taking advantage of the distraction, wheeled around and beached on the sands, waiting for the first crew of goodbeasts to come running into them. The crew of the Pearl Queen, aided by the two fast-moving frigates, sunk and burned one of the ships, slaughtered the crew while they were swimming in the sea, and then holed and sunk the other ship in shallow water. The Freebooter's creatures were waiting for the RAIM beasts as they went running terrified up the beach.
The two RAIM ships beached on the coast south of Fort Marshank. As the goodbeasts, their confidence up with the evading of the two vermin vessels, ran a swift march toward to fort, the crew of the Bloodwake charged shrieking from their ship and the Darkqueen, beached high infront of the RAIM force, blocking their way. Rested up a littly, the goodbeasts fired shafts and stones into the foe, launching spears over the heads of their companions, but when paw-to-paw combat came, they fell under the mad onslaught of the
vermin.
Back at Marshank, a few more captured spies were thrown, thuroughly beaten, slashed, and whipped, into the feverish prison pit, and the slave compound recieved fifty-eight more occupants. Marshank's powerful fleet got the addition of five more craft, though only the one captured by the Freebooter was shipshape; the others needed many repairs.
Koaba jenuflected and bowed her head as Lord Hisk placed a gold medal about her neck, then of the Freebooter, of the Darkqueen, of the Seatalon, of the Bloodwake, and of the Blacksail recieved their medals of honor, after which all of Marshank converged in the Dining Hall and had ONE HECK of a celebration party. The feasting, drinking, and games lasted for three more days.
RAIM was strangely quiet for quite some time after that. Could've been the vast depletion of their numbers by about three-quarters and the hard, ugly defeat at the Battle of Fire, as it is now known as, but then again, maybe not.
mission 31
After that "unsuccessful" attack to RAIM HQ in Mossflower a few days ago, the
horde morale was low. I sat, still licking my wound when a rat ran up to me.
"You Bloodclaw?" I couldn't believe how stupid this new recruit was! "No,
he's the other Captain of the Blacksail behind me." "Hisk wants you."
As I entered His Majesty's chamber, he yelled "Don't even come in, find the
spy and kill him." I didn't waste any time. I ran to the battlements and
laid flat on them. When I did this, I could see all the fort. After what
felt like a season, I got up. Why couldn't I see anything suspicious? Then I
saw him, the spy! He was out out the beach near some bushes.
I got up in the bushes and peered out. He was writing something. I thought
I had him wrong, until a robin showed up. He chatted with the rat for a
while, then I knew I had him, the robin took the parchment from the rat and
talked some more. I snuck out and killed both of them
When I reported my success to Sire Hisk, I brought him a gift of robin meat.
mission 32
Well, the otters are running for their miserable lives, eh? I am not the
least bit surprised that they would assume that no one would know about
them being turn-coats. I was tramping through the forest with a three
score at my back when I heard sounds coming from the North East.
"Tallburr." I snarled. "Sir?" He said standing up straight. "Go in that
direction," I said pointing my paw north and slightly east, "and see
what all that noise is about." The rat did as he was bidden. Suddenly a
scream issued from the forest and the rat flew backwards out of the
forest clutching an otter javelin in his heart. Then I noticed only one
otter. One otter had caused all this destruction. I let fly an arrow
from my long bow and the otter toppled out of the tree dead. Most of the
otter traitors were slain but two remained. They were in ruff shape,
lying there nearly ripped to shreds. I brought them back to Marshank and
they told us some valuable stuff.
mission 33
A stone flew over my head only to crash into the wall behind me. The
wall collapsed and fell in on it self. King Hisk gritted his teeth and
looked as though he was about to rattle off all the curses he knew.
"Patience my lord." I said. "The slaves will repair that. Suddenly four
badgers and thirty-six otters flew over the walls with what looked like
primitive parachutes strapped to their backs. I suddenly let fly a
flaming arrow that lit the parachutes on fire. An otter gave a scream of
despair as he plummeted earthwards. I had an idea. I ran to the prison
pit and grabbed a very young mouse. I ran to the wall and shouted to the
RAIM forces below. "Surrender now or I will slit the little ones
throat." A badger roared up from his place on the catapult, "I have a
mucker of yours down 'er, if you don't give up the babe I'll kill him."
Suddenly I threw the babe over the wall top. The onlookers gave a gasp
of surprise, a lasso flew out from the wall top and caught the babe by
the foot. He flew down and crashed into the wall. I brandished a knife
and began to saw the rope. The badger yelled, "if you spare the little
'un, we will surrender." I lit a flaming arrow and let it fly like an
eagle towards the catapult. It went up like a bonfire. I opened the
gate, with the little one close to me, a dagger hovering over his
throat. The warriors of RAIM were led to the prison pit, and were shoved in.
mission 34
Hearing about the mole attack on the scouts I DarkBlade
decided to take care of these warrior moles. Taking heed of the scout's
warning, I took 2 score men and set out to the east. my men and I quitly
made our way through the forest trying to catch them by surprise but no
such luck. Suddenly a lance flew through the air with such force that it
went straight through the neck of one of my men and nailed another one's
paw to a tree. Screaming the war cry of my tribe of wolves I led my men
into battle. We soon noticed what the scout was talking about. Each mole
was armed with a shortsword and each struck with pin-point accurrecy.
Even though they out numbered they showed no fear. My men were falling
before my eyes. I fought and killed about five moles but that was not
enough. But then I saw an arrow fly through the air and hit a mole
straight in the neck. Then five more arrows flew and did the same. I
turned and saw a group of my men hiding up in the trees and shooting at
the moles. The tide of the battle quickly turned as many moles fell to
the arrows. I saw a mole lifting a lance to throw at one of the men in
the trees but I swiftly ran to him and chopped his puny head off with my
scimitar. Soon the battle was over and every last one of the score of
moles had been killed. Even though about ten more then that of my vermin
lay dead as well we were in high spirits as we returned to Marshank with
our mission complete!
mission 35
I got three of my best beasts and told them each to search for some
vermin to command. Bludder got 10, Snipbut got 13, and Bloodeye got 18.
I knew with a liitle more than two score of vermin that this would be an
easy mission. I sent Snipbut and Bludder with their horde outside of
Marshanks walls while the rest of us stood guard on the walltop.
"Any beast that hears a noise reports to me a.s.a.p. got that," I
said to the troops on the wall!
"Gotcha!" Just then an arrow sped over the wall sticking in a stoats
eye and knocked him off the walltop!
"Attack," I yelled at the top of my lungs! The beasts on the walltop
shot down on the intruders with their slings and arrows! Then Snipbut
and Bludder came thundering out of the nearby forest with their troops
armed to the teeth and ready to battle! I pulled out my newly aquired
battle axe and ran for the gate!
"You two," I yelled to a couple of stoats nearby! "When I get out
this gate you two make sure it gets shut, and don't let any beast in!"
I flung open the gates and rushed out into the battle! I came up to an
otter and got ready to kill! He turned and swung his sword at me!
Dodging to one side I came around and swung my axe at his midsection!
He was fast and got out of the way. He jumped back a little and thrust
foward gashing my side! Before he could pull back I kicked his sword
out of his hand! Holding my side in pain I used one arm and swung the
axe down on his head! He fell with his head split into two peices! As
I turned back to fight another beast I noticed some of them runningaway!
"Snipbut and Bludder don't let those fools get to their ship!" As the
words left my mouth the horde was off. "You beasts still on the wall
get your bows and arrows and follow me!"
In an instant we had made it the ship. We had taken the shorter way
and arrived before any beast else did.
"Stay in the bushes until I give the command!"
We waited until we could see the frightened beasts and then I yelled!
My beasts let their arrows fly and the unsuspecting intruders fell dead!
The ones that remained alive turned back the other direction only to
meet Sipbut and Bludders gang! It was a massacre and not one of the
beasts survived! As I sat and stared at the mangled beasts I realized
that their ship was still afloat!
"Sink that ship now," I yelled! A quick fire was lit and fire arrows
sped at the ship! We walked back to Marshank leaving the ship ablaze!!
mission 36
I prepared for this mission by dying my hide, weapons, clothes, a mask and my
boots black. I left the fort in the morning of a cloudy day as not to get too
hot and so I would be there by nightfall. When I got to the outpost I saw it
was dug into the ground and two guards with bow and arrows in holes covered
with green canvas held up by stakes. I climbed up the back because as to post
went into the ground, it made a hill with a drop-off at the top. I jumped off
the top into one of the guard holes and killed that guard and killed the other
one when he rushed me. When I entered the fort there was...nothing?!? As I
went deeper into the post I found a barracks, armory, larder and kitchen, and
officers bunks. I went back to the armory and got all the weapons I could
carry onto a big sheet of canvas and found a saw edged knife. I went and
sawed through all the support beams just about all the way. Then I went back
to the officers quarters and found a letter that read:
Build the catapults and destroy Marshank. I sent a score of fighters to help
you. Don't mess up!
I stole the plans and the letter and the plans and knocked down the support
beam in the barracks and officers room, kitchen and larder and the armory. The
next afternoon I returned to Marshank with the catapult plans and some
interesting weapons.
mission 37
"arghhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh. Another spy dead? This is getting to be too much!" I had just about had it with RAIM. I thought aboiut ways to get back at them. I though, and though, and thought. Nothin'. I went to eat my meal. Ublaz, my firend, sat down across from me. "Ye want to help me with my plan Ublaz?" "Sure Cap'n" "Great!" Ublaz was the ruler of Sampetra. I ask him if he could rally up all of his mates. I plan was forming in my head. I allowed myself a grin. "RAIM" I thought," You are as good as mine"
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
The next day I went to Baron Hisk and asked him if I could use some troops from his elite force. "Sure" he said "As long as you stop RAIM." Since no one had every used the elite group since himself I asked who was in." My elite group is Death From Above, Darkken the Deadly, Koba, Bloodbane, Bloodclaw and yourself." "Thanks" I say and rushed out. I thought," I will give this force a 100 vermin each. We will then go circle them. One group will run shouting and screaming into camp. Then while they are busy fighting off the atacckers another group will atack. Half of the RAIM forces will go and defend that side, and so on, and so on. Soon it will be about fifteen fighting 100!"
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~"Cap'n. The horde is ready" "Great Ublaz. You have played a big role in my lan. I thank you" Each of the elite group takes thereshare and we head off.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
The attack was yester day. We defeated them. I have got my food and Im off on another mission for Hisk!
mission 38
It was only 3 days since one of Marshank's ships was captured by RAIM
forces. We immediately gave chase but soon lost them in the night.On the
way back to Marshank we came upon a army of ravens called the Cratecs.
Their leader Fiercebeak demanded to know where we were going.Not feeling
up to a battle I explained our story.Fiercebeak had a brief meeting with
his captains Redfeather and Deadbeak.Fiercebeak was a cunning warrior
and knew an opportunity when he saw one. He reentered the ship and
offered his proposal to me Redwake.I will help you track down your ship
and its kidnappers,he proposed,inturn you will give me the bodies of
your enemies.It's a deal,I said.
Later that night we lay hidden in darkness near to our stolen ship. We
had easily found it with the help of the Cratecs.We waited till most of
RAIM warriors had gone to sleep. Then a small Cratec force flew onto the
ship.Fiercebeak flew back and gave the all clear. Our own ship slid out
of the shadows and anchored next to the stolen ship. A force of vermin
quickly secured the top decks.The bodies of dead RAIM littered the floor
the ones that were supposed to guard the top deck.My forces quickly
overran the ship and killing the remaining RAIM.The ship is secure,a
ferret reported. Good we'll sail at dawn, meanwhile clean up this ship,I
ordered.When can we have the bodies,Fiercebeak asked? You can have them
when we get back to Marshank, I answered.
The next evening I stood in Marshank watching the Cratec flying the
dead RAIM warriors back to they're camp. The Cratec were very useful
allies and the RAIM were good enemies but I was sure they would make
better dinners.
mission 41
I recieved your orders and took a long boat with a crew of seven
expert seabeasts. As we approached the opposite shore I noticed a log
boat and some tracks leading from it. I followed their tracks until one
night I found them sleeping in tents. We ambushed them and killed two
who weren't going to be tied up; that meant seven left. I had each one
of my cew members tie one up and take their weapons. When they had
their hands tied behind their backs I used my favorite tecnique and tied
a rope on each of their necks in one long line. I was in the front with
one of the strongest crew members on the back. I placed the other six
of my men with three on each side and led the shrews back to the boat.
On the way their one of them had chewed threw their rope collar and
tried to run away. He didn't get far with my rapier in his back.
When we got to the long boat I made them sit in rows and row the boat
for us. If they weren't going fast enough I wipped them. We arrived at
Marshank in incredible time. I brought them to the prison pit and let
them have a taste of pain. I am sure they will work hard for you
tommorow. If they don't I want some time with them privatelt, He He He.
mission 43
As night fell, the massive gates of Marshank cracked open a sliver, and a cloaked figure slipped out unnoticed. There was a soft *pop* and the figure disappeared from view. Sand shifted where it should not have, marking the progress of the unknown creature. As the invisible figure came upon the forest, it seemed to hesitate. Then, with another barely audible *pop* the figure reappeared. A gentle puff of wind traced the pawprints, erasing them effectively. The figure waved a paw, and the wind died off. Turning, the mysterious figure glided silently into the forest.
The figure looked neither left nor right, seemingly intent upon some mysterious mission. Pausing at the edge of a clearing, the figure pushed back the black hood, letting the moonlight fall full on her face. The kitten’s emerald eyes glowed softly with compassion. Trees everywhere had been hacked askew, marks of recent encampment everywhere. Although a hardened veteran of war, the kitten was a powerful mage who knew that everything in this world had its own energy source. The trees leaked magic everywhere. Apparently, the company had no magicians. Even the greenest ones would sense the tremendous power within the glade. Sighing quietly, the kitten glided on, disappearing into the shadows with no vestige of magic whatsoever. Her cloak was enough.
The kitten disappeared into the gloom, only to reemerge amidst a small camp. Gasps of shock and roars of outrage rose into the night, signaling her unexpected and sudden appearance. Wincing slightly at the outrageous clamor, she strode boldly up to the main tent, at the center of the camp. The vermin camp seemed unable to touch her. Whenever they tried, they were flung back many paces, into the trees, the fire, or their companions. Illuminated by the flickering firelight, realization finally dawned upon the foolish vermin. The kitten stood within a glowing dome that shimmered with her every movement. Suddenly, she held out her hand, and a blinding flash of light burst out from the Shield, searing vermin where they stood, burning until almost half the camp had been turned into smoldering heaps. The camp now reeked of burnt flesh. It was stunning. All this happened in a mere instant! Turning her full attention upon the tent once more, she gave the camp a chance to clear out. None moved. Shrugging almost imperceptibly, she thought, well if they want to die, it’s their problem. Hmph. They deserve it for destroying that glade. One young fox gasped. The kitten raised her paws and muttered a quick incantation to contain the tent and its occupant, then whirled around. Blazing emerald eyes locked with fearful blue ones. If you are truly what I think you are, why didn't you stop your comrades from destroying that glade? YOU FOOL!!
The young fox gasped. I-I-I-I’m sorry! I didn't know!
Didn't know? DIDN'T KNOW!?! You're a magician, boy! You felt that awful oozing of power. Why didn't you help it heal?!? Fool. You fool. Now, you'll pay.
The young fox looked stunned and pained by that forceful conversation, but the kitten had already turned back to the tent. The vermin camp was stirring out of its stunned trance. Mutterings could be heard throughout the clearing. Slowly, a weasel emerged from the tent. He was a tall, lean fighter, lithe and sinewy. Dressed to kill, he had on a beautiful armor, its beauty being surpassed only by its deadly efficiency. The breastplate was grooved, making it almost impossible to score with a sword, or arrows. The hinges were made of very flexible, thrice cured leather hide, making it almost as tough as the gauntlets it linked to. The armor gleamed white in the moonlight, everything about it spoke of power and perfection. There was not a single mark on it. As the cloaked kitten took in all this, she smiled thinly. A pity, she thought. I would like to test my saber against him. Ah well. Magic is much more effective, and so much less damaging to the armor. It would make a good prize for Milord. The Containment bubble vanished, and the weasel strode out. He was very confident. He had to be, to challenge Sire Hisk. Wondering why he was so confident, the kitten gasped as a searing, blinding flash slammed into her shield, making it quiver.
“Well, well, well. If it isn't Whiplash, the Mighty Mage.” The weasel bowed mockingly. “How nice to see you again, though last we met was a rather painful encounter...... No matter. Sing your death song, Whiplash, for your time has come!” With that, he unleashed a powerful spell, one designed to immobilize its target. It was a smart spell, and no matter how one dodged, it would still follow until it strikes home.
Whiplash grimaced. The weasel was Malfire. “Evil fire” burning in his eyes, he lived up to his name very well. Flicking her wrists, Whiplash sent a small streak of blue light zipping toward the Immobility Spell. Her spell took effect, and the Smart Spell instantly turned back on the caster. Whiplash had the immense satisfaction of seeing Malfire’s eyes widen in shock and fear. A fraction of a second later, Malfire stood rooted to the spot, unable to move anything, except for his jaw. This he did, with a vengeance.
“YOU IDIOT! LOOK WHAT YOU'VE DONE! AAAAAAARRRRRRGGGGGHHHH! LET ME OUT! UNDO THIS SPELL! WHIPLASH! YOU'LL PAY FOR THIS!”
“Hahahahaha! Poor Malfire. All talk, no work. So, if I may ask, how do you plan to make me pay? You can't do much, except talk. Hmm. You trained. Well, you're not the only one.” Suddenly, Malfire’s eyes dimmed. Her eyes widening in surprise and disbelief, Whiplash whirled around to see the young fox advancing on her, grinning evilly. Oy. This is not my night! thought Whiplash as she performed a quick Full Power-up and prepared to meet the foe. “Malfire,” she breathed, “how could you? How could you take over his mind like that? Have you no thought for anybeast but yourself? How could you?”
Your one weakness was for the pain of the innocent, Whiplash. Kaerlon is mute, so he could not have stopped us from destroying the trees in the first place.
It was a bait! It was all a bait! All those dying trees! All a BAIT! With a mental shriek of fury, the kitten threw caution to the winds and blasted of bolt after bolt of raw energy. However, with the new mind and body came new power. The raw, untrained power of Kaerlon was quickly harnessed by Malfire, and not one of her shots had scored their mark. Forcing herself to calm down, Whiplash quickly popped a Shield around her. Her Energy Blasts weren't working. Time for a new approach. The incantation was long, and her energy was rapidly being sucked away by the extended sustenance of the shield, but it was the only way. Finishing the incantation, Whiplash snapped off the shield, flung out both paws, and shouted, “EXORCIST! AID ME HERE AND RELEASE THE YOUNG ONE FROM THE BONDAGE OF MALFIRE!!” The young fox staggered, and sank to his knees. Weaving sleep around him quickly, Whiplash sighed as the young’un toppled into snoring. He would not remember this night's ordeal in the morning. Shaking her head sadly, Whiplash turned back to Malfire. After the battle with the Exorcist spell, he was drained, mentally as well as physically. If the Spell of Binding were to be lifted, he would be trembling all over. However, weak as he was, lifting that spell would still be suicide, considering the huge tax the Exorcist spell takes on the caster. Levitating herself and Malfire, Whiplash began the final assault on Malfire’s mind as the morning sun peeped over the treetops. Barraging Malfire ruthlessly, Whiplash shattered his mind moments before her power drained completely. The wind whistled in her ears as she plummeted towards the earth. Frantically powering up, she pulled out of her dive barely a fraction of an inch from the ground, and managed to catch the still living corpse of Malfire before the armor was ruined. Sighing, Whiplash placed a dome around the vermin, and a second dome around herself and Malfire. Then, she dozed off in the morning sunlight.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
The kitten was roused from sleep by a gentle tap on her shoulder. She jerked up to see the smiling faces of her brothers, Kory and Nite. Busy night? they asked as one.
You two have no idea. How did you guys find me?
We three are linked. When you winked out, we knew you were in trouble.
Winked out? Like a light?
No, your power was severely drained. There was not enough of you left to make contact. So we decided to look for you. And then you did a power-up. We figured you'd be all right, but we came anyhow.
Thanks, chaps. Lets get this carcass back to Marshank. It’s Malfire.
A colleague?
No, a bastard with a taste for power. Nice armor, though. Sire Hisk had better appreciate it, considering how much trouble I went through to get it unharmed!
The three wildcats disposed of the remaining rabble, removed the armor, incinerated the carcass of Malfire, and with a very loud *pop* teleported back to Marshank.
mission 45
It had been only 4 days since Marshank was attacked by a wandering
goodbeast horde. We defeated them but they ran off like cowards.Sire
Hisk and most of the other elite members of Marshank went after
them.Now, only me, Redwake and three other captains are left to run
Marshank. We only had half of Marshank's original horde under our
command.I sat down at a table with the captains.As I looked around the
room most or the horde was bored out of their minds, nothing had
happened for 3 days.Suddenly a bottle of wine exploded, an arrow
sticking out of the table.Arrows thudded against the walls and flew
through the windows. We're under attack someone yelled.Get your weapons
and defend the walls,I
yelled.The first attackers came over the wall and they were instantly
slain.Stabbing spears and tridents to the wall, knock them off,I
ordered. The other two captains took command of the archers and began
firing.Once their forces are depleated we'll open the gates and rush
them, I told the captains.There are only 2 score left, a ferret
reported.The gates were flung open and my force charged out.I quickly
noticed that some the attackers were from the Long Patrol.Even with the
Long Patrol, the goodbeasts didn't stand a chance.They were all slain in
minutes.
The next week Hisk came back and said that they had killed the other
goodbeast horde. So, anything to report while we were gone, Hisk asked
me. The usual, I said.
mission 46
Koaba version
"C'mon, troops!" Koaba called to her force of threescore from Fort Marshank, "We're gettin' to the bottom a this straight away, afore the walls fall down around us from them blasted earthquakes!" But in the corner of her mind, the ferret knew that these were not any normal tremors of the ground; she was toying with the idea that there was something behind them.
The vermin moved slowly north, guided by Koaba. About every half hour or so there was another small earthquake, and the ferret stood on all fours, feeling the vibrations and tracking them in the direction of their origin.
After about two hours, stopping once to take some rest and food and water, the party stood close to the spot where Koaba judged was the earthquakes' starting point. Now the shaking was jolting; the dry ground cracked and split, creatures were thrown off their feet sometimes, and the tremors occured more often.
"Hoi! Look o'er there!" a weasel called out as yet another quake shook the vermin off-balance. The weasel was pointing at a large hole in a sort of rocky bump in the ground east of them, the gray spot standing out from the rest of the pale yellowish wastes.
"Well," said Koaba, "what we were really lookin' for was a fault line, but it's somethin' to investigate." The ferret motioned for the troop to get low. She crouched down and crept silently toward the opening in the earth, holding her bow with a shaft drawn back. The vermin held their breath as she leapt for the hole, bowstring taunt as it would go and arrow aimed down into the blackness. After searching, sniffing, and probing around, all the while keeping her weapon trained on the opening, she eased up a little and announced that there didn't seem to be anybeast about, and that a tunnel led west and down.
"Right, mates, in we go. I'll walk ahead, you three, Dirkfang, Racca, an' Kulnip, protect the rear. Now I want ev'rybeast quiet, an' I mean no noise wotsoever! Be careful; tunnel might not be entirely stable. Weapons ready 'case we run inta trouble. Got that? Good. Now let's go!"
The troop snuck through the tunnel for what seemed like forever, strong tremors constantly shaking them around, and it got increasingly cool as they went ever downward. There were no signs of life anywhere.
The damp, brown soil gradually gave way to solid rock walls. Koaba and the others noticed that further down, the walls sparkled and seemed to give off a light of their own. The ferret inspected the rock and found that tiny gems were set into it! They were like none she had ever seen before. The jewels looked to be diamonds, but chipped when struck hard enough like some kind of hard crystal.
The tunnel suddenly widened, and a small, shallow, wide rock pool, lighted by the strange gems in the stone around it, was set off to the right. An eerie blue-white glow shone from around the bend by the rock pool, and Koaba signaled for the vermin to stay back. Silent as a feather on the night breeze, the ferret padded around the turn. What she saw bewildered and dazzled her.
Four female foxes in long silks and glimmering dresses, wearing sparkling stones much like the ones in the walls of the tunnel, stood in a circle with their arms stretched out and up. They faced a large, half-circle of some type of crystalline substance that gave off the weird light Koaba had seen from by the rock pool. The structure was perfectly smooth, looking to be a huge crystal ball with the foxes chanting around it, though no sound came forth from their lips. Instead a quickly throbbing, vibrating, very odd humming sound filled the air. The noise seemed to be coming from the crystal. At intervals, the vixens would open their mouths for lengthened periods of time, and that was when the earthquakes would shake the ground. The ferret noticed another tunnel leading out of the chamber.
Koaba was beginning to feel groggy. Her head hurt. That infernal noise! The reverberations bounced all around the small circular cavern, blending with the original sound itself, the actual waves causing the air to shimmer, giving an eerie, dreamlike appearance to the whole spectacle. Wincing, she stalked back to her force to find them plugging their ears and grimacing.
"Let's go," she whispered, then jumped in fright as rasping echoes of her words came back from all around. Abruptly all the noise stop, and the ferret heard the sound of paws thudding against the stone floor. Gritting her teeth and controlling the urge to curse under her breath lest she make any more noise, Koaba signaled for the vermin to run. As they rounded the bend she could see the silks of the first of the pursuing foxes. She urged the troop on as quietly as she could, giving the back beasts prods with her dagger so they would get the message to the front runners. They picked up speed and then sprinted the whole way to the mouth of the tunnel. As soon as everbeast was out, Koaba aimed her bow at the hole, waiting to see of the vixens would come after them above ground. After a long time of waiting, nothing showed up, and the vermin headed back to Marshank double-quick, Koaba guarding the rear.
The ferret allowed four days to go by before she returned alone. By now the foxes would be at ease again. The perfect time for her to do a little spywork. Koaba had noticed that there were little or no earthquakes in the morning, so she left an hour before dawn broke and was walking the tunnel by early morning. No tremors hindered her progress now.
Approaching the rock pool, she cautiously slowed down, careful not to make a sound. Voices came from the area by the pool, and by the crystalline light, Koaba could make out two of the vixens she had seen before. They spoke strangely.
"Ih no doon ka'a trreemur na, clah keel oons, en gon ba-sun. No ca bahn a'gahn, ayvah."
Having traveled far in her wandering days and encountered many strange beasts, Koaba could decipher most of the language as "no down because of tremor, clan kill us, and go back south. No come back again, ever." The other fox spoke back to her companion in a reassuring, yet pensive voice.
"No wahrhah, oons sa hon bog-hum doon na aynuh. No ma tahn a'din. Lin oons gon." And with that, the two foxes got up and headed for the chamber where the big crystal was.
The ferret guessed this to mean "no worry, us have big home down". Seeing as "aynuh" had a resemblance to "enough", Koaba took "na" to be "soon". She translated the rest as "no more talk of this. Let us go."
She jogged back down the tunnel, scrambling out the hole, and made her way back to the Fort, which was probably what was meant by "big house".
Once in her room, the ferret contemplated the information.
So, there was a whole clan of foxes, she thought. And they'd kill the four she'd seen if Marshank didn't collapse from the earthquakes soon . . . . uh oh. That meant that the vixens would try harder, and more often, too. Marshank, strong as it was, couldn't take much more abuse. Those vixens had to go, and fast.
The next day Koaba got together a score of vermin, each with a bow and quiver of arrows, and any other weapons they chose to take along, and marched to the tunnel entrance. They arrived to find the hole had been blocked!
"Hellsteeth!" Koaba cursed. "They must've wanted to make sure we didn't get in agin." Then she remembered the other tunnel she'd seen leading out of the chamber. It had to go somewhere, maybe it was a back exit! Yes, that would be just like foxes.
"Spread out! We're lookin' for another entrance. It ain't stickin' up in the middle a this wasteland if I know foxes, though. We'll head for the woodlands an' cliffs to the north! Let's move!"
They marched at a double-quick pace. When Koaba started to search the cliffs, a fox
shook his head and walked over.
"Here," he said, "knowbeast knows a fox better'n a fox, eh? Lemme help." By a clump of bushes bordering the woodlands, the fox gave a sharp knock to the cliff wall. A door swung inward!
"Well, ain't that clever?" said the creature.
"Mate," Koaba smiled and clapped the fox on the back. "I can see a promotion headin' your way."
The vermin entered the passage and moved swiftly and silently. All track of time was lost, and the rations of food and water had all but run out when Koaba saw a familiar faint blue-white glow coming from around a bend. She motioned for the troop to back up so that she could whisper without it echoing all around.
"Now lissen, this place echoes like crazy, so no loud war shouts or anything, got it? I'm gonna fire an arrow off to the other tunnel, one those sneakin' vixens blocked. The noise'll distract 'em, then we rush in an' attack! I want them turned inta pincusions afore I'm satisfied they're dead, can't trust them gypsy-types! Now let's go."
The foxes all had their eyes closed as the chanted noiselessly around the crystal, it's noise creating pulsating ripples in the air around the creatures standing around it. Koaba took careful aim for the tunnel across from her and let fly the shaft. The impact of the arrow on the stone created an ear-splitting sharp rapping sound, and the vixens whirled to see what was there.
Without warning, the vermin troop rushed in. One fox was dead before she hit the ground, another never had time to turn around. The other two ran in close to the crystal; only they could seem to stand the noise at close proximity. Another ferret was just about to hurl a spear at them when Koaba slapped it down. "No! That thing there's wot was makin' the earthquakes that were rockin' our Fort. Who knows what'll happen if y'break it? Could destroy us all, now don't throw or shoot anything less y'know you can hit the scum!" She glared balefully at the terrified gypsies. Gypsies . . . oh for the love of food! They had spells, she remembered, that they could use in assistance with a material object, like a big crystal, to produce their own power! The crystal wasn't anything special itself, not like it had always been magical or whathaveyou. Swiftly and angrily stringing her bow, she shot off an arrow that buried itself in the chest of one of the vixens. She cried out in pain, then slumped to the floor, a gigantic tremor throwing the vermin to the ground. At just that moment, the one remaining fox made a break for the unblocked tunnel. A wildcat hurled his lance at her. Exit the last vixen with the appropriate accompanyment of the last great tremor.
The crystal stopped humming and throbbing. All was silent now. Koaba dragged the body of the gypsy that lay slain by the tunnel to the crystal, and motioned for others to do the same with the other two. They then exited silently; the chanber still had it's reverberating qualities. Before Koaba left, though, she stared at the crystal for a moment, then picked up a big rock and heaved it as hard as she could. The big crystal cracked and broke right down the middle. Huh, thought the ferret.
After returning to Marshank, Koaba informed Sire Hisk of the situation with the gypsy foxes and their clan. The earthquakes having stopped completely, the clan would probably arrive soon to investigate. Koaba told of how the one vixen said that they would kill her and the others if Marshank didn't collapse soon, and suggested a watchbird be placed on the cliffs to the north of Fort Marshank so that they could be notified when the clan came. Most likely the foxes would enter by means of the secret tunnel, and the ferret had a special plan for them.
Only a day afterward, a group of seventeen foxes was seen coming up from the south. They were circling through the forests west of Marshank, though, and would not come in contact with the fort. Luckily, Koaba had been busy; she had made camp with fifty other creatures on top of the cliffs. She had gotten a couple mole slaves to help her arrange a little . . . surprise for the foxes once they were all inside the tunnel. A ballista rested by the edge of the cliff, holding a boulder the size of a house, and the moles had been oblidged, under pain of death, of course, to figure out angle of tragectory, distance, and other such things. The goal was the complete collapse of the tunnel when the boulder landed.
The foxes arrived in the evening, just as the sun was setting, and the camp had been moved back so that no signs of any other creature's presence were visible. An X marked the spot where the ballista would be wheeled to when all was ready. On by one, the clan filed into the hidden tunnel entrance. Koaba had judged that it had taken her a few hours to get to the chamber, so she waited about two, then made the moles push and pull the ballista into place, and set it in just the right direction. This took little time, considering the calculations were pre-planned, but then Koaba had also figured this in with how much more swiftly the foxes would probably go than she had.
The ferret chuckled evily, then dragged a young mole over. The little slave quivered under Koaba's sinister sneer.
"Alright, m'liddle matey," she said, "since you were such a big help in plannin' all this, I'd like t'thank ya by lettin' ya fire the big rock off. How'dja like that, eh?"
The rest of the vermin jeered cruelly. The little mole cowered on the ground, then said timidly, "Ho, urr, no! Oi'll not send oom creatures to they'm death, hurr, eben if they be vurmin!" Koaba curled her lip and unsheathed her dagger. Long seasons of submissiveness to the rod made the slave give in, and, almost to tears, the mole started untying the rope which would catapult the boulder straight onto the chamber where the foxes would be at the moment.
Koaba struck the mole aside before she could finish, leering at the little creature. "Aaahh, this is no fun, you slay beasts like a baby! Let's give it a good ol' fashion quick chop, an' off she goes, ha ha ha!" With that, the ferret swung down and sliced the rope with her blade. It worked like a charm.
After a week of searching and close watching, it was declared that not a one survived the collapse of the tunnels and chamber.
Chief Shoangore version
I posted sentries up onto the walls, day and night. One night, a rat told me he saw a giant ball, rolling into a tunnel. I told him that he had too much Apple brandy. But he never had any, so I went up to see for myself. When there was another tremor, I looked up, and saw a giant ball roll into a hidden tunnel. I took 4-score of fighters, and went to investigate. 5 otters and one messenger squirrel stood, guarding the entrance. We charged, and killed the 5 otters. The squirrel had vanished inside the tunnel, yelling to alert the others. I charged in, and struck down a mole. As soon as all the fighters were in, and slaying, I took notice of where I was. In front of me, a large cavern the size of Marshank held large rocks. It was like a bowl. There was a large crater in the middle of the floor. In the center, was a rock, holding up the whole area. Giant balls rolled down the slope, and crashed into the rock, causing a tremor. As I took stock, My fighters had been killing, and soon, the moles, mice, and otters were all dead. My remaining 2 score of fighters plundered the dead. I walked out, into the moonlit area. No wonder! Each time the stones struck, the weaker the rock would get, and the stronger the feel would be! If I didn't stop it, The Rock would fall, and Marshank would collapse! I hope Hisk would give me hazard pay.
mission 47
When I heard the first screams of the battle, I was there quickly. I roared
out above the screams of the fight, "Crew of the Blacksail and other ships,
stand by to repel attackers!" As we fought off the shrews Sire Hisk came
running up to me. A shrew got in his way, so he stabbed the stupid shrew and
yelled in my face, "Bloodclaw, get the shrews outta here! They came in through
the south wall. It was cracked in that earthquake. Kill the shrews and repair
the wall!" He ran to this chamber to see where the shrews were.
In the early stages of the repair, the shrews attacked a lot. But each time
they were driven back by the crews. For defense, I put half a ring of pike and
spearbeasts in and out side the walls to ward off the shrews. This worked and
soon the wall was fully repaired. Now, it was time to attack the shrews.
The crews ran out the main gate and fully destroyed the shrew camp. When this
was done, there was a lot of food untouched by the shrews. Not only did we get
rid of enemies and repair the wall, we also swelled the larder.
mission 48
About half a season ago, Whiplash led a band of vermin into the woods
behind Marshank, along with Kory. They had almost retrieved three
additional slaves for the prison pit, but alas, the stubborn squirrels
died before they reached the Fortress. Stinging from their failure to
keep a mere three squirrels alive, Whiplash once again gathered her
little band of vermin, along with her brothers Kory and Nite. Then, when
all was peaceful, the score of vermin wildcats and several foxes, plus
all students of the Arts slipped out. With a barely audible *pop* and a
slight breeze, the band vanished into the night air. On previous
ventures when Whiplash had been alone, she had decided against wasting
energy on levitation to save her paws. However, not all vermin assembled
could slink across the sandy beach unnoticed but for a faint shifting of
sand. With the added help of her siblings and students, the Mages were
able to reach the forest without any incidents.
Once in the forest, the Invisibility and Levitation spells were lifted.
Melting into the shadows as silently as if none were there, soon the
landscape appeared as much. The band almost disappeared under the sliver
of moon. With a quick wave, Whiplash motioned the troop to take a good
look at the terrain. Suddenly, a mind voice flashed through her mind.
(Hey sibs! Look what we got here!)
(What is it, Nite?) Whiplash moved toward her youngest brother as she
relayed the message to the others. Emerging out into the clearing Nite
stood in, Whiplash let out a muttered curse and sent a message to Kory.
(Get the others OUTTA HERE! It’s a trap!)
A rustle behind her sent her heart plummeting down toward her stomach.
Too late. Her score of vermin had been captured as well. DAMN! Well, no
way out now. Time to face the Squirrel Tribe. Sighing, Whiplash turned
her attention toward the shadows circling warily around the clearing.
They were herding the troops in toward the center of the clearing. There
was nothing left for any beast to do. Whiplash blinked slowly, admitting
to herself that this situation was, for once, out of her control. These
squirrels were not half-trained wet-behind-the-ears fools who fancied
themselves good Mages. These were fully trained, complete Masters of the
Arts. Whiplash and company were in very, very, very deep trouble.
Drawing her twin sabers slowly, Whiplash extended the beautiful blades
forward hilt first. She motioned for her band to do the same, and with a
small flash of light, there was a pile of blades in the middle of the
clearing. Their blades. Whiplash extended her paws, palms down, claws
sheathed. Kory and Nite did the same. A lithe young squirrel leapt
forward, her paws extended, palms upward, completing the ritual
greeting. “What do you want?” asked Whiplash.
Laughing softly, the squirrel Mage replied, “What do we want? Good
question. What do we want? Perhaps, perhaps we would be satisfied with
your miserable lives, cat!” Abruptly, a fire sprang to life. The
flickering light etched the squirrel’s features in clear detail. Seen
thus, she was almost sinister. The squirrel said, “I am Synsoaren, Named
thus for my sinister appearance, superior flight abilities and
enchantments. Who are you, Mage Kitten?”
“I am Whiplash, Named thus for my skills with the whip, yet I carry
none.” Motioning her siblings forward, she replied warily, every nerve
tensing in futile resistance against the spell that compelled her to
speak the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth. “I am
Koryonite, Named thus for reasons unknown. Others call me Kory.” At
least, thought Whiplash, she wasn’t the only one who was vulnerable.
Another voice carried the cadence. “I am Assassinite, Named thus for my
nightly assassinations. Others call me Nite.” Crud. It seems that
everybeast is falling prey to the Spell. The Naming continued, a stream
of words like so much chafes upon the wind to Whiplash’s ears. Kory and
Nite drooped in pained exhaustion beside her. She felt much the same. At
last, the babble stopped. Kory sighed, his eyes burning in anger and
despair. Nite refused to look at any, staring instead at the forest
floor.
“Well. Now that we know each other, let’s camp for the night. I do hope
you don’t mind,” said Synsoaren with a mocking little bow. “If you do,
let us know and we’ll end your misery. Forever.” With a chilling laugh,
she turned away. Soon, tents sprang up. Food was given to the prisoners.
It wasn’t a lot, but it was better than not having anything at all.
Whiplash reached deep into her satchel, bringing forth a round of cheese
and a flagon of wine when there was no one looking. Passing the extra
rations around, she whispered, “In my bag, there is a rift to the
kitchens at Marshank. Don’t worry about starving. We’ll do all right.”
Kory and Nite passed the word around, and the vermin was heartened by
the message. The fire burned low. The sentries stood guard, and the camp
settled down in an uneasy slumber.
Kory meditated. Nite sent his spirit winging. Whiplash went planes
walking. She knew there would be no help from the spirit resting in the
Dark Forest, so she turned to Hell’s Gates. Chilling darkness engulfed
her, smothering her senses, dark, oppressing, and suffocating. Thrusting
it back as far as she could, Whiplash cast about for the spirit of a
friend and colleague. There! Thought Whiplash triumphantly. There she
is! Moraine! Moraine! Help me! Help us! Moraine!
Moraine heard the plea faintly. She recognized it as the voice of… of…
No! It can’t be! Whiplash! Whiplash? Here? IMPOSSIBLE! But wait! That’s
her! It is Whiplash! Whoa… hold it! Moraine touched minds with Whiplash.
(And just HOW exactly did you get here? Surely you’re not dead?)
Whiplash grinned. Yep, the same old Moraine. (No. I’m not dead. But if
we don’t get help, we will be dead.) Whiplash quickly outlined the
situation for her colleague. She ended with, (It’s gonna be tough. Those
thrice-cursed squirrels are powerful!)
Whiplash chanted, and a soft glow formed around the two wildcats in the
Land of the Shades. Against all natural forces, Whiplash returned,
lugging the spirit of Moraine with her. Fey energy crackled around them
as Whiplash returned to her body. Moraine had nowhere to go. Oops. In
her haste, Whiplash had overlooked one tiny, tiny detail: Spirits can’t
stay for long without a flesh-and-bone body whose spirit had already
departed.
(Hey, Whip! Whiplash! It’s a good thing we all think alike, eh? Down by
the Broadstream, there was a little kitty that wandered out too far from
home. She’s a bit young, but she’ll suffice, at least for now.) Nite had
been aware of Whiplash’s intentions, and had gone out seeking a body for
whoever his sister was going to bring. He sent a mental image of how to
get to the body, its exact location, and its status to Moraine through
Whiplash.
(Hey, thanks kiddo,) said Moraine, and sped off through the night’s
cool, calm air. Whiplash turned to look at Nite. Slowly, a grin spread
across his face. His emerald eyes twinkled in merriment at her mistake.
Whiplash pretended to scowl, but instead, burst out into soft chuckling.
The sentry looked at them quizzically. He was completely unaware of what
had transpired between them. Shaking with mirth, Whiplash fought
gallantly to control her fits of laughter, and after a long moment,
succeeded.
Kory looked over his shoulder at the two kittens grinning senselessly.
Scowling, he hissed, “Mind sharing the joke? This is neither the time,
nor the place to indulge in your tricks! What have you come up with,
Whip?” Kory glared at them, his jade green eyes flashing in anger.
Whiplash saw in them anger, hatred, and a wild desire to kill.
“Sssshhhhhhhhhhh,” she soothed. “Moraine came. I forgot the body. Nite…
acquired one for me. She is a wildcat mage. One of the best I’ve ever
met. She’s at the river now. We’ll be all right. She’s a good Mage. She’
ll help. Don’t worry, kitten. We should get some rest. Our band is
already asleep. G’night!” Whiplash sighed, and tried to do as she
herself had suggested, knowing that some way, somehow, Moraine would
haul their hides out of the frying pan…and into the fire.
The next day began very badly. During the night, Moraine had dammed up
the Broadstream with an energy wall. Synsoaren was suspicious of the new
power source, and sent some sentries to investigate. Being still unused
to the young kitten’s new body, Moraine proved easy prey for the
squirrel Mages. She was dragged back bound and gagged, but struggling
for all she was worth. The sentries made their report, and Synsoaren
flew into a screaming blue tizzy because the scouts had not the wit to
restore the river. In her formidable rage, she stormed through the
forest and arrived upon the bank of the Broadstream, leading the other
Mages. Raising her paws high above her head, Synsoaren began the rapid
incantation to release captured energy. Suddenly, a bolt of molten light
zipped past her cheek, singeing her whiskers and searing her nose.
Breaking off in the middle of the chant, she let out a sharp *yelp* and
danced back hastily. Moraine smothered a chuckle and guided the beam of
fire toward the river. The dammed up waters of the Broadstream erupted
in a molten cloud of black smoke, flames licking the air, leaping higher
and higher, and the heat becoming almost unbearable. Suddenly, a
gigantic WHOOSH sounded. Synsoaren watched in apprehension as a huge
wave of water coursed along, powerful, inexorable, and flaming hot,
straight at the band of Magicians. A huge tidal wave began to form as
all the pent-up energy of the mighty river was released at once. The
vermin band of Marshank stood in horror, rooted to the spot with fear.
It was a fearsome sight: the river pounded along, flames rising in the
wind, crashing toward them, its fury unmatched, its strength unrivaled,
its fire unquenchable. The oil that Moraine had so carefully spread on
it were the unquenchable oil of the mountain cats of the Far North.
Moraine had stolen it one night, and the next day, found herself plus
the knowledge, minus her life. This oil, once lit, will keep on burning,
and burning, and burning, and nothing can stop it unless it was
smothered in sand. Water only helped to spread it. This is the Kedalian
Fire Oil. Here, there was no sand, and the fire would be inaccessible
until it was too late. Squirrel Mages hastily put up Shields and
Counterspells. Those who used counterspells suffered horribly: there was
no spell to counter. There were only the Forces of Nature. Moraine was
clapping her paws in obvious delight. Kory’s eyes nearly popped out of
his head at the sight. Nite was breathless with laughter. Whiplash was
trying to hold the Shield together for dear life. “YOU FOOLS! LEND ME
SOMETHING TO WORK WITH, YOU LAUGHING MANIACS!” she roared above the
thundering of the waters. Heads snapped around to look and stare.
Suddenly, Kory responded, adding his knowledge to the Spell. Nite
followed, lending power and strength to aid in the Spell. Moraine threw
all she had into the workings, knowing that this time, if she died, that
would be the end of her, at least until Whiplash recovered from the
previous planes walking. The squirrels were panicking all around them.
Some were swept screaming into the burning water; others stared on
numbly as their companions disappeared in the flaming river. The
remaining squirrel Mages broke and fled willy-nilly into the forest,
never to be seen again. When the raging waters quieted and the Kedalian
Fire Oil was blown away on the Mage wind, the vermin of Marshank
clambered out onto the river bank, soaked, battered, and alive. Not one
vermin had been killed. There were almost no casualties, and the eight
magicians tended to those wounded. Moraine took leave of Whiplash, Kory,
and Nite, and popped away without another word. Gathering the vermin
into a tight knot, the magicians teleported the band back to Marshank
just in time to see the rest of the horde staring open-mouthed at the
flaming river, pointing and shouting. Sire Hisk pushed his way up to the
front…and stopped dead in his tracks, his jaw hanging slack as the rest
of the horde. A low chuckling spread through the Fortress Marshank until
the sandy beach reverberated to the vermin whoops and shouts.
mission 49
A pair of jade-green eyes appeared luminous in the darkness. Across
the rafter beams, another pair of sea-green eyes blinked. (Nite, this is
not good.) The jade-green eyes blinked at the dark feathery forms all
around. (Only one, but that is little consolation.) The form was a
shrike. Not only were shrikes fearsome fighters, their magic potential
is extremely high. Most birds had high magic levels, especially birds of
prey. The sea-green eyes narrowed in concentration. (His patterns are
not well organized, Kory. He was not trained in the Arts.) The two pairs
of eyes winked out as silently as they winked in. Suddenly, a blinding
flash of light flared around the shrike. Shrieking in anger, the bird
tried to take off, but seemed to slam into an invisible wall. Thus
trapped between fire and air, the bird did a dance of rage and screeched
vengeance. ¡§Not much you can do, bird. What in Hell¡¦s Teeth were you
doing here? Clear out of Marshank before we fry your feathery behind!¡¨
The shrike glared at the wildcat that had materialized out of the
gloom. ¡§Ye¡¦d do well ter keep a civil tongue inside yer head, cat!¡¨
spat the bird. ¡§I¡¦m Razorbeak Swiftstrike! Tremble and despair, cat,
ye¡¦ll die a painful death when I get my claws on yer!¡¨ Razorbeak beat
his wings against the wall of air, but to no avail.
Kory grinned amiably. (This old feathery windbag would be easy to
dispose of. Not like that last band of squirrels. It was a good laugh
though!) Turning his head slightly, he called out, ¡§Nite, come meet the
terror of the rafters.¡¨ The shrike fell back a little in surprise as a
second wildcat stepped into view. Nite bowed and grinned pleasantly. The
wall of fire surrounding Razorbeak died down and the wall of air
vanished. Kory sent a writhing chain of light slithering across the
rafter beams and wrapping itself around Razorbeak¡¦s dangerous talons.
¡§That ought to hold you. Now, old lad, what were you doing in
Marshank?¡¨ asked Kory.
¡§Khatchak! I¡¦ll die before I tell yer, scum!¡¨ The shrike was
enraged, but he was held immobile by the chain of light, which now
ensnared his wings as well. He tried to stand up, but the chain tripped
him and he ended up on his feathery behind. The wildcat brothers laughed
lightly. Puffing his feathers up, the shrike eyed them with his beady
black eyes. ¡§Ye¡¦ll pay fer this, cats! Ye¡¦ll pay if it¡¦s the last
thing I do!¡¨
Nite eyed him in curiosity. ¡§How does roast shrike taste? I wonder
if Sire Hisk would enjoy a meal of roast shrike and leek pastry? Shall
we?¡¨ So saying, he gestured for his brother Kory to draw steel. ¡§Well,
I¡¦ll give anything a try!¡¨ With a sharp SHING! Nite pulled his dirks
free. Kory leapt forward with twin scimitars drawn and at the ready.
Razorbeak leapt to his feet and gained the air swiftly as the chains
vanished with a command. Light suffused the wildcat brothers. Suddenly,
they too leapt to the air and sped after the shrike. Looking back,
Razorbeak saw two bright golden lights getting steadily bigger. The
wildcats were gaining on him! Impossible! He thought. No creature could
possibly outmatch my speed! But here was hard evidence, as the wildcats
sped closer and closer, blades flashing in the spheres of light.
Snapping his wings out, the shrike tried to gain altitude, only to be
struck down by a molten flash of light. Shrieking in pain, Razorbeak
Swiftstrike tumbled helplessly toward the ground. Abruptly, his fall was
halted. Cracking open one eyelid, he realized that he was trapped in a
net made entirely of light. The shrike struggled mightily to get free,
but the more he struggled, the tighter he was bound. Finally, realizing
that fighting was a futile waste of energy, Razorbeak gave up. Slinging
the net onto a tree, the wildcats landed and the light vanished. Looking
slightly disappointed, they put their blades away. Nite clapped his paws
together, and the net bound tighter and tighter, until it could get no
smaller. Then, Kory raised his paws and pointed at the bird in the net
with his left and the sun with his right. Soon, the agonized screams of
the shrike Razorbeak Swiftstrike filled the forest. The net that bound
him helpless was getting hotter and hotter. Quite suddenly, the screams
broke off. The shrike dangled limp and charred. His feathers were still
smoking. With a wave of his paw, Nite released the energy used to create
the net. The roasted bird fell onto the ground. Plucking out the
feathers, Kory stuffed the cooked remains of Razorbeak into his knapsack
and flew back to Marshank. Thus, the problem was solved and Sire Hisk
got a free meal!
mission 50
I had been able to find 3 score of beasts to go and fight the assorted
vermin that threatened Marshank. When we were a mere mile from the
vermin's camp I split the force in two so we could surround the camp and
force a surrender. The vermin were not smart, the location of their
camp was not a place to be attacked at. They were beside a small creek
and my force could easily trap them. If anybeast swims across the creek
my second force will stop them. I was within meters of their camp now
but I was hidden behind some rocks. I posted archers in the trees and on
things where they could get a good shot. I armed myself with a crossbow
and let out a cry. MARSHAAAAAAAAAANNNNNNNNNKKKKKK! The vermin leaped up
startled and grabbed their weapons. Their leader got up and gave orders.
"Get up we're under attack CHARGE!" He yelled. I loosed my arrow and it
instantly slew their leader. The vermin stopped not knowing what to do.
"Surrender now," I yelled,"We have you surrounded". They immediatly
complied with the command and laid down their weapons.They all agreed to
come back to Marshank and serve as soliders there instead of the other
choice, death. On the way back to Marshank we had gotten four score of
new recruites and not a single one of my original force was slain.
mission 51
It starts out with me in the church, in the rafters, watching carefully. I had cleverly drugged the guards, and now watching the wedding intently. Hear comes the bride, I'm going to skin her hide. watch how she'll scream and then she will die. Hear comes the groom, coming to his doom. He won't see me loom... and then strike. I pulled out an assassin dagger and threw. the bride dropped. Everyone was screaming. the groom ran to the brides father to see if he could help. I grabbed a javalin I had borrowed and it went right through both of their necks. Now I grabbed my most dangerous weapon of all, my battle axe. I hacked and chopped at the church, and hearing it start to groan, leaped down. I grabbed a lock and lockedthe doors. It was a slaughter. Everyone was helpless, with the guards drugged. But in the end, I slew them too. and if there were any survivers, the collapsing church sealed their fate. I was able to escape out of the church bewfore it collapsed, too.
